Are things going off the rails

[Blue Sun Tzu]

No doubt I will castigated for this post… accused of being a monger of doom and all the rest of it but it is how I feel… the rails are coming off at the Bridge.

That the press have laid into us over the past month has finally begun to take its toll. Terry has not been the same since he lost the England captaincy; he has been culpable for at least fours goals conceded. He showed little leadership on the pitch today. He has gone from being the best defender int he world, the best leader, the one that everyone wanted in their side to being damaged goods. I can only hope that he manages to turn this around.

Ancelotti is losing the plotti once again. When our form dipped before I pointed out that you cannot play Ballack and Mikel in the same side. Eventually he seemed to see this. We started playing really well again. But now we are back with the two of them in the side. Ballack strolls around offering nothing. Mikel is another casual brother. Stupid header to allow them back into the game and what the hell was he doing being left one on one with Bellamy for their second?

What was with those substitutions that seemed only to confuse us?

Where was the creativity?

Outside of this game have been seriously underwhelmed with how Carlo has managed the scandals hitting our club. Jose would have used this to our advantage. Been outrageous, got the press talking about him, taken the heat off his players. Ancelotti seems to have just shrugged his shoulders at it all. Where is the man management here? Only one manager has stood up for Ashley and that in the Inter manager. Unbelievable.

As for the future, I am seriously worried that there is too much bad karma around the club. What player would want to sign for us knowing that the press have singled Chelsea out at the club they want to bring down? How is this all going to affect Roman?

I had better sign off before I depress myself even further...

[Star]

No doubt I will castigated for this post… accused of being a monger of doom and all the rest of it but it is how I feel… the rails are coming off at the Bridge.

That the press have laid into us over the past month has finally begun to take its toll. Terry has not been the same since he lost the England captaincy; he has been culpable for at least fours goals conceded. He showed little leadership on the pitch today. He has gone from being the best defender int he world, the best leader, the one that everyone wanted in their side to being damaged goods. I can only hope that he manages to turn this around.

Ancelotti is losing the plotti once again. When our form dipped before I pointed out that you cannot play Ballack and Mikel in the same side. Eventually he seemed to see this. We started playing really well again. But now we are back with the two of them in the side. Ballack strolls around offering nothing. Mikel is another casual brother. Stupid header to allow them back into the game and what the hell was he doing being left one on one with Bellamy for their second?

What was with those substitutions that seemed only to confuse us?

Where was the creativity?

Outside of this game have been seriously underwhelmed with how Carlo has managed the scandals hitting our club. Jose would have used this to our advantage. Been outrageous, got the press talking about him, taken the heat off his players. Ancelotti seems to have just shrugged his shoulders at it all. Where is the man management here? Only one manager has stood up for Ashley and that in the Inter manager. Unbelievable.

As for the future, I am seriously worried that there is too much bad karma around the club. What player would want to sign for us knowing that the press have singled Chelsea out at the club they want to bring down? How is this all going to affect Roman?

I had better sign off before I depress myself even further...

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Oh here we go, just counting the minutes before I see a Star thread asking for Carlo's head.

[moi]

Oh here we go, just counting the minutes before I see a Star thread asking for Carlo's head.

Come off it, Ruh Buh JUh, Star's comment above is one of the most sensible things he's ever said!

[Ricci]

I too am becoming more worried by what is going on at the moment. Unfortuneately living around the merseyside are I hardly get to see Chelsea, so rely on watching them on t.v. I have been saying for a while now that at either end of the pitch Chelsea have got problems. We can't hide the fact that since all this Terry mess started he has'nt been the same, while up front the build up play is too slow and we are too reliant on Drogba.

The midfield looks poor with ballack and Mikel in there, for me Ballack has never justified his wages since signing and is a waste of time. As for today Chelsea were awful, slow and laboured. Some of the goals were comical and I feel Carlo needs to have serious heart to heart with the squad. This season the premiership has been there for the taking but once again we haev failed to get a decent cushion at the top. With our remaining fixtures probably being the most difficult of the top 3, I am defintiely worried.

In the summer there needs to be a big clear out. The average age of the squad needs to be brought down and the lieks of Belletti,Ballack,Mikel and Kalou can go as far as I'm concerned. I have to put up with enough stick up here, so it annoys me when Chelsea play like that becuase I can't really defend them.

[BlueBeard]

Excellent post, Blue Sun Tzu, agree with every word.

[bluevale2]

There's a lot of sensible comment in there BST. You have driven me from being down to full blown depression!

However, we have to adopt the attitude of 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger', put today behind us, regroup and thrash Stoke next week.

[Star]

There is no need to panic, given we are without Cech, Essien and our best player this season Ashley Cole it is clear

we need to adapt. As the transfer ban was reversed we are in a position to spend in the summer, but providing

Roman does just that we will be strong as ever next season.

I firmly believe and I called it long before Christmas, we will not win the league or the Champions League because

it was clear we were not going to buy that player that would make the difference.

I was in Milan on Wednesday, our support was brilliant, although with a cage in front of us, we outsang Inter, we all

believed we would win, although the walk up the caged in concrete car park like thing to our end was a nightmare

when the majority were legless and indeed the four holes in the floor as toilets were a joke the feeling amongst

us all afterwards were that we were all together from bottom to top as the future goes.

Saying that, managerial decisions will define the rest of our season and mistakes in that department will be

punished and they were today. Obi Mikel was immense in the San Siro, Anelka was brilliant but out on his feet

at the end, Ivanovic truly looked world class, Ballack tried but at the top level he maybe cannot, like Carvalho,

play two games in a week, age has caught up with both of them for sure. In that game, as well as Malouda

played, Lampard also used a lot of energy covering him on the left.

Ferguson is a past master in using the likes of Giggs, Scholes even Neville at the right times.

Today it was clear, with Man City employing two wide players and Tevez up top, counter attack was their

objective. Jose will employ the same sort of tactics when we play Inter in that they will get men behind the

ball and counter attack for the away goal that I believe will end our Champions League campaign.

Malouda on a one off left back, maybe, but as long term cover for Zhircov or Cole forget it.

We didn't need and Lampard doesn't need to track back on the left, especially twice in 3 days.

For me Alex, Joe Cole ( who came out by himself in Milan after the game shooting and dribbling for the 40

mins we were kept behind to let the Inter fans go home and let over a 100 burger vans to park between the ground

and Lotto metro station on our 15 min walk there !!!!!) and Ferreira (not in our CL squad) or Belletti in at full

back, should have been nailed on 90 min players today.

Carvalho, Ballack, Obi Mikel and Anelka should have been on the bench.

I'd have given Matic ( who has been outstanding for the reserves and is clearly better than that level ) a start

and also had Bruma a place on the bench.

Thus,

Hillario

Ivanovic

Alex

Terry

Ferreira

Matic

Lampard

Cole

Malouda

Drogba

Sturridge

What we had today were tired legs running on belief and quality, with John Terry proving he is human

as his performances suggest in the last few weeks with the Bridge saga taking it's toll.

Make no mistake we have not got top level cover for Cech, but not spending rather than getting

Turnbill who is clearly not good enough is the sole reason for this.

As i've said this run in is a crucial test of managerial expertise. Ashley Cole is a huge loss but who is to

say like Terry his mental state at the moment would cause us problems ?

I firmly believe Chelsea fans and Roman are in the main confident of our future. Kakuta, Bruma and Matic are

sure to progress to first team level, we have a youth team on the verge of our first final since the days of

Ossie and co.

Though the rest of Arnesons signings have been poor to say the least and i'm not confident in him or our policy of

loaning players out, Sinclair, Mancienne and the rest will never make the grade at Chelsea NEVER.

Then there is the option of the World Cup signing of the summer, the player that will make the difference ....

God how many times have I said since we signed Sheva and Ballack, Tevez was the man !!!!

He bloody has scored against us ever since !!!!!!!

[Zola's Love Child]

I'm worried. Really f**king worried.

But you know what, this is where Carlo is going to earn his money, and take a leaf from Jose's manual. I've not seen papers and the public so out to slam us since the days of Mourinho (yes its started from our players lack of good conduct, but still). We need to mold that hatred from the outside into creating a team unity, especially encompassing the replacements of the likes of Hilario. There needs to be a self belief, quickly, and without this we could very soon be in big trouble.

F**k em all. The Media, West Ham, Liverpool. No one is going to win the title for us, we need to work our arses off.

[robx1970]

Oh here we go, just counting the minutes before I see a Star thread asking for Carlo's head.

just that eyebrow please.

[bluemoon]

You are top of the league! I wish we were flying off those rails.

However, i agree with Star. Tevez is the man!

[bjd]

I've already hinted at in a previous post but I'm starting to wonder if the jt circus is starting to affect everyone, not least of all him.

Ok, i've had 5 pints , am back from the pub and am about to go back out again. I'm just going to say this once and I don't think it's going to go down too well but I feel it has to be said,and it will be interesting to see what the replies are when I get back.

For the sake of our season, I think we may need to take jt out of the equation.

[mad_mac]

I think it is starting to effect the club to be honest Barny. However, I very much doubt we'll see JT taken out. Him and Lampard are the faces of Chelsea.

It seems that the untouuchables are even more in effect for Carlo. I actually think in the next season or two we should start seeing Terry and Lampard in roles similar to Giggs, Neville, and Scholes play at Man Utd

Scott

[wicksy]

I've already hinted at in a previous post but I'm starting to wonder if the jt circus is starting to affect everyone, not least of all him.

Ok, i've had 5 pints , am back from the pub and am about to go back out again. I'm just going to say this once and I don't think it's going to go down too well but I feel it has to be said,and it will be interesting to see what the replies are when I get back.

For the sake of our season, I think we may need to take jt out of the equation.

I don't know why you think it won't go down too well. You are absolutely right.

The way the media won't leave it alone clearly doesn't help.

JT had been in imperious form this season, but his demeanour and mistakes show that the saga is taking its toll on him.

Ideally a couple of weeks break for JT might be best for all concerned, but I can't see it happening. At this crucial stage of the season we need him to pull through and show the strength of character which he undoubtedly has.

Hopefully, now that this Man City game is behind us, he/we can move on...

Thank God Stoke knocked Man City out of the FA cup ,or we'd have a repeat of this circus to endure next weekend.

COME ON CHELSEA!

Edited February 27, 2010 by wicksy

[coco]

If I was the manager, I would bring down the axe.

Drop Mikel for Matic, Ballack for Kakuta, Cole for Sturridge, Hilario for Turnbull.

[wicksy]

If I was the manager, I would bring down the axe.

Drop Mikel for Matic, Ballack for Kakuta, Cole for Sturridge, Hilario for Turnbull.

No chance!

We're at the business end of the season going for the big three.

We need our best players to perform. It's no time to introduce THREE inexperienced youngsters at the same time. That would be as good as surrendering. Their time will come - hopefully!

[steve25cfc]

No chance!

We're at the business end of the season going for the big three.

We need our best players to perform. It's no time to introduce THREE inexperienced youngsters at the same time. That would be as good as surrendering. Their time will come - hopefully!

but our best players arn't performing!

[Blue_Boy]

No chance!

We're at the business end of the season going for the big three.

We need our best players to perform. It's no time to introduce THREE inexperienced youngsters at the same time. That would be as good as surrendering. Their time will come - hopefully!

We shouldnt introduce three at the sam time but I would stil put Matic in for Ballack and Turnbull for Hilario.

Turnbull cant really be worse than hilario was today.

[wicksy]

but our best players arn't performing!

So you think introducing inexperienced youngsters, promising though they may be, will bring us the title and champions league? Dream on.

At this stage we need experience.

[loz]

We shouldnt introduce three at the sam time but I would stil put Matic in for Ballack and Turnbull for Hilario.

Turnbull cant really be worse than hilario was today.

Turnbull has been that poor on many occasions in the reserves this season and I see no reason to believe he would be any better in the first team.

[WV2 Blue]

I get the feeling not spending in January may come back and bite us on the 'arris

[BlueNose]

Todays performance made me furious,how we let a game slip through our fingers so easily.I cant see us winning the league at this rate,but im okay with that,because at the end of the day,i'll support chelsea no matter what,but when i see us throw away opportunity time after time,it makes me angry as at the moment i dont think at least half our players give a toss

[Iceman]

Can anyone explain why our Roman Abramovich now surrounds himself with the likes of Bobby Campbell in his Director's Box? No coincidence we lost Jose and all subsequent trophies since that Scouser was brought into the inner sanctum.

Disgusting. There is no fight anymore with our squad. No hunger, nothing!

What the hell Roman. We had the best - now CFC is shopping in primark!

[Chippy]

Agree with a lot of what Star said in his earlier post..shows hes not just the doom and gloom merchant some might think.

I think bjd has a point in that JT might do well to sit out a few games, we could have Belletti at RB and Ivan and Alex with Ferreira or Ivan Alex Carvalho Paulo and I don't think we'd be down in quality..and at the moment we wouldn't be down in leadership or motivation qualities either.

A word on Hilario..I think he had a bad game today but he will get better with games and has showed some decent ability, I've never seen that from Turnbull.

[bjd]

I don't know why you think it won't go down too well. You are absolutely right.

The way the media won't leave it alone clearly doesn't help.

JT had been in imperious form this season, but his demeanour and mistakes show that the saga is taking its toll on him.

Ideally a couple of weeks break for JT might be best for all concerned, but I can't see it happening. At this crucial stage of the season we need him to pull through and show the strength of character which he undoubtedly has.

Hopefully, now that this Man City game is behind us, he/we can move on...

Thank God Stoke knocked Man City out of the FA cup ,or we'd have a repeat of this circus to endure next weekend.

COME ON CHELSEA!

well I didn't know what to expect - but I'm glad someone agrees. I guess I was expecting abuse from people not willing to accept any critiscm of Chelsea, or jt himself - our 'captain, leader, legend'

it was a circus today. We are a circus. Look at the last month. it's impossible for a club to fight on three major fronts with a continual daily sideshow. And today it caught up with us. Inevitably.

At the start of this jt malarkey I said that whilst I was none to impressed with his actions I wouldn't really care until the moment it started to affect the team and, thus, our season. I'm pretty sure that moment has come. Using injuries and bad tactical decsions from the management team are not an excuse for what we saw out there today (though of course they didn't help) this had been coming, plain and simple.

We are at the turning point of the season. We have three games at sb coming up in three different competitions. No question , things need to be sorted and ancelotti needs to take control and earn his crust.

Sadly I'm not holding out hope. And after today , why should I ?