We are stale. fed up of hearing its the manager/players/or the suits fault, seems like a bit of everything.

Never happen and it's not coincidental but if Conte goes i would like Eddie Howe to have a go.

What I noticed was the lack of intensity from Conte on the touch line last night.

He wasn't as animated as he usually is.

He looked like a man who's truly had enough.

at 1-0 I thought we can still win this,

at 2-0 I thought a draw is the best we can hope for if we get a goal back early enough, 

and at 3-0 I thought let's not concede any more than 3 please.

The lack of fight from the manager and the players bar Kante and Hudson Odoi was alarming.

Edited February 1, 20188 yr by 2211

While Conte has to carry some of the blame for the current predicament, any other manager that takes his place would still face the same problems. The same penny pinching board and the same inexplicable treatment CFC managers get after they win a major trophy. I'm used to the idea that if you do well and succeed, you're supposed to get rewarded. That's how it works everywhere. Except, for some mysterious reason, at Chelsea FC. Ancelotti never got any help, Mourinho got next to nothing in the summer of 2015, and now Conte is the latest example of how the club treats those who bring here titles and fame. That short-termism has brought us some success but ultimately, at some point you're bound to pay the price for it. And that's what we're doing now. There were warning signs in the past, of course.

Also, I agree with those that are unhappy with the fact that we've recently spent a lot of of money on average players. But that's also part of our modus operandi, why spend 100m on two top class fullbacks when you can spend the same amount on one crappy fullback, one crappy midfielder and one so-so midfielder and probably save on wages, too? I know people like to talk sh*t about Marina and I've done my share, but seriously, she's just an employee doing what she's told. I'm sure it would make her job so much easier if she could just throw money around like we did back in 2003-06. But she's got orders, just like everybody else.

I think the club was taken by surprise on how crazy the transfer business has become. They bought into the idea that FFP is legit and changed things around dramatically in order to develop a sustainable model. Instead the likes of City and PSG took the financial doping into whole new level and that hurt us badly.

 

26 minutes ago, abramovich said:

While Conte has to carry some of the blame for the current predicament, any other manager that takes his place would still face the same problems. The same penny pinching board and the same inexplicable treatment CFC managers get after they win a major trophy. I'm used to the idea that if you do well and succeed, you're supposed to get rewarded. That's how it works everywhere. Except, for some mysterious reason, at Chelsea FC. Ancelotti never got any help, Mourinho got next to nothing in the summer of 2015, and now Conte is the latest example of how the club treats those who bring here titles and fame. That short-termism has brought us some success but ultimately, at some point you're bound to pay the price for it. And that's what we're doing now. There were warning signs in the past, of course.

Also, I agree with those that are unhappy with the fact that we've recently spent a lot of of money on average players. But that's also part of our modus operandi, why spend 100m on two top class fullbacks when you can spend the same amount on one crappy fullback, one crappy midfielder and one so-so midfielder and probably save on wages, too? I know people like to talk sh*t about Marina and I've done my share, but seriously, she's just an employee doing what she's told. I'm sure it would make her job so much easier if she could just throw money around like we did back in 2003-06. But she's got orders, just like everybody else.

I think the club was taken by surprise on how crazy the transfer business has become. They bought into the idea that FFP is legit and changed things around dramatically in order to develop a sustainable model. Instead the likes of City and PSG took the financial doping into whole new level and that hurt us badly.

 

We aren't as poor as some people make out, just because we can't compete with City & PSG doesn't mean we need to spend a 100 million on Zappercosta, Bakayoko & Danny Drinkwater. 

We have spent money, we've just spent it badly. We seem to be MUCH better at selling players for good prices than we are buying them, as a matter of fact, we are a million times better. 

Conte has spent the last month basically telling the players we have they arent good enough for him, he wants more players. Them players then play badly, I think its pretty obvious why. He needs to just shut the f**k up and get on with managing, coaching and setting the team up, which he blatantly didnt do for last nights game.

2 hours ago, Zeta said:

Changing manager won't make any difference though, whoever comes in will still have the same squad of average players to work with, they're not going to suddenly start backing a new man and get him his targets. Just feels like the only way forward at the moment, is down, and that's so depressing after such a good season last year.

Gets boring reading this, you really believe a different manager won’t have made Chelsea play better football this season and defiantly the last month. I’m sure they would have got Chelsea to score a goal at home in the semi final against a depleted Arsenal team.

Its not about the current position but a manager who can’t change a game, see his own mistakes and is stubborn. On top of that the football has been dog sh*t for at least a month.

10 minutes ago, dkw said:

Conte has spent the last month basically telling the players we have they arent good enough for him, he wants more players. Them players then play badly, I think its pretty obvious why. He needs to just shut the f**k up and get on with managing, coaching and setting the team up, which he blatantly didnt do for last nights game.

This is a big problem.

The Barkley press conference comes to mind, Conte made it quite obvious he didn't want the Barkley transfer. What must that have done for Barkley's confidence? A lad who hasn't played in almost a year and wants to prove a point. 

It's not even a midfield 5 though. We have 5/6 defensive players and then 2 or at most 3 attacking players. It's a shame because we could play a much better style of football, but conte is not trying to find "the best solution" for that. 

I've argued this before but the strange thing is that what he is saying is indeed true. Given the depth (lack of) and talent distribution in our squad, the choices he makes are generally the best ones. And it gives us the best chance of winning. But of course that's not to say that I've enjoyed the football we're playing. Even after last season I remember saying that I was happy but I can't even remember a match where we were truly dominant.

If he plays Kante next to Fabregas people will complain when we get torn apart. If he strengthens further with Bakayoko people will complain that we don't have enough goalscorers. And if he plays Kante and Baka in a 2-man, well then we have no creativity can't get the ball to the attackers. There simply is no BEST solution right now given the squad.

12 minutes ago, dkw said:

Conte has spent the last month basically telling the players we have they arent good enough for him, he wants more players. Them players then play badly, I think its pretty obvious why. He needs to just shut the f**k up and get on with managing, coaching and setting the team up, which he blatantly didnt do for last nights game.

Yep. But i don't think he can help himself. He's obviously incredibly frustrated which i can understand but he is taking it out on his players and if he hasn't already i believe he is about to lose the dressing room.
Conte looked depressed and fed up post-game last night.

 

Now that the transfer window is shut hopefully he can just focus on coaching the players he has got.

13 minutes ago, Slojo said:

This is a big problem.

The Barkley press conference comes to mind, Conte made it quite obvious he didn't want the Barkley transfer. What must that have done for Barkley's confidence? A lad who hasn't played in almost a year and wants to prove a point. 

I personally feel he made Barkley a scapegoat against Arsenal. Wasn’t fit but I’ll show the board this is all that you have given me.

Everyone has to take responsibility for the situation we're in, pointing fingers only weakens the cohesion of the club. As fans we have our views but our primary duty is to support Chelsea. The team does not exist to make our day or to give us bragging rights or whatever. We've lost badly, it's happened before, it'll happen again, but the bus rolls on. We won the league last year and we don't need to win it every year but hopefully we are fighting for it more often than not. There was a time when you couldn't take that for granted at Chelsea.

 

Factors to consider: the two top teams have spent enormous amounts on players, still Man U are only three points ahead of us at the moment. The league as a whole has been strengthened by an influx of money, making for very few easy matches. Finally, playing nine matches in January, multiple injuries and no striker cannot have helped our energy levels or our options last night.

 

Just now, venom2011 said:

I've argued this before but the strange thing is that what he is saying is indeed true. Given the depth (lack of) and talent distribution in our squad, the choices he makes are generally the best ones. And it gives us the best chance of winning. But of course that's not to say that I've enjoyed the football we're playing. Even after last season I remember saying that I was happy but I can't even remember a match where we were truly dominant.

If he plays Kante next to Fabregas people will complain when we get torn apart. If he strengthens further with Bakayoko people will complain that we don't have enough goalscorers. And if he plays Kante and Baka in a 2-man, well then we have no creativity can't get the ball to the attackers. There simply is no BEST solution right now given the squad.

Liverpool play better football than us and look at their team. You cannot tell me mane, salah and firmino are as good as good as hazard, morata and willian. Not just that but the rest of our team is better, it's obviously the coach. I think people underrate our players and overrate our rivals players, but I think the common denominator is the manager. As much as I don't want to see another coach leave, I think If roman wants an attacking style of football then he must hire the appropriate coach to do so. 

12 hours ago, startedwithglenn said:

0% chance of him walking. He's basically been daring the board to sack him for weeks, he wants his payoff and i'm convinced he knows his next job already and it's either PSG or Bayern.

I think it might be the Italian national job again.

He left there on a high, narrowly missing out on the biggest of trophies, since when the national team has turned to sh*t and failed to even qualify.

The job is vacant and is waiting for him to return and fix the problems. There is only one direction the Italian side can now go. So he can hang around and watch us implode, throwing out barbed comments here and there, until he is fired. Then he can pick up his £10m severance and walk back into the warm embrace of the Azzurri 

Just now, Slojo said:

This is a big problem.

The Barkley press conference comes to mind, Conte made it quite obvious he didn't want the Barkley transfer. What must that have done for Barkley's confidence? A lad who hasn't played in almost a year and wants to prove a point. 

Who did he want then? Nainggolan? The guy who doesn't want to leave rome? Nobody knows who he wants, it's all rumour really unless we hewr directly from the board. 

enigma, at what place we was when Conte took us ? Let me remind you - 10th. That is the only thing that matter. And as far as i remember Liverpool was 8 and infront of us.

Last season we was infronf of anyone. And this season we are still infront of Liverpool.

And anyone have to be mad to put Klopp infronft of Conte as a coach.

And wasn`t you the one that wanted to bet with me, that we would be doing great this season. You was proven wrong times after times since the summer. If i was you, i would be in some cave to hidden ....

Now after you proven wrong times after times you come and start blaming the coach as well.

With fans like you this is what we deserve. Enjoy it. Conte will walk and the next one will be sacked before the half season, because we will be at 6-10 place again ....

Deja vu all over again, but there are delusional fans, that never learns and blame the manager, when it`s obvious who the guilt is.

Marina is for the sacking, not Conte.

 

Edited February 1, 20188 yr by brakeit

I'm beginning to think brakeit is Conte himself...

It can't help that every week or other week we are experiencing a new injury to a player. When you're not getting injuries it's fine and dandy, but when multiple injuries are occurring every month it's gonna make things undoubtedly more difficult. Not an excuse though, should be beating teams like Bournemouth though with the team we put out last night. Having a striker would have helped though, and like conte said scheduling a fixture close to or on deadline day is ridiculous. 

44 minutes ago, brakeit said:

enigma, at what place we was when Conte took us ? Let me remind you - 10th. That is the only thing that matter. And as far as i remember Liverpool was 8 and infront of us.

Last season we was infronf of anyone. And this season we are still infront of Liverpool.

And anyone have to be mad to put Klopp infronft of Conte as a coach.

And wasn`t you the one that wanted to bet with me, that we would be doing great this season. You was proven wrong times after times since the summer. If i was you, i would be in some cave to hidden ....

Now after you proven wrong times after times you come and start blaming the coach as well.

With fans like you this is what we deserve. Enjoy it. Conte will walk and the next one will be sacked before the half season, because we will be at 6-10 place again ....

Deja vu all over again, but there are delusional fans, that never learns and blame the manager, when it`s obvious who the guilt is.

Marina is for the sacking, not Conte.

 

Better go and look at the table Conte.

Liverpool play better football than us and look at their team. You cannot tell me mane, salah and firmino are as good as good as hazard, morata and willian. Not just that but the rest of our team is better, it's obviously the coach. I think people underrate our players and overrate our rivals players, but I think the common denominator is the manager. As much as I don't want to see another coach leave, I think If roman wants an attacking style of football then he must hire the appropriate coach to do so. 

Having better players in some positions does not equal being better suited to quality attacking football. Agreed in terms of Liverpool's style of football and we all know that Roman has always wanted expansive football here BUT:

Give Klopp our full squad and have him try to play that way and we won't be near top 4. And we certainly wouldn't have won the title last year.

Do I enjoy the football we're playing? No. But I understand the reasons behind it and considering that Conte doesn't have much control over transfers and, unlike some other managers, he has to target top 4 - I'm OK with it. I think he's done a great job so far.

The club will probably fire him and look to a new manager to install an attacking philosophy when really it should be organic, ingrained in the club from top to bottom with the most important cog being the director of football.

Bringing on a 17 year old at 0-2 down was a f**king joke. As was standing around sulking on the touchline. Plenty of gesturing and encouragement and constant instruction for the players when we were doing well, but suddenly he doesn't seem to have a lot to say for himself during games.

I'm done with him. I don't care if we only finish top 4, its a competitive league with massive spending, and no-one has the right to expect the title every season. I do expect the manager to motivate and defend the players though, not endlessly whine about transfers and act like a petulant child when he doesn't get his way. Sack him and get someone in who actually wants the job.

1 minute ago, Kentonio said:

Bringing on a 17 year old at 0-2 down was a f**king joke. 

Why? Hudson Odoi was the only attacking option left after the club ever so wisely sent Michy on loan to Dortmund before his replacement was available for selection. 

Hes gone everyone knows it

the arsenal defeat was on him and him alone

his constant moaning is getting on my wick. Hes trying to force the club to sack him for compo

picks on certain pkayers makes them a scapegoat argues we dont have enough players even though we have 35 out on loan. Constantly players players who shou not be in the side bakayoko and cahill springs to mind

im not having it that its ALL the board why would you put your money behind someone who so obviously wants out

2 hours ago, enigma said:

Liverpool play better football than us and look at their team. You cannot tell me mane, salah and firmino are as good as good as hazard, morata and willian. Not just that but the rest of our team is better, it's obviously the coach. I think people underrate our players and overrate our rivals players, but I think the common denominator is the manager. As much as I don't want to see another coach leave, I think If roman wants an attacking style of football then he must hire the appropriate coach to do so. 

Liverpool squad cost about the same as ours. For all his beautiful football Klopp has won nothing at his current club yet and he's been on the job longer than Conte.

I'm all for criticizing our manager when it's warranted but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. 

Edited February 1, 20188 yr by abramovich

I find it bizarre that Conte is under such scrutiny by the media and fans alike, while his counterpart, Mourinho, whose team is a mere three points ahead, is touted as someone who's in for the long haul having recently signed a new contract.

If it weren't for City and the ridiculous season they're having, we'd be challenging for the title having won it just last season. When was the last time a club managed two consecutive Premier League titles?

We've over-achieved last season, and we're well in contention for a top four spot this year.

Happy days... For me anyway.

Edited February 1, 20188 yr by Amputechture