Yes I agree, but where's the team of last years winners, I personally think JTs apparent dip has spooked the team, he is the glue ang Jose seems to have lost faith.

Yes I agree, but where's the team of last years winners, I personally think JTs apparent dip has spooked the team, he is the glue ang Jose seems to have lost faith.

 

We started the season really well, we got ourselves pretty far out in front and so there wasn't the same type of pressure on the team there is now. 

 

The showed in the Champions League signs of that mental fragility and obviously the quality of our performances rapidly dipped after Spurs gave us a thumping on News Years. 

 

That general lack of confidence has carried over into the new season I don't think there are enough big personalities in the squad to help dig us out. 

 

We've lost Cech and Drogba from last year and I think their absence is being felt in the squad/dressing room. 

 

Since Jose returned we've lost Cole, Lampard, Cech and Drogba and now JT is sitting out games too. 

 

That's a huge hunk of a team that has been the spine of our team over the last 10+ years and I think we've struggled to replace them all. 

So who is there who can really take the places of the important players we've lost?

 

Stones is one we obviously will still be trying to sign, but I know nothing about his personality, is he a leader?

 

Loftus-Cheek doesn't strike me as that kind of player, he is quite quiet and reserved in games often.

I keep wondering about Charlie Austin, mixed feelings though.

So who is there who can really take the places of the important players we've lost?

 

Stones is one we obviously will still be trying to sign, but I know nothing about his personality, is he a leader?

 

Loftus-Cheek doesn't strike me as that kind of player, he is quite quiet and reserved in games often.

 

Quite honestly I don't know if it's a quick fix but we seem to have let a lot of big personalities go but the lads who have come in are very quiet by comparison. 

 

I like Gary Cahill for example but he's not a leader by any means and he doesn't have the on pitch presence that the likes of Carvalho, Gallas or Luiz did. 

 

I think the scouts do very well at targeting young players and it's helped us buy players for the long term rather than short but I think that shift in focus has been at a cost. 

 

I don't think we've balanced out letting go of big figures in the clubs recent history. Lampard went but no one replaced him in the dressing room Ramires and Mikel aren't leaders despite the amount of time they've been here... No one seems to be assuming the responsibility in the dressing room. 

I keep wondering about Charlie Austin, mixed feelings though.

He'd be a major improvement on Falcao

Wisey has got a terrific new hairstyle these days, it looks like a dodgy syrup

Reminds me of a lego man. 

He'd be a major improvement on Falcao

Can see Remy going in January, then is the time to move for Austin. Provided jose would actually use him of course. We have seen even a 21mill full back cannot get games under Jose.

Costa reminds me of a less mature ballack, or rather like wisey at times.

Not sure who else would offer that. Disappointing to say but you expect more leadership and passion from brana, cahill, Dave, cesc, matic and hazard than we are getting.

More so than skill we need to look for new leaders in January. People Jose would play, believe in him and draw in to what he says. Basically a new jt, lamps, cech, Ricky, essien etc.

Under Jose the first time round we had an English backbone, Terry in his prime, Lampard in his prime, Joe Cole in his prime, who all loved the club, then we added Ashley Cole to the back four, they we're all passionate players. Now we have two English players in the first eleven and we're not even sure about their futures, the other one hardly gets a look in at this stage and although talented, Rubén doesn't strike me as the passionate/aggressive type, besides English players we're clearly missing players like Essien and Makelele, Matic is very good, but I would take Essien or Maka over him. We should definitely have a look at bringing in some more aggressive players next season, as long as they can channel that aggression.

Edited October 6, 201510 yr by Floyd25

i just read a good point by Capello, where he claims, the players are "Burnt out", which could actually be a solid assessment, we know Jose hardly tinkered with the starting XI last season??

Terry

Drogba

Cech?

Essien

Ballack

Carvalho?

Most, if not all, were captains either for their national teams or previous clubs. It always used to strike me as something very unique about the team when watching.

Many players who were used to taking responsibility

We had Lampard also who was a different type of leader.