18 Aug 2025 21:42:13
Xavi Simmons is a player who might just unlock these stubborn low blocks, for me, this is the most important transfer of this window, sign Simmons and we really challenge. Gittens is better suited to counter attacking football as is Pedro. With the low block you need a bit of guile and Xavi has that. Delap is a bully and also better against low blocks, he needs to start against West Ham who will almost certainly park the bus. They will double up on Palmer so let's play Estevao as well and let him weave his magic. Josh did ok and deserves to start and Sanchez kept a clean sheet so forget your personal agenda to be "proved right" and get behind him. (Ok, I'm being naughty there digging out our old agenda driven mate Jimbo), sorry Jimbo, just banter mate.

1.) 19 Aug 2025
19 Aug 2025 07:43:26
Have read many posts on dealing with the so called low block. IMO, the chances are and have been there to score and Chelsea simply do not take them. Similar to last year (not solely, but mainly down to Jackson) Chelsea miss good chances the game stays 0-0 and belief grows in the opposition players whilst dissipating in Chelsea. In fact it often ended up with the oppo getting one chance and scoring. The Santos miss at the weekend was a terrific move with a dream well played cut back onto a running midfielder with the goal gaping and only the GK to beat, the effort was absolutely ridiculous.

2.) 19 Aug 2025
19 Aug 2025 08:16:24
RPD, I don’t have a personal agenda against Sanchez . I’m sure he’s a nice bloke. I just wish he was a nice bloke somewhere else. Seriously, even before LC’s injury I had concerns about our defence . Ideally I would have liked 2 CBs (one at least experienced) and a GK. You won’t challenge at the highest level without a strong defence. Josh is a good player but I don’t see him long term as a CB. It appears we are starting the PL and Champions League campaign by “making do” with what we’ve got in defence which doesn’t bode well. Frankly, I don’t think Simons or Garnacho are going to make any significant improvement to the squad and we should concentrate on selling players and spend any spare cash on the defensive area.

3.) 19 Aug 2025
19 Aug 2025 09:26:33
Londonscot, you make a good point about our finishing, Estevao, Delap and that gilt edged Santos chance would of taken the points. Jimbo, in fairness to you, your posts have been very consistent in stating you feel we need to upgrade at CB and GK.

4.) 19 Aug 2025
19 Aug 2025 14:57:12
Playing against low blocks has been our problem for a long time now – predates Maresca, possibly even Clearlake/ Boehly (remember Tuchel's side to side rubbish? ) . But it's also just a very hard system to play against – even the great Barcelona side of the 2010s struggled to score against a certain Di Matteo-led side playing one. I think, personally, that one of our major issues (and often overlooked) has actually been the lack of goals we score from corners/ free kicks that aren't in shooting range. Since the days of Terry, Cahill, Iva and Alonso, we haven't had defenders/ mids offering a consistent threat from crossed balls. Think about how many we used to score under Mourinho. In those tight games where teams are sitting behind that can make all the difference – score one and they have to come onto you a bit. Just look at Arsenal; they'd have been nowhere like where they've been last few years without their set-piece prowess (and they are fantastic at it) .

5.) 19 Aug 2025
19 Aug 2025 19:07:52
EdW, I agree with you; none of our defenders pose a consistent threat from set pieces, and to make it worse Jackson is hopeless in the air. It is something that needs to be worked on . As you said set pieces can win tight games: you have to vary tactics. Watching the game on Sunday was proof of that:we never looked like scoring from open play.

6.) 19 Aug 2025
19 Aug 2025 20:22:59
Agreed Jimbo, Jackson is absolutely hopeless in the air. I'm hopeful that Delap, and Pedro in particular will do a lot better in that regard. It's worrying how few we score from corners – I do remember Colwill scoring a header from one I think (CWC? ), but really the last goal I can actually name us scoring from a corner without looking it up is that Koulibaly volley from like three seasons ago – and that wasn't even on the first ball in.

7.) 19 Aug 2025
19 Aug 2025 21:27:46
I wonder what the percentage of headed goals are now compared to ten or twenty years ago?

My guess would be considerably less.

Most wide players nowadays are picked and told to come inside.

The Gittens signing will be interesting because he is a lad who likes to have a dig. Maybe two often on occasions.

8.) 20 Aug 2025
20 Aug 2025 10:19:28
Thinking about it, maybe headed goals from set pieces has gone up in recent seasons.

9.) 21 Aug 2025
21 Aug 2025 10:06:23
I think Silva scored a few goals from corners for us and yes am pretty sure LC got one and perhaps TC another. But last couple of seasons have not seen many and was often thinking that we needed to take more short corners and recall Sancho scoring from one of those.