This article title is so funny on many different levels. So called journalists these days. Lol "Kante out as Lampard plots Mourinho's downfall"
Not sure about the worst ever, but it was pretty obvious. Of course, the VAR "expert" on BT Sport agreed with the no red card decision. He said something like "If he'd have really wanted to hurt him, he would have definitely aimed higher on the leg."
Because VAR didn't catch it at the time, there's no possibility of a retrospective red card, apparently.
They probably had to win today. They have two games against Liverpool and one against Man City still to play. Although once Liverpool clinch Liverpool might just focus on CL
A good game for Chelsea, Lampard and Pulisic, I feel. For Chelsea, a 2-1 victory, so some of the clowns here can get off my back. I don't root against Chelsea when Pulisic is out, but the reason I follow Chelsea at all is because CP is there, and what interests me is CP's development. If winning is helpful for that particular purpose, I'm all for it. Note: it's hard to develop while injured. For Lampard, a victory, plus enough formation/personnel changes to keep opposing teams honest. Still benching the overpriced GK. Started Giroud, who scored the first goal, then got Abraham in for the final 20'. Started Alonso , who scored the second goal and was threatening throughout. For Pulisic, no goals from his main competition for playing time. No Pedro, no CHO in sight; Willian played just the last 15 minutes. Mount was active and productive; Barkley started - but that's okay, somebody had to. A couple of impressive side notes: For the first time ever, at least in the Premier League, but perhaps in all leagues, a Mourinho-managed side lost both home-and-away matches in league play. Tottenham have won just 1 of their last 34 matches at Chelsea (in all competitions).
I am with you mind boggling non red straight out of the gate in close clear view of the ref who should have gone to sideline screen to re look and not even a yellow the mistake was incredible it was like they decided to say that one plus one equals three a VAR call like that reverberates around the soccer world as an example of gross incompetence did not matter in the end - Lampard and the entire team really displayed a great total team performance
Not sure why you don’t consider mount his competition. The more crowded the side gets especially with RLC coming back to fitness, mount could be slotted into a winger role and has played there.
Our boy should be able to get right back on the field when he gets healthy. There is no question of his quality. Or, there shouldn't be. Staying healthy is key to his or any other athlete's success and longevity. It is disturbing that our players are experiencing so many injuries, but that's sports. When we finally get everyone back long term with no problems, there will be other things to cry about. But til then, watch and enjoy the guys playing. MLS starts soon!
Great results for Chelsea today. Much needed win. EPL VAR is the worse. They should learn from the BL and CL.
Someone else here can probably explain this better than I can, but ... Mount and Pulisic are quite different players and have different strengths and weaknesses. I'm not sure how often this this season one has been subbed in directly for the other, for example. Lampard favors Mount for many reasons, much discussed in previous posts here, so I feel it's unproductive to view them (CP and MM) as direct competitors. If/when Pulisic returns this season, he'll return as a wide player, I believe, in an area he holds the advantage. Agree with the general idea that the more Chelsea's talented players return to full fitness, the more competitive it becomes - for Pulisic, Mount and everyone else - to get playing time.
Puli getting months long injuries two seasons in a row is really tough. Missed so many games he would have starred in.
Re VAR - read a tweet, that I really don’t want to believe, that prem refs are purposely dicking up VAR decisions in an attempt to kill it. Notice the bitching is about VAR...not the individuals responsible for the individual decisions. I really don’t want to believe that.
Heard this afternoon a bit of an English football show on SiriusXM radio. A well-known retired Prem ref (Graham Poll, IIRC) expressed the opinion that "THE FOUL" should have been a straight red, that if it was a foul during play (serious foul play) it is not reviewable after the game, that if it is deemed to have been violent conduct, it is reviewable. Graham Poll thought it was violent conduct. The FIFA Law 12 gives the definition of violent conduct as, "A player is guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball."