Chelsea match thread

[silverfox]

Didn't really expect so much negativity from everyone after this game, TBH (don't really know why, we're all Blades fans!). I thought we looked good for a point - plenty of attacking play, plenty of shots, Paddy didn't really have that much to do. Poor defending let us down and we gifted them all 3 goals which is very frustrating because players made fundamental mistakes that they don't normally make (except Claude - he's wild), but other than that the line-up was much closer to what some people on here (me included) were calling for.

Get well soon Hulse. Time for Nade or Webber to take his chance now, though.

Just look at Chelsea's record at home.....yes we did get caught out...which team hasn't there.

Just hope our confidence is not damaged by the Hulse injury.

 

[Foxy]

I was a little bit annoyed with Warnock (it wouldn't be a Saturday if I weren't) bringing back certain players who haven't played for weeks/months but refusing to involve Stead when Nade went AWOL for 45 mins. Dunno, maybe he just didn't want to risk anybody else.

I presume his thinking was that Nade is stronger and more unpredictable than Stead, he's also a little bit cheekier in terms of quick one-two's and flicks which would complement CKR and his style of play.

 

[Bladesman]

Didn't really expect so much negativity from everyone after this game, TBH (don't really know why, we're all Blades fans!). I thought we looked good for a point - plenty of attacking play, plenty of shots, Paddy didn't really have that much to do. Poor defending let us down and we gifted them all 3 goals which is very frustrating because players made fundamental mistakes that they don't normally make (except Claude - he's wild), but other than that the line-up was much closer to what some people on here (me included) were calling for.

I was a little bit annoyed with Warnock (it wouldn't be a Saturday if I weren't) bringing back certain players who haven't played for weeks/months but refusing to involve Stead when Nade went AWOL for 45 mins. Dunno, maybe he just didn't want to risk anybody else.

Also agree with the Shelton issue - what the hell was he on the bench for? If you're not going to bring on a new striker, of whom you're a bit unsure, when you're 3-0 down away at Chelsea, when can you give him a risk-free run out? Reminds me of Sharp away at Wolves on the last day a couple of years back.

Get well soon Hulse. Time for Nade or Webber to take his chance now, though.

I agree i have to admit we put a better showing in than we did at Liverpool. Ashame really that the goals we conceded were rather sloppy goals. Anyway just our luck this weekend everything has gone against us though. lol

Dont Panic!

 

[TonyAgana]

I presume his thinking was that Nade is stronger and more unpredictable than Stead, he's also a little bit cheekier in terms of quick one-two's and flicks which would complement CKR and his style of play.

Oh I've nothing against Nade coming on for Hulse, but when he disappeared in the 2nd half why not sub him? That's what I meant.

 

[TonyAgana]

Just look at Chelsea's record at home.....yes we did get caught out...which team hasn't there.

I know, and I know that all goals count equally but we didn't make such terrible defensive errors against Liverpool, Arsenal or Man U, did we? Chelsea's record isn't really an excuse for us not being able to mark.

 

[silverfox]

I know, and I know that all goals count equally but we didn't make such terrible defensive errors against Liverpool, Arsenal or Man U, did we? Chelsea's record isn't really an excuse for us not being able to mark.

Agreed our marking was terrible and our players were chasing shadows most of the match. The space they had was frightening.

 

[Foxy]

Oh I've nothing against Nade coming on for Hulse, but when he disappeared in the 2nd half why not sub him? That's what I meant.

Because that would have given his confidence the world of good, right when we need someone to step up.

I think he had an impossible job too, with players reluctant to support him (only Keef, Monty and CKR were trying). He was often coming out to the wings/dropping deeper in an attempt to create something/get hold of the ball, resulting in nobody in the middle.

I'd have liked to give the others a run out, but I don't think Stead could have had much of an impact, given the way we were playing.

 

[TonyAgana]

Bang on, pander to players' egos rather than make a simple substitution.

If that's your argument, do you not think his "impossible job" might have been damaging his confidence just as much?

 

[Sensiblade]

Bang on, pander to players' egos rather than make a simple substitution.

If that's your argument, do you not think his "impossible job" might have been damaging his confidence just as much?

Now Hulse is out for the rest of the season, Neda is a genuine contender to start the next game and substituting him would not only make him look not good enough in front of Millions of viewers but make him think that the manager doesn't think he's good enough and could cause problems off the pitch that we don't need.
Being subbed when you are a sub is prob the worst thing that can happen to humilliate a player (unless it's tactical after an injury or sending off), it would have been a big mistake to sub him.

 

[TonyAgana]

He'd been on since the 25th minute!! That's more football than he's had all year put together and the longest stretch he's had on the pitch since we played Arsenal last December!! I'm NOT slagging Nade off, it's not his fault but he had nowhere near 90 minutes in him against Chelsea - Fact.

The guy was shagged - he might as well have been injured - and he knew it as well as everyone else.

 

[Foxy]

Bang on, pander to players' egos rather than make a simple substitution.

If that's your argument, do you not think his "impossible job" might have been damaging his confidence just as much?

It's not pandering to a players' ego, its man management and player development.

What do you think would be more humiliating at his age?

Struggling against the defence of one of the most expensive teams in Europe who are solid at home or being subbed after coming on as a substitute yourself infront of 42k fans and god knows how many television viewers?

Why was it a simple substitution? If Nade is going to be one of Neil Warnock's planned alternatives to Hulse he'd benefit from finishing the match. He's fitter and stronger than Shelton, needs more time and development than Stead and is more likely to outmuscle John Terry even if he has been "AWOL" for most of the half.

 

[Robbie]

Being subbed when you are a sub is prob the worst thing that can happen to humilliate a player (unless it's tactical after an injury or sending off), it would have been a big mistake to sub him.

That might be the case if you had been brought on in say the second half, but he was brought on after 25 minutes i think it was.

I only watched extended highlights on SS1, so I don't like to condemn players too much when i haven't seen the full game. But from what I saw Nade was being lazy in the box. If he was tired, get him off the field. If he is not putting the effort in, get him off the field. There is no room for passengers in this league. I don't care whether it makes a player look bad by subtituting him. I would rather that than have him take his place for granted for the remainder of the game.

Anyways, everyone seem to be making out as if we should be getting something from places like chelsea..... for the time being we have to go to these places to make the numbers up. Now we have another week break and then bolton away, in which i fully think we can get a point even with out the services of Robbie up front. I'd be tempted to play jags up front with Stead.