What we can expect from Di Matteo this season?

[Fearnley]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/7967628/Blues-to-be-patient-with-Hazard

Anyone else read this today? I agree with the fact we need to give Hazard time but less than pleased that he is not looking to play attacking football! What is the point in signing a bunch of young, hungry, attack minded players if we are not going to go out and attack teams?

[evissy]

http://www1.skysport...ent-with-Hazard

Anyone else read this today? I agree with the fact we need to give Hazard time but less than pleased that he is not looking to play attacking football! What is the point in signing a bunch of young, hungry, attack minded players if we are not going to go out and attack teams?

I don't think he meant we are not going to attack. He meant we are not going all out on attack like it was with AVB at times. Of course we are going to attack, most games in prem we will be the team that does the attacking and pressuring. I think with RDM we are going to be more balanced.

We weren't all attack with Jose and still Robben and co managed to create lots and lots in games. That is what we should expect of this squad.

[Fearnley]

I don't think he meant we are not going to attack. He meant we are not going all out on attack like it was with AVB at times. Of course we are going to attack, most games in prem we will be the team that does the attacking and pressuring. I think with RDM we are going to be more balanced.

We weren't all attack with Jose and still Robben and co managed to create lots and lots in games. That is what we should expect of this squad.

I read it as he will sacrifice attacking for winning games and you pointed out mourinho did the same, mourinho was also sacked for reasons not known and is by far a better manager than robbie is. I think Abramovich obviously wants his teams to be playing a certain brand of football that has made one former Spaim international a sensation and these signings seem more in line with that man than they do Di Matteo

[Guest RFC_CFC]

Robbie will have his own idea on what he wants the team to do, he saw as part of AVB’s reign that all out attack does not work in England and no matter the team you are playing against you will be punished. He will also know that games against Barcelona, Bayern ect were won with hard work, luck and Drogba so we do need to improve if we are to reach similar heights in Europe this season.

Jose has winning down to a fine art when he was in charge and some sections demanded more attacking football and ultimately he was sacked, now Robbie needs to find a fine balance between being hard to beat, efficient and good on the eye. We have the players no doubt about it, with Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Torres ect we have a wealth of talent at the club that should be capable of turning on the style but also with guys like Terry, Lamps, Ivan, Cole we can be tough to break down.

Pre Season has not been great and has me asking more questions about what this season will bring but hopefully Robbie has his plan set out and we will kick on from here.

[nonotnowjim]

I hope i am wrong and that RDM goes on to be very successful with us,,,,but my overall feeling, based on nothing more than newspaper gossip and internet rumours is that RDM is keeping the seat warm until pep returns to management.

[evissy]

I actually think Robbie can go on with his job with ease. He's already won 2 major trophies with us so even if all goes down to drain he can feel proud. This is very important and rarely talked about in the forum.

I'm sure Roman wants beautiful football but Robbie knows he can't turn this defensive team to Barca in a heartbeat. Roman knows it as well.

I think the 2 year deal is very telling. Let the club legend try and build a young competitive team with him. If after 2 years it is not what was wished find a new manager.

I think Robbie gets to keep his job if we qualify to CL and are competitive in all fronts.

If he is offered a new deal after the 2 he's done exceptionally well. I think he knows the reality himself.

As said he has already won no matter what happens.

[JoeyN]

No doubt his managerial career has been helped incredibly by last season but I stand by what I said a couple of months ago. I don't think he's the right person to bring in the new Chelsea era. I hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling Champions League qualification is going to be a tough tough task this season.I reckon we will get 4th.

[The Moos]

I want a solid defence, good offence and Robbie making the right calls. If that leads to trophies, all the better.

[Scott Harris]

I want a solid defence, good offence and Robbie making the right calls. If that leads to trophies, all the better.

That's what i want. Mainly i just want that defense of ours sorted out , last season it was the worst i have seen for a very long time. If we can keep clean sheets then i believe that we can challenge for that title again.

[charierre]

http://www1.skysport...ent-with-Hazard

Anyone else read this today? I agree with the fact we need to give Hazard time but less than pleased that he is not looking to play attacking football! What is the point in signing a bunch of young, hungry, attack minded players if we are not going to go out and attack teams?

We have to find the right balance. Teams with good defence win titles, get this side right first and the attack will score enough with the players we have signed. Fans like attacking football as long as it gets results.

[Fearnley]

We have to find the right balance. Teams with good defence win titles, get this side right first and the attack will score enough with the players we have signed. Fans like attacking football as long as it gets results.

I couldn't disagree more, I wouldn't exactly say barca have the best defence, nor Spain, nor have the great brazil sides that have wowed the world. Defending starts from the front in my opinion

[The Moos]

That's what i want. Mainly i just want that defense of ours sorted out , last season it was the worst i have seen for a very long time. If we can keep clean sheets then i believe that we can challenge for that title again.

I agree. Last season our defence was far from good. Can't say it's been looking much better during the pre-season, but hopefully we've sorted it all out now that the really important games are coming.

With the defensive players we have and also the fact that we really are a top team (one of the best in the world), we should not let in loads of sloppy goals and dropping secure leads.

[evissy]

I couldn't disagree more, I wouldn't exactly say barca have the best defence, nor Spain, nor have the great brazil sides that have wowed the world. Defending starts from the front in my opinion

Well you can just check how many European cups Italian teams have won and think again. Attack wins you games, defending wins you titles. Old saying that is very true this very day.

Barca is barca. They have something special and totally different from any team in the world. With Messi they are something very special. Take Messi out of the equation and they are the "1-0 Spain".

Spain won with defending. Every single time. 3 trophies came with the most airtight defense in the world. But their defending was passing the ball till 90mins. They have those same Barca guys who can pass the ball in small space and little time. Look at how many 1-0 were in those 3 trophies.

Remember '95 Amsterdam Ajax. Same thing, pass till you can't pass no more. Score the one goal from opponents mistake and continue passing. Easier said than done obviously but that is it in a nutshell. The Dutch invented it and it is now implemented in Barca by Cruyff. The idea of a certain style.

[ozboy]

Great post. Let's hope we have great defending. Not just the back four but the midfield. Needs lots of organization and commitment and an ability to hold the ball once we win it.

[Coxy]

Robbie has a very tough job to do this season. Figuring out this groups individual strengths and chemistry between each other will be almost his biggest challenge. These kind of things take time, but Roman doesn't exactly let his managers take their time.

I have 2 concerns with this group now. Central midfield, and up front. I think our defense is pretty good, and we have plenty in the attacking midfield, but I'm not sold on defensive midfield and also Torres banging in 30 goals this season. Mikel is a decent holding guy, but Yaya he aint. Lamps is still quality, but can he transition into that Arteta type that we need to go from defense to attack quickly? If we had signed a guy like Modric, then this team would be in for a much quicker transition.

We kind of look like Barca-light on paper now. Their central defense/midfield with Puyol, Pique, Busquets and Xabi Alonso are such an effective guts to have. This may be where we fall a little short. We have a young attack with Mata, Haz, Marin, Oscar, Nando, Ramires, Sturridge. We have plenty of central midfield types in Lamps, Mikel, Romeu, Meireles, Essien and even Ramires can play there, none are really dominant though at this stage. If RDM can get area clicking, then our attack will get the platform they need.

He has a job to do, and he can pull it off. He needs to understand this group like he understood the group last season. That's the key.

[Eggy McMuffin]

Robbie has a very tough job to do this season. Figuring out this groups individual strengths and chemistry between each other will be almost his biggest challenge. These kind of things take time, but Roman doesn't exactly let his managers take their time.

I have 2 concerns with this group now. Central midfield, and up front. I think our defense is pretty good, and we have plenty in the attacking midfield, but I'm not sold on defensive midfield and also Torres banging in 30 goals this season. Mikel is a decent holding guy, but Yaya he aint. Lamps is still quality, but can he transition into that Arteta type that we need to go from defense to attack quickly? If we had signed a guy like Modric, then this team would be in for a much quicker transition.

We kind of look like Barca-light on paper now. Their central defense/midfield with Puyol, Pique, Busquets and Xabi Alonso are such an effective guts to have. This may be where we fall a little short. We have a young attack with Mata, Haz, Marin, Oscar, Nando, Ramires, Sturridge. We have plenty of central midfield types in Lamps, Mikel, Romeu, Meireles, Essien and even Ramires can play there, none are really dominant though at this stage. If RDM can get area clicking, then our attack will get the platform they need.

He has a job to do, and he can pull it off. He needs to understand this group like he understood the group last season. That's the key.

I agree with you up until you go into the details. Central midfield and up front are our concerns, but more in the sense that who we play in the central midfield role is key and how they perform is key and up front it's about whether Torres or Sturridge can get going. I would hasten to add that I don't think these problems are ones that can now in this window be solved with signings, I think we've done enough already and too much change is going to have a negative effect.

Anyway, on to what I disagree with, comparing Mikel to Yaya Toure is odd because Yaya Toure is more of a box to box midfielder rather than a holding one so in that sense I'd agree that he's not Yaya Toure, but it's like saying that Essien isn't Makelele. I'd also argue that Oscar is our answer to Modric, but we will have to wait and see on that one. Also, Xabi Alonso doesn't play for Barcelona but that's just being picky as you clearly confused Xavi with him or confused Barcelona with Spain, but yes we have a young side which can be moulded for the future and that's what Di Matteo has to do.

With the imminent signing of Moses, we have an excellent side with options all over the pitch, I for one am excited to see how everything shapes up, with our strongest side out (or at least my preferred side), we still have options like Marin, Moses, Oscar (or Lampard if Oscar really shines) and Sturridge to come off the bench and change the game. It kind of means we don't have the excuses we used to for a poor substitution, but it means our side is less predictable which can only be a good thing. It's up to Di Matteo to show us what he's made of, though and only time will tell exactly what kind of manager he is. West Brom was a different challenge and he got them playing some nice possession football, as he did with MK Dons and last season was a different challenge because there was no thought to the future, just doing whatever could be done (and he certainly achieved that). So yeah... errr... I was probably going somewhere with this but I've confused myself now and need a lie down from all this typing.

[Fearnley]

Well you can just check how many European cups Italian teams have won and think again. Attack wins you games, defending wins you titles. Old saying that is very true this very day.

Barca is barca. They have something special and totally different from any team in the world. With Messi they are something very special. Take Messi out of the equation and they are the "1-0 Spain".

Spain won with defending. Every single time. 3 trophies came with the most airtight defense in the world. But their defending was passing the ball till 90mins. They have those same Barca guys who can pass the ball in small space and little time. Look at how many 1-0 were in those 3 trophies.

Remember '95 Amsterdam Ajax. Same thing, pass till you can't pass no more. Score the one goal from opponents mistake and continue passing. Easier said than done obviously but that is it in a nutshell. The Dutch invented it and it is now implemented in Barca by Cruyff. The idea of a certain style.

May I direct your attention to the recent European cup final before you tell me Spain are a boring 1-0 team and that italian sides are the best defensively. Whilst Italians are renowned for there defending we should also examine the fact there entire league is in disarray and the 'big teams' such as your ac milans and inters no longer hold the power or funds to attract the bigger signings

[CFCCAN]

TBH I am not expecting much change from the way we have been playing as Robbie tends to be cautious in his approach and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if we struggle in the first half of the season and are hanging around 6th or so by Xmas, lets hope the Board understands this time around. This is a new team and I don't expect them to be firing on all cylinders for a while. Last season has gone, it's history that we won't forget and will be hard to repeat in the next two years as we move into a new era. This will be the transition year so I don't expect to be challenging for the title or any major trophies. Patience will be at a premium for us fans this time around. My only wish is we see some quicker transition from defence into attack through the midfield, rather than the slow methodical possession football which allowed teams to get back and defend the final third last year and also Torres gets some balls to run onto and starts earning his keep....but that is another topic for another day..

[Scott Harris]

TBH I am not expecting much change from the way we have been playing as Robbie tends to be cautious in his approach and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if we struggle in the first half of the season and are hanging around 6th or so by Xmas, lets hope the Board understands this time around. This is a new team and I don't expect them to be firing on all cylinders for a while. Last season has gone, it's history that we won't forget and will be hard to repeat in the next two years as we move into a new era. This will be the transition year so I don't expect to be challenging for the title or any major trophies. Patience will be at a premium for us fans this time around. My only wish is we see some quicker transition from defence into attack through the midfield, rather than the slow methodical possession football which allowed teams to get back and defend the final third last year and also Torres gets some balls to run onto and starts earning his keep....but that is another topic for another day..

I remember people saying last year was the transition year . Sorry but i expect to challenge for the title right from the off and so should we all , there is too many good players in that team not to be challenging. If we are 6th by Christmas then i will be really dissapointed , we have got these players to challenge for the title not settle for 4th place.

Look at the amount of players Mourinho brought in in the 04/05 season , it was pretty much a new team then and we challenged for everything that year apart for the F.A cup where we went out early.

[Coxy]

I agree with you up until you go into the details. Central midfield and up front are our concerns, but more in the sense that who we play in the central midfield role is key and how they perform is key and up front it's about whether Torres or Sturridge can get going. I would hasten to add that I don't think these problems are ones that can now in this window be solved with signings, I think we've done enough already and too much change is going to have a negative effect.

Anyway, on to what I disagree with, comparing Mikel to Yaya Toure is odd because Yaya Toure is more of a box to box midfielder rather than a holding one so in that sense I'd agree that he's not Yaya Toure, but it's like saying that Essien isn't Makelele. I'd also argue that Oscar is our answer to Modric, but we will have to wait and see on that one. Also, Xabi Alonso doesn't play for Barcelona but that's just being picky as you clearly confused Xavi with him or confused Barcelona with Spain, but yes we have a young side which can be moulded for the future and that's what Di Matteo has to do.

With the imminent signing of Moses, we have an excellent side with options all over the pitch, I for one am excited to see how everything shapes up, with our strongest side out (or at least my preferred side), we still have options like Marin, Moses, Oscar (or Lampard if Oscar really shines) and Sturridge to come off the bench and change the game. It kind of means we don't have the excuses we used to for a poor substitution, but it means our side is less predictable which can only be a good thing. It's up to Di Matteo to show us what he's made of, though and only time will tell exactly what kind of manager he is. West Brom was a different challenge and he got them playing some nice possession football, as he did with MK Dons and last season was a different challenge because there was no thought to the future, just doing whatever could be done (and he certainly achieved that). So yeah... errr... I was probably going somewhere with this but I've confused myself now and need a lie down from all this typing.

Yeah sorry, definitely meant Xavi.

Also, what I mean by Mikel not being Yaya, is that I think we need a dominant guy in midfield like Toure. We don't really have a guy like that right now.

Oscar being our Modric? Well, I hope so.

[CFCCAN]

I remember people saying last year was the transition year . Sorry but i expect to challenge for the title right from the off and so should we all , there is too many good players in that team not to be challenging. If we are 6th by Christmas then i will be really dissapointed , we have got these players to challenge for the title not settle for 4th place.

Look at the amount of players Mourinho brought in in the 04/05 season , it was pretty much a new team then and we challenged for everything that year apart for the F.A cup where we went out early.

I am hoping the same as you but I think RDM and Jose are two different personalities and I just don't think Robbie has got the balls to change this teams style to much in his first season and he will want to be a 'steady as she goes' type of manager....lets hope I am wrong

[SydneyChelsea]

Transition year is loser talk. Go hard or go home.

[sals]

Transition year is loser talk. Go hard or go home.

Whats wrong with following the Arsene Wenger 7 year transistion plan?? It will all come together soon...

[evissy]

May I direct your attention to the recent European cup final before you tell me Spain are a boring 1-0 team and that italian sides are the best defensively. Whilst Italians are renowned for there defending we should also examine the fact there entire league is in disarray and the 'big teams' such as your ac milans and inters no longer hold the power or funds to attract the bigger signings

Spain were superior in that final no doubt about it. That single game tries to harm my point but I'd put it in the 'exception proves the rule' basket.

What about the other European cup that is probably more interesting to us than that Spain-Italy final? That championship came with defending. Inter won the triple with Jose defending, Real won the league defending and so on.

Anyway this could go on for a while making examples on who defended and who attacked but one thing is certain; Chelsea isn't going to attack like mad like we tried with AVB now that Roberto is in the reigns but it doesn't mean we can't win anything.

[SydneyChelsea]

Real won the league defending? They scored over 100 goals (again). The previous season, Jose's Madrid learned the hard way that draws don't cut it when you're going head-to-head with Barcelona, and Barca had a similar epiphany this season where they often appeared toothless without Villa or Pedro.

Inter were defensive in the Champions' League against Barcelona and Bayern, but they comprehensively outplayed us. The axis of Sneijder, Stankovic and Ibrahimovic made them among the more attacking teams in the league.

The Jose Mourinho we had at Chelsea is not the Jose Mourinho that is now. He has improved vastly as a coach. Our chief failing under Mourinho and successive managers is that we've always had Plan B, but never a proper Plan A. We've never had a plan to dominate and take control of games. We've been reactive rather than proactive and while it makes us incredibly hard to beat in the cups and big games, we have seen our failure to score against the league's lesser lights damage our hopes time and time again.

A well-drilled defense does not come at the expense of attack; the whole point of the game is to score more goals than the other. You can have the most organised, fit and strong defenders with perfect tackling skills and awareness, but it means nothing if the team cannot play the ball out and score goals to win games. Attack and defense are not mutually exclusive, they are merely two halves of the same goal. You need both to be successful.

Di Matteo's previous experience, though limited, shows that he has the potential to change this. He has changed each club he has worked at to a more proactive, domineering, attacking team and crucially, he also understands the importance of good counter-attacks in the EPL. I'm hoping that he can bring that ability to Chelsea.

At the end of the day, we have the individual talent and mentality in the squad to be good at attack and defense. What we're missing is the system that links the two fluently and efficiently. In a way, it's easier to band together when backs are to the wall and you're the underdog, but we're European Champions and we've just bought two of the most promising players in the world- you can hardly call us underdogs. We need to be prepared that, even moreso than usual, every single team will be either fired up against us or doggedly defending for a result. We need to impose ourselves on games, to dominate and control them, and once we start doing that we will get our consistency back.

Edited August 9, 2012 by SydneyChelsea