If we were 1 year behind LFC & MCFC at the beginning of the season then we must be 3 years behind at this point.

16 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Sarri completely out-coached today by Emery.

Hope this proves to be the turning point when even he realises that it ain't working and it's time to try something different.

 

He already said recently the team isn't good enough yet to change tactics or formation. I think changing both would undo any positive work so far. No more tinkering.

Do people seriously think any manager would do any better without a reliable striker up top? Every one of our rivals have a goal threat up top. We don't. It's the obvious common denominator right now. We will have to wait to see if Higuain is the answer. 

Just now, enigma said:

He already said recently the team isn't good enough yet to change tactics or formation. I think changing both would undo any positive work so far. No more tinkering.

A squad of international footballers are incapable of playing in a different formation? I’m sorry but that’s nonsense.

Honest question, what positives do you think there are in our performances since the start of December? And are those positives currently outweighing the negatives? 

3 minutes ago, enigma said:

He already said recently the team isn't good enough yet to change tactics or formation. I think changing both would undo any positive work so far. No more tinkering.

Do people seriously think any manager would do any better without a reliable striker up top? Every one of our rivals have a goal threat up top. We don't. It's the obvious common denominator right now. We will have to wait to see if Higuain is the answer. 

I would rather have a useless striker up top than put our absolute best player up top and turn them into a useless striker.  At least with a useless striker we still have a dangerous threat in the wings/behind the useless striker.

22 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

His stubbornness is starting to go against him.

Picking the same XI regardless of form isn’t working.

False 9 isn’t working.

The like for like subs aren’t working.

When Ancelotti cane to Chelsea he tried playing with a diamond midfield like he did at Milan, our performances weren’t good so he changed it and won the league.

Conte started with a back four, changed to a three and won the league.

Sarri’s 4-3-3 isn’t working at the moment... can he change it?

Drogba also finished the season scoring almost 30 goals. Helps when you have he kind of players Ancelotti had at his disposal. Give us Lampard and Drogba now and we would be top of the league without a doubt. Now we have Barkley and Morata lol

Was I hearing things or did I hear an Antonio song towards the end?

I know the songs are to the same tune but it didn't sound like Maurizio over the tele. 

 

I am sick to death of seeing us get close to the opponents box, and then pass it all the way back to Kepa! What is the f*cking point.

Also everytime we attack, perhaps 3 forwards against 3 or 4 defenders, we pass it round and we end up facing 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 1 or 2 strikers defending!

Our attack need to be much higher paced and take more risks, cut out the bullsh*t safe passing.

Sadly it has come to this point where our only hope is Higuain starting on fire and Hazard rediscovers his form on left wing. So far it’s pretty clear Sarri isn’t going to change our style. It really isn’t pretty to watch, up to now I’m really not a fan of Sarriball.

6 minutes ago, enigma said:

He already said recently the team isn't good enough yet to change tactics or formation. I think changing both would undo any positive work so far. No more tinkering.

Do people seriously think any manager would do any better without a reliable striker up top? Every one of our rivals have a goal threat up top. We don't. It's the obvious common denominator right now. We will have to wait to see if Higuain is the answer. 

Bollox. He’s said before as well he’s a coach and doesn’t get involved in the transfer market. He coaches the players he’s given. Now he’s suddenly pushed for Higuain & wants two more players? WTF happened to that? 

At the moment, I struggle to see what he’s coaching us other than 5 yard passes. We are going backwards rapidly in the last couple of months.

12 minutes ago, enigma said:

I believe this is the case. Sarri’s only criticism from me is Alonso being picked over Emerson. unfortunately our players aren't "getting it" tactically. On top of that we have no focal point up top. We go up against teams and their defence thinks "oh Giroud/Hazard/Morata" they won't score or even pose a threat.

It makes it twice as easy for opposition defenders when they know we lack any kind of goal threat, that we lack a striker who given one chance will score (like Lacazette today for e.g) it's already handicapped Sarri this season having no goal threat. Willian and Pedro can be inconsistent too so there's little threat there, except for maybe Pedro on occasion. 

Azpi and Alonso aren't good enough to be fullbacks in this system. Azpi at least does overlap. Alonso runs infield so our LW has no passing options. Again, playing Alonso is Sarri’s fault. However, I'm also starting to think the board have more influence than we think. Alonso only signed a new contract in the summer. Any coincidence he keeps playing? I think not. 

We have a number of players who simply aren't good enough and no manager would do any better without time. Even more so without a clinical striker. 

Agree but what is his plan B? If things aren’t working you switch tactics/formation, I have seen Pep change  his formation 3x in one game. With Sarri it seems it’s one way only, his subs are even meant to play within a tactic that isn’t working. 

31 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Maybe the team is just bad and not the managers. At this point it has to be the case.

I think it's a bit of both. There are a lot of poor performances in our team of late, so surely the manager should drop them and see what the other squad players can do. Would it really hurt to try Emerson ahead of Alonso, Hudson-Odoi ahead of Willian and maybe even drop Jorginho and give the formation a bit of a refresh? 

I mean, surely he can do SOMETHING different. He's got one of the best squads in the league, use it.

Firstly drop this false nine. Get in Higuain with Tammy as back up.

Drop Jourginio and put Kante in his proper position 

Play CHO  with Hazard either side of a proper  number 9

Up the Chels

Sarri said we lack motivation and we aren't up for the game. Used a translator to say what he thought.

30 minutes ago, enigma said:

I believe this is the case. Sarri’s only criticism from me is Alonso being picked over Emerson. unfortunately our players aren't "getting it" tactically. On top of that we have no focal point up top. We go up against teams and their defence thinks "oh Giroud/Hazard/Morata" they won't score or even pose a threat.

It makes it twice as easy for opposition defenders when they know we lack any kind of goal threat, that we lack a striker who given one chance will score (like Lacazette today for e.g) it's already handicapped Sarri this season having no goal threat. Willian and Pedro can be inconsistent too so there's little threat there, except for maybe Pedro on occasion. 

Azpi and Alonso aren't good enough to be fullbacks in this system. Azpi at least does overlap. Alonso runs infield so our LW has no passing options. Again, playing Alonso is Sarri’s fault. However, I'm also starting to think the board have more influence than we think. Alonso only signed a new contract in the summer. Any coincidence he keeps playing? I think not. 

We have a number of players who simply aren't good enough and no manager would do any better without time. Even more so without a clinical striker. 

Best post I’ve seen on here in a long time. 

I’m not a massive fan of Keown but he’s just made a very good point about our squad. They’re up for it constantly when 1st place is still on the table as displayed in Mourinho & Conte seasons but when that’s off the table they completely chuck it, which is backed up by the following seasons with each manager respectively. Similar to this year - we were flying at the start of the season when it was all to play for. Then City & Liverpool start to pull away and the wheels completely come off.

5 minutes ago, the real shed end said:

Drop Jourginio and put Kante in his proper position 

Kante's position doesn't exist in sarriball - IMHO to only player on the roster that can play that Regista position is Side Show Bob - again today he showed his range of passing - almost created a goal w/ Pedro again

 

 

17 minutes ago, enigma said:

Drogba also finished the season scoring almost 30 goals. Helps when you have he kind of players Ancelotti had at his disposal. Give us Lampard and Drogba now and we would be top of the league without a doubt. Now we have Barkley and Morata lol

It’s not about the players it’s about the manager being flexible and honest enough to adapt and change when performances aren’t good. 

If Sarri is adamant he doesn’t have the personal to play Sarri-ball (whatever that is) then adapt, what strengths does this squad and how best can they currently be utilised to maximise their potential/ability. 

He’s relentlessly sticking with the same system and same players and if anything we’re regressing... so that’s where he’s got to earn he’s keep. Do SOMETHING to improve things because recently he just keeps making comments about the players mentality but he’s the one who’s tasked with getting them in the right head space. 

1 minute ago, robdog said:

Kante's position doesn't exist in sarriball - IMHO to only player on the roster that can play that Regista position is Side Show Bob - again today he showed his range of passing - almost created a goal w/ Pedro again

 

I think his point is change the tactics for onc

I’m glad he’s slinging to some of these players. Effort levels are a disgrace at times and some are genuinely nowhere near good enough. Mourinho, Conte and Sarri have all had this problem, all have different philosophies. 

Why is it we always self destruct after winning the league? 

One thing I will say, barring a few, this team of players are very dislikable at times.

No heart, no effort or character about them. 

if as he says hes just the coach wtf is he seeing on he training ground?

he picks the same players week in week out without a care to how they are actually playing

he picked the same team today who struggled to beat newcastle at home !!! just think about it

as for his golden boy in midfield he has to be dropped and put kante in his rightful place

put hazard in his preferred position while your at it

i was at the game today and the level of dislike for sarri shocked me tbh

3 minutes ago, EdinburghBlue said:

I think his point is change the tactics for onc

ok, then play Christensen in the back 4 & let Side Show Bob play the #5 position - worth a shot right?

https://twitter.com/beINSPORTS/status/1086691170393026560?s=19

Jose offering his thoughts on us.

Edited January 19, 20197 yr by Spiller86

I think my biggest problem with the man that he seemingly has only one way of playing. For me, it's just a cop out to suggest that it's all down to the players, who just aren't good enough. Top managers make the best use of the players they've got. Name one player that improved under Sarri. One. I'm not the biggest Conte fan, but in his first season with no backing on the transfer market from the board not only he changed the system when things weren't going well and it worked wonders, he also had the likes of Alonso and Moses playing the best football of their lives under him.  

Sarri seems incapable of changing things around during matches. His system is way too predictable and the whole slow passing buildup from the back is not fooling anyone. Whenever I watch us play recently I keep remembering that quote from Einstein: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” 

Did we even have a shot on goal tonight? He had a full week with the team to prepare for an important match against our rivals and that's what he came up with? Really? Mind you, this Arsenal side are far from great, just look at their lineup. But our utterly toothless display made them look like world beaters.

Something tells me Sarri's never been under that type of pressure in his whole managerial career. His biggest accomplishment to date is running Juve close while playing some tidy passing football. Woop dee f**king do, colour me impressed. Well, this is no Serie A, mate, the EPL is much more competitive and you don't get points for trying and nobody gives a sh*t how many passes you accumulate in 90 minutes.

15 minutes ago, JMaher94 said:

I’m glad he’s slinging to some of these players. Effort levels are a disgrace at times and some are genuinely nowhere near good enough. Mourinho, Conte and Sarri have all had this problem, all have different philosophies. 

Why is it we always self destruct after winning the league? 

One thing I will say, barring a few, this team of players are very dislikable at times.

No heart, no effort or character about them. 

All true of course. Our concern as our old guard has moved on is that we have prioritised recruitment around younger players who have resale value. They've become the core of our team and we have few leaders. 

I've been saying this for a while too, worst part is that those players who should be leading the team have been key in some of the worst behaviour.

Luiz and Willian should have followed Conte out the door last season and yet here they are playing first team football. We need some grunt and fast. We were Arsenal tonight. It has come full circle from Jose's time. 

47 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

A squad of international footballers are incapable of playing in a different formation? I’m sorry but that’s nonsense.

Honest question, what positives do you think there are in our performances since the start of December? And are those positives currently outweighing the negatives? 

By positives I mean the process in general. There comes a time we gotta put faith in a manager. When top coaches and players speak highly of Sarri and also seeing his backstory and how much he improved Napoli, there's no doubting he's a fantastic coach. My problem is I don't trust our board and the group of players we currently have.

We will never progress as a club if we never show faith and support to a manager. We are sitting 4th, so at the moment I see no negatives. We are where we are supposed to be. We either accept this is a transition season or we hire and fire again, rinse and repeat and be even worse off as a club. 

Sarri seriously questioning the players mentality at the official press conference. This could turn nasty.