Saints v Chelsea Match Thread

[Saint Albert]

Costa in alone but this time Forster saved the shot aimed between his legs. Poor give away by Clasie led to the chance.

[BotleySaint]

Outpaced. They look dangerous every attack.

[Plastic]

Great at winning set pieces, not so great at converting

[OttawaSaint]

Can someone give Alpine a nudge to post his usual pre-Saints goal doom and gloom remark?

 

Surprised Dalek isn't counting down the minutes to preserve our 1-0 defeat and finish just above the relegation places.

[Batman]

its a toughie. when we cross it into the box early-ish, it is Austin v about 4-5 chelsea players

[trousers]

Chelsea with c.9 men behind the ball every time we attack

[Saint Albert]

I would tend to think that Hojberg would be an improvement over Clasie.

[DuncanRG]

Clasie is well off it today.

[OttawaSaint]

Stats say that a goal is scored from an average of one in every 10 corners. Only 3 or 4 to go and we are golden.

[striker]

Good, tough game. Unfortunate we made that one defensive mistake. Chelsea backing numbers into the box, we need to do something to get more people on the attack.

[verlaine1979]

Davis and Clasie both rubbish today, and not just defensively. In possession, neither strays far beyond the half way line, and as a result we're really struggling to move the ball through midfield. Since our defensively-minded central midfielders can't defend, I'd rather have Hoj and Boufal on in their place - it'd give Chelsea more to think about than our mind-numbingly slow build up.

[Saint_clark]

So where was the time added on for Chelseas timewasting?

Also, no relay at halftime, BOOOOOOOO

[Batman]

Think Austin has been good with little to work with and chelsea players all around him

they look v strong in defence

[Chris27687]

Pretty good game from a football perspective. They look more likely to score - hopefully Boufal can liven it us up for us in the second half.

 

We've played pretty well making some in roads into the 11 behind the ball - a couple of yellow cards will open them up.

[qwertyell]

Romeu's having to shoulder the burden of the entire midfield, in defence and going forward, all on his own. Clasie looks miles out of his depth, Davis is off the pace.

 

We've had a lot of possession, but moved the ball so slowly and predictably, Chelsea have barely broken sweat to deal with us.

 

Whereas, they look faster, sharper and quite likely to score another couple on the break.

 

Not many options on the bench - Puel's got his work cut out turning this around.

[Saint Albert]

We had nice spells of possession that half but nothing incisive. Chelsea had three good goal-scoring opportunities and scored on one that went through Forster after Davies failed to track Chelsea's most dangerous player. Looking at the replay Bertrand actually pointed out the space that he wanted Davies to defend, which Hazard then ran into unmolested. Davies and Clasie both worry me. Davies has had a hand in the last two goals scored against us.

[striker]

Think I'd try Boufal for Tadic. Need some more creativity to pull the D forward.

[nta786]

No surprise really- they are the most inform team atm in the Prem (along with Arsenal), and they even defeated United 4-0.

 

I expected a defeat here, would take a draw but desperately want us to win to close the gap on 6th.

 

Our attacking play is too laboured and predictable, but we have had a good chance or two, a goal before the 70 minute mark and we might just go on to win it.

 

Boufal should come on for Tadic around the 65 min mark though.

 

Kante and Matic though what a pairing- seem to win most tackles!

[Convict Colony]

its a toughie. when we cross it into the box early-ish, it is Austin v about 4-5 chelsea players

 

we need to attack at pace to reduce their numbers so it boufal on for me instead of tadic as he's hardly in the game

[Saint_clark]

Alonso for them is an absolute thug as well. Works well for them but he shouldn't be allowed to get away with half the stuff he pulls off.

[obelisk]

Lack of invention and all too ponderous in the attacking 3rd. Chelsea look well capable of doing Saints on the break.

[saintchris23]

I would've thought that having worked with the England squad for so long, that Neville could tell the difference between Forster and Foster....... only a tad annoying

[OttawaSaint]

The feed I am watching has Andy Townsend as the co-commentator. He's been pretty fair. Usually he has it in for us but not today which is surprising as Chelsea is one of his former teams.

[simo]

Clasie vs Matic is man vs boy physically at the moment, maybe jwp worth bringing on for all the set pieces we keep fluffing up too?

[Greenridge]

After praising Clasie for his hugely improved performance against Burnley I'm afraid he's reverted to type today. PEH must be wondering what he's got to do to get a game.

[Turkish]

How are people blaming Forster for the goal? It was a good finish from about 6 yards out he had no chance, no idea how people say he is meant to do better. Davis and Romeu lose the man and give hazard too much space and he's always going to score.

 

Not a bad performance without really looking like scoring against a very solid defence. Chelsea look very dangerous on the break. Need more movement up front and we're too slow getting it forward to break them down at the moment

[Saint Albert]

We've apparently scored in 14 consecutive Prem games according to the NBC commentators. The longest active streak.

[Saint Albert]

Davies did well defending against Hazard there.

[DuncanRG]

We've apparently scored in 14 consecutive Prem games according to the NBC commentators. The longest active streak.

 

?! Not true at all

[Batman]

what a defensive touch from Fonte

jesus

[OttawaSaint]

To many aimless crosses, too easy for the defense. We need to get those passing triangles going on the deck.

[Matty's Caddy]

Clasie really is not very good

[Saint Albert]

Fonte with a fantastic goal-saving challenge there.

[Batman]

you could see that was a dive in real time lol

[Saint Albert]

Sideshow Bob with one of the worst dives of the season.

[Batman]

pretty much a brick wall. very good defensive show on display here by them

[Edmonton Saint]

Lets get Hojbjerg and Boufal on for Davis and Clasie please.

[Batman]

Game over

2-0

 

great goal

 

a shot like that is something we rarely do

 

Martina is all over the place trying to close him down to be fair

[Saint Billy]

Get Boufal on for christ sake to give us some creativity, all these nice shapes and square passing are not producing anything in front of their goal.

[Plastic]

Game over

[JakkoUK]

Good goal by Costa. Can't stop those.

[trousers]

Game over

[Edmonton Saint]

Well arse.

[OttawaSaint]

FFS! This is one to forget, don't stand off Costa like that. Christ.

[BotleySaint]

That's the difference a bit of quality finishing makes.

[Saint Albert]

Great shot but too many defenders stood off and watched.

[Chris27687]

Say why you want but if you at any point in a football game have to do a backwards dance to try and keep up with them game - what ever happens after that is on you.

[Dalek2003]

Oh well. I would take a 2-0 defeat now

[Batman]

Davis and Clasie have been run ragged today

[Edmonton Saint]

Our midfield has been shocking today.