Chippy

We obviously do Val and it can go round and round, Mourinho has always messed with players in positions a lot of people would say were not right for them and he usually gets a lot out of them in those positions...for instance Brana at RB, people can argue it but he was great last season, Dave at LB, same last season and this, and this season Branas form has been shaky but so has the midfield cover. As I alluded to earlier, I'd bet he is getting what he wants from the players in training and that's part of the reason we keep getting similar (not the same game in game out like is written over and over) players in similar positions. We've played RB in RB position, we've played LB as a LB and Jose has watched those games closer than any of us, he knows he can get better from the players as he sets them up and so far it isn't showing, does anyone really think he hasn't weighed up every option we have? I'd also say that although we have problems defensively we are looking more solid even though the pivot pairing are struggling, a miracle in itself, it's goals that are our biggest problem and the need for real quality competition for Costa. Jose can play too defensive and can go out to play counter attack against teams we should be bulldozing on paper but the old cliche of "the game isn't played on paper" stands true, he knows the lads are not in bulldozing form at present so plays as safe as he does to try to get a result, it's obviously not always working and not many on the forum see any improvement but if there was a quick fix like people spout on here, I'd guess Mourinho would spot it before all the sofa managers in the world.

It is hard to understand but the main thing for me is if you ignore the rubbish about the whole team looking clueless etc and focus on the main reason we are not scoring you have to look firstly at the main striker...Costa has been a shadow of the player we thought we had, Jose has to have seen him do exactly what he asks of him in training or he would have given up on him by now even though he doesn't rate Remy as a loan striker. Costa must have a mental block that takes him over once the game is competitive and he either gos too wide or stands static as if he would be amazed if the ball went into a dangerous area where he should be attacking it. I don't blame one player as the attacking mids altough are playing alright really need to be chipping in more goals but again, with an out of form main striker it is so much easier for the opposition defenders to concentrate on the Hazards etc. Fabregas is also an obvious problem in attack and defence and even I really am stumped as to why he gets in the team, I would rather have Mikel next to Matic as I don't really believe we'd lose a lot going forwards...a sideways pass for me is better than one to the other team, Cesc must be another who excels in training. I'm still clinging to a huge loss of confidence in those two players and being the two of them had arguably the biggest influence on our title win last season they are getting a bit of slack as they really are two of our most important players. Either they will improve or Jose must drop them both for me but again if you put yourself in his position and imagine they look like last seasons players in training, you can imagine his frustration and why he is still trying to get them back on it.

I wouldn't imagine you'd get to be the best or one of the best at anything if you didn't learn from your mistakes.

See for me Val, our tactics aren't the problem. Have you seen Jose screaming at the players to move? I bet they train like champions and he has the little tiki taki close frustrating passing that we have now but when they let go of the ball there is a runner, I would imagine when Willian puts in a low hard cross there are runners. He's pulling his hair out when those players are not getting to that six yard box when the ball does and he's telling them in training where to run, when to run and whi those runners should be. People love to dig others out when they're down it seems even their own and that's what Mourinho is, one of our own. He's more frustrated than all of us but he believes in himself and the style he sees the boys play, when they get it right, we'll reap the benefits, he isn't clueless scratching his head like mugs with no idea of what it takes to be a manger will have you believe, he's a top manager with some out of form players, a manager who has seen more of all the players in the squad that people will say he should play instead of those players and one that knows what he's doing.

I'm not one for buying into the theory Jose can't be a long term manager, I think he is the best and if he makes a few mistakes and has to adapt to become a better long term manager then I think he will do it and I think it will be worth the wait. I agree on the face of it we have let some good players go but that really is on the face of it, we don't know what is said and done in training and I'll admit to KDB being the player that I got most excited about when he arrived...I was gutted when he went but with the profit made and his obvious tendency to feel he should have been a nailed on starter I can see why he was let go, Jose has said it was more a KDB decision and he wouldn't wait and force his way in. Lukaku I'd have sold before he went to be honest and he's surprising me now, I still don't think he's what we need but then when I look at this seasons Costa, I think again. I did watch City the other day and KDB looked abysmal, he wouldn't start the next game if I was the City manager and if he doesn't I wonder how he'll react? Even in the Mata saga I could see Jose's point, Mata is a gifted player but when he had the extra workload Jose put on him it was too much for him, I love Oscar and thought he'd be a star here but maybe that workload has now caught up with him as well. After all said and done you know I'm going to defend Jose's decisions if I can, not blindly, not with any bias just because I have huge faith in him and want him to be the Chelsea manager for as long as we can keep him, I'd give him a dodgy season, I'd let him make a few mistakes with players he lets go or can't get on with because I believe he is the best and that's what I want for this club.

Just quoting myself instead of making a new post as when Zola started this thread these were my feelings, not much changed since then, still playing slightly better football, still one or two players woefully out of form, still not getting a lot of luck with decisions, still looking the better team more often than not but losing out to a lucky goal where one mistake costs us. Hardly anything since my original post has surprised me or gone different to I expected, baby steps...the defenders have improved, some of our link up play has been better, we now are suffering much more from lack of end product than problems throughout the team, bar Fabregas and Costa most of the players are playing OK. It's slow but it's coming.

That's exactly how I feel about the manager, players lose form and people remember how good they can be and give them time, a manager has a hard time when a bunch of his players lose form and his far longer period of top top quality is soon forgotten and he is judged to have lost it. Players lose form through confidence, Fitness and mindset but managers can put on a few pounds, they can lose confidence in their squad but (and especially in Jose's case) not likely in themselves, my money is on Jose to be part of the solution, not the problem.

If Hazard is a player Jose feels he can't get more out of, I'd choose the manager...If Jose needs more athletic players with a bit less flair and has a warchest from the sales of players he doesn't feel he wants, I'd trust him to find them and get them playing more like the early Jose teams. That said I see no reason to think that would be in Jose's plans and expect Hazard to be a big part of our revival when the real weak links in the team can be replaced.

A nice run out for a couple of the youngsters or a chance for our ever present favourites to get some confidence, another trophy almost in the bag.

I not only think Mourinho is the stand out best manager in football but I think change for changes sake is getting us nowhere, we might have a good trophy haul but that hasn't seen us really reach the heights we as a club and Roman as the owner aspires to. I loved Carlo when he was here, I think he's a great manager but is he better than Jose? is he as good? and why make the change if answering either of those questions makes you have to stop and think...a change for changes sake being the only reason to go back to another good manager that got sacked too early when things went a bit pair shaped. Every manager should be given some time but Jose has proved with what he's done here and everywhere that he has what it takes, three months isn't enough measured against his career to imagine anything has changed in his locker, he's still got what it takes even if he has made a few mistakes, I think Roman knows that and will see this through.

The Premierships longest serving and best ever manager talks sense...funny that

I don't think it will, we have a great record of achieving decent runs in europe, we have an owner who takes interest in the games and isn't shy of spending money to keep us where we usually are, we have one of the best managers in the world, our club is based in the most affluent area of the capital and everyone looks better in blue. If we don't make top four we'll likely be in a much improved position and most players will expect us to be back to normality next season. I'm not saying we'll prize players away from or win a bidding war with the Barcas or Madrids but we'll still be a club most players would like to play for.

Yeah easy choice with the 53/86 but must admit to liking the 05 onwards one better than the 80's 90's one

I'd say he will be proven right more than look an idiot...he has stated that Wenger is in a position where they can win F all for ten years and he's still backed, no pressure for a club with their aspirations, we go three months playing poorly and this is what he gets, I make him spot on. Mourinho will be winning things long after Wenger has retired and he'll win more between now and then regardless what club is paying his wages.

That was before they had such a wonderful manager themselves

It was beautiful to watch, never enjoyed a Liverpool game more without Chelsea being involved

People saying we missed out on Klopp, he certainly made Newcastle look good today.

Nice to see you posting when some wise heads are needed Dorset but I find myself unable to fully agree with the main of your view. I'll explain where I'm coming from, as you have said and rightfully so, Jose has said if the top four is out of the question he'll play the youth and that's fine but where I disagree is with the idea that by what he said, he would be thinking about playing mainly the youth...I doubt you're really thinking he should upset the whole team and make wholesale changes but with the players you mention (undoubtably some good prospects that could do a job) it will look to a lot of people that even you are thinking we should stick seven or eight kids into the first team, I think if we did that I myself would be doubting the manager. I can see a huge case for RLC, Fabregas is a massive weak link and I think Ruben would sure it up enough to see Matic recapture a bit of form, my main grief with Jose is Fabregas getting an easy ride. I can see a case for Traore as Costa looks unfit and uninterested, Jose doesn't seem to fancy Remy in this system and Falcao (although I'll admit to liking his movement) just hasn't done anything when given a chance. Defensively we have had a lot of chopping and changing already andfor me it's more the cover in front of the back four that's the problem, Baba is getting games, Azpi is always reliable and Ivan is getting a bit of form back, Cahill Zouma and JT is still a decent three to have fighting for the other two spots. I'd like to see some cameo's by some of the boys you mention and a good look at Kenedy starting maybe ahead of Pedro to see what he can bring but a massive influx of the youth in one go is not for me. We are close to being able to climb the table a bit and two players are not contributing, If Costa and Fabregas could be replaced and the replacements done a reasonable job, we'd be far better off. So for me it would be RLC, Kenedy and Traore given some starts and a couple of the others on the bench getting minutes when we can afford it. We started going forward a few games back and that didn't end with an unlucky loss yesterday, Jose has work to do and he's shown Costa already he can be ruthless, I just hope he can treat Cesc the same way. I do think Fabregas should start in the CL as his game seems more suited to it but I'd play Remy or Traore up front. Whatever Jose decides though, I'll back him.

Well f**k my proverbial old boots...this is what it's come to in here, a Chelsea fan feeling the need to apologise for being optimistic... There's people on here predicting 4-0 losses and someone predicting a win is apologising...give me strength.

Thats a strange argument, it was handball, it should have been given because of the position of the players arm, falling down usually means you protect yourself from the fall rather than put your arm in a keepers dive position and the off side not being clear enough to you doesn't mean it wasn't off side...it was. We were umlucky but yes it would have been nice if we didn't need luck to win the game, the thing is trying to get the team out of this run of form (as we gradually have been doing) isn't easy and will be the odd step back before we take another step forwards. A few games without defeat and the Mourinho out brigade had quietened down a bit, we can't win every game like we've clicked back into the best team in the country, it takes time and will take changes with the way some of our most important players have lost form. I for one hope Mourinho is the man who gets the time and the money to make some changes.

So who's sticking their head in the sand...the person who has seen some improvement or the person who see's the same game in game out. Nobody said we looked great, there's a fine line between winning and losing and we have been unlucky today without playing well, a penalty we should have had and an off side goal against us while we trudged away with a woefully out of form striker, we still played the better football on the day.

I don't know what you're on about but Willian played well enough to have had a couple of assists, the main people at fault for the goal was the keeper, fresh back from injury and the Referee.

So you think we've played the last few games as badly as the earlier games and you think Bournemouth were the better team today? not much more to say then, I'll carry supporting the club with the conviction in my mind we're improving, you carry on happily predicting our demise...we'll both enjoy the season in our different ways.

I'm not hanging my hat I'm supporting the boys as they try to get out of this admittedly tough time, great win against Arsenal regardless of how many players ended on the field and a superb draw away at an in form Spurs, an unlucky loss against Bournemouth has set back our points tally but I doubt it will stop the steady improvement. Luckily our owner isn't so knee jerk anymore and I'll be watching with interest as Jose carries on getting improvement out of the squad. A few games ago it was hard to pick out a decent performer, the last few games its been more like two or three not playing well enough, if you don't see the improvement that's down to you.

Good post SP, it glosses over the poor form of players like Fabregas and Matic but I think with a top striker in form we would still be winning more games and putting the other teams under enough pressure to make it hard for them to exploit our weaknesses in the defensive midfield. I honestly think the rest of the players that get in the team are playing reasonably well but having a blunt front man makes it easier to defend against the likes of Hazard, Pedro etc as they can pay less attention to the player who should be our main scorer.