I never feel confident of winning any game under the Fat Controller. Can't hold a lead, seen at Southampton, Reading, West Ham etc. Unless Chelsea go through the embarrassment of sacking him they won't make top 4, balls in their court.
I'm not sure Abramovich cares much about this season anymore. Sacking Rafa could bring too many problems for getting a new manager in both short term and long term but on the otherhand you've never looked less convincing, even under Scolari and AVB.
Looks like today's results mean we have a good chance in our own hands to get close to Chelsea, so we will royally **** it up no doubt.
I sort of agree and disagree with you there YV, but your not being cynical enough (due to no fault of your own). This board cares about: Brand Image and Money. CL football is the only thing keeping us out of the red, given what has happened this season with fans feeling disenfranchised many will not renew. The only way the club could make up that difference is by increasing ticket prices. So No CL football means: - Lower Gates, less money - Stock lowers for new manager
What Abramovich cares about most is being more popular than the manager. RdM was getting too well liked. He shouldn't have a problem with the fat waiter.
Everybody talks about RDM and his name will soon be forgotten as he wasn't responsible for the CL success,he just happened to be there when AVB was sacked. He took over the squad and the same would have happened to Chelsea with him this season as is happening now. What was it,WBA to assistant at Chelsea to the CL champions? Cobblers. It's like Ramos who took over the squad and then won the League Cup meaning he wasn't at all responsible. The wheels were put in motion before both managers arrived in their positions. RA might be a rich man but it sounds as if he's scared of losing face at Chelsea. RDM was sacked for going against instructions to play Torres. RA said play him and RDM didn't so the coach was sacked so that the owner was seen to have power. RDM was never a high profile enough name at Chelsea and this present coach will fare no better than the others before him.
Despite us hemmoraging points in January, losing to the Chavs and City and dropping points against Liverpool, we are just 1pt behind you now.
Scoring by lucky deflections won't last Piskie. In fact the only goal I read was a deflection...............not good. To do anything you'll have to be in control of the situation a bit more.
But you are behind us Put the party hats away and wait for St Totteringham's Day to avoid making yourself look silly...
I suppose being 20 points ahead means Utd don't get a mention on here any longer? But Chelsea still have better players of course, DL
We can't really assess the situation until the Spurs result tomorrow. Spurs could well be closer to us than you by the end of play but the reality is they just need to match your points tally until they play you and that game will take care of itself. If Spurs can keep the gap at 4 points and then beat you at WHL to make it 7, that IMO would be close to insurmountable given the fixtures that remain. Not better players, just a better manager. Up front is the only area you have better players than us, albeit significantly. But Hazard, Mata, Ramires, Cole, Oscar and Azpilicueta would all walk into your side
Whatever you think of RDM as a manager it was his change in tactics that changed things for us. There was luck along the way with a lot of grit, determination and guile. Many including myself said consistently Chelsea did not have the players to play 4-3-3, which AVB persisted with. Napoli - the best counter attacking team left in the competition - tore us a new one as we went with that line up, it was 3-1 on the night but could have been sixes and sevens. The change to 4-2-3-1 and recapturing the spirit in the dressing room restored balance to the side. You can't play 4-3-3 unless you have natural wingers which we didn't have and unless you have a midfielder with good passing ability that can spray the ball around. Leaves you susceptible to counter attacks out wide, just what teams like Napoli, Bayern and Barca want.
