The College Dropout

For me.... defenders should be judged moreso on mistakes than anything else. At least at relegation battle level. You can't give away weak goals like that. Do the basics right lad. Win your f***ing headers. It was too easy. A slight push isn't good enough. At least make a big deal about it if it is a foul. He fell in installments.

He was utter s***. I would rather have Dummetinho Aye turgid. Need him back. He even training?

Pap for the second. So weak again. Barely protested. He, Lejeune & Clark all seem like laid back characters.

Aye Rithcie is a huge dillema. On one hand he must start for set-pieces. But he doesn't offer much if anything in general play

Also must be said... we haven't looked decent defensively in the PL for any stretch of time without Lascelles in the team dating back to the relegation season. Defensively the team that got relegated isn't any worse than this one man for man apart from Lascelles improvement. Maybe Clark. Lejeune is Colo Clown status right now. Dummett injured for long periods again and poor replacements. And RB's that leak goals.

We won't stay up unless we can go back to being tight at the back. That is seemingly dependent on our 24 year old captain. And perhaps even the fitness and form of Paully D.

Biggest worry is nothing looks decent at the moment. Can't defend for shit. Can't attack. Can't create. Can't protect defence. Lascelles and Dummett back will help out in defence. But the rest is still broken.

This team needs 40m of investment. A couple 20m QUALITY players on decent wedge.

Why is Yedlin playing RM while Ritchie is still at FB?

Team selection was working great for a while, arguably should have been level at HT. Looked like conceding 3 or 4 before HT ffs. Arguably level? Gerrout of here. Yes, because of absolutely criminal mistakes, not tactical errors Is playing Ritchie at wing back not a tactical error? In any case, most poor performances are to do with you know... performances rather than tactics. Lejeune, Mbemba and Ritchie awful.

I know why he playd Ritchie but we would've been better off with 5 actual defenders.

Team selection was working great for a while, arguably should have been level at HT. Looked like conceding 3 or 4 before HT ffs. Arguably level? Gerrout of here.

Not a wing back.

It's a fair point. It's poor.

Seems to lack agility. Every time they pop a ball over the top he's scrambling.

He did compared to some of the others, but I expect he'll be slaughtered as usual. The culprits are the centre backs today. hes 26 Yes, quite young for a centre back in this league. 2 of Chelsea's are younger. Stop being pedantic. I'm not being pedantic. He's inexperienced as PL CB. But he is not young.

He did compared to some of the others, but I expect he'll be slaughtered as usual. The culprits are the centre backs today. One of the least bad aye. Ritchie's not a FB but he's been pap. Lejeune is at the heart of it. Makes everything look so difficult. Every ball over the top lead to a chance for them. Then he ducks out of a header. Mbemba at fault also for the second. Clark not being a leader. Perez loses the ball all of the time. The rest have been okayish imo.

hes 26 Yes, quite young for a centre back in this league. 2 of Chelsea's are younger.

Absolutely awful half of defending there. Needs some time out of the side.

Communication is such a big part of things too and clearly there's problems with this, compounded by very fluid attack play by Chelsea. Unless you know Rafa better than Rafa (TCD). Fluid attacks? Every single ball over the top has him scrambled. Not slick interplay, just decent long passes over his shoulder. Beaten again in the air by Christensen.

He's 26 but the rest is valid.

Lejeune - nice technique with the volley. Shame he can't fucking defend.

foul? Morata push? f***ing weak defending man. Primary fault lies with Ritchhie and Lejeune for me anyway. Think Mbemba is expecting Lejeune to clear it. Although I think one of the reasons Mbemba and Manquillo are starting is because they're meant to be better in the air than the alternatives. Morata scores a lot with his head so get Lejeune, Mbemba and Manquillo to protect the crosses from Moses and Azpilicueta all of that may be true but it's absolutely a foul, he had him marked really well. You aren't going to be able to keep your feet all the time if someone pushes you in the back As a CB it has to be so obvious that you're getting man handled. You HAVE to be stronger. Same thing happened at Huddersfield. Be stronger and if you've been fouled. Make it clear and howl at the ref. He makes it look so routine. Scream if you're being pushed man. Or/and be stronger ffs.

Yet Rafa bought the former? Not absolving Rafa here. Just saying this won't work as long as they're at the back. They can't play his football.

foul? Morata push? Fucking weak defending man. Primary fault lies with Ritchhie and Lejeune for me anyway. Think Mbemba is expecting Lejeune to clear it. Although I think one of the reasons Mbemba and Manquillo are starting is because they're meant to be better in the air than the alternatives. Morata scores a lot with his head so get Lejeune, Mbemba and Manquillo to protect the crosses from Moses and Azpilicueta