Chelsea Thread

[ShadowDancer]

Anelka lost possesion on a few occasions in the 1st half.

Chelsea haven't seemed that inventive, quite surprised.

I guess city are stiffling them somewhat.

[Kongster]

City have taken the lead. 1-0.

[abigsmurf]

Euch awful game to watch. City attacked once, scored once, time wasted from 60 minutes.

Chelsea had nothing to offer, we sorely missed Lampard. All we had on the bench was kids. Ramieres was awful, he cost us the goal and endlessly gave away the ball. If that's the extent of his abilities, he doesn't deserve another start.

We have a buffer so it's not a disaster but it forces a result against arsenal.

[ShadowDancer]

The main offender for me was Anelka. I love Anelka for the record, he got caught in possesion and lost the ball more than anyone on the pitch.

Chelsea lacked in the final 3rd, balls down the left and right flank came to nothing, and through the centre, City just coped really well.

You had an off day, and I think Cole should of closed down the Tevez for the goal quicker, as the other defender picked the other player up.

Poor from Chelsea.

[prinnysquad]

That's punishment for not putting the Mags to the sword. You've hexed yourself.

[abigsmurf]

Anelka literally had 5 players on him when he got the ball. City unsuprisingly flooded the pitch with defensive minded players. City got lucky they hit the post and it went in, we hit the post and it rebounded out.

Other than Ramires being utter crap and us missing Lampard, it's not really indicative of a potential run of bad form.

[Matt]

I do enjoy the Smurf commentary. Quality entertainment man

Guess I'm the only one not surprised Chelsea lost. Pre-season they couldn't win ****. Season starts and due to pure luck, or a hefty pay-off, they face 5 crap teams in a row. As seen last season, Chelsea roll lower teams with ease. There's fear in the eyes for some reason. As in pre-season, they come across a half decent side, and they lose.

[Kongster]

So they'll lose against Arsenal next weekend, yeah?

[Matt]

I image yes. Am I the only one who saw them pre-season? They're a good team, and will roll any lower team with 4, 5, 6 goals. But against better organised teams with quality players? They're almost a different team.

[abigsmurf]

I do enjoy the Smurf commentary. Quality entertainment man

Guess I'm the only one not surprised Chelsea lost. Pre-season they couldn't win ****. Season starts and due to pure luck, or a hefty pay-off, they face 5 crap teams in a row. As seen last season, Chelsea roll lower teams with ease. There's fear in the eyes for some reason. As in pre-season, they come across a half decent side, and they lose.

To be honest, it was hardly a convincing win, they played like you would expect a lower team playing away to. Yes the tactics paid off but had Chelsea got that blatent penalty or their shot that hit the bar had gone in, City would've been screwed.

It's the kind of football you expect from a team fighting relegation. The quality City have make the games even duller to watch as they don't make the mistakes that shake the game up. A team like City shouldn't be stuffing the mid field at home because quite often, they won't get the lucky goal to put them in front.

I know you can point to Mourinho, he played tight football that was more functional than thrilling but he still played solid attacking football for as much as he needed. He didn't rely on breaks.

I image yes. Am I the only one who saw them pre-season? They're a good team, and will roll any lower team with 4, 5, 6 goals. But against better organised teams with quality players? They're almost a different team.

We played awful against shockingly bad teams too. Ancelotti was using the pre-season to ease back players from their (generally awful) world cups.

*edit*

Arsenal losting 2-0, Nice one Di Matteo.

[Matt]

Oh don't get me wrong, I far prefer your current style of play to the Mourinho days. You guys ripping a new one in the lower teams is a sight to behold, and you do it every week. It's hugely impressive, and if it came to goal difference, no one would touch you.

[abigsmurf]

I think that game needed a bit of luck and inspiration we just didn't have. Lampard was horribly missed, Essien can't replace his style of shooting and his attempts to were painful to watch (especially when he had plenty of space around him and could've run a bit in).

Ramieres has absolutely plummeted in terms of how I view him. It'll take a lot for him to make up for that performance.

Our bench was horribly horribly inexperienced. Sturridge and Kakuta aren't prime time yet. They're worth their place on the bench but they're not players who should be relied on to change a match. Putting on McIcannaespellhisname, a 17 year old in that kind of physical game was bizzarre. He was responsible to city's other attempt in the second half.

Anyhow, next game will be a better indicator of our form. We outclassed Arsenal last year.

[Matt]

Well, Arsenal are currently down 2 goals, so that may not be the best indicator after all!

[abigsmurf]

3-1 against a team we utterly destroyed though.

[abigsmurf]

Well, this weekend has actually turned out pretty well in the end.

I was expecting us to draw and everyone else to win. It's turned out better than that.

3 points and a massive goal difference is nice.