1 hour ago, dkw said:

That's ridiculously churlish, we went 3 months unbeaten playing his style of football and were being lauded for it, now that were playing poorly were just going to ignore the first few months? This ranks alongside your incredible statement that we only played well against spurs because they let us. 

I asked a question that was all.

I stand by my comments on the Spurs game

Why is there never any patience anymore? Did anyone truly expect us to win the League this season?

We are evolving our playing style to something completely different to what the club has been used to, it's going to take time for it to be fully implemented. We have no decent striker right now which isn't Sarri's fault and two of our attacking midfielders are in their 30s. 

We are on course to finish in the top 4 and potentially may win a cup or 2.

Lets judge Sarri after he's had a couple of seasons with us and has the right personel under his disposal. Napoli played some of the best football in Europe under him and improved each year.

Also, the board appear to be willing to actually back him. Signings like Kepa, Pulisic and Jorginho all perfectly fit into Sarri's system. Parades is another who would slot in if we did sign him

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/chelsea-transfer-news-callum-hudson-odoi-ethan-ampadu-can-be/mzxizr69tyiw1ukds939kb0xi

Maurizio Sarri plans on giving Chelsea's two best teenagers, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ethan Ampadu, the chance to integrate into the first team in the second half of their season, rather than go on a spending spree to plug gaps in the squad.

Hudson-Odoi's long-term future remains in doubt as he refuses to renew his Blues contract with just 18 months remaining, leaving Bayern Munich hopeful that they can secure a £35 million deal for the 18-year-old in January.

Ampadu, who is also 18, signed a five-year contract in October and he has been told by Sarri that he will replace the outgoing Gary Cahill as the club's fourth-choice centre-back.

Sarri is also hoping to replace the players he has lost in January, as Chelsea negotiate for both Cagliari's Nicolo Barella and Zenit St Petersburg's Leandro Paredes to come in for the now departed Cesc Fabregas.

He is also hoping to get AC Milan's Gonzalo Higuain in as a replacement for Alvaro Morata, who has interest from Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, but he adds that Hudson-Odoi and Ampadu can also provide a boost to Chelsea's end-of-season chances.

“As I said before, the club knows my opinion, and in my opinion we need two players,” Sarri told reporters at Stamford Bridge after his side's 2-1 win over Newcastle United.

“If you ask me something else then I don’t know what to answer because I am not in charge of the market. The bench is not very short. It has been left short in only one position at the moment because I think that Hudson-Odoi is improving.

“In one or two months he will be at the same level as the other players. I hope the same for Ampadu.”

Chelsea's ultimate aim in the Premier League this season is to finish in the top four, as Willian and Pedro's goals helped edge out Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Jorginho struggled in that match and Sarri wanted to haul him off, but Fabregas' departure left him short of a player that can play in what some term as the 'regista' role. Sarri admitted that his £57m signing from Napoli wasn't good enough and spoke about potentially using Ampadu in that role.

“Have you seen the match?” Sarri continued when asked about Jorginho. “After 20 minutes, he lost a lot of balls. It is unusual I think. So I think that he was in trouble, maybe he was tired, I don’t know.

“If Fabregas was on the bench, I think that in the second half then Fabregas would be on the pitch instead of Jorginho.

“In the future maybe [we can try Ampadu there], but we have to work. Playing as a central midfielder in our team is not easy, we need to try and try and try in training with him.

“The player who plays in that position usually touches the ball about 120-130 times and so I think that we need a specialist there. I think that he is able to do it.”

Chelsea used Eden Hazard as a false 9 again against the Magpies and he bagged his 10th Premier League assist of the season which saw Willian take his chance to make it 2-1 and win the game.

Hazard has previously said that he prefers to play on the left wing, but he is being forced into a central role as doubts remain over Morata and with Olivier Giroud perhaps not having the ideal attributes for Sarri's style of play.

Sarri admits that Hazard didn't enjoy the role in the first half, but explains why he is increasingly making this position his primary one in west London.

“Not in the first half, but in the second half my feeling was that he enjoyed it,” Sarri said of Hazard's role down the middle.

“I wanted to see the solution with three small players, I think in this moment it is a very good solution because we are not less dangerous in the offensive phase and then in the defensive phase we are more balanced.

“In the last six matches, we conceded only three goals and one was from a penalty. I think that at the moment, in the defensive phase, we are doing very well. One of the reasons I think, in my opinion, is that Eden is playing in that position.

“For his characteristics, of course, he goes in the direction of the ball. We need to learn to attack spaces, or attack the box with the other players. It was better today with the other wingers in attacking spaces more than the box. We scored after 10 minutes by attacking spaces behind the lines with Pedro.

“I remember very well at the beginning of the second half, we had the same situation with Willian. So it is better now, we need to improve in attacking the box, when the ball is out of the box. When the ball is outside, it is impossible for Eden to stay in the box.”

15 hours ago, shedpensioner said:

Genuine question & no disrespect intended, is that because of Sarri or in spite of him? By that I mean could we be even better if we played more to the players strengths.

We played to the players apparent strengths last season and wound up 5th with our second worst half season (results wise) in the Roman era to boot.

Sarri quoted as saying “In my opinion we need two players,” he said. “If you ask me something else I don’t know what to answer because I am not in charge of the market.”

Having previously been quoted as saying “I talk with our Sporting Director once a week, but he can do whatever he wants. I’m an unusual coach, I don’t care about the transfer market”.

 

17 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Sarri quoted as saying “In my opinion we need two players,” he said. “If you ask me something else I don’t know what to answer because I am not in charge of the market.”

Having previously been quoted as saying “I talk with our Sporting Director once a week, but he can do whatever he wants. I’m an unusual coach, I don’t care about the transfer market”.

 

Not sure if it's worth overthinking Sarri's statements in the media tbh - it's all part of the plan.  

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by the special one

15 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Sarri quoted as saying “In my opinion we need two players,” he said. “If you ask me something else I don’t know what to answer because I am not in charge of the market.”

Having previously been quoted as saying “I talk with our Sporting Director once a week, but he can do whatever he wants. I’m an unusual coach, I don’t care about the transfer market”.

 

So he's not involved in the market, then?

Never expected us to win the league, I expected top 4 though which we can still definitely get. 

It's just playing the same players week in week out which I find annoying. 

Think we are seeing the first signs of board push back on Sarri.

Wants a winger, now suddenly CHO is good enough and is used. Maybe he was told no winger this window.

Wants Cesc replacement. We are seeing more of Ampadu. Maybe he has been told to use Ethan more so we dont upset him like CHO and so no midfielder.

Wants striker. Higuain and Wilson too expensive, I reckon will be told to make do with Hazard and Giroud. He was supposed to be a coach that thought the transfer market was a refuge for the weak.

3 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Think we are seeing the first signs of board push back on Sarri.

Wants a winger, now suddenly CHO is good enough and is used. Maybe he was told no winger this window.

Wants Cesc replacement. We are seeing more of Ampadu. Maybe he has been told to use Ethan more so we dont upset him like CHO and so no midfielder.

Wants striker. Higuain and Wilson too expensive, I reckon will be told to make do with Hazard and Giroud. He was supposed to be a coach that thought the transfer market was a refuge for the weak.

I wouldn't exactly entrust my billions to a glorified hipster either tbh.

36 minutes ago, the special one said:

I wouldn't exactly entrust my billions to a glorified hipster either tbh.

What makes him a glorified hipster exactly?

The glasses mostly.

Flouncing around with a cigarette in his gob too.

17 minutes ago, dkw said:

What makes him a glorified hipster exactly?

Sorry forgive my cynicism, by glorified I meant his tactical methods appear more elevated than is actually the case, and by hipster - simply that he's a trend following tactical coach (thus he runs the risk of over complicating something that doesn't need to be complicated, as evidenced by recent performances on the pitch, imho). Not saying that's a bad thing, just what I think it is. He isn't really a "football man" if that makes sense. Perhaps someone who isn't exactly entrusted by Roman to make strategic decisions for the long term benefit of the club.

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by the special one

He coached Higuain at Napoli, who has scored 38 goals in one season. THIRTY EIGHT goals.

So I really don’t blame him for wanting him back? With 38 goals, clearly a natural goal scorer and definitely better than whatever we’ve got. Isn’t Giroud’s best goal return 16 goals? I imagine Morata’s is similar.

Sarri is probably thinking f*ck his age, he will score goals for us. 

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by dansubrosa

15 minutes ago, the special one said:

Sorry forgive my cynicism, by glorified I meant his tactical methods appear more elevated than is actually the case, and by hipster - simply that he's a trend following tactical coach (thus he runs the risk of over complicating something that doesn't need to be complicated, as evidenced by recent performances on the pitch, imho). Not saying that's a bad thing, just what I think it is. He isn't really a "football man" if that makes sense. Perhaps someone who isn't exactly entrusted by Roman to make strategic decisions for the long term benefit of the club.

FC's answer made more sense than this contrived load of nonsense. Not a football man... What? 

16 minutes ago, dkw said:

FC's answer made more sense than this contrived load of nonsense. Not a football man... What? 

A football man adapts to different challenges. Sarri is yet to prove he is, imho.

He was also lucky to inherit an exceptional group of players at Napoli, I think.

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by the special one

7 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Sarri quoted as saying “In my opinion we need two players,” he said. “If you ask me something else I don’t know what to answer because I am not in charge of the market.”

Having previously been quoted as saying “I talk with our Sporting Director once a week, but he can do whatever he wants. I’m an unusual coach, I don’t care about the transfer market”.

 

I remember this quote better. 

"Transfer Market is the refuge of the weak. It is for those who can't train their players. I'm a coach. Give me a group of players and I will coach them."

TBF that's what I'd say if I wanted the Chelsea job too. 

It's funny, because he is much less of a "make the best of what you have" coach than either Jose or Conte. No pragmatism, no compromises. Sarriball or nothing. Not necessarily a bad thing. But a thing. Some might think it a good thing. And they could be right. Depends how you look at it I suppose. 

I’d love to see Ampadu given a go in Jorginhos position, I think we’ll see it in the FA Cup 4th round because surely Jorginho needs a rest. If we don’t sign a striker either that at least means it’s easier for CHO to get minutes. 

1 hour ago, the special one said:

Sorry forgive my cynicism, by glorified I meant his tactical methods appear more elevated than is actually the case, and by hipster - simply that he's a trend following tactical coach (thus he runs the risk of over complicating something that doesn't need to be complicated, as evidenced by recent performances on the pitch, imho). Not saying that's a bad thing, just what I think it is. He isn't really a "football man" if that makes sense. Perhaps someone who isn't exactly entrusted by Roman to make strategic decisions for the long term benefit of the club.

If he isn’t a “ football man” then who is?

Hes worked his way up from the ground floor through enthusiasm, love of the game and pure coaching ability.

If he’s not a preening, sulky superstar manager, fine by me. We’ve had enough of those.

26 minutes ago, Ewell CFC said:

If he isn’t a “ football man” then who is?

Hes worked his way up from the ground floor through enthusiasm, love of the game and pure coaching ability.

If he’s not a preening, sulky superstar manager, fine by me. We’ve had enough of those.

I think what I'm trying to get at here is this... if we don't hire a technical director, maybe it's time to bring in someone who will look after the long term interest of the club.

Sir Frank Lampard, MANAGER

Edited January 14, 20197 yr by the special one

38 minutes ago, the special one said:

I think what I'm trying to get at here is this... if we don't hire a technical director, maybe it's time to bring in someone who will look after the long term interest of the club.

Sir Frank Lampard, MANAGER

One day maybe.

3 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

He coached Higuain at Napoli, who has scored 38 goals in one season. THIRTY EIGHT goals.

So I really don’t blame him for wanting him back? With 38 goals, clearly a natural goal scorer and definitely better than whatever we’ve got. Isn’t Giroud’s best goal return 16 goals? I imagine Morata’s is similar.

Sarri is probably thinking f*ck his age, he will score goals for us. 

He also coached Jorginho at Napoli & he was supposed to be some kind of midfield god, that’s not working out to well is it. 

Some players & managers suit certain leagues & not others.

1 minute ago, shedpensioner said:

He also coached Jorginho at Napoli & he was supposed to be some kind of midfield god, that’s not working out to well is it. 

Some players & managers suit certain leagues & not others.

I think Jorginho has gotten complacent. Easy to do when you have no competition

3 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

I think Jorginho has gotten complacent. Easy to do when you have no competition

I think that Sarri and Jorginho need to be given more than 4 - 5 months before being judged

As fans we’ve always said that we’d take no success if we could see an improvement in the playing style & a solid direction to bring success, I and others are seeing neither & therefore have a right to question the manager.