Thoughts on last few games?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chelsea/comments/1il09wc/thoughts_on_last_few_games/

created by ifcoffeewereblue on 08/02/2025 at 23:02 UTC

7 upvotes, 14 top-level comments (showing 14)

How are you feeling about the last few matches?

For me, the loses to City and Brighton after going up (and frankly a pretty uninspired first hour against the hammers) tell a tough story. Taking a loss is one thing, but the team just looks awful. Never even felt like the boys stood a chance. They look tired. They were second to almost every challenge (tbf Moi and Cucu looked decent). In possession there's no urgency to drive even when losing. When someone makes a good run, it's ignored. When they lose possession certain players are in no hurry to get back.

What's going on? It just looks lazy and sloppy. Too many minutes? Not enough clarity on how to kick up a gear? Poor coaching/drilling? Poor mentality? Thoughts?

Comments

Comment by ND_Cooke at 08/02/2025 at 23:07 UTC

12 upvotes, 0 direct replies

It's given me a headache to be honest. But if you asked me if I'd be happy with 4th at the start of the season in February, I'd have taken it.

Comment by showmethenoods at 09/02/2025 at 01:12 UTC

8 upvotes, 0 direct replies

The City loss is the most disheartening to me. They are dropping points in Europe and domestically to literally everyone, yet they comfortably beat Chelsea. The same City that barely squeaked by Leyton Orient today

Comment by VermillionDynamite at 09/02/2025 at 08:34 UTC

8 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I think everyone is just forgetting how young and naive this squad is and that a dip in form is natural. Everyone wants to keep throwing endless amounts of money at the problem, 'sign this striker' 'sign that midfielder'. For once I'd like us to give a coach and a group of players some time to implement some ideas and some identity. If we genuinely sack Maresca the what? Who else is actually going to take this job. Our fans and our ownership are as clueless as each other sometimes.

Comment by ihaveam0ustache at 08/02/2025 at 23:21 UTC

4 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Going round in circles...

Comment by slymm at 09/02/2025 at 01:32 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This loss has hurt me more than any other in the past two-ish years. We've been playing poorly for a stretch, for sure, but it hasn't really cost us anything yet. I have kept the faith thinking we'd shake it off, and our real form was something closer to the good stretch.

But I want trophies. And we just lost out on one that was attainable. Has me concerned that top 4 isn't going to happen. So the pain of this loss includes a downward belief in the near future.

Comment by kp22cfc at 09/02/2025 at 06:18 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Issues are clear , we needed a striker , a keeper and a midfield cover ... We gambled on lavia fitness and nkunku is not the second striker.. today performance was terrible but Enzo still has time to change his approach and finish strongly

Comment by Panini_Grande at 09/02/2025 at 08:46 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I still support the manager and definitely don't want another change at the top. That said, he's managed this period pretty poorly. He needs a plan B asap. He doesn't seem able to respond to tactical changes mid game. Regardless of personnel, we stick with the same shape, even if we're getting overrun in certain areas. He needs to do better.

Comment by cthomp1613 at 09/02/2025 at 02:42 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

The performances have been formulaic it seems. At times the team has looked lethargic and uninspired which is hard to watch. I know there is a lot of youth in the squad and that is bound to occur, but I try to be optimistic in that these periods will make this group stronger in the long run. I’m sure there are meds I should be taking.

Comment by Fredward1986 at 09/02/2025 at 06:55 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Backwards and sideways. Keep possession, but don't risk a throughball or ball over the top. Even our counter attacks seem to go nowhere as no one has confidence to keep going. They stop and play it backwards or sideways. I'd rather see players take a chance, we are playing too safe.

Defenders get dragged up high then exposed when we lose the ball. Attackers dropping deep to get the ball and then have too many players to beat.

We caught City and Brighton at a fortunate time, but even they are more mentally resilient and knew they could turn us over. We have no confidence and Palmer is broken from carrying the whole team on his shoulders. Even he has succumb to the pressure of expectations.

Comment by wobuxiwang808 at 09/02/2025 at 11:13 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Possession-based football tends to struggle in the early stages because it requires chemistry and coordination between players, which takes time to develop. If we played a defensive counter-attacking style, we might indeed see better short-term results, but such a foundation is fragile. We cannot sacrifice the club’s long-term future for immediate success.

Many fans have grown accustomed to winning that way, but those victories are not sustainable. Usually, after one or two years, the team experiences a significant decline, forcing another managerial change. Manchester United made this mistake in the past and ended up struggling, whereas Liverpool and Manchester City stuck with their managers and reached the top. I believe we shouldn’t be short-sighted, because the price of chasing short-term success is long-term instability.

Of course, I don’t think the youth-oriented policy is inherently wrong, but shouldn’t we also bring in one or two defenders with stronger leadership qualities? Someone who can guide our young players and stabilize the backline—just like Azpilicueta, Terry, or Thiago Silva. Sometimes, I just wish Thiago Silva were a bit younger so he could stay with us for another year or two.