₦airaland Forum

Cant believe Billy Gilmour cant get into this terrible Norwich side

Academy day so far

I wont lie Jorginho and Kovacic have a great understanding and synergy

Skimpledawg:
I think TT was pissed at the person he passed to not the pass itself.

No he mentioned Jorginho

Skimpledawg:
Jorgs is beginning to increase his forward passes

Better

Funny enough, TT was pissed at him for it. Saw him screaming at Jorgi

TT's post match comments

What is the latest with the injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner?

"I don't know too much more than you. Romelu twisted his ankle with the foul in the box and Timo has a hamstring injury. It will take a while for both of them. We need more examinations to be more precise but they will be out for some matches.

Do you regret not resting Romelu now given his injury?

"If I knew before I wouldn't have done it. But you can't know it before and it was necessary that he was on the pitch and he started very strong. I spoke with him about the situation, that I think he carries a bit of mental fatigue around with him. I think that is also normal but he is our number nine and is our reference upfront.

"The best thing against mental fatigue is a goal and we knew we could be the dominant team. We knew we wanted to build our attack today with Mason and Timo around him and him as the reference.

"I had the strong belief that in a Champions League match he could turn things around in terms of scoring and being decisive, which he did because he was super strong in our start. He took the foul and without him maybe it's not 2-0

"So I don't regret it. It's not a muscle injury or because of physical fatigue. He is a little bit overplayed, this is my opinion and maybe I'm not even right. But this was a moment to give him confidence and let him play. I don't regret it, things like this can happen. It was bad luck."

What did you make of the performances of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Kai Havertz after they came on and do they have a chance to make an impact now?

"Always, always a chance and it is always necessary to prove a point. They can prove a point now so we will have some games without Romelu and Timo so everyone is invited to join the race for minutes on the pitch.

"When they are on the pitch, they need to show their hunger and determination to be decisive and be in the box.

"This is how it is and they did it today but there's still room to improve and on Saturday we need the same hunger and determination from whoever starts for us because we need goals to win matches. We need to find solutions without Romelu and Timo, that's clear. Everyone will join the race to be decisive for us."

Was the team you picked today evidence of how important a win was today after losing to Juve?

"We take the games step by step, there is no more important game than the game we play on this day. Jorgi [Jorginho] didn't play against Brentford, we went with Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] who was there during the international break.

"The guys on the pitch deserve to start, there are no gifts or resting players because the next game is more important. We pick the best line-up in our belief to have the best chance to beat Brentford and then we pick the best line-up on this day to beat whoever arrives in a Champions League match.

"The next is like this. Saturday, 12.30, we will again pick the best team. We will look at the data and be very professional in recovery. It will be easy preparation: we want the same performance again. This will be one of the shortest pre-match meetings in my history of coaching because we want every the same as tonight: energy, effort, deep runs, ball wins.

"We have the chance to switch some positions, to demand from everybody physically the same input and then let's see."

thorrvik55:
Never giving the ball away?

That's a big lie. He gave the ball away for no reason at all multiple times in the first half.

He later grew into the game tho

Take it up with UEFA

Jorgiboy

Juve had to score. Damn

Kai's moves are class

My boys making me smile

Popizaino, did u see the long ball from Jorginho.

Mount drifting to the wing as usual

TT's pre-match press conference

Kai Havertz has struggled recently, this season he's not got to that top level we hoped?

Yeah, that's a fact, and he does everything to reach this level again and we do everything to help him. He's an important player for our squad.

He had many games to start with, he started strong, he was very strong in pre-season. The story has not changed, but he lacks the statistics of decisive things, of goals and assists.

He needs to fight his way back into the team, and he gets minutes and this can happen any time. We trust in him, and we believe in him, and the rest has to come from him, and he's willing to do so.

He's in a good shape, he's in a good mental state, he knows what he's fighting for and that's the situation right now.

Favourable games coming up, chance to experiment with formation?

Yes. Yes and no, we are always thinking about it.

But is it really a tactical thing? And does it have less value that we are a difficult team to play against rather than being a team that scores always easily three goals?

Is this the right step to take? This is the question. Of course we can take this step when we are fully convinced it's the moment to select more offensive players.

But it's also about balance, this game is about balance. And the main point is we stay active no matter what structure we play and the guys help each other on the field.

I think we can create chances in any kind of structure.

Of course we think about everything but you have to find the right moment, because like I said, there are also a lot of reasons to stay in our structure and increase and improve the behaviour within the structure because it's most important how we play, that we stay aggressive.

We can also score from counter-attacks, ball wins, and it's not only about creating chances against opponents defending deep. A lot of opponents are defending deep against us at the moment.

It's maybe the most difficult, so we are looking for solutions, this is why we are here. One solution could be like you said to change formation, for more offensive players, so let's see.

What threats do you see in Malmo?

I think in general they are a team that plays with a lot of confidence, in their own style, and they trust in what they are doing.

They are maybe not used to this highest level, that's why maybe they are struggling at the stat of the group stage, because the league in Sweden is not the same level as CL.

But they have a certain style, they trust that style and they are very confident within that so we absolutely should not underestimate them, respect them like any other team.

It's a very successful coach, a very successful coach as a player and team that trusts its own style and can hurt you at any moment if you're not awake.

Are the players still adjusting to Romelu Lukaku's style having gone six games without a goal?

This will increase every day because we are in the process of adapting to each other.

In the very moment I feel Romelu a bit overplayed. I think he played too many competitions over the summer, too many competitions with the national team and now he has played the Nations League.

He is a fantastic athlete and such a competitive guy that he digs in deep, he wants to win these things and he never takes it easy and judges games.

He wants to be out there and win so I know how much he wanted to have a good outcome for Belgium in the Euros, and the Nations League meant a lot to him too.

It was a huge match for him personally, it means a lot to him to play for his country. So he takes it really seriously and if it doesn't go well he always takes it on his shoulders.

I feel him a bit mentally tired. Not hugely that we have concern but for me he does not fully enjoy without having second or third thoughts, for me he overplayed and this is the key point.

Once he finds his rhythm and things a bit easier he will be fine but it is hard to judge if he really needs a break or if we need to keep him on the pitch.

The next international break is coming but this is what I feel, particularly for him. Some other players too for me is the same with Mason and Jorgi, they struggle. They have a lot of weight to carry for the countries, they take it and they love it, they are competitors.

If you play 1000 matches a year it can feel heavy although they love the game. This is what I feel.

Said you didn’t know who was nominated for Ballon D’Or, what have you done with your Coach of the Year award?

I don’t have a room for it, it is not in my office that everybody sees. I love my work, every day and that doesn't change if I get a trophy or not.

I am very grateful that I got it, it is unbelievable to have it but I will not change my opinion on it.

Players aren’t at full tilt - playing too much football right now?

Our players? Yes, I think we lack a little bit of form and enthusiasm in the last percent and I think that one big reason is that we play too much.

Not “we” as a club, but the players play too much. This is the situation right now and what we are facing but this is nothing new, the next break is coming soon and it won’t change.

We also have another competition in January or February to play in and sometimes things can look a bit harder than it should be but don't forget this is the Premier League.

It is the toughest league in the world and there is no shame in having a tight match against Brentford and there is absolutely no shame in getting a late winner against Southampton, it is what it is.

It is important that we are not too critical of ourselves. You have hard r moments, you fight through them and be a team nobody likes to play against. We get ourselves in a good way and then we try to improve.

It isn't easy for any team in the Premier League to win any game so maybe this is normal and we have to embrace the situation that is difficult at the moment. We are finding our ways to win the games at the moment. There is still room to improve and we lack form and freshness, a bit of joy, and for me a key reason is not the mentality or attitude it is nothing else but what you said.


If you think about it, if you travel through time zones, in a hotel, then you change the hotel, one day at home, see family, then back to hotel, play at Brentford then it’s Champions League, it can be tiring and I can only repeat it, I am a big big friend of quality and quality player need to be in shape.

This is simply, too much football in too many competitions.

Christian Pulisic - has he had a setback as he has been out for quite a long time?

He got injured with the USA, he had a tough foul on his ankle. There is nothing to worry that we are hiding details or not telling you, I cannot give you the details because I am simply not a doctor.

He has some setbacks from pain, not from a major injury or complication; it is simply pain in the ankle that disturbs him.

When players like Christian, with their quick movements, they feel this pain and are not free in the movement, the recovery is not happening so you start all over again then the pain comes back when you reach a point, then you pause and start all over again.

We are very close. He was so close to coming back to team training last week but then he had a setback and a little reaction in pain, nothing serious.

He is very impatient, we can see him suffer in every meeting and when we see him here. He wants to be on the pitch and help us, to do his best but unfortunately the injury takes its time.

Source: https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/fixtures-results/chelsea-pulisic-lukaku-havertz-tuchel-21903894

donjazet:
I'm very surprised finding this about Lukaku. That signals a high level of intelligence.

He's belge.

They speak multiple languages. De bruyne speaks 6 or so


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY2zSRtSA5I

CAPdan21:
The part u quoted is a small part of the wider idea...the way I see it either the attack start clicking soon or the title challenge will be bust when and if Chelsea defensive records worsen

Well....so far so good, We arent there yet

Also I was analyzing some stat breakdown yesterday and I can tell you that we clearly have the highest post shot xG differential in the whole league so contrary to what's been said, our defense hasnt been that great, just that we havent been conceding.

Again, we've also scored the 2nd highest number of goals so far; Infact if u ignore the 5 goals outlier from Liverpool in the last game, we could be 1st, So not that bad

Also remember that we are nicking results despite many of our key players from last year are unavailable/not in form ( Silva, Jorginho, Kante, Pulisic, Havertz etc)

Anyway like I said, things are still settling in place. Let's see what TT has done by December

Havertz10:
what's the point?

We can bearly beat weak team, big team dominate and beat us

What exactly are we accomplishing now with this system?

Well....We are still topping the league (for now).

I'll give it time (at least until December) to see how things are. The addition of Lukaku had to change our dynamic.

Also it's not like we havent switched formations, We've played a mix of 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 this season. I also remember us going for 4-2-4 in the Man City game . TT clearly has his ideas

Havertz10:
tuchel is either going go change his formation now that we have an easy run of games to fine tune it or he wants till december and it will be bloody for him and I really want him to stay at Chelsea for long

I don't understand the man, I expected him to be smarter than this, it's disappointing, we were playing a small team and you set the team up like a mid table team, we haven't played a single game this season that I can agree that we played well, something has to change

Here is the thing, TT isnt a Mourinho, Allegri who play ultra defensive

Tuchel has a track record of playing quick transitions attacking football everywhere he's been, If anything, Chelsea's the outlier. I havent even seen him tinker as much in Chelsea. Something he's been notorious for all his career. Tells you he's trying to exercise a lot of caution while getting the best of our parts

At PSG, Tuchel played a lot of 4–3–3 (sometimes 4–2–2–2) with lots of overloads and plenty of style to emphasize the attacking capabilities of wide forwards Neymar and Mbappe. Especially as Neymar didnt want to play on the wing to avoid tracking back

This cannot work here cos our wingers cannot make the right moves in terms of finding space between the lines of defense and midfield to disorganize the opposition. I cant count the number of times I get pissed at CHO and James for ignoring vacant spaces in front of them only to pass the ball allowing the other team to regroup and we become predictable.

CAPdan21:
I have said this many times, often getting flak from fellow Chelsea fans who laud Tuchel as some sort of Messiah, but the system we play is very effective, collectively, but doesn't get the best out of anyone except the defenders and keeper on an individual level.

The problem is that we have a surfeit of No.10 types and a lack of true wide players, which is what you need to get the best out of Lukaku. And the true wide players we have, basically CHO (who rarely gets a game and is used out of position at RBW mostly when he does) and Ziyech (who plays crap when he does get a game, every time he returns from injury before picking up another injury), don't get used effectively because Tuchel refuses to play any system that doesn't involve a 3-4- or 3-5- base.

So, what we end up with, more often than not, is a tight defence and an ineffective attack. But it's enough to scrape through most games. And this is where I have an issue with the fans who turned on Lampard. At least Lampard tried to find a solution that used a back 4, got an extra attacker on the pitch and used players in more natural positions.

Tuchel, on the other hand, refuses to even try anything similar, even against lower league teams in cup games or weaker PL teams. We have no Plan B. Lukaku is clearly not best suited by Plan A, the only plan we have.

We have players who can be devastating when played out wide, such as CHO on the left and Ziyech on the right, or Pulisic. Even Werner can be effective used out wide.

So, are we top of the PL? Yes. Are we picking up points? Yes. Are we equal to the sum of our parts? No, we are not. The question is, when does the manager admit that and try to play a system that does allow us to equal the sum of our parts?

No doubt I'll catch flak from fellow Chelsea for daring to utter such heresy, but I prefer reality to blind idolatry.

Copied!!...Thoughts??

Disagree heavily. Lampard was clueless and trying to force a double 8 system.

There is no system that accommodates this crop of players without his flailings. I do understand why TT goes conservative.

eazzzy1:
When you register with CFA, you get a study material from them, these materials are very bulky and generally considered a waste of time because of its depth. These materials could go up to 3000 pages. People prefer to buy external study packs that summarize the CFAI material. That’s where Schweser comes in.

You may have a situation where you think Schweser didn’t do a good job explaining a topic or a concept, that’s when you go to the CFA material for a better grasp of the topic. You gerrit now?

U may wanna use Mark in the future to truly grasp the material. Not very many people would recommend Schweser

shaybebaby:
I guess you can drop mic at this point.
Brilliant searches and counters to my reservations.
I guess I keep schtum now.

I hope ure not thinking the comic book guy

404Dev:
The case was judge by cythnia Adams a black woman which rubbishes the racism claims earlier.

She was probably in the (against) child crimes unit at some point in her career. Probably has a daughter too

That sentence says a lot

Post match interview with TT

How important was that performance from Edouard Mendy today?

"He was very strong throughout the whole match. We managed to keep pressure away from him in the first 65 minutes but they were dangerous with their set-pieces as they put a lot of free-kicks and throw-ins into your box. So they are a constant threat.

"He was very strong and concentrated in the build-up play. It was a good performance. The last 20 minutes, the game became a cup game as they took a lot of risks and put a lot of bodies in our box.

"We couldn't keep them away from shooting and having big chances and it was decisive to escape with a clean sheet."

You spoke about Ben Chilwell having mental fatigue after the summer, but how pleased are you now with his improvement?

"I am very happy but it was necessary. We need everybody and a player like him in top shape but you can't force things. I was honest with you guys, I felt he was tired and a bit mentally drained so it took time.

"He got his chance against Southampton and he took it. He was able to score and play for England which gave him more confidence and today again he was strong.

"He's in good shape but we need him in this shape because we have many games in many competitions to play. I'm happy and it was a decisive goal that will give him confidence."

You brought off Romelu Lukaku, are you concerned with his form and with the fact he's been isolated in recent games?

"I felt him a bit tired today. Altogether we did a very strong 60 to 75 minutes, including Romelu and Timo. I am not concerned as I felt him a bit tired and then isolated because we were defending as a block too deep.

"Both of them, Timo and Romelu, were too far away to help us and escape the pressure. That was the problem today. But I have no concerns.

"Normally, the best thing is he scores but he is very unselfish at the moment, looking for Timo in good situations, and when we had him in the situation it was a close offside decision."

Edouard Mendy wasn't included on the 30-man Ballon d'Or, but should he have been?

"Yes...but no. I’m happy and it is more important that he performs like this than he is on any list.

"It should not, I hope it does not, bother him because it does not bother me too much and it seems like he is not influenced by that which is a good thing.

"I think that we could be on that list as a whole team because we won that trophy as a team and if we have five names or six names I have the feeling we won it as 21 guys and everybody played his role. That’s how football works.

"Today we relied heavily on him again. He is the guy he is and everybody is so happy for him that he can help us. So everything is good."

Source: https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-mendy-tuchel-lukaku-chilwell-21881833

TT's post-match comment with Sky

"In the end the last 20 minutes were suddenly a cup game. They had nothing to lose and they found momentum. It felt like we had one player less.

"We were not clear enough in the challenges. They found the belief and we focused too much on defending.

"I was very content with the first 65-70 minutes where maybe we should have scored more.

"It helps if we have Toni [Rudiger] or Thiago [Silva] to help calm the game down and with that first touch to counter the pressure. We trust the guys who are young, if you don’t play you cannot get experience.

"It is better to be there [top of the table] but there are way too many teams who are close so it it not the main point in October."

Segedinho:
The mid was still balance when he came on.


Not until the generational idiot came.

Mount stated d attack that lukaku missed..

U dont even know the formation we played.

What a joke

Lol....

Midfield completely disappeared as soon as Mount came on and these guys are spinning and blaming Kai who played just 15 mins.

Do u guys watch the game or just spout rubbish.

I dont even like Kovacic but I'll be the first to admit the game changed with his sub.

In hindsight, Mount should have come on for Kante not Kova even though Mount didn't justify his appearance. Look at how the midfield came easy for Brentford

Can't blame TT, he was on a yellow

Nawa oo

TT was screaming at Lukaku there.

Was too static for him

Almajirihunter:
You just get this confidence of not loosing the ball when Mount holds it, one thing I like about him, at this point Kai can come in for Lukaku

Look at that pass to Werner that Mount missed

Smh

And Donstan18 comes alive

Kovacic should go out now.

He's even on a yellow