Too cautious - and it cost us

[Craig_H]

At 1-1, Chelsea were rocking, there were the for the taking and the momentum was with us, but for some reason, we took our foot off the gas and let them back into it. Invited them forward to win it, even. That's the difference, do you have a winning mentality or a 'hang in there' mentality ? We have a 'hang in there' mentality.

Just like they say, when you're at the top, you strengthen...it's the same in a match, when you're on top and have the momentum, you go for it and kill the game off. Well, that's what the best teams do anyway.

At 1-1, they were on the ropes, one goal and we've won it. ONE goal, that's all. I would've brought on Crouch AND Babel and gone for it. Sure you can leave yourselve vulnerable, but that one goal leaves them needing two more.

Sorry rafa, i'm not calling for your head or anything of the like, but sometimes you have to recognise the situation and go for it. And you need to have balls. He got it wrong, didnt have the balls to go and win it and that's what happens.

We'll be there again in the next 2 years though, i'm sure of that...and Rome or Madrid will be far easier, cheaper and sweeter. You cant get to the final every year and 2 in 3 years is the kinda stuff that spoils fans. I think there'll be more to come from the boys in red.

We'll move on, the priority now is to get the yanks out, get DIC in, regroup and launch an assualt on next season.

[MascheredUp]

Couldn't agree more.

Cost us against Milan a year ago. Same again tonight.

This is one of Rafa's biggest flaws.

[rage]

i was thinking afterwards its like a boxing match, your opponents is on the ropes and you fail to go in for the kill in case he gets u with a blind sucker punch. that caution and lack of killer instinct has cost us, more than just tonight.

[wavydavy]

At 1-1, Chelsea were rocking, there were the for the taking and the momentum was with us, but for some reason, we took our foot off the gas and let them back into it. Invited them forward to win it, even. That's the difference, do you have a winning mentality or a 'hang in there' mentality ? We have a 'hang in there' mentality.

Just like they say, when you're at the top, you strengthen...it's the same in a match, when you're on top and have the momentum, you go for it and kill the game off. Well, that's what the best teams do anyway.

At 1-1, they were on the ropes, one goal and we've won it. ONE goal, that's all. I would've brought on Crouch AND Babel and gone for it. Sure you can leave yourselve vulnerable, but that one goal leaves them needing two more.

Sorry rafa, i'm not calling for your head or anything of the like, but sometimes you have to recognise the situation and go for it. And you need to have balls. He got it wrong, didnt have the balls to go and win it and that's what happens.

We'll be there again in the next 2 years though, i'm sure of that...and Rome or Madrid will be far easier, cheaper and sweeter. You cant get to the final every year and 2 in 3 years is the kinda stuff that spoils fans. I think there'll be more to come from the boys in red.

We'll move on, the priority now is to get the yanks out, get DIC in, regroup and launch an assualt on next season.

Posted similar opinion in another thread. Too concerned with not losing and not winning. Torres hamstrings my arse!!!

[TheStig]

At 1-1, Chelsea were rocking, there were the for the taking and the momentum was with us, but for some reason, we took our foot off the gas and let them back into it. Invited them forward to win it, even. That's the difference, do you have a winning mentality or a 'hang in there' mentality ? We have a 'hang in there' mentality.

Just like they say, when you're at the top, you strengthen...it's the same in a match, when you're on top and have the momentum, you go for it and kill the game off. Well, that's what the best teams do anyway.

At 1-1, they were on the ropes, one goal and we've won it. ONE goal, that's all. I would've brought on Crouch AND Babel and gone for it. Sure you can leave yourselve vulnerable, but that one goal leaves them needing two more.

Sorry rafa, i'm not calling for your head or anything of the like, but sometimes you have to recognise the situation and go for it. And you need to have balls. He got it wrong, didnt have the balls to go and win it and that's what happens.

We'll be there again in the next 2 years though, i'm sure of that...and Rome or Madrid will be far easier, cheaper and sweeter. You cant get to the final every year and 2 in 3 years is the kinda stuff that spoils fans. I think there'll be more to come from the boys in red.

We'll move on, the priority now is to get the yanks out, get DIC in, regroup and launch an assualt on next season.

Couldn't agree more with the whole of that post.

[Joe King]

I'll agree with you there Syd.

We should have quicken the tempo soon as we equalised and pressed them more. They were there for the taking but hindsight is 20:20

[Exiled_red]

Personally I think the problem is that we still lack the quality of Chelsea and we can't out football them by making it an open game or we'll get torn apart. I think Rafa knows this and that's why we're so cautious, I'm hoping that this will change with a couple more quality signings ... but I guess we'll have to see

[Craig_H]

I'll agree with you there Syd.

We should have quicken the tempo soon as we equalised and pressed them more. They were there for the taking but hindsight is 20:20

It's not hindsight mate, i was saying it as it was happening. It was clear for all to see, but we sat back and invited them back into the game, and to win it. We dont have that ruthless, killer instinct. The manager's mindset is always the cautious one and it transmits to the players in everything they do. It's a shame. If we'd lost because Chelsea blew us away and left us with no reply, then fine. But we lost because of our own weak minded mentality. Not a winning mentality.

[Craig_H]

Personally I think the problem is that we still lack the quality of Chelsea and we can't out football them by making it an open game or we'll get torn apart. I think Rafa knows this and that's why we're so cautious, I'm hoping that this will change with a couple more quality signings ... but I guess we'll have to see

I disagree on this occasion, Chelsea have played 3 games in 8 days, they were mentality rattled and there on a plate for us. We didnt go for it and that's devestating.

[Kronenburg1892]

I really got the Torres sub. And I got Rafa's overall game plan. Had Skrtel not been subbed, I'm sure we would have seen Crouch.

Can't blame anyone for tonight. Yeah there were some dodgy touches. Yeah we were beaten for pace in select areas. But come on, we were close tonight!

I'd rather have this manager with this team, who took the game to the last minute, regardless of who the hero or villain is.

You're right DJS, there's many more games like this in the future. Dips and peeks.

[Joe King]

It's not hindsight mate, i was saying it as it was happening. It was clear for all to see, but we sat back and invited them back into the game, and to win it. We dont have that ruthless, killer instinct. The manager's mindset is always the cautious one and it transmits to the players in everything they do. It's a shame. If we'd lost because Chelsea blew us away and left us with no reply, then fine. But we lost because of our own weak minded mentality. Not a winning mentality.

We lack that 'experience' We need a McAllister type player who could rally the players and grab the players and tell them what to do. We need that steel and ruthless aggression. Diarra maybe?

[Exiled_red]

I disagree on this occasion, Chelsea have played 3 games in 8 days, they were mentality rattled and there on a plate for us. We didnt go for it and that's devestating.

I did think that we should have gone for it second half when we were on top but I was just suggesting a possible reason for Rafa's tactics.

One of the things that frustrates me most about us is that we don't seem to score when we're on top!

[Craig_H]

We lack that 'experience' We need a McAllister type player who could rally the players and grab the players and tell them what to do. We need that steel and ruthless aggression. Diarra maybe?

I cant put it down to experience, it's just the manager's mindset. He IS a cautious coach who always opts to 'play it safe' and sometimes it works, other times you pay for it.

[Craig_H]

I did think that we should have gone for it second half when we were on top but I was just suggesting a possible reason for Rafa's tactics.

One of the things that frustrates me most about us is that we don't seem to score when we're on top!

I think Rafa would adopt the same mentality regardless of what players he has.

[Kronenburg1892]

I seriously think if Skrtel hadn't been injured, you would have seen us play 3-2-3-2 in the last 15-10 mins.