Despite it being a “work in progress”, I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed in the way in which Chelsea dropped points against Sheffield United.
And despite being fully behind Frank Lampard, I can’t say I was happy with the management of the game as far as substitutions go!
It was a familiar early-season story for the Blues - fantastic in the first half and very ordinary in the second.
They lost their way, their energy and their fight as the Blades went all or nothing in an attempt to deny Frank’s first win in charge at the Bridge.
You would have imagined that at 2-1 up and struggling a bit, a defensive substitution would have been the right call, but instead Michy Batshuayi was brought on (like-for-like) for Tammy Abraham and Mateo Kovacic sacrificed for youngster Billy Gilmore.
Surely the experience of Olivier Giroud would have made sense up front?
And as for Gilmore, such a tough thing to say, because it’s lovely seeing a kid getting a run, but he definitely isn’t ready.
He bottled out of a couple of challenges and didn’t look like he knew where to position himself on a fast moving pitch.
Anyway, early days, major stars still to come back from injury and another lesson learnt.
There’s no pressure, Chelsea just need to gradually gather up enough points to stay in the top half of the table!
I’d rather see youngsters coming through and playing attacking football than the boredom of winning trophies with pedestrian, fall-asleep football.
This, as we’ve talked through before, is the big difference between us and United.
Abramovich-era fans won’t have a clue what I’m on about, they’re also the idiots spreading racist comments and “Lampard out” bollox on social media.
GOING NOWHERE: Manchester United struggled at Southampton. Photo: Will Oliver/EPA
Poor old Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is getting greyer by the week as his star-studded side fail to ignite.
They were similar to Chelsea last season in the fact that they tended to play a good half a game, but now the full 90 minutes I’m afraid looks bang average.
That’s it, United are no better than Everton or Wolves or Crystal Palace, just another side.
Surely the gaffer will be moved along before it goes completely pear-shaped?
Barring a miraculous turnaround over the next couple of months, I won’t be surprised to see him out the door before the New Year.
I do feel sorry for him, lovely bloke, but it appears just too big a job for him?
I’d like to hear some honest comments from y’all should he stay or should he go?
Despite being just four games in, it feels like the writing is on the wall already. Manchester City and Liverpool full steam ahead while the rest of us battle away in a separate league.
The weekend ended off with a cracker at the Emirates, felt like a proper derby!
Un@@i Emery will be wondering what it takes to get his side going through the gears earlier and Mauricio Pochettino will think twice about dropping Christian Eriksen again.
Oh well, just as it was getting going, we’re into a frikkin' international break. Chat next week!
Twitter: @thehonestnick