Much to my amazement, watching Romelu Lukaku officially end our trophy hopes for the season was less of a downer than I thought it would be. Of course, smart arse fan [as opposed to real Arse fan] that I am, I always knew another down was on the cards, but the exact extent of the downing remained an unknown quantity right up until the time the actual event occurred. And when it arrived, with the Chels away support belting out their cacophonous ‘Carefree’ defiance providing an [excuse-making] BBC with a backbeat to it all, I realised just how imminent closure is and how much of an impediment further FA Cup participation would be to achieving it. Snedger summed up succinctly on here shortly afterwards:-

 

“Anyway, another sh*t performance which is now a case of as expected and in a way I'm not to disappointed we've been knocked out because the last thing we need at this time is anything that could in any way paper over any of the multitude of cracks.”

 

Quite right too. No papering over cracks, please, and definitely no annual laissez faire (L)Arserus-like, faux rise from a bed of mediocrity and underachievement. No second best, saving grace, end of season mincing-word walk down Wembley Way for us either. No delay or deferment, not now, not when we are this close to an evolution [perhaps even a revolution] within the club. Let’s just get on with it, shall we, and pre-empt those gathering media vultures pecking away at [what they perceive to be] our dying corpse. Let’s face it, FA Cup progress in the wake of four Premiership titles and Champions League success was never going to be anything other than a sop anyway, as Paul Merson pointed out on Sky a few hours earlier, when he openly admitted that, if he had been playing for Arsenal over the last ten years and had won as many as seven FA Cup winners medals, he would have gladly given them all up for just a single Premiership-winning one.

 

And let’s be honest, other than those beating in a few old school stalwarts, our players hearts have never really been in it all season, suggesting that they too have known the score for some considerable time and, as soon as the threat of relegation was averted, were themselves indecently quick to dress-down into Wenger-style comfy clothing, slippers and pipedreams. So, in truth, the clearout cannot come soon enough for me, and an Italian new broom needs to sweep clean through the club from top to bottom at the earliest possible opportunity. Yet, as difficult as this task is going to be, can you imagine how much harder it would have been had Conte needed to vacuum around Guus too, especially if he was clutching a newly-acquired piece silverware? Ironically, this also happens to be the daunting prospect facing Pep Guardiola’s pre-tenure at Man City, except that he can still influence things from within the CL itself, given a favourable conflict of interest quarter-final draw - or perhaps that would be better described as a do-me-a-favour[able] draw.

 

Either way, it is patently obvious that even the best laid plans can go awry when you have continued participation in competitions and [as we don’t anymore] Roman should now take immediate advantage, by  burying all our bad news under an immediate good news announcement - there is a massive job to be done here, a chosen taskmaster to do it, and the sooner he gets on with it the better.     

.  

Edited March 13, 20169 yr by Dorset

Not sure about a massive job. If our lads could play like we did early last season we'd be challenging on all fronts. It is not like they can't.

Not sure about a massive job. If our lads could play like we did early last season we'd be challenging on all fronts. It is not like they can't.

It is a massive job.

There needs to be a review of the way the club is run from top to bottom.

Is the pursuit of breaking even working or is it interfering with the here and now?

Is the stockpiling of youth players working? The ever growing loan army must be a huge drain on club resources, would those same resources see better rewards if invested elsewhere.

Then thinking less broad I think our transfer strategy needs looking at.

We're constantly investing in players for the same couple of positions, attacking midfield being the worst. Kenedy, Salah, Cuadrado, Schurrle, Pedro all bought within two years. £80m spent without actually improving the team.

Same goes for left back, Luis and Baba bought for a combined £35m and neither established themselves as first choice and now with Terry not being given a new contract we're facing the prospect of having to rebuild the entire defence in one transfer window.

I agree that going out of the FA Cup may ultimately be a good thing, another cup win when managed by an interim would paper over the cracks and would vindicate the revolving door of management at least now we may be forced to face up to some home truths about how the club is being run.

Kneejerk-reactions here. We are not in crisis. The structure of our club is right in many ways. We have a great squad, great youth, great academy.

We are winning trophies at a great rate. This season has gone wrong in so many ways but I think it is more down to snowball effect instead of us being in crisis.

We are hiring Conte who is a great move I think.

Kneejerk-reactions here. We are not in crisis. The structure of our club is right in many ways. We have a great squad, great youth, great academy.

We are winning trophies at a great rate. This season has gone wrong in so many ways but I think it is more down to snowball effect instead of us being in crisis.

We are hiring Conte who is a great move I think.

 

I think it's rather disrespectful to put people's well-reasoned arguments down to 'kneejerk-reactions'. 

 

We're a club without a philosophy of football, without an overarching style of play, without a cohesive transfer policy and who despite having 'great youth' and a 'great academy' haven't developed an established first-teamer in about 16 years.

 

Conte is a great hire - as a rebuilder. He needs to come in and almost start from scratch in terms of what we actually put on the field and we could see some fundamental tactical changes going forward.

I disagree. Do you think Manu, City, Arsenal, Tottenham are doing much better in any of the areas? If Arsenal wanted to have a better squad they would need to buy smarter. They use their youth. Respectable choice but not that many titles or trophies.

I agree we need to instill youth better and not buy Salahs or Cuadrados. ManU has bought overpriced players and flops as have us.

I disagree. Do you think Manu, City, Arsenal, Tottenham are doing much better in any of the areas? If Arsenal wanted to have a better squad they would need to buy smarter. They use their youth. Respectable choice but not that many titles or trophies.

I agree we need to instill youth better and not buy Salahs or Cuadrados. ManU has bought overpriced players and flops as have us.

 

Spurs and City absolutely. Arsenal under Wenger have a definite philosophy but one that arguably needs changing. United are in a massive crisis too, stuck between idealism and pragmatism

 

We don't have a distinct, recognisable style of play because this club has never let the talent lead the way. There's too much interference from the owner and people like Emenalo, rather than letting the people who actually know about football lead the way. That is why we're in this situation and it's why we're in crisis. 

 

Unfortunately after 13 years of Roman's ownership, we're a very soulless club in many ways. That's not the supporters I'm talking about, but the club itself.

Good points there. Still I disagree. I'm sure all our rivals' fans talk about this regarding their clubs.

Roman has brought his identity. It is short term thinking and trophyminded thinking. Arsenes philosophy is his philosophy.

Good points there. Still I disagree. I'm sure all our rivals' fans talk about this regarding their clubs.

Roman has brought his identity. It is short term thinking and trophyminded thinking. Arsenes philosophy is his philosophy.

 

Then we're nothing more than his plaything, subject to his fluctuating whims. If you believe that then we've become everything numpties said we would.

 

How you can't think that's a crisis I don't know.

You are just negative on your view. However it is your view.

Romans plaything? It is the club he owns and he loves. What about Glazers? Liverpool owners? Arsenal owners? Faceless corporations and boards. At least our owner has a face. Don't go into the media and rival-hype about us being his plaything.

Maybe there are people in the club that should go. I have no idea who as I have no actual knowledge of what happens inside the club as don't you. We are spectulating. I think we are doing most things right.

Fans create the soul among with players and the team. As far as I see it you are as guilty as I am.

I think this is a great piece from Dorset. An added bonus to the points mentioned is also that we will get a very clear picture on who of the players want to stay in the last matches. They're in their worst possible situation, but some of them will play with pride, some won't

 

The good thing is that Abrama is a man of action, and he will be working hard on a plan to rectify this abysmal position. We all knew it would end this way, anyway. I did at least. Mid-table, no cups ... quietly petering out, probably having to hand over the Championship to Leicester on the final day of the season! 

seems to me that most clubs seem to think their boards need kicking out or shacking up

Edited March 13, 20169 yr by luckywerthers

You are just negative on your view. However it is your view.

Romans plaything? It is the club he owns and he loves. What about Glazers? Liverpool owners? Arsenal owners? Faceless corporations and boards. At least our owner has a face. Don't go into the media and rival-hype about us being his plaything.

 

 

He's addressed us maybe twice in his time here, never directly. He has zero accountability to us supporters.

 

Fans create the soul among with players and the team. As far as I see it you are as guilty as I am.

 

The fans create atmosphere but we can't create a soul in the club. That has to come from those who are part of the club, the staff, the players and the board. That's been dismantled piece by piece this owner to the point where I don't know who young supporters coming to this club are supposed to identify with.

 

You can call me negative and that's fine, but if you want to call me wrong then you can back it up without saying such and such are worse. 

seems to me that most clubs seem to think their boards need kicking out or shacking up

 

I think that's modern football at the top clubs. You have these vocal supporters who care deeply about their club and want to see it run right. But they're what? 100,000 supporters at most who are what you'd call the 'hardcore'.

 

Modern football isn't about catering to those. It's about the millions, tens of millions maybe hundreds of millions of fans around the world who watch on TV and buy t-shirts.

 

Football isn't about the hardcore, dedicated supporters anymore who turn up every week. I might have my season ticket but am I spending hundreds of pounds in the club shop each week? Hell no. The club could give two sh*ts about the supporters who moan at games when there's so much TV money coming in and it's the same at Arsenal, Liverpool and United.

None of last season's top 4 is having a good time of it, and  PL is becoming a graveyard for talent. Let's hope Leicester can ruffle a few feathers in CL next season and show us all the way forward

Then we're nothing more than his plaything, subject to his fluctuating whims. If you believe that then we've become everything numpties said we would.

How you can't think that's a crisis I don't know.

Blind optimism.

Our scatter gun, rudderless recruitment policy with chop and change approach to management, with layers of beauracracy responsible for appointments and dismissals is coming home to roost.

We are an aimless shambles. Too many people with conflicting self interest pulling in separate direction and we have NO cohesion at all right now.

A mess. Anyone who thinks all is rosy is in for a wakeup call over the next couple of seasons.

With a bit of luck it will clear out some of the fair weather supporters though.

Through thick and thin.

I think that's modern football at the top clubs. You have these vocal supporters who care deeply about their club and want to see it run right. But they're what? 100,000 supporters at most who are what you'd call the 'hardcore'.

 

Modern football isn't about catering to those. It's about the millions, tens of millions maybe hundreds of millions of fans around the world who watch on TV and buy t-shirts.

 

Football isn't about the hardcore, dedicated supporters anymore who turn up every week. I might have my season ticket but am I spending hundreds of pounds in the club shop each week? Hell no. The club could give two sh*ts about the supporters who moan at games when there's so much TV money coming in and it's the same at Arsenal, Liverpool and United.

football used to be about football, to me it now seems all about money, the soul is being eaten out of it, winning is good because it equates to money, the higher up you win the bigger sponsorship deals you get. The people running clubs now only seem to care about this and this only, as you say the hard core of fans who care deeply about their club are just being rail roaded over no matter how much noise they make. Maybe at CFC we should count our selves lucky that we have an owner who goes to the games. He helped us to the top hopefully he will keep us up there.

Blind optimism.

Our scatter gun, rudderless recruitment policy with chop and change approach to management, with layers of beauracracy responsible for appointments and dismissals is coming home to roost.

We are an aimless shambles. Too many people with conflicting self interest pulling in separate direction and we have NO cohesion at all right now.

A mess. Anyone who thinks all is rosy is in for a wakeup call over the next couple of seasons.

With a bit of luck it will clear out some of the fair weather supporters though.

Through thick and thin.

....this is exactly how i feel about our situation well said...

We do need a "Messiah", someone to empower us with a style, structure, and a new belief, the great Jose era is now fast approaching, 'The king is dead, long live the king'

Not been so much paper over a crack since the morning after Adele ate some bad curry.....

Martin Samuel in the Mail today.

 

"...Abramovich has been at the club for well over a decade now, plenty of time for a philosophy to take hold. Michael Emenalo has been on the staff since 2007, as head scout and then technical director, with recruitment part of his remit. If Chelsea's team is a mismatch of personalities and styles, a loose collection of individuals, rather than a team, whose fault is that?.... "

 

 

mez

 

A fine post Dorset.

>Martin Samuel

>Westham fan

>Writes an article criticizing Chelsea

>Ok then.

Blind optimism.

Our scatter gun, rudderless recruitment policy with chop and change approach to management, with layers of beauracracy responsible for appointments and dismissals is coming home to roost.

We are an aimless shambles. Too many people with conflicting self interest pulling in separate direction and we have NO cohesion at all right now.

A mess. Anyone who thinks all is rosy is in for a wakeup call over the next couple of seasons.

With a bit of luck it will clear out some of the fair weather supporters though.

Through thick and thin.

This.

It’s not just minor tweaks we are needing, if people honestly think that then they are in for one almighty shock. Our squad is unbalanced, under numbered while the players hunger and desire is clearly in question.

We are a team of individuals, there is no direction in terms of what we are aiming for or what we should be doing in the here and now. There is some baffling decisions that keep reappearing even countless occasions showing its doomed to failure like Matic and Mikel in the heart of our midfield! It is probably in the bottom 5 poorest CM pairing in the league yet Guus persists with it hoping it somehow works.

A new manager has to come in and shift out all the deadwood and selfish lazy characters we have in this group of players while facing the almighty task of rebuilding a new spine and the best part of the first team squad in the space of a few months. Considering the man we are hiring is leading his country to the Euros in the summer leaves me with a fear that the planning is going to be a major issue given the time scale.

Guus has come in and tried, he succeeded in keeping us safe and turning round the form of our 2 most creative and dangerous players. However he failed in taking us further in the CL and FA Cup while not winning enough points to do anything in a very average league. I can’t help but think we should just say our goodbyes today and start the planning for next season…the rest of the season is just a formality now.

If Roman doesn’t spend big and doesn’t allow the new manager full control in bringing in the players and changing the ethos in the squad then it’s going to be a bleak few seasons for us.

This isn’t a mere tweak job we are facing but rather a total rebuild.

Great article. Obviously I'd rather we end a season with some silverware but if we're going to mess up best to do it in style. I "gave up" on the season around December, still hoping that Champions League or FA Cup were possible but not expecting. Obviously I still watch every game hoping for the miracle, the spark that makes it all worthwhile but those moments have been too few and far between. I'm not happy celebrating 4th place like Arsenal do every season but at the same time I remember fondly how things used to be before the silverware rolled in - lots of fun but I don't want to go back there. Time for team spirit and the spark that Dennis Wise (ex crazy gang) passed to Desailly passed to John Terry to return to the bridge. I don't want us to be Barcelona, I don't want us to be Arsenal, I want us to be Chelsea - a team of fighters and winners. That goes for the supporters too, too many who have the sense of entitlement that makes me get so fed up with Liverpool and Arsenal supporters.