He simply has to play. Yes he'll get done now and again but we are a shambles at the back without his leadership.

 

No doubt his abscence from the team is having an impact off the pitch too. When struggling is when you need your leaders most but a leaders words just cannot carry as much weight if people know he's going to be sitting on his arse for 90 minutes come gameday.

Agreed. His continued absence makes even less sense when we are leaking so many goals at the back. My only theory with Ivan's continued presence as that he plays as the vice captain in JT's absence. However as far as we know JT is fit and available for selection.  Whereas Ivan has been struggling to put it politely. Surely it makes more sense to drop Ivan and bring JT back? If Jose is worried about pace at the back then keep Zouma and drop Cahill for JT.

JT is the club captain and the best leader we currently have among the players. A 1 or 2 game absence is one thing but he seems to have been frozen out. At some point Jose should clarify the situation. Have they fallen out? 

Could some kind soul who knows something about football please explain why the best centre half in the history of the premier league, one who had possibly his best ever season last season, and who has shown time and time again that not only are his own contributions beyond reproach but that his organisational and motivational skills are such that those around him raise their game, is not good enough to be selected on our team?

We sit far too deep with him at the back to protect him from his lack of space. Tell you what; I am confused because I felt Azpi was shifted to the left to offer him some protection. Now he is out of the team, Azpi is still on the left.

I don't see how Ivan has better leadership qualities then JT himself. The man couldn't even tackle to save his life now.

We lack a leader like JT in our games these days, someone who would scream and command his teammates to get back to their positions and organise the team when we are under pressure. It's so bloody obvious that everyone in the team are playing like headless chickens, making illogical and wasteful moves without proper guidance.

And there is a severe lack of motivation in how they play too. This is where great captains step in to spur their teams to victory.

The way things are going recently, it's like going into a battle without a commander. The President (Jose) refused to mobilise his General (JT) and mobilised a menacing looking but slow tank (Ivan) instead. The tank, devoid of emotions and inspirations, lead a front line of bewildered soldiers who are more interested on how good they looked with their gears on. Despite being predictably overran by their enemies, Mr. President still don't see the need to bring along his General to any future battles and ordered his men to repair that tank instead.

Rinse and repeat.

We need a leader like JT in times like these, Jose.

Edited September 30, 201510 yr by Zinc

We want our captain back

Ok JT gets done for pace every now and then but we've seen because of his superior intellect on the pitch he doesn't let it happen as often as it could. What we need is a powerful box to box player with technicality too. Who will close the spaces in midfield and stop our centre backs getting isolated one on one. The closest thing we have to that description is Ramires or RLC. Ramires's technical ability can be questioned at times but we need his workrate in the middle. I don't understand why we tried to buy pogba for 60/70/80 mil when the man to go for was clearly his teammate Vidal who snuck out the backdoor in to Bayern Munich. His sheer tenacity and mobility allowed Pogba the platform to roam around without fear and gave Pirlo the space to dictate play from deep.

Edited September 30, 201510 yr by Chelsea190512

Read this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11901669/Jose-Mourinho-scapegoating-Oscar-Loic-Remy-and-John-Terry-sends-shockwaves-through-Chelsea-squad.html

 

Is JT being unfairly sidelined? We clearly need his leadership at the back but he's being left on the bench a lot. Despite the denials maybe he and Jose have had some kind of falling out.

Some of these moves are baffling. Leaving JT on the bench for god knows why. Keeping our worst player in the team every game. Not taking Remy or Falcao to Porto.

Edited September 30, 201510 yr by TheChelseaBlues

Read this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11901669/Jose-Mourinho-scapegoating-Oscar-Loic-Remy-and-John-Terry-sends-shockwaves-through-Chelsea-squad.html

Is JT being unfairly sidelined? We clearly need his leadership at the back but he's being left on the bench a lot. Despite the denials maybe he and Jose have had some kind of falling out.

Interesting, very interesting. Don't like the Torygraph and as reading thinking about evidence, source etc. but then my ears picked up at Cundy. At the end of last season JT was in good form and keen as mustard; what has changed in such a short time I wonder. It must have been a bit of a kick in the teeth for JT to be on the bench while below par Brana donned the captain's band. Then again JT publically supported Jose.

I just don't know really I don't, but what I do know is that JT is missed.

I'm really confused about the whole situation. We need JT's leadership and organisation at the back. I looked at the first goal we conceded against Newcastle, if JT was there, he would either went for the header or yelled at Zouma to go for it. Cahill is a good player, but he hasn't proved himself to be a leader at the back. We just need to play deeper with JT in the team, and curb our pressing game a little.

what should we make of the JT warm-down routine after the Porto game? While the Chelsea fans were still in the otherwise empty stadium, he came out on his own and went through a warm-down routine, despite not having played in the game.

 

was this some sort of message to the fans? did he want to appear isolated and alone? who knows.....I can't work it out

I can see the logic in leaving him out. With him in the team we have to play a lot deeper, which means we can't have our midfield press up the pitch as they'd leave a big gap behind them, which leaves us playing more negatively.

 

However it seems to have backfired. Partly because Ivanovic is getting done by any man and his dog anyway so we'd probably be better off playing deeper, and partly because the team seems to have no balls without him on the pitch.

Benfica played a high line very successfully in the league and CL with Luisao, who is about a million times slower than JT. If you are relying on pace when playing a high line then you end up with a defence like ours, leadership and organisation are more important. 

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10039299/david-beckham-will-captain-a-great-britain-and-ireland-charity-team-to-be-managed-by-sir-alex-ferguson

Terry and Ash playing alongside Rio, bit shocked but it is for charity.

Jt has been very quiet during this period. I wonder if he is thinking he's seen this all before and he knows how it ends!

I also don't think he will want to fall out with any of the players if he has one eye on maybe an assistant role with a new manager.

Just speculating of course, I certainly don't know what goes on behind the scene!

would love drogs, lamps and terry to have roles at the club together; would be amazing for team morale and motivation. 

JT gave Mourinho his full support in every interview he did. He gives everything, if you look at the reactions nobody cares more than him after we concede. He's still the same player that was incredible last season, Gullit called him the best CB in the world just before the Swansea game, nothing changes in two months. Should still be the first name in the team as he will be the one with the most influence to get us out of it.

Not sure it was a good idea playing him at Stoke a match that lasted 120mins and then expecting him to produce again 4 days later at his age.In retrospect he should have given that game a miss. If we are to get the best out of him now, he should only play in league matches.

If jose does go I wonder if jt has a chance of taking over. I believe he said he wants to go in to management.

I think his time is up. He couldn't get close to Coutinho for the 2 goals despite seeing what's coming, once the legs are gone, they gone, I'm afraid. With JT playing and we play the deep back line, it's impossible to press the opposition as a team.

Will certain fans, who despise the image Mourinho apparently gives Chelsea, accept Terry as a manager?  I mean if you worry about the reputation of Mourinho and how that impacts the club....

I think his time is up. He couldn't get close to Coutinho for the 2 goals despite seeing what's coming, once the legs are gone, they gone, I'm afraid. With JT playing and we play the deep back line, it's impossible to press the opposition as a team.

 

I'm seeing players getting criticised left, right and center, they can't all be crap. It was only last year that we won the league.

 

Has Terry looked worse than any of the other defenders this season ? apart from Azpilicueta, i would say that Terry has performed no worse than anyone else in defense.

 

The way it look's right now, it seem's that all but 2 players in the squad have lost their legs.

Will certain fans, who despise the image Mourinho apparently gives Chelsea, accept Terry as a manager?  I mean if you worry about the reputation of Mourinho and how that impacts the club....

 

Was actually saying to someone the other day that I wouldn't be too surprised to see JT as interim player manager until the end of the season. If we are out of all comps and have nothing to lose then surely it would be a viable option? Gives JT a bit of experience and ties us over until next season.

I'm seeing players getting criticised left, right and center, they can't all be crap. It was only last year that we won the league.

 

Has Terry looked worse than any of the other defenders this season ? apart from Azpilicueta, i would say that Terry has performed no worse than anyone else in defense.

 

The way it look's right now, it seem's that all but 2 players in the squad have lost their legs.

 

3-4 months ago JT would have made up the ground to close down Coutinho for the 2 goals, on Saturday he couldn't despite he saw whats coming t's trying desperately. He would have won a lot for aerial duels with Bentake/Caroll, right now he couldn't. We all know with JT in the team, we defend so deep because we couldn't afford any space between him and the GK. When we defend like that, you'd expect your defenders to make up the few yard of space and close down the attackers running at you, and that's what JT ( and his defence partners) was guilty of. I'm not saying Cahill/Zouma are faultless, but with that pairing we could play a higher line  and counter the attack differently.  

Listening to JTs press conference now.

 

If he backs up his words tomorrow, the battler is back.... or are they just words?

Lol. Loved that dig at Robbie Savage