I think the amount of games we've had to play is an excuse that a lot of people ridecule, but it does have a massive effect on fatigue. Also someone previously on this thread said about not having a full strength squad for a while, which is bound to have an effect on consistent performances. We have only lost three games this season which is marvellous, and we should be very proud. Yet, we must not forget that only three players in our entire squad have won a premier league trophy with Chelsea. We have a young squad where a lot of the players don't have the experience of winning a premier league, which does wonders for a players confidence and also makes it easier for them to do it again the next time around.

 

Last season we were lacking that cutting edge and in almost every game this season, we've had that killer instinct. This side is not perfect yet but with every win and every game it grows in experience and confidence, that's why I think if we win the league this season, the experience will stay with the players forever, and with a manager like Mourinho with a squad who knows how to win a league, we could continue winning it for a long time

I think like others have mentioned, we lack squad depth, and this has meant Mourinho has relied heavily on 11/12 players, and fatigue is setting in at the wrong time.

At the moment I'd say there's only really hazard, zouma, Terry and Ivanovic that are in form. Matic was getting back to his best, but cesc and costa haven't been as good since they were out the team with injuries/suspensions.

We have a thin squad at the moment and centre midfield is real worry, as ramires and mikel are such a drop in quality when they come. I'd even say up top remy and drogba, are not good enough to put a little competitive kick up costa's arse.

The plus side of having a thin squad should be more opportunities for the young players, and Zouma has really stepped up. I think ake could do the same and get himself ahead of Mikel and ramires in the pecking order, but he hasn't had the opportunity. Maybe if Matic is suspended, it could be the chance every youngster needs.

I still think that we can win the league this year, but we really need fabregas, Oscar, and costa to start putting in dominant displays.

 

I think that's a great point, and to bring it into scarily stark reality....

 

Our 11 most-used players have played at least 1629 minutes in the league.

 

Our 12th most-used player (Filipe Luis) has played.....668 minutes!!

 

11 players have played at least almost 1000 minutes more than the 12th most used player. That's horrendous.

 

 

 

Man City by contrast have 17 players who have played more than 668 minutes. 

 

We have no squad depth.

Edited February 23, 201511 yr by Blue Daze

We have squad depth, Jose is just reluctant to use it. The likes of Loftus-Cheek and Ake just haven't been given the opportunity, despite, in my opinion, being good enough.

We have squad depth, Jose is just reluctant to use it. The likes of Loftus-Cheek and Ake just haven't been given the opportunity, despite, in my opinion, being good enough.

They are in no way good enough to be rotating with the likes of Matic and Fabregas.

We have squad depth, Jose is just reluctant to use it. The likes of Loftus-Cheek and Ake just haven't been given the opportunity, despite, in my opinion, being good enough.

 

Ake yes, Loftus-Cheek I'm not sure about yet.

 

The fact that we're talking about these guys and not Mikel and Ramires is worrying though. Absolutely pointless players in this squad at the moment.

I don't think you can talk about our recent form without addressing the elephant in the room: the referees and the media campaign against us. Diego was clearly off his form in the last 2 games and why was that? Because he was banned for 3 games as a result of the media campaign against him.

 

But even before the Costa ban the tactic that teams are using against Chelsea is to foul the sh*t out of Hazard and Costa. It's been going on all season and because we get no protection from referees, it's working. Teams are allowed to kick lumps out of us, stop shots with their arms, rugby tackle us on corner kicks and push Diego over in the box and nothing happens. The Burnley match was a disgrace, but I think the PSG match was equally bad. As an example, Ibrahimovic hacked down Hazard from behind to stop an early counter attack and Veratti cynically tripped him to stop an attack. Both instances were the clearest yellow card offenses you'll ever see and the ref let them go. An early yellow card for Veratti would have changed that game. Letting him off set a precedent and PSG continued with their tactic of cynical fouling at every opportunity. The ref lost control of the game and Hazard was lucky not to have been injured by a dangerous lunge from Veratti later on.

 

The way the referees are calling Chelsea matches, it's as if we're required to play to an even higher standard to overcome all the fouls, handballs and cynical tackles are opponents are allowed. It's bad for football. How many neutrals want to watch a weakened Chelsea due to Matic's suspension take on Tottenham in the cup final? Not many. Everyone wants to see two full strength teams have it out on the pitch and may the better side win. We're not getting that at the moment. We're getting disgraceful results like the draw with Burnley.

Lets not put ourselves down completely here, we played well against Burnley, not going to blame the bad decisions for everything but it played a big factor in it, I can't even give Burnley any credit for that point, completely undeserved.

 

But still that's just one game, look at all the other games I can only say Swansea was one we really performed in. I thought we were below par overall in the Semi Final legs, we didn't perform to standard against PSG couldn't string more than 3 passes together. Man City game we were very tired but again getting a draw out of that game was a relief, Tottenham game I don't even need to comment. Everton game not good enough although to give credit Everton are a good side and we did make some good counters in the first half but we were indeed lucky to get 3 points in the end. Also of course Aston Villa game, they may have been an awful side but they do always raise there game for us, I think we did well to win the battle I don't have to many complaints we were always going to struggle there but the 3 points is no less than expected under the circumstances at the time.

 

That's every game for me so far without bringing up referee decisions. Not a good standard of performances at all really, 2015 has been poor so far, had it not of been for City being completely sh*t in January we would have spoken more about these performances, it's obviously distracted us.

 

We have to turn this around and with losing Matic you really do start to think otherwise don't you, we can only hope.

I think that's a great point, and to bring it into scarily stark reality....

Our 11 most-used players have played at least 1629 minutes in the league.

Our 12th most-used player (Filipe Luis) has played.....668 minutes!!

11 players have played at least almost 1000 minutes more than the 12th most used player. That's horrendous.

Man City by contrast have 17 players who have played more than 668 minutes.

We have no squad depth.

That is quite astounding really.

I don't think that having a thinis squad is necessarily a bad thing with the amount of quality young players we have, but I think the senior players we do have, need to be Good enough to provide competion for the starting 11, and not be a massive drop in quality when they play.

In defence and at gk, we have the balance right imo, but we'd be better off replacing ramires and mikel with 1 world class midfielder, and replacing drogba and remy with 1 world class striker, and then use ake and bamford.

That is quite astounding really.

I don't think that having a thinis squad is necessarily a bad thing with the amount of quality young players we have, but I think the senior players we do have, need to be Good enough to provide competion for the starting 11, and not be a massive drop in quality when they play.

In defence and at gk, we have the balance right imo, but we'd be better off replacing ramires and mikel with 1 world class midfielder, and replacing drogba and remy with 1 world class striker, and then use ake and bamford.

 

Absolutely agree. Long-term we need to replace JT but at the moment we have a great unit who can fit in at a number of positions. Midfield and attack needs overhauling and young players need to be used. Maybe if Ake had a few more minutes this season then we wouldn't be in such a position with the absence of Matic.

Our midfield has been an issue for years, however we started strengthening there when we signed Matic, then even better when we got Fabregas.

 

Mikel hasn't developed the way many thought he would, in my opinion I don't think he's worth the contract, I would much rather sell him off and get a player like Imbula with something to prove, someone who actually has ambition.

 

A world class centre mid isn't so easy though, there are good quality midfielders out there but they aren't so easy to just sign. For example Strootman? Seems to have a lot of talent however United have been after him and Roma aren't even accepting bids in the early 30 million range it seems. That's if the reports are to be believed anyhow.

 

Ramires has been absolutely useless since coming back from injury, I don't like him in the central midfield at all to be honest, I don't think he can handle that responsibility, he's just not good enough on the ball.

 

I think it's fairly obvious central midfielders are priority in the next window, but even that's jumping the gun, I think we will sign 1 at most, which to be fair I can live with but the first player who should be off is Mikel.

strootman is seriously overhyped.

I think that's a great point, and to bring it into scarily stark reality....

 

Our 11 most-used players have played at least 1629 minutes in the league.

 

Our 12th most-used player (Filipe Luis) has played.....668 minutes!!

 

11 players have played at least almost 1000 minutes more than the 12th most used player. That's horrendous.

 

 

 

Man City by contrast have 17 players who have played more than 668 minutes. 

 

We have no squad depth.

It's not solely about squad depth I think. We could rotate more and we could give more time to the academy players.

At times it seems to me that there is no competition for places in the squad. 

 

Technically I also feel that we lack some precision in the final third. There is often an interception when a good chance is only 1-2 passes away. 

strootman is seriously overhyped.

He is actually finished. We shouldn't touch him at all. He has had and still has a massive injury which will last more than a year.

They are in no way good enough to be rotating with the likes of Matic and Fabregas.

We wouldn't know until they are played regular, sorry but I just don't think Jose trusts young players.

You look at Liverpool with Sterling and now Ibe, Spurs with Kane, Mason & Bentaleb. I don't buy the idea that our young players do better at youth level but don't cut it at the top.

We wouldn't know until they are played regular, sorry but I just don't think Jose trusts young players.

You look at Liverpool with Sterling and now Ibe, Spurs with Kane, Mason & Bentaleb. I don't buy the idea that our young players do better at youth level but don't cut it at the top.

He's done well with Zouma to be fair although granted he never came through our system and we spent a fair bit on him.

I think Spurs and Liverpool have very different expectations than Chelsea though so it's easier to bleed in their youth than it is here to a certain extent.

I agree though that we really need to trust our youth set up, Jose did say our youth was our way forward when he joined again.

strootman is seriously overhyped.

I think axel witsel would be perfect as he us a bit of a cross between matic and fabregas, and will play well with them both.

Liverpool won't beat City! Bookmark this!

I think axel witsel would be perfect as he us a bit of a cross between matic and fabregas, and will play well with them both.

Exactly who I would suggest. Nice tidy player, strong physical edge but could be expensive.

Easy to say a player isn't good enough when they aren't even getting a chance. I can't see Ake or RLC costing us big time if given the opportunity. They can't be any worse than mikel. If Ibe can work for Pool then why not RLC or Ake for us?

I trust Jose but I really hope he knows what he is doing.

I wouldn't expect Witsel to be too expensive. Been on Russia for some period of time now, and you can't really raise your price playing in that league. I like him.

Exactly who I would suggest. Nice tidy player, strong physical edge but could be expensive.

Now we've sorted out the midfield for next season, what would you do in the striker department assuming drogba leaves? Id like to see us go with costa /lacazette /bamford.

^ I reckon we just need 2 top forwards who "compete" for one spot with no preferential treatment (Bamford is better off on loan), so either one of Lacazette/Icardi would do to challenge Costa for a starting spot.

We have bigger problems in our band of 3 behind the forward; Hazard is brilliant, Oscar too inconsistent, Willian is not good enough and as things stand Cuadrado "needs time". I would argue City, Arsenal, maybe Liverpool and Utd if LVG got his act together have more productive options than us.

I think we definitely need a proper winger, that's a must in my opinion.

Another quality striker, CB and Midfielder are also needed.

Now we've sorted out the midfield for next season, what would you do in the striker department assuming drogba leaves? Id like to see us go with costa /lacazette /bamford.

 

Lacazette is someone I've thought we could be in for. I've suggested Benteke if he was cheap enough as well, but that's obviously a bit of a punt on current form. I'd certainly like to see Bamford promoted and he also gives us a wide option.

We wouldn't know until they are played regular, sorry but I just don't think Jose trusts young players.

You look at Liverpool with Sterling and now Ibe, Spurs with Kane, Mason & Bentaleb. I don't buy the idea that our young players do better at youth level but don't cut it at the top.

 

Do they get played in the first time then look good or do they look good then get played in the first team.

 

Although this trusting young players thing, does Zouma not count again? Can never tell when he counts as youth and when he doesn't.

Edited February 24, 201511 yr by Stim