Chelsea 3 Leicester 0. Post match thread.

[lgfualol]

17 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

Yet again, our defence was abysmal. I've stated why I think that on a number of occasions, you take out a shield like Kante and you're always going to be weaker for it. All of our defenders are limited. With the exception of Fuchs and possibly Hernandez, there is a real lack of footballing ability there. They're old school, and while I think there's a place for that in the game still, you can't get away with it without protection. More is being asked of them this season without Kante there and it is showing big time. They are being pulled all over the place and I cannot see how this is going to change without a different system.

 

The lack of application is a disgrace. You can defend it and put it down to natural reaction all you want but you're the mug if you do, really. We're paying wages to some of these players like we've never paid before, and we're not getting anywhere near the desire. We are completely unrecognisable. We are the antithesis of last season - we are exposing our own limitations, and it's horrible to watch. A lot of them deserve dropping but quite honestly we haven't got the squad to be able to.

 

Certain players were terrible. Once again Drinkwater stands out as being about the only one who wasn't anywhere from poor to dreadful. I thought the defence were all poor, the full-backs dodgy, the centre halves almost embarrassing. Amartey was a passenger as he is away from home, Albrighton tried but to little avail, Vardy was completely anonymous, Musa was useless and where on earth do you even start with Schlupp. It makes a complete mockery out of the money we turned down for him. You can't even put today down to being inconsistent, funny Jeff. It was clueless, unambitious, disinterested, "how on earth is he above a talent like Demarai Gray and a Poland international Kapustka" Jeff. It'd be a long time before I considered him for selection again. He was horrific.

 

They have credit in the bank, but we've got to wake up. We aren't a top club who can afford to rest on our laurels. We do have limitations in that team, and taking the foot off the gas is inviting trouble, because lets be honest here - we've been awful more often than not this season. We have played 84 games since we have been back up from the Championship, and in my opinion, our four away games this season rank at 81, 82, 83 and 84 in order of how good the performance was. You cannot dress that up as anything other than worrying.

 

No calls for the manager to go, as quite honestly I don't think I've got it in me to call for the manager who delivered the unthinkable here to lose his job, but he's better than this and it's about time he showed it. That line-up today was just terrible and it was almost like not a thing had been learnt from the last two away games. If we go with a similar natured side in terms of application and balance in a couple of weeks at a fired up Spurs, make no mistake, we are going to be on the end of a result people will talk about for years.

 

I can take losing at Anfield. I can take losing at Old Trafford. I can take losing at Stamford Bridge. I can't take getting slaughtered at all three in a way someone like Villa would.

/thread

 

Pretty much sums up my thoughts

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

5 hours ago, Babylon said:

 

The issue, I believe, is that we are suffering a hangover from last season. The players appear to be complacent now that we won the league, last season. Their fire and enthusiasm, has eroded, and too little effort is being put in. The players are not earning their huge salaries, or even putting any effort into their games.

 

It's been a tough start, fixture wise, but Claudio needs to read the riot act to them. I am confident things will turn around before too long, but the team needs to wake their ideas up, and start putting a shift in We know they have the ability. 

[DelBoy73]

36 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

Yet again, our defence was abysmal. I've stated why I think that on a number of occasions, you take out a shield like Kante and you're always going to be weaker for it. All of our defenders are limited. With the exception of Fuchs and possibly Hernandez, there is a real lack of footballing ability there. They're old school, and while I think there's a place for that in the game still, you can't get away with it without protection. More is being asked of them this season without Kante there and it is showing big time. They are being pulled all over the place and I cannot see how this is going to change without a different system.

 

The lack of application is a disgrace. You can defend it and put it down to natural reaction all you want but you're the mug if you do, really. We're paying wages to some of these players like we've never paid before, and we're not getting anywhere near the desire. We are completely unrecognisable. We are the antithesis of last season - we are exposing our own limitations, and it's horrible to watch. A lot of them deserve dropping but quite honestly we haven't got the squad to be able to.

 

Certain players were terrible. Once again Drinkwater stands out as being about the only one who wasn't anywhere from poor to dreadful. I thought the defence were all poor, the full-backs dodgy, the centre halves almost embarrassing. Amartey was a passenger as he is away from home, Albrighton tried but to little avail, Vardy was completely anonymous, Musa was useless and where on earth do you even start with Schlupp. It makes a complete mockery out of the money we turned down for him. You can't even put today down to being inconsistent, funny Jeff. It was clueless, unambitious, disinterested, "how on earth is he above a talent like Demarai Gray and a Poland international Kapustka" Jeff. It'd be a long time before I considered him for selection again. He was horrific.

 

They have credit in the bank, but we've got to wake up. We aren't a top club who can afford to rest on our laurels. We do have limitations in that team, and taking the foot off the gas is inviting trouble, because lets be honest here - we've been awful more often than not this season. We have played 84 games since we have been back up from the Championship, and in my opinion, our four away games this season rank at 81, 82, 83 and 84 in order of how good the performance was. You cannot dress that up as anything other than worrying.

 

No calls for the manager to go, as quite honestly I don't think I've got it in me to call for the manager who delivered the unthinkable here to lose his job, but he's better than this and it's about time he showed it. That line-up today was just terrible and it was almost like not a thing had been learnt from the last two away games. If we go with a similar natured side in terms of application and balance in a couple of weeks at a fired up Spurs, make no mistake, we are going to be on the end of a result people will talk about for years.

 

I can take losing at Anfield. I can take losing at Old Trafford. I can take losing at Stamford Bridge. I can't take getting slaughtered at all three in a way someone like Villa would.

No truer words were spoken mate. If i could buy you a pint of lager, i would.

[TheLittleBigMan]

I'm still not panicking as I believe in this team and our manager turning things around. My biggest concern is our defence seems to have lost confidence all together. We have a transfer window coming up - for god sake use it wisely, it's time to move on from last season.

[Realist Guy In The Room]

The central defence can be solid without Kante but it'll require an extra centre half (just like the great escape).

 

I'd like us sooner rather than later to switch to that formation (3-4-3).

 

Kasper

 

Hernandez 

Huth

Morgan

 

Albrighton

Amartey

Drinky

Gray

 

Mahrez

Slimani

Vardy

 

We looked good at the start of the 2nd half because we pressed them high.  This formation allows it but wouldnt leave us exposed.

[Webbo]

 

[steflcfc]

Well where to start.

another disappointing display before a CL game.

 

First off, I go back to pre season and I feel that would have an effect with our preparation for the start of the premier league campaign. And its showing 

 

Last season we had to press, give 110 percent and we installed a never say die attitude to every match, other teams underestimated us and we achieved the unthinkable.

 

Now the tables have turned, we are giving 60% and as "defending champions" others are giving 110 percent to beat us and some of the score lines have shown.

Regardless of opposition I never felt at any stage over Last season and the great escape that we would put in the style of performances we are seeing at the minute.

 

We have been worked out, sit deep to stop our pace, man/2man mark Mahrez and we are then void of ideas and any attacking threat.

 

I'm not sure what we are doing on the training ground but we look lost with and without the ball, how we played last season looks a distant memory.

 

Im not one to massively criticise players but Shlupps performance was one of the worst I have seen in a long time.

He isn't a quality Left Back,Winger or Striker, we have better warming the bench, why we didn't snap West Broms hands off I have no clue.

 

We made mistakes in the transfer window as Morgan/Huths places are on the teamster each week as we have no one to replace them.

 

Some players rightly or wrongly have been rewarded handsomely with long contracts, time for them to get their heads out their asses and perform how we know they can.

 

We have some potentially exciting talents in Clilwell/Gray/Kasputska. 

give them gametime else they may not want to stick around come Jan.

 

 

[foxtillidrop]

I don't like the red kit at all

[Father Ted]

I cannot work out whether it's a lack of effort or poor fitness that is costing us as we look way off the pace. People keep stating our defence isn't solid without Kante... we've still kept 5 clean sheets already this season? For me, we can't keep going away and playing 4-4-2. If Ranieri wants to still play 2 up top then go with 3-5-2 as for me that would cut out our blatantly average full backs, shores up a weak midfield bar Drinkwater and still allows us to play 2 up top.

 

Signings in the wrong positions over the summer have not helped consistency, we've signed 2 strikers and lost none from last season, we've signed a winger in Kapustka when we blatantly didn't need one (not doubting the lad but he's clearly not getting the game time he should be).

 

Something needs to give soon as quite frankly this is unacceptable. There's a line between playing well and losing (see 2 seasons ago when we nearly went down) and getting hammered thanks to a disgraceful performance. I might be being harsh here but we need to cut this out before it becomes a habit and our home form starts to take a hit - then I really would worry. I'd start by dropping Albrighton, what does he offer going forward??? I really didn't understand today either when he still played him on the left and Schlupp on the right, when Albrighton's best performances in a blue shirt have probably come when playing on the right! He is a right winger! Play him on the right or don't play him at all, we lose so much going forward by having him play. I'm also sick of seeing Fuchs consistently playing "percentage" balls down the channel, it's like watching Paul Konchesky all over again. I'd strongly consider bringing Chilwell in too.

[Guest Col city fan]

2 minutes ago, Father Ted said:

I cannot work out whether it's a lack of effort or poor fitness that is costing us as we look way off the pace. People keep stating our defence isn't solid without Kante... we've still kept 5 clean sheets already this season? For me, we can't keep going away and playing 4-4-2. If Ranieri wants to still play 2 up top then go with 3-5-2 as for me that would cut out our blatantly average full backs, shores up a weak midfield bar Drinkwater and still allows us to play 2 up top.

 

Signings in the wrong positions over the summer have not helped consistency, we've signed 2 strikers and lost none from last season, we've signed a winger in Kapustka when we blatantly didn't need one (not doubting the lad but he's clearly not getting the game time he should be).

 

Something needs to give soon as quite frankly this is unacceptable. There's a line between playing well and losing (see 2 seasons ago when we nearly went down) and getting hammered thanks to a disgraceful performance. I might be being harsh here but we need to cut this out before it becomes a habit and our home form starts to take a hit - then I really would worry. I'd start by dropping Albrighton, what does he offer going forward??? I really didn't understand today either when he still played him on the left and Schlupp on the right, when Albrighton's best performances in a blue shirt have probably come when playing on the right! He is a right winger! Play him on the right or don't play him at all, we lose so much going forward by having him play. I'm also sick of seeing Fuchs consistently playing "percentage" balls down the channel, it's like watching Paul Konchesky all over again. I'd strongly consider bringing Chilwell in too.

Long time no see mi old son.

Good post...other than Fuchs...he's not the problem.

 

 

[Dan]

You can't play Jeff on the right. It's ridiculous. You need to be a skillful dribbler to cut in like that effectively. Jeff's only dribbling ability comes from beating an opposition for pace on the outside, what chance has he got doing someone for pace on the inside? He'd be tackled immediately.

[Guy]

7 hours ago, Benguin said:

I really don't want to slate 442 because we won the league with it but it really ain't working this year. 

 

I really hope Mendy turns out to be the second coming of Jesus Christ when he returns because somethings got to give if we are to stay up comfortably. 

 

Slimani was an unbelievable signing but it's clear the midfield is the issue so let's pray that Mendy is up for it. 

Yes, 4-4-2 worked a treat under the much missed Kante last season of course but this season after Mendy got injured early doors v Arsenal, then clearly it hasn't worked without an appropriate midfielder in place to play that system successfully. Meanwhile the less said about our defending today, the better! Palace next week is becoming a must win now, thank God our home form is still in tact or we'd be looking at roughly 17 teams being above us now already!!

[st albans fox]

5 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

You can't play Jeff on the right. It's ridiculous. You need to be a skillful dribbler to cut in like that effectively. Jeff's only dribbling ability comes from beating an opposition for pace on the outside, what chance has he got doing someone for pace on the inside? He'd be tackled immediately.

I wonder if some of Claudio's thinking on playing inverted wingers also comes from a defensive standpoint. We know that we like to force teams down the flanks rather than coming inside. a player facing Jeff playing on the right knows that coming inside brings them onto his stronger foot and a potential interception or tackle. they will be tempted to take him on his weaker side which keeps them on the flank where we encourage them to go. 

[WigstonWanderer]

At the start of the second half the commentator said we'd switched to 3 at the back. Can anyone confirm this? I never seem to be able to spot these things clearly. Something certainly seemed different as we looked much better. Once the subs were made we seemed to lose momentum and looked shit again.

 

Why on earth not use Gray in some way? He will leave in Jan, along with maybe Drinky and Mahrez at this rate.

[Guest ttfn]

17 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

You can't play Jeff on the right. It's ridiculous. You need to be a skillful dribbler to cut in like that effectively. Jeff's only dribbling ability comes from beating an opposition for pace on the outside, what chance has he got doing someone for pace on the inside? He'd be tackled immediately.

This is so obvious that I can't believe it's come to you having to write it down.

 

Schlupp is barely a top flight footballer in his favoured position - one which really amplifies his strengths and hides his weaknesses. On the right all of his strengths are totally nullified and his weaknesses are exacerbated even more than usual.

 

We spent over £70 million this summer and still have Schlupp playing on the right wing. Absolutely mind-boggling.

[HighPeakFox]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.........the psychological impact of last season is massive, they need time. Not seeking to excuse so much as explain...I urge you all not to lose sleep over this, it will right itself when it is ready to.

[trabuch]

Jeff - he's just not funny anymore. It's not as if we are lacking in replacements either.

[Phube]

What confuses me is what did Jeff show in his couple of appearances this season to prove he should start at Stamford Bridge?

 

Especially over Gray!

[Wymsey]

Gray has proven to be more effective and useful than Schlupp, despite lesser experience in the league.

 

Why doesn't Ranieri utilise his BEST performing/most reliable players, over those like Schlupp (who I see as a weak link) who are frustratingly predictable and at times clueless..

[SecretPro]

48 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

You can't play Jeff on the right. It's ridiculous. You need to be a skillful dribbler to cut in like that effectively. Jeff's only dribbling ability comes from beating an opposition for pace on the outside, what chance has he got doing someone for pace on the inside? He'd be tackled immediately.

Jeff's only dribbling ability is down his chin. 

[Guest ttfn]

Just watching MOTD which showed the Chelsea kick off at the start of the second half.

 

Luiz hit the ball 60 yards down the pitch and Pedro was able to take it down between Huth and Fuchs at centre back.

 

That really is amateur hour stuff. How the hell is one of the centre backs not taking responsibility and heading that away? Absolutely pathetic.

[GaelicFox]

Shit I wish I hadn't watched match of the day 

 

we are Fcuked lads ! Seriously we are done unless something seriously changes and soon 

[trabuch]

Good analysis by Shearer imo. No one is guilt free. Even St.Danny.

We're not fvcked though as there are several worse teams in this league.

[GaelicFox]

1 minute ago, trabuch said:

Good analysis by Shearer imo. No one is guilt free. Even St.Danny.

We're not fvcked though as there are several worse teams in this league.

Several worse than us ? I dont agree , on what I have seen last 3 away games there are a few as bad as us but maybe only 2 worse ! 

 

We Are running into a relegation scrap and a blind man can see why ! 

 

Please claudio bench Vardy and start Islam upfront alone and give us some cover in midfield away from home 

 

need a top class centre half at Christmas as well ! Wes looks cooked 

 

11 goals against and 2 scored in our last 3 away from home .... mental , that's relegation fodder 

[drofmor56]

Schlupp should have  had a penalty...believe it was Moses who blocked him off,did not make any attempt to play the ball..Ref not strong enough to give it.

 

and im not looking through Leicester tinted glasses..one of the few on here to say Musa's late claim for a penalty against Arsenal was'nt one