13 minutes ago, oldgit said:

I reckon they'll be a tough nut to crack Keith. Now that the transfer window is out of the way, players who were being touted for bigger things, such as Tarkowski and McNeil, can now concentrate on their football. Signs of that improvement against Spurs last time.

I hear you Og...but i think we have more potential and threat going forward than that other mob had....i have us scoring 3+....cant wait.

All Blacks are smashing the wallabies in there own back garden...no dodgy pink kit 4 them.

What a great watch that1st half was...best i have seen for a long long time,some lovely football played...keep it up lads.

Watched the game in the "Climax Bar" how appropriate...cos that was better than sex.

Dare i tempt fate, and forecast that Lamp,s formation is starting to Gel,with another clean sheet and 3 goals to boot. 

That was a very neat and tidy performance from all players, but sterner opposition lye,s ahead ,to cement my opening paragraph.????

Other than a couple of dodgy pass backs by Zouma, that was as good a performance as you're likely to get at a wet and windy Turf Moor. Credit to Burnley though, that they pressed our centre backs and didn't sit back. The second goal did them though, as they knew it was all over for them, after they started the second half in a positive frame of mind. Kante was in his element, scurrying around breaking up attacks, and passing it on to Havertz, Mount or Ziyech. Werner struggled a bit before his goal, but was much better afterwards. He looks like a 'worrier' if he's not scoring, Great to see Giroud come on and make his mark, being denied a goal by an offside. Silva just oozes pure class. Gawd knows what we would have done with him in the side, if we had got him a couple of years ago. 

Can't fault the chavs 2-0 but VAR and the ref just ruined this as a game of football.

 

Really sad this.

6 hours ago, RonniePickering22 said:

Can't fault the chavs 2-0 but VAR and the ref just ruined this as a game of football.

 

Really sad this.

As it stands Ronaldo, that is the rule as far as UEFA is concerned, but I agree it is a nonsense. Rennes are a good team alright.

7 hours ago, RonniePickering22 said:

Can't fault the chavs 2-0 but VAR and the ref just ruined this as a game of football.

 

Really sad this.

Nah what really is sad is when you have no chance of scoring so you deliberately back in to a player win yourself a penalty and then have a 95% chance of scoring....now that is really sad......or just thuccking cheating.

That Ziyech dude is a player.

25 minutes ago, jellydog said:

That Ziyech dude is a player.

Yep he is an Artist.

Disappointing  to concede, but we had to sometime. Never had a moments doubt throughout the game that we would not get the job done,a very professional performance. Reece has made the right back slot his,very good for one so young. For once i don,t mind that there is now a International break. Well done Frank and the whole Squad.

Lamps has his squad beginning to take shape,and looking like genuine Top Four contenders,the future looks encouraging on last nights performance,long may it continue ????

The goals were good but the highlight was that outrageous piece of skill by Ziyech, on the byline. Apparently, it wasn't shown by Match Of The Day and edited out. What a surprise.

Loads of other forums comparing Thiago Silva to past Chelsea centre backs like Ruud Gullitt, Frank LeBeouf, David Luiz. I think he's the absolute spit of John Terry without the cockney accent.

Starting 11 has to get the job done...cos the bench imo looks a little weak with the exception of Cho and Giroud. Score a few and keep a clean and we will go top...not bad.

Just who were Eden Hazard and Courtois , not missed and good that they be on their way  

Taking into consideration,our dismal winning record at St James Park (from memory yesterday,s clot, Mou ,never savioured victory there.) a priceless 3 away  points,and a clean  sheet too.

King Kante was my M.O.M.

 

An irritating first half where we could have had another two on top of the one goal we had, at half time. How Werner missed that side foot I'll never know. Newcastle were dire in that first 45 minutes, and played like a relegation outfit, but caused us some problems in the second half. It was lucky that the Geordie fans weren't present, because there would have been a pitch invasion after that first half display. Anyway, I don't care because it's the three points to us that matters against, as disc jockey says, against a traditional bogey team.

Not really one for stats but this one made me chuckle by Giles Smith  " in the first half at St James’ Park, Kurt Zouma alone made 67 passes, which was two more than the entire Newcastle team made in the same period."

 

Jelly if your out there could you give us .... Jose Mourinho's league finishes during his third seasons......thanks.

31 minutes ago, keithsimmonds said:

Jelly if your out there could you give us .... Jose Mourinho's league finishes during his third seasons......thanks.

I'd love to Keith, but I haven't seen where that stat is available. I'm guessing it is ugly.

This is a toughie and not easy to call....but with our superior goal difference 8 to there 3 any type of draw will still see us stay top...

Good enough 11 for tonight,s game...just a little surprised there is no place for Cho , not even on the bench.Kovacic must move the ball quicker and not dwell on it. Options for Frank with Pulisic Havertz and Giroud. I would not be surprised to see both Dier and Højbjerg booked.

cotc.

10 hours ago, keithsimmonds said:

Good enough 11 for tonight,s game...just a little surprised there is no place for Cho , not even on the bench.Kovacic must move the ball quicker and not dwell on it. Options for Frank with Pulisic Havertz and Giroud. I would not be surprised to see both Dier and Højbjerg booked.

cotc.

A bit of a chess match. My one gripe is that we didn't pressurise their two  centre backs enough. With Abraham backing off, they were allowed to play out but Dier showed he's got plenty of mistakes in him with some misplaced passes. When Tammy did get in the six yard box, he failed to get on the end of some excellent crosses from Reece. Giroud should have been introduced a lot earlier. Hiyech had a game to forget. His normal pin point crosses were way off. Kovacic is back! After a low key start to the season, his work rate in this game was exceptional. Kante and Mount were terrific and needed to be because, with Kane dropping deep, they attempted to boss the midfield with numbers. With Pulisic and Havertz coming on and Hudson -Odoi lurking in the background, we've got a full quota of midfield and attacking options for Frank to choose from.

More  exciting ,watching a game of  marbles. 

Mou parked the bus,and got the away point,which was his  only objective ,nuffin else.

Nice to see King Kante back to his best position, at the base of midfeild , with Mount and Kovacic flanking him.

3 hours ago, oldgit said:

A bit of a chess match. My one gripe is that we didn't pressurise their two  centre backs enough. With Abraham backing off, they were allowed to play out but Dier showed he's got plenty of mistakes in him with some misplaced passes. When Tammy did get in the six yard box, he failed to get on the end of some excellent crosses from Reece. Giroud should have been introduced a lot earlier. Hiyech had a game to forget. His normal pin point crosses were way off. Kovacic is back! After a low key start to the season, his work rate in this game was exceptional. Kante and Mount were terrific and needed to be because, with Kane dropping deep, they attempted to boss the midfield with numbers. With Pulisic and Havertz coming on and Hudson -Odoi lurking in the background, we've got a full quota of midfield and attacking options for Frank to choose from.

Yep Giroud should have been brought on earlier,Reece put in some cracking crosses that went unpunished. Our keeper looks good and the guys in front of him know they can rely on him...that helps.

Agreed the trio of Kante Kovacic and Mount did there job. Nice to see both Havertz and Pulisic back on the pitch.

How depressing all our fixtures for this month....5 @ 3am  1 @ 1am and 2 @12.30am.....painful.

2 hours ago, keithsimmonds said:

How depressing all our fixtures for this month....5 @ 3am  1 @ 1am and 2 @12.30am.....painful.

I'll be a walking zombie, then there's the Christmas Party to deal with.

I see that a young academy player called Jude Soonsup - Bell scored 4 goals in a 8 - 1 thumping of Barnsley in the FA Youth Cup recently. His mum is Thai while the old man is English.

1 hour ago, oldgit said:

I see that a young academy player called Jude Soonsup - Bell scored 4 goals in a 8 - 1 thumping of Barnsley in the FA Youth Cup recently. His mum is Thai while the old man is English.

His 4th goal was a cheeky back-heel....right place right time for the 1st half hat trick...very tidy finishing.

Tough game tomorrow/Thursday...expect Cho to start and Pulisic...don,t think Silva will play. Take a score draw.