How gutting is that. We were all over them and they pounced on 2 mistakes. What on earth was Gueds thinking? Amrabat was in acres of space and was the only option but instead he decided to cut inside the congested centre of the field. Fabregas read that like a book all day long. Either Deeney or Ighalo has to be replaced. It's not working. They did nothing again, it's the definition of flogging a dead horse.
A type of game I have seen what seems to be 1000 times before. Watford go a goal up, looking decent, only to fade badly as the game wore on. Carbon copy of the Man City match last season, or that FA Cup match all those years ago when Priskin gave us the lead only for Anelka to score a hat trick in the final 10 minutes or so. We all knew the next few games are likely to bring a flurry of defeats and in the end Chelsea were by far the superior side and should have won by a bigger margin. That said, we restricted Chelsea to virtually nothing for 70 minutes, and can take great pride from that and even had the audacity to score, but that was probably our downfall. I'm concerned at the play of our forwards. Deeney has put on so much weight, and I think he's far too heavy. Clearly it's all muscle and not pies, but it doesn't suit his game. It stands to reason, carrying that extra weight will tired you and he faded badly as the game wore on. Chelsea are one of those teams that can go through the gears in the final 20 minutes and Watford were on the back foot for much of the final moments. I was surprised Mazzarri took so long before making his substitutions as it was clear that the momentum was with Chelsea after all their changes. 1-0 to Conte on the managerial stakes there. Amrabat was the one bright spark. He was really giving Chelsea all sorts of problems. Holebas did ok too on the other side, but apart from that our attacking play was extremely disjointed. Gueds isn't really a Premier League player and I think his first team opportunities will be vastly reduced, that's if he even makes the cull at the end of August. It's a case of onwards and upwards. We have Pereyra and Success to add to that team, which will make a big difference to us going forward. Not sure why Sinclair was not even in the squad today though.
Happy with the team, still early days. Poor start from the 1881 though, and last year it started well and tailed off, so I am worried about that, as I am one of those fans that thinks it makes a difference, and really appreciate the 1881 when it has a good game, because I really think they are that important. Maybe we should blame ****s that don't like talking about what is actually going on next.
Fantastic assist from Guedioura for Capoue's goal, created something from nothing. Shame most Watford fans have declared him not good enough for this level.
Disappointing, but again lots of positives. Mazzarri set us up perfectly, completely nullified them for 70 minutes, but the lack of subs was weird/frustrating. Get the impression he doesn't trust a few of his players yet, and fitness seems an issue. Ultimately the difference was that Chelsea could bring Fabregas off the bench. Ighalo is an issue. Hope he doesn't just automatically start again. Gomes again, and I hate to say it, cost us points. The first goal is a routine save, and last week it was his fault too. Reckon the new signings will make a huge difference too, just frustrating that we have such hard fixtures first.
At least the pundits are on our side for this one. Even Sky have titled the match report "controversial Costa seals win." We lost to Chelsea in a game we deserved to win. Liverpool lost to Burnley just to put some perspective on our result. If we play the way we did today against the lesser quality teams like Bournemouth, hull, Burnley, Swansea, west brom, Sunderland, Middlesborough, Stoke and Palace, I can't see us losing to many of those games.
I think we will get a result or two in the next few games and will be setup well for the season because of the hard start.
Some positives, great for 70 poor for 20. Once of the worst games I've seen from deeney, totally ineffective and didn't even close down the defenders with his usual gusto. If he's not fit drop him ASAP. Also worried about gomes we need him on top form and he's hasn't been so far in the last two. He's cost us points. Amrabat, capoue absolutely superb. Behrami and the defence solid. I thought iggy wasn't great but at least he tried and with some service I think he'll come good. Atmosphere was poor. I thought we'd be raucous one up but pretty poor really. Fans around me seemed frustrated and were moaning a lot. Come on guys we've no right to beat Chelsea, it's extremely positive we did so well for 70 minutes when deeney was a complete passenger.
A kick in the gut for sure. Largely controlled the game for the first hour and created the better of the limited opportunities. With the quality at their disposal Chelsea always had another gear in them but it was especially frustrating that we gave their motor a kick start with a very preventable goal. I really believe that if Gomes doesn't spill that we do not lose the game. Unfortunately that is two mistakes in two games which have lead to goals (and there have been a few other hairy moments as well). It is a slight concern how out of shape Deeney looks. At one point he was properly chasing shadows around the half way line and I really started feeling sorry for him. He knows this isn't good enough and probably goes some way to explaining his lashing out. Fortunately he didn't get sent off. He will sort it out as it is not the first time he has looked out of shape and he corrected it pretty quickly. A bit poor from him though. As for the tactics, tiredness, errors and overall sluggish end to the game. Put it this way, last week we lasted 30mins, this week we lasted an hour. Going in the right direction! Also, that effectively was the same team who finished the season so poorly and despite still losing we were hugely improved with 6 players set to come into contention and push for starts (some of which are pretty much a given). I think we're all irritated because we know just how hard our start is so even a point today would have been a huge moral booster. However I saw nothing to cause undue alarm and plenty of positives which, based on some comments on here of our pre-season and last weeks games, I didn't think existed.
Deeney does tend to react positively to being dropped, so not a bad shout if he doesn't get it going in the next few games. I always think of him as a slow starter.
Oh dear, oh dear Gueds, what were you doing? A criminal cross field pass. First half excellent and early second half decent, it was looking like a 'typical' home Premier League win for us, we were the better team and Prodl had Costa in his pocket. A great goal (not sure if it took a deflection or not) With 65 mins gone, I thought we should have made a sub taking off either of the ineffectual strikers and brought off a midfielder to combat Fabregas coming on, who basically played the quarter-back role and dictated play for them. I knew we were going to lose from then on due to us sitting so far deep, you could just see it coming. We should have then put Vydra on to offer some pace upfront to allow us to clear long and take some pressure of us against two relatively slow Chelsea centre backs. There were still many positives, both wing backs were excellent and our defense bar Gomes looks very solid. I would assume Prodl is most in danger with the Kaboul signing but I thought he was the best of the three decent defenders. Capoue looks at the races again and once we get a decent midfield around him, I can really see the middle of the park clicking. As for improvements, the manager's substitutions perhaps need a bit more work, but that will come as he learns the league, they were a bit reactive instead of proactive and I have said it since January now, Ighalo needs a spell out of the team. Not picking on Gomes but how did people think he did with goals? I though the first should have been pushed wide instead of trying to hold a well hit shot and did the second go through his legs? Overall, though a loss, I wasn't expecting much from the game and I can not see us struggling when the better players come in, especially in midfield and Gueds is not good enough I am afraid.
I found it very frustrating that Mazzari didn't react to our retreat as soon as we went up. Was there a person in the stadium for whom 1-0 up and sitting back didn't ring an alarm bell? We were crying out for someone to bring the ball out or run the channels.
Did well for 80 minutes but a couple of mistakes cost us.. Shame as we more than matched Chelsea till then. Maybe could have made some subs earlier to freshen the team up.
Has he been dropped? I can't remember him being left out unless he's been injured or something. Honestly, there's more chance of Deeney dropping Mazzarri.
Just got back. First thing to say is that we deserved a draw against Chelsea. It remains to be seen how good they are this year but that is likely a very positive thing to be able to say. However... Deeney and Ighalo were totally ineffective again. Far too static up front, they never trouble in behind and aren't good enough to take the ball to feet in most situations. One of the easiest afternoons Terry and Cahill will have all season. Pereyra is desperately needed to bridge the gap between midfield and the forwards. Hard to tell from where I was sat but could Gomes have held the initial shot for the equaliser? I think he certainly could have done better with the second, the ball wasn't anywhere near the corner. Hugely frustrated right now but we can't expect everything to click straight away and be good enough to beat Chelsea in our second game.
2ndo shot was through legs, smart finish. Guediora is a player that when it comes off (Capoue assist) is fantastic and when it doesn't (Pass to Doucoure) it's infuriating. Great squad player, not starter.
Gueds did well today, led to Capoue's goal, plays a poor ball around City's box, then get's blamed for a goal up the other end that Gomes is also getting stick for. He did well today. It was a team issue that led to that goal, not a Gueds issue.
Was on holiday but watched from afar. Looked ok but seem to be carrying a few or at least Deeney - what are all these boxing training videos with AJ. Looks far too big and immobile. Gomes - needs to do better. If you cannot hold it do not plonk in front of you. Basic. Long old season ahead
Deserved a point. Chelsea not only getting into the family stand but being able to exit the ground and charge into the family stand via the exit a huge worry. Poor stewarding and zero policing
One big positive for me was how good our back 3 looked. Confident with our defence now Amrabat looks good. I wonder if we might see a striker come in if Vydra isn't seen as good enough? He looked up for it when he came on though.
Thought we were decent for opening 35 mins and made Chelsea look very average. After that, poor, even when we scored it came against the run of play. If we are going to sit on a 1-0 lead then we needed a bit more in the midfield, Doucoure should have come on for Ighalo or Deeney not long after we scored, I'd of been tempted to take them both off they were that ineffective!! Gueds is not anywhere near up to standard for what we need, gave the ball away on so many occasions, one of which led to a goal. Gomes, kicking woeful at best(put your bloody foot through it!!) & another poor mistake which has led to a goal. Unfortunately we don't have anything better as back up. Amrabat, like last week he ran his *******s off for 60 mins & was probably our MoM, but we really suffered both last & this week in the last half hour as he had very little left to give. Probably should have been replaced but again no great options in a replacement. Finally, the ref, absolutely awful for both sides. And to the to$$ers who persist in buying away fans tickets in the family stand, would you kindly knock it on the head. It's not nice for young kids seeing fists flying!
Very upset not to get a point,to undo all that hard work with two unforced errors is very frustrating. Lots of positives, we looked well organised and hard working and Capoue took his goal excellently. Last season that would have knocked my spectacles off! Like many have mentioned Troy is not worthy of his place at present and was lucky to stay on. I don't know why we are surprised that the ref didn't send the coffee outlet off, that's twice in a week. I bet he would have gone at Old Trafford etc. Slightly alarmed with Gomes,he looks a little ruffled at present. Was that a penalty on Iggy in the first half? Looked like it from The Rookery. The shop looks good.
What **** buys their Chelsea going mate a ticket in the home end knowing theyre likely to kick off. Imagine going to a game and wanting to fight someone in the FAMILY STAND.
He had given the back away earlier too. A few times. He's good to watch going forwards, but he's a liability.
For 70 minutes today we were at worst the equal of a very talented Chelsea side. Mazzari had us set up very well, and we made Chelsea look fairly ordinary. The difference in sides like us and Chelsea is that they have the game changers, who will make an impact when it matters most. For me there are a huge amount of positives to take from todays performance, and I for one wont be losing too much sleep after todays defeat. Once we get used to Mazzari's systems, and style of play, and we have integrated fully the exiting new players we will be fine. I was very impressed with Nordin Ambrobat today, and thought that Capoue had a great game, as did Holebas. We have some very good players, and also some very good players to come into the side. Lets not think that in any shape or form we are the finished article, and we will only get better. Onwards, and upwards.
2nd half, Chelsea corner, someone blatantly handballed it from our team, but I've no idea who. Anyone in the Vic end see anything?
Bit rich of Ighalo to berate Guedioura at the end when he'd done precisely F all for 90 minutes himself.
Absolutely gutted, as we know mistakes get punished by teams like chelsea and it had to be Costa who had been throwing himself over all match until then. Think the most frustrating thing for me was it was so obvious that we needed to change things that they had all the momentum and it was crying out for vydra with their defence right up on the half way line. Amrabat was brilliant, looked to run out of a little steam understandably. Capoue brilliant too and again we see goals coming from a cross in the box! Think Deeney/ighalo really need to be rotated more, it's all too predictable and they seem to give up unless the ball is directly into them how they like it.
