That's four games without a win now, something that never occurred during Di Matteo's time in charge. We've gone backwards under Coco. Di Matteo left us at a time when we we still in the title race, four points behind top spot and three behind second. We're now 15 points behind top spot and 6 (potentially 9) behind second. The only reason we're still 3rd is because those below us haven't been much better, but I do worry that we won't be finishing in a Champions League spot this season, let alone top three. The League Cup and Club World Cup should have both been in the bag, but his ineptitude got us knocked out. No chance of getting anywhere near as far in the FA Cup and Europe as we did last season. There's no excuse for him not to be sacked. I know it's awful to sack two managers in one season and it would be a precedent for us, but we've already gone and shamed our club by staining it with his name so we might as well go the whole way now as it will be for our benefit. We've got to start thinking about next season and where we want to be. As it stands he has the worst win percentage of any manager we've had since Glen Hoddle. The problem is that the more we openly show our hatred towards him, the more the players will start to dislike him as well, especially when we don't get a result and it will affect negatively affect the team's performance. The sooner he goes the better. The longer he stays it becomes less and less likely that we will have anything to take from this season and into the next.
I don't think that RB is doing a great job either he is so slow to make changes and some of his sub's are baffling to say the least. Putting RB aside it is clear to me that this really is a transition season - although I am unclear as to exactly what it is we are transitioning into! I'm guessing that it is Barca-lite but whether Barca-lite will cut the mustard in a very physical league I don't know - sometimes this season I have been dismayed at how easily our small midfield players get bundled off the ball. The problems that we have had to deal with this season are that our old spine is disintegrating fast. Drogba was a massive loss to us - one that cannot be under-estimated. Big, powerful centre forwards that can actually do the business are few and far between. Also, with the loss of Drogba and the burgeoning of our small midfield trio (+ Marin too) we seem to have lost a lot of physicality. I love to watch amazing trickery but sometimes when push comes to shove some hefty shove is needed. We clearly have a defensive issue, I am confused as to which of our four defenders + two DM's really works the most effectively. I remember wistfully the season we only let 15 goals in the EPL in 38 games. Wow! Ramires/Lampard doesn't work - neither wants to defend. Mikel (but who to pair him with?) is better but that *loody Africa Nations Cup continually screws with the EPL, but that's another story. Luiz may be ok as a DM maybe even great, who knows. What we do need though is a really creative midfielder that all play goes through and who is happy to sit in the middle linking front to back. Speaking of defence - Terry, who has been out for a while, looked dreadful yesterday. He did not play well, he looked haggard and not like he was enjoying himself. His days are definitely numbered (sadly). I hope that the club are actively searching for competent replacement. Attack - christ what attack? FT, enough has been written about him, but he is next to useless as a scorer which is what he gets paid for. I need to see more of Ba before I make my mind up on him although at best I see him as 'useful' but never as world class. So for me regardless of RB's incompetence he is hampered by some of the crucial on-field positions that remain unsolved. Plus of course our 'thin' bench - when Torres started limping yesterday I thought 'if he has to come off then who the hell do we put on?'. Ditto when Czech is out - Turnbull is probably League 1 standard at best. Problems, problems, problems......... At least we are still third - although we are looking an increasingly distant poor cousin to the Mancs duo!
To me I would sign Ryan Shawcross to fill JTs spot, flings himself at everything, other than that I would give Kalas or Ake the chance Physical presence I would sign Fellaini, he offers the physical threat but is brilliant technically too And I read that Lukaku may stay one more year at WBA, maybe we could get a deal in for his fellow Belgian Benteke, who has taken to the league like a fish to water
Interestingly I was looking up how far off you we were when Rafa took charge and we were 7 points off, meaning we've gained 6 points on you whilst Everton and Arsenal are both exactly the same distance from you and West Brom, of course, have fallen right off. Frankly I think you've got off lightly but the catch 22 is it's very difficult to sack Rafa becuase he's kept you 3rd which I'm sure you'd all take right now.
We would take 3rd but much like last season, the writings on the wall to be caught by the likes of Spurs and Arsenal if we don't start stringing some results together.
I fear the worst! The only hope have is the return of Hazard, Mikel and Moses! At least the FSW will not be able to claim he was short of options!
I agree and I think you've been slightly fortunate that only we've made ground on you in the period since Rafa took over. The catch 22 was that even though Rafa has taken you backwards in terms of performances and results, you're still just about on course this season which makes it difficult to sack yet another manager without looking bad which then makes it very difficult to get a new manager in who's good enough to get you back out of the battle for top 4 and safe in 3rd, possibly even chasing down City.
I think we'll be a little better off when ACON has finished. By then we'll have Mikel, Moses and Hazard back (fom his ban). Terry getting back in the team will do wonders once he's 100% fit again as well.
