55 minutes ago, brakeit said:

We was trying with this formation last season and the result was terrible. We won`t play such system with a manager who is best at 3-5-2 or 3-4-4.

While I’d love the advantage an extra man on the pitch would give us, I’m not sure we’d get away with it! 

Watching teams that have actual identities and styles of football is so refreshing to watch. Chelsea currently has no idea what they are doing...we haven’t got a clue other than hoof it up to hazard and morata and pray to the High heavens they can create magic. Then defend defend defend defend hoof defend defend defend defend repeat. We are becoming hard to watch 

3 hours ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

This has already impacted our transfers Players wont want to sign if they arent sure who the manager will be

Yep and it will impact the players at the club knowing the manager hasn't signed an extension.

12 hours ago, TheChelsRVA said:

Watching teams that have actual identities and styles of football is so refreshing to watch. Chelsea currently has no idea what they are doing...we haven’t got a clue other than hoof it up to hazard and morata and pray to the High heavens they can create magic. Then defend defend defend defend hoof defend defend defend defend repeat. We are becoming hard to watch 

And who the guilty is ? The board. You are really fast to forget, how last season a lot of team starting to copy our system and strategy.

Everyone was trying to solve the Chelsea puzzle.

Conte in his first season show the board he is the man. And the only thing they should have done was to back him 100%.

They didn`t do it. They did not reinforce the squad, they make it weaker. We give a huge amount of money, but we buy our board players profile, not what the manager want. We didn`t get him the first choice he wanted.

We didn`t even get him the second choice player he wanted ...

We waited and waited and buy a lot of injured players for a lot of moneys. And Conte in his first matches have big trouble with the squad. And now it lacks both class and depth. Okay we have depth in some position, but players that are not good enough for the level we should be.

Marina was mingy and waited and waited, and at the end what he brough us ? He buy totally average players like Drinkwater and Zapacosta for 60mln. And Drinkwater was injured ....

Liverpool and Totheman beat us on the market. Who`s fault that is ?

Conte badly wanted 3rd striker and top wing-backs, so he have different options, but of course we didn`t get it.

And what some folks thing will happen when we change Conte? Who exactly will come to put his reputation on the line, and with this squad and for sure less resources then City and United. How exactly he is supposed to beat this 2 club? Also it will be his first year in the club, he will need to change the style, some players, strategies and so on. It`s big handicap and hard to achieve something in the first season with Pep and Mourinho who will be at their 3rd season in their clubs and as well have better players and finance over us.

So we will again probably challenge for top 4 and go probably 1/4 in CL and most probably the next manager will get sacked too. Then this will repeat untill City or United make a bad season and we find good manager and the story will repeat.

If we want all of this to be change, we need to change our board or atleast the structure in the highest level.

 

Our over reliance on Hazard is coming to the fore.

The guy has carried the team for the past 3/4 seasons. Won us 2 PL titles. He looked knackered against arsenal and Leicester. We need a world class player to take the load off him. Sanchez would have been ideal but never thought arsenal would sell him to us, that would have meant an all out riot among their fans, literally the last straw. So I can blame the board in that.

Morata has been so sub-par - Conte's choice

Bakayoko has been poor - Conte's choice? (well we did get him early)

and those 2 were our elite signings this season. Infact, the people they were replacing would have performed 10x times better. 

As for squad depth, the board needed to do better. Maybe we did not buy an LWB in summer because we thought we might have a shot at sandro in the winter. 

2nd ST was a shambles and we should have gotten Llorente done and dusted quickly. 

Testing times for Antonio. He needs to make some changes, but does he have the players to do it?

2 hours ago, didierforever said:

Sanchez would have been ideal but never thought arsenal would sell him to us, that would have meant an all out riot among their fans, literally the last straw. So I can blame the board in that.

I'm sure you're right, but I'm just curious as to why Arsenal wouldn't sell him to us when they're so happy to regularly sell players to City and United and whilst we've seen Galas and Cech head their way. Why are we such a specific threat to Arsenal that the two Manchester clubs aren't?

3 minutes ago, Snedger said:

I'm sure you're right, but I'm just curious as to why Arsenal wouldn't sell him to us when they're so happy to regularly sell players to City and United and whilst we've seen Galas and Cech head their way. Why are we such a specific threat to Arsenal that the two Manchester clubs aren't?

Could be the London rivalry thing and maybe they are still pissed off about the whole Ashley Cole transfer.

Our lads are tired. Play no starter against Norwich. All chips to Prem.

@brakeit

I think you're totally wrong on the notion that he wasn't supported in the transfer market.

We've signed a really healthy mix of big players, support players and youthful players in the two summers hes been here.  One of them was the PFA player of the year.  It's important to keep the good players in perspective when complaining about signings like Danny Drinkwater.  It's also important for managers to not be a one trick pony.  Yeah he switched the formation and made waves across the globe, that does't mean he is relieved of criticism forever.  I think he needs to lift a little here and show us what else he has, as we've looked a little stale last three games.

I think Arsenal would have sold Sanchez to us if we offered what Man Utd had offered, but before they showed any interest.

Unfortunately it seems that we wasn't willing to spend that kind of money (transfer fee, wages and agents fee) on Sanchez.

16 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Could be the London rivalry thing and maybe they are still pissed off about the whole Ashley Cole transfer.

I suppose they're the two likely explanations. However, I'm sure if we offered them 50 million for him they'd surely accept if the sum City and United are reportedly offering is about 20ish million. And in my opinion he'd be worth 50 million even in this weird contract running out situation - because if there is something we need desperately, it's a game changer; and he is one. Whether or not the player would sign for us is a different matter.

11 minutes ago, Van Butsen said:

@brakeit

I think you're totally wrong on the notion that he wasn't supported in the transfer market.

We've signed a really healthy mix of big players, support players and youthful players in the two summers hes been here.  One of them was the PFA player of the year.  It's important to keep the good players in perspective when complaining about signings like Danny Drinkwater.  It's also important for managers to not be a one trick pony.  Yeah he switched the formation and made waves across the globe, that does't mean he is relieved of criticism forever.  I think he needs to lift a little here and show us what else he has, as we've looked a little stale last three games.

Didn't want Matic sold - Sold to our main rival.
Wanted Alex Sandro, Kyle Walker, Danilo, Mendy - Got Zappacosta and no LWB
Wanted Llorente - Didn't get any backup striker
Wanted Oxlade Chamberlain - Lost him to Liverpool
Wanted Lukaku - Got Morata
Wanted quality central midfielders - Didn't get one quality player.
Wanted Alexis Sanchez - Lost him to Mourinho and United.

Yeah right was he backed. I'm surprised he's still here to be honest.

Edited January 15, 20188 yr by Sindre

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Edited January 15, 20188 yr by Sindre

All 3 teams played in the league up during the weekend dropped games when they would have won normally. In City's case, it's no big deal, but for us it's between a safe third spot and being a dog fight for the top 4. Conte admittedly himself post game that he got it wrong by playing the full strength team mid week. We don't have a City's team by a long way, maybe Conte felt he had to win a cup to keep his job, but it was poorly prioritized.

Sadly, if we don't buy a player of significance in the coming weeks ( Carrol doesn't count), it's probably states the fact the boss will let Conte sink or swim, and mutually end his journey with us. Conte is too proud of a man to battle for second best, he has plenty of offers if he wishes to move on, for CFC it's press reset button for the 123th time

Bringing Hazard off against Leicester was fair enough because he was having a stinker, but this recent thing of just bringing him off 10-20 minutes before the end when we're desperate for a goal is doing my head in.

As for all this 'I can't have the players I want!!' stuff, I had enough of that bollocks with Jose. No, we're not as rich as City and aren't going to start paying £50m for a second choice left back or whatever, but we have a strong squad and its his job to get them playing well together. We're in a form dip, but those happen and its time to help the team get their confidence back up not knock it down further.

34 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Didn't want Matic sold - Sold to our main rival.
Wanted Alex Sandro, Kyle Walker, Danilo, Mendy - Got Zappacosta and no LWB
Wanted Llorente - Didn't get any backup striker
Wanted Oxlade Chamberlain - Lost him to Liverpool
Wanted Lukaku - Got Morata
Wanted quality central midfielders - Didn't get one quality player.
Wanted Alexis Sanchez - Lost him to Mourinho and United.

Yeah right was he backed. I'm surprised he's still here to be honest.

We all want Messi mate but that's not how it works.

We need players to keep the team fresh and challenge for positions.   Bakayoko had an infinitely better season than Matic's last year and he's playing no worse than his last two seasons with us.  Or have you forgotten that?

We've signed excellent, world class players who are more than adequate for the team and league. Just because they aren't your names does not make them any worse. Needs to manage now.

2 minutes ago, Van Butsen said:

We all want Messi mate but that's not how it works.

We need players to keep the team fresh and challenge for positions.   Bakayoko had an infinitely better season than Matic's last year and he's playing no worse than his last two seasons with us.  Or have you forgotten that?

We've signed excellent, world class players who are more than adequate for the team and league. Just because they aren't your names does not make them any worse. Needs to manage now.

Who was the last world class player we signed?

Kante for me

4 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

Who was the last world class player we signed?

Kante for me

Morata and just prior to that Bakayoko.  Bakayoko obviously has had a poor season, but we based the signing of him on one season (similar to Kante) and he was absolutely smashing games against powerful teams in the UCL.  I still think he has it in him, but yeah another season like this one and I'll probably demote his status.

For the record I'm classing world class players as someone who is good enough to play for the teams that generally challenge for a title.

In no way in anyone's book was Bakayoko ever world class (or top elite club level). He had a decent season for Monaco and that was about it. He wasn't even a first pick in the national side. He wouldn't get near United, Spuds or City's team. He should really be behind Drinkwater for us but still get's picked for some reason.

Morata was a good signing but he isn't one of the best strikers in Europe for me.

Edited January 15, 20188 yr by Chelsbear

14 minutes ago, Van Butsen said:

Morata and just prior to that Bakayoko.  Bakayoko obviously has had a poor season, but we based the signing of him on one season (similar to Kante) and he was absolutely smashing games against powerful teams in the UCL.  I still think he has it in him, but yeah another season like this one and I'll probably demote his status.

For the record I'm classing world class players as someone who is good enough to play for the teams that generally challenge for a title.

You are quite frankly off your rocker if you think Morata and Bakayoko are world class.

Neither of them are nowhere near.

5 minutes ago, Sindre said:

You are quite frankly off your rocker if you think Morata and Bakayoko are world class.

Neither of them are nowhere near.

You're off your rocker if you think Morata isn't.  You don't play for Juve, Real Madrid and Chelsea if you're not up to it.  He's that good to RM wanted him back and Juve were a little reluctant.  It then took a lot of money to pinch him away. 

I can understand people not agreeing with Bakayoko, I watched every single Monaco champions league game last season so have that and this season to go off.  Happy to have a difference of opinion there, I'll give him a little while longer.  If people had only ever watched Hazard in that season we finished 10th they would laugh at the prospect too.  Not happy for people to forget how poor Matic was last season though.

Edited January 15, 20188 yr by Van Butsen

5 minutes ago, Van Butsen said:

You're off your rocker if you think Morata isn't.  You don't play for Juve, Real Madrid and Chelsea if you're not up to it.  He's that good to RM wanted him back and Juve were a little reluctant.  It then took a lot of money to pinch him away. 

I can understand people not agreeing with Bakayoko, I watched every single Monaco champions league game last season so have that and this season to go off.  Happy to have a difference of opinion there, I'll give him a little while longer.  If people had only ever watched Hazard in that season we finished 10th they would laugh at the prospect too.  Not happy for people to forget how poor Matic was last season though.

Bakayako can't suddenly be world class after one season with Monaco, that means he is on the same level as the world's best midfielders which is obviously wrong.

I also don't think Morata is world class, world class forwards are Neymar, Messi, Suarez, Kane, Aguero, Ronaldo, Lewandoski. Morata is on a level below. The only reason RM brought Morata back from Juventus was due to the clause in his contract when he signed for Juventus, they knew he was a good investment to sell on.

2 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Bakayako can't suddenly be world class after one season with Monaco, that means he is on the same level as the world's best midfielders which is obviously wrong.

I also don't think Morata is world class, world class forwards are Neymar, Messi, Suarez, Kane, Aguero, Ronaldo, Lewandoski. Morata is on a level below. The only reason RM brought Morata back from Juventus was due to the clause in his contract when he signed for Juventus, they knew he was a good investment to sell on.

Well put it this way, I think he's much better than Diego Costa who was capable of two titles at Chelsea.  So I can agree he's not as good as those players, but certainly good enough.

1 minute ago, Van Butsen said:

Well put it this way, I think he's much better than Diego Costa who was capable of two titles at Chelsea.  So I can agree he's not as good as those players, but certainly good enough.

Yeah I agree his better than Costa but I never thought Costa was world class. Morata has better all round play than Costa but his just short of confidence atm.