Chelsea v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Bielsa Names Unchanged Starting XI

[White Riot]

Reece James is our bogey team.

[White Riot]

Everyine ballwatching and its 2-1

All just stood watching, that's not how you defend a set-piece. But it is how we defend set-pieces. All opposing coaches will have taken note of this

[Overman]

Tbf our system was always our strength, in the Prem better players can exploit our 1v1 system and thus our defence.

Defensively we arent that strong man for man, Dallas a makeshift winger at left back.

Ayling a lower league rb his whole career and Coops the same.

All nearly 30 or already 30. They have all been great servants but think we all know that they need replacing if we want to progreds at this level. Cant do that in 1 summer and as thoroughly depressing as it is to say, we just have to survive and they are ok for that.

We need better defenders but takes time. Chelsea had better players able to exploit the system and thus difference in class.

Cant be to downhearted.

We are in a transitional period, the likes of Dallas, Coops, Alio and Ayling are primarily a Championship defensive line. I feel they can still do a job against lower to mid-table sides in this league. It was evident yesterday the disparity between both sides, in terms of skill and pace across the pitch. We still need to strengthen and upgrade, particularly if want to compete against quality sides like the scum yesterday.

[White Riot]

What is all that squaking when Llorente gets the ball?

Very annoying those Chelsea half-wits

[andrewjohnsmith]

We were really poor today. A few of my neutral friends told me we came up against a top class side. But our game was awful for the most part. We couldn't string 3 passes together. We did a couple of times and it was brilliant, especially the goal. But more often we had two or three touches and gave the ball away. It was just an off day all around as witnessed by some of Meslier's passing around the back and one horrendous moment from Lllorente.

I'll forgive Llorente. He's a little rusty mentally and physically. For most of the game he did show his class and it;s clear that he'll be part of our defence going forward. I was rooting for him to replace Cooper - he'll probably be replacing Koch now - but Cooper had his best premier league game to date. He made some great tackles and looked busy moving forward.

I don't know what's going on at corners. We lost almost every one on both ends. It's the one area where Champonship and promoted sides usually match up well and often steal an advantage over better times. We're quite completely hopeless at corners, almost like boys v men,

Some of today's deficiencies just came down to quality. They had it, we didn't. Could you imagine Leeds bringing Pulisic off the bench? Their players were just so much more skilled every time they touched the ball. But we should have done so much more with our possession. We know we're so much better than what we saw today.

Did Chelsea rattle us? No. I just think we had a bad day and defeated ourselves today.

Rodrigo for Alioski? Yes, in theory. But it wouldn't have worked today as we got completely overrun in midfield.

[White Riot]

He goes down he gets that.

Yeah, Poveda needs to watch some Grealish videos

[White Riot]

Lost to a better team. First time I've seen us look like we ran out of gas.

Spent all day chasing the ball, especially in the second half.

Our inability to defend corners was key today. They easily could have had two or three other goals from corners.

We're not a top four side yet, but I suppose we knew that.

Correct John, this just put a full stop at the end of "We're not a top 4 side yet"

[White Riot]

Poveda will be fine against poorer teams that park the bus...But nice to see we've found a new scapegoat as Roberts isn't getting match time

Step forward Ian our new scapegoat

[Overman]

Very annoying those Chelsea half-wits

I think it was the Chelsea fans tuning up their banjos and squealing like pigs.

[White Riot]

Our fitness levels mean't we out ran Championship sides, now the Prem is a different scenario, we looked out of our depth with 15 to go

Exactly

I'm sick of hearing this bollocks that we're the fittest team in the world and no other side can cope with us = absolute cobblers.

At this level all teams and players are as fit as us. Most of them have players that are better quality than ours.

If anything I see us running out of steam and creativity in the second half of matches this season, not the opposition. I'm sure our comparative stats between first and second half will show this.

We had more percentage possession over 90 minutes, but they did more with it as they've better quality players. We're not at the level of the top 6 yet.

[White Riot]

I think it was the Chelsea fans tuning up their banjos and squealing like pigs.

Ha! Ha!

Squeal like a pig boy

I also don't understand why in a 40,000 seater stadium, during a global pandemic, they're all sat together like sardines with no masks on

I guess they're ugly enough that they don't need masks to scare the rats off the tip

[White Riot]

Second half was worrying, the gulf in class was there for all to see. We still have too many Championship players in the side. Whatever the question is, Poveda is clearly not the answer.

If Poveda, Harrison and Alioski are the answer then I guess we're up against Crawley Town

[1964white]

We were really poor today. A few of my neutral friends told me we came up against a top class side. But our game was awful for the most part. We couldn't string 3 passes together. We did a couple of times and it was brilliant, especially the goal. But more often we had two or three touches and gave the ball away. It was just an off day all around as witnessed by some of Meslier's passing around the back and one horrendous moment from Lllorente.

I'll forgive Llorente. He's a little rusty mentally and physically. For most of the game he did show his class and it;s clear that he'll be part of our defence going forward. I was rooting for him to replace Cooper - he'll probably be replacing Koch now - but Cooper had his best premier league game to date. He made some great tackles and looked busy moving forward.

I don't know what's going on at corners. We lost almost every one on both ends. It's the one area where Champonship and promoted sides usually match up well and often steal an advantage over better times. We're quite completely hopeless at corners, almost like boys v men,

Some of today's deficiencies just came down to quality. They had it, we didn't. Could you imagine Leeds bringing Pulisic off the bench? Their players were just so much more skilled every time they touched the ball. But we should have done so much more with our possession. We know we're so much better than what we saw today.

Did Chelsea rattle us? No. I just think we had a bad day and defeated ourselves today.

Rodrigo for Alioski? Yes, in theory. But it wouldn't have worked today as we got completely overrun in midfield.

Agree with much of that Andrew although to claim Coops was that good is bewildering for me.
CB's should be powerful & commanding in the air & on the ground defensively, can't recall Coops or any of our defensive unit winning the ball in the air many times, none of them were jumping, they were all just stood around ball watching, every time the ball was delivered into our box we were in trouble, Chelsea could have scored eight or nine goals from free headers & open goal situations.

[White Riot]

I think we get a draw in Koch plays the whole game and we start Rodrigo...

For me Koch should not have been selected as he went down in the first challenge, and we then have to waste a sub immediately. Good to see Llorente get on and I do believe he'll be a good un. But at that moment surely switching Ayling of brining on Struijk would have been better, as they're match fit?

I still have no idea why we paid so much for Rodrigo when MB won't start him, not like the team is overloaded with creativity. Rodders holds the ball up and brings others into play better then Bamford. He creates more than Bamford. He may well finish better than Bamford if he ever gets a start

[Clacton White]

We are in a transitional period, the likes of Dallas, Coops, Alio and Ayling are primarily a Championship defensive line. I feel they can still do a job against lower to mid-table sides in this league. It was evident yesterday the disparity between both sides, in terms of skill and pace across the pitch. We still need to strengthen and upgrade, particularly if want to compete against quality sides like the scum yesterday.

They were playing against a side that has spent more than any other Premier club this season by far . I guess realistically Leeds should expect mid table and push on in the next few seasons . The thing that poses me off is it gives loathsome Frank more air time . I'm sure he will be asked his opinion of EU trade deal , global warming , Brexit , in fact any news item as the press seem to drool over whatever this dullard has to say . A friend of mine in Brum described him as a chav , thinking about it , yes , he is chav like . Vile egotistical smug piece of shite IMO . Glad Gerrard was around at same time to deprive him of a fair few caps . Gerrard was better anyway........saw Lampard in a cup final and I am sure his running speed was exactly the same as walking pace , the legs moved faster but the speed was the same .

[White Riot]

Can't wait until March 13th (depending on Sky) and a packed Elland Road will watch us put a dent in Lampard's title ambitions.

He will win nothing

Better teams than them domestically and in Europe.

Looking forward to watching him crying

[gessa]

I dislike Chelsea and Lampard as much as the next man but I have to begrudgingly give credit where it's due, they are a very very good side, which when you spend the money they do, you should be but it still needs putting together. That is the first time I've seen them play and they seem to have all the right players in the right areas, height where it's needed and pace to spare, Havertz was the only one that didn't impress. That is probably the fittest looking team I remember seeing since the late 90's early 00's Wenger team at Arsenal. Like that team they broke with pace and good swift passing, like that team they were wasteful in front of goal.
Hopefully this will give some of our fans the realisation of being in the PL, and how far away at present we are from challenging for a top 6 place. We weren't great but the different class in player was the main reason for that, we spent neigh on 100m in the summer but haven't been in a position to play all the 4 signings in the team at once to see what if any difference it makes, let's not forget we started the game with 9 championship players, they had more worth on the bench than our whole squad cost. I don't like losing, especially to these, but I'm not too down hearted because of who they are footballing wise, now Crystal Palace, that was a pisser.

We all know we need to strengthen but that's not going to happen over night, patience is what's required, let's stay in the PL as our first and major goal, then build season by season.

Rodrigo has to start Friday.

[Velotrax]

I dislike Chelsea and Lampard as much as the next man but I have to begrudgingly give credit where it's due, they are a very very good side, which when you spend the money they do, you should be but it still needs putting together. That is the first time I've seen them play and they seem to have all the right players in the right areas, height where it's needed and pace to spare, Havertz was the only one that didn't impress. That is probably the fittest looking team I remember seeing since the late 90's early 00's Wenger team at Arsenal. Like that team they broke with pace and good swift passing, like that team they were wasteful in front of goal.
Hopefully this will give some of our fans the realisation of being in the PL, and how far away at present we are from challenging for a top 6 place. We weren't great but the different class in player was the main reason for that, we spent neigh on 100m in the summer but haven't been in a position to play all the 4 signings in the team at once to see what if any difference it makes, let's not forget we started the game with 9 championship players, they had more worth on the bench than our whole squad cost. I don't like losing, especially to these, but I'm not too down hearted because of who they are footballing wise, now Crystal Palace, that was a pisser.

We all know we need to strengthen but that's not going to happen over night, patience is what's required, let's stay in the PL as our first and major goal, then build season by season.


Rodrigo has to start Friday.

[Leeds1000]

I dislike Chelsea and Lampard as much as the next man but I have to begrudgingly give credit where it's due, they are a very very good side, which when you spend the money they do, you should be but it still needs putting together. That is the first time I've seen them play and they seem to have all the right players in the right areas, height where it's needed and pace to spare, Havertz was the only one that didn't impress. That is probably the fittest looking team I remember seeing since the late 90's early 00's Wenger team at Arsenal. Like that team they broke with pace and good swift passing, like that team they were wasteful in front of goal.
Hopefully this will give some of our fans the realisation of being in the PL, and how far away at present we are from challenging for a top 6 place. We weren't great but the different class in player was the main reason for that, we spent neigh on 100m in the summer but haven't been in a position to play all the 4 signings in the team at once to see what if any difference it makes, let's not forget we started the game with 9 championship players, they had more worth on the bench than our whole squad cost. I don't like losing, especially to these, but I'm not too down hearted because of who they are footballing wise, now Crystal Palace, that was a pisser.

We all know we need to strengthen but that's not going to happen over night, patience is what's required, let's stay in the PL as our first and major goal, then build season by season.

Rodrigo has to start Friday.

Good post. All about context. We are new kids on the block. People need to stop thinking top six, and start thinkin anything above the bottom three is a bonus this season. And lets not forget we have just beaten Everton and should have smashed Arsenal. If they are our yardstick we should be leaping for joy.
Rodrigo has to start Friday

[NorfolkWhite]

Yeah, Poveda needs to watch some Grealish videos

It’s sad but unfortunately true, I’d say VAR has made this more so which is a bit odd.