What I felt that this game had in common with other recent games was that we were just off our usual standards all over, which is problematic because our game is built on fast, accurate play. Not just the pressing has been problematic, but passing has been wayward, movement has been too slow/badly positioned. For example, we usually pick up the second balls really well, to then suffocate the opponents by a quick pass forward again. That has been missing for a couple of games now. Too many balls are getting overhit as well.
The midfield was poor again but it’s been the same all season. It’s why we don’t control games and hold on to leads any more. I don’t know what’s wrong with Henderson but he’s having a really bad season. Terrible today. Milner gives everything but is looking his age. Keita and Ox are interchangeable for me in that they are capable of the odd good performance but are mostly ineffective. We really needed Thiago today but he’s injured yet again. The midfield was the engine room of that period 2018 - 2020 when we were practically unbeatable. It was consistent and reliable. Now it’s the complete opposite.
A draw was about right. Entertaining for the neutral maybe but I’m not a neutral and I found it a horrible watch. Too frenetic, so many mistakes and there was an inevitability about us throwing away yet another two goal lead once Kovacic fluked their first.
I thought our discipline was poor Jordan kept jumping out to press lost causes with their CB’s in possession and affecting our shape and defensive distances to pick up 2nd ball, however you do get those games where the ball just always seems to drop to the opposition.
Agree our passing and control was quite poor, even basic passes were going behind players or weighted poorly but this has been happening far too often.
That doesn’t happen by accident though. it happens when your starting position and spacing is off. For as well taken as both Chelsea’s were, Pep called out this as problematic on both of them.
My guess is that Henderson is being asked to play a more aggressive forward role than he has in the past. In a midfield of Fabinho, Milner, and Henderson, he is the logical choice, but I think his game works better when he is the middle mid, so to speak.
That said, I was hoping that when Keita came on, we’d see a better balance, did not work out like that.
I did think when the subs happened for 10 mins we looked better then their 12th man stepped forward, Taylor and awarded 3 non freekicks to them putting them back in the ascendency
We were very passive in those situations. Chelsea were a lot more aggressive in winning 50/50s and a lot more composed in making sure the possession stuck.
We often lose the midfield battles against Chelsea, they just have the better players. It was obvious it was going to happen again with that line up.
Kante walks past Fabinho like he’s not there every time they come up against each other. It was another game to forget against tricky players for Fabinho, he can’t keep up. Henderson had yet another really poor game.
Milner was the best from the 3 but the free kick for their first goal was a stupid foul to give away. It’s alright clattering people half way up the pitch, but don’t be giving free kicks away on the edge of the box when the opposition player is going nowhere.
As mentioned many times, our midfield needs a major overhaul. Milly past it, Hendo hasn’t been the same player for at least a year now, Naby plays one decent game every 5, Thiago can never stay fit and I’d be delighted if Ox never played another minute for us.
Keep Fab, Jones, Elliot and Morton and bring in one or two 25-28 year olds and go from there. Spend some money and sort the midfield or prepare to watch City run away with the league until Newcastle take over.
Great game but not the result we wanted or chelski wanted, midfield not got enough energy and Henderson and Fabinho giving them the ball back, Milner tries his hardest but those silly fouls come back and bite us hope it’s his last season here, Mo and Mane both scoring good goals and great efforts saved, the neutrals must have loved it.
He does, but he usually struggles against good teams in open games regardless of how long he’s been playing. He doesn’t have the legs to keep up and cover the space in the way Kante, or even Kovacic do. Not the first game against Chelsea he’s spent 90 minutes getting bypassed with ease.
