Apparently our defence was great when Rafa arrived ,but our attack was no good. He's now fixed that, and we're scoring goals for fun, while still defending well. The team now has much better "balance" and if only we didn't have to play so many matches, he would have more time to make further improvements. Phew, thank God for that, I was getting a tad worried. That must be why under Rafa we are out of the CL, hanging by a thread in the EUFA, and out of one UK Cup. It means we will play far fewer games, so expect even more improvements in the team. Such a pity Man Utd have trippled their lead over us since Rafa arrived,and it's all down to those pesky games we had to play. Therefore watch us rocket up the leader board now, and all hail to Rafa, the master manager.
In what way we were still in the CL (albeit not his fault but still), still within touching distance of United, still in the COC, the atmosphere at the bridge wasn't ****ing poison
You couldn't make it up Drogs. Rafa proves every day that you don't have to have a long neck to be a goose.
I understand the concept of keeping tea morale up by not admitting these things but how about not saying anything at all?! Idiot!
The results are worse and we don't even play attractive football anymore. Can't wait until he ****s off. It's not just that he's a **** manager but he's a massive bellend too.
Not only have the team as a whole got worse but individual players have too. Nobody bar David Luiz looks a better player than before he came in, not including Lampard because traditionally he has always been a slow starter and never come to the fore until about November. Ramires now looks useless, Hazard is good in flashes, Oscar looks poor, Cole inconsistent, Cahill diabolical, Ivanovic poor, Mikel poor, even JT when he has featured has been poor. Both RDM and Benitez have glaringly obvious weaknesses as managers but RDM instilled belief and discipline into the players, he was Chelsea. I'll stick my neck out and say under RDM we would never have lost to West Ham or QPR and we would have ripped Arsenal to shreds at the Bridge. We would be 10 points better off with RDM as manager. We will probably sneak top 4 due to our early form, Arsenal being poor and Spurs having even less firepower up front than we do but it's still not enough. We shouldn't be competing with the likes of Spurs or Arsenal.
Be fair I don't see alot of difference with this seasons Di Matteo side, and Rafa's team. Don't forget it was Di Matteo who got tonked 3-0 by Atletico Madrid, and it was down to Di Matteo that you were knocked out of the CL group stage. You took advantage of a favourable run of fixtures in the PL at the start but once you started facing some of the better teams you started slipping down the table, and were in 3rd once Di Matteo was sacked, the same position your in under Rafa
We never lost 3-0 to Atletico. We beat Spurs away and Arsenal away but slipped up against the likes of WBA, West Ham and Liverpool so you've failed
Total WUM, he's getting rather boring as well. No idea what the United obsession with us is, probably teased by all their Chelsea mates in London/Surrey for not supporting a proper club and now seeking some kind of respite on here.
I do believe we'd be a hell of a lot closer to United, and most definitely ahead of City under RDM - maybe even outsiders for the title, but to be fair, United's consistency has kept them out of reach.
OK I'm just trying to get myself geared up for this one. I'm a pessimist so expecting a loss on this one, it means if we do get a draw, or a win I will be ecstatic. I also used to love the way Chelsea played, now they don't seem to know their arse from their elbow since Benitez arrived. At the beginning of the season we looked to wipe the floor of the opposition now we are becoming a joke and I for one am sick of feeling like I do. I listened to Rafa's press conference on Friday and was nearly in tears (from laughing) apparently he thinks Torres is doing really well because of all the chances he's created, yea I call them missed goals, what a prize prat he is.
Well you got beat by a big score line, forgive me for not remembering all your results. You definately had a favourable start to the season fixture wise, thats why you got off to such a strong start, granted you beat Spurs and Arsenal afterwards, but you lost to us and dropped points against other top half teams like Liverpool, West Brom and Swansea
OMG I haven't seen the line up yet but from what you say I'd be best not looking !!! No JT against City is a terrible decision, unless he is injured
