VillaChris

Another half spent watching and wondering how anyone can rate Darwin Nunez.

Just now, Adam2003 said:

We shouldn’t forget this, absolutely right. Amazing. Best season in how long?

95/96.

2 hours ago, MrBlack said:

Chelsea are in arguably a worse position than either of those clubs because of the financial situation they're in. They can't afford another poor season next year or they're really going to struggle to balance the books.

United are similar, but they make more money and don't have as much cost.

You're though,  that on their day all of them can produce a very dangerous performance.

Let's hope we get the Chelsea that's fully given up on this season after that loss.

We are 5-2 on aggregate v West Ham this season so we've put that bad match up to bed imo.

Man. United everyone knows is an abnormal psychological hold over us. All I ask is next season we have Konsa-Pau as the CBs for both games and then we'll see what happens as that option wasn't available to us in either game.

We are unbeaten in three of the four games we've played against Chelsea with the Don so let's not overhype them as some jinx opponent, three of those matches have been away aswell.

Our home defeat last season was probably one of our best games under Slippy aswell, that's one match you can't pin on tactical ineptique for us losing under him.

Haven't Chelsea qualified for this World club thing happening next summer? Hilarious but they'll also get a huge amount from just competiting (although it's a month long so completely disrupts pre season).

19 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

That would be shocking by the way - it would be a nothing penalty - taking Chelsea's bad season and making it worse but not catastrophic (they'd still be safe from relegation) whilst leaving them with a clean sheet for next season when presumably they'll be a little bit better. They'd lose maybe £14m for the league placings, but other than that it would just be a punishment for display - there's no real sporting sanction.

If Chelsea are breaking any rules on financial fair play and require a punishment, it should come at the beginning of next season - for me, all FFP punishments should be sorted in the pre-season.

 

I really don't understand why that isn't possible. A big part of FFP is the accounts submitted on June 30th. It really shouldn't take months to scrutinise all 20 clubs and quickly establish which clubs have breached and which haven't. The press and financial experts do that in a matter of days. The charge them towards the end of July and have hearing and punishment during the August.

At worst you get any points penalty in by August/September so at that stage there's still 100 points to play for so it doesn't negatively impact as much as Everton/Forest getting points deducted in April when the games are running out.

30 minutes ago, sne said:

Teamtalk so make of it what you will. Funny thou

https://www.teamtalk.com/chelsea/points-deduction-relegation-dogfight-beckons-expert-predicts-huge-penalty-psr-rule-break

That's just clickbait headline. Any points punishment and Chelsea would appeal. And completely at odds with the procedures this season e.g. club gets charged, hearing takes place a few months later and then decision is made 2-3 weeks later with then appeal being heard a further month or two later.

Yet Chelsea just going to be hit with -15 in two weeks and that would be that.

They'd still stay up with that punishment aswell.

Chelsea loss last night means we've secured top 6 with still of a month to the season to run. Many on here would've taken that in August as a final finishing position nevermind the opportunity we now have.

Chelsea can't catch us now and opportunity long since passed for West Ham and Brighton.

Man. United/Newcastle also playing each other still in the run in so at least one team guaranteed to drop at least two points from that fixture. Newcastle would still have a chance of finishing above us with their GD but we'd need to lose our last 4 and Newcastle win their other five games remaining so basically 0.1% chance. That also could be over tonight if Palace hold them which I think is possible.

40 minutes ago, StefanAVFC said:

I think that's how it would work if 5th was CL but as it isn't, 7th is the lowest it can go. And if United win, then '7th' goes to them not 7th place.

I think the formula though is for us to finish 7th then Man. United would have to finish above us. Chelsea can't finish above us and they've still got six games left to play so there's an ever diminishing number of teams below us now who can get to 67 points, just Newcastle and Spurs.

Edit: Ignore what I was saying.

However there is no one else who can actually catch us and knock us down to 7th (other than Man. United) so them winning the cup is irrelevant. 

Also Man. United/Newcastle still have to play each other in the run in so surely that alone guarantees it as at least one of those teams will lose at least two points from that fixture.

We've basically secured top 6 now from the Chelsea result last night which is a nice achievement with still a month of the domestic season to run.

7 hours ago, DCJonah said:

Mings as the LB would make sense if he's fit enough. 

Will have to see how Ty looks in pre season if he's still on course for that. Even if he's lost a yard of pace (which feels inevitable given how bad his injury was) that will impact on things.

I think I'd rather just stick with him centrally and see how he does on his return and would imagine we'll ease him in through league cup and sub roles first.

The plan in pre season was to start the season with Konsa-Mings and then Pau would get games at LB and then shift to the centre at a later stage in the season. However given how well he's adapted I can't see any point moving him back out to LB now. Konsa a bit different but see how the new Serbian player does.

Sort of random link that's probably true.

Him and the guy who plays for Fenerbahçe? 15-20m and guys who could double their valuation if they adapt to the prem within two years.

Has a Cash sort of profile and ideal really if he can play both FBs positions and also further up as that would ease selection issues if we again get 3-4 key injuries at the same time next season.

1 hour ago, viivvaa66 said:

The question is: “Are Chelsea this bad or are they just missing Cole Palmer?”

If Chelsea are this bad, we have to assume Spurs are at least winning 3 more games; Chelsea, Burnley and SheffieldU. That means Saturday is a must win game for us.

If Chelsea are missing Cole Palmer this much, let’s pray he is out on Saturday, but back early next week.

They'll turn up v Spurs don't worry about that. Pochettino won't even make the final games if they lose that 3 or 4 nil.

15 minutes ago, omariqy said:

They create chances but are so poor in the middle and at the back that you always have a good chance of scoring a few. Key will be taking our chances. Hopefully Palmer is out.

Siva is still their best CB by a mile and he's nearly 40 and leaving. Probably him and Chalobah v us. They've spent 150m + on Fofana, Badashile and Disasi and they're all incredibly average and about the same level.

1 hour ago, MellbergsBeard said:

Wonder what Chelsea we will see on Saturday after tonight? 

Honestly what do they have to fight for in the league? None of them signed 8 year deals to play in the Conference league and they're not finishing above Newcastle with their run in. Or probably Man. United.

Good news is they'll probably turn up for the Spurs match otherwise they'll be a mini riot at Stamford Bridge but otherwise they're a good team to play in the run in. Let's remember in this amazing recent run they've still failed to beat Burnley and Sheffield United and threw away a 2-0 lead to Man. United before getting enough injury time to turn it around.

Hope they play those two FBs v us on Saturday.

Gusto and Chilwell injured as both were involved v Man. City?

2 hours ago, CVByrne said:

This new deal for £20m a season and the new Adidas deal. We are really getting going on the increased revenue. Keep it up Heck keep it up. What's next? I think we have filmed this season? I think sell it for a documentary ?

 

There was a camera crew in the Holte/Witton camera at half time yesterday going all the front rows. I assume that's the Amazon type docu that will drop in next six months.

On 21/04/2024 at 09:16, HanoiVillan said:

Yeah, they're going to be fascinating because it genuinely feels like almost every outcome is possible next season. They're not going to win the league, but could finish top 4, but I've said before and continue to maintain that depending on how their sales go and what impact their finances and any potential points deductions have, they could even be considered outside candidates for relegation as well. 

My *guess* is they'll finish 5th-7th and somehow worm out of any PSR problems with financial engineering, but it'll be fascinating to see. 

How could they genuinely get relegated? This season they had an awful start. Only teams in the first 10 games they won against were Luton, Burnley and Fulham. At xmas after losing to Wolves they had 22 points from 18 games.

Will likely be a good 25 points off 18th now in what has been a mediocre season. They'll sell what they need to sell aswell.

As I've always said the problem is if they keep failing to qualify for the CL in the next 2-3 years as then the guys on the 8 year deals will be wondering what they signed up for.

11 minutes ago, Pinebro said:

So many key decisions go their way.

The turd that just won't flush.

They're very likely to finish 8th or 9th now. Surely that's humiliation enough as that would be their lowest finish since the mid 1980s.

Can also see Man. City beating them more comfortably in the cup final than last year, probably a 3-0 or 4-1 job.

He did that and he wasn't even one of the five penalty takers?!

Guy costs 80m and just refuses responsibility. 

4 hours ago, DCJonah said:

Chelsea destroyed us at home in the cup earlier. 

They also haven't scored past us in the last three at Stamford Bridge so we just need to defend a bit better than in the cup game which really shouldn't be that hard as we were way below that night.

4 hours ago, Don_Simon said:

Blasphemy I know, but, is there scope for the team that played today be the First XI moving forward? Who would you take out for Chelsea to allow Luiz in?

In the cup we played all 4 CMs in both games. So with that thinking Luiz will return and Diaby will likely drop out. Or Bailey with the injury might be saved for Olympiakos.

Can put out 8 CMs but one of them needs to actually track Conor Gallagher this time and not just let him get free shots from 20 yards out this time.

Eze is a wonderful footballer, one of my favourites to watch in the league.

I wonder if Arsenal might make a move if they sell a few of their squad players, him and Odegaard in the same midfield would be ridiculous.

Man. United want Olise and he'd probably be cheaper than Mount and ten times more effective.

10 minutes ago, Nabby said:

Udogie out would seem to suggest Ben Davies going to lb against Saka.Thats already a nice boost for Arsenal and us.

Pretty sure previously they've moved Porro out to LB previously. However he also went off injured v Newcastle so not sure if he's in contention.

Udogie is a contender for team of the season so big boost for us he can't feature anymore for them this season.

Pretty much the perfect performance without actually scoring today.

His hold up play was beautiful to watch. Touch was perfect. A threat throughout with his runs off Zabrayni (who's a decent CB) and a couple of excellent assists. 

This is where he's improved so much from 18 months ago where a game without scoring would mean him missing a couple of one on ones and losing the ball too much in the final third.

He's genuinely one of the best in the league now. Southgate needs to be sent to the tower and locked away if he choses Toney with his 5 games in 12 months or Rashford over him as that would just defy any logic whatsoever.

3 hours ago, Pongo Waring said:

Tielemans and Mcginn is our best midfield pairing?  
 

Shows there is life after Luiz whenever that time comes.

2 hours ago, rubberman said:

They have talent, but are a nothing team. Shut down Palmer, bully Enzo & Mudryk and they'll break. Watkins, Bailey, Rogers will terrorise their defense. 

Their defence is far better with Silva in it as he's the only one who actually talks and organises them. 

Think it's good for us they have Arsenal midweek as even with his excellent fitness he'll struggle to get through both games at nearly 40.

I can see this being 2-2 and after winning our last two it won't be a disaster even if some make out it will be as usual.