Chippy

Even joked about this makes depressing reading, not far off with the prediction of events if it did happen either. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/what-brendan-rodgers-becomes-chelsea-6805274

Every day I read this thread and every day I think I must be watching a different team to most on here, I don't see a team that isn't behind the manager and I don't see a lack of commitment on the whole. I do sometimes see some players looking defeated as soon as there is a set back, I see some players in poor form, although this seems to be showing signs of improvement, the strange and hardest to cope with thing is it has really been three or four of our best and most important players from last season that are the main culprits and the lack of form for them (bar Hazard) isn't seeming to improve. I think Eden has gone through his dip and is on the up but I can't say that about Costa, Fabregas or Matic...three of our biggest performers after Eden last season, when you think about that, it's a wonder we have any points at all. We know our other players, we know they are not always going to be at the top top level but in a team when the aforementioned are on it, they are still worthy champions. This season Azpilicueta has sustained his form and Willian has upped his, other than those two we have a squad who are at best about on par with last season, (Cahill, Mikel, Ramires,Oscar, Zouma) others who have struggled to be up to last seasons standard (John Terry, Ivanovic, and although harsh on the chances he's had I'd bundle Remy in with these). None of them look not to be trying but once the heads drop there is a noticable lack of urgency about their play, losing the ball and coasting being one of the most noticeable and annoying things. Looking at the squad we can be pleased with the small input Kenady, RLC and Baba to an extent have had although we saw yesterday that the young RB has a bit to learn at this level. I can't bash Jose for sticking with some of these players and especially being as four of the best players from last season have up to now been four of the worst five form wise, it's hard to give up on last seasons champion formula when the very players that upped the level from the season before are the ones needing replacing. I don't know if Costa has anything on his mind other than arguing but his runs are late, wrong and slow, I thought he was great last season and still hope he'll get some form back but he needs competition, serious competition for the place (imo) if he is to regain his previous form. Fabregas for me needs resting until we get some points and clean sheets on the table, I don't want to scapegoat but for me he is invisible defensively and what he gives us further forward with his vision (when in this form) is less than Oscar gives us when you take into account his pressing and not being brushed off the ball so easily...I'd go so far as to say Pedro is vying for one of those positions that has to go to Hazard, Willian Oscar or Fabregas and on yesterdays performance he would be in with the first two for me. I'm sure Jose will sort this and I think this time Roman can see the squad isn't as good as last season made it look so hopefully he'll back him in January with a player or two that can help us regain some pride until the summer and then have a good talk to the manager about the players he wants in and out. I know plenty of people will feel we are in trouble and something needs to happen now but for me, a new manager would have the same problems and need the same backing from the owner only to be a step back from the manager we already have.

I thought Pedro, Hazard and Willian played well, strange with the three of them looking ok we couldn't score, I think if Costa could have got his act together we'd be winning games like that, Stoke didn't have much ambition and we usually struggle to break down teams like that. I'll give my vote to Pedro as he just came back from injury and looked up for it.

They're on about Jose being in contact via equipment they saw on the bench as well, they really won't give up for a minute. What with Costa's "assault" and Jose's illegal actions maybe they'll try and get some points off us next just so they can print that we're in the relegation spots.

I think the midwife took care of that mate.

Costa is a shadow of his in form self but had Butland not got his trailing leg to his shot today he might have started to get some belief back, we need some proper competition for his position as it really is hard to picture Remy or Falcao leading the line for more than an odd game here and there. Surely he can't have lost it over the close seaon and definately the form of Fabregas early last year flattered him but competition for his place is the only way we'll find out for sure.

That photo of Mourinho in your avatar was straight faced when you first put it on...look at it now it's started reading your posts.

Looking at the chances created argument I'd say we did have a few and wouldn't count Pedro's as a pot shot...I thought it was in as soon as he hit it whereas the pot shots like Matic etc were always looking like hitting a defender in the over crowded Stoke penalty box. Lets even it up and look at Stokes chances and see if we think they deserved the win? No I'd say if you took that passage of play where they scored out of the game and played it to a hundred people 90% if guessing the outcome would have it as a Chelsea win. Can't be happy but over the top bashing of the manager and players is pointless and there are positives to be found even if they are the board recognising we need a couple of signings.

The side of the coin I'm looking at is purely because of the sackings he's made before and the way he ended up getting Mourinho back, I think he knows who he wants here, plus watching todays game wouldn't make most chairman/owners want to sack the man in charge...more likely to see that the team isn't playing badly but still has some players out of form and could do with a couple of players that it needed pre season.

That's deep...I know in fifteen years or so here he's likely to have learned a bit about the game, That should be enough to keep his finger off the trigger.

More whinging...they didn't play badly and had Stoke not have nicked the goal due to us playing an inexperience LB that everyone has slagged the manager for not playing then 0-0 would have still flattered Stoke. No way will this result make any difference to Romans thinking other than maybe to get hi to look in his petty cash tin and see if he can be bothered to count it up and get us some competition for the strikers role in January.

a bit harsh...a word in his ear might be enough

Don't really understand critisism for the performance so far, we're trying to get some form going and I think we've pretty lively so far. We're not going to start ripping it up overnight, it's going to be a gradual recovery and there's signs of it out there.

07 Nov 2015 - Stoke v Chelsea - First Goal Scorecast Pedro / Chelsea 2-0 @ 40/1 Stake : £2.00 Estimated Returns : £82.00 07 Nov 2015 - Stoke v Chelsea - Last Goal Scorecast Eden Hazard / Chelsea 2-0 @ 40/1 Stake : £2.00 Estimated Returns : £82.00 07 Nov 2015 - Stoke v Chelsea - Correct Score Chelsea 2-0 @ 8/1 Stake : £2.00 Estimated Returns : £18.00 Wasn't going to bother today as results have been all over the place but you tempted me Any returns, half to the site as usual.

I'm happy with that, Jose is doing what most wanted and using the squad, no way would I be giving up on Pedro because of a couple of performances not up to the level of his debut...he's only been here five minutes. No place for Ivan although I read he was fit for this, I expected him to start...bloody Jose and his favourites eh?

I think I wasted half a day posting exactly that the day Levene tweeted his little made up bombshell.

Baby steps...Just bumping Zola's superb and optimistic thread hoping it keeps us going in the right direction.

Maybe Dan saying Jose is climbing down on his expectations is masking the fact that he's climbing down on his Tweets, get your excuses in early I say.

Always has to be one troublemaker

Mr no end product for me but a mention for Baba who didn't have a smuch to do defensively as expected but didn't put my heart in my mouth either

The main difference between a nervy two one and a respectable win was a bang out of form main striker, a Drogba, A Costa of last season, sh*t even a Demba Ba and we'd have had a rout.

We won tonight, a lifeline for the best manager in the world to stay at the team we support...massive victory and Porto certainly wouldn't have over run us tonight.

Over the decent performance against West Ham, Villa and Stoke...haven't you been watching?

I don't know what people expect but for me that was another slight improvement in what for the boys and Jose had become the most important game of the season, we had patches of good play and Costa obviously still out of sorts made the scorline flatter Kiev. Well pleased with Baba being as he had a handful against him on their right, Hazard looked up for it when he came on and Willian gets better and better. I thought Begovic should have done better for their goal but he was alert and done well otherwise. The fans at the game should make some of the people doubting our manager feel ashamed, the boys are playing for him alright. Not at our best but a game where the nerves must have been really on edge we showed signs we will come out the other side of this.

I would but not because anyone needs replacing, more to keep him involved and give him another chance of getting some confidence back, I think he might come on and score late on. Costa really needs to make better runs and looks unfit still, I'm enjoying the way we're chasing the ball when not in possession, the lads are playing for the manager alright.