How Many Club Sides in the World are Better Than Chelsea?

[Trouserdog]

Two or three at most: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and maybe Barcelona.

So we've been beaten by probably the third or fourth best club side in the world, yet were well in the game for most of it, and I think 0-2 definitely flattered them.

Look through that side and there's just no obvious weakness. Matic is an absolute machine in the midfield- a superb defensive screen for what's already a rock-solid rearguard. He might be a cunt, but Fabregas is quality alongside him; he always looks like he's got time on the ball, regardless of how frenetic the game around him appears to be. Costa is the kind of bulky but mobile front runner we're desperate to see in our set-up, and there are few players in the world who boast a turn of pace like Hazard when he's in full flow.

Chelsea have at least 5 or 6 genuine world class players in their team. We need them to have an off-day if we're going to beat them, and tonight they didn't. I actually thought Stoke played very well for the most part, but when you're up against an outfit like that, you need luck on your side, some sort of mistake from the opposition, or a dodgy refereeing call to go in your favour.

So take the positives and move on. Bojan was good again and will surely win us some points against the league's lesser lights; Arnie put in an improved display; Shawcross and Muniesa look like they could develop as a partnership; Adam put in a very promising 20 minute cameo....

We'll be fine this season. Maybe the heights of last year won't be reached, but as long as we can finish in mid-table and give ourselves something to build on for the future, I'd take that to be honest. Perhaps a nice run in the FA cup too if we get a favourable draw.

Onwards and upwards, don't fret and enjoy your Christmas!

[Pugsley]

Judging by the mentalists on here, Stoke should be.

[2004]

Madrid and Bayern. That is it.

[greystokie]

I couldn't agree more with any of that.

There's been far too much knicker wetting on this board tonight. And to those I say, Accept it. We were beaten by the team who will win the Premiership. We weren't too bad.. Just not good enough. We ain't going down and I still see us finishing in the top ten.

Have a good Christmas one and all

[Deleted]

I think Chelsea are better than Bayern and are capable of winning the champs league. no concerns about the result today

[craig67]

So an extra game for us-is that what Pulis said it was?



So it doesn't matter if we get beaten?


That makes the defeat better?


Thank god we never went to Man City with that mentality hey Neil?

[Pugsley]

Stoke v Chelsea 2008-2013 - bonus game
Stoke v Chelsea 2013/14 onwards - banker home win, serious knicker wetting when it doesn't happen

[metalhead]

2 or maybe 3?

And we're still knicker wetting?

[prem4stoke]

I doubt any Stoke fan has a problem with losing tonight. Now Burnley, Leicester, Villa they were the games we should have done better.

[luke45]

Dec 22, 2014 23:28:59 GMT Trouserdog said:

Two or three at most: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and maybe Barcelona.

So we've been beaten by probably the third or fourth best club side in the world, yet were well in the game for most of it, and I think 0-2 definitely flattered them.

Look through that side and there's just no obvious weakness. Matic is an absolute machine in the midfield- a superb defensive screen for what's already a rock-solid rearguard. He might be a cunt, but Fabregas is quality alongside him; he always looks like he's got time on the ball, regardless of how frenetic the game around him appears to be. Costa is the kind of bulky but mobile front runner we're desperate to see in our set-up, and there are few players in the world who boast a turn of pace like Hazard when he's in full flow.

Chelsea have at least 5 or 6 genuine world class players in their team. We need them to have an off-day if we're going to beat them, and tonight they didn't. I actually thought Stoke played very well for the most part, but when you're up against an outfit like that, you need luck on your side, some sort of mistake from the opposition, or a dodgy refereeing call to go in your favour.

So take the positives and move on. Bojan was good again and will surely win us some points against the league's lesser lights; Arnie put in an improved display; Shawcross and Muniesa look like they could develop as a partnership; Adam put in a very promising 20 minute cameo....

We'll be fine this season. Maybe the heights of last year won't be reached, but as long as we can finish in mid-table and give ourselves something to build on for the future, I'd take that to be honest. Perhaps a nice run in the FA cup too if we get a favourable draw.

Onwards and upwards, don't fret and enjoy your Christmas!

Couldn't agree more. It's not often I'm so understanding about a defeat, especially at home, but tonight we were simply outplayed by a superb side who are strong in every department. I'd go as far as saying that is the best team we have faced in our entire time in the Premier League so far. I thought Matic was the best player on the pitch, him and Mikel ensured Bojan had virtually no time and space to work in for most of the game, once they nullified that threat we were always going to struggle. There's no doubt whatsoever this Chelsea team will win the league and probably a cup or two to go with it this season, we need to take this defeat on the chin, dust ourselves down and go again at Everton on Boxing Day.

[johnnysoul60]

Add Man City to your list , I think they are better with a full squad , Chelsea are way better than us but to be honest that misses the point they were last season too . These games are a free game really so why not have a go ?

We gave a dreadful goal away in two minutes a trend for this season piss poor defending at times.

We had an attack with no pace for most of the game .

We gave the ball away countless times when not under pressure

Apart from a couple of short spells we never had a go at them , sorry but just not good enough

I would like to be sitting here having lost and made Chelsea show their quality but we never did , we had some good performances

Ryan
Muniesa especially
Pieters
Bojan at imes
Nzonzi

Some awful ones
Cameron
Arnie
Walters
Crouch

No disgrace losing to them but we need to improve , this season has been sloppy and for this squad to have less than 20 points from the games we have played borders on the pathetic to be honest , West Brom looks a pretty big game to me .

I don't think we will go down but we are way off the level we showed at the end of last season even with the addition of arguably the most gifted player we have had for a long time so something can't be right .

[Gods]

Didn't make it "Mission Impossible" though did it?

Last 2 games on the road Chelsea lost to Newcastle and drew with Sunderland. Both teams you would hope we are on a par with just about.

Not saying we should have got a result only that we most certainly could have got one.

[mailman44]

No surprise if that Chelsea side does the treble this season. Mourinho has built a team that can handle Real, Bayern, or Barca. I thought we gave it a proper go and in the end Chelsea took their chances and we didn't, no shame in that. They obviously respected us, stayed focused, and worked hard for each other. That Diego Costa is a wanker, but he is a hard working, run his socks off for his side wanker.

Three things that were confirmed tonight: 1) John Terry is a c@nt.
2) John Terry is a c@nt.
3) John Terry is a c@nt.

[mark71]

I can take a defeat but it's the manner of the defeat that gets to me and the faults in our game that we simply have got to get rid of.

Their first goal was shocking, yet again we have gifted a team a goal.

we only managed to get 15% of our chances on target, for a profesional club this is apalling.

No goal in the second half, we've only scored 5 goals in the second half all season (in the League)

As I've said above I can take defeat when it's merited, When we've given it our best but failed to win, yet again we've failed to do ourselves justice. How many times this season have we played well and lost, I don't think we have. We just seem to shoot ourselves in the foot time and time again and let teams off the hook, Chelsea wern't at their best tonight but walked away with the 3 points quite comftabley.

[pedro23]

I thought Chelsea were pumped up for this one, they were expecting the physical and they were well able for it. That's why I think they are stronger than Man City. I thought our midfield was poor in the first half, there were too many times when we gifted the ball to the opposition. Bojan was cluster fucked most times he got on the ball, but still posed our only threat going forward. It was better in the 2nd half, but we lacked real quality at the important moments.Having said all that, the shape and closing down of opposing teams cause can you to make mistakes, things that Chelsea did very well tonight. Throw into the mix a Manager who knows what he is doing and you have a team as good as any in Europe, Madrid may be the exception. If we add in a fit Odemwingie and Moses, we would see a difference in that final third of the pitch. Like everybody I hate losing, and yes maybe we should have done better, but there is no disgrace in losing to a quality Chelsea team.

[stokesaint1]

It's all about the money.

[Trouserdog]

Dec 22, 2014 23:56:45 GMT craig67 said:

So an extra game for us-is that what Pulis said it was?



So it doesn't matter if we get beaten?


That makes the defeat better?


Thank god we never went to Man City with that mentality hey Neil?

You seem to have read the OP and somehow interpreted it as saying we shouldn't even bother turning up.

That's obviously not what I've written though is it? As long as we've had a go (which we did), played well (which we did), and put 100% effort in (which we did), what more can we do against world class teams? Sure, on the odd occasion we will be able to get a result against a team like Chelsea or Man City, but there's a good reason why the bookies' odds on us doing so are long- because the probability of us beating them is fairly remote. As I said, we need numerous things to break for us on the day, and if they don't, then we'll lose, no matter how well we play.

As long as we've given everything I can't understand why anyone starts pissing their knickers after a game against Man City or Chelsea. They are absolutely way ahead of any other side in the league. This isn't a case of cowering at the badge Pulis-style, who, let's face it, would soil himself in fear at places like Newcastle, but watching this season's top 2 week-in week-out it's obvious just how much better than everyone else they are.

Regarding our unlikely victory at Man City this season, the mentality the players go into games with is a lot different than how we as fans approach games. Players have to believe they can get a result anywhere against anyone, no matter what the stature of the opposition, as otherwise they wouldn't do themselves justice on the pitch. If I was playing for my old Sunday team at the Bernabau, I'd have to convince myself that the 1,000,000/1 chance of us beating Real Madrid was going to happen that day, otherwise I might as well just lie down in the penalty area, have a fag and give up before the game's even started. However, fans don't have to believe anything- in fact, being realistic about your teams chances is a lot healthier, as when the inevitable defeat comes, then you're not gnashing your teeth and wailing over something that was never on the cards anyway. So, basically, and with respect, the point you make about Man City is bollocks.

I'll save my anger for defeats like Burnley, Villa and Leicester. As long as we've done ourselves justice, then results like last night have to be viewed as what they are...always likely to happen.

[basingstokie]

The thing is Pulis was actually right. When we are totting up where 50 points will come from at the start of the season, only the most optimistic would mark anything other than 2 defeats against Chelsea.

The strange thing is, with that attitude, you would have expected us to 'have a go', nothing to lose and all that, but under Pulis we didn't. We just set out our stall almost accepting defeat and if we were 2-0 down the aim was to avoid making it 3, rather than getting 1 back

[sheikhmomo]

First of all they are a fantastic side and secondly I never get too upset at losing against top sides. It's inevitable. That said I can't help but be a bit disappointed with our efforts last night. I think there were rewards in that game but we were careless, wasteful and flat.

The bottom line is if you concede first against Chelsea you will lose 90% of the time. To concede from a set piece after 90 seconds is unforgivable.

So whilst, yes, they're a top side, our failure to get anything out of the game lies closer to home than anything the opposition did. Again.

[FullerMagic]

Bit disappointed with the first half - but did much better second half and could have snatched a draw with the right break in our best 10 minutes after Adam came on. Afirst minute goal probably cost us any chance against such a professional, well-drilled outfit.

Overall, thought we were fine, just outmanned by a much superior force

Newcastle had to be ridiculously lucky to beat them, and we didn't get any huge helping hands.

Chelsea were obviously worthy winners and they're in full-on Mourinho machine mode now. No weak links and rock solid.

[Pugsley]

Dec 23, 2014 8:33:39 GMT sheikhmomo said:

First of all they are a fantastic side and secondly I never get too upset at losing against top sides. It's inevitable. That said I can't help but be a bit disappointed with our efforts last night. I think there were rewards in that game but we were careless, wasteful and flat.

The bottom line is if you concede first against Chelsea you will lose 90% of the time. To concede from a set piece after 90 seconds is unforgivable.

So whilst, yes, they're a top side, our failure to get anything out of the game lies closer to home than anything the opposition did. Again.

I think you are right up to a point - there were chances down Chelsea's left where they were open but Walters was so poor on the ball we couldn't make anything of it.

I had the feeling though if we had scored they would of upped it again.

[FullerMagic]

As much as I like their attitudes, there were occasions when the Bardsley=Walters axis on that flank looked like a pub team. Hard to knock them too much as on occasion that's what gives us the edge in certain games, but lack of quality was blinding

[Trouserdog]

Dec 23, 2014 8:33:39 GMT sheikhmomo said:

First of all they are a fantastic side and secondly I never get too upset at losing against top sides. It's inevitable. That said I can't help but be a bit disappointed with our efforts last night. I think there were rewards in that game but we were careless, wasteful and flat.

The bottom line is if you concede first against Chelsea you will lose 90% of the time. To concede from a set piece after 90 seconds is unforgivable.

So whilst, yes, they're a top side, our failure to get anything out of the game lies closer to home than anything the opposition did. Again.

I agree about the set piece Sheikh- questions need to be asked re: how we've regressed from being set-piece experts (at both ends of the pitch), to being absolutely wank.

Other than that though, we played well. Not a classic performance, but the kind of showing that would have seen us pick up points against any other team.

[sheikhmomo]

Dec 23, 2014 8:41:52 GMT Trouserdog said:

Dec 23, 2014 8:33:39 GMT sheikhmomo said:

First of all they are a fantastic side and secondly I never get too upset at losing against top sides. It's inevitable. That said I can't help but be a bit disappointed with our efforts last night. I think there were rewards in that game but we were careless, wasteful and flat.

The bottom line is if you concede first against Chelsea you will lose 90% of the time. To concede from a set piece after 90 seconds is unforgivable.

So whilst, yes, they're a top side, our failure to get anything out of the game lies closer to home than anything the opposition did. Again.

I agree about the set piece Sheikh- questions need to be asked re: how we've regressed from being set-piece experts (at both ends of the pitch), to being absolutely wank.

Other than that though, we played well. Not a classic performance, but the kind of showing that would have seen us pick up points against any other team.

I think you're probably right TD if we play like that we'll probably get something out of the West Brom game at least. As long as we don't keep shooting ourselves in the foot like a pissed shellshocked soldier who doesn't like feet. It's got to stop.

[Lakeland Potter]

Dec 23, 2014 0:59:08 GMT Gods said:

Didn't make it "Mission Impossible" though did it?

Last 2 games on the road Chelsea lost to Newcastle and drew with Sunderland. Both teams you would hope we are on a par with just about.

Not saying we should have got a result only that we most certainly could have got one.

Wasn't Matic out (injured/suspended?) for the Newcastle game? If so that might help to explain why Newcastle won. I thought Matic was the best player I have seen this season by a country mile.

[alansuddick]

Dec 22, 2014 23:28:59 GMT Trouserdog said:

Two or three at most: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and maybe Barcelona.

So we've been beaten by probably the third or fourth best club side in the world, yet were well in the game for most of it, and I think 0-2 definitely flattered them.

Look through that side and there's just no obvious weakness. Matic is an absolute machine in the midfield- a superb defensive screen for what's already a rock-solid rearguard. He might be a cunt, but Fabregas is quality alongside him; he always looks like he's got time on the ball, regardless of how frenetic the game around him appears to be. Costa is the kind of bulky but mobile front runner we're desperate to see in our set-up, and there are few players in the world who boast a turn of pace like Hazard when he's in full flow.

Chelsea have at least 5 or 6 genuine world class players in their team. We need them to have an off-day if we're going to beat them, and tonight they didn't. I actually thought Stoke played very well for the most part, but when you're up against an outfit like that, you need luck on your side, some sort of mistake from the opposition, or a dodgy refereeing call to go in your favour.

So take the positives and move on. Bojan was good again and will surely win us some points against the league's lesser lights; Arnie put in an improved display; Shawcross and Muniesa look like they could develop as a partnership; Adam put in a very promising 20 minute cameo....

We'll be fine this season. Maybe the heights of last year won't be reached, but as long as we can finish in mid-table and give ourselves something to build on for the future, I'd take that to be honest. Perhaps a nice run in the FA cup too if we get a favourable draw.

Onwards and upwards, don't fret and enjoy your Christmas! [/quote

agree with most of that (apart from the arnie decent) thought he was little more than useless.real, bayern , barca then theres a few similars in my op, chelsea, psg, man city, atletic madrid,