Chelsea away

[Paul12]

1 I agree that Fab and Virgil looked leggy...I put it down to Covid. I guess we need to expect a similar dip from Bobby and Joel; legginess is not an issue for Ali.

2 I am a fan of Hendo, but: (a) he hasn't done well since coming back from his own illness, and (b) this triangulation thing on the red wing frees up Trent but leaves Hendo well out of position if we lose the ball, hence in my view the helter skelter nature of too many games this season.

3 I had thought we might get to the League Cup final and finally have a decent cup run, but am at a loss to know whether we have any attackers other than Jota available for Thursday.

[BG1973]

Let's be honest our days of competing for the title are done for a while. Last year should have been ours but for VVD and no backup. And now this year we've done okay but now we're into likes of ox and milner and it's neve going to be enough against city.

Imo Klopps final job should be building another team that will peak a couple of years after he's gone, by which time Pep has left city and things will be more equal. They will still have more resources (as will chelsea, United, Newcastle) but they won't have the second best manager in world football too.. Which is just too much.

You could argue if that's Klopp's final job then actually it should be someone else's job to start now.

[Buzzo]

Because there is no pace to track runners, something Chelsea have in numbers.

It wasn’t about there being no pace, it was us losing the ball and them breaking on us. Hendo is no slouch and by all accounts Milner is one of the fittest in the club. We play with an incredibly high line, if we lose the ball in transition teams can be in on goal very quickly. I don’t think Hendo had his best game yesterday and I’d never start Milner in a game like that personally - but I’m not writing them off.

Some of the comment on this game are ridiculous. Chelsea are the current Champions League winners, not the dog and duck under 5’s.

The loss at Leicester was a poor performance, and some of the draws earlier in the season have been disappointing. But we have mainly been excellent this season. We still average just under 3 goals per game. We’ve got a decent points return.

The issue is no one can compete with City.

We were the better team in the second half yesterday and created decent chances to win the game.

[Exiled_red]

It wasn’t about there being no pace, it was us losing the ball and them breaking on us. Hendo is no slouch and by all accounts Milner is one of the fittest in the club. We play with an incredibly high line, if we lose the ball in transition teams can be in on goal very quickly. I don’t think Hendo had his best game yesterday and I’d never start Milner in a game like that personally - but I’m not writing them off.

Some of the comment on this game are ridiculous. Chelsea are the current Champions League winners, not the dog and duck under 5’s.

The loss at Leicester was a poor performance, and some of the draws earlier in the season have been disappointing. But we have mainly been excellent this season. We still average just under 3 goals per game. We’ve got a decent points return.

The issue is no one can compete with City.

We were the better team in the second half yesterday and created decent chances to win the game.

There is something wrong in that midfield, we know the way that we play with a high line and that teams will get chances on the break, but the midfield isn't doing enough to limit those chances either by players being out of position, in the wrong position or not tracking runners for whatever reason. It has happened a few times in recent games, I'm not sure if it's because the midfield is constantly changing and no one knows their jobs properly or if the system needs tweaking but my feeling is there is something that just isn't right in there.

Our 3 in midfield were out fought by Kante and Kovacic who won the midfield battle for Chelsea, ok that's rare but again I think it highlights a problem area of the side. The midfield really isn't at it at the moment.

[Exiled_red]

Let's be honest our days of competing for the title are done for a while. Last year should have been ours but for VVD and no backup. And now this year we've done okay but now we're into likes of ox and milner and it's neve going to be enough against city.

Imo Klopps final job should be building another team that will peak a couple of years after he's gone, by which time Pep has left city and things will be more equal. They will still have more resources (as will chelsea, United, Newcastle) but they won't have the second best manager in world football too.. Which is just too much.

You could argue if that's Klopp's final job then actually it should be someone else's job to start now.

For me the next month with the guys away at the ACN is key for us. We need to get back to winning ways and keep ourselves in contention. City undoubtedly have the strongest squad in the league by far and that's difficult to compete with, but they have also got lucky both on and off the pitch in recent weeks. You get the feeling that they can't keep being this lucky and having none of their players affected by Covid while their opposition are often severely weakened. I feel that there has to be a time when they are affected, hopefully when this happens they will slip up and lose points. That said we really need to get our **** together an put a long string of wins together to have any chance.

[Doc_Piptorious]

It wasn’t about there being no pace, it was us losing the ball and them breaking on us. Hendo is no slouch and by all accounts Milner is one of the fittest in the club. We play with an incredibly high line, if we lose the ball in transition teams can be in on goal very quickly. I don’t think Hendo had his best game yesterday and I’d never start Milner in a game like that personally - but I’m not writing them off.

Some of the comment on this game are ridiculous. Chelsea are the current Champions League winners, not the dog and duck under 5’s.

The loss at Leicester was a poor performance, and some of the draws earlier in the season have been disappointing. But we have mainly been excellent this season. We still average just under 3 goals per game. We’ve got a decent points return.

The issue is no one can compete with City.

We were the better team in the second half yesterday and created decent chances to win the game.

This is it in a nutshell for me.

City have changed things completely.

Chelsea and us are both on course to have a high 70s or low 80s points tally type season. Both of us have dropped points against teams where in years gone by would have been seen as tricky enough fixures for title contenders.


But City have changed what title challenging looks like. Now to be in wth a chance of the title you need to be having a 90 point season or better. You need to be able to put together the sort of runs of wins that forces errors from City.

Teams like us and Chelsea are still very good teams who are doing pretty well by most standards, however City have created a new tier, a new level that needs another team to be almost flawless for an entire season in order to compete with them. Yes it will happen once in a blue moon, pun intended, but for any other team trying to maintain the standards needed to go after City is simply not something that can be done season after season as pretty mch no other club has the same resources to ensure the same quality in depth across a squad.

The Pemier League is like the bundesliga now. One team whose resources mean that team will nearly always be the one leading the pack and every few seasons one or two clubs rise enough to run the financially dominant team close for a season or two before the dominant team goes on to win a few more titles then rinse and repeat.

[Buzzo]

There is something wrong in that midfield, we know the way that we play with a high line and that teams will get chances on the break, but the midfield isn't doing enough to limit those chances either by players being out of position, in the wrong position or not tracking runners for whatever reason. It has happened a few times in recent games, I'm not sure if it's because the midfield is constantly changing and no one knows their jobs properly or if the system needs tweaking but my feeling is there is something that just isn't right in there.

Our 3 in midfield were out fought by Kante and Kovacic who won the midfield battle for Chelsea, ok that's rare but again I think it highlights a problem area of the side. The midfield really isn't at it at the moment.

To be honest I’m not disagreeing with anything - though the midfield did better second half.

It’s time for Ox and Keita to step up, but they seem incapable of putting a run of games together. When everyone is fit we have decent options - but the injury to Elliot and Jones has left us relying on Keita. Ox has been fit and has been ‘ok’.

It’s Covid and City that have done for us.

[fabinho]

It wasn’t about there being no pace, it was us losing the ball and them breaking on us. Hendo is no slouch and by all accounts Milner is one of the fittest in the club. We play with an incredibly high line, if we lose the ball in transition teams can be in on goal very quickly. I don’t think Hendo had his best game yesterday and I’d never start Milner in a game like that personally - but I’m not writing them off.

Some of the comment on this game are ridiculous. Chelsea are the current Champions League winners, not the dog and duck under 5’s.

The loss at Leicester was a poor performance, and some of the draws earlier in the season have been disappointing. But we have mainly been excellent this season. We still average just under 3 goals per game. We’ve got a decent points return.

The issue is no one can compete with City.

We were the better team in the second half yesterday and created decent chances to win the game.

The problem for me is that since winning the league, when we were far superior to City, we've begun drifting further and further behind. Key players are getting on and they're naturally regressing and will NOT be returning to their best. We're in a situation and mindset where this dominant team is now just hoping for the best over the season.

I don't think anyone is saying we expect to beat City every year, but through a lack of investment we've effectively thrown in the towel and allowed City to progress, when we were in such a strong position.

The majority of our squad is now either the wrong side of 30, injury prone, pretty average or a combination of all 3. Klopp is doing wonders but he needs more help from FSG.

How much are we able to spend anyway? We've been running pretty much net zero for years now, surely we can spend a fair bit if we want to?

[Buzzo]

I’d definitely be up for a few new faces just to freshen it up that probably means moving a few on, but that’s the nature of it.

I think Ox, Minamino, Phillips and Origi will all be up for grabs in the summer.

I feel we need a marquee signing a Bellingham or Haaland (or both) just a show of intent.

[Buzzo]

This is it in a nutshell for me.

City have changed things completely.

Chelsea and us are both on course to have a high 70s or low 80s points tally type season. Both of us have dropped points against teams where in years gone by would have been seen as tricky enough fixures for title contenders.


But City have changed what title challenging looks like. Now to be in wth a chance of the title you need to be having a 90 point season or better. You need to be able to put together the sort of runs of wins that forces errors from City.

Teams like us and Chelsea are still very good teams who are doing pretty well by most standards, however City have created a new tier, a new level that needs another team to be almost flawless for an entire season in order to compete with them. Yes it will happen once in a blue moon, pun intended, but for any other team trying to maintain the standards needed to go after City is simply not something that can be done season after season as pretty mch no other club has the same resources to ensure the same quality in depth across a squad.

The Pemier League is like the bundesliga now. One team whose resources mean that team will nearly always be the one leading the pack and every few seasons one or two clubs rise enough to run the financially dominant team close for a season or two before the dominant team goes on to win a few more titles then rinse and repeat.

Fundamentally why football needs to watch out.

[Kenneth]

I do think we’ve rested on our laurels, keeping the squad static but aging rather than refresh at great expense. But I suspect this is more out of necessity than a strategic plan, we can’t afford much else. And it has benefits of consistency, it’s already a strong team but it is gradually degrading with age in places. Giving Henderson a pay rise and four year deal at age 31 was pretty ridiculous imo, but then maybe they have to pander to the fans sometimes.

I’m not sure where we are going in terms of personnel and this will no doubt be another window without major reinforcements to the first eleven. Konate has made the back four look healthier, but we need significant midfield changes now, and attacking changes in the next couple of years. Maybe the major investment will be given to whoever replaces Klopp and we’ll kind of tread water until then.

[Exiled_red]

The problem for me is that since winning the league, when we were far superior to City, we've begun drifting further and further behind. Key players are getting on and they're naturally regressing and will NOT be returning to their best. We're in a situation and mindset where this dominant team is now just hoping for the best over the season.

I don't think anyone is saying we expect to beat City every year, but through a lack of investment we've effectively thrown in the towel and allowed City to progress, when we were in such a strong position.

The majority of our squad is now either the wrong side of 30, injury prone, pretty average or a combination of all 3. Klopp is doing wonders but he needs more help from FSG.

How much are we able to spend anyway? We've been running pretty much net zero for years now, surely we can spend a fair bit if we want to?

I do think we’ve rested on our laurels, keeping the squad static but aging rather than refresh at great expense. But I suspect this is more out of necessity than a strategic plan, we can’t afford much else. And it has benefits of consistency, it’s already a strong team but it is gradually degrading with age in places. Giving Henderson a pay rise and four year deal at age 31 was pretty ridiculous imo, but then maybe they have to pander to the fans sometimes.

I’m not sure where we are going in terms of personnel and this will no doubt be another window without major reinforcements to the first eleven. Konate has made the back four look healthier, but we need significant midfield changes now, and attacking changes in the next couple of years. Maybe the major investment will be given to whoever replaces Klopp and we’ll kind of tread water until then.

We needed to strengthen when we were on top, since winning the CL we have only really brought in Jota, Thiago and Konate. Although timing wise they weren't essentially Thiago and Konate are replacements for Lovren and Wijnaldum the only area we have really strengthened is up front with Jota and that's in 3 years. In that time other players have either reached their peak or just started to drop off. I also feel that there is the need to keep pushing themselves, the desire to win the league was clearly there for a couple of years but once they did it we seemed IMO to lose that edge.

[Irishnev]

This is it in a nutshell for me.

City have changed things completely.

Chelsea and us are both on course to have a high 70s or low 80s points tally type season. Both of us have dropped points against teams where in years gone by would have been seen as tricky enough fixures for title contenders.


But City have changed what title challenging looks like. Now to be in wth a chance of the title you need to be having a 90 point season or better. You need to be able to put together the sort of runs of wins that forces errors from City.

Teams like us and Chelsea are still very good teams who are doing pretty well by most standards, however City have created a new tier, a new level that needs another team to be almost flawless for an entire season in order to compete with them. Yes it will happen once in a blue moon, pun intended, but for any other team trying to maintain the standards needed to go after City is simply not something that can be done season after season as pretty mch no other club has the same resources to ensure the same quality in depth across a squad.

The Pemier League is like the bundesliga now. One team whose resources mean that team will nearly always be the one leading the pack and every few seasons one or two clubs rise enough to run the financially dominant team close for a season or two before the dominant team goes on to win a few more titles then rinse and repeat.

It’s slightly depressing when we have this team which could be argued as being the best side in our history........ and when you consider our history that is some claim....... but may only win one league. City have ****ed it - what they do cannot be matched and the level to compete with them requires almost perfection. I know Pep is a top manager but they have 16 £40m + signings and we have 6.

They have also spent £505 million net in the past 5 seasons and we have spent £92........ I know FSG should probably do more but maybe they are thinking what’s the point They have a league and CL and are maybe happy with that.......who the **** knows

[Maxiedge]

I think you guys are underplaying how good we are and the fact that we're currently experiencing unprecedented events. Currently we have:

Firmino
Origi
Minamino
Elliot
Alisson
Matip
Robertson
Thiago
Jones?

All out. Plus no manager. If you told we'd have to play Chelsea away missing all those players and prepare without a manager, I would take a draw before hand.

City won the Covid lottery but lets not lose track on how good we are and, imo, a level above Chelsea. First team is better than City but we need to improve the squad.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I’d definitely be up for a few new faces just to freshen it up that probably means moving a few on, but that’s the nature of it.

I think Ox, Minamino, Phillips and Origi will all be up for grabs in the summer.

I feel we need a marquee signing a Bellingham or Haaland (or both) just a show of intent.

Don't even think we need a marquee signing, just a number of good players.

Just say we went after only players who are in the final six months of their contracts this January and ignoring the really big names who are on that list.


Zakaria, Keisse and Kamara are all in their final six months if we want a midfielder or two who would be able to compete with those we have for a starting berth and who would all add phsicality and pace to our midfield

Belotti is in his final six months if we want a mobile striker with a really high work rate


There is the right back at Ajax whose name I cannot spell correctly without googling him. The Moroccan lad.

Defenders like Ginter or Denayer.

The Ajax keeper who got the ban, Onana, is also in the final six month and is a really good keeper.


Plus there are a lot of PL players of good quality in their final six months now.



Now I would love to see us going after top names, the marquee type sings like say Martinez for up front or someone like Barella for the midfield, but I do think there is some real quality to be had in the market this year when it comes to the players running down their contracts and more than a few look good enough to get into our team or at the very least look good enough to be far better than our current back ups.