The Chelsea Thread

[Alcaraz]

Superb article as usual by Wilson from above. Agree fully that the team is on the decline but we have seen this season that slowly but surely the core of the players is slowly being formed around the likes of Ramires, Mata, Luiz, Torres, Sturridge and Cahill who have all played big parts this season

No doubt whatever happens in Munich next month, squad will have to be rejuvenated and all the signs point to this happening in the summer, hopefully under RDM. This season Chelsea scouts have been on the over-drive scouting for talent and players have been identified and earmarked for the summer. Hopefully things will go as needed

 

[maxy67]

Very good article, nice comparison to clough.

 

[PZW]

Roberto Di Matteo has done brilliantly at the club, but somehow I think he still won't get the job permanently. I think that Chelsea prefer to sign players and managers on reputation, rather than talent (although, of course, they do take talent into consideration) and Di Matteo doesn't have a brilliant managerial reputation. He is popular with Chelsea fans, though!

Well done on getting into the FA Cup and Champions League Finals, because they are brilliant achievements. Chelsea could now finish the season with two trophies and a top four finish! However, I don't think they will get all three; most likely only a top four finish and (although I hate to think so, as a Liverpool fan) a FA Cup win! That's still a fantastic turnaround from André Villas-Boas' poor reign!

- PZW

 

[Calum]

[video=youtube;fBhlVVpBV_c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBhlVVpBV_c[/video]

Lol

 

[BlueHeart26]

 

[GodCubed]

-snipped-

Brilliant article. Puts in to words stuff that people like me and Mike. have been saying for a while now.

You simply can't allow a team to grow old together unless you want to sustain success. I get the kind of feeling that if Alex Ferguson managed Chelsea, he'd be pilloried by the fans for getting rid of ageing legends such as Ince and Keane, when they looked like they were at their prime but in reality were just getting onto the first steps of the final slope down. Di Matteo's done wonderfully, but he hasn't rocked the boat, and he hasn't tried to rejuvenate the squad.

 

[Mike.]

Superb article as usual by Wilson from above. Agree fully that the team is on the decline but we have seen this season that slowly but surely the core of the players is slowly being formed around the likes of Ramires, Mata, Luiz, Torres, Sturridge and Cahill who have all played big parts this season

No doubt whatever happens in Munich next month, squad will have to be rejuvenated and all the signs point to this happening in the summer, hopefully under RDM. This season Chelsea scouts have been on the over-drive scouting for talent and players have been identified and earmarked for the summer. Hopefully things will go as needed

Not sure you can say the core is being built round them. Mata thrives on shorter passing, playing through a side, occaisonally rapidly counter attacking. Under Di Matteo you have gone back to slow tempo, deep line, more direct passing of old. Mata is excelleing despite the system, not because of it. That is much more suited to the old guard than any of the players you mention above, especially one Fernando Torres. In fact in terms of playing style adaptation, Chelsea have gone backwards to what they know.

 

[BlueHeart26]

Im curious if Roman has already negotiated terms with Guardiola. I hope not. Still think he is not a manager suited for every club, but only for barse. And tbh, I like Bobby.

 

[Jak]

I think the Chelsea job is too big a job for Di Matteo to do right now so it should be given to a more experienced manager. However he should definitely be kept on as a coach/ assistant

 

[GodCubed]

I think the Chelsea job is too big a job for Di Matteo to do right now so it should be given to a more experienced manager. However he should definitely be kept on as a coach/ assistant

Why's that? He's having a go at it right now and he's doing very well, given the circumstances.

 

[Mike.]

Im curious if Roman has already negotiated terms with Guardiola. I hope not. Still think he is not a manager suited for every club, but only for barse. And tbh, I like Bobby.

He hasnt. Pep is out because he is shattered.

 

[Jak]

Why's that? He's having a go at it right now and he's doing very well, given the circumstances.

he is doing extremely well, no debating that. But this summer requires a massive clearout and squad overhaul, something I don't think RDM is up to doing

 

[rephlex]

He hasnt. Pep is out because he is shattered.

This. The problem Pep has is he's a complete obsessive workaholic. He's burning himself out running at this sort of pace, and if he doesn't re-sign for Barca it will be to take time out from the game and recharge, and perhaps come back and find a better way for Barca to win games. He may be compared to Mourinho, but Guardiola is just Barca through and through.

 

[rephlex]

he is doing extremely well, no debating that. But this summer requires a massive clearout and squad overhaul, something I don't think RDM is up to doing

Part of me agrees, the players obviously see him as a "friendly face". He will probably just delay the clear out if he stays in charge, I don't see him selling anyone, perhaps just extending one year contracts as required. That said, some of the senior players have proved they're still very useful indeed, the problem comes with rotation and people warming that bench. Some Chelsea fans think the senior will be happier with RDM calling that particular shot, but after a few games with mixed results I'm unsure if that will last.

 

[Aannddyy]

Why's that? He's having a go at it right now and he's doing very well, given the circumstances.

All we've heard this season is that the Chelsea squad is too old and that none of it was AVB's fault... Di Matteo has already pretty much proved everyone wrong. He's doing incredibly well.

[BTW, I'm not saying that the Chelsea squad isn't too old just that it was clearly AVB who was the problem, despite public opinion]

 

[Mike.]

All we've heard this season is that the Chelsea squad is too old and that none of it was AVB's fault... Di Matteo has already pretty much proved everyone wrong. He's doing incredibly well.

The first sentence isnt quite true, the squad IS still too old, they've been allowed to grow old together, most of the players are past their peak, and are unlikely to carry Chelsea toward a title tilt next season.T he Wilson article above expands on what people were saying, and says it much better. Secondly no one said it wasnt AVBs fault, they said it wasn't purely his fault, very very big difference. Short term he as done well, but nothing has been done with long term in mind. And if he then does nothing but carry on the status quo, then only the people who benefit will be Chelsea's rivals.

 

[Alcaraz]

Not sure you can say the core is being built round them. Mata thrives on shorter passing, playing through a side, occaisonally rapidly counter attacking. Under Di Matteo you have gone back to slow tempo, deep line, more direct passing of old. Mata is excelleing despite the system, not because of it. That is much more suited to the old guard than any of the players you mention above, especially one Fernando Torres. In fact in terms of playing style adaptation, Chelsea have gone backwards to what they know.

You speak of us going back to what we know as if it is a bad thing. Actually I prefer to look at it in a way that RDM has implemented tactics that suits the majority of the squad and not just a few members. It really is something special what he has done as players like Drogba, Lampard and Terry are benefiting alongside the likes of Torres and Mata.

Torres who for one has actually played better under RDM than he did under AVB. Also Torres or more specifically his agent had quoted him as saying that under RDM, he felt much more confidence thereby improving his game

You can only implement tactics that suits the squad and thats what RDM has done and the results show it

 

[Alcaraz]

The first sentence isnt quite true, the squad IS still too old, they've been allowed to grow old together, most of the players are past their peak, and are unlikely to carry Chelsea toward a title tilt next season.T he Wilson article above expands on what people were saying, and says it much better. Secondly no one said it wasnt AVBs fault, they said it wasn't purely his fault, very very big difference. Short term he as done well, but nothing has been done with long term in mind. And if he then does nothing but carry on the status quo, then only the people who benefit will be Chelsea's rivals.

A bit of a naive statement to make. How can RDM do anything with the long-term in mind until he is appointed permanent manager. Even then under him players like Betrand have gotten more opportunities and really shined. He has shown a willingness to play Youth as well as bench the senior stars

And there are people like Michael Emeleano who are building for the long-term at the club. Excellent Youth Prospects like Courtois, Lukaku, De Bruyne, Islam Feruz, Piazon and Bamford have been acquired this season so its not like Chelsea have done nothing with the future in mind this season

 

[JDY]

[video=youtube;VKc337M9huc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKc337M9huc&feature=related[/video]

<3

 

[Mike.]

A bit of a naive statement to make. How can RDM do anything with the long-term in mind until he is appointed permanent manager. Even then under him players like Betrand have gotten more opportunities and really shined. He has shown a willingness to play Youth as well as bench the senior stars

And there are people like Michael Emeleano who are building for the long-term at the club. Excellent Youth Prospects like Courtois, Lukaku, De Bruyne, Islam Feruz, Piazon and Bamford have been acquired this season so its not like Chelsea have done nothing with the future in mind this season

Hardly naive. It's bang on, we simply have no idea about what he is like long term, as he has purely been in for the short term.

And what he has done is hardly special. Its merely safety first, back to what you know. Mata isnt benefitting he is excelling despite the system.

You can look at it any way you want, but it doesnt change the fact that Chelsea have gone backwards in trying to change.