I think we can all agree our defence has not been as good as we have come to expect in recent seasons. Probably the two biggest reasons are us playing a more attacking game with Fabregas as part of the midfield two and Cahill being absolute shieit this season.
But over time I have come to notice a recurring mistake that our defenders and midfielders seem to make every game, they don't defend the late run into the box. It seems like every time the opposition are attacking us on the flanks we have plenty of defenders covering the 6 yard box but we always leave too much space on the edge of the 18 yard box and fail to mark late runners who attack that space. Off the top of my head I can think of: at least two of the goals we conceded against Bradford and Lamps' goal against us, but there have definitely been more as I remember noticing the same thing last season.
I am honestly hoping that Lampard doesn't feature next saturday as he is by far the best player I have seen at making those types of runs and he will cause us damage if he plays, afterall he knows our weaknesses aswell as anybody.
A recurring defensive lapse
posted on 29/1/15
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 17 minutes ago
Azpi and Terry have been fine, other side the problem as far as I'm concerned.
Cahill is devoid of anticipatory instincts.
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If terry has been fine you havnt watched us much.I get the cahill stick I do, but terry, who is a better defender than cahill is, has still been poor
posted on 29/1/15
My main gripe with Ivanovic is his inability to defend/stop crosses coming into the box and that godforsaken awful hands behind back(limits movement).
posted on 29/1/15
comment by xiuxiuejar (U6109)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 3 minutes ago
Azpi and Terry have been fine, other side the problem as far as I'm concerned.
Cahill is devoid of anticipatory instincts.
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and for as good as Ivanovic is - and he is really very good, his weakness at full back is when defending the edge of the box from a standing start. As soon as a faster player beats him either insode or out, Cahill is slow to position himself, or more often just so far out of position that the defence becomes stretched. Watching Chelsea, I think that is your weakness. That and the lack of rotation. You lost the Spurs game because of the combination of Cahill and not resting one of the midfielders.
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By "not resting one of the midfielders" are you referring to Matic and Fabregas?
You can't rest key players for such a match but I agree re. rotation, although the options are not exactly overwhelming.
In the Spurs defeat we made a catalouge of errors...
The main sticking point and catalyst to the loss was Matic constantly getting drawn away from the middle to take him out of the game(cleverly by Eriksen). Opened up the middle channel for players to run into unchallenged, Spurs took full advantage dominating and overloading the central areas(Fabregas nor Oscar were able to provide sufficient cover).
Chadli was excellent, making in roads into the final third as an outlet and support runner.
Generally didn't know how to combat throughout the match outnumbered.
They displayed more will to pressing, much better robustness/aggressiveness to tighten and deny space.
Furthermore, Spurs were quicker to loose passes, turning over possession, breaking away, switching play, widening space and decisive/clinical in transitions when it mattered.
Beaten by a very dogged side, who thoroughly outworked us that day.
Which isn't usually the case.
They normally concede first and completely capitulate.
posted on 29/1/15
I still think that you were the better team that day except for the lack of dynamism from Matic (unusual for him) and the awful and I mean truly awful performance from Cahill. How you only scored 3 is beyond me - you could've won that game 5-7. You really need to find another centre back.
posted on 29/1/15
Coutinho was breaking matic ankles
posted on 29/1/15
Didn't think we were the better side, second best for a large majority of the match(only time we were really looked on top for a sustained period was in the latter stages, when Spurs took their foot off the gas started to relinquish possession cheaply with the three goal advantage, coincided with the created chances we had).
posted on 29/1/15
Performance from Cahill was scandalous but to be expected with him being a reactive defender, does not like players running at him.
Kane and Chadli were the main threats in that regard.
posted on 29/1/15
comment by xiuxiuejar (U6109)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
I still think that you were the better team that day except for the lack of dynamism from Matic (unusual for him) and the awful and I mean truly awful performance from Cahill. How you only scored 3 is beyond me - you could've won that game 5-7. You really need to find another centre back.
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spot on
posted on 29/1/15
OP did you check any figures before posting this article?
It looks like this will be equal to last season and better than the 4 seasons before that so your 'recent seasons' seems completely wrong.
posted on 30/1/15
Purely in terms of goals conceded we might not be worse than last season but our defence has definetely not looked anywhere near as reliable as last season see games vs everton and liverpool