Ernie_blue

So Hiddink has won 1 in 7 at home. That means I will give him 3 wins out of 19. That's a fact ;). That's top 4 form over a season.

And what is the point in stating the league table half way through a season plastic KonaKai Blue who started supporting Chelsea when Mourinho was manager and all the trophies was won. KonaKai Blue must of been gutted when Chelsea won the league under Mourinho. Again your point is invalid because Arsenals form has tailed off, maybe because they was in the title hunt and bottled it but at the beginning of the season the pressure was off so there form was better. Season don't start in December, different part of the season, different pressure etc.

So you know what the scores would be in every single game from the start of the season till Mourinho got sacked. You know who would or not of got sent off? You know about the injuries? You know the team selections? How the hell is it fact. Can you give me your selections for the horse racing at the weekend? Fact is Chelsea lost to PSG at home. If I was manager of Chelsea this season and we would of won the league isn't a fact.

If you truly believe that then it shows you do talk rubbish

Ok I will give you abit more credit, 2004? Haha

If Real Madrid want Hazard he won't be there next season. Same with Costa and Madrid.

As much as KonaKai hates Mourinho he probably only started supporting Chelsea since 2005 haha

Yep fully agree

What the hell are you going on about? I am really confused. Chelsea had loads of leaders the last 10 years and have won loads of trophies, it's pretty simple. Leaders come in different forms. What's all this rubbish about on the pitch or the bench. Leaders in a squad have a bigger influence than just match days.. I use Arsenal as an example as they have had lots of talented players the last 10 years but have lacked leaders which is backed up with the lack of titles.

I'm not talking about this season, you was questioning the importance of leaders and voices. If you can't see the importance of having leaders at a club then just look at Chelsea the last 10 years and compare it to Arsenal. All I ever hear is Arsenal lack leaders and they do. They have done since Viera, Henry, Keown etc all left. A leader gets Conquelin and tells him to be careful in the 2nd half against Spurs. But leaders don't always have to be a voice, they earn respect of fellow pros for what they have done in the game. Look at Scholes, legend of the game but not a Terry like. Leaders are players around the dressing room/ training ground every day. They don't always have to play. Like bringing Drogba back last year. He was probably more important off the pitch than on it.

It's not just about a voice, it's about experience, performing in the big games and having respect of the new and young players joining the club.

Of course there part of the game but they can decide a season. Chelsea's injury crises was awful that year, the formation and tactics did change for a ageing owners mate who has to play. That's the bigger picture of the season than just seeing the signings and thinking Utd beat Chelsea.

Exactly, it's not about the end result. City board showed ambition, they went out and paid the money which was required to get the players they wanted to improve the squad. Liverpool did the same really, it doesn't matter that Benteke hasn't scored many. There forward line is Sturridge, Benteke, Origi, Ings, Firminio. It's weird people blame Mourinho fully but the board was ok. Then blame the City board but not there manager.

Right here we go, you obviously don't remember that season well and are just looking at money spent and the end results. Cech at his peak was out for 3 months Terry and Carvalho was out a lot. Against Liverpool we had Ferreari and Essien at CB. Other injuries like Robben. Buying Romans best mate was the worst thing Chelsea could do. They had walked 2 premier league titles playing 433 and breaking records and signing Sheva changed the formation and position of players like Lampard. Playing 2 up front made Chelsea a worst team. Was that the season Mourinho asked for a CB in Janaury because of the injury crises but got nothing from the board. That's looking at the bigger picture than going Chelsea signed Sheva and lost the league.

You talking about the 2006/07 season? That's a very poor example without looking at the season as a whole.

The difference I am trying to say is regarding Chelsea's position before Jose left I blame the board, players and manager and not just the manager like some people on this forum have. Players performance hasn't really picked up since Jose left apart from a couple of players. The board never improved the squad. And Jose lost the dressing room and kept playing the same players. With City I would actually blame the manager more. The board did back the squad/manager with signings. They spent the extra money for the players they wanted. If pep was manager of city this year I would see the premier league already over. I look at Chelsea's squad and whoever is manager I can't see that squad alone having a chance of winning the league next year. Where as with City Pep will get them in the hunt without signings.

But City didn't know how those signings would work out. The board went out to improve the squad. The better way to look at it is who has played well for City this season. Only KDB, Aguero in bits and pieces but in the league City have been awful. With City I don't actually rate the manager that highly. The difference is City went that extra bit to improve the squad. They paid the extra money for Sterling which Chelsea wasn't prepared to pay. They went out and payed the big bucks for KDB because they wanted him. Chelsea wanted Stones but wouldn't pay the money but English players are always inflated in price. Looking at Stones now he don't know get in the Everton team but it's all about ifs and buts. Stones might of been the making of him at Chelsea. I'm just saying City went out and improved the squad, Chelsea didn't. Looking at how City's signings have worked out is not the point because nearly every City player has been awful.

Like they said on MOTD I wounder if Pep has a clause in his contract lol. West Ham are in some good form and Utd could pick up. If I was City I would be worried specially still with Europe as a distraction.

Fully agree with all this. One of Mourinhos downfalls was not giving some players a chance. We had perfectly good LBs at the club in Bertand and Luiz, even Ake but none was given a good chance. Tbh Baba has never been given a good chance but he should be given 8 games to prove himself. Chelsea are really better off doing that than playing Iva every game. It's also a chance for Matic to try and get some form back, he was excellent last season and with the pressure off this could be a good opportunity to get his confidence back. Like you say I think it's a perfect time to play some youngsters, will Grandad do it, I doubt it he has his draw record to protect. Your right about Mikel, I don't think he has a go fast. He just seems to jog round the pitch never near the ball. For a DM he doesn't exactly give much protection.

So you think Chelsea improved there squad in the summer?

Could be, if City don't get champions league football next year which could happen I would say there performance in the league is nearly as bad as Chelsea. I still think buying Sterling, KDB, Delph, Sagna, Otamendi is improving a already good squad. City have had loads of injuries this year. Has Nasri kicked a football this year, then injuries to Silva, Aguero, Kompany, Delph, KDB and now Hart and Sterling.

That's the point, you call city signings average where I wouldn't call them all average. I actually think they improved there squad but have massively underachieved.

So what happens if Pep gets the best out of Navas, Sterling, Bony, Delph who's been injured a lot, same with KDB. Makes them like Barcelona where poor CBs don't matter. Have the board made poor signings then?

Sums it up pretty well. Problem with Mikel is he offers nothing going forward which is fine if your playing as a defensive midfielder. But Mikel doesn't even offer protection to the defence, always seems to be behind where the action is chasing the ball around. RLC offered more than Oscar but we know who will start the next game.

Baba should be playing, consistent 8 games to find his form and prove himself, what we going to learn from Iva oh yeah his s*** again.