*** City v Chelsea - Official Match Thread ***

[TheBlueCatsWhiskers]

But it was 1.0 I know what you're saying, but if you don't hit the target, it ain't going in, so yes their chances were close, but Silva should be fucking shot for lack of care as they were gilt edged opportunities he only had to get a half decent contact to. It looked bad, but Chelsea will also feel very relieved to have got out of that game with a clean sheet

I don't disagree, my point is that we lack depth in midfield. They don't, and they completely controlled it. They carved us open time after time playing with only 2 attacking midfielders (Willian and Hazard) Matic had a cigar on all game and it was too easy for them ... We have no answer to that, even if Fernandinho had played.

We all know we were lucky it wasn't a heavier (even heavy) defeat! Let's not pretend we were unlucky. Chelsea will be disappointed they didn't take us to the cleaners.

[sheblue]

But it was 1.0 I know what you're saying, but if you don't hit the target, it ain't going in, so yes their chances were close, but Silva should be fucking shot for lack of care as they were gilt edged opportunities he only had to get a half decent contact to. It looked bad, but Chelsea will also feel very relieved to have got out of that game with a clean sheet

I don't disagree, my point is that we lack depth in midfield. They don't, and they completely controlled it. They carved us open time after time playing with only 2 attacking midfielders (Willian and Hazard) Matic had a cigar on all game and it was too easy for them ... We have no answer to that, even if Fernandinho had played.

We all know we were lucky it wasn't a heavier (even heavy) defeat! Let's not pretend we were unlucky. Chelsea will be disappointed they didn't take us to the cleaners.

Well said, we never got near them in the middle is was easy for them.

[City64]

Just got back from the Etihad . We were shit tonight , lucky it was only 1 nil the better team won . We were so static upfront even more so when Negredo went off , if only we had took one of the couple of chances we had first 20 mins of the first half ! Hazard best player on the pitch , we couldnt cope with him . Fucking traffic diabolical too and from the Etihad ....... proper fucking bad night allround !!!!

[Lee_R]

Just got back from the Etihad . We were shit tonight , lucky it was only 1 nil the better team won . We were so static upfront even more so when Negredo went off , if only we had took one of the couple of chances we had first 20 mins of the first half ! Hazard best player on the pitch , we couldnt cope with him . Fucking traffic diabolical too and from the Etihad ....... proper fucking bad night allround !!!!

Come on.. We weren't that bad. Silva had 3 chances where the ball could very easily have gone in and the result have been different. We weren't great but Chelsea were as you say. A freak result is a 0-1 loss to Chelsea.. I think we're on the right track.. perspective!

[Blue Since 76]

Think Pellegrini made the same mistake as against Bayern by allowing us to be outnumbered in midfield. Didn't matter for the first 20 minutes and then we were always struggling.

Jovetic did nothing wrong, but I don't understand why we brought him on. Negredo clearly wasn't fit, but the problem was midfield. Milner for Negredo and releasing Yaya would surely have worked better and still left Jovetic on the bench if another change was required.

Second best all over the park, didn't really work their defence, second to every ball. A very poor night and lucky we only lost by one. Important we go out and batter Norwich then Sunderland to keep this 'crisis' to just one game.

[Goaters 103]

Had a job done on us tonight. Chelsea better on the night & worth the win.

Too many absentees, both via injury and on the pitch Im afraid. Baffling to select Naatasic & also still puzzled why Demichelis is played im midf rather than Milner.

Negredo & Dzeko ineffective & we should have gone 5 in midf to match them Mourinho did his homework & we need to learn from it.

Win on saturday & it looks better and we need some positive injury news for once. A lengthy absence for Ferna truly fucls us over

[zabbadabbado]

Had a job done on us tonight. Chelsea better on the night & worth the win.

Too many absentees, both via injury and on the pitch Im afraid. Baffling to select Naatasic & also still puzzled why Demichelis is played im midf rather than Milner.

Negredo & Dzeko ineffective & we should have gone 5 in midf to match them Mourinho did his homework & we need to learn from it.

Win on saturday & it looks better and we need some positive injury news for once. A lengthy absence for Ferna truly fucls us over

Fernandinho missing for 2,3 weeks will be terrible,you cant help feeling it will impact on our season because he is so important in our system.

I hate Mourinho he is a classless cunt.But he is one hell off a manager.There isn't much between us and Chelsea squad wise.Manager wise Chelsea have a man who knows how to win.Has beaten Pellegrini sides 7 times out of 8 and has averaged over 3 goals a game.It appears Pellegrini only knows one way to play,and Mourinho can easily out smart Pellegrini attacking approach.

As we get to the business end off the season,we are going to see many off the top sides pack the midfield and and do us on the counter to nullify our threat.

Needs to be addressed,we need a bit of versatility in our tactics rather than just trying to out gun everyone.We wont win every game 4,5,6,-0. .There will be times where we need to put a bit more emphasis on ball retention in the middle and defending.

[Lee_R]

Its rediculous about Ferdo, should get Bazzer back

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Got in late and watched the match as if live and clearly the better side won.Did Pellers get it wrong playing two up top.Probably yes and in retrospect definitely yes but partly that was because our front two were completely shackled by Cahill and Terry.Sadly I think we could expect that more often than not.Dzeko was the better of the 2 tonight as I thought Negredo was unbelievably bad. I don't buy that he was injured either he just had a mare.

Quite a few of the other players didn't play badly.Silva was not as useless as some have suggested but sadly he missed chances and in games like that you just have to take one and the earlier the better. Yaya not close to his best but they did a job on him in the centre and rarely gave him freedom That Matic looks a great acquisition.

I actually thought Demechelis did ok but I suppose that's making allowances for his lack of pace which of course is what they had in spades with Hazard ,Willian and Ramires.Those 3 running as well and as hard as they did would cause any team problems but one with Yaya and Demechelis in the middle had little chance of controlling things.

Chelsea did a number on us and deserved the win without doubt but c'est la vie.You can't win every match and we knew Chelsea were a top side and maybe our major threat.14 games left and we don't play them again.We need 11 or 12 wins from here.

[phips]

utter domination.


Demichelis is a shitty midfielder and a horrible passer. Nastasic is garbage. Both need to be sold, along with Garcia.

Yaya was our best non-keeper out there but, as such, he was gassed early on.

Chelsea defended great and pressed well and created more going forward with 4 than most would've expected.


hopefully this helps some of here realize that we arent the new Bayern and dumb threads like "we only have 4 hard games left" can go die.


(and that's why you dont play Aguero vs Tottenham. not with a game like this on the horizon)

[phips]

Think Pellegrini made the same mistake as against Bayern by allowing us to be outnumbered in midfield.

for most of it they only brought 4 forward and played 6 at the back...

[Benjay]

Im amazed MP only made one substitution. At times Yaya was having to look after the whole centre midfield. It makes you realise the importance of Ferdi.

[zuricity]

So we have a run of games now to maximise points in the league.

We are in 1 final and have two tough home games against Barca and Chelsea.

I can only think that last nights dour performance against a cocky Chelsea side was a cunning plan to make them feel very confident ahead of the cup match.

It should work.

[Ajardine]

Demichellis was extremely poor last night. He has no pace, dives in when he shouldnt, taking himself out of the game and leaving the defence exposed. Ferni is massive for us, but we should have replaced his energy with Milner. Would rather see Garcia in midfield than Demi!!

[Hazy2]

Fuck the hype, we are still above them and Silva blew another simple chance from 2 yards out, that goes in the games is ours to lose. Get over it and do not allow the papers and Jose to make you think the season is over.

[lets all have a disco]

Demichellis was extremely poor last night. He has no pace, dives in when he shouldnt, taking himself out of the game and leaving the defence exposed. Ferni is massive for us, but we should have replaced his energy with Milner. Would rather see Garcia in midfield than Demi!!

Amen brother.

[sheblue]

Fuck the hype, we are still above them and Silva blew another simple chance from 2 yards out, that goes in the games is ours to lose. Get over it and do not allow the papers and Jose to make you think the season is over.

Dont think many are saying the season is over.
Its not, far from it, a setback last night but chelski wont paly like that week in week out, they will drop points, as we will too.
But if we can get our best fit and keep them fit, we will do it.

[Hazy2]

Fuck the hype, we are still above them and Silva blew another simple chance from 2 yards out, that goes in the games is ours to lose. Get over it and do not allow the papers and Jose to make you think the season is over.

Dont think many are saying the season is over.
Its not, far from it, a setback last night but chelski wont paly like that week in week out, they will drop points, as we will too.
But if we can get our best fit and keep them fit, we will do it.

I am saying the papers have it as the 2nd coming The facts are we should have scored 1st and gone on to change the game we missed a sitter, now reading the papers it is all BULLSHIT If you take the Hype away they are still 3rd. For me keep the faith and see the cunts again in a week or so and put it right.

[clawbaggio]

Had a job done on us tonight. Chelsea better on the night & worth the win.

Too many absentees, both via injury and on the pitch Im afraid. Baffling to select Naatasic & also still puzzled why Demichelis is played im midf rather than Milner.

Negredo & Dzeko ineffective & we should have gone 5 in midf to match them Mourinho did his homework & we need to learn from it.

Win on saturday & it looks better and we need some positive injury news for once. A lengthy absence for Ferna truly fucls us over

Agree. According to SSN Ferni out for a month.
Demichelis did Ok for a while but ran out of steam after 30 mins. Need to play Miller or Rodwell there as they would have shown more energy.
For all Maureen's bleating about our big squad it is looking a bit thin at the moment. We don't look the same team with injuries to 2 or 3 of our top players.
MP needs to get things right to put these fuckers back in their place in the FA cup game.

[Chinners]

Fair play, over 90mins Chelsea deserved it. Hopefully it will be a kick up the arse to prevent any complacency creeping in ..... bah