₦airaland Forum

kingBolton:
I dont have a dog in your debate with air.mark but don't you think that our defensive problem started when pochettino came and tried that suicidal highline and heavy pressing from the front when the squad wasnt built for it? Remember maresca complaining about the highline after Madrid killed us in a pre season game. Is it not the same set of defenders that were conceding , that later pick up and started getting lots of clean sheets towards the end ?
Finally, I think the defensive problem we had was more of a structural problem or tactical problem rather than individual.

I actually don’t argue that at all. I was also one of the people criticizing Tosin, but he has been impressive in the last few games. Remember, we didn’t have any additions to our attack towards the end of last season, and we were keeping clean sheets even before we started signing players.

Also, I’ve never argued that we had a wasteful striker, just that we didn’t really have a scoring problem. Maybe we could have scored more, but it wasn’t our biggest issue.

Sometimes, a bad defence doesn’t always mean players need replacing; but that doesn’t mean they weren’t the problem. And majority of our problem were from Goalkeeper error, CB errors.

And that was what usually bring the Liverpool/PSG/Mancity argument. a lot of example of teams who have won league without a lethal striker

I laughed as some Chelsea fans put Jakujaku Jackson in their lineup against Psg. Maresca would have been sacked by now, if he had attempted that nonsense after JP sent us to the final with goals that Jackson wouldn't have scored.

You don't need to be a coach, to predict the right thing to do in selections. Common sense is enough to pick JP ahead of Jackson for that final. The rest is history.

Kudos to Maresca and the board once again for bringing JP and Delap at the right time and the improvement was there for all to see.

Enzo5:
👍🏾 now this is the best update nairaland has brought in, peace of mind. They can't quote me right

I think so
Since I blocked the crying Liverpool and man u fan here
I no longer see anything relating to them

Singapore1:
I actually don’t argue that at all. I was also one of the people criticizing Tosin, but he has been impressive in the last few games. Remember, we didn’t have any additions to our attack towards the end of last season, and we were keeping clean sheets even before we started signing players.

Also, I’ve never argued that we had a wasteful striker, just that we didn’t really have a scoring problem. Maybe we could have scored more, but it wasn’t our biggest issue.

Sometimes, a bad defence doesn’t always mean players need replacing; but that doesn’t mean they weren’t the problem. And majority of our problem were from Goalkeeper error, CB errors.

And that was what usually bring the Liverpool/PSG/Mancity argument. a lot of example of teams who have won league without a lethal striker

How anyone will disagree with the bolded, especially the italics, is mind boggling.

Defence was clearly our issue right from time. But when we talk of improvement in defence, people will automatically interpret it to mean buy new defenders.....

Maresca himself came in and identified our defensive issue, and started working on it immediately. Now that we are gradually reaping the benefits, people will be jumping all over the thread comparing how many players bought in attack vs how many players bought in defence, as if improvement is only when new personnel are brought in.

We scored 17 goals to win CWC as the highest scoring team. Now imagine we conceded like 16 goals. Can we win the trophy?

It is this same Chelsea that our attackers score 2 or more goals consistently per match, but we find it hard to gather 3points. Why? Because we conceded 2 or more goals consistently too. Our rivals will score 2 goals and win a match but we will score same 2 goals and draw or lose.

Scoring goals was never our major problem. We don't have a lethal number 9, yes. But we always score goals. In the just concluded CWC, 10 different players scored that 17 goals. We were the highest goal scoring team but we didn't produce the tournament's highest goal scorer. Why? Because we never needed a Haaland like we were made to understand Pep needed to win UCL. Goal scoring was shared by everyone.

2022/23 season we clearly had attack issue. When Jorginho, with 7 goals I think, was our highest goal scorer. We scored a paltry 38 goals while conceding 47. A minus 9 goal difference season. No wonder we ended 12th in the table.

2023/24 season our attack improved drastically. We score 77 goals but still couldn't break top 4. Why? Because of a record breaking 63 goals conceded. 63 goals! Who can win ANY title conceding 63 goals? Mind you, scoring 77 goals is enough to get you a top 4 finish. Heck, you can push for title challenge sef!

2024/25 season Maresca came in and improved our defence to an extent. Not the best yet, but the table clearly showed the improvement. We couldn't score the 77 goals of previous season ( we scored 64) but we made top 4. We achieved UCL spot. Why? Again the defence. Conceding just 43 goals is a massive improvement to the abysmal 63 conceded the previous season.

Numbers cannot lie. We are gradually reaping the benefits of an improved defence. And improvement in defence MUST NOT be signing new players. Maresca knew that. And he went to work immediately he came in. The image below are not my words....

MorataFC:

Some of them don’t even have a place they can call home. The other day, someone posted a link to a Liverpool thread on this page, so I decided to check it out. Lo and behold, it took them three months just to fill one page. Even albinos cemetery gets more traffic than their thread. They are irrelevant in their own space, the only time there voice is heard is when they show up here.
Without us, they’ve got no one to talk to, no banter, no audience, no life. Instead of joining the moving train, they’re busy throwing jabs out of jealousy. But it’s fine. God has a way of blessing those who accommodate the homeless.

Homelessness,,,Chaii... U have finished them 😂😂

Timbros doing renovation now.

This is your post few days before the August transfer window closed where you asked for an experienced CB to be bought after over a month that Tosin had joined. Now you are lying that you didn't ask for new defender that a tactical/formation change was what you meant.


After you guys argue ignorantly and foolishly, later when you are proved wrong, you will start denying.. You didn't even want an LW (support cast).

We became the World champions without the experienced defender you asked, now you are renovating your request for a new experienced CB. Shame on you Timbros.

timbros:
With or without Sancho, Sterling is already gone.

We don't need another LW ...Just get in an experienced CB and a CF.

Trim the squad down and we are good to go.

Below are your posts condemning the defenders and not the formation or tactics. Colwill and the defenders you condemned below, made us the World Champions.

timbros:
Airmark said we have 10 defenders so therefore, we are stacked in defence.

Our defence is very okay with Badashile, Disasi, Dr. Fofana, soon to retire Silva, Dr. Reece, Dr. Chilly etc etc...

Let's focus on attack. Once fixed, we are challenging for the next title!

timbros:

Is it the Colwill we watched earlier in the season or another Colwill?

MorataFC:

Some of them don’t even have a place they can call home. The other day, someone posted a link to a Liverpool thread on this page, so I decided to check it out. Lo and behold, it took them three months just to fill one page. Even albinos cemetery gets more traffic than their thread. They are irrelevant in their own space, the only time there voice is heard is when they show up here.
Without us, they’ve got no one to talk to, no banter, no audience, no life. Instead of joining the moving train, they’re busy throwing jabs out of jealousy. But it’s fine. God has a way of blessing those who accommodate the homeless.

Try to be nice na

airmark:
Timbros doing renovation now.

This is your post few days before the August transfer window closed where you asked for an experienced CB to be bought after over a month that Tosin had joined. Now you are lying that you didn't ask for new defender that a tactical/formation change was what you meant.


After you guys argue ignorantly and foolishly, later when you are proved wrong, you will start denying.. You didn't even want an LW (support cast).

We became the World champions without the experienced defender you asked, now you are renovating your request for a new experienced CB. Shame on you Timbros.



Below are your posts condemning the defenders and not the formation or tactics. Colwill and the defenders you condemned below, made us the World Champions.

Why did you stop at August transfer window? Why don't you go further down in February when the argument just started and post what I said below?

timbros:


If I can get ONLY 3 players with 200m, I'll get a CB and CF. The last spot will be either of LW/RB/LB.

Fofana, Chilwell, James all have terrible injury records. Silva is already semi retired. These are defensive positions that needs reinforcement critically. I have not even mentioned the goalkeeper department.

Our left and central side of attack currently needs upgrade.

So you see that our problem is not just attack.

And apart from just signing players, we need a coach that can actually upgrade the players we currently have. A different coach can come in and change these crop of players to monsters and drop the jaw of football world. These are young players that can be moulded.

Mourinho came into Chelsea in 2004 and suddenly Geremi became solid. Terry became a rock. Lampard already have the talent but he became much much more better. Joe Cole became a terrorist. Even soft Glenn Johnson deliver wenever he was called upon..... All these are players Mourinho met in Chelsea. So apart from his signings, he still improved the players he met in the club.

Chelsea issue is not just attack.

You see the problem with you is intentional misinterpretation to suit your agenda. I clearly advocate for improvement of defence, as there is where our major problem lies. Improvement can be done either way: get new players OR work on the players already in our pay roll.

Our most experienced defender left and I asked for a replacement. Is that wrong? The same post where I asked for experienced defender, I also asked for a CF. Why didn't you highlight that? If I say we have absolutely no problem in attack, why will I ask for CF?

I criticise Colwill because he was not living up to expectation then. I am not you that will never acknowledge improvement from a player you criticise. More than half of posters criticise Cucurella here at some point. But look at his improvement today... Should we say because we criticise him before, we will continue bashing him? Palmer's signing was criticised by some here. But the same people is praising him today. It takes humility to do that. Even Jackson was praised here sometime last season cuz of his overall improvement. People praised him except YOU. doest that make you right and everyone else wrong?

timbros:
Why did you stop at August transfer window? Why don't you go further down in February when the argument just started and post what I said below?

So I should refer to your view in February and ignore the one few days to the end of transfer window in August, when we've already got Silva replaced by Tosin, right? You insisted on getting an experienced CB after Tosin was brought and you were even mocking the defence after the season started and they were conceding. You are a joke.

timbros:
You see the problem with you is intentional misinterpretation to suit your agenda. I clearly advocate for improvement of defence, as there is where our major problem lies. Improvement can be done either way: get new players OR work on the players already in our pay roll.

Ogbeni, hold your L and stop renovating your view. You asked for a new CB few days to the closure of transfer window and even mocked my post when we were conceding during the season. Be a responsible man.

timbros:
Our most experienced defender left and I asked for a replacement. Is that wrong? The same post where I asked for experienced defender, I also asked for a CF. Why didn't you highlight that? If I say we have absolutely no problem in attack, why will I ask for CF?

I criticise Colwill because he was not living up to expectation then. I am not you that will never acknowledge improvement from a player you criticise. More than half of posters criticise Cucurella here at some point. But look at his improvement today... Should we say because we criticise him before, we will continue bashing him? Palmer's signing was criticised by some here. But the same people is praising him today. It takes humility to do that. Even Jackson was praised here sometime last season cuz of his overall improvement. People praised him except YOU. doest that make you right and everyone else wrong?

I told you Tosin was ok and injured defenders like Colwill, James, Fofana would improve our defence. That's when you started attacking Colwill's ability. You and others condemning Colwill and Cucurella exposed your limited ability to evaluate player's ability. You wouldn't see me among you guys doing that.

Ogbeni, leave story and accept that you goofed for condemning our defenders. Had we performed woefully last season, you would have gone to town that you asked for an experienced CB and nothing happened and blame our failure on Colwill and our defenders and not the coach, for not improving the defence as you now claimed. And ofcourse you would have dragged me for trusting the defenders.

Keep quiet and lick your wounds, as we have become the World Champions with the same defenders, no additional CB as you wanted and like I requested since last year January, with a new and better finisher upfront.

Timbros, be a responsible man and accept when you goof. It's disgraceful when a grown man like you is telling lies on a public platform.

This is one of your numerous posts you condemned the personnels in the defence and as usual defended your jakujaku Jackson..

Stop embarrassing yourself.

timbros:
Again, Jackson is not the only striker who miss chances.

Are you telling me that it's Fofana James and Colwill that will help you keep clean sheets that will improve the defence?

You still blasted Colwill during the season because we didn't sign another CB as you suggested after Tosin was brought in.

timbros:
Have your defence improved with Colwill? How many cleansheet can you boast of this season?

Shame on you
.

Gucciboy:
Your Ls dey too massive

4 times with zero league title. Your club just dey waste money

Trevor012:
My team will finish above your team. You are so sure united will fight for relegation yet you cannot put your 100k to my 2k that you will finish above us. Yeye dey smell

Put 500k, that United finishes above Chelsea and I will also put 500k that Chelsea will top United this season. Are you in?

Gucciboy:
You don shift attention to crystal palace

After Crystal Palace, he will wait for Watford to deal with us

Sportsweb:
Put 500k, that United finishes above Chelsea and I will also put 500k that Chelsea will top United this season. Are you in?

I thought as much. So all the mouth you were making about United fighting relegation were just empty misyarning. United will fight relegation yet you dey fear to chop 2k. Shameless Chelsea fan

World champion wey dey fear. United will fight relegation yet you cannot Put your 100k to chop free 2k

airmark:
So I should refer to your view in February and ignore the one few days to the end of transfer window in August, when we've already got Silva replaced by Tosin, right? You insisted on getting an experienced CB after Tosin was brought and you were even mocking the defence after the season started and they were conceding. You are a joke.



Ogbeni, hold your L and stop renovating your view. You asked for a new CB few days to the closure of transfer window and even mocked my post when we were conceding during the season. Be a responsible man.



I told you Tosin was ok and injured defenders like Colwill, James, Fofana would improve our defence. That's when you started attacking Colwill's ability. You and others condemning Colwill and Cucurella exposed your limited ability to evaluate player's ability. You wouldn't see me among you guys doing that.

Ogbeni, leave story and accept that you goofed for condemning our defenders. Had we performed woefully last season, you would have gone to town that you asked for an experienced CB and nothing happened and blame our failure on Colwill and our defenders and not the coach, for not improving the defence as you now claimed. And ofcourse you would have dragged me for trusting the defenders.

Keep quiet and lick your wounds, as we have become the World Champions with the same defenders, no additional CB as you wanted and like I requested since last year January, with a new and better finisher upfront.

You can go and hug transform3for all I care.

The numbers condemned our defence, not me. Conceding 63 premier league goals is not the kind of defence a club of Chelsea's status need.

Maresca knows that. That is why he prioritised fixing of defence as soon as he came in.

If attack was the major problem, he wouldn't say the below in one of his first interviews. I care less what Airmark think is our major issue. The coach came in, identified the major issue, stated it and worked on it. Whatever you think is completely irrelevant.

We are gradually reaping the benefits of a good defence.

Just like Singapore1 schooled you, our attack output have not had much difference compared to other seasons. The major difference is that we are conceding less now.

Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta comes to mind for lasts year's Serie A title challenge.

Now go back to the background because I have given you the enough dose of attention to last your for weeks. Continue your repetition for all I care.

I hear xavi Simmons is coming to Chelsea

timbros:
You can go and hug transform3for all I care.

The numbers condemned our defence, not me. Conceding 63 premier league goals is not the kind of defence a club of Chelsea's status need.

Maresca knows that. That is why he prioritised fixing of defence as soon as he came in.

If attack was the major problem, he wouldn't say the below in one of his first interviews. I care less what Airmark think is our major issue. The coach came in, identified the major issue, stated it and worked on it. Whatever you think is completely irrelevant.

We are gradually reaping the benefits of a good defence.

Just like Singapore1 schooled you, our attack output have not had much difference compared to other seasons. The major difference is that we are conceding less now.

Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta comes to mind for lasts year's Serie A title challenge.

Now go back to the background because I have given you the enough dose of attention to last your for weeks. Continue your repetition for all I care.

Yes its true. The defence is the obvious problem of Chelsea and airmak is not seeing it. He has forgotten shaloba had to be recalled because the likes of broda shile and disasi were not reliable to be called upon. At some point, caicedo had to slot in at right back when gusto was wobbling and fumbling in the absence of James. Even despite the return of shaloba, the defence was still leaking goals like burst pipes with Sanchez not helping matters at all

airmark:
I laughed as some Chelsea fans put Jakujaku Jackson in their lineup against Psg. Maresca would have been sacked by now, if he had attempted that nonsense after JP sent us to the final with goals that Jackson wouldn't have scored.

You don't need to be a coach, to predict the right thing to do in selections. Common sense is enough to pick JP ahead of Jackson for that final. The rest is history.

Kudos to Maresca and the board once again for bringing JP and Delap at the right time and the improvement was there for all to see.

They want to sell him for 80m. Is it a fair price considering the fact he is average?

Enzo5:
moving faster than xavi deal, it may due to chelsea and rbl discussing emeka
Great addition to the team 👍🏾

All these players coming, will all of them be able to play? Up to 40 and non has been sold to leave space for playing time

Ballzproblem2:
Hato here we go soon ,veiga to ATM off , ATM have switched to another target due to our demand fee.

You haven't said anything about sterling

Gucciboy:
I forgot friends of real betis and Antony the Goat New season go start soon for Friends of Crystal Palace

Some people don chop heartbreak tire

friends of Everton, wolves, Ipswich, Tottenham, Southampton fellow relegation contenders

Katcall:
I hear xavi Simmons is coming to Chelsea

hear no more

Amethyst101:
Let them wail more.
Premium salty tears

We haven't even spent 2 weeks yet as champions, tears don full everywhere.

Abeg make person calculate how many weeks and days left to harvest their premium tears

It will be utter disaster followed by disappointment if this world champions crash out of the CL next year

Buying players and no quality keeper to displace Sanchez is laughable. We will be here next season

Katcall:
You haven't said anything about sterling

Na me be sterling agent?

Katcall:
Buying players and no quality keeper to displace Sanchez is laughable. We will be here next season

Sanchez won US trophies respect his name,if ask you for gk target now you go dey mention bums.

Katcall:
Buying players and no quality keeper to displace Sanchez is laughable. We will be here next season

We have stick to Sanchez because l don't know if there are quality goalkeepers now. I would have wanted Donarumma from psg but his salary demands plus CWC final performance shows that there are no perfect goalkeepers now.

Katcall:
It will be utter disaster followed by disappointment if this world champions crash out of the CL next year

Every team will crash out of the champions league except the finalists and ultimately the champions because at the end of the day winning it is all that matters.

Katcall:
They want to sell him for 80m. Is it a fair price considering the fact he is average?

You bought average Snoop Dogg for €95m,is that a fair price?

Trevor012:
4 times with zero league title. Your club just dey waste money

You have spent more money that mancity since pep guardiola came to England yet Zero epl titles and Zero champions league since 2013. Are you not ashamed?

drisham:
We still need a good goalkeeper and one more cb


Bayern should take simmons if they want

Make Leipzig no use opportunity scam us

Name 3 good goalkeepers you want Chelsea to sign?