Most the players put a shift in which was good to finally see. The performance against a half strength Chelsea team was good for us but nothing to scream about. Just shows how low our standards have become since the start of the season. I just hope some fans don't start getting carried away claiming that Walter can come good and use this performance as evidence. However everyone will have an opinion, which is fine. I personally think he will be gone and I still hope he is. The players do not want him there. I know Capoue is a bit of a burk but around the 84th min he takes a throw and Walter is literally telling him by pointing down the line where to throw it. Capoue throws it in the complete opposite direction back to Holebas. This yet again was not the first time that something like this happened in that game, that's just the most recent one. However, when the full match highlights come out, watch Walter barking out and pointing instructions and watch the players not do it. However finishing on a positive, that was our best performance in a long time, which is somewhat sad, and we did score 3 goals! So at least we had something to cheer about for once. Well done boys!
Also big shout out to Holebas who I think has drawn level with the likes of Lee Cattermole, Cheik Tiote and Olivier Dacourt with 14 bookings in a season. If he gets another one against Manchester City, I believe he'll hold the record outright. He's got a great chance if he has to play as an emergency centre back on Saturday. Come on Jose, you can do it!
I was expecting Chelsea to score 4 but not us to score 3. For the first time in many games, Wally will be right when he says to the press that we deserved a draw. Our discipline is shocking. So many needless bookings again. Was Holebas trying to get a second yellow at the end? Had he already booked a cheap package holiday to Kavos leaving tomorrow?
He plays with arrogance and selfishness. He obviously rates himself more than most on here do and it's because of that attitude that he's so poor. If he laid off the pass earlier, played in the overlapping defender etc, he wouldn't end up losing the ball and putting his team in trouble every time. Today's performance from him was one for posterity. One of those all time awful performances which people will remember for decades. Hope he's gone in the summer
Totally agree in regards to Amrabat. Don't use Shoutbox partly to do with what has been apparently said tonight
Exactly this - in the first half, Doucoure bust a gut to create an overlap for Amrabat. All he had to do was roll the ball five yards into his path and we would've been in around the back of Chelsea. Instead he ignores that pass, decides to cut back inside so he can cross it, then can't create the space so takes another few touches before losing the ball and leaving Doucoure stranded up the pitch. He's either got no footballing brain whatsoever or he thinks he's better than he is. For those who think it's great that he's always battling for the ball and trying hard, most of the time it's self-inflicted because he hasn't released it when he should have and has run into trouble himself.
I disagree about Capoue's talent somewhat. Yes he's clearly got something with his nutmeg and swagger on the ball occasionally, but any player as good as Etienne thinks he is wouldn't pass the ball as poorly as he does so regularly. I appreciate Capou's ability to get in a position to get the goals and I hope that is the reason why some club pays £10m for him in the summer, because I've had enough of watching him. I also don't think amrabat is likeable. He's a petulant, whining ****
An OK performance against a weakened (good, but noticeably weakened) Chelsea side who have every reason to be even more "on the beach" in their mindset than ourselves. Nice to see us actually bother to attack a bit and grab a few goals (albeit one completely gifted to us) and there was definitely a bit of effort there tonight, but our defending was comical at times and had Chelsea put a full strength side out I dread to think what the score would have been. It's still 6 losses from 7, Mazzarri still needs to go, and he still needs to take f**king Amrabat, Capoue and a few others out the door with him.
To be fair to Maz, Janmaat's goal was straight out of the Italian coaching manual. They call it the Roman Galleon.
Only saw last half hour but happy we had some tempo and intent. Poor from The Bat but Capoue not chasing back and just sitting on his bum with his arms in the air had me swearing at the tv. Thought we would gain a point at that stage but there you go. Who's in the centre of defence for Sunday then?
I can't even remember the last time I saw us score before today, so that was nice. Amrabat needs to go, he's been poor all season despite the insistence of some. I've never seen him complete a cross ever, and he loses the ball constantly. I don't really care how hard he tries; it doesn't matter because he can't play the ball to save his life anyway. Good fight from Doucouré and Cleverley, quality performance and lovely goal from Janmaat. Okaka rightfully first in the pecking order ahead of Deeney, used his strength well to hit the back of the net after Cleverley's great cross. Prodl was quite good I thought until that first booking. Capoue just isn't good enough. Typical of us to manage 3 goals against the best team in the league but lose by 1 or 2 to mid and lower table sides just weeks earlier. No matter, though, it's now just time to wait for next season. Pereyra and Zarate back in, hopefully Amrabat and Capoue out, and maybe a new striker after we bank a few million quid on Deeney.
All I can say is I don't give a **** if Troy leaves if we can keep Okaka. It's a shame about Amrabat, he was genuinely excellent first half of the season but not sure what's happened to him since, totally devoid of any confidence. Niang was absolutely horrendous up front on his own, think I'd honestly rather Steve Kabba up there. Fantastic goal from Janmaat. Looked like a team who genuinely wanted to go out and attack, which is a damn lot more than I could have said in recent weeks.
Simpson is busy I hear but PG monkey is an enlightened choice. I'll look out for him! What was wrong with Success dare I ask?
I think we are really saying the same thing Moog. Capoue showboats, he has talent but won't use it in an intelligent fashion he would rather nutmeg someone or beat three men and try a Hollywood ball then keep possession. If he used the talent he has the could be a major asset in our midfield but instead he can't be bothered to and is a liability. He's just a expensive Lewis McGugan and I hope his gone in the summer because I've also had enough of him.
I was worried about us slipping down the table, but after tonight we're right back up there in the goals conceded from corners league.
Still on the bus back so I'll make it brief. We gave it a good go and didn't quit when they scored their first. We haven't scored an away goal since Jan 31st and suddenly score three which ain't bad at all. Nearly everyone put in a shift except Capoue and Amrabat in my eyes (please get rid). WM made 2 subs and the second one was incredibly late which pissed me off but I get the feeling he doesn't care cos he's gone (if the rumours are right). Overall, it wasn't bad but get ready for another stormy summer ahead with lots of changes IMO
Quite a good assessment I think TD. He is in many respects style over substance. An expensive Lewis McGugan is a good description!
All I kept thinking was if we keep this up it's making our manager look good. I wanted chelsea to win by a hatfull.
I still have no idea what wally is trying to do, the defending was appalling as usual, but I enjoyed seeing us knock it about on the floor with minimum hoof and work openings Add 3 decent ball playing CBS, and Pareyra or Zarate or similar for Amrobat and it might just have a point
I was there tonight, a bit of fight against a side that couldn't be arsed and just wanted to do the minimum for a win. We let them. Firmly in the out camp now, though I have to say much more competitive than my last two visits (4.0 and 5.0).
The prize of course would be the best part of August off due to the resultant 3 game ban. I'm sure he'll hit the mark on Sunday.
Strange game, our 3-7-0 formation threw them somewhat, not much created until the game opened up but it did give us a fair amount of the ball. We had 2 shots at the point it was 3-2. Pleased with the attitude of the players. Tried and worked hard. Amrabat motd. Almost scored a wonder goal too.
Home and a little disappointed we threw aeay a great draw well Etienne Capoue did with another lazy bit of play I hope goes and takes him with him
Good question! Just who have we got, we will probably need to bring in some youngsters? Hoban is back from Blackburn, but is he available, or has he already gone on his holibobs? We have four u23 defenders: - Mason a LB; Eleftheriou also a FB; the other two are just listed as defenders so actual positions unclear: - Stevens & Rowan. We also have five u18 defenders: - Sesay 19, a WB; Rogers only just 18 listed as a defender? And three 17 year old kids and just listed as defenders. Huja; Jones & Forster, the last two have only just reached 17 in the last month or so. I wonder if any of these will step up on Sunday?
