19 Aug 2018 12:00:04
What do people think about what seemed to almost a free role allowed to Kante in the first half that saw him popping up in the box on the end of long passes or almost scoring with a header but not doing as much of his usual work in breaking up play / winning the ball back?

I was worried that this was exposing the defence in the first half, less so when Kovacic came on for Barkley in the second. Don't get me wrong, I also thought Barkley had a good game but was thinking that Kante would have snuffed out some of those Arsenal chances if playing more of his usual break-up attack game. so more often a bit deeper and not leaving Jorginho/ defense too exposed. when Arsenal got the ball.


1.) 19 Aug 2018
19 Aug 2018 12:32:49
It was a little strange, we got caught out by the same Arsenal cut back from either flanks 4 times in the first half.

I wouldn't say it's Kante's job to stop 4 of these cut backs, it's more than that. Both Alonso and Azpi got beat too easy for the cut back opportunity to even arise.

Maybe Kante in his usual position stops them but he cannot play the regista role unfortunately. I think Kovacic will be an asset here as he can tackle and has knack for crunching tackles and tracking back and more so than Barkley and RLC. I like the depth of our squad now, hopefully the more we play the better we get.


2.) 19 Aug 2018
19 Aug 2018 12:34:56
I thought the same, Kante's new role as it appears is leaving holes in our break up play which he is a master at and with Kovacic a likely starter from now we cannot rely on Jorghino as that is not his game. Barkley looked better but he does not rack back and is still fading too quickly. It was clear from Sarri's comments that he expects a lot of tracking back when required which 'one or two' do not like doing. Luiz looks lost and it cannot be going unnoticed by Sarri and in his preseason Ampadu looked very good, I am not convinced that Sarri is taken by Christensen. Anyone else worried by Willian and this constant slowing play and then disappearing.?


3.) 19 Aug 2018
19 Aug 2018 13:15:45
We are all happy with the seasons start.

The dream of winning the Premiership is all but over for Arsenal, not that was ever a realistic dream but such is the nature of a football supporter, the start of season allows us all to dream!

I’m not going to get carried away with early season results and I’m not going to praise OR be critical of individual performances.

We play Newcastle next week who are a bang average team until they play us and then they turn into an image of Brazil.

I think we will have much better idea of how the season will pan out after the upcoming international break. The signs so far are encouraging.


4.) 19 Aug 2018
19 Aug 2018 17:09:01
I thought Sarri plays zonal defence. Problem is we kept being wide open to the cut back. Bu
T this happened in other games pre season.
I have concerns about luis in defence. Just not sure he can be relied upon. Problem is if we are that open at the back against city or Liverpool we will lose. We look good going forward but we need to be able to defend leads.
I agree thought Barkley had a good game.


5.) 19 Aug 2018
19 Aug 2018 20:43:50
I would like to know what you guys and the Eds think of RLC not really getting chance sofar. If this goes on then we are sure to lose him aswell. Im not complaining about Kovacic loan deal at all. I tjonk it was brilliany. Just concerned that if things don't work out for us to buy him come season end and RLC want to go. We wod be loosing a really good prospect. Maybe we can use him more in the Carabao cup and even Europa. who knows.


6.) 19 Aug 2018
19 Aug 2018 22:22:47
I think Chelsea fans are struggling to evaluate RLC .

When I’ve seen him playing live for Chelsea at the Bridge I can’t say I’ve been overly impressed. I’m also not sure how he fits into this Sarri shape.

He has always struck me as a genuine number ten but from what I’ve seen his work rate is not marvellous.

Tammy, I just haven’t seen enough of him to make a judgment or balanced comment.

Hudson Odoi looked very good in pre-season but I’m not sure he play many Premiership games.

Youngsters need to be given a chance to prove themselves but the manager has a job and that is to win matches.

In my opinion it will always be a problem at a club like Chelsea to blood youngsters. They will have to be exceptional or maybe lucky to find the playing time required to prove their talents.

It’s a tough gig!


7.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 17:15:15
Its known that the owner likes high scoring games. he would rather win 8-7 than 1 nil. This style and manager is ideal. And i love 433. couldn't bear contes 3511.


8.) 20 Aug 2018
20 Aug 2018 21:10:08
Regarding the last comment on conte, I think his 3511 was more suited to a high pressing game than the current 433 we now have. If you look back at the run of games we had under conte were we won like 13 in a row, we pressed really high and looked a good team but as soon as we allow teams to play then we became vulnerable.
I’m a fan of sarri Napoli team and I am confident he can get Chelsea playing some really good football as we have already seen in stages, my only worry is we look very out of shape defensively and teams are a lot more difficult than in serie A. regarding Kante I’m impressed with his energy and willingness to break forward but his real quality lies in breaking up attacks which is more what we need to allow Jorginho to be more free. I think a slight switch to 4231 would give us the freedom attacking as well as having Kante hold that midfield.


9.) 21 Aug 2018
21 Aug 2018 10:44:03
A) 🔺 (Midfield shape A)
B) 🔻 (Midfield shape B)
C) flat midfield shape
Initially, i thought midfield shape A would serve us better than B esp in big games because of Kante's ball winning/ defensive midfield qualities (complementing Jorginho infront of the defense) but obviously Sarri goes with shape A which is more attacking. From what I can gather from Sarri's interviews, he wants to press more and wants the players (esp midfielders) to close up spaces that appear infront and defenders- behind. I could be wrong but I fell it's a system that will be very efficient with constant running and pressing for 90mins (when players get up to speed) .


10.) 22 Aug 2018
22 Aug 2018 09:15:55
Imagine if we had an aguero or a kane. Someone who can bang in 2 or 3 hatricks a season. I don't see morata being that guy. I think bats could have been. Also pedro is getting on. But yeah we look better than last season.


11.) 22 Aug 2018
22 Aug 2018 10:50:37
I believe that Morata can become that player.