For Chelsea in the Premier League, we went on to finish 3rd and ended up reflecting on what “might have been". Had we beaten teams we should’ve or had a more prolific striker.
Without the benefit of hindsight on this season, I’d snap your hand off for that situation right now, because I’d be extremely hopeful that this team would only go and get better.
I agree with Sarri (although some could say he’s trying to play us down to slip beneath the radar) when he says we’re not right defensively right now and I do believe better teams will punish us.
But although we’ve only really beaten teams we should be beating right now, I’ve seen enough to know if we can make a marked improvement on this, then we’re going to be a major threat once again.
The last time Hazard scored a Hat Trick....
posted on 17/9/18
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 2 minutes ago
Last season, seasons at Gladbach (where he's ball-playing ability wasn't stunted) and at youth level.
Comfortably our strongest performing defender last season, which coincided with our best run of games (conceding only 3 in 9 matches).
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Don't think he was better than Azpi last season. He made a few costly mistakes in some of the games and that was playing in a back 5.
Not sure he's quick either or suited to a high line. He's not better than Luiz at a ball-playing CB but I agree he's probably defensively better. Don't think he's the answer but I'm looking forward to seeing him play on Thursday.
posted on 17/9/18
I thought Azpi had a poor season by his standards last season. His assists to Morata overshadowed his poor defensive game.
posted on 17/9/18
Misguided chumps quick to discard him based on that one moment against Barcelona (game in which he defended well), that one moment skews/outweighs the largely brilliant season he had last season for some.
Christensen was defending better than Azpi and definitely quicker in a sprint (only second to Rudiger).
Ball-playing ability is the best we have at the club, misunderstood due to being stunted.
posted on 17/9/18
He doesn't have a better passing range than Luiz. I don't think Christensen was brilliant either, he was good but it helped him being in a back 3.
Luiz was brilliant in a back 3 the season we won the league because it suited him, far better than Christensen.
posted on 17/9/18
Yeah, you're not going to convince me otherwise on that one.
Leave at it that.
posted on 17/9/18
*Leave it at that.
posted on 17/9/18
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
Misguided chumps quick to discard him based on that one moment against Barcelona (game in which he defended well), that one moment skews/outweighs the largely brilliant season he had last season for some.
Christensen was defending better than Azpi and definitely quicker in a sprint (only second to Rudiger).
Ball-playing ability is the best we have at the club, misunderstood due to being stunted.
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CMF
agree wholehartedly, that one mistake turned into "he is prone to it" overnight despite being excellent 90% of the times he started
posted on 17/9/18
Agree with everything you said
We're playing very well considering the seismic shift in philosophy from previous management, but there's still a long way to go (offensively and defensively).
I'd take 4th (to keep Hazard happy) without a trophy now provided by the end of the season we (a) have a core established who can play this football as second nature, (b) have identified who doesn't fit and move them on, and (c) know the key positions that need strengthening and swiftly get the players in like we did with Jorginho.
To me this season is like Liverpool 2016-17. Achievements are secondary to the players and manager working towards building a playing style. It's the whole point of bringing Sarri in at all, if we wanted results instantly we should've gone for Allegri, Simeone or Zidane
posted on 18/9/18
I don't see the parellels with Liverpool 16/17.
We have a much better squad consisting of (important) title-winning and/or cup-winning talented players, far better equipped adjusting to Sarri's methods/philosophy.
posted on 18/9/18
I don't see the parellels with Liverpool 16/17.
We have a much better squad consisting of (important) title-winning and/or cup-winning talented players, far better equipped adjusting to Sarri's methods/philosophy.
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True, but doesn't mean the parallels in expectation from the season are different. Only clarifies Klopp had in harder in 2016 than Sarri has it now.
We can't expect a manager whose won nothing in his career to bring instant success, that's nonsensical. Least I hope the board realize that if we were to drift off the pace at some point this season.