Something isn't quite right at the moment and we are bang out of form. There's issues that need to be addressed and the manager has to start picking players on form and merit. There's simply no way Ivanovic can continue at right back if we expect to even challenge for the league. Teams are just using the same tactic Capello used on Albert Ferrer in the 94 CL final. They let Ivanovic have the ball as he is a good player but he isn't a very good footballer. He can't cross and doesn't have the eye for a pass that Azpilicueta has. The last two weeks has been massively disappointing and put a major dent in our title challenge but nothing is won or lost. We just have to accept we are a good team in an average Premier League and plenty of points will be won and lost this season. Today was the closest we will come to a home league defeat under Jose without actually getting beaten and if anyone was going to get the better off Jose it was Steve Clarke.
If you ask me we are far more unconvincing than manure tbh! This is not expected under Jose and most of these things his own doing.
Him and Ivanovic getting in the side ahead of Azpilicueta and Mikel is criminal. Not one for scapegoating people (bar Cahill) but neither should be in the team on merit.
At least we are in all four major competitions. Man U have no chance of winning the league if they lose tomorrow. They're done, finito. If we can stay within touching distance of City and Arsenal plus keep ahead of United well be fine. We always dip in November and come good again around. January. The only disappointing thing is we've created a situation where we may well have to win or draw at the Emirates to keep ourselves in the hunt.
DL, I won't rule out manure! Gap is between us and them that is just 4 pts (if they win / draw - gap will be 1/3) . Goon (or others) building gap is irrelevant and that will evaporate!!
They can't afford another defeat. No team has ever lost 4 by November and gone on to win it. I couldn't care less if Arsenal are 7 points ahead of us in November. Bigger gaps have disappeared in a shorter time period. United being kept at bay would be huge and likely lead to them going on a downward spiral. Eliminating United long term is more important than catching Arsenal short term.
can be more true!! Hate Manure so much, don't want them anywhere near.. We can easily take care of Arse
Think it's down to Jose inheriting a squad that was initially tailored towards Guardiola and partly the untouchable philosophy
Have to admit we have been getting the rub of the green with decisions this season - still think we are in transitional mode until Jose gets the squad he's comfortable with; so until that happy moment arrives (January window) we will just to try and at least keep in striking distance of the Gooners. This season has shown that there will be plenty of speed bumps (soton, Everton, WBA to name a few) so we'll have to anticipate a few blips more than usual.
Hi Liquidator--were you on the old BBC 606, as I seem to remember your tag? As for the original post, I have to say its surely a good thing we aren't playing again as a team for a couple of weeks! Assuming of course that Jose ,having scratched hid head for longer than normal ,can figure out why we've started the last few weeks like relegation candidates!
I could pick a lot of holes, but there are three that cant be overlooked - Lampard and Cole dont justify their place ahead of whats behind them, and Cech is getting worse each week.
Hi Bluemoon -yes I was on the good ol 606 tried several other chat rooms including JA606 before settling on this one. But I'm afraid ur spot on as the serial November malaise is upon us again; priorities after Xmas must be CB, CM and a forward if Ba is moved on. Increasingly it looks like we'll have to hang in there for a while until the cavalry comes.
You are so right. I truly believe the team is NOT behind Jose because of his favourites being played when others with better form are ignored. Jose is shooting us all in the foot with his stubbornness. I wonder if he's forgotten just how hard the PL is compared to the crap he's been playing against with Real ?? Azpi at left back, Lampard shows up every game, Cole is reduced to stopping at the 1/2 way line and back passing, Cahill and Terry slower than a wet week, Cech looking like the slide is steeper than we thought. Something is seriously wrong with morale. I suspect the initial magic has worn off for most of the squad, and replaced with a "naughty boy, I'm the boss" scenario. Hope I'm wrong. Jose will eitherâ¦â¦.. get shot of Luiz, Mata, De Bruyne, Ba, Mikel and a couple more, spend millions to bring in more solid, less dynamic players and a "new" Drogba, then grind out results that put half the world to sleep, ORâ¦â¦â¦ he will play to the incredible strengths we have, give youth a chance, i.e., Bertrand, Azpi, and then build on that platform. That would require a major change of heart. My money's on the 1st. Jose is too arrogant for his own good, too stubborn for Chelseas' good. He has 3 years to change the team, the style and build for the future. It shouldn't and can't be done by Christmas.
On the subject of Lampard he's getting to the stage of being an impact player rather than having an automatic berth; that was where he was best utilized last season. I hope we aren't back to the status of "the untouchables" this will the big test for Jose on whether he can rejuvenate the team and start bringing on youngsters.
True words Jose last the room or about to lose it, through his own needless stubborness Lamps need to be a impact player like last year.. Rafa was better than Jose in that!
Sound advice, but I assure you I am not panicking, just bemused and trying to work out where we are heading. Either way, with JM we will win more than we lose. I am really surprised at his poor selections and the alienation of some players who can't or won't play a style that blunts their natural skills. To me that's plain crazy. We are again close to the CFC of old, the one who play like demons against top teams who are trying to win, and like slugs against the lower ones who play not to lose, and have already figured out how to stop us.Top priority should be a midfield that can link backs and forwards quickly and directly, and breakdown teams like Newcastle and WBA. I am sure Jose will settle down and get things working, but trying to win the League AND reshape the team at the same time is a bridge too far.We all need to accept this is our year to finally put down solid foundations and stop the merry go round of super spending. Get the team right first and then make our move. First or 4th , it doesn't matter, we will be in much better shape and in the CL.
