Chelsea 2021-2022: TUCheL our balls, hoes

[TexArcher 38816]

Zouma story is upsetting.  Fuck that guy.

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

Through to the final of the Club World Cup.  We play Saturday.

[ztejas 44114]

Anyone watching? Flipped it on with Texas BB at the half.

[MoJames 8258]

We should be up a couple. Only real shot on goal for them was the PK.

Frustrating game.

[ztejas 44114]

Timo has had a couple head scratching decisions. 

[InkaUtexas 26800]

I smell penalties. 

[ztejas 44114]

Kante has not been good in ET. 

[ztejas 44114]

100% a pen. 

Thank you!

Edited February 12, 2022 by ztejas

[ztejas 44114]

Hahahah straight red at the last minute. Sucks to suck.

[MoJames 8258]

Champions of the world, again.

[G650 14421]

Trophies bitches

[G650 14421]

 

[TexArcher 38816]

Whoa, Toni!  Needed a great save there.

[TexArcher 38816]

Whewwwww.

[G650 14421]

Squeaked another one

[ztejas 44114]

The Bridge in '92.

[ztejas 44114]

Chelsea/Lille on Big Boy CBS today. 2pm central. Also on Paramount+ I think. 

[Doug E. Fresh 452]

48 minutes ago, ztejas said:

Chelsea/Lille on Big Boy CBS today. 2pm central. Also on Paramount+ I think. 

Almost time. Closing my tab at the pub shortly and walking across the street to watch at home.

[ztejas 44114]

Was going to ask - who all has been to a game at SB? I know some of you are fans from time spent in England. 

Definitely on my bucket list. Really - seeing ANY PL game would be awesome. 

Actually - fot starters - visiting the UK would be nice. 

[ztejas 44114]

Back to the wingback look. I like this lineup. Maybe Timo and Rom off the bench?

Looks like Mount is active - not sure of his status. Jorg a predictable sub as well. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by ztejas

[ztejas 44114]

Fuck - should have been in. God damn we look good early. Where is this in the PL? 

[ztejas 44114]

Ziyech from the corner to Havertz - headed in - 1-0 good guys. 

[MoJames 8258]

Boom, great start.

[ztejas 44114]

Rudi almost bags one of his own. 

[ztejas 44114]

It's crazy how Pulisic looks world class when you play him in the right fucking position. 

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

We look so much better in there with Havertz instead of Lukaku. 

[ztejas 44114]

6 minutes ago, Longhornfan1024 said:

We look so much better in there with Havertz instead of Lukaku. 

Also in a proper shape. Think we lined up in a 3-3-4 against CP with Pulisic hidden in the midfield. 

It's why I said I like this lineup. Pulisic and Ziyech are in dangerous spots. We have actual wingbacks on the edge. And Kai is just straight up more versatile than Rom. 

(And we have two of the best CMs in the world behind them)

Edited February 22, 2022 by ztejas

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

1 minute ago, ztejas said:

Also in a proper shape. Think we lined up in a 3-3-4 against CP with Pulisic hidden in the midfield. 

It's why I said I like this lineup. Pulisic and Ziyech are in dangerous spots. We have actual wingbacks on the edge. And Kai is just straight up more versatile than Rom. 

(And we have two of the best CMs in the world behind them)

I really want to see Werner come in for Puli around the 65th minute.  He and Kai work really well together with their off the ball movement and now that Ziyech is playing better I imagine they could create a lot of chances.  

[ztejas 44114]

1 minute ago, Longhornfan1024 said:

I really want to see Werner come in for Puli around the 65th minute.  He and Kai work really well together with their off the ball movement and now that Ziyech is playing better I imagine they could create a lot of chances.  

Agreed. It's the most obvious sub on the pitch. (Save Kante for Jorg or Saul). 

Granted Puli has been great today - but I think he went 90 over the weekend. 

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

lol and Tuchel yelling his gum out. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by Longhornfan1024

[ztejas 44114]

We need a 2nd. They're going to bang one of these half-chances in.

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

Puli needs to do a better job of getting his body between the defender and the ball.  

[ztejas 44114]

I know he's been great but that was fucking atrocious from Ziyech. Put the ball in the box, dude. 

[ztejas 44114]

Just now, Longhornfan1024 said:

Puli needs to do a better job of getting his body between the defender and the ball.  

Assuming you mean when he's off ball and in the box? 

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

Just now, ztejas said:

Assuming you mean when he's off ball and in the box? 

When he's receiving the ball down the line.  He's usually good at getting position and controlling the ball or taking the foul when a defender goes through him, but he wasn't doing that the last 20 minutes or so and it was resulting in a lot of lost balls.  

[ztejas 44114]

2 minutes ago, Longhornfan1024 said:

When he's receiving the ball down the line.  He's usually good at getting position and controlling the ball or taking the foul when a defender goes through him, but he wasn't doing that the last 20 minutes or so and it was resulting in a lot of lost balls.  

I saw one ball Alonso tried to play to him through a tight window that was lost out of bounds. I may have missed some. I didn't see Pulisic turn the ball over once after he had a clean touch - I thought it was a really good half from him. 

You're of course welcome to ask more of him- he's young and can improve. 

[ztejas 44114]

Kova off injured. Great.

I'd feel a lot better up 2-0 going to France. 

@Longhornfan1024 we flipped Pulisic. I think some of what you were seeing was Alonso dropping the ball a bit in link-up play. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by ztejas

[ztejas 44114]

And now we flip him back because Ziyech is hurt. Great. MM in on the right. (Nvm - wtf are we doing? Saul in?)

Maybe just a knock. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by ztejas

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

Fucking Kante.  

[ztejas 44114]

I was about to question whatever the fuck formation we're in. 

Kante to Pulisic - net. 2-0 bitches!!!

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

Great finish by Puli, but Kante did such a good job pushing the ball up the field and drawing the central defenders to him to free up Puli.  

[InkaUtexas 26800]

Very nice! 

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

1 minute ago, ztejas said:

I was about to question whatever the fuck formation we're in. 

Kante to Pulisic - net. 2-0 bitches!!!

It's difficult to tell b/c of how much movement we have, but it looks like a 3-5-2 with RLC at the base of the three and Saul and Kante farther forward.  Saul is pressing really high up the field when we don't have the ball.  

[ztejas 44114]

1 minute ago, Longhornfan1024 said:

Great finish by Puli, but Kante did such a good job pushing the ball up the field and drawing the central defenders to him to free up Puli.  

It's easy to forget how fast he is. 

[ztejas 44114]

Just now, Longhornfan1024 said:

It's difficult to tell b/c of how much movement we have, but it looks like a 3-5-2 with RLC at the base of the three and Saul and Kante farther forward.  Saul is pressing really high up the field when we don't have the ball.  

Yeah it's a 3-5-2/5-3-2 - by question I meant I didn't like the look at first. Shows what I know.

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

I have to say I love seeing Saul playing assertively.  He was so lost when he came here, but now he's playing like he knows where he should be and he's confident he can execute the plan.  It shows how much of a professional he is that he didn't give up and how good of a coach Tuchel is that he didn't give up on Saul.

[G650 14421]

Pulisic.

[TexArcher 38816]

Really like that we don't seem content to dribble out a 2-0.

[ztejas 44114]

3 minutes ago, TexArcher said:

Really like that we don't seem content to dribble out a 2-0.

I mean it's the home leg in the CL.

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

2 minutes ago, TexArcher said:

Really like that we don't seem content to dribble out a 2-0.

Agreed.  But what I like more is that despite that we're up 2-0, despite that he scores a goal, Puli was sprinting back to make that tackle on Sanchez to ensure that we keep the shut out.  Those are the most impressive plays a player can make.