Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:52 28 October 2024
11:52 28 October 2024
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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Here are some of your comments:
Chelsea fans
Hector: This is the sort of game Chelsea would have lost last season. I think that alone is a huge step in the right direction. Not so admirable though is our shaky and porous defence, with an error prone Sanchez who kicked the ball straight out of play five times in a row whilst trying to pass to his team-mates. Djordje Petrovic to return in January? Cole Palmer was man of the match, again!
Nick: A strong, competent and professional performance from the team, with Cole Palmer once again putting in a stunning performance.
JB: Our forward play is looking better and the players look like they know the system. However, we still look shaky defending. Lavia played well, keeping Fernandez on the bench, and we lost his power when he was taken off. Fernandez is not the answer for us. My biggest concern is Sanchez though. We got away with it but against very good teams we will lose.
Tom: I'm not happy with Sanchez in goal at all. Every time he got the ball, he either booted it out of play or it never reached a player in our colour. He looks nervous and that nervousness progresses through the team. In the second half, our wingers stopped attacking, but Neto and Madueke were so positive earlier on!
Newcastle fans
Chris: Nick Pope needs to dive rather than spreading himself all the time. Someone of his size should be catching every cross, rather than punching it. One point was deserved from this game as we were just too sloppy with our passes. We need more work from our forwards because we are not pressing enough.
Bluey: We played well enough for at least a point. The team are arguing amongst themselves and the harmony of old is lost. There is a bit of a concern now, as we drop down the table. Mr Howe needs to sort it out otherwise he will feel the heat.
Paul: It looks like this team is losing confidence and needs a rebuild job. We have to get rid of Almiron, Murphy and Wilson. Isak and Barnes are on notice. The tactics also have to be questioned because we cannot string more than two passes together. When did we last score from a corner? What are these coaches getting paid for? Everything requires a rethink.
Richard: The fall in Trippier's form and influence has been disastrous, combined with Botman's injury. As is so often with this club, a lack of cohesion at the top infects the players on the pitch. Everything I have been talking about since we gave Liverpool a win at home last season has come true. I take no pleasure in being right! Eddie's days are sadly numbered.
Are Villa and Chelsea in title race?published at 09:18 28 October 2024
09:18 28 October 2024
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Aston Villa are level on 18 points with Arsenal in the Premier League, while Chelsea are just one point behind in fifth, so could it be a five-team title race this season?
"It is about consistency and not getting carried away nine games into a season," said former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "It is very easy to get sucked into early season performances.
"Bluntly, I don't think either of them can (challenge)."
Ex-midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker added: "It is hard to disagree with Paul [Robinson] but of the two Aston Villa would be more equipped to do so under Unai Emery."
Gossip: Palmer committed to future at Stamford Bridgepublished at 07:45 28 October 2024
07:45 28 October 2024
England and Chelsea attacking midfielder Cole Palmer, 22, remains committed to the Blues despite being linked with a move away, including a return to Manchester City.(Football Insider), external
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle: Pass of the season from Palmerpublished at 17:03 27 October 2024
17:03 27 October 2024
Gary Rose BBC Sport journalist
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Cole Palmer is proving himself as an incredible goal scorer, but the pass he made to help set up the opener for Chelsea against Newcastle was something special.
Receiving the ball deep inside his own half, he turned, spotted the run of Pedro Neto and sent him away with a precise ball that found its target from over 60 yards. Neto was then able to square for Nicolas Jackson to score.
Before the game, Palmer had been praised by Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola for his awareness during games, a point that was underlined by that moment of brilliance from the Chelsea forward.
But aside from the goals and the brilliant passes, perhaps what is also so likeable about Palmer is his sheer love of playing football.
"I always try to enjoy my football game by game," Palmer told Sky Sports after Sunday's game. "I try to not put pressure on myself."
Both he and Chelsea appear to be benefitting in full from that attitude to the game.
'It was a complete performance' - Marescapublished at 17:03 27 October 2024
17:03 27 October 2024
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the win: "I'm very pleased with the points, but especially the performance. I think it was a complete performance on the ball and off the ball. For some moments, we were unbelievable on and off."
On what pleased him the most: "Overall, I was very happy with everything but especially the way we worked off the ball and pressed together. We fought together."
On Chelsea's squad depth: "Every game I feel bad. I feel shame because I have to leave players out, but it is the only way to try to compete. No matter how many changes we do, it is important that the style is there and the identity is there."
On Reece James' importance: "He is very important. He is our captain and a fantastic player."
On how Chelsea are doing in the table: "I said many times that the club never mentioned about top four. They just mentioned to try to build something important. We will see."
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle: Key statpublished at 16:43 27 October 2024
16:43 27 October 2024
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In Cole Palmer (7 goals) and Nicolas Jackson (6 goals), this is the first time that Chelsea have ever had two players score six or more goals across their opening nine games of a Premier League season.
Cole Palmer has now scored seven winning goals at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, the most such strikes by a player at home in the competition since the beginning of last season.
On his 44th appearance, Nicolas Jackson became the fifth quickest player to score 20 Premier League goals for Chelsea - behind Diego Costa (26 apps), Cole Palmer (27 apps), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (33 apps) and Mark Stein (37 apps).
'We don't mind proving people wrong'published at 16:27 27 October 2024
16:27 27 October 2024
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Chelsea striker Cole Palmer has been speaking to Sky Sports following the win: "I try and go out there and play my game - that is what I do."
On people saying he is in unstoppable form: "I wouldn't go that far. I always try to enjoy my football, game by game. I try to not put pressure on myself.
"Many people on the outside try to put pressure on me to replicate what I did last season, in terms of numbers. It is my second season playing football and I'm still very young."
On Chelsea's current form and fighting for top four: "We just try to play our own game and block the noise out from the outside. We don't mind proving people wrong.
"We are all young and we have a top coach, but there are still improvements that can be made."
On being compared to Gianfranco Zola: "I know he is an icon on FIFA, so he must have been good. To be honest, I didn't really watch him play. Everyone says that he was a great player, so thank you."
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle - send us your thoughts published at 16:03 27 October 2024
Sutton's predictions: Chelsea v Newcastlepublished at 11:00 27 October 2024
11:00 27 October 2024
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week nine he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who supports Manchester United.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Newcastle have scored only eight goals in their first eight league games, but I don't think they have changed their style since last season.
It's more that they don't have the strength in depth in the strikers' department. They badly missed Alexander Isak when he was injured, because their other main frontman, Callum Wilson, has not been fit enough to feature this season.
I am backing Newcastle to get a goal this time after two games without scoring, but everything points towards a Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge. With Cole Palmer in the team, they carry far more of a threat than the Magpies.
Nemzzz's prediction: 3-1
Chelsea lost last week and, for once, Palmer did not play his best. Liverpool managed to keep him quiet, but I not sure Newcastle will.
Palmer 'learning the challenges' of being man markedpublished at 16:07 25 October 2024
16:07 25 October 2024
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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says it is a positive thing that Cole Palmer is having to "learn the difficulties and challenges" of being heavily marked this season.
"We use it as a weapon that opposition want to heavily mark him," said Maresca. "But it also the next step for him for him getting used to that situation. He has to learn the difficulties and challenges of being marked man to man."
Palmer has six Premier League goals so far this season but was quiet in defeat at Liverpool last Sunday.
"It is about a matter of balance within the team," Maresca added. "We used to play around Cole because he's a more physical player and the Premier League requires you to be defensively strong.
"Now we have other alternatives to add to the attack."
Did you know?published at 11:21 25 October 2024
11:21 25 October 2024
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Chelsea have named the youngest average starting XI in the Premier League this season (23 years, 220 days), with 27-year-old Tosin Adarabioyo the oldest player to appear for them in 2024-25.
They are the only team in Premier League history to get eight games into a season without using anyone over the age of 27.
Panathinaikos 1-4 Chelsea - the fans' verdictpublished at 07:28 25 October 2024
07:28 25 October 2024
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We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Europa Conference League game between Panathinaikos and Chelsea.
Here are some of your comments:
Mathew: Really good performance. Very happy to see Felix score two and it is also good to see Mudryk score and to see him smiling as well. The whole team did really well in that atmosphere in Athens. The only negative was not getting the clean sheet for Jorgensen. Two wins in the Conference League. On to Sunday.
Chris: Another good, front-foot performance from the fringe players playing in this competition. But still no clean sheet, which rather spoiled it!
Harry: It was very solid but room for improvement in the defensive areas. Felix was very good and Mudryk was better. More game time for him and he will keep improving. On the whole, a very positive display.
Hector: Mudryk's development is coming on in leaps and bounds. Had he been at Liverpool or Arsenal his speed and crosses would have been put to great use. I dare say he is better as a striker? Like Michael Owen, his pace would terrify defenders. Well done, the Blues. On to the double header against Newcastle.
David: Solid performance but why, why, why can't we keep a clean sheet?
Chris: Fantastic to see the whole squad being used. You can really feel Chelsea now have a footballing identity - well done, Enzo! Up the Chels!
Gossip: Isak set to snub Chelsea interestpublished at 06:51 25 October 2024
06:51 25 October 2024
Sweden striker Alexander Isak is keen to sign a new long-term deal at Newcastle United beyond 2028, despite the 25-year-old attracting interest from Chelsea and Arsenal. (i Sport), external
Chelsea 'identity is quite clear'published at 22:34 24 October 2024
22:34 24 October 2024
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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to the media after the match: "The most important thing is no matter how many players we change, you can see the identity of the team. The identity is quite clear.
"What we want is exactly what they're doing - taking the chance when we give it to them. Tonight once again they showed that."
On if a club of Chelsea's size could ever prioritise this competition: "If we are a Champions League club, why are we in the Conference League? It's because in this moment we belong to the Conference League.
"Football in the end always puts you where you deserve to be."
On goalscorer Mykhailo Mudryk: "We're working with him and all the wingers. They need to arrive inside the box in the position where Misha scored. He's struggled to arrive there, now he's started to. That's where we're going to score goals.
"We want the best for Misha, since day one we've tried to help him. Probably he's one of the guys that the learning process is more slow compared to the rest.
"But he's improving. I'm sure that slowly, slowly we're going to arrive where he will score more goals and to be more important for us."
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