Its like watching paint dry !!!

[coombsie]

I am not normally given to being controversial, and I fully expect a major slagging off for this post, but I have come to the conclusion that watching Chelsea has become a chore.

I am a 10 year season ticket holder and home AND away Blues fan since 1970 and I have seen the worst that the Blues have had to offer over the years. Today ranked with the displays of our no hopers from the 70's and 80's, passionless, thoughtless lacking individual skill (Drogba exempted) and tactically inept.

I suppose that when you read the back of the programme and see the massive array of World quality talent that we have at our disposal, we are entitled to expect a reasonable quality performance and (at the Bridge at least) we have failed to see more than 1 or 2 decent performances (Barca and Scouse).

I no longer look forward all week with anticipation to going to the Bridge like I used to! I even considered going sale shopping with the Mrs today (and now wish I had) rather than go to the Bridge (did I really just type that???).

We are currently predictable, slow, negative, we lack forward movement, as already stated are passionless without JT (God we need him back quickly) and our lineups, formations and tactics seem to be a mystery to the players as well as the fans.

Now let me stress I am not slagging Mourinho. He is a God for bringing us back to back titles but I think he now needs to get back to the basics of 2004/5, workrate. spirit, passion and skill if we are to achieve even greater heights. We have messsed with the players, formations and tactics far too much, possibly to accomodate expensive signings and we are now paying the price.

Today we "took it easy" against a distinctly second rate Club. The players looked as though they thought that 50% effort would be enough against a bunch of journeymen. It was not !!

I am not taking my ticket up for Macclesfield and may not bother with Wycombe either. Before you start seething, I WILL be in Porto in February and (hopefully) all the future away ECL games.

Just how many other formally diehard fans are beginning to be turned off by the current offering????

[nickwus]

Coombsie

You won't get a slagging from me. The month or so has been downright poor.

I think we are suffering from having a reduced squad. If this has been 2004/5, then if a few were not putting the effort in, they would be watching from the stands. Now they are not.

Ballack has been OK, but he is not dominating games. Lamps has been better but less reliable than the past. Clearly Cech and JT are missed, but so is Cole (not least because Eifur and Duffer left).

Some of the issues are circumstances (i.e. injuries), but t me the big issue is that we have had this confidence that we will win the game and we don't go out with the passion necessary to do it. We've been winning by a goal, when if we played the whole 90 minutes we'd be winning by 3 or 4.

If Jose does not kick some butt, we'll end the year in 2nd place with no trophies.

I think we may need to go into the transfer market just to wake a few players up. !

Nick

[stanley]

I sense " the end of the begining" ? ? ?

[loz]

I wouldn't call it a chore, I would call it damn frustrating.

Irrespective of how much our squad cost, or what other people's expectations are, I never make any assumptions that we are going to deliver exciting football. a) Because it is not, and never has been, Jose's style and :) Because price tags mean nothing and guarantee nothing.

However what I do expect is a professional approach to the game and a determination from start to finish. Mistakes will always happen, good/bad luck comes and goes and decisions come and go - I can live with all of that if I feel the players are approaching the game correctly and applying themselves throughout. However we are not seeing this at the moment and haven't done for some considerable time.

Players are coasting through periods of games, making unenforced errors (notice I don't classify that the same as mistakes), often playing as if they are secure in the team and playing as if they won't lose no matter whether they try or not. This is what frustrates me, and it frustrates me more because I get a sense that Jose is as guilty of it as the players.

[bjd]

good f**king thread.

pissed and annoyed. i fell out with my missus to make the game today and i wish i hadnt.

ive just posted on another thread and i will say the same here - i think jose has to carry the can.

if we dont win the league this year it will be the biggest balls up in the history of football. anyone who denies this has their head up their arse, sorry if that sounds harsh but as a paying fan why shouldnt i say it ?

if thats harsh im sorry. f**k it, ive wasted my boxing day and had a fight with my missus to see my team, let us not forget the most expensivley assembled squad of footballers EVER struggle against an average team.

I expect more and have every right to.

Fair play to Reading and , sorry im just gonna say it fair play to Alex Fergurson.

[Guest]

Oh dear, you didn?t win................................. NOW DO NOT BE A c**t AND START SUPPORTING YOUR TEAM FFS.

[bjd]

please f**k off.

[Guest]

Nope

[coombsie]

Oh dear, you didn?t win................................. NOW DO NOT BE A c*** AND START SUPPORTING YOUR TEAM FFS.

Read the thread (or is there too many words for you???)

Its not about not winning, its about the way we are playing !!!

[Valerie]

Actually, I quite enjoyed the first half, but was frustrated that we needed so much time and opportunities to score. When Reading came roaring out of the dressing room in the 2nd half, I hoped we would hold on , Was it the wake-up call those world class players need that we can't always snatch a win from the jaws of a draw, and that they need to get out there and f*cking PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL??

[The Brit]

what people seem to have forgotten is that we had spells like these in the last two years as well, but we had the defensive solidity to hold on to our leads that we don't have this year...the biggest mistake was replacing 2 central defenders with only one and having players like jt, cech and joe cole out of the team will hurt any squad...just imagine if man u had no rio, ronaldo and rooney...

I understand some of the frustrations, Ballack and sheva have not lived up to their reputations, but there have been more exciting games this season because of our weaknesses and I for one am enjoying (in a weird kind of way) the unpredictability of it all...I'm sure i remember reading last year how bored fans were of us going 1-0 up and knowing we had won the game

[High Street Ken]

what people seem to have forgotten is that we had spells like these in the last two years as well, but we had the defensive solidity to hold on to our leads that we don't have this year...the biggest mistake was replacing 2 central defenders with only one and having players like jt, cech and joe cole out of the team will hurt any squad...just imagine if man u had no rio, ronaldo and rooney...

I understand some of the frustrations, Ballack and sheva have not lived up to their reputations, but there have been more exciting games this season because of our weaknesses and I for one am enjoying (in a weird kind of way) the unpredictability of it all...I'm sure i remember reading last year how bored fans were of us going 1-0 up and knowing we had won the game

Well chosen words mate and I completely agree.

[sweet waffle]

what people seem to have forgotten is that we had spells like these in the last two years as well, but we had the defensive solidity to hold on to our leads that we don't have this year...the biggest mistake was replacing 2 central defenders with only one and having players like jt, cech and joe cole out of the team will hurt any squad...just imagine if man u had no rio, ronaldo and rooney...

I understand some of the frustrations, Ballack and sheva have not lived up to their reputations, but there have been more exciting games this season because of our weaknesses and I for one am enjoying (in a weird kind of way) the unpredictability of it all...I'm sure i remember reading last year how bored fans were of us going 1-0 up and knowing we had won the game

Nice one, some rational words in an irrational world.

[Ale_GC]

Well, as you know I'm a Bar?a supporter, I havent seen Chelsea matches this season, only the ones which the have played against Bar?a, and I saw a very good team, but it seems that it was only against Bar?a when Chelsea have played well this season?

Bar?a arent playing as well as last season, we have lost Messi and Eto'o for some months and the performances haven't been very good...

You can't be 3-4 years playing by the same way all the time, this is very difficult, although Chelsea are expected to play well always, this isnt possible. Anyway, Chelsea is in the second position in the Premier only four points down (we are second too, 3 points down of Seville but with a match less). You cant win the league all the years with 12 points of difference with the second, the others teams sign new players and win a lot of matches too, Man Utd have a lot of points now, and Chelsea have nothing to say to this.

The thing is that you have to fight for all the tittles at the end of the season, if our team win tittles we wont remember if the did it by playing very bad

[bonetti]

I am not normally given to being controversial, and I fully expect a major slagging off for this post, but I have come to the conclusion that watching Chelsea has become a chore.

I am a 10 year season ticket holder and home AND away Blues fan since 1970 and I have seen the worst that the Blues have had to offer over the years. Today ranked with the displays of our no hopers from the 70's and 80's, passionless, thoughtless lacking individual skill (Drogba exempted) and tactically inept.

I suppose that when you read the back of the programme and see the massive array of World quality talent that we have at our disposal, we are entitled to expect a reasonable quality performance and (at the Bridge at least) we have failed to see more than 1 or 2 decent performances (Barca and Scouse).

I no longer look forward all week with anticipation to going to the Bridge like I used to! I even considered going sale shopping with the Mrs today (and now wish I had) rather than go to the Bridge (did I really just type that???).

We are currently predictable, slow, negative, we lack forward movement, as already stated are passionless without JT (God we need him back quickly) and our lineups, formations and tactics seem to be a mystery to the players as well as the fans.

Now let me stress I am not slagging Mourinho. He is a God for bringing us back to back titles but I think he now needs to get back to the basics of 2004/5, workrate. spirit, passion and skill if we are to achieve even greater heights. We have messsed with the players, formations and tactics far too much, possibly to accomodate expensive signings and we are now paying the price.

Today we "took it easy" against a distinctly second rate Club. The players looked as though they thought that 50% effort would be enough against a bunch of journeymen. It was not !!

I am not taking my ticket up for Macclesfield and may not bother with Wycombe either. Before you start seething, I WILL be in Porto in February and (hopefully) all the future away ECL games.

Just how many other formally diehard fans are beginning to be turned off by the current offering????

Yeah but youll still be at the Bridge for Fulham - c'mon Coombsie youve seen a lot worse - must be Chrimbo blues!

[The Brit]

Well, as you know I'm a Bar?a supporter, I havent seen Chelsea matches this season, only the ones which the have played against Bar?a, and I saw a very good team, but it seems that it was only against Bar?a when Chelsea have played well this season?

Bar?a arent playing as well as last season, we have lost Messi and Eto'o for some months and the performances haven't been very good...

You can't be 3-4 years playing by the same way all the time, this is very difficult, although Chelsea are expected to play well always, this isnt possible. Anyway, Chelsea is in the second position in the Premier only four points down (we are second too, 3 points down of Seville but with a match less). You cant win the league all the years with 12 points of difference with the second, the others teams sign new players and win a lot of matches too, Man Utd have a lot of points now, and Chelsea have nothing to say to this.

The thing is that you have to fight for all the tittles at the end of the season, if our team win tittles we wont remember if the did it by playing very bad

Thanks barca fan for your sensible post...I hope we're not getting spoilt by our success...if a team like barca struggles and has to fight to win the title then we should expect it at some stage as well...

[Nibs]

I am not normally given to being controversial, and I fully expect a major slagging off for this post, but I have come to the conclusion that watching Chelsea has become a chore.

I am a 10 year season ticket holder and home AND away Blues fan since 1970 and I have seen the worst that the Blues have had to offer over the years. Today ranked with the displays of our no hopers from the 70's and 80's, passionless, thoughtless lacking individual skill (Drogba exempted) and tactically inept.

I suppose that when you read the back of the programme and see the massive array of World quality talent that we have at our disposal, we are entitled to expect a reasonable quality performance and (at the Bridge at least) we have failed to see more than 1 or 2 decent performances (Barca and Scouse).

I no longer look forward all week with anticipation to going to the Bridge like I used to! I even considered going sale shopping with the Mrs today (and now wish I had) rather than go to the Bridge (did I really just type that???).

We are currently predictable, slow, negative, we lack forward movement, as already stated are passionless without JT (God we need him back quickly) and our lineups, formations and tactics seem to be a mystery to the players as well as the fans.

Now let me stress I am not slagging Mourinho. He is a God for bringing us back to back titles but I think he now needs to get back to the basics of 2004/5, workrate. spirit, passion and skill if we are to achieve even greater heights. We have messsed with the players, formations and tactics far too much, possibly to accomodate expensive signings and we are now paying the price.

Today we "took it easy" against a distinctly second rate Club. The players looked as though they thought that 50% effort would be enough against a bunch of journeymen. It was not !!

I am not taking my ticket up for Macclesfield and may not bother with Wycombe either. Before you start seething, I WILL be in Porto in February and (hopefully) all the future away ECL games.

Just how many other formally diehard fans are beginning to be turned off by the current offering????

Yeah but youll still be at the Bridge for Fulham - c'mon Coombsie youve seen a lot worse - must be Chrimbo blues!

Course he will. And I'll be there with him, 'cos he's treating me. Well, that's what Big Brothers are for!!!

[ozboy]

As well as Chelsea's own problems, and yes we have a few, the fact is that Manu are playing great fooball this year, its not just Ronaldo in attack but their defense also looks v. solid.

The task may be beyond us this year, but there a still a lot of games to play and its far too early to give up yet.

I still think Chelsea is a great team to watch when playing with confidence although we seem to lose confidence on the ball more often than last season.

[just]

I am not normally given to being controversial, and I fully expect a major slagging off for this post, but I have come to the conclusion that watching Chelsea has become a chore.

I am a 10 year season ticket holder and home AND away Blues fan since 1970 and I have seen the worst that the Blues have had to offer over the years. Today ranked with the displays of our no hopers from the 70's and 80's, passionless, thoughtless lacking individual skill (Drogba exempted) and tactically inept.

I suppose that when you read the back of the programme and see the massive array of World quality talent that we have at our disposal, we are entitled to expect a reasonable quality performance and (at the Bridge at least) we have failed to see more than 1 or 2 decent performances (Barca and Scouse).

I no longer look forward all week with anticipation to going to the Bridge like I used to! I even considered going sale shopping with the Mrs today (and now wish I had) rather than go to the Bridge (did I really just type that???).

We are currently predictable, slow, negative, we lack forward movement, as already stated are passionless without JT (God we need him back quickly) and our lineups, formations and tactics seem to be a mystery to the players as well as the fans.

Now let me stress I am not slagging Mourinho. He is a God for bringing us back to back titles but I think he now needs to get back to the basics of 2004/5, workrate. spirit, passion and skill if we are to achieve even greater heights. We have messsed with the players, formations and tactics far too much, possibly to accomodate expensive signings and we are now paying the price.

Today we "took it easy" against a distinctly second rate Club. The players looked as though they thought that 50% effort would be enough against a bunch of journeymen. It was not !!

I am not taking my ticket up for Macclesfield and may not bother with Wycombe either. Before you start seething, I WILL be in Porto in February and (hopefully) all the future away ECL games.

Just how many other formally diehard fans are beginning to be turned off by the current offering????

Yeah but youll still be at the Bridge for Fulham - c'mon Coombsie youve seen a lot worse - must be Chrimbo blues!

Course he will. And I'll be there with him, 'cos he's treating me. Well, that's what Big Brothers are for!!!

Are you gonna pop in the Peli before the game ?

[Nibs]

Will be Just. Hopefully see you and some of the others there.

[bonetti]

Plan to do the same myself - how will I recognise you guys?

[Nibs]

Plan to do the same myself - how will I recognise you guys?

If it's cold - I'll be wearing a Lambretta Parka. Tell you what bonetti - why don't you wear a red rose or something!!!

[coombsie]

Plan to do the same myself - how will I recognise you guys?

If it's cold - I'll be wearing a Lambretta Parka. Tell you what bonetti - why don't you wear a red rose or something!!!

I'll be the very good looking, smart grey haired chap and Nibs will be the extremely ugly, balding guy with the Club foot, at least I think he's got a club foot after seeing him play football !!!

[Guest]

Gloryhunters the lot of you

Bet you didn?t stand in the Shed when times were not so good 8)

In the CL, 2:nd in the PL, still in MICKEY MOUSE (apart from last year when it was a great cup 8) ) and still, surprisingly, in the FA-Cup. Moan moan and fecking moan

You didn?t win the League in December this year............................................................................

........OH DEAR

[Makelele]

Gloryhunters the lot of you

Bet you didn?t stand in the Shed when times were not so good 8)

In the CL, 2:nd in the PL, still in MICKEY MOUSE (apart from last year when it was a great cup 8) ) and still, surprisingly, in the FA-Cup. Moan moan and fecking moan

You didn?t win the League in December this year............................................................................

........OH DEAR

well said mr manc