S-Clarke

Not sure how I've just realised, but in a season of total nonsense from us we have actually just completed the double over Chelsea.

Massive, such a shame we had a clown overseeing our most critical run of the season. We're going to have to do it the hard way now for sure.

We've been here before, winning a game we've not been expected to win and then blowing up in the game which you'd expect us to have more of a chance in. I'm with others in the belief that you don't change a winning team, keep that 11 the same for me. One of the important points to note from Selles pre-match pressers was that he wants to build continuity and establish partnerships, obviously fully aware that we have chopped and changed way too much this year.

Is MLG ever going to say anything ever again, or just stalk everyone's posts and put confused smileys on them? A really wimpy way to contribute to a forum, either be part of it or just sod off entirely.

Not wishing to speculate, but maybe he was part of the 'alleged' training ground bust up and even if he was probably justified to vent some frustration to the management back then, there is still an official disciplinary process he has to follow? (otherwise you'd get every player thinking they can run riot, even if justified)

Yeah, those subs were all about legs. You knew we were about to be pushed back for the remainder of that game, so having some legs to get us up the pitch was important. They're not amazingly top quality obviously, but they stretched it and kept the Chelsea backline honest.

I've always loved his aggression and appetite for the game, he's not the best technically and can get caught at times - but he gives 110% every single week and fans love that, can totally get behind players like him.

I think that's where he is seen as useful, as you say he has a good touch - so in tight spaces he can receive the ball and protect it well enough, but equally his off the ball work and closing down their passing lanes is pretty unseen most of the time. In an attacking sense we need tons better though, he doesn't seem able to provide anything apart from contributing to a shape - which I guess can be seen as an unsung role, but it does sacrifice threat in our attack.

I read it as he was referring to taking 3 points 'from' Leeds to get above them/avoid them pulling away, as opposed to it being solely about 3 points for us. It's a relevant point, but still as you said 3 points for us is 3 points, we just hve to control what's in front of us.

It was clearly posted in jest.

Off the ball positional work, 100%. That's why he's in there, helps us retain a shape. I'd say it's a means to an end, in the summer we need someone who can do that job but also offer a threat.

It was more the ''with the greatest of respect' line.

Oh dear, Potter has gone full Mad Nate.

The biggest difference from his post and pre match pressers is his positivity, not just by what he says but his actual demeanour when he's presenting his views. For years we've been made to believe we're lucky to even be at this level, but now we have someone blowing positivity up the players arses and it will also inject that into the fans. Little things can sometimes make all the difference, and that's not even tactical.

Chelsea had a concussion sub, which means the opposition also get that extra sub for fairness. I didn't realise that was a thing until today to be fair!

I think we saw the potential today, but as with young players their form will dip up and down. I have felt a bit sorry for him at times as he's been thrown to the wolves a bit, but he must have a strong head on his shoulders to keep his head like he has - today he was brilliant.

He'll probably include this game in his ludicrous win % he kept proclaiming.

I don't think you give it to him in the back of this, keep the dynamic as it is. You don't want to commit to him after 1 win (no matter how impressive) and then lose out on another manager further down the line. Nothing wrong with holding fire and keeping things as they are, re-asses them when we need to but no need to commit to him just yet.

He's got such a positive aura about him and it certainly impacted on the team. The players knew what they had to do, he didn't overcomplicate anything and I'm genuinely chuffed for him as it seems like he deserves it and the players seem totally for him. This guy is a coach, but the way he looks and caries himself makes him look like a leading CL manager compared to Jones.

What a result that was, unbelievable effort. The first half was so, so good from us - we controlled the game I felt, Chelsea didn't really have a great deal of openings and we looked the more dangerous. For about 40mins Tall Paul was winning everything and I'll take back what I said about his touch, it was amazing - he gave us such an outlet and allowed us to move up the pitch so we weren't camped in our half. Sullemana was a bit quiet I felt, he didn't quite get into the game today but carried a threat. Really enjoyed Lavia's performance, especially first half. His manipulation and control of the ball, for an 18/19 year old, up against CL players is just something to behold. Unreal talent, is clearly going to the 'elite' level of the game sooner rather than later. Second half Chelsea probed a bit more, but I expected that. We held firm and our shape was basic but solid, everyone knew their jobs and stuck to their jobs. It's a bit of a worry that Tall Paul can't seem to hack more than 50/60mins, but hopefully some conditioning over the coming months will increase his levels. But even so, 40mins of him is better than none at all. The biggest takeaway from today is that we went back to basics, that's not talking down our performance which was great, but we didn't overcomplicate anything in terms of tactics, shapes, triggers etc - it was just basic shapes, basic communication and everyone knew exactly what they needed to do. Executed brilliantly. People will look at the other results today and maybe feel a bit deflated (Bournemouth/Everton etc), but that just hammers home the importance of this result - imagine had we not got the 3 points! Hope in football is underrated and it feels like we have hope again. We'd flatlined after Wolves, but it looks like there is a very faint pulse again.

I don't think you can come to that conclusion at all, in and around chaos it's hard for anyone to look good.

That's a fair observation and I'm sure he's fully aware of the association. It's easy to talk a good game, but the black and white fact in front of us today is that he has been lead coach for the entirety of this disastrous season. The argument is that maybe he hasn't had full autonomy and he's been 'muted' a little, but from how he comes across it doesn't sound like he'd suffer fools easily and if he was being ignored that much he'd have left by now! Interested to see how he does though, the whole attitude of him is so much better than what we had before - even better than Ralph was towards the end.

On another topic, Atsu's body has been found I don't think he ever reached the heights his potential suggested he would back in his Chelsea days, but he had a good career and I remember him causing us some problems when he was at Newcastle! All very tragic, especially the false hope which was provided at the start.

I don't even think he's done it purposely, there's just nothing to credit him on. It's just Selles telling it how it is and being straight and honest. Jones has made himself an open target, but the vibe I get is that people seem refreshed to see the back of him. At the end of the day 99% of the supporters cannot be the only ones who thought what we did about him, he was an incredibly unlikable and divisive character.

Listened to the entirety of it, the talk about us going back to our principles, identity, what makes us tick etc is really telling. This quote was telling for me and I'm really intrigued to find out what the team is: Dropped Jones straight under the bus, ran over him and then reversed back over him again! The lack of reference to him at any point is so telling, there is zero warmth or interest there. I don't think anyone liked him apart from Rasmus, feels like everyone is now reenergised. Black cloud in our history certainly removed.