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PleaseNotPoll said:
Mourinho made similar statements at Real, leaving out fan favourites and players that were widely regarded as superior to those he picked instead.
Mata may simply have failed to do something that the manager wanted him to do, either in training or on the pitch, and he might be being used as an example to the squad.
The press over here will undoubtedly allow him more room to work in than those in Spain did, however.
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Yep, so long as they're getting okay results and he keeps giving them the quotes they want. Remember how much of a deal the press made out of AVB trying to phase out the old players that didn't fit his system particularly well, Mourinho won't get that unless they're in the bottom half of the table.

It is bizarre though, he's inherited a squad perfectly set up to press and break down teams with skill and creativity but he seems to be trying to move them away from that. For the first half against Hull it looked like that was the way they'd go but since then he's been trying to change it all and get players playing the way that suits him not the players.

I think it's always been the case with managers that they need to be at the right club to achieve things and Mourinho is no doubt a great manager but there are a couple of question marks appearing over whether he and Chelsea are suited anymore. There were boos last night at half time, perhaps that was because they were expecting an instant positive impact on the side or perhaps it's because they're seeing their side moving further away from the modern attacking football that Abramovich and the fans wanted.

I'll still be shocked if they're not up their in a title race at the end of the season but I think there's just been a bit of a reality check for those who thought the Sun shone out of Jose's arse.
 
Yid Vicious said:
I'll still be shocked if they're not up their in a title race at the end of the season but I think there's just been a bit of a reality check for those who thought the Sun shone out of Jose's arse.
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Absolutely!

Does anyone else sense a subtle sea-change in the attitude that CFC fans have towards Mourhino? My Chelsea-supporting mate, for the first time, has voiced (for him) the unthinkable possibility that, just perhaps, Mourhino isn't going to be the best choice of manager for them, and that, just perhaps, they were all a little bit too hasty in getting shot of Coco.
 
The NLD was a contrast in viewpoints.
The creativity was dire, but so was the apparent fear of the Goons to even try
and inflict another 5-2 upon us.

We knew once the creative piece of the jigsaw came, we would be much much better.
And so Eriksen proved against Norwich.
Once Lamela gets up to speed, Holtby picks up again, we'll be more than ok.

Additionally so when the full complement of flank players return from injury.
 
Beat Hull 2-0, lucky over Villa, crap draw with utd,lost to Everton and lacked ideas, more possession against Basel but lost and had their defence carved open by second bottom Fulham. Often Chelsea have started with five and six goal thrashings but not this time. I'm watching them because there are cracks.
 
The Mighty Thor said:
Lawro says we are not yet the finished article but soon will be. I hope we don't trip up on the way because I agree with him. Losing to Arsenal made me hesitate a little. We should have scored more against Norwich and I'm hoping we can put things totally right today although it won't be easy.
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I wouldn't use a term like "finished article" but I agree with the sentiment. We were looking all set for the season coming into August and just needing a final player or two but then the Bale saga kicked up a notch and we were left needing to get in several new players to help us compensate. After these changes you'd expect there to be inconsistency from us but you'd also expect us to improve as the season goes on as our new players settle and our squad depth comes into play whilst some other sides around us don't have such quality in depth. The play might not be there yet but if we can keep picking up these points in the early stages and keep ourselves competing for the places we want to be at the end of the season. Without trying to make excuses for us early on I think we shouldn't be surprised if we hit some inconsistency early on, particularly in our attacking performances.
 
This summer has probably been the largest wholesale change of personnel since 2008.
And we know how the following season started out.

For 2013, it looks like quite a full fixture burst (more so if still in the League Cup) in between
each bout of internationals.
 
littleDinosaurLuke said:
Utterly unbelievable with Mata. Why is he being left out? How would anyone think that their team would be better by leaving out their far and away best player? It's the equivalent of Utd leaving RvP out.
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No its not, its like leaving Kagawa out, so perhaps you are best placed to join this debate! :) and you can explain how your team is better with him left out. :)
 
Stoke are doing ok, if the goons can beat them without Walcott then they're doing well. Ramsey's on fire at the moment. I've known Stoke battle Arsenal before and this time will do the same again, I'm going for a very close score but I don't know what.
 
"Also, no Walcott for the goons, so Gnabri comes in. Shows their lack of squad depth."

Their on paper injury list has quite a few key players.
But I discount this purely because tis the Goons with their herd delusion that all
their players are (world) class.
 
The Mighty Thor said:
Stoke are doing ok, if the goons can beat them without Walcott then they're doing well. Ramsey's on fire at the moment. I've known Stoke battle Arsenal before and this time will do the same again, I'm going for a very close score but I don't know what.
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Unfortunately I think this Stoke team has a much worse chance than a Pulis Stoke team, as they might actually try to play football instead of rugby.
 
WY, I don't suppose the two can be connected but I've long posted on here that Hughes would be better at Aston Villa or a midlands team as I've never seen him as a London manager and now Stoke are doing not bad. Yes you are right about them playing football instead of rugby or hopscotch on opponents' feet but I think they might stand a chance of a point today.
 
Hughes is the most useless manager out there, worse than Roy Keane, Mick McCarthy and Ramos put together.

The only hope that Stoke have today is the fact that Arsenal don't look to have the strongest of defences in the league, and they are always prone to leaking a goal or two, especially from set pieces, at which Stoke have always excelled.
 
I had to put Ramsey in my fantasy team, just to ease the blow of his ridiculously good form. where has it come from?! City'll be after him soon...
 
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