I think with the way we set up and the players who started it was obvious from the start our game plan was to let you come at us with you attacking full backs and then hit you on the counter with Ramires and Kalou. Basicly our game plan worked, with Cardozo's early effort which he should have done better from and Jardel's header aside nothing else really worried us.
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I think with the way we set up and the players who started it was obvious from the start our game plan was to let you come at us with you attacking full backs and then hit you on the counter with Ramires and Kalou. Basicly our game plan worked, with Cardozo's early effort which he should have done better from and Jardel's header aside nothing else really worried us.
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BlueHeart26
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yes, the pass for Mata, I saw it, I thought he was going to shoot, but hey, maybe hes starting to learn (I HOPE).
slbenficacoach
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It did work, this is not a new thing with Benfica, dominating and not creating chances, we often go from 8 to 80.
There were also a few mistakes on our part that some of you guys may not notice since it's not usual for you to see Benfica play, but Jesus made wrong subs and I wonder why does Emerson still play... Even our fans hate him.
There were also a few mistakes on our part that some of you guys may not notice since it's not usual for you to see Benfica play, but Jesus made wrong subs and I wonder why does Emerson still play... Even our fans hate him.
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BlueHeart26
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Emerson was your worst player I think, Ramires made him look like a handicapped midget.
slbenficacoach
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Playing devils advocate Emerson isen't the only one who has been physically and mentally raped by Ramires this season. Will be getting my vote for player of the season without a doubt.
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BlueHeart26
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Well whatever you say, I dont watch Portuguese football very often, and not sure who is your best and worst players, I just meant tonight he was the worst in red. I just love when Rami plays wide on the right, he just rapes them all
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BlueHeart26
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haha, exactly what I was writing
you can count my vote for him as well. I love the guy.4-2-3-1 without Drogba, Lampard, Sturridge and Essien; and Chelsea looked much better. Essien may regain it still and be an important player, and DS is still a bit raw (this is why i maintain Welbeck is a better player, not as good a finisher, but his overall play, passing and movement, is superior) but Chelsea in the mid future should be planning for life after the first two. Mikel was so good Aimar got subbed.
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BlueHeart26
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No doubt Welbeck is better, and at least he passes the ball when he must do that. Mikel is a very good player, not sure why he is so underrated.
I saw this game as a "neutral" and was impressed with Chelsea's positioning and team-play. The Benfica passing was pretty at times but their final product was abysmal.
Too many pointless long shots, long throws and free kicks against a side like Chelsea was always not going to work, Cech made one good stop, Luiz off the line, but apart from that it was pretty tame. I must say I'm struggling to see this "dominance", Chelsea had some brilliant counters and if the forwards got their head up and produced a pass they had enough chances for 3-0, perhaps even 4-1 if you assume the "hand-ball which wasn't" was given against Luiz off the line.
Cardozo was well marked, Gaitan was drifting out of the game too often and in my opinion would have done more centrally with Aimar, and both Ramires and Torres played very well - I've mocked Torres and his performances considering his 50m price tag, but the guy never stopped running last night, and if his teammates had picked him out he could have had a couple. If RDM keeps his team this organised then he will go far I think. Sturridge was disappointing though, I remember twice there was a great ball on to an unmarked player and he just had his head down trying to run through players. Benfica were unlucky to not score one, but conversely Chelsea could have taken Benfica to the cleaners.
Too many pointless long shots, long throws and free kicks against a side like Chelsea was always not going to work, Cech made one good stop, Luiz off the line, but apart from that it was pretty tame. I must say I'm struggling to see this "dominance", Chelsea had some brilliant counters and if the forwards got their head up and produced a pass they had enough chances for 3-0, perhaps even 4-1 if you assume the "hand-ball which wasn't" was given against Luiz off the line.
Cardozo was well marked, Gaitan was drifting out of the game too often and in my opinion would have done more centrally with Aimar, and both Ramires and Torres played very well - I've mocked Torres and his performances considering his 50m price tag, but the guy never stopped running last night, and if his teammates had picked him out he could have had a couple. If RDM keeps his team this organised then he will go far I think. Sturridge was disappointing though, I remember twice there was a great ball on to an unmarked player and he just had his head down trying to run through players. Benfica were unlucky to not score one, but conversely Chelsea could have taken Benfica to the cleaners.
A thing about Torres aswell I have noticed is that he likes to run out to the wings alot but he actually doesnt do that bad most of the times when he has the ball on the wings and he has shown he hasnt got a bad cross on him either. Currently on 13 assists this season and has also scored 6. Been alot better and been involved in many more goals then people think. I have not been his biggest fan this season but I have been really pleased with the effort he has put in and his performances. Would much rather see Torres start ahead of Drogba away at Villa.
edit: Also one more thing his assist for Kalou's goal last night was his fourth in the champions league this season. Only Messi and Gaitan (both currently on five) have more
edit: Also one more thing his assist for Kalou's goal last night was his fourth in the champions league this season. Only Messi and Gaitan (both currently on five) have more
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TheRealMourinho
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Fernando Torres is finally finding his form at Chelsea | Mail Online
i have to agree he has improved under RDM, touch wood his form continues.
i have to agree he has improved under RDM, touch wood his form continues.
How Torres compares to other top forwards in goals+assists.
Fernando Torres -23(12) Appearances, Goals 6+13 Assists=19
Luis Suarez - 31(2) Appearances, Goals 11+7 Assists=18
Mario Balotelli - 20(13) Appearances, Goals 15+1 Assist=16
Edin Dzeko - 23(11) Appearances, Goals 13+5 Assists=18
So yes he may not be scoring many at all but like Chelsea fans kept saying at least he is contributing to the team.
Also as this site was down yesterday no-one mentioned the Kalou interview. A quote which stood out to me was "I had been told that because I didn't sign the contract I was not allowed to play". Would anyone say that was good management because i wouldn't.
Fernando Torres -23(12) Appearances, Goals 6+13 Assists=19
Luis Suarez - 31(2) Appearances, Goals 11+7 Assists=18
Mario Balotelli - 20(13) Appearances, Goals 15+1 Assist=16
Edin Dzeko - 23(11) Appearances, Goals 13+5 Assists=18
So yes he may not be scoring many at all but like Chelsea fans kept saying at least he is contributing to the team.
Also as this site was down yesterday no-one mentioned the Kalou interview. A quote which stood out to me was "I had been told that because I didn't sign the contract I was not allowed to play". Would anyone say that was good management because i wouldn't.
I have allways liked Kalou and yes him leaving wouldnt be the end of the world but he is a good squad player and can pop up with goals some vital like the one against Benfica. I can also remember himt wice keeping us in title races with two injury time winners. First one against Watford in the 2006-07 season and last season against Tottenham. Anyone else remember them two goals? I went crazy when he scored both.
i remember both games very well mate, Sala is not world class and probably never will be but he has improved massively.
In fairness, i would also lay some criticism at the other 3 forwards you compare him to. But he has been better this season. With the right players around him, could we see the fall of Torres the lethal finisher, and rise of Torres the near complete forward, not quite as predatory, but an excellent all rounder?
He has not had a terrible season as most people make out, his work rate has been ****** excellent and has contributed in assists
However I agree with people who say that the prime statistic for any striker is the number of goals he scores. I felt that AVB hit the nail on the head for Torres in an interview before he was sacked.
'Torres scored a brace against Genk and scored in his next game against Norwich. I could see him finding his confidence and role in the team before he got sent off. He did not play for Chelsea for a month afterwards and he regressed'
For Torres its not about his ability but about his mentality. Maybe because of the price tag and the struggle to adjust, he is now too scared to receive the ball, to make the run or find himself one on one with the keeper.
The only way to remove that fear is by working hard and scoring goals again.
With the work rate Torres is showing, its inevitable that he will once again find the 23 year-old in himself who tore apart defences when he first came to England.