Looking at the season so far and the critisisms aime at the new man in charge I thought I would put together my thoughts on why I feel we should have a bit more faith.

Scolari came with instructions from Roman that involved a more attractive style and few were too upset that he was the man we ended up with.

Obviously we all had our favourites and a big case could have been made for Lippy, Mancini, Capello, Rijkaard, Hughes and others,

we don't know if any were concidered nor if they would have been any better than Scolari but at the time of his appointment even those of us with our own favourites were not too unhappy with a proven World Cup winner coming in.

He brings in Deco and we have Boswinga to add to the mix.

maybe a higher authority has told Phil he has to let players go before he can get any in so in his short time looking at the players he decides..

out go Sheva, Pizzarro, and SWP most agree with these players going and with the promise of Robinho and Phil and most of us on here feel the team could be set for the season.

We also lose Makalele (no matter how well Mikel is playing this is a huge loss)

Robinho gets snatched away and we have nobody else waiting in the wings, dissapointment is high and most of us blame the manager for having no back up player on his list,

Phil is likely as gutted as us and was probobly given assurances that he would get his man, he didn't but he got on with the Job in hand as the season got underway.

Essiens injury puts him out for most of the season and that is another huge loss.

Chelsea started well and Deco looked a class act, the media raved about Scolari and Deco and we all thought it was going to be easy..

this form carried on and seeing the fullbacks marauding forward at every opportunity was a joy to behold, Ashley Cole having his best games for Chelsea and Boswinga looking like a great signing.

Deco at times looked lazy and off the pace but Anelka had started to show some form, although slated on here and most of us wanting to see Di Santo an untried youngster being our main striker Scolari stuck with him and he is the Premierships top scorer.

Malouda and Kalou have been very frustrating and we start to see why Robinho was in Scolari's plans, we look like we are missing the two things he has in abundance..Pace and the ability to take players on and beat them,

We all see him doing it for fun in a poor Man City team and we all wish the Arabs had have waited another few days before investing in the Citeh.

with Drogba injured and mentally unpredictable we rely on Anelkas goals and to be fair he has not let us down,

Lampard has also been reliable as have all the defenders although injuries have forced us to make so many changes in this department mistakes have innevitably crept in.

Mikel has started the season very well and has very rarely let us down, his temperement is much better and he is looking like a class act, still not as reliable as Makalele but he has come on in bounds under Scolari.

The biggest dissapointment comes as we struggle to break teams down at home, the unbeten record go's to a lucky deflected Liverpool goal and we start to wobble, we lose to another main opponent when Arsenal stun us at the Bridge and the doubters are out.

We fail to break down a resoloute Burnley team in the CC and again lose on Penalties.

We play a few games where we dont actually make chances and this is a big worry, the Roma game, the Everton game we seemed to create very little,

the main critisism is he has no plan B, we look to the bench when we are struggling and we all think we know what he should do,

some say bring on the youngsters some say play Drogba and Anelka together and most of us have opinions that we think would do the trick,

I think an Essien, SWP a Robben or a Robinho would make the Bench one that could seriously change a game but I hae no faith that one containing Sinclair, DiSanto, Miniero, Ferriera and Belletti can and I think here is where the problem lies.

We have at least started to create chances again even though we are not taking them and this gives me a bit of hope.

I'm as usual trying to be positive but do believe he's having a hard time with whats available.

obviously over simplified but mitigating circumstances nonetheless.

As usual, Chippy, I find myself in total agreement. That is all well said.

When you are in the death of a valley, it is hard to see beyond the obstacles around you, and it feels like you are never going to get out. If we could, we would remember some excellent football being played 2 months ago, and 5-0 scorelines. With time, I have confidence we will be back in the thick of the race with good form.

A good analysis of the season so far. The bench probably being the critical part ...we have a good squad of players but it is unbalanced. The lack of decent wide players is costing us dearly. Before we Robben/Duff with Joe as a good backup, now we have a less consistant Joe with Malouda/kalou as backup says it all really.

the main critisism is he has no plan B,

I've yet to see what his Plan A is

I've yet to see what his Plan A is

I'm not sure but it's struggled us through to the KO stages of the CL and kept us challenging in the League so whatever his plan A is I hope when he has the players available to get a decent plan B together he remembers it.

Kieth seriously mate did you just not read the mitigating circumstances post or did you read it and just find it easier to dig him out than think about the possibilities of any of it being possible?

I'm not saying he's great, not saying he's not just that with the players available and the injuries I think he's doing as good as could be expected.

He's about two draws and a loss from being treated with about as much respect as Grant was on here, that wasn't fair and this isn't either.

I could understand it eighteen months down the line but six months is unreasonable to me.

Edited January 6, 200916 yr by Chippy

My only problems with him are:

1) Sticking to a formation that is going down the pan. Also sticking with players who are clearly off form (case being Deco or Ballack)

2) Dumbarse subs, for lack of a better word. I love Belletti as much as anyone on here, but is he really the man we need (especially when you take Joe Cole off...) when we're chasing another goal and Stoch or Di Santo are on the bench? He only fires in those 30-yarders once or twice a year...

3) Refusal to play Drogba and Anelka together. Why? Seriously, why the hell not? From what I've seen they compliment each other and the rest of the team brilliantly. Joe Cole in particular thrived in the one game he got playing with them in a 4-4-2.

Now I could live with '2', but the other two are really starting to get on my tits. I don't mean Ranieri-style constant tinkering, but at least show the balls to change things around when they're clearly not working. I don't want him gone (mainly because the alternative is only going to be worse), but I'm losing patience with him fast.

3) Refusal to play Drogba and Anelka together. Why? Seriously, why the hell not? From what I've seen they compliment each other and the rest of the team brilliantly. Joe Cole in particular thrived in the one game he got playing with them in a 4-4-2.

He has said(and I agree) that we need a proper leftsided(leftfooted) winger to make 4-4-2 work properly. Kalou can play on the left, but he is rightfooted and to make the 4-4-2 work we need someone who can cross the ball. Malouda is leftfooted, but he isn't really a proper winger(more like an attacking midfielder) and he's injured.

He has said(and I agree) that we need a proper leftsided(leftfooted) winger to make 4-4-2 work properly. Kalou can play on the left, but he is rightfooted and to make the 4-4-2 work we need someone who can cross the ball. Malouda is leftfooted, but he isn't really a proper winger(more like an attacking midfielder) and he's injured.

Ashley Cole on the left with Belletti at LB?

Or Cech ;)

I've yet to see what his Plan A is

I like and agree with Chippy's analysis of the way things have gone, but recent performances have made me question what the hell BFS is trying to do. Yes, there are mitigating circs, but we are playing without creativity, shape, passion or style. Average sides are making us struggle from the kick-off, and our defence is far more shaky than for several seasons. The midfield is too narrow - anyone can see that, even BFS, but he doesn't ever address the problem. Has any side ever been successful with 3 central midfielders and a holding player?

So if the way he sets the team up is wrong, then his use of the bench is worse.

And if the defence and midfield aren't functioning properly, what more can be said about our piss-poor attacking play?

You can blame injuries, suspensions and loss of form by several players (JC, Deco, Ballack, Boswinger, JT to name 5 regulars) for some of the problems we've had, but BFS is responsible for team selection, tactics, substitutions, training/ fitness work, lack of faith in the youngsters and overall loss of the hunger and belief that drove us to be successful under JM.

I like and agree with Chippy's analysis of the way things have gone, but recent performances have made me question what the hell BFS is trying to do. Yes, there are mitigating circs, but we are playing without creativity, shape, passion or style. Average sides are making us struggle from the kick-off, and our defence is far more shaky than for several seasons. The midfield is too narrow - anyone can see that, even BFS, but he doesn't ever address the problem. Has any side ever been successful with 3 central midfielders and a holding player?

So if the way he sets the team up is wrong, then his use of the bench is worse.

And if the defence and midfield aren't functioning properly, what more can be said about our piss-poor attacking play?

You can blame injuries, suspensions and loss of form by several players (JC, Deco, Ballack, Boswinger, JT to name 5 regulars) for some of the problems we've had, but BFS is responsible for team selection, tactics, substitutions, training/ fitness work, lack of faith in the youngsters and overall loss of the hunger and belief that drove us to be successful under JM.

I think you can look at it two ways, the way I have in my first post or the way you have here, both equally fair descriptions but with slightly differant tilts,

I feel the narrow midfield is what Scolari feels is our best bet with the players available and that the defensive frailties (looking at the stats our goals conceded is very good) are down to too many changes of our main CB pairing.

Team selection again is BFS responsibility but I feel again with the players available he is doing what he thinks is best for the team...and thats what a manager is suposed to do to be fair.

I dont see our attacking play as piss poor (maybe on two or three occasions) I see our finishing as piss poor.

the way you say even BFS can see that makes me feel you might have already made up your mind about him but for me it will take more than 4 losses and a few draws to want to see more upheaval at the club, I just think by the end of the season we will be nearer to knowing if he can take us forward.

A change any sooner will send us further backwards and then hlfway through next season I will be appealing for time for the new man.

Backbiter I respect your opinion as I do a lot of people on here who have largely different ones to myself and you may well be right but after reading my mitigating circumstances I feel you wrote them all off as Scolaris mistakes...am I wrong.

I think you can look at it two ways, the way I have in my first post or the way you have here, both equally fair descriptions but with slightly differant tilts,

I feel the narrow midfield is what Scolari feels is our best bet with the players available and that the defensive frailties (looking at the stats our goals conceded is very good) are down to too many changes of our main CB pairing.

Team selection again is BFS responsibility but I feel again with the players available he is doing what he thinks is best for the team...and thats what a manager is suposed to do to be fair.

I dont see our attacking play as piss poor (maybe on two or three occasions) I see our finishing as piss poor.

the way you say even BFS can see that makes me feel you might have already made up your mind about him but for me it will take more than 4 losses and a few draws to want to see more upheaval at the club, I just think by the end of the season we will be nearer to knowing if he can take us forward.

A change any sooner will send us further backwards and then hlfway through next season I will be appealing for time for the new man.

Backbiter I respect your opinion as I do a lot of people on here who have largely different ones to myself and you may well be right but after reading my mitigating circumstances I feel you wrote them all off as Scolaris mistakes...am I wrong.

BFS is just shorthand - you read too much into it.

I genuinely do not want any upheaval and think he needs plenty more time to do things his way.

I do not dispute the mitigating circs at all, but they are separate to what I see as his mistakes. Yes our defensive record has been good, even very good, but what worries me is the way we allow teams to come at us - and grab late goals - when previously we have looked impregnable. I really hope that the JT-RC partnership will put that right, but Boswinger's looked vulnerable in the last couple of months, after an excellent start. The mitigating circs for him are the lack of a proper right-sided midfielder to give him cover.

Just as JT and RC's return ought to sette things, so should DD's return to form and fitness - if he gets his head right. His last interview when he talked about his lack of appetite showed he's not mentally right - even if the alleged bust-up over his grandmother was fabricated or just exaggerated. I've just finished his autobiog and his lack of commitment to Chelsea comes across clearly. It's not that he doesn't try or doesn't want success, but for him success seems very personal, and he doesn't seem to have close mates at the club. I've not given up on him as he's still got a huge role to play for us, and there's still time for him to really get things going on the field.

Essien's return can't come soon enough, but what will BFS do with him? Make him the driving right-sided player we need (shoring up the side to allow Boswinger to continue pushing on, as the team needs him to do)? Or will he put him in the middle and further add to the clutter and lack of width? Who will make way for him anyway? Mikel? Ballack? Deco? JC? Boswinger???

As for our attacking play, yes our finishing has been poor and if we converted a higher percentage of our chances we'd be well clear at the top and we'd just have knocked Spuds out of the CC, having beaten Whinger's kids in the QF. But what's depressing is the way we fail to open up teams who pack the defence and midfield (WHU, NU, Burnley, Everton, Liverpool etc) and it's not been pretty to watch.

Oh, and BFS has done sweet FA to improve our set pieces.

I wasn't against BFS's appointment and was pleased we got him ahead of most if not all of the names linked with us. I know he needs more time before he can be judged, but he's not, up to now, done a good job of organising and selecting the players he has at his disposal.

Edited January 6, 200916 yr by Backbiter

Given what I've seen so far, if Scolari is doing all he can, then we're in real trouble.

BFS is just shorthand - you read too much into it.

It wasn't the BFS I read to much into mate, I know what that means it was the way you said "even BFS should see that" as if he would need a sign with an arrow pointing at what everone else could see.

I might have read too much into that but maybe you can see why?

basically we are in a lot of agreement really so lets have a go at Abramovich who has just come in on this as he was far more pacient when Grant was in charge(comendable though it was).

still at least were talking about something, it's been too quiet on here for my liking...

Just heard today that william hill have suspended all bets on him to be sacked/leave..

and i went in to ladbrokes today and they slashed it from 20-1 down to 4-1

gotta ask yourself why?

By the way...1st post but this board is the same format as dundee uniteds one (on which im a regular) so i look forward to some good banter here :mellow: im scottish but my old man has been a true blue for 50+ yrs, so its in my blood incase you wondered why there was some jock on here!!

Well I'm sure Star will be able to validate what you are saying as he is a bookie by trade.

Just heard today that william hill have suspended all bets on him to be sacked/leave..

and i went in to ladbrokes today and they slashed it from 20-1 down to 4-1

gotta ask yourself why?

By the way...1st post but this board is the same format as dundee uniteds one (on which im a regular) so i look forward to some good banter here :mellow: im scottish but my old man has been a true blue for 50+ yrs, so its in my blood incase you wondered why there was some jock on here!!

Welcome mate,

I saw that about the Bookies and Rumours Abramovich had got the hump again...I think its media crap but if it's not we are gonna be a proper Joke.

Who do you think he's got lined up? can't see it myself

Welcome mate,

I saw that about the Bookies and Rumours Abramovich had got the hump again...I think its media crap but if it's not we are gonna be a proper Joke.

Who do you think he's got lined up? can't see it myself

there was rumours of mancini replacing him before xmas...Mancini Rumour

and geezer, they were defo slashed in ladbrokes i checked personally

there was rumours of mancini replacing him before xmas...Mancini Rumour

and geezer, they were defo slashed in ladbrokes i checked personally

Not doubting you mate, just saying Star works for a bookies and I believe it is Ladbrokes he works for. He might be able to give us some inside info.

All the bookies have cut their odds on it - apparently it (as usual) has been caused by a lot of money getting placed on it in a short space of time.

betfair have it at 6-1 - longest odds are paddy power with 14-1

At the risk of further criticism/scorn for my ongoing pessimism, one more little thing that's been nagging at me for some weeks now, is that Scolari may well turn out to be our equivalent of Juande Ramos. Think about it. Brilliant reputation abroad, bags of experience, but put him in charge of a Premiership team and he's like a fish out of water.

By the way...1st post but this board is the same format as dundee uniteds one (on which im a regular) so i look forward to some good banter here :mellow: im scottish but my old man has been a true blue for 50+ yrs, so its in my blood incase you wondered why there was some jock on here!!

People from Scotland? On this site? Sheesh. Taffies are bad enough.

It wasn't the BFS I read to much into mate, I know what that means it was the way you said "even BFS should see that" as if he would need a sign with an arrow pointing at what everone else could see.

I see what you mean about my wording, but what I meant was that, even though he knows there's a problem he hasn't attempted to solve it. He knows we need more width and pace in the team but still packs it with central midfielders, none of whom is exactly speedy. I now he complains about a lack of options in terms of wide players with pace, but didn't he sanction the sale of SWP? Hasn't he failed to select SS or Stoch?

People from Scotland? On this site? Sheesh. Taffies are bad enough.

Oi.... i was born in london, so im technically english;)

I see what you mean about my wording, but what I meant was that, even though he knows there's a problem he hasn't attempted to solve it. He knows we need more width and pace in the team but still packs it with central midfielders, none of whom is exactly speedy. I now he complains about a lack of options in terms of wide players with pace, but didn't he sanction the sale of SWP? Hasn't he failed to select SS or Stoch?

Again mate back to my original post,

I said he may have been told he had to sell before he could buy and on the strength of Robinho coming in he let Sheva and Sweep go,

I liked both of these players and certainly would have kept SWP but..

I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he had assurances he'd get Robinho and believed them enough to not bother courting a back up.

and I gave him the benefit of the doubt that as he sees more of Stoch and SS in training he likely knows better than all of us if they would (being players whose role is what we need ) be a better bet than cramming a narrow midfield with established players.

That is in essence the difference in our views...I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt where you are not.

It allcomes down to expectations and patience, my expectations of a new manager with the players we have are a bit less than yours and my patience a bit more.

Edited January 6, 200916 yr by Chippy

Again mate back to my original post,

I said he may have been told he had to sell before he could buy and on the strength of Robinho coming in he let Sheva and Sweep go,

I liked both of these players and certainly would have kept SWP but..

I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he had assurances he'd get Robinho and believed them enough to not bother courting a back up.

and I gave him the benefit of the doubt that as he sees more of Stoch and SS in training he likely knows better than all of us if they would (being players whose role is what we need ) be a better bet than cramming a narrow midfield with established players.

That is in essence the difference in our views...I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt where you are not.

It allcomes down to expectations and patience, my expectations of a new manager with the players we have are a bit less than yours and my patience a bit more.

You're right about the sale of SWP and the non-purchase of Robinho - more mitigating circs.

He obviously doesn't rate SS and he may be right to doubt his ability - he hasn't looked top-class to me either. Stoch is still a kid andwe all expect too much of young, unproven players. I think one of the big problems any Chelsea manager would have would be keeping quality players happy when you are not selecting them. He has to weigh this up when risking youngsters whose selection a) might not work and might cause ructions and bad feeling amongst more senior players. But the very best managers make the right calls about players, systems and tactics most of the time. So far, BFS has not been convincing.

I'm not giving up on him, and a great performance and result on Sunday will make everything rosy. One of our old 3-0 or 3-1 wins will do me - we've got a fantastic record up there, and Manure's absurd run of decisions in their favour has to end eventually.