Champions League · Group Match #5 - FC Basel vs Chelsea

If we can hang on for a 0-0 () and the other group game is 0-0 then its not the end of the world for us

My god Ramires....

fatman123 wrote:If we can hang on for a 0-0 () and the other group game is 0-0 then its not the end of the world for us

Indeed. Though playing this boringly and negatively against a side like Basel is not encouraging.

ffs Ramires

De Bruyne on over Mata. Anyone who thinks this ostracisation is tactical is truly blinkered.

Basel score

f*ck that

Other match ends in a draw.

Referee blows the whistle to at last put an end to this snoozefest. Awful performance on the back of staggeringly negative tactics which produced not a single shot in 92 minutes. Woeful.

Got done home and away by Basel.

As long as we win on the last match day we'll finish first in the group, which shouldnt be an issue v Steaua at home, still a win here and first place would've been wrapped up already

fatman123 wrote:As long as we win on the last match day we'll finish first in the group, which shouldnt be an issue v Steaua at home, still a win here and first place would've been wrapped up already

We could even draw as long as those Germans win.

Group in the bag.

Shed wrote:

Hazard, Oscar, Mata, Willian, Shurrle, De Bruyne...How do you play all of them?

That's not the point. It's that his tactics are limiting their efficacy, whoever plays.

Mourinho blames loss on team being tired. Who was the one who fielded the exact same side bar 1 that played 3 days ago against West Ham again?

How did we end up with 0 shots, thank god I didn't watch the game

Shed wrote:That's not the point. It's that his tactics are limiting their efficacy, whoever plays.

Oscar and Hazard are effective under the system, although they do not perform at the consistency needed. That is because they are not at their peaks yet, otherwise it's not Mourinho's fault that they sometimes do not penetrate enough. Willian is also an effective player under the system because of his pace and dribbling skills. Thus, I do not agree that his tactics are limiting the AM's. He could hypothetically prioritize attack over defense but I do not feel that would make the players more effective because players like Oscar and Willian are naturally hard working. Of course, the only player who it seems may not be effective under the system is Mata, and thus he does not play.

Shed wrote:Mourinho blames loss on team being tired. Who was the one who fielded the exact same side bar 1 that played 3 days ago against West Ham again?

He admits that perhaps he should have made changes, but also says that it was hard to justify dropping players who played so well 3 days ago. When he asked the players personally how they were feeling for the match, each individual player said he felt fit. Had he dropped too many players and still lost, people would have said we lost because of rotation. It works both ways.

Uncanny wrote:How did we end up with 0 shots, thank god I didn't watch the game

That's a bad attitude to have! You should still watch the replay. You learn most about the team in defeats.

El Chelsea Fuerte wrote:

Shed wrote:Mourinho blames loss on team being tired. Who was the one who fielded the exact same side bar 1 that played 3 days ago against West Ham again?

He admits that perhaps he should have made changes, but also says that it was hard to justify dropping players who played so well 3 days ago. When he asked the players personally how they were feeling for the match, each individual player said he felt fit. Had he dropped too many players and still lost, people would have said we lost because of rotation. It works both ways.

Except for that pesky thing about him being the manager and all. It's his job to make those calls and when he get's them wrong he's held responsible for it.

Shed wrote:

El Chelsea Fuerte wrote:

Shed wrote:Mourinho blames loss on team being tired. Who was the one who fielded the exact same side bar 1 that played 3 days ago against West Ham again?

He admits that perhaps he should have made changes, but also says that it was hard to justify dropping players who played so well 3 days ago. When he asked the players personally how they were feeling for the match, each individual player said he felt fit. Had he dropped too many players and still lost, people would have said we lost because of rotation. It works both ways.

Except for that pesky thing about him being the manager and all. It's his job to make those calls and when he get's them wrong he's held responsible for it.

And I'm sure he feels the weight of the responsibility.

Dismal game, ( I know I am a day late, sue me) Why did we play the 4-3-3 with Oscar? We lack too much width to break down Basel, against teams which part the bus it is fine as Ivanovic can get forward but we should have played 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with Schurrle Hazard/Willian on the wings. I don't know what Mou was thinking tbh. Oh well, we're through. Also annoying that Ivanovic was caught napping otherwise it would have been a draw.

Lastly, 0 shots, we need a new CF. Latest rumours suggest Jackson Martinez, not sure I want him really.

Kick wrote:Dismal game, ( I know I am a day late, sue me) Why did we play the 4-3-3 with Oscar? We lack too much width to break down Basel, against teams which part the bus it is fine as Ivanovic can get forward but we should have played 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with Schurrle Hazard/Willian on the wings. I don't know what Mou was thinking tbh. Oh well, we're through. Also annoying that Ivanovic was caught napping otherwise it would have been a draw.

Lastly, 0 shots, we need a new CF. Latest rumours suggest Jackson Martinez, not sure I want him really.

It could also have been 2 or 3 nil before HT if they'd taken their chances.

But it wasn't. What I am saying is we did so well up until that point. Annoying we didn't take it all the way.

Kick wrote:Dismal game, ( I know I am a day late, sue me) Why did we play the 4-3-3 with Oscar? We lack too much width to break down Basel, against teams which part the bus it is fine as Ivanovic can get forward but we should have played 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with Schurrle Hazard/Willian on the wings. I don't know what Mou was thinking tbh. Oh well, we're through. Also annoying that Ivanovic was caught napping otherwise it would have been a draw.

Lastly, 0 shots, we need a new CF. Latest rumours suggest Jackson Martinez, not sure I want him really.

We played a 4-2-3-1 with Oscar behind the striker. Also signing a CF is not the answer. We lost because of unworthy performances from Lampard, Oscar & Ramires. Eto'o was trying to do something.

Ramires was playing in a 4-3-3, Oscar was playing more of a free Right SS role. Ramires was way too deep for a 4-2-3-1.

We also need a CM, which is why I have been harping on about Cabaye but I didn't feel the need to once again point out the obvious.