carefreeluke

I imagine it’s solely because of his physicality that Sarri prefers him given the nature of this league. If Christensen was bigger, I’d bet he’d be starting instead. Sarri’s mentioned that Alonso helps the team because of his height as well. Funny because I’d say Alonso’s stature hinders us more than anything.

Yeah, I wouldn't bet on us getting top four. We should be taking six points from the next two games but at the same time, they are typical games we've struggled in this season. Wouldn't be surprising at all if we don't win both.

Finished the second season of White Gold. Onto After Life, enjoyed the first episode.

England tonight.

He has to stay in my opinion. The reactionary nature of the board over the last ten years or so has contributed to making our very own fanbase more reactionary than normal.

I said this about Azpilicueta at the start of the season as well..

I'll let Sarri off the hook with Ruben. Sarri said recently that he isn't ready to play 90 minutes because he's just coming back from injury. Given his troubles in this area perhaps it wouldn't be wise to rush him back and better to ease him into playing again. In saying that there was a period earlier in the season when he wasn't playing Ruben regularly enough. This the manager put down to how the player wasn't ready tactically. However, Ruben began to win over Sarri a bit, with the manager saying publically that he had improved and hinted that he would start more games, then he had that back injury which he has just come back from. If he stays injury free, let's see how the rest of the season pans out.

In recent weeks our pressing has been a lot better. We are choosing more wisely our moments to commit as a team but also we're laying off opponents as well which is helping us defensively. This is something both Sarri and the players have alluded to recently. Kanté's peformances have improved which has coincided with improvement in his general positioning and his relationship with Jorginho also. I think Sarri and the team previously were a bit naive in thinking that we could have our foot on the pedal for the full 90 minutes, pressing high and whatever particularly in this league. I think the frenetic nature of this league, the physical side, the pace and general style makes it difficult to maintain certain levels of intensity but also maintain full control of matches particularly when a team has weaknesses in certain areas like ours. These characteristics of the league are what makes it great but also explain why it has a lack of quality at times compared with other top leagues. Anyway, our gung ho approach (if you like) before was difficult for the players to maintain and it would only take a mistimed press (for example) for opponents to find gaps to exploit. Hopefully the subtle recent adaptations help us maintain the consistency to finish the season very well. It's difficult to tell though with this team, 1-2 games and we could easily be back in a 'crisis'.

I decided to give it a watch as a couple of mates love it and I know it's highly rated in general. It isn't terrible but I'm struggling to get into it, plus Robert Webb's character grates on me a bit, I don't know why. Anyway, I'll see if my opinion changes on the series after season 2.

Onto the second season of Peep Show. Anyone else like it? Have to say it's not really doing much for me but I'll stick with it.

Another random point. We have a few players that play regularly for us that dwell too long on the ball. Hazard is a culprit but you can perhaps excuse him for it as he's our biggest threat. On the other hand, there's a few that play regularly that don't move or use the ball intelligently enough. Willian for example will slow the tempo down by stopping the ball and waiting for the defender to commit. You watch City use the ball and the difference in intelligence in this area is miles ahead. City treat the ball like a hockey puck, we move it like we're in a warm down exercise or something like that. Pep for one wouldn't stand for it, 1-3 touches then move and all the players are committed and know how and when to move the ball. This comes down to the manager but also the quality of players. I saw this on Twitter earlier: Us not being able to create is nothing new really. Give it to Hazard and hope for the best has been our plan for a while now.

This will be my final rant of tonight. Not often I've made this sort of a comment over the years but there's not anyone in our current team who I feel like I can relate to. Who's a Chelsea man in our current team really apart from some of the youth players?

Finished Ricky Gervais' Extras. Slightly disappointed as I'm a big fan of his but it was OK, got better as it went on. Had me chuckling in parts but not some of his best work. Onto White Gold and enjoying it 2 episodes in.

I would also like to see Christensen get a good run of games. Unfortunately it's likely not to happen with Sarri having his preferences. Rudiger for me is steady but there's something about him that stops him from making those conversations about the best centre backs in the league and in Europe. Luiz at his maximum is top level but this season he''s struggled with consistency.

I've said it before on here but we unintentionally treat our best youth prospects the worst. Hudson-Odoi and Ampadu have spent the season so far making the senior players' coffee. Both are playing parts really as the last cover options. Hazard, Willian, Pedro, CHO. CHO's essentially being used as an option in lesser games to give some of senior players in front of him some rest. Ampadu's squad role is more puzzling. Luiz, Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill, Ampadu. Probably about adequate cover there really. Then, Jorginho, Kovacic, Ampadu, not forgetting we also had Cesc on our books for half a season. Ampadu should be out on loan somewhere, he's wasting his time this season as far as I'm concerned. With CHO it perhaps makes sense in terms of squad depth for him to be here. His problem is different though in the fact that he should be playing more, he's an intern outperforming some of the company's old boys.

Extras (Ricky Gervais)

I blame the club mate.

A reminder he's still here: