Hello Guys,

 

I have been thinking myself after watching the CL game against Athletico at home. Their whole team was apparently assembled with 30 million pounds and yet they were able to balance perfectly attack with defence. After watching that game and talking to a few guys at work (mainly Man U and Liverpool supporters) the question arose as to why Jose started Dave on the right wing when we have such a talented squad of midfielders to go and attack the game. I then came across this youtube vid:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEy9yaJOpR8

 

Now, i know these guys are just chewing the fat but some of what they say is what I have been thinking. Why is our multi million pound talent not good enough to test this team at home when we need to score ? Why no Oscar ? Why not Schurlle on the right ?

 

The debate about Jose`s tactics will rage on but I would love and hope that the `evolving` team he refers to is going to balance out more next season (ref: Hazard statment in the press about non-football). Yes, we need a striker but we need to inject a pace and creativity in the midfield too.

 

You can argue that Real Madrid are a good defensive team but when they break on the counter they really break. (just ask bayern)

 

Anyway - first post so be kind ! There is too much to talk about this subject to write it in this first post.

real has a more settled side than us with 2 of the best attacking players at a cost of £168million who both been turning it on for their previous clubs judging by the price tags! i guess if we had players like that then we possibly could of done better!

I agree with some of the stuff they said in that video mostly about Azpi playing RW instead of Schurrle but also they said a load of rubbish aswell. People always talk about the way his Inter team played and were setup in the second leg however people never mention the way they played in the first leg which they won 3-1. His Real Madrid team scored over 100 goals in his second season. Mourinho teams usually get better season by season Simeone has had that team together for 3 years it makes a difference, give Mourinho 3 years at Chelsea and he will build a good team. Simeone has done a great job with a tight budget at Madrid so did Mourinho at Porto, its not easy to keep clean sheets and defend well because if it was why doesn't everyone defend well?.  Most football fans and so called experts are so fickle when it comes to results you can literally go from one week being a good manager to the next an average one.

 

You cant win the CL every f**king season. We got to a CL semi final and lost to a very good team who may go onto win La Liga and the CL, it happens hardly a crime or a disaster. Madrid in the past 11 years have spent about a billion pounds,sacked every manager in the sun and all they have to show for is one final which is this season, shows you how hard it is to win it.

Edited May 7, 201412 yr by jack_super_class

Atletico played the same style as us...just had a better team and breaks to make it count

Good analysis to be honest.

 

But I'll judge Mourinho next season when the team settles, Oscar gets his head right, and we have a man who can put the ball in the back of the net.

Before I start I am proud of our achievements this year! No qualm about it! I am happy with the players we have (albeit our striking options) and am excited about the squad potential for years to come.

 

I just feel that 4-2-3-1 might not be the solution for next season! i would like to see 4-3-3 come back giving us some more attacking options!

 

This season its been about either playing the counter attack or getting our creative wing players to run down the line and either aimlessly cross to our strik.../*blank* or try and run it in the box and shoot....

 

I agree with JM, attacking players MUST have defensive duties, HOWEVER not 2 yards from our goal! The team Should defend collectively but in their respective zones! I for one don't blame Hazard for the Atletico goal, not his job really; and here were lies the conundrum, if the WHOLE team is expected to defend, confusion on role and responsibility, in the heat on the moment get skewed. And when we do get the ball back, our defenders (which is predominately 9 men) look up to one lonesome strik../*blank* and either punt it up there or try and run it all the way back up field to where we get in the same situation i spoke of above....

 

Lets be honest here, our back 5 (whatever permutation they may be) is as solid as a rock (when focused and hungry!) Adding Courtois, Zouma, Van Aanholt etc... as options will only make it stronger - Let them be the 1st of our defense! let them defend! I would be happier to see Azpi and Ivan not go SO far forward all the time (no much good it has done for us really) and defend!

 

So that leads to the front 6.

 

whether its 3-3 or 2-3-1 or 2-2-2 or 1-1-3 I leave that to JM and truly believe these 6 need to be versatile and flexible, whilst keeping their core strengths as their primary driver. Adapt to the game, morph when needed etc...

 

So my 1st 11 lineup for next season, which will morph and change shape to adapt to opponents, games, scores and even Jose' whim:

 

 

                   Courtois/Cech

Ivan       Gary        JT/Zouma       Azpi / Bertrand 

                      Matic

     

      Willian                      Frank / Van Ginkel

                Oscar         Hazard

               *Beast of a Striker*

 

 

There you have it! 

Edited May 7, 201412 yr by ButchersHook

Need Azpi to play RB in my opinion this season. Iva has to be CB and a backup RB. His crossing just isn't good enough, and dont forget Azpi hit that excellent cut-back for Torres to score our first against Atleti.  The ball always seems to find its way to Ivanovic in acres of space but we can't use that to our advantage.

It all boils down to Chelsea having an unbalanced side, without a striker who can keep possession (or score goals), and with attacking players that are defensively light weight. Jose knew this from the beginning, and that's why, despite the ups and downs of the season, he never ever changed his tune about this being a transition season with different targets (i.e. top three rather than serious ambitions of major honors). Even after the damp squib of a draw against Norwich City on the weekend, he didn't sound as much disappointed that we were for all intents and purposes out of the running, as he sounded almost content we had (just about) secured third place and automatic group stage in next year's Champions League. When you start the season with the handicap of no real goal-getter, you know that any sort of success is going to be borne of hard work and defensive solidity. Jose is nothing if not a practical man. He plays the team to its strengths. He has always said this; it should come to no surprise to anyone. But the dramatic media with a chip on their shoulder due to their allegiances are always going to go looking for some sort of "problem" with Chelsea where there isn't one.

 

I have never had a problem with Chelsea being a solid defensive side first and foremost, and then unlocking defenses with sheer will power, and the physical prowess and skills of our attacking players. I actually quite enjoy this identity of being a solid, tenacious and physical team that is more than a match for anyone, including the Barcelona's and Bayern Munich's of this world, who just about every team goes into matches against as clear under dogs. We always get underneath these teams' skins because we don't conform to any notion that you should bow down and get slaughtered against them. 

 

The problem with this season is that (1) we don't have that striker that can get us goals to unlock tight defenses, which is the difference of turning draws and close defeats into valuable points, and (2) our new generation of key attacking men lack the experience, discipline and composure in tight situations, making errors that are the difference between success and failure. I am talking about, for example, Hazard's lack of awareness to allow his defender to get in behind him and knock the ball back across the face of goal for Atletico's equalizer. He can complain all he likes about our lack of attacking ambition, but if he had done his job and we had held that lead getting to half time, we could quite conceivably be booking our tickets to Portugal for the final. It is this attention to detail and tactical awareness that is going to be key as we move forward. Jose knew this at the beginning of the season, and this is why he said it is a transition year for us.

 

Another problem is maybe our lack of squad depth. We suffered key injuries at key moments that have surely played their part. An absolutely solid defensive unit had to be pretty much "overhauled" due to the injuries to Cech and Terry. And don't forget that Hazard was also out for a while, and Oscar was out pretty much for the home stretch. And with Matic and Salah being ineligible for Europe, we were stretched thin. 

 

I believe with this season under our belts, and it is nothing to be sniffed at (we cantered to a third place finish despite our limitations and problems rather than are having to sweat it going into the final games; and we're not even completely out of the league title race based on mathematics going into our final match), and strengthening the squad in key areas, I do believe we will come back much stronger.

 

So, no, I don't have any concerns whatsoever about our style of play. That is for those outside the club to worry about. I have the utmost faith and confidence in Jose to lead us to glory. What I do wish is that we had full backs (and wingers) that can cross a ball, and a striker who didn't hide when the going gets tough. And that is why I am not unhappy to read rumors of our interest in the likes of Luke Shaw and Diego Costa. But I don't believe that will be enough. While I like some of what I've seen of Oscar, he has not been completely reliable and we have lost something through the middle when we needed to take games by the scruff of the neck. Matic is one of our new untouchables, but the other two places are up for grabs. I'd love it if we got someone who knew how to shoot from distance like Lamps used to do at the peak of his powers because the threat creates space by pulling defenders into areas they don't want to go, and the shots on target lead either to goals or opportunities for team mates. Don't get me started on the shooting abilities of David Luiz and Ramires from similar positions. Maybe we'll see more from Marco van Ginkel, but this is definitely another area we need to strengthen.

 

Cheers,

 

Butch

Half the time people can't even get the style we play right.

 

Second leg against atletico, still being accused of not playing football, only doing counter attacking bla bla. Just before the Equaliser we were pushing 70% possession.

 

So many games we didn't play counter attacking yet constantly get accused of doing so like it's bad while the real counter attacking side liverpool get lauded. Same as madrid. They got praised for their performance against Bayern while we get sh*t on no matter what we do.

Edited May 7, 201412 yr by Stim

Jose has applied tactics to get results. He clearly felt from the outset that we were short in certain departments and for that reason we have exceeded expectations.

However, needing to beat Sunderland and Norwich at home, Liverpool and Cardiff away to win the Premiership and Athletico at home to reach the Champions League Final - it must be said Jose has not got the best out of the lads.

In all honesty whatever tactic wouldn't have beaten Athletico they are a superior team.

But having beaten Liverpool I believe no excuses can be made for not wrapping up the title with it in our own hands.

In light of the experience of certain players, our lack of goals and our defensive strength, I think Jose made the right decision in adopting a defensive strategy for the key games this season. I really commend Jose for largely solidifying our defence this season, something that I was eager to see from August onwards. We're much harder to beat than we were last season, and the Ivanovic-Cahill-Terry-Dave axis looks formidable at times. I also think that, in the big games, especially away from home, Jose is right to set us up in the defensive way that he has, given our lack of threat up front.

 

However, I can't help but feel that the focus given to defending as a collective unit has blunted our attacking midfielders in attack somewhat. There are times when I feel that the AM's focus so much defensively that, when we win the ball, we don't have enough energy to launch any incisive attacks. How often do you see our attacks just fall apart, be it due to an inaccurate pass, cross or the lack of any real ideas? I really think that Jose needs unleash the AM's a little more next year, perhaps not in the biggest games but certainly against teams not in the hunt for European qualification and above.

 

In addition, Jose must give the full backs more licence to attack, especially when we are struggling against an opposition that defends deep. Attacking fullbacks create overlaps and pull defenders out of position, something which would help us a lot IMO against the parked bus. I'd like to see Dave at RB and a left footed LB next year, especially when we're at home against mediocre opponents. For me, Dave should only play LB in big games away from home where our defensive qualities are paramount.

 

Overall, I'd like to see us attack more next season, but whilst retaining the collective defensive quality that we've developed this season. With the tweaks that I've mentioned above, added to a genuine no.9 and a centre mid that can pick a pass and offer a goalscoring threat, I think we can find the optimal medium. A more rounded squad will give Jose more scope to adopt different tactics for different opposition.

Edited May 7, 201412 yr by Celery1989

Don't read them but saw it on Sky, a couple of red tops called our team "Jose's Chelsea flops" ... yes flops !

 

Talksh*te, sky, bbc pundits et al are all going on about the best manager this season, seems to be Pullis and Rogers are firm favorites. Don't get me wrong outside Chelsea I think they have both done remarkably well. However the real skill (and Fergie used to go on about this) is the balance between Champions League and League, Jose came close in both, hardly flops, using a style of play that he utilised our playing staff the best way possible (as a few have said in this thread) . For me Jose has been the best manager this season and by far,  I reckon Manure, Citeh Scum, Arse would now walk over hot coals to to have him as their manager, and wouldn't give a monkeys how they played.

^^^^

 

Yes, and as I said somewhere else, the media can't wait for Arsenal to win the FA cup so they can ram Jose's specialist in failure remark about Wenger, down his throat...We finish the season on a similar amount of points to City and Liverpool, and no one is calling them flops.

 

I will take that, and enjoy the memories of thrashing Arsenal, coming back against PSG and of course, Stevie G slipping on his ar*e...

There is an excellent analysis of Jose's view on big games in here:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/01/the-question-is-this-the-end-for-tiki-taka-football

 

"1) The game is won by the team who commits fewer errors. 2) Football favours whoever provokes more errors in the opposition. 3) Away from home, instead of trying to be superior to the opposition, it's better to encourage their mistakes. 4) Whoever has the ball is more likely to make a mistake. 5) Whoever renounces possession reduces the possibility of making a mistake. 6) Whoever has the ball has fear. 7) Whoever does not have it is thereby stronger."

 

 

I do believe that Jose's approach is negative in big games when necessary. I remember him saying after the FA Cup final in 2007, that he said to the players before the match "if we really want to win, we can do it for sure this way" It was ugly but we won. 

 

Now when that doesn't come off like last week, you get criticism but it works more often than it doesn't.

 

Key for us is how we break down teams like Sunderland, Palace, Norwich etc. which has been our failure. That is the difference between this team and 2004-05. Robben, Duff, Drogba, Eidur,  Frank and Cole were able to tear teams apart when needed. That is what we need to find, and the key as people are saying is a striker and a bit more growth from our three behind the striker. 

 

I want us to be more positive in the games that we need to be, but I don't have an issue with the current approach in the big games, because it gets results.

Edited May 7, 201412 yr by Spiller86

Too right, I'd rather turn over the Liverpools, City's and Arsenals etc, than efficiently get past Norwich and Sunderland...In an ideal World we'd be thrashing all comers, but it just didn't happen this season.... Anyway, hopefully next season we will see Mourinho's undoubted masterplan come to fruition...

This was Jose speaking ahead of the second leg against Atletico:

 

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho mocks critics of his tactics as 'stupid, football philosophers'

Blues' boss warms up for second leg of Champions League semi against Atletico Madrid by insisting playing to your team's strengths is just common sense

 

"Football's full of philosophers. People who understand much more than me, with fantastic theories"

Jose Mourinho has slammed the “stupid†football “philosophers†who do not realise the game is about playing to your strengths.

As Mourinho revealed Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had contacted him to clear the air after he savaged Chelsea’s approach in winng 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, the Blues' boss laid into his critics.

Mourinho, who has John Terry, Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o fit for Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final second leg at home to Atletico Madrid, said: “You know, at this moment, football is full of philosophers - people who understand much more than me, people with fantastic theories and philosophies.

“It’s amazing. But the reality is always the reality: A team that doesn’t defend well or doesn’t score lots of goals, if they concede lots of goals, is completely in trouble. A team without balance is not a team.

“When they have the ball, we have to try and stop them scoring. When we have the ball, we want to try and score. This is football - the football that I know.

“I remember saying in my first period here, If you have a goalkeeper like Petr Cech who puts the ball in the opponents’ box, and a striker like Didier Drogba who wins everything in the air, why play short? Because you are stupid?

"If your opponents are very fast on the counter and want space behind your defensive line, if you give them that space you are stupid.

“It seems that 10, 20, 30 years ago, when a team plays strategically, thinking about their team and the qualities of the opponent, it was ‘good, intelligent’ football. But now, at this moment, depending on the coach and the club obviously, the critics speak.â€

Rodgers had been among those critics, accusing Chelsea of “parking two buses†against his Liverpool team, and suggesting “anybody†could coach those tactics.

But Mourinho revealed that Rodgers, who was on his Stamford Bridge staff during his first spell as the Blues' manager, contacted him on Tuesday in a series of text messages to end any bad blood.

“Brendan is somebody I consider my friend,†he said. “I know what he said after the match, but I also know his words today.

“He told me congratulations for a great victory and a great performance. So, because I consider him a friend, someone I like, I prefer to forget his words after the match and keep today’s words.

“Brendan is an intelligent guy. He watched the match for sure on video and, now, I think he understood what happened.â€

 

________________________________________________________________

 

Stupid football philosophers says Jose, and he's spot on. The media is full of them.Overpaid hacks and vultures utterly devoid of managerial or any other genuine ability, Internet experts, social-media w**kers whose expertise is gained via the self same media and from playing various management simulation game.

 

f**k 'em all.

 

 

I agree with some of the stuff they said in that video mostly about Azpi playing RW instead of Schurrle but also they said a load of rubbish aswell. People always talk about the way his Inter team played and were setup in the second leg however people never mention the way they played in the first leg which they won 3-1. His Real Madrid team scored over 100 goals in his second season. Mourinho teams usually get better season by season Simeone has had that team together for 3 years it makes a difference, give Mourinho 3 years at Chelsea and he will build a good team. Simeone has done a great job with a tight budget at Madrid so did Mourinho at Porto, its not easy to keep clean sheets and defend well because if it was why doesn't everyone defend well?. Most football fans and so called experts are so fickle when it comes to results you can literally go from one week being a good manager to the next an average one.

You cant win the CL every f**king season. We got to a CL semi final and lost to a very good team who may go onto win La Liga and the CL, it happens hardly a crime or a disaster. Madrid in the past 11 years have spent about a billion pounds,sacked every manager in the sun and all they have to show for is one final which is this season, shows you how hard it is to win it.

Couldn't agree more with all of that. Brilliantly put.

even if upon his return he had somehow waved a magic wand and Chelsea produced champagne footy and won a cup

or 2 the media slags would still find a way to make him the spoiler of modern football

 

personally I enjoyed this season, I never imagined Mourinho would ever return and had accepted the endless merry go round of

managers, the insanity of appointing Avram & Scolari and the firing of Carlo & RDM.

 

Rome wasnt built in a day right ? what the club needs is a period of stability, form a true identity, move on and then move in the right

players while complying with FFP and it may as well be Jose that anchors that stability.

 

I can write a farkin essay on what worked and what didnt work, the strenghths and weknesses of the squad as it performed over this

soon to end season, but the main thing is Chelsea are back fighting for honors going toe to toe with the other big prem & European clubs

 

whatever style of play we have seen unfold, In happy with it - knowing that for certain it will improve next season if Jose stays and

makes his changes to the squad

 

imagine if we hadnt complied with FFP, like City who may do a double but will be fined heavily and their CL squad perhaps limited to 21

then we would have something to moan about and not look forward to

I think Jose's hand was forced somewhat with the strikers we have to play the way we have been. Ray Charles can see our strikers are awful. Next season or possibly the one after that is when Mour should be judged and our football will have improved. Ive been happy with most of our performances, even the 0-0's vs Norwich. Yes is frustrating to draw against teams like that but look at how close we've been to an amazing season with strikers surplus to requirements and 'parking the bus' every game as the media would like us to believe

What a laugh, listening to Brady saying Mourinho can't break teams down. Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0 anyone?