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MATCH REPORT: Things turn ugly for City as they get hit for seven at Stamford Bridge

MATCH REPORT: Things turn ugly for City as they get hit for seven at Stamford Bridge

23rd October 2021 By James Colman 24 Comments

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As football matches go, this was a tough a watch as you will ever get as a City fan. 

Few expected Norwich to get anything from this game, but equally few could have predicted such abject misery.

City were unchanged, the game plan was clear. Keep it tight. Be tough to break down. Don’t concede and try to nick something. After seven minutes, that went out of the window.

City had largely kept Chelsea at arm’s length until then. They were harrying the Chelsea back line, inducing the odd slip, whilst restricting the Blues to the odd long pot shot.

They had defended the first ball into the box and looked like the danger was over when Mason Mount rifled a shot millimetres inside Tim Krul’s post. From that moment the game was over as a contest.

The Canaries gathered themselves and tried to steady things, keeping the ball across the back four. Whenever they moved the ball forward though, they were simply unable to retain possession and all too frequently it came straight back at them.

Chelsea were playing a lot of long, direct balls, trying to get behind the City defence.

After 15 minutes, Norwich finally fashioned some meaningful possession in the Chelsea half.  Pierre Lees-Melou got forward and set Josh Sargent free on the right but play was called back for a foul. 

Sargent then made a good interception, played the ball to Teemu Pukki whose return ball was too heavy for the American to get to. From there, Chelsea moved the ball out of defence and played a single, defence-splitting ball for Callum Hudson-Odoi to rifle home. 2-0.

Clearly rocked, City struggled from then on to conjure any meaningful moves for some time, dropping deeper and deeper. 

At one stage, the Chelsea back three were almost in the City final third, Mendy virtually on the halfway line.

On 26 minutes, Giannoulis nicked in with a good interception and his resultant run gave City some relief.  Moments later, a sweeping Normann ball set the Greek international away again but Reece-James proved too strong for him.

Pukki had a rare moment shortly afterwards, breaking forward with the ball but he ran out of steam before he could get anywhere near a dangerous position.

Moments later, it was 3-0.  Another, shorter pass through the City backline, Reece-James got in front of Giannoulis and neatly chipped Krul.

It seemed that whenever City had a moment in the Chelsea half, the London club were able to go straight down the other end and score and the half-time break came as a blessed relief for the City players.

Farke rolled the dice at halftime. He switched formation to a 3-4-4, Giannoulis and Lees-Melou giving way for Milot Rashica and Brandon Williams.

For a few minutes it looked brighter for City, Rashica using his pace to good effect. It didn’t last.

Williams was dispossessed by Reece-James, who looked to have fouled the loanee. As the defence shuffled across to cover the resulting gap at left-back, it left space in the middle and space on the right.  Chelsea quickly found those spaces and the ball came to Ben Chilwell on the right to rifle home for 4-0.

Five minutes later, it was 5-0.  Hudson-Odoi had given Kabak a torrid time all game. He whipped a ball in from the left which hit Max Aarons to take it past Krul. The only question on the lips of the City fans was how bad could it get?

The answer was worse. Much worse. 

On 64 minutes, Ben Gibson went in for a rash sliding challenge. Already on a yellow for a similar challenge, there was only one outcome.

Farke was forced to sacrifice Sargent in order to bring Andrew Omobamidele in to reinforce the defence. Robbed of his presence up front, this left City without options and ended any hope of even a consolation goal.

It was just shooting practice from then on for Chelsea. 

At least Krul looked like he was fighting. Ross Barkley broke through with an excellent spin and shot only for the Dutchman to palm clear. The corner came in and was cleared before Ziyech hit a stinging shot – tipped over again by Krul.

Moments later, Normann went in for a diving block and the ball bounced off his outstretched arms. VAR looked. VAR gave the penalty. 

Mount struck it like an England player and Krul looked to have been the hero with a trademark save. VAR looked. VAR ordered a retake as Krul was adjudged to be off his line as the kick was taken. 

This time, although the City keeper got a leg to the ball, he couldn’t keep it out of the net.

And then, with the clock on 90, Reuben Loftus-Cheek got behind the City defence, squared the ball and it was 7-0. VAR looked for offside. VAR didn’t see it.

A thoroughly chastening afternoon for all. City were cut apart from what is admittedly a superb Chelsea side. There are few players who can look back with pride on this day.  Hanley, Krul and Normann just about earned their pay. It is difficult to say the same for any others.

So where do City go from here? Bereft of confidence, Daniel Farke will have his work cut out this week before what even he described as a must-win match against Leeds. I fear the worst…


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Filed Under: Column, MATCH REPORT

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Comments

  1. Alex B says

    23rd October 2021 at 4:30 pm

    Not sure how to react thus score the questions will follow and comments on the Pink-un in game report were simply
    1 can Farke turn it around
    2 Will Farke be given time
    3 Does Webber have a replacement name on his list
    4 Can a new manager change this squad round
    5 Will the owners be pleased to see their friends in the Championship next season.

    I can only answer No5 and say YES

    Lambs to the slaughter comes to mind and Gilmour and Cantwell will have a big smile no being a part of this match day team

    5
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  2. Mystic kev says

    23rd October 2021 at 4:31 pm

    Pathetic performance lack luster utter embarrassment how much longer is this goin to continue at least six of them not premiership quality no good getting cheque book out in January to late now I’ll have a tenner with anybody we won’t reach twenty points any takers ?

    3
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  3. canaryjim says

    23rd October 2021 at 4:45 pm

    Anywhere else just anywhere then Farke I think would now be sacked ,as I’ve said before I do not think Mr Webber even has a shortlist primarily because he should be able to get us straight back up and because he’s only just recently signed a new contract. Add to that Delia and Stuart Webber thinks the sun shines out of his A@#e lol.
    I mean serious serious questions now need to be asked of not just Farke but Stuart Webber and the recruitment team .
    It’s seriously gone wrong and that’s an understatement !!
    It’s down right embarrassing !!

    4
    Reply
    • Bill says

      25th October 2021 at 12:05 pm

      The only reason they like him is becuase he massages their ego.

      Reply
  4. John says

    23rd October 2021 at 5:41 pm

    I will always defend my club against unwarranted criticism….
    From what I’ve heard and read about todays’ performance however, they are totally indefensible.
    Enough of the lightweight talk Mr Farke…..if you’re still here next week, I think 27000 supporters deserve to see a team who actually care about them.

    O T B C

    6
    Reply
  5. Chris says

    23rd October 2021 at 5:52 pm

    Having witnessed the game I’m not unduly concerned. A seven nil defeat at Chelsea won’t define the season.

    Also, we have a fantastic new gym, a soccerbot, a category one academy. I’m told we are hugely respected by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester, who frequently loan us their world class young talent.

    We have owners who truly love the club, rather than some foreigner who just invests money in it.

    We have 25000 deliriously happy season ticket holders and we own our stadium and training ground.

    We are truly lucky that today we have the opportunity to lose at Chelsea instead of beating Fleetwood at home.

    Anyone who is unhappy with the current unprecedented success of the club and the high esteem we are held in is just a moaner and should go and support somebody else.

    Scream and clap and show your pride in this team.

    2
    Reply
    • Cobwatch says

      24th October 2021 at 9:10 am

      Wow, deliberate provocation and irony combined. Well done, truly a sign of the times.

      3
      Reply
      • Chris says

        24th October 2021 at 12:26 pm

        It’s called gallows humour. Got nothing to,do with the times.

        Reply
    • Bill says

      25th October 2021 at 12:07 pm

      The epitome of irony. Nice one so many great ironic irrational staements in one post.

      Reply
  6. Bernard Owen says

    23rd October 2021 at 5:54 pm

    It’s not that we lost against Chelsea it was the pathetic way we gave up against Chelsea. Remember I think a game against Southampton a few years back in another relegation season. Never recovered from that whipping . What chance from this one .

    1
    Reply
  7. Tony says

    23rd October 2021 at 6:03 pm

    No point playing 3 at the back of you are going to lose 7-0. You may as well play one at the back and at least have a go. Our defenders looked like spectators as Chelsea’s midfield and defence ran at us at will.

    2
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  8. JohnF says

    23rd October 2021 at 6:08 pm

    At least we now have conclusive proof there is no room for a self funding club in the premiership.

    3
    Reply
  9. Cobwatch says

    23rd October 2021 at 6:12 pm

    A goal difference of minus 21. What can you say that is positive? We were beaten, as usual, as soon as the opposition scored. We do not even look like a professional football team. This lot are paid thousands upon thousands every week. Not capable of even the basics. The players have no self-belief. They sure don’t believe in Farke.
    It is the manner of this defeat, once again, that is so painful.
    When everything TalkRadio says is confirmed…Our manager is running on fumes. I have been subjected to several gloating, mocking phone calls, to which I have no riposte…

    3
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  10. Andrew says

    23rd October 2021 at 7:17 pm

    Wrote this comment yesterday to friend after watching latest NCFC training video under heading,

    “City prepare for a tricky trip to Stamford Bridge.”

    What a farce!! 😂😂😂😂
    Domedallydudum (or whatever) constantly being humiliated by players but hardly surprising since he’s putting on these primary school activities after an indifferent warm-up. Farke wandering around eyeing his ‘pupils’ to make sure order maintained. Why do they bother showing this crap? Obviously, City must do more than this (???) but the bits they show on YouTube are beyond a joke. Again only GKs, with simple exercise, can be taken seriously.

    This is now followed by Daniel suggesting post-match that even if we had been at OUR BEST today we would still have lost to Chelsea. Talk about motivational approach! Why are we so humble? How can TWO incredible seasons of Championship triumphs be followed by (excepting the opening games of the first attempt) such inadequate performances? Answers on a postcard, please.

    3
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    • JohnF says

      24th October 2021 at 9:43 am

      Unfortunately he’s starting to sound like Houghton who spent too much time building the opposition up!

      3
      Reply
    • “Midfield Mike” says

      24th October 2021 at 9:50 am

      Yeah, even with our BEST squad Chelsea still win. Imagine Grant Holt and Paul Lambert saying that.

      2
      Reply
  11. “Midfield Mike” says

    23rd October 2021 at 7:38 pm

    Chris Wilder please.
    This chapter is now closed.

    2
    Reply
    • Chris says

      24th October 2021 at 12:28 pm

      I’m not sure we’re ready for the sight of Gibson and Hanley overlapping at pace in the final third Mike!

      Reply
  12. Colin M says

    23rd October 2021 at 10:00 pm

    Chelsea, Man City & Liverpool are so superior to all bar a few other PL teams. We were awful today, it was excruciating to witness but we are in the PL by right.
    Perhaps we need a change but D F has been magnificent for us so please whatever happens get behind the team for 90 mins next Sunday, beating Leeds is the remedy.

    2
    Reply
  13. Carl says

    24th October 2021 at 12:44 am

    I feel so depressed about things. I have the same feelings pre game now that I experienced for most of Hughton’s tenure. No aspiration of the team creating or doing anything interesting. Farke has given us 2 of the best seasons we have had, the first promotion season I think was my proudest as a fan of 35 years, more fun than either of the title challenging seasons but if this continues it can only end badly for him and that would be terrible. There is a fair amount of evidence now that he can’t get us anywhere enough points at this level and right now the club is a big joke to the rest of the country..

    2
    Reply
  14. In extremis says

    24th October 2021 at 1:21 am

    Excruciating, mind numbingly pathetic bilge that made the home defeat against Colchester seem half decent, The club could barely muster a half decent allocation of tickets for its suffering fans and I am very grateful that my away membership did not afford me a ticket. So far I have managed a ticket to the Emirates. Will i bother next season ? No, they simply aren’t worth it. Did we really pay 8 million quid for Josh Sargent ? he couldn’t get into the Ipswich team at the moment. I can accept that we are unlikely to succeed at this level but what really grates is that we are not even in with a fighting chance, and as if to prove the point, the players didn’t even bother to turn up today. You can make Farke the scapegoat and in truth he barely functions at this level but the board needs to ask themselves some serious questions- do they give a cr&p ?

    4
    Reply
  15. Cannock canary says

    24th October 2021 at 1:53 am

    7 ……. 🤬

    Reply
  16. Catton canary says

    24th October 2021 at 8:30 am

    It is time Delia stepped aside. This stems from her. Principles are great but now she is actually hurting the club and supporters she professes to love. This is the acid test. Will she put a good man who is out of his depth through the torture of the Leeds game or give us a reset that will give us a glimmer of saving ourselves?
    The recruitment again has been poor. Webber talks well but most of his signings were on the bench yesterday. We have not replaced Emi and more importantly Skipp. Fans have been saying it loudly but two wingers for a striker who never scores headers and a lightweight from Chelsea were preferred. Where is our power in midfield? Our replacement for Pukki?
    I do not want to see Farke rock up at Middlesbrough or similar but this cannot go on. Get a caretaker manager in on a short term contract and get someone in next year for the Champs. This is the end of this cycle. The ceiling has been reached. Time to plan ahead now.

    3
    Reply
  17. Tony says

    24th October 2021 at 8:56 am

    Recruitment? We definitely bought the wrong Josh for the Premier League.

    1
    Reply

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