We certainly done some strange things in the transfer market in the last 2 years. All of a sudden we changed from the big spender to money maker. It's not just we didn't sign any big name player, we sold good players and cut depth out of first team. Now we have 11 senior players plus some long term injuries, and kids in the team, it's just ridiculous. I don't think Roman is short on $, or the FFP is really killing us. My guess is his somehow the people around him pushed through the idea that we could achieve great things with 11 senior players and a bunch of kids. I expect this to change comes July through. We won't be able to sign Pogba or Bale, but we will get some decent players and more squad players

Roman anticipated our academy to produce top level players so he wouldnt have to spend 100m every summer. As of now that hasnt worked out. The squad isnt up to snuff. Interesting to see where we go and how we handle this summer.

I think everyone wants to see us produce academy players that become top players for the club but the best chance to allow that to happen is to have managerial stability.

 

However, Roman's impulsiveness to sack managers and become knee-jerk in troubling times is why no manager of this club will dare to take a risk and to play the youth players on a regular basis if it is to the detriment of our short-term prospects but has long-term benefits. It's the board's fault that they're created this mentality and culture for our managers.

 

Our style of play and our goals seem to be constantly changing every year and the club seems to lack the foresight or ambition to plan long-term and to stick with it and that's why we're in this mess.

 

I really thought re-installing Mourinho as manager would create this long-term vision but it didn't work and the club's reluctance to see this through and instead take the easy option out will be our undoing for years to come.

 

An extensive rebuild is required in all facets of the club. The board needs to start growing up and planning long-term, we need competent coaching staff that will be backed by the board with a long-term plan and we need an overhaul of our squad and bring in guys who want to play here and have the desire to succeed here because at the moment this squad lacks leaders and is mentally weak even if it possesses a world of talent.

Edited March 10, 201610 yr by Jezz

As I've said in many other threads, we are in this position because of Jose.

Roman gave him the reigns of player recruitment (certainly in his first 2 years) and player sales. He sold bright hungry talents and signed 2 Spanish stars who don't really care anymore.

When you add it all up you can see how this was Jose's doing. Pulled a fit just because he couldn't spend huge sums of money to retain the league or even CHALLENGE THE TOP 4!!

All he had to do was accept that for this season as least in not being able to spend and manage his current squad as best he could. He failed miserably and the fall out with Eva certainly had an impact.

Jose really is a self centred egotistical man. Only thinks about himself yet people still bow to his every word.

As I've said in many other threads, we are in this position because of Jose.

Roman gave him the reigns of player recruitment (certainly in his first 2 years) and player sales. He sold bright hungry talents and signed 2 Spanish stars who don't really care anymore.

When you add it all up you can see how this was Jose's doing. Pulled a fit just because he couldn't spend huge sums of money to retain the league or even CHALLENGE THE TOP 4!!

All he had to do was accept that for this season as least in not being able to spend and manage his current squad as best he could. He failed miserably and the fall out with Eva certainly had an impact.

Jose really is a self centred egotistical man. Only thinks about himself yet people still bow to his every word.

Posting the same thing in every single thread, whether related or not, and expecting people to keep reading it over and over may be described as 'egotistical' by you. We get your point. you hate Jose. Give it a rest now

I actually don't hate Jose. I'm just so annoyed at the situation he caused.

Konakai Blue (that name does amuse me....a Konakai Blue of all things) I absolutely get why you feel the way you feel and there's not a person here who will say Jose is blameless. You're right, he should've managed the squad better rather than get frustrated at the board weakening it. He shouldn't have said any number of things. You've got a great point and I understand why it's easier to blame Jose because he's gone. If he's gone then everything can get 'back to normal'.

 

But what if he isn't the problem?

 

What if the problem lies elsewhere, further up the club? You've mentioned that we amassed all these great young talents, and then allowed Jose to sell them. Is that his fault? Why did he sell them? Because he needed to so he could bring in players to fit a different system. What was the result? A title in his second year.

 

That was what he was told to do wasn't it? Win?

 

But what about the person who went from one aim (nurturing young, more technical players) to another (win NOW goddammit) over night? Does he get a free pass?

 

Like I said, I get why you blame Jose but if you care about the club and it's future I think you've got to look beyond that, at the people still in positions of responsibility at the club and ask yourself if you trust them.

Konakai Blue (that name does amuse me....a Konakai Blue of all things) I absolutely get why you feel the way you feel and there's not a person here who will say Jose is blameless. You're right, he should've managed the squad better rather than get frustrated at the board weakening it. He shouldn't have said any number of things. You've got a great point and I understand why it's easier to blame Jose because he's gone. If he's gone then everything can get 'back to normal'.

But what if he isn't the problem?

What if the problem lies elsewhere, further up the club? You've mentioned that we amassed all these great young talents, and then allowed Jose to sell them. Is that his fault? Why did he sell them? Because he needed to so he could bring in players to fit a different system. What was the result? A title in his second year.

That was what he was told to do wasn't it? Win?

But what about the person who went from one aim (nurturing young, more technical players) to another (win NOW goddammit) over night? Does he get a free pass?

Like I said, I get why you blame Jose but if you care about the club and it's future I think you've got to look beyond that, at the people still in positions of responsibility at the club and ask yourself if you trust them.

I do care about that club that's why I was livid when fans were saying they would rather get relegated with Jose than sack him and survive.

You are right we do have problems at board level but w will never be perfect. No club is. Before the Swansea game there really want much wrong. A bad season should be finishing 4th-6th.

If you have a problem it's with Roman and not with his yes men who he will always employ. Regardless our board have made more good decisions than bad imo.

I do care about that club that's why I was livid when fans were saying they would rather get relegated with Jose than sack him and survive.

 

 

I think that was borne out of a desire for the club to stick with something we believed in rather than do what we always do. With Jose there was a genuine connection and when there's that feeling there, you're more willing to support that person. As it is we really don't have anyone at the club that we feel that with now, especially with JT being let go.

 

You are right we do have problems at board level but w will never be perfect. No club is. Before the Swansea game there really want much wrong. A bad season should be finishing 4th-6th.

 

So if we're never going to be perfect we shouldn't try and fix things? Why not strive for perfection, or excellence, or decent, or maybe just competent?

 

If you have a problem it's with Roman and not with his yes men who he will always employ. Regardless our board have made more good decisions than bad imo.

 

Well I think that's evident from the title of this thread. Roman is where the buck ultimately lies and if his people fail, then he bears some of the responsibility. You may tot up the decisions made by the board and it may fall in his favour, but where are we as a club right now? 

 

What do you look at in this group of players and coaches and see as hopeful? In the past we'd look at players like Lamps and JT and know that they got exactly what this club and it's supporters were about. Who are the guardians of that now? 

 

Honestly speaking, who are the people who represent this club's soul and are preventing us from being just another club?

No, the reason we are a mess at the moment is Jose unfortunately, as much as I love the guy the club is in more of a mess now than it was before he arrived.

No, the reason we are a mess at the moment is Jose unfortunately, as much as I love the guy the club is in more of a mess now than it was before he arrived.

 

Before he arrived, the coach was Rafa Benitez, the atmosphere was completely toxic at the club and we had a scattergun approach to buying players which meant we had a lot of 'assets' with potential to play a style of football we weren't currently, as well as players like Demba Ba, Victor Moses and still Torres somehow.

 

Whether people like it or not, under Jose we had a clear style of play and a clear approach to games. 

 

Now we have none of that. When we needed to rejuvenate the squad, rather than Witsels or Pogbas or Stones he was given Djilobodgis and Rahmans (even Guus selected a winger over him) and no midfielders.

 

Even when Mourinho left we were selling experienced players like Ramires and buying in Matt Miazgas (remember him?) and Patos.

 

You say we were a mess because of Jose, so do you trust the people who are left at the club to rebuild us? 

The same people who oversaw the club last year when we did the double?

A bunch of good young players were sold to accommodate 'Mourinho players' and once he pisses them off and Jose's shtick gets old with them they were all exposed as average players. Had we got another manager in after FSW f**ked off, such as Carlo, I'm convinced we would be sitting pretty at the top of the table right now. It says it all about the squad Jose has recruited when fans and pundits are praising them for 5 draws and 1 win in the last 6 home games.

The same people who oversaw the club last year when we did the double?

 

And then this summer weakened the squad. Or hired Benitez. Or sacked Carlo and Butch. Or are refusing to give our skipper a contract. Or tried to f**k over the CPO.

 

If you want to mention the good then mention the bad but I'll ask you this - do you trust this board? If you do then that's fine but what exactly are we as a club? Who is protecting the soul of this club? Michael Emenalo? Granovskaia? The only person I genuinely trust is Dave Barnard.

A bunch of good young players were sold to accommodate 'Mourinho players' and once he pisses them off and Jose's shtick gets old with them they were all exposed as average players. Had we got another manager in after FSW f**ked off, such as Carlo, I'm convinced we would be sitting pretty at the top of the table right now. It says it all about the squad Jose has recruited when fans and pundits are praising them for 5 draws and 1 win in the last 6 home games.

 

Yes we sold young players like Lukaku and Bertrand and De Bruyne - but we also brought in Costa and Fabregas who were key to us winning the league last season.

 

In fact those two have been our best performers this year too. I would've loved to have kept Lukaku around, but I don't think I'd swap him for Costa. Bertrand would've been good as a squad player, but HE wanted first-team football and he wasn't going to get it last season. I don't know what you can do in that situation. De Bruyne didn't want to fight for his spot. People don't like hearing that because he's got great set-piece delivery and again, I'd have loved for him to stick around because I don't think we ever replaced him adequately with Salah, Cuadrado or Pedro.

 

Who else is there though? Josh? Van Aanholt? Romeu? Hazard the Younger?

As I've said in many other threads, we are in this position because of Jose.

Roman gave him the reigns of player recruitment (certainly in his first 2 years) and player sales. He sold bright hungry talents and signed 2 Spanish stars who don't really care anymore.

When you add it all up you can see how this was Jose's doing. Pulled a fit just because he couldn't spend huge sums of money to retain the league or even CHALLENGE THE TOP 4!!

All he had to do was accept that for this season as least in not being able to spend and manage his current squad as best he could. He failed miserably and the fall out with Eva certainly had an impact.

Jose really is a self centred egotistical man. Only thinks about himself yet people still bow to his every word.

Amen. 

It's some sort of hypocrisy to claim that we're not trying young players because Jose was sacked. Jose did virtually nothing to promote young players. In fact he was full of excuses why he didn't use or why he did sell certain very promising, young players. 

Yes we sold young players like Lukaku and Bertrand and De Bruyne - but we also brought in Costa and Fabregas who were key to us winning the league last season.

In fact those two have been our best performers this year too. I would've loved to have kept Lukaku around, but I don't think I'd swap him for Costa. Bertrand would've been good as a squad player, but HE wanted first-team football and he wasn't going to get it last season. I don't know what you can do in that situation. De Bruyne didn't want to fight for his spot. People don't like hearing that because he's got great set-piece delivery and again, I'd have loved for him to stick around because I don't think we ever replaced him adequately with Salah, Cuadrado or Pedro.

Who else is there though? Josh? Van Aanholt? Romeu? Hazard the Younger?

Lukaku, De Bruyne and Mata would have seen us be a top team for years to come and it would have given us a great squad balance, instead we are stuck with glorified 800m runners. Costa's unprofessionalism and Fabregas' year long poor form were 2 of the biggest reasons this season fell apart from the start so do I think overall getting Fabregas and Costa in was worth it? No, I don't.

Lukaku, De Bruyne and Mata would have seen us be a top team for years to come and it would have given us a great squad balance, instead we are stuck with glorified 800m runners. Costa's unprofessionalism and Fabregas' year long poor form were 2 of the biggest reasons this season fell apart from the start so do I think overall getting Fabregas and Costa in was worth it? No, I don't.

 

Lukaku I agree with, but we play with one striker, we have an absolutely brilliant one and we made a huge profit on Lukaku (£16 million or so). I'd have loved to have Lukaku as back-up but he wanted more than that and I respect that, as I do with Bertrand.

 

De Bruyne is a case of what-if. We were overloaded with attacking midfielders because that's all we bought for a while and he wasn't getting enough chances as soon as he wanted. Again, I can understand that and I'd love for him to still be here because Salah, Pedro and Cuadrado simply haven't worked. 

 

Mata I don't agree with. Said it before but he needs a team built around him to get the most out of him and he's just not good enough for a top, top team. I don't know how you fit him in the team with Fabregas and Hazard as your two primary playmakers. Plus the amount of money we got for him was too good to turn down.

 

To Costa and Fabregas's credit, they have at least put in an effort in recent months. Costa got fat and unfit over summer and wasn't ready for the start of the league which is f**king terrible, but at least he's fighting now. Cesc has been brilliant too, and I think that's got a lot to do with what Costa's doing now.

 

But the point is that we kept on buying players for the future, who had appreciating values but couldn't win NOW. The club brought in a coach to win NOW and he did, but then they stopped supporting him. That is the problem. This club doesn't know what it wants and refuses to commit to anything. They can't balance the desire to win now with the patience needed to build something over time and that comes directly from the owner in my opinion.

 

If he wants to reduce costs and build a side slowly then he should say that and we'd accept it, but it's the half-arsed nature of everything and the willingness to tear up plans at the drop of a hat that is causing this club so many problems. Get the right people, let them do their jobs and give them time. Establish a philosophy for what you want Chelsea Football Club to be and stick with it through thick and thin, don't just panic hire when Guardiola rebuffs you for the umpteenth time. 

Edited March 10, 201610 yr by ShedEnder91

The amount of faith I have lost in our team now just goes to show how far we have fallen in such a short space of time. Sure, we put up a kind of performance last night to give the tie a certain amount of respectability, but for me the outcome was never in question. The gulf in class was massive, as were the options on the benches. Can’t recall going into a game like last night where I felt the situation was beyond us.

 

We can thank our continued short-term planning for this current situation. ALWAYS chasing the quick-win – NEVER thinking long-term. Now I think we won’t have any option other than to try and build something over the next few seasons as I don’t see us competing to win the CL any time soon and even the PL is going to be tough ask. The squad needs a MASSIVE overhaul -too much deadwood needs to be moved on. No point listing the players I would look to offload – easier to list the ones to keep.

 

I just hope that the incoming coach has a plan and that it’s a f**king good one.

Lukaku I agree with, but we play with one striker, we have an absolutely brilliant one and we made a huge profit on Lukaku (£16 million or so). I'd have loved to have Lukaku as back-up but he wanted more than that and I respect that, as I do with Bertrand.

 

De Bruyne is a case of what-if. We were overloaded with attacking midfielders because that's all we bought for a while and he wasn't getting enough chances as soon as he wanted. Again, I can understand that and I'd love for him to still be here because Salah, Pedro and Cuadrado simply haven't worked. 

 

Mata I don't agree with. Said it before but he needs a team built around him to get the most out of him and he's just not good enough for a top, top team. I don't know how you fit him in the team with Fabregas and Hazard as your two primary playmakers. Plus the amount of money we got for him was too good to turn down.

 

To Costa and Fabregas's credit, they have at least put in an effort in recent months. Costa got fat and unfit over summer and wasn't ready for the start of the league which is f**king terrible, but at least he's fighting now. Cesc has been brilliant too, and I think that's got a lot to do with what Costa's doing now.

But the point is that we kept on buying players for the future, who had appreciating values but couldn't win NOW. The club brought in a coach to win NOW and he did, but then they stopped supporting him. That is the problem. This club doesn't know what it wants and refuses to commit to anything. They can't balance the desire to win now with the patience needed to build something over time and that comes directly from the owner in my opinion.

 

If he wants to reduce costs and build a side slowly then he should say that and we'd accept it, but it's the half-arsed nature of everything and the willingness to tear up plans at the drop of a hat that is causing this club so many problems. Get the right people, let them do their jobs and give them time. Establish a philosophy for what you want Chelsea Football Club to be and stick with it through thick and thin, don't just panic hire when Guardiola rebuffs you for the umpteenth time. 

I understand why we let Bertand go because he wanted first team football and with Ivan as the best RB in the league and Dave a phenomenal LB it was tough for him.

 

Letting Lukaku go was joke. Ok we made 16m profit but he was being told to compete against Torres, Ba and Jose's golden oldie in Eto.  Jose basically forced Lukaku who deserved better in my opinion.

 

KDB was another massive massive mistake and for Jose not to realise his potential shows his weakness in nurturing young players. We were overloaded with attacking mids but that gave our squad so much depth. The bad thing is Jose kept the work horses and sold the creative talents who score and make goals.

 

Mata could easily work in a top team like Chelsea as he showed. He is a perfect number 10 and creates way more chances than Oscar who Jose trusted because he can track back. Jose soon learned that Oscar isn't consistent enough.

 

Cesc and Costa were brilliant signings especially Costa, but I cant see what Cesc does that Mata couldn't do.

The amount of faith I have lost in our team now just goes to show how far we have fallen in such a short space of time. Sure, we put up a kind of performance last night to give the tie a certain amount of respectability, but for me the outcome was never in question. The gulf in class was massive, as were the options on the benches. Can’t recall going into a game like last night where I felt the situation was beyond us.

 

We can thank our continued short-term planning for this current situation. ALWAYS chasing the quick-win – NEVER thinking long-term. Now I think we won’t have any option other than to try and build something over the next few seasons as I don’t see us competing to win the CL any time soon and even the PL is going to be tough ask. The squad needs a MASSIVE overhaul -too much deadwood needs to be moved on. No point listing the players I would look to offload – easier to list the ones to keep.

 

I just hope that the incoming coach has a plan and that it’s a f**king good one.

 

I think you're panicking too much. We need an overhaul yes but look at every other team around you in the league. None are showing any signs that they are a level above us:

 

Will Leicester finish above us next season? I dont think so

Are Arsenal Liverpool Utd Spurs stronger and better than us? I dont think so

 

Its only City who I class above us and they have never dominated a league campaign. Its up for grabs next season.

 

 

Mata could easily work in a top team like Chelsea as he showed. He is a perfect number 10 and creates way more chances than Oscar who Jose trusted because he can track back. Jose soon learned that Oscar isn't consistent enough.

 

 

We don't play with a number 10. This keeps getting brought up but we don't. Fabregas is a deeplying playmaker and Hazard is given a huge amount of freedom on the left so the '10' (Oscar) becomes a support player for these two. That's why he has to track back and it's also requires him to supplement the press that Costa leads. 

 

Mata is not good at any of that. You have to give him a free role to get the best out of him, but that best isn't good enough for a top club. 

 

Lukaku was sold after we signed Costa. He was loaned when the players you mentioned were here and I agree, he should've been given a chance then. 

 

I think you're panicking too much. We need an overhaul yes but look at every other team around you in the league. None are showing any signs that they are a level above us:

 

 

Who leads the overhaul?

Much depends on how much Roman is willing to put in to sort us out this time around.

We have a new stadium in place which will take a fair amount of his money so will he be willing to spend another 100-150 million on rebuilding our squad…again? (2 years ago we rebuilt with Matic, Costa, Cesc, Tibo, Willian). We all know Roman takes a heavy interest in our youth system and is keen to see it thrive which is bizarre given he sits back and see’s youths like RLC get overlooked.

Conte if it is him should be given full responsibility for transfers and how his first team is built, that’s how it has to be now since we are playing catch up on several fronts…money, stadium, squad, CL etc. It’s going to be a vital season in so many respects.

Pedro for Cuadrado, Moses or Salah. Take your pick. All three doing way better this season than Pedro is.

 

 Pedro for Cuadrado

I understand why we let Bertand go because he wanted first team football and with Ivan as the best RB in the league and Dave a phenomenal LB it was tough for him.

 

Letting Lukaku go was joke. Ok we made 16m profit but he was being told to compete against Torres, Ba and Jose's golden oldie in Eto.  Jose basically forced Lukaku who deserved better in my opinion.

 

KDB was another massive massive mistake and for Jose not to realise his potential shows his weakness in nurturing young players. We were overloaded with attacking mids but that gave our squad so much depth. The bad thing is Jose kept the work horses and sold the creative talents who score and make goals.

 

Mata could easily work in a top team like Chelsea as he showed. He is a perfect number 10 and creates way more chances than Oscar who Jose trusted because he can track back. Jose soon learned that Oscar isn't consistent enough.

 

Cesc and Costa were brilliant signings especially Costa, but I cant see what Cesc does that Mata couldn't do.

With players like Mata and Luiz Chelsea got really good money for them, hopefully we can do the same for Oscar. I would take Mata over Oscar any day of the week, you only need one runner in your team and that's Willian, we need some creativity in the team like a Mata brings.

I was gutted about Luis, quality LB never given a chance by Mourinho, he would be the answer now if only given a chance. Was also disappointed with KDB, played well first game then never got another chance. Don't take long for Mourinho to take a dislike, as much as I love the bloke and stick up for him I do think this is his downfall. Salah, Moses, Lukaku's futures where decided with not much football. Look at Bertrand now, probably England's best LB in my opinion.

We don't play with a number 10. This keeps getting brought up but we don't. Fabregas is a deeplying playmaker and Hazard is given a huge amount of freedom on the left so the '10' (Oscar) becomes a support player for these two. That's why he has to track back and it's also requires him to supplement the press that Costa leads. 

 

Mata is not good at any of that. You have to give him a free role to get the best out of him, but that best isn't good enough for a top club. 

 

Lukaku was sold after we signed Costa. He was loaned when the players you mentioned were here and I agree, he should've been given a chance then. 

 

 

Who leads the overhaul?

 

Well Jose addressed that Oscar was his main number 10 and for me whatever it is that Oscar does that Jose endorsed isn't good enough for a top club either, so it cancels it out and in the end Mata is more effective.

 

You're right. I keep forgetting that we loaned him first time round. Blimey, so annoying.

 

We need an overhaul don't we? That's what I'm reading from the masses on this forum so im just going along with it. I don't think we are a bad side,I just blame Jose for this slump which we will no doubt recover from.