Chelsea v Everton. 22nd Feb at 12.45.

[zandvoort blue]

Agree with us running out of gas.

Ossie had some excellent touches for first 60 minutes, even if he got easily blown off the ball by a passing breeze a couple of times. He then seemed to hit a wall at 60 minutes. Same for Pienaar: Gave Ivanovich trouble for the first hour but legs shot after that. Why Pienaar didn't have a dig from that chance on the left side of their box mid 2nd half too? Ross rightly gave him stick for that. Mirallas needs to write L and R on the bottom of his boots so he puts them on the right feet - lots of shooting practice for Kev this week coming up for those 2 wasted chances.

Chelsea were the much more aggressive side coming out for second half. In the end, I think it was a Title Winner's performance from them. They were not going to have any other result than the win they felt entitled to, so they beat us through their willpower, physicality and endurance, even though we had the lion share of possession in first half I thought (maybe just my blue-tinted specs tho). Snidely digs here and there from them and looking for free kicks, etc. We need to be much wiser than to leave a leg in if you've got blends like Ramires looking to go down on the edge of the box in the last minutes of a game. It wasn't a fair result but the first 60' puts down a good marker again, like the Emirates. Still, putting it in perspective, I'll take a 0-1 away at Fortress Chelsea and a good first half performance with a weakened team.

I'd try Foof and Ross on from the start of the next one, and Pienaar and Osman later in the game maybe.
Hoping we have a match fit striker for it too. Onwards and upwards. COYB

 

[Toffeelover]

Were you not watching yesterday? Osman played well for the 60+ minutes he was on and forced two cracking saves from Cech while Naismith led the line brilliantly and brought the midfielders into attacking areas

For 60 minutes, we need a player who can play the whole match, not a part-timer. Okay he may have looked decent yesterday but on the whole he has more rubbish games than good ones. AS I said at 33 should be out of it now and I hope he is not offered a contract extension.

If Osman is so good then how come in all his years of footy no other club or manager have ever come near him, they recognise him for what he is a very ordinary player.

 

[West London Toffee]

Yes the result didn't reflect the game and we lost the 3 points, however there were a lot of positives to take from the game, Coleman was World class for the whole game and kept Chelsea's attack at bay. Naisy did well baring in mind he had no support and I was largely impressed with Osman, Barkley was woeful but I doubt he was 100% match fit. Onward and upwards

 

[DanEFC92]

Now Newcastle are only 5 points away from us. Miles away at one point.

Going to need to buckle up if we wan't that coveted 7th placed trophy.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Thought we were unlucky to lose this but we never looked like scoring

Read in the Mirror today that Martinez wants to buy Joe Allen. Swerve that Bobby, buy a striker FFS!

I'm generally happy with what he's done here, as I'm sure pretty much everyone else here is, but selling Jelavic and not providing an adequate replacement was a terrible mistake and he should be called on it. Complaining in the press about how dirty Chelsea were doesn't help either. We need a proper striker. Not a winger who can slot the odd one away like Mirallas and not someone who can shoot but do fudge all else like Naismith, but an an actual proper striker who knows what he's doing and won't be constantly injured.

We should have put a bid in for Shane Long if we were going to sell Jelavic. There was money left from the Fellaini sale surely? Or better yet, keep Jelavic AND buy Shane Long and play them together like Hull are doing.

 

[Jacko93]

For 60 minutes, we need a player who can play the whole match, not a part-timer. Okay he may have looked decent yesterday but on the whole he has more rubbish games than good ones. AS I said at 33 should be out of it now and I hope he is not offered a contract extension.

If Osman is so good then how come in all his years of footy no other club or manager have ever come near him, they recognise him for what he is a very ordinary player.

Nobody? Not one team? I think your wrong there pal. Or did you not read it in a paper?

Maybe that's more testament to the player, than the journalist.

 

[Jacko93]

Thought we were unlucky to lose this but we never looked like scoring

Read in the Mirror today that Martinez wants to buy Joe Allen. Swerve that Bobby, buy a striker FFS!

I'm generally happy with what he's done here, as I'm sure pretty much everyone else here is, but selling Jelavic and not providing an adequate replacement was a terrible mistake and he should be called on it. Complaining in the press about how dirty Chelsea were doesn't help either. We need a proper striker. Not a winger who can slot the odd one away like Mirallas and not someone who can shoot but do fudge all else like Naismith, but an an actual proper striker who knows what he's doing and won't be constantly injured.

We should have put a bid in for Shane Long if we were going to sell Jelavic. There was money left from the Fellaini sale surely? Or better yet, keep Jelavic AND buy Shane Long and play them together like Hull are doing.

Naismiths main problem is that he tries to do too much, he works as hard as anybody on the pitch and chases balls he has no right to win. If he stayed, and did nothing but shoot, he would score more.

 

[toffeejack]

Now Newcastle are only 5 points away from us. Miles away at one point.

Going to need to buckle up if we wan't that coveted 7th placed trophy.

ha, would be more worried about soton mate. it was their 1st home goal since boxing day

 

[toffeejack]

That Sunderland Keeper Mannone(spelling) would do me, could be available if the black cats go down,went there on a two year contract last year.

heard he had a mare yesterday?

we can aim higher than that imo.

 

[DanEFC92]

ha, would be more worried about soton mate. it was their 1st home goal since boxing day

Was only semi-serious mate.

We already have one hand on The 7th placed trophy

 

[billycopper]

Ok, I didn't understand the debate about who scored. At the time it seemed clear cut that Terry got a toe on it and it bounced off Howard's side. Having seen it from another angle it looks like the Chelsea captain's lunge might have distracted our 'keeper, who got ahead of the ball, and it came off him and into the net. I'm still not sure though.

 

[daz4matty]

We did not create its ok to keep the ball but we need to create chances or there is no point.
We are a working progress but since Christmas on the whole we have not been good enough.
On the whole deserved a point we just switched off at the end.

 

[Toffeelover]

Seen the vid, I think it was an own goal so do my mates. He should still have come out for it.

This goal really annoys me, It came from a free kick as did the Spurs goal. We need to cut out fouling and giving free kicks.

 

[c28]

Seen the vid, I think it was an own goal so do my mates. He should still have come out for it.

This goal really annoys me, It came from a free kick as did the Spurs goal. We need to cut out fouling and giving free kicks.

It was a dive and spurs were allowed by our friend Clattenburg to take the free kick from a different place to were the offence took place. Cheated by more poor refereeing decisions which doesn't excuse the poor defending from set pieces.

 

[pfim]

Its so boring when people make their mind up on players despite how they actually play.

Osman had one of his best games of the season yesterday in my opinion. If he had a bit more pace and a lot more strength he would be a top player but all too often he'll have a decent game followed by a woeful one. If we had still had Osman on the pitch when we had that break away when Barks put it straight out I ctually think we may have scored it.

Naismith was everywhere and really put in a shift, trouble is he got too involved in other areas of the pitch leaving us with no one up front. We are so desperate for a front man to lead the line on the shoulder of the last defender its untrue. I know we've said it for ages but every penny we have should be invested in at least one forward for next season.

Anyway the better team lost again yesterday and thats twice now thats happened- we need to start scoring agin and I hope the return of teh big man will kick start our run in again.

Osman was the best player on the pitch for us. Naismith was fine, just still out of position. Mirallas alternated between wildly ineffective and just downright terrible.

As for the goal, Howard can't come for that, he needs to stay on his line as there were too many players between him and the ball. That ball is a defender's responsibility, and no one followed Terry's run anyway.