Chelsea 3-2 Leeds Utd Match Thread

[rab_rant]

Chelsea injuries

[DDB220]

I know quite a few have picked Firpo in their starting 11. Not for me on any day of the week against James. I can’t remember seeing Firpo block a cross yet. He is not ready, if he ever will be, to play at this level against the best teams. His issues can be masked against lesser teams but James will have him on toast today ( assuming he plays and isn’t injured ofc) I would play Dallas LB and have Shacks in midfield. According to Phil Hay Bates isn’t even in the squad today ???? He must be injured and I cannot imagine any other reason for his absence, other than the MB Paradox.

[Cjay]

I just want to see some tactical awareness from Bielsa today.

If we go gung ho like we did vs Manure and get battered that isn't acceptable.

If we try to be more sensible and get beaten that's more acceptable but being tactically naive and getting stuffed is never acceptable imo.

[White Riot]

I know quite a few have picked Firpo in their starting 11. Not for me on any day of the week against James. I can’t remember seeing Firpo block a cross yet. He is not ready, if he ever will be, to play at this level against the best teams. His issues can be masked against lesser teams but James will have him on toast today ( assuming he plays and isn’t injured ofc) I would play Dallas LB and have Shacks in midfield. According to Phil Hay Bates isn’t even in the squad today ???? He must be injured and I cannot imagine any other reason for his absence, other than the MB Paradox.

I think we should still persist with Firpo, as he's our only specialist lb. But yeah if he's getting roasted, need to haul him off.

Just Chelsea haven't been on song since Chilwell got injured, it's disrupted their play and balance. Since then James has also been affected and hasn't been as much dynamite as he was a little while ago. But he's often been a nemesis for us, and Brighton's wingback roasted Firpo.

Not surprised with Bate, maybe he's just not selected? If he's another one injured then gotta say our players have the durability of a chocolate digestive dunked in a hot cuppa tea.

[White Riot]

I just want to see some tactical awareness from Bielsa today.

If we go gung ho like we did vs Manure and get battered that isn't acceptable.

If we try to be more sensible and get beaten that's more acceptable but being tactically naive and getting stuffed is never acceptable imo.

I heard a stat that we're conceding like crazy at the start of each second half, between the 45th and 61st minute we've conceded 12 goals.

Maybe they're having a cup of cocoa and a kip at HT and still a bit sleepy?

[Cjay]

I know quite a few have picked Firpo in their starting 11. Not for me on any day of the week against James. I can’t remember seeing Firpo block a cross yet. He is not ready, if he ever will be, to play at this level against the best teams. His issues can be masked against lesser teams but James will have him on toast today ( assuming he plays and isn’t injured ofc) I would play Dallas LB and have Shacks in midfield. According to Phil Hay Bates isn’t even in the squad today ???? He must be injured and I cannot imagine any other reason for his absence, other than the MB Paradox.

Bielsa's attitude to u23s can be really odd.

He picks Jack Jenkins who I am confident will never make it here and I am sure MB never intends to bring him on.

It's like when he used to pick Jordan Stevens, nobody believed he would make it here, you could see it in the u23s.

Nobody I am sure thinks Jenkins is better than Bate (both midfielders), I am confident that is reflected inside the club with the coaches.

Yet for some reason Bielsa picks him.

Makes you wonder if Bielsa will only pick u23s who have had a year with the u23?

[Cjay]

I heard a stat that we're conceding like crazy at the start of each second half, between the 45th and 61st minute we've conceded 12 goals.

Maybe they're having a cup of cocoa and a kip at HT and still a bit sleepy?

Maybe they are listening to recordings of Paul Heckingbottom at half time?

[White Riot]

Maybe they are listening to recordings of Paul Heckingbottom at half time?

Can't believe we let him go

At least the Blunts have seen sense

One man's loss is another man's gain

[lufc1304]

Given our injuries, this feels like an exercise in keeping the score down. That's not me being a defeatist, more a realist, chelski are miles ahead of us. Agree with Cjay that we need to pack the midfield and play on the counter, otherwise we will be on the wrong end of a proper hiding.

[Scoobychief]

Where's Rodrigo?

[White Riot]

Meslier
Shackleton
Ayling
Llorente
Firpo
Forshaw
Dallas
Roberts
Raphinha
Harrison
James

What could go wrong

[Scoobychief]

Meslier
Shackleton
Ayling
Llorente
Firpo
Forshaw
Dallas
Roberts
Raphinha
Harrison
James

What could go wrong

Enough to frighten anyone that midfield

[White Riot]

We're up for a roasting here.

Shacks at right back, Ayling at CB, Roberts back in midfield, Harrison on the left wing and James at number nine.

Madness from El Loco.

[1964white]

Meslier
Shackleton
Ayling
Llorente
Firpo
Forshaw
Dallas
Roberts
Raphinha
Harrison
James

What could go wrong

Predictable

[White Riot]

Enough to frighten anyone that midfield

Frightens me, but not as much as Shackleton at RB, Harrison on the wing and James up top

Oh I forgot Ayling at CB

Cresswell who played great against Antonio will get a few more splinters in his arse.

Suppose I shouldn't be shocked.

[1964white]

Strong bench

Screenshot 2021-12-11 14.12.16.png (92.37 KiB) Viewed 1313 times

[White Riot]

Predictable

Fookin mental mate, this is getting beyond annoying and this is away to the team that's been leading the EPL most of this season.

[1964white]

Frightens me, but not as much as Shackleton at RB, Harrison on the wing and James up top

Oh I forgot Ayling at CB

Cresswell who played great against Antonio will get a few more splinters in his arse.

Suppose I shouldn't be shocked.

Nothing changes in Bielsa's world.

Just hope we can nick a point.

[1964white]

Fookin mental mate, this is getting beyond annoying and this is away to the team that's been leading the EPL most of this season.

I expected it, so I'm not too annoyed.

[White Riot]

Where's Rodrigo?

The craic was he has some heel injury, certainly not from back-heeling goals in.