8 hours ago, mad_mac said:

i like the idea, but i feel that it's a double edged sword.

If Conte rolls out the same, tired squad, he could easily justify it by claiming that he's getting the best players ready for the pending matches with Barcelona.  Those of a more skeptical nature could argue that he is merely sending the same, tired squad out because he's completely at odds with the board, and he's too stubborn/proud to walk away so he's purposely failing in order to be sacked and get his severance package.

Those of that same nature would obviously have issue if they saw a team "full of kids."  While many of us fans would be happy to see it, gleeful in fact of finally seeing some prospects making PL debuts, the skeptics would see it as Conte admitting he doesn't care any longer; especially should the result go against us.  And should the result go against us, i fear it is curtains for Antonio; therefore, i don't think he'll make the wholesale changes you've listed.  I think there will be a couple of them on the bench (Ampadu and CHO) who may get an obligatory run out should the game be in our favour with 10 minutes to go.

Yes, put in one or two youngsters to freshen things up, but the general malaise around the club will not disappear while Conte and the board are still at odds. The players that are under performing now, to a large extent, were the same group that won the League last year. Conte's dissatisfaction with the current direction of the board , has now worked it's way into the psyche of these same players on the pitch with two bad defeats against opposition we should never fear. The only way this will dissipate will be a public show of support from the board for Conte and a public reconciliation but, looking back to previous boardroom/manager spats at the Club, this is very unlikely. I fear the worst is yet to come.

Your posts are pure poetry in motion, @Dorset.

I think the rest of us well and truly envy your analytical, fluid yet somehow hopeful and optimistic analyses of Chelsea's situation. 

1 hour ago, DaRick said:

Your posts are pure poetry in motion, @Dorset.

I think the rest of us well and truly envy your analytical, fluid yet somehow hopeful and optimistic analyses of Chelsea's situation. 

Cue Johnny Tillotson @Backbiter

16 hours ago, Dorset said:

“We played with fear. To play football in a great club, it means you must have a personality. It’s simple to play when there is the confidence. Especially in this type of moment, you can see who is [ready to play] for a great club, to play with personality and also to risk something.”

Antonio Conte's most telling words after the Watford defeat and, perhaps, the first indication that radical change in player personnel will happen if he is allowed to continue in his job. For continue he must, not only to right the wrongs he has openly admitted to regarding team selection, but also to put an end to the continual flow of managerial departures every time the going gets tough at Stamford Bridge. It has become the Bridge of Perpetual Sighs throughout Roman's rule, as we the fans mourn the passing of a managerial loved one far too often for our own good, let alone the well-being of the club. The Guardian's Barney Ronay has already referred to this latest performance as 'a 90 minute Viking funeral for the Conte era' pronouncing death by missing adventure in the rest of his article. Sadly, he is probably right, but if ever there was a reason for breathing fresh life into the boss, as opposed to giving yet another coach a kiss of death call, it is the young talent emerging from the Academy and the mandate he has to get it into the first team as soon as possible.

For Conte that time is right now, or next Monday to be precise, against West Brom in what amounts to an archetypal risen-from-the-dead moment when he has to roll away the stone currently blocking the pathway from Academy to first team football and allow some of the kids to venture forth into the cold, unforgiving light of a Premier League match. Much as he might want to send out the same bunch of regulars to redeem themselves, Conte can't, unless he wants to dig his own grave in a sub-plot generously offered to gullible fans by the media in exchange for their loyalty to the Italian. Instead, chances have to be given to as many of the side just defeated on penalties by Lincoln City in the Checkatrade Trophy semi-final as he can justifiably shoehorn into the starting eleven, with at least one other waiting in anticipation on the bench. Suicidal many may say, but surely some sort of statement of future intent is necessary, even if it means leaving a few previously damn near permanent members of the first team out of the picture altogether.

Without wishing the current three-day respite to turn into gardening leave longevity, my casualty list has to be headed by Tiemoue Bakayoko, though I have some sympathy for him, confronted by late replacement referee Mike Dean, who as per usual needed no second bidding to make a spectacle of himself by giving Baka two early yellow cards simply for being not very good. Gone are the days, it seems, when you had to cut a player in half 'Chopper' Harris style to warrant a yellow, although I doubt Watford players would have been treated in the same way by this official, who throughout his career has been nothing if not scrupulously unfair and totally inconsistent. Radicalism being the watchword and paying due regard to Andreas Christensen's injury, other names listed should be defenders Gary Cahill and David Luiz, making way for a quartet of Under-21 players who have shown they are worthy of fast-tracking and, while in the mood to cull anybody who didn't perform against Watford, I'm afraid to say a decidedly jaded Victor Moses sits on the bench alongside the following:- Willy Caballero, Reece James, Emerson Palmieri, Cesc Fabregas, Ross Barkley and Willian.

Next, the starting X1 that will need a captain and Thibaut Courtois and Dave are the obvious candidates, but, in keeping with the whole Children of the Revolution vibe I want Conte to bring to this table-topping squad, they should both stand down in favour of Ethan Ampadu [deputising for Andreas Christensen] and before the laughter on this site gets too loud let me point out that it will not be too long before this kid proves his leadership qualities for his country, let alone his club, so the sooner we tap into this JT-esque attribute the better. Now for the full team in 3-4-2-1 formation:-

Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Ethan Ampadu; Dujon Sterling, Trevoh Chalobah, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Edin Hazard, Callum Hudson-Odoi; Olivier Giroud.

Such a high level of radicalism is wishful thinking, of course, but it would be nice to know exactly how far in this direction Antonio is prepared to take us, if at all. To give those Watford selections an opportunity to redeem themselves en bloc is in itself bordering on an admission of defeat and would only serve to strengthen the belief that he sees no real alternative to more of the same with, hopefully, a different outcome. That, to my mind, if it proved to be anything other than an emphatic victory, would be a worrying sign - no kick up the backside for the players who thought they were in the comfy seats without competition for them and, perhaps more importantly, no indication that the Conte era can be extended beyond the one season wonders label it will obviously have stuck on it should we not start the development process immediately. Stumbling on in similar fashion after scrapping and scraping a victory against West Brom would be like watching a much-loved boxing champion start to take far too much punishment far too early in their career.

Roll those punches Antonio. Risk something. Trust in the enthusiasm and personality of youth and remember how young you were when you made your Serie A debut.. Roll away the stone.

Superb post, if only the team resembled that next Monday, sadly my tickets were sent back on Tuesday morning in disgust, £100 can be spent much better in my life these days than watching the recent sh*t on offer, for the first time in 35 years the going to a match isn't exciting me anymore, even gave my Barca tickets away yesterday. But if the youngsters were put in and the dead wood prima Donna crap that wears our beloved blue shirt were binned then things may change! Carefree 

15 hours ago, mad_mac said:

i like the idea, but i feel that it's a double edged sword.

If Conte rolls out the same, tired squad, he could easily justify it by claiming that he's getting the best players ready for the pending matches with Barcelona.  Those of a more skeptical nature could argue that he is merely sending the same, tired squad out because he's completely at odds with the board, and he's too stubborn/proud to walk away so he's purposely failing in order to be sacked and get his severance package.

Those of that same nature would obviously have issue if they saw a team "full of kids."  While many of us fans would be happy to see it, gleeful in fact of finally seeing some prospects making PL debuts, the skeptics would see it as Conte admitting he doesn't care any longer; especially should the result go against us.  And should the result go against us, i fear it is curtains for Antonio; therefore, i don't think he'll make the wholesale changes you've listed.  I think there will be a couple of them on the bench (Ampadu and CHO) who may get an obligatory run out should the game be in our favour with 10 minutes to go.

To ensure the didn’t happen what Antonio should do is come out beforehand and explain why he’s made these changes. Reinforce what we can all see - that something isn’t working at the moment and because he wants to win and find a solution for the club that is the reason he’s made such drastic changes. This would show those individuals that Conte does care and he’s making an effort to find a solution.

 

I think most people would agree when I say I’d rather be beaten 6-0 with the young guys busting a gut to improve than watch us get skudded 4-1 by Watford with a lot of players who don’t look like they can be arsed with a cold Monday night game.

Sure, blood the youth by all means and we are already doing that this year, but we are in dreamland if we think a team full of untried kids are going to storm up the table. That only happens in the movies. In the cold light of day the club have to do everything to try and maintain a top four position. This is now more important than this year's champions league and the FA cup. There is a huge step up to PL standard and the youngsters have to be brought on in a controlled fashion.

Ariel Bender, Overend Watts, Mick Ralphs and Thunderthighs ...  All the young dudes

Edited February 8, 20188 yr by Coral Snake

It's true. Take 2 seasons ago when the players all but stabbed Jose in the back. 

How can players win the league then struggle to get top half of the table, then win the league and then struggle again!

I agree with the winning mentality, hazards a prime example where' the game changing form we seen last season when he tore arsenal a new arsehole. He picks and chooses to show up far to often. 

The board are the problem through. 

Rlc over Barkley. Costa over everyone of our strikers. Matic over drinkwater & bakayoko. Kennedy over both those Italians we have brought in. Actually musonda should have stayed aswell.

 

12 hours ago, old git said:

Yes, put in one or two youngsters to freshen things up, but the general malaise around the club will not disappear while Conte and the board are still at odds. The players that are under performing now, to a large extent, were the same group that won the League last year. Conte's dissatisfaction with the current direction of the board , has now worked it's way into the psyche of these same players on the pitch with two bad defeats against opposition we should never fear. The only way this will dissipate will be a public show of support from the board for Conte and a public reconciliation but, looking back to previous boardroom/manager spats at the Club, this is very unlikely. I fear the worst is yet to come.

what funny, mate, is that you could substitute Conte for Jose in what you've written, and it would sounds fitting for two seasons ago.  I fear we are stuck in this cycle, and i firmly believe the board won't change so long as there are trophy's in teh cabinet

People seem to have forgotte 2 seasons ago though

 

Edited February 8, 20188 yr by Coral Snake

9 hours ago, chi blue said:

Superb post, if only the team resembled that next Monday, sadly my tickets were sent back on Tuesday morning in disgust, £100 can be spent much better in my life these days than watching the recent sh*t on offer, for the first time in 35 years the going to a match isn't exciting me anymore, even gave my Barca tickets away yesterday. But if the youngsters were put in and the dead wood prima Donna crap that wears our beloved blue shirt were binned then things may change! Carefree 

It hasn't been great lately but it isn't worse than many times in the past (Jose's last spell we were relegation material!). Could just be your age rather than things are now worse than ever before?

 

51 minutes ago, Scottish_mike said:

It's true. Take 2 seasons ago when the players all but stabbed Jose in the back. 

How can players win the league then struggle to get top half of the table, then win the league and then struggle again!

I agree with the winning mentality, hazards a prime example where' the game changing form we seen last season when he tore arsenal a new arsehole. He picks and chooses to show up far to often. 

The board are the problem through. 

Rlc over Barkley. Costa over everyone of our strikers. Matic over drinkwater & bakayoko. Kennedy over both those Italians we have brought in. Actually musonda should have stayed aswell.

 

As much as we would like it or expect it, Hazard cannot be brilliant every game. You're singling out the wrong player there 'cos he has been our best player this season. He doesn't "pick & choose" his games, he just cant do it EVERY SINGLE GAME. Without him we are average at best. 

1 hour ago, Nibs said:

It hasn't been great lately but it isn't worse than many times in the past (Jose's last spell we were relegation material!). Could just be your age rather than things are now worse than ever before?

 

As much as we would like it or expect it, Hazard cannot be brilliant every game. You're singling out the wrong player there 'cos he has been our best player this season. He doesn't "pick & choose" his games, he just cant do it EVERY SINGLE GAME. Without him we are average at best. 

I am nearly 50 nibs and I have seen much worse over the years, but after watching the other night and the cost of games as well, and manager and players on Monday night giving the body language of not giving a sh*t, while our support sang their hearts out in the first half, you do get a bit demoralised, these things have all been to regular this season, palace away, Arsenal in the cup, Roma away, west ham away and many others this season. Time to clear the decks of many a player

16 minutes ago, chi blue said:

I am nearly 50 nibs and I have seen much worse over the years, but after watching the other night and the cost of games as well, and manager and players on Monday night giving the body language of not giving a sh*t, while our support sang their hearts out in the first half, you do get a bit demoralised, these things have all been to regular this season, palace away, Arsenal in the cup, Roma away, west ham away and many others this season. Time to clear the decks of many a player

Oh I totally agree. I'm a tad older than you but admit I have become the sort of supporter I used to despise - prefer to watch in the comfort of my home on the TV rather than attend the game. I still get to some games but the buzz just isn't there any more, but that's been the case for a good few seasons and I do put it down partly to my age but also the way the game has gone, with little or no atmosphere. Even if I was in my 20's now, it just wouldn't be the same where you could all stand together and have a good old sing song and enjoy the day even if the football was sh*t!

 

2 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Oh I totally agree. I'm a tad older than you but admit I have become the sort of supporter I used to despise - prefer to watch in the comfort of my home on the TV rather than attend the game. I still get to some games but the buzz just isn't there any more, but that's been the case for a good few seasons and I do put it down partly to my age but also the way the game has gone, with little or no atmosphere. Even if I was in my 20's now, it just wouldn't be the same where you could all stand together and have a good old sing song and enjoy the day even if the football was sh*t!

 

Some people may find it hard to believe that back then we didn't really go to watch the footy, we just went for the camaraderie and escapism.

17 minutes ago, coco said:

Some people may find it hard to believe that back then we didn't really go to watch the footy, we just went for the camaraderie and escapism.

And beer. 

25 minutes ago, dkw said:

And beer. 

Started off on Panda pops, then went up to Top Deck when i was a teen, then finally made it up to 17yo and could get on the GL cider.

53 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Oh I totally agree. I'm a tad older than you but admit I have become the sort of supporter I used to despise - prefer to watch in the comfort of my home on the TV rather than attend the game. I still get to some games but the buzz just isn't there any more, but that's been the case for a good few seasons and I do put it down partly to my age but also the way the game has gone, with little or no atmosphere. Even if I was in my 20's now, it just wouldn't be the same where you could all stand together and have a good old sing song and enjoy the day even if the football was sh*t!

 

The younger lot wouldnt believe how it was back in the day, they would of loved it. "Jonny Neal's blue and white army"

8 hours ago, mad_mac said:

what funny, mate, is that you could substitute Conte for Jose in what you've written, and it would sounds fitting for two seasons ago.  I fear we are stuck in this cycle, and i firmly believe the board won't change so long as there are trophy's in teh cabinet

Not quite the same mac, because Mourinho's dismissal was entirely down to his ridiculous and astonishing behaviour, which enabled him to engineer the 'Master Plan' and walk into the United job.

18 hours ago, Scottish_mike said:

It's true. Take 2 seasons ago when the players all but stabbed Jose in the back. 

How can players win the league then struggle to get top half of the table, then win the league and then struggle again!

I agree with the winning mentality, hazards a prime example where' the game changing form we seen last season when he tore arsenal a new arsehole. He picks and chooses to show up far to often. 

The board are the problem through. 

Rlc over Barkley. Costa over everyone of our strikers. Matic over drinkwater & bakayoko. Kennedy over both those Italians we have brought in. Actually musonda should have stayed aswell.

 

You mean when Jose took a steaming pile of sh*t on our club as a whole?