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Xabi Alonso - New Chelsea Manager

Going to get far worse before it gets better at this rate.

The club need to mirror summer’s transfer window into every one moving forward if we truly want to rid this rotten, defeatist culture at the football club since Clearlake took over.
 
WhiteWall said:
Then, when interviewed, saying "It's the least important competition for us", whilst being obvious isn't the brightest move. Firstly you played your strongest 11. Secondly, if it was so unimportant how do you account for not even putting Estevao on the pitch. And thirdly expect comparisons with Mourinho who said, after winning it, that the League Cup is massively important as its the first trophy you can win and winning it gives confidence and unity to the team. This from a serial winner.
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I didn't like his dismissive nature of the competition. Every competition we compete in, I want to win it.

I'm glad you referenced Mourinho, because he was big on the idea that winning the League Cup in 2005 galvanized us for further success after that.
 
Scott Harris said:



Playing down the competition is loser behaviour. There should never be a "least important competition"
He's talking complete sh*t. I hate this mentality!
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That League priority went really well against Spurs didn't it?!

Liverpool played 5 kids, he used all first team squad. Who cared more about this competition?

Deflecting. Really not appricating his attitude.

Remember match day one. Had his own banner, "not too Xabi". Little bit too early that one any lads?
 
Early days, but not a lot to write home about yet. 10 competitive games in, 5 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw. Of the wins, while entertaining, only two really stand out.

We need to see more. There are few signs of progress, debatable in game decisions and questionable squad use.

You never know what Chelsea will turn up. Too often it’s the version that flatters to deceive. Perhaps this really just is a mid table group of players.
 
His comment may be very slightly excusable if we were playing in Europe and looking good.

It's 1 of 3 though, and one we have very little chance of even getting a sniff of, which brings it down to 2. So he is weighing up between the League Cup and the FA Cup 👀 It's just a very poor excuse for losing. We should be going all out for any cup on the table without Europe.

If only he had the same hunger for trying to win Trophies as Maresca did!
 
bluedave said:
I think English is not your first language and maybe bland was a bad word choice. Bland is equivalent to boring (see Marescaball), Chelsea have been anything other than boring so far.
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I have never said boring but it is bland. I can use the word plain/neutral/generic not sure they are any better.

Because how do I describe Alonso ball so far? Nothing,maybe long ball.
 
I think bland is the right word to use, as a synonym for one-dimensional or limited in variety.

I said it in either the Hull or Arsenal matchthread, I was more concerned about our attack than our defence. The two attacking strategies are 1) long-ball to Rogers/Pedro and 2) Cut-back from wide player on the overlap. Sure that's an improvement on Maresca's single attacking strategy, but it's dire.

The only variation we've seen is when Palmer has been on song and has played in his teammates through the centre. The team needs Estevao to come in.
 
Ok now that the 'least important' competition is out of the way, then no excuse to not win the premier league! Fail that then off you go.
 
The more the season goes the more this season really does feel like it's a transitional season that's just going to be filled with ups and downs. I don't think he's still overly sure what our best team, formation or even style of play is yet. Most of us begged for him to come here so I think we've just gotta give him the time and resources to do what he wants, as long as that means getting Fofana and Gusto out of the door as soon as possible I'll stay on board.
 
The new manager bounce that we had has definitely worn off. It’s become abit hard work to watch Chelsea games. Everything is a struggle and it’s down to Alonso to get the team working
 
JM7 said:
Frustrating night because we matched Liverpool. Difference was that they could bring on their big guns for the penalties. We had to use Barco, Emengha and Fofana. Says it all.
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*Matched Liverpool's B team while playing our best available one.

This match should have been over way before the penalties if Alonso had any clue of what he is doing. Not yet in the "Alonso out" brigade, but I feel I will soon reach that point.

His comments on the League Cup not being important truly are embarrassing. Also the ones about Estevao apparently not being ready for the intensity of such matches. Pathetic. Let me remind you that this was a Liverpool team consisting of Tsimikas, Nyoni, Koumas, McConnell, Ngumoha and that sicknote Joe Gomez who barely gets in the matchday squad and has only played four full 90 minute matches since Klopp left in 2024.

If he were to play, Estevao would have been on the right facing the side of Tsimikas and Ngumoha, plus Nyoni who was the central midfielder on that side helping Tsimikas at times. Do you want to tell me Estevao is not ready to play against these players yet? Sorry but I am not buying all that BS.

I had high hopes, but at the moment Alonso looks as clueless as Rosenior looked in his short time here.
 
I hate how I know this team now. When they got it back to 1-1, there was no tension in the game anymore for me. You just know with 100% certainty we will not win the game, we just dont have the mentality to win. How much of this is on Alonso I'm not sure, too many of our players are just not good enough. Mentally, technically and physically. Alonso will have to take the blame for hounding Estevao out of the club though, how our wunderkinds Estevao and Quenda doesn't get on the pitch in a game like this is piss poor management at best. Henderson as our furthest forward player through much of the game is just not it. Despite all of that, we can't restart now. Not again. We have to hope he can get it right and for the love of god - just make it easier for yourself and integrate Estevao again
 
I mean, when you don't have the quality in the team, how much can he do. No Martinez, no Chavarria, no James, no Pedro, and we all know Gusto is trash, Fofana Isn't good enough. Those alone weaken our defence. Colwill is back after a year out through injury.

We have a 36 year old Henderson in midfield because we never upgraded in summer. No good striker and reliant on 35 year old Welbeck. We wanted experience, but the experience we got wasn't supposed to be so heavily relied upon.

I mean I've got criticisms of Alonso and our style, but we are early in the season and his hands are tied on many positions atm. He can't turn water into wine. No manager is doing that much better with this team. Even Conte would struggle with this lot.
 
picking donkeys like Gusto (Zidane has already said he cant defend) and Forfana (he will play again saturday) doesnt make any sense, when we have Palestra back (played all the pre season games and looked our best defender) and Colwill, we dont need to rotate with one game a week, playing players out of position isnt needed either, being stubbon and not picking Estevao (using the excuse that hes coming back from a serious injury,BUT hes good enough to play for Brazil but not Chelsea), lets be honest Palmer and Rogers are hardly ripping up trees, i dont think Alonso's heart is in it, and if the Liverpool job had been there when he signed for us he would have gone there, i reckon WHEN we fail to beat UTD on Saturday then the crowd will be on his back, pressure will mount and people will start to question how long will he last
 
I don't want Alonso to be sacked unless things get really bad. Because the alternative is this ownership turn to another inexperienced coach, who will have done less. I have no idea who is out there these days. Most top coaches are tied up. The only other guy I can think of is Howe, but how is he much better than Alonso?
 
Looking at the team selection last night, taking into account injuries and suspensions where could he have switched it?

Have Palestra start at RB, have Josh go central with Lacroix and put Neto at LB. Removing Fofana & Gusto from the lineup seems the most logical move.

That would also allow Stevie to start. Everyone’s a winner.

The only ‘weak’ point we’d have then is ST, Welbeck is no more than an impact sub at this stage of his life and we hopefully never have to see Emegha again. Maybe push Rogers up top and give Quenda another shot at the wing with less pressure?
 
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