The problem for me is that we lack an identity really. It's tempting to look at Liverpool and want to copy that model, to be a very hardworking team that works very well as a unified whole. The thing is, I don't think that's what we're about really. Klopp when he came in said any players that didn't want to play for the club could leave, regardless of talent. Taking the same approach for us would mean losing the likes of Courtois, Hazard and maybe even Costa, and keeping the Oscars, Willians, Ivas.
There's more than one way to skin a rabbit though, and passion doesn't just come from blind devotion to the club and its values. That works for places like Dortmund and Liverpool, who have very passionate, defined identities that are all about their history and their culture. Our club's approach, even at its height, was different and is, IMO, very suited to the best players that we have and to our manager. At our best, we had this sort of nouveau riche arrogance, a "we don't give a **** about your history, we're going to obliterate you here and now" that you also saw in Ancelotti's Madrid, several of the Ferguson United sides and, crucially, in Conte's Juve. The key thing he gave back to them was their arrogance. They didn't just go out and win for the fans and for passion and for rainbows and puppies but because they were ************* Juventus. They were elite, they were special, and holy **** they were going to show it.
That is what we need again. The spirit of Drogba, and A. Cole and Lampard, the stubborn pigheaded refusal to lose. People, IMO, have the completely wrong idea about what is needed from a player in terms of loyalty and passion. Players like Willian and Oscar will fight and die for the badge, and that's great but there's a reason why Lee Cattermole won't be winning the league any time soon.
I think the only way we'll get it back is to be brutal. Cahill has been a faithful and passionate servant to the club, as has Iva. Both are no longer on the level we need, both should be out. Gently, on loan if they need it, and for sod all in return to ease the deal, but out. You keep the players who step up and perform, the players with iron will and the ambition to be the best. Tell Pedro and Willian, you both have until January, the one who doesn't deliver is out. Same with Oscar and Matic. Make it clear to Hazard and Courtois that you're going to stop accepting passionate mediocrity and start stepping back up as a club. That the club shares their amibitions to be one of the elite again and will sign accordingly. In return though, that means the stakes are going back up. We might value them, but if they don't perform, they are going to get benched. If they try and sulk or force a move, they will be going to the reserves. They want ambition from the club? Here it is. Now it's time to shut up and deliver.
Finally you make it clear to the players that the days of charity contract extensions to leaders in the dressing room are over. We tried the soft approach of appeasement, it didn't work. You don't play to the standard needed, you are out. You do, well then you can part of a team that is going to be ambitious enough to win titles, chase the CL, be looking for multiple trophies every single ******* year.
Bring someone in as the new vice in January, ideally a CB, promote them to captain in the summer and make Cesc vice.
Glad to see he has such a good attitude.