15 hours ago, Imran_CFC said:

I think we still see the affects of Mourinho/Conte especially when we are leading with 20 odd minutes to go, against Liverpool we started sitting deeper as the game progressed. You could see Sarri and Jorginho wanting to push the team out of the defensive third but our back line seemed very hesitant to advance too far up. I think we still lack a experienced head in midfield to come on in order to see games through, at the minute the Central 3 (Jorginho, Kante & Kovacic) pretty much pick themselves however whenever Sarri wants to freshen things up in the middle he has RLC or Barkley which is fine when you are chasing a win but to see a game through I dont believe either of them are a good enough option.

Having someone like Yaya Toure (As an example) to replace Kovacic for the last few minutes wouldve been ideal to see games through, at the minute I think we lack that reliability & experience of the bench especially when it comes to the midfield.

#BringBackMikel

Ross Barkley provides a lovely testament of Sarri to the World

 

“Sarrismo” it’s not simply football. It’s poetry, it’s magic, it could be played at Stamford Bridge, or San Paolo, or at San Carlo Theatre or Bolshoi. It’s art, it’s love, team sounds like an opera concert. Bring flowers to this man and applaud him and his guys.

I cant be the only one concerned about the amount of chances the opposition has against us?, West Ham, Southampton, Liverpool both games and Videoton. 

6 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

I cant be the only one concerned about the amount of chances the opposition has against us?, West Ham, Southampton, Liverpool both games and Videoton. 

Nope your not. Sarri is also concerned.

I wonder if Hazard leaves whether we might bring his little brother into our squad. A different player yet when I have seen him I like what I see, reminds of a younger Griezeman.

Reckon Sarri will go with a slightly more defensive approach against United, they will defend the deep and hit us on the counter on the flanks. Let's face it, Lukaku will finish the type of chance Inglis missed last Saturday

On 01/10/2018 at 11:24, DaRick said:

At 2:16.

Was this what you were thinking of?

(He hasn't this season from memory.)

I know it's immature but I find it stupendously funny whenever a really short player wins a header. I think Kanté somehow managed to win a header against van Dijk the other weekend and I was in stitches.

3 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Reckon Sarri will go with a slightly more defensive approach against United, they will defend the deep and hit us on the counter on the flanks. Let's face it, Lukaku will finish the type of chance Inglis missed last Saturday

Have you seen Lukaku's finishing this season? 

15 minutes ago, Argo said:

Have you seen Lukaku's finishing this season? 

Where does his finishing stand on a scale of 10 - Morata

Edited October 10, 20187 yr by TheChelsRVA

I know there's a lot of disdain for Twitter around these parts, but a well-known French coach/scout/Chelsea fan by the name of Sébastien Chapuis (who is actually quite knowledgeable) has been, ahem...  somewhat sceptical about the progress the side has made under Sarri.

He promised an article about it, which has since been delivered. It is incredibly in-depth, and goes into great detail about the flaws of our current side:

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/features/2018/10/10/17958730/chelsea-sarri-sarriball-analysis-attack-defence-issues-progress

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately he has confirmed himself as nothing more than a lesser @g3.7 considering the following (although g4 himself would surely have given AVB1 (idealism) and AVB2 (oh sh*t!) two separate entries):

 

Edited October 10, 20187 yr by PloKoon13

23 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Nope your not. Sarri is also concerned.

Not surprised, we have been lucky in terms of the opposition finishing has been pretty poor against us. Sooner or later given chances the way we are its going to bite us in the ass.

Edited October 10, 20187 yr by jack_super_class

20 hours ago, Argo said:

Have you seen Lukaku's finishing this season? 

Yes, and he's due for 1 or 2 goals. Even Morata scored 2 in a week, sooner or later chances will be taken if we keep allowing them.

13 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

I know there's a lot of disdain for Twitter around these parts, but a well-known French coach/scout/Chelsea fan by the name of Sébastien Chapuis (who is actually quite knowledgeable) has been, ahem...  somewhat sceptical about the progress the side has made under Sarri.

He promised an article about it, which has since been delivered. It is incredibly in-depth, and goes into great detail about the flaws of our current side:

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/features/2018/10/10/17958730/chelsea-sarri-sarriball-analysis-attack-defence-issues-progress

A decent enough read but a very glass half empty look at a team that finds itself joint top after 8 matches and a side that is currently the only undefeated team in England. 

Some of the points where slightly overplayed in my opinion such as the lack of rotation, especially when Sarri has made as many as 8 changes for midweek fixtures. 

There's definitely concerns to be had about the team, especially the amount of chances we are conceding during a game and the manner in which some of those are gifted to the opposition but it's a work in progress. The shift in playing style this season from last is maybe the most dramatic I have seen at Chelsea so some teething problems are to be expected. 

13 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

I know there's a lot of disdain for Twitter around these parts, but a well-known French coach/scout/Chelsea fan by the name of Sébastien Chapuis (who is actually quite knowledgeable) has been, ahem...  somewhat sceptical about the progress the side has made under Sarri.

He promised an article about it, which has since been delivered. It is incredibly in-depth, and goes into great detail about the flaws of our current side:

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/features/2018/10/10/17958730/chelsea-sarri-sarriball-analysis-attack-defence-issues-progress

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately he has confirmed himself as nothing more than a lesser @g3.7 considering the following (although g4 himself would surely have given AVB1 (idealism) and AVB2 (oh sh*t!) two separate entries):

 

I’m only looking at the picture, but Sarri is in the same bracket as Ancelotti, Mourinho 11, Di Matteo. All club legends, how is that a bad thing? 

Did anyone actually expect us to be playing so well this quick under Sarri?

Let's not get carried away, there is still a lot of improvements to be made and facing any of the top 6 contenders are going to be hard for us as a team right now but how nice is it knowing the opposition are fearing us already! I can't wait to see Sarri's team in top gear!

 

15 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

I know there's a lot of disdain for Twitter around these parts, but a well-known French coach/scout/Chelsea fan by the name of Sébastien Chapuis (who is actually quite knowledgeable) has been, ahem...  somewhat sceptical about the progress the side has made under Sarri.

He promised an article about it, which has since been delivered. It is incredibly in-depth, and goes into great detail about the flaws of our current side:

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/features/2018/10/10/17958730/chelsea-sarri-sarriball-analysis-attack-defence-issues-progress

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately he has confirmed himself as nothing more than a lesser @g3.7 considering the following (although g4 himself would surely have given AVB1 (idealism) and AVB2 (oh sh*t!) two separate entries):

 

Very well written. 

The writer believes in this managerial cycle at chelsea, where by in his mind Sarri will be lucky to see out the season, and we will bring in another disciplinarian next season. The rest of the article is overly negative to fit that narrative. They even conclude it would be an extraordinary achievement to finish top 4, which suggests they believe there are at least 4 teams that have far fewer problems than ourselves. 

There are definately issues, but that is the case for all our rivals aswell, maybe bar city. We are joint top of the league in spite of these issues, and although we have road our luck at times, it is still early days, and we will improve week by week.

In terms of the 'cycle', i don't really see it. Every manager brought in full time since mourinho the 1st time, has been tasked with winning trophies in style, and generally we have employed the most qualified available at the time. The patience from the board seems to be increasing, there is no way conte would've seen the season out, or mourinho would've lasted as long with those results, if it happened in the earlier years under abrahmovic. 

So I don't see this as a similar situation to avb or Scolari. Sarri will get time as long as there is no implosion of results, or major spats with players and the board. 

I think it's an exciting time to be a chelsea fan, hopefully we continue to back sarri in the market because I think he could lay down a philosophy that could bring success long after he leaves the club, as mourinho did in his 1st spell.

Let's just say that you could write the same article about any club bar City - not the whole manager pattern thing, which is just bollocks, but the pessimistic prognosis and overly negative assessment of the team's play.

And the way he somehow had a go at the fans at the end and dragged the yoof thing in as if it as if it had anything to do with anything - I mean, was the overall subject of this article "all the bad things I can think of to say about Chelsea"?

Should have finished it with: "And lets face it - blue is not a very nice colour, is it?"

I read better analysis in here (and a fraction of the length) than that self appointed 'expert'.

Can anyone explain how Hiddink mark 1 is down as Authoritarian figure but Hiddink mark 2 is a father figure? 

1 hour ago, Argo said:

Can anyone explain how Hiddink mark 1 is down as Authoritarian figure but Hiddink mark 2 is a father figure? 

To fit the narrative that Hiddink acheived immediate success, because he was the opposite of Scolari.

It's a poor scale anyway. Most father figures are authoritarian by nature anyway, they are not opposing traits, and one manager can be seen as both of those archetypes by different players in the same squad. I'm sure someone like Ferguson was seen as both by every player. 

Edited October 11, 20187 yr by big blue

12 hours ago, Argo said:

Can anyone explain how Hiddink mark 1 is down as Authoritarian figure but Hiddink mark 2 is a father figure? 

One also needs to question how Mourinho can go from a full-blown authoritarian figure to a so-called 'father figure' in the space of one season. 

Does him benching and then selling off Mata/De Bruyne really make him that much more of an authoritarian in his first season, given that he shifted Torres/Cole/Lampard out in his second? 

Recent interview with Sarri

“I’d say this Chelsea side is only at 60-70 per cent capacity right now, but how much we are missing and how much we need is not the same thing. It’s double that.”

“The whole Sarriball thing amuses me. I don’t go on social media, but I did see the fans post these videos with the most passes. If I have to be honest, the Chelsea fans aren’t even sure what Sarriball means. They invented this term, pronounce it all in one word and carry on. It’s very funny".

“It’s a dream to be here. I walked into Stamford Bridge and hear this shout: ‘Mauriziooooooo!’ Then the chants, it makes you want to pinch yourself. They usually do that for those who have won, but what have I won? I couldn’t believe it.”

“My working day usually lasts from 9am to 7pm, then two hours of viewing time for myself. It’s like a religion. I got a house 10 minutes from here, in Effingham, so they lock me up in my hermitic seal and if they knock, I don’t answer the door. I am immersed in my world".

“I achieved this almost at the age of 60. I don’t need to thank anyone other than those who cared for me, supported me and understood me, but not those who tried to exploit me. I spent my time in Serie C, that’s a league that grinds you down and spits you out.”

“The meat is very good here, it is becoming a pleasing habit to change from fish. They cook chicken wonderfully. The priority was always getting the language right.”

“Hazard is immense and I don’t think even he knows how much he can still improve. I said he could end up in the tight circle of the best three or four players in the world.

“The problem is he plays to enjoy himself and at times doesn’t realise the importance of moving from fun to reaping the rewards. At the end of the day, you’ve got to get the fruits of your labour.

“Hazard’s approach is a positive, but it can become a potential limitation too. He needs to lift his head up, look around and realise there’s a whole world in front of him that he can dictate with his feet for the good of the collective and not just the individual.

“He said such kind words about me, I wasn’t expecting that. His contract expires in 2020, but he’s staying here. I was tempted to use Hazard as a centre-forward and I might consider it again in future, but it’s not the right time now. We need to believe in Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata".

“David Luiz is a really sweet guy, exemplary and professional. Cesc Fabregas has immense quality, he returned from injury and I am proud to have him with me, as he’ll give us a big hand.”

“Jorginho knows what I am asking for and understands me straight away. I arrived at Napoli with him in the balance, but now he’s a treasure and playing for the Italy squad.

“It’s all about balance. Jorginho helps and guides the others, keeping them all involved.”

“I’ve been here for three months and at the start it was difficult. I arrived in mid-July, those players coming off the World Cup in August and we immediately had a tour in Australia, so there wasn’t much time. I had planned for a longer apprenticeship.

“I was helped by the Spanish players at Chelsea, those who already speak our football language. Now we’re having some fun. We needed a few more weeks at Napoli, but Serie A is different. Here I said to myself: ‘Watch out Maurizio, you dreamed for a lifetime to make this step, so now try to be yourself.’ “I saw the tactical mechanisms worked straight away, the results then pushed us on further.”

“I see Aurellio De Laurentis continues to say all sorts of things about me… Do me a favour: let’s just finish it with this whole argument. I will love Napoli and its fans for the rest of my life. I know what they think of me, how they think and when they think it. Always.

“Ours is a love that is unshakeable, eternal. The other night, I got so excited during Napoli 1-0 Liverpool. Excellent performance, to the last gasp. I declared, as a fan, that I was pleased to have tired Liverpool out a few days beforehand when they came to Stamford Bridge. The performance from Napoli was excellent.

“However, in Serie A there are no rivals for Juventus. When I used to say that, people thought I was just covering myself, yet they are already breaking away.

“This season, there are two candidates to win the Champions League: Juve and Manchester City. I always thought Pep Guardiola’s side was mature enough for the final step on the European stage, but then we’ll have to see how the Spanish clubs are doing in March. Things change quickly in the Champions League.”

“Insigne is the best Italian player right now. His turning point was quite simply believing in himself, more and more. He shook off the uncertainty and the pressure of someone who is forced to be a protagonist of his hometown club.

“If you think about it, this was just a matter of time. I don’t think it was an issue with his position: of course, if he plays closer to the goal as a striker, he’ll get more shots on target, because he has the quality.

“He can do everything. Initially, I had thought of him as a trequartista behind the strikers, then I moved him to the wing. Tactics and technique are bread and butter, I am always here to teach, but ultimately the player has to add his own ingredients, that final pass and the DNA that shakes you up and tells you to go conquer the world.

“That is what’s great about Lorenzo. Now he must keep pushing, as he identified the problem and took control, not just at Napoli either.

“After Lorenzo, I’d put Federico Bernardeschi, who is on his way to soon becoming world class. I’ll add Federico Chiesa in third, as he is a pure talent, generous, dynamic: he has the capabilities of someone born to succeed, he just needs to work on refining.”

on liverpool match

“There are moments when the grand spectacle of it all convinces you to put aside any regrets. Even if you concede at the last minute or five minutes into stoppages.

“That was an extraordinary show. Just 10 minutes earlier, I saw Klopp looking at me with the game going on. I asked: ‘Why are you smiling?’ He replied: ‘Aren’t you having fun?’

“I said: ‘So much’ and he added ‘Me too.’ He was losing at the time. Even after the equaliser, remembering that moment, we hugged like two old friends.

“I’m sure he would’ve done the same even if Liverpool hadn’t equalised. The Premier League has this joy of football.”

on higuain

“I miss Higuain a great deal. I miss him because he’ll keep scoring goals until the day he dies. He is a goal machine, a systematic and automatic jackpot.”

“Whatever response I give will be considered wrong and put words into my mouth. All I can say is that I feel Gonzalo left Napoli too soon. If he had stayed for another season, I think… we could’ve been in a condition to win.

“Higuain was a part of the fantastic mechanism we created, we understood each other so well. It was perfect synchronicity and the regrets will probably stick with us.”

on transfer business

“My thoughts on the months dedicated to transfer negotiations are well known. I hate it all: summits, meetings, confrontations, a pain in the …. You reporters fill pages and hours of air time on the problems in Italian football, those unresolved and unresolvable issues.

“It’s possible this is a limitation of mine, but it’s what I’m like. I will train whoever I am given to work with, out of respect for those who must balance the books.

“That’s the way you like it, but I can’t wait for the ball to get rolling on the turf, the joy of a training session.”

credit to football-italia

@enigma posted the whole article, but I liked this quote the most

 

8 hours ago, enigma said:

Recent interview with Sarri

 

on liverpool match

“There are moments when the grand spectacle of it all convinces you to put aside any regrets. Even if you concede at the last minute or five minutes into stoppages.

“That was an extraordinary show. Just 10 minutes earlier, I saw Klopp looking at me with the game going on. I asked: ‘Why are you smiling?’ He replied: ‘Aren’t you having fun?’

“I said: ‘So much’ and he added ‘Me too.’ He was losing at the time. Even after the equaliser, remembering that moment, we hugged like two old friends.

“I’m sure he would’ve done the same even if Liverpool hadn’t equalised. The Premier League has this joy of football.”

 

I found the bit in bold above interesting.