The Chelsea Thread

[GodCubed]

I don't think starting Drogba is necessarily the way to go, when Chelsea are trying to build a more cultured passing game.

That said, the people who say Drogba's time has come need their heads checked. He's still the world's finest bulldozer forward, and an all-round striker of the type that comes around rarely. If the opposition drops deep and brings the striker close to goal, he's still one of the best aerial strikers you'll see. Quite apart from that, he's, well, Didier Drogba, a modern Chelsea legend, and I don't think he's willing to go out just yet.

 

[Mike.]

Its not just the senior players either though is it, Sturridge seems to have a problem too and i don't blame him. You say this should have started 2 years ago but we had just won the double it would have been a brave/stupid man to dis-mantle a squad who has just done that. I totally agree players have been poor thats why i don't fully blame him but when he is pursisting with these players when he could give the younger players a game that is where it is his fault. His starting line-ups and subs are very questionable, he should play certain players more if he wants to take this squad into a new age. He keeps playing the same players when there are other players available so that is where his faults lie. Not all his fault but it starts with him im afriad.

Sturridge has a problem because he is arrogant player, who is talented but has a bigger view of himself than is merited.

Of course he has to be brave, becuase no other manager has the guts to do it before. You talked before of success. This is my point, short term success, over long term sustained challenges. Why is SAF one of the best in the world? becuase even when we are winning, he is looking 3 years forward, for the next newish team to go on. Chelsea have failed to do this consistently, Now AVB is charged with turning round a side ruthlessly, learning as he goes AND preparing long term. That's a tough enough task for a seasoned manager, let alone a newish one.

If someone had had the balls/sense earlier it would have been a gradual shift, rather than dismantling. Roman needs to back him this summer, regardless of where Chelsea finish.

 

[Alcaraz]

I have no problem with not finishing in a Champions League Spot this season but I feel the 'changing of guard' process may get severely hampered if we do that because...

1. No Champions League means the club will not be able to attract the cailbre of players we needs to return to the top, we will probably be lagging in most races behind our rivals in signing Europe's top prospects

Just look at Liverpool this season, because they are not in any European Competition everyone thought they could win the PLM as they only had that to concentrate on however because of not being in the CL, they were unable to prove as potential destinations for the likes of Juan Mata who were always going to prefer going to a club in the Champions League over Liverpool

I know Champions League is not the only reason players shift clubs but one will surely agree that if a club is in the CL, it has a much better chance of attracting top players compared to a club that is not in the CL

2. Not being in the CL will severely hamper our finances just when things are looking quite decent

So I really hope we hang onto 4th spot this season and then we overhaul the squad in the Summer. I agree with Mike when he says that Roman needs to back AVB with a war chest this summer no matter where we finish and I have repeatedly stated on more than once occasion that AVB was Roman's personal choice and believe he has been brought in for the long-term

It is also evident that the club is looking towards the future with all the stockpiling of youth talent we have been doing this season, players like Patrick Bamford, Kenneth Omeruo, Ulises Davilla , De Bruyne etc. have all come in and all of them are players for the future.

Add those guys in with the likes of Piazon, McEachran, Lukaku, Courtois, Islam Feruz, PVA, Chalobah, Kalas, Bertrand, Bruma and Kakuta and I feel we have a very healthy future going forward with our Academy system

So all we really need is to hang onto 4th place this season and then bring in top players over the summer who will help us compete on all 4 fronts again as well as sell of all our deadwood.

Then we embark on a long-term cycle whereby we are able to enjoy sustained success over the years without needing to throw in a Year of Transition every now and then. For example.. SAF ensures that Man Utd enjoy success after success every season and he makes sure his squad is still able to compete by making gentle refinements every now and then and gradually phasing players out and bringing new ones in. He does not need to have a season of 'transition' because he is always looking towards the future

Thats what we have to do as well and I have full faith in AVB. He is the right man for the job. Right now he is just playing the cards he has been dealt but soon enough I believe he will take the club to new heights if we all back him. He is the right captain for the ship and we have to believe in him.

 

[CJACKO11]

Sturridge has a problem because he is arrogant player, who is talented but has a bigger view of himself than is merited.

Of course he has to be brave, becuase no other manager has the guts to do it before. You talked before of success. This is my point, short term success, over long term sustained challenges. Why is SAF one of the best in the world? becuase even when we are winning, he is looking 3 years forward, for the next newish team to go on. Chelsea have failed to do this consistently, Now AVB is charged with turning round a side ruthlessly, learning as he goes AND preparing long term. That's a tough enough task for a seasoned manager, let alone a newish one.

If someone had had the balls/sense earlier it would have been a gradual shift, rather than dismantling. Roman needs to back him this summer, regardless of where Chelsea finish.

The thing is though many players aren't playing well and could be replaced by our younger players which will give them more experience going into next season but he isn't doing it. You have to admit he has not used the younger players as much as a manager who has been given the job to take this club into the future right?? That for me is where his failings lie, if Chelsea started Lukaku last Saturday and still lost 2-0 the positive would be that he got some well needed minutes and experience. Like i said he has not done enough to move this Chelsea side on, i agree he hasen't had a proper window because he wanted to give everyone a chance but why not start to fade them out now with the future??

 

[CJACKO11]

I think the more notable thing about those games is that they are all against teams that did not park the bus against us, a tactic that we have found increasingly difficult to break down. For example against Utd, had we not decided to give away some stupid penalties then that would have been regarded as one of our best games of the season. However, I am not saying that Drogba shouldn't start because at the moment my right *** cheek has more of a chance scoring for Chelsea than Torres.

The giving away of penalties for me was mainly due to lack of leadership on the pitch, no Lampard, Drogba or Terry just to talk everyone through it and stop them running around like headless chickens.

 

[CJACKO11]

After listening to the rest of the podcast with Neil Barnett on he was asked the question "Do you ever see Mourinho coming back to Chelsea in the future" His answer "He nearly did once". If AVB does go and Jose leaves Madrid in the summer then i really wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Mike.]

The thing is though many players aren't playing well and could be replaced by our younger players which will give them more experience going into next season but he isn't doing it. You have to admit he has not used the younger players as much as a manager who has been given the job to take this club into the future right?? That for me is where his failings lie, if Chelsea started Lukaku last Saturday and still lost 2-0 the positive would be that he got some well needed minutes and experience. Like i said he has not done enough to move this Chelsea side on, i agree he hasen't had a proper window because he wanted to give everyone a chance but why not start to fade them out now with the future??

Those young players aren't quite ready, though I would like to see them get some minutes. Remember he still has to balance getting into 4th. Like I said, he has a near impossible task. He hasn't been perfect for sure, but it would be utterly stupid for Chelsea to replace him. Because of past failures to look forward, its going to be painful for Chelsea.

 

[vova_kram]

I am a Chelsea fan, as the majority of people in this thread. I do not blame AVB for the poor run of results we are on lately and the season overall. Look at the squad he inherited, not the best. People are getting on, Lampard, Terry, Cole, Drogba, Malouda. They were all once great for us but now it is just natural for them to get worse. There are also people who won't cut it at the club IMO, Bosingwa, Meireless and to some extent Kalou. I do actually like kalou, last season he was great coming of the bench getting some goals. What AVB is doing now is rebuilding the squad, he brought in a number of young talents who I believe will be class players in the future. Also there is Torres, a man everybody loves, I am no exception but you don't have to be a genius to see that its not the same Torres. I think Torres has to improve his performances very quickly or he will have to leave. As for his replacement Falcao would be the ideal man, a swap+money deal can be done with Athletico (Torres going the other way). AVB knows Falcao well from his time in Porto and he seems like a striker we need, he can score goals. Cavani would be good as well.

 

[CJACKO11]

Those young players aren't quite ready, though I would like to see them get some minutes. Remember he still has to balance getting into 4th. Like I said, he has a near impossible task. He hasn't been perfect for sure, but it would be utterly stupid for Chelsea to replace him. Because of past failures to look forward, its going to be painful for Chelsea.

But to me the transition has to start this season and it hasn't. Okay we don't get to see training and who trains well every day etc but he can see what everyone else see's in matches which is your bread and butter. Players like Bosingwa who has been at fault for at least quarter of our goals this season and Malouda who can't run, pass or cross and Meireles who has been very poor since the Man City game. Ashley Cole is now 31 and played almost the last 5 years without a decent break and we have a young lad who is ready to step up and replace him in the future in Bertrand. Yes he has over 100 football league games but not Premier League games and only a handful for Chelsea, how is this lad going to ever be ready?? I agree some youngsters aren't ready i.e Piazon etc but Lukaku has played Champions League football and when he has been used has looked quite effective but is not given a chance enough.

 

[Mike.]

But to me the transition has to start this season and it hasn't. Okay we don't get to see training and who trains well every day etc but he can see what everyone else see's in matches which is your bread and butter. Players like Bosingwa who has been at fault for at least quarter of our goals this season and Malouda who can't run, pass or cross and Meireles who has been very poor since the Man City game. Ashley Cole is now 31 and played almost the last 5 years without a decent break and we have a young lad who is ready to step up and replace him in the future in Bertrand. Yes he has over 100 football league games but not Premier League games and only a handful for Chelsea, how is this lad going to ever be ready?? I agree some youngsters aren't ready i.e Piazon etc but Lukaku has played Champions League football and when he has been used has looked quite effective but is not given a chance enough.

So you want him to keep the experienced played onside and win, and play youth? he cant do both. You want him to play youth who arent really ready, and still get 4th, with no room for error? He cant do both.

His job would be made easier if certain players did their job. He cannot carry the can for everything, Drogba aside, very few Chelsea players are willing to look at themselves when it comes to mistakes. Its why i have so much respect for Drogba.

The transition has started this season, look at the way he plays already, yet he still lacks the players, because many of those there are unable or unwilling to adapt. One thing I've noticed; Terry may be wear the armband, but Mata is the one he uses to lead. Watch him, when there is a pause in play its Mata who gets all the detailed instructions.

Bosiwinga has been awful, but there isn't much choice there. AVB has done quite well considering.

 

[Gump]

Also there is Torres, a man everybody loves, I am no exception but you don't have to be a genius to see that its not the same Torres. I think Torres has to improve his performances very quickly or he will have to leave.

I agree yet I disagree. I agree its not the same Torres, but I say you cant just blame him. As I said earlier (what U might have not noticed), AVB's style of play doesnt fit him. He aint getting enough support and the right kind of support. If U have watched Chelsea's games, U know what I mean. He gets outnumbered always. You cant really expect him to take 4 - 5 guys alone. Thats why he needs moar support, more one-two's, more through balls and he would score, Im sure of it. This is my opinion.

 

[Athe~]

Torres may not have had many chances, but when he had them he screwed up. Putting all of the blame on Torres may be a bit harsh, but putting it all on his teammates is incredibly naïve. Torres has been poor, and I doubt anyone can defend that.

 

[CJACKO11]

So you want him to keep the experienced played onside and win, and play youth? he cant do both. You want him to play youth who arent really ready, and still get 4th, with no room for error? He cant do both.

His job would be made easier if certain players did their job. He cannot carry the can for everything, Drogba aside, very few Chelsea players are willing to look at themselves when it comes to mistakes. Its why i have so much respect for Drogba.

The transition has started this season, look at the way he plays already, yet he still lacks the players, because many of those there are unable or unwilling to adapt. One thing I've noticed; Terry may be wear the armband, but Mata is the one he uses to lead. Watch him, when there is a pause in play its Mata who gets all the detailed instructions.

Bosiwinga has been awful, but there isn't much choice there. AVB has done quite well considering.

Im not saying ditch the older players altogether and replace with youth because we would be lower than 5th for sure. Unlike most i don't believe the older players need to be shipped out and i think the likes of JT, Lamps and Drogba should all stay because they can still play a huge part in this side. Its just if Bertrand can't get games when Cole looks out of sorts and Cahil gets thrown on the bench after one ok performance for someone who has been at fault for alot of our goals this season and Lukaku can't get more starts when Torres is still mis-firing then when will they get their chances?

 

[maxy67]

Inter are showing a bit of interest in AVB the last few days.

 

[CJACKO11]

Inter are showing a bit of interest in AVB the last few days.

I'm sure they wanted him in the summer too but didn't want to pay the buy out clause.

 

[Mike.]

Im not saying ditch the older players altogether and replace with youth because we would be lower than 5th for sure. Unlike most i don't believe the older players need to be shipped out and i think the likes of JT, Lamps and Drogba should all stay because they can still play a huge part in this side. Its just if Bertrand can't get games when Cole looks out of sorts and Cahil gets thrown on the bench after one ok performance for someone who has been at fault for alot of our goals this season and Lukaku can't get more starts when Torres is still mis-firing then when will they get their chances?

Next season, hence point of gradual adjustment. Lampard shouldn't be starting in a Chelsea 4-2-3-1 any more than he should in an England 4-2-3-1. The experienced players that are unwilling or unable to adapt, are surplus to requirement, that his thinking and rightly so. He cannot worry about unwavering players who have maybe 18 months, when he is planning for the longer term not just for newer challenges, but a template for youth to work into. In AVB Chelsea have a manager who can build a proper legacy, and that is more important than the likes of John Terry

 

[Athe~]

In AVB Chelsea have a manager who can build a proper legacy

Thing is, are we sure AVB is really that man?

 

[Mike.]

Thing is, are we sure AVB is really that man?

You can never be 100% but he is more so than any manager chelsea have had.

 

[Athe~]

You can never be 100% but he is more so than any manager chelsea have had.

I'm not so sure in all honesty. I'll admit I love Carlo and thus I may be biased here, but I think keeping Carlo would've been a much better choice than getting someone with 2 seasons in club management.

 

[Mike.]

I'm not so sure in all honesty. I'll admit I love Carlo and thus I may be biased here, but I think keeping Carlo would've been a much better choice than getting someone with 2 seasons in club management.

I'm also a big fan of Carlo. Carlo had the chance, and also bottled making the hard choices. Every manager except AVB has done the same.

Great he did the double, but at no point was Carlo thinking 3 years ahead.