A great start for the new gaffer.

First 15 games

Won 12

Drew 3

Lost 0

Goals 33 

Against 12

 

12 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Sarri's football is about having fun and  playing with passion, while Jose is about hard work, do whatever it takes to win, and playing football is not supposed to be fun. If I were a footballer, I know which manager I would love to play under.

Well i don't see many players say they don't or didn't like playing for Mourinho.

Edited October 31, 20187 yr by jack_super_class

1 hour ago, jack_super_class said:

Well i don't see many players say they don't or didn't like playing for Mourinho.

Most players don't get involved in that kind of stuff and those that do are quite diplomatic.

Its quite obvious to every fair, open minded football fan that Jose puts sratching out anykind of result week in week out is way above everything else in managing a football team. He has no plan beyond not losing his next game. Fortunately, that is not the philosophy of the majority of top managers. If  it was, football would die a death as the most popular sport in the world. I am glad he is not the manager of Chelsea and boring the sh*t out of Utd fans instead.

 

I feel Sarri works most of any of our managers in recent history. He seems to have time to everybody as everyone seems pretty happy and everyone is progressing. Even Cahill looks like he has learned a trick or two. 

Players say Sarri walks the walk by making them enjoy football. 

I also think we will fall short of trophies. To win one you need to dig deep. This team is not that sort. Even City may struggle to win beautiful. Next season or maybe the one following that we might win something but I think it is very hard. 

Sarri's never won anything and we are in a start of a long path. 

However I have enjoyed the season so far. 

2 hours ago, evissy said:

Sarri's never won anything and we are in a start of a long path. 

I should point out that last season Napoli got 91 points. The first time in the history of Serie A, a team got 90+ points and didn't win the league.

13 hours ago, coco said:

A great start for the new gaffer.

First 15 games

Won 12

Drew 3

Lost 0

Goals 33 

Against 12

 

It has been said previously, not least by Sarri himself, that results and the overall quality of performances might be mediocre during the first couple of months or so as the team acclimatises to Sarri's high-line, pressing and possession-oriented style.

While acquiring his designated Napoli playmaker and field commander in Jorginho would have made it easier for Chelsea to adjust to Sarri's ways, if only because Jorginho could have directed his teammates as to how Sarri would like them to play, all I have to say is that if these initial performances and results are mediocre, then my toes are really curling up in excitement in anticipation of the performances and results to come!

A few other observations:

1) It was said that Sarri's main problem at Napoli was largely failing to rotate his squad. However that might have been down partially to a lack of squad depth because he's been more willing to rotate for the less important cup games, or alternately ease less than 100% fit players into the game/season for maximum effect (e.g - Hazard). Conversely, I felt that during 2017/18 Conte too often ran certain players into the ground (Alonso) or gave them more game time than they really deserved (Bakayoko/Pedro). 

2) For the most part, with the exception of Alonso's defending to a degree, I didn't feel that Conte actually improved the skills of his existing players, so much as he placed them into positions where their strengths were best utilised and their weaknesses were mitigated (e.g - Moses at wingback to exploit his athleticism in favour of his weak crossing and erratic decision-making in attack). On the other hand, I feel that Sarri has actually improved the skill set of existing players. For example, at the start of the season Barkley was threatening going forward but he struggled for any end product (goals/assists) and his defensive work ethic was somewhat lacking, leaving the left flank open as Alonso surged forward. In recent games, Barkley has shown a greater willingness to get stuck in and dispossess players (e.g - the lead up to Hazard's goal against Southampton), while he has conjured up killer balls (e.g - to Morata versus Burnley) and goals from bombing runs forward. Even RLC has displayed predatory instincts in the box and finishing ability that I didn't know he really had. 

3) He is more even-tempered than Conte, who was clearly prone to behavioural swings, was rather thin-skinned (being psyched out by Mourinho as a consequence) and let his personal feelings cloud his personnel choices as a result (witness him freezing out Luiz after being offended by his behaviour in the wake of the disastrous game at Roma). Conversely, Sarri has chosen to avoid allowing personal biases and feelings to cloud his judgement, seeming remarkably even-tempered (there was that regrettable incident where he allegedly called Mancini a 'faggot' but that seems like an aberration). In hindsight, Conte was always unlikely to last long at Chelsea because, even when his squad was strong enough to overwhelm the competition (as at Juventus) his penchant for picking fights with players and directors alike would eventually alienate him from his own club, making his position untenable. You don't get the impression that Sarri will depart in such a manner. 

4) He has been compared to Pep in terms of managerial style. Both indeed have a high-pressing, high-possession style, but when you look closer there are a few differences. For example, while Pep's sides can play incredible football, he comes off as being a manager who needs an extremely powerful squad (Barcelona/Bayern/Man City) in order to play his best football, if only because his high-pressing tiki-taka requires both considerable skill and stamina to pull off across a season. When his side isn't clearly the best in the competition in question, he can struggle to get the best out of his personnel. For example, his 2016-17 Man City side was flawed but IMO were still weak favourites to win the title. They ultimately finished third by a distance. On the other hand, Sarri inherited a fairly middling Napoli side from Benitez (which finished below even Fiorentina in Serie A) and turned them into a highly competitive side despite losing his world-renowned striker (Higuain) in the process. He turned Mertens from merely a fairly good wing forward into a truly deadly centre-forward, transformed Jorginho from a fringe-player into the integral regista that we all know today and turned the unfancied Hysaj into a highly-rated full back. What can Barkley/RLC ultimately become on his watch? It will be worth finding out. 

  

I watched that video that @Brutos posted & I must admit I do get a warm & fuzzy feeling about Don Maurizio as the gaffer - as Zola pointed out, this is only the beginning of the process, then he spoke on how the process worked at Napoli - Yes I am all in - eccezionale!!!!

11 hours ago, evissy said:

I feel Sarri works most of any of our managers in recent history. He seems to have time to everybody as everyone seems pretty happy and everyone is progressing. Even Cahill looks like he has learned a trick or two. 

 Players say Sarri walks the walk by making them enjoy football. 

I also think we will fall short of trophies. To win one you need to dig deep. This team is not that sort.

Aren't they? I would say they are, in fact they have already proven to be so!

On 01/11/2018 at 09:20, jack_super_class said:

Well i don't see many players say they don't or didn't like playing for Mourinho.

Only the real unprofessional ones say that kind of things, that's why. Certain type of players succeed with Jose, and more often that not are the hard working, physical strong, and not creative and flair type.

57 minutes ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Only the real unprofessional ones say that kind of things, that's why. Certain type of players succeed with Jose, and more often that not are the hard working, physical strong, and not creative and flair type.

What like Wesley Sneidjer and Deco?.

Edited November 2, 20187 yr by jack_super_class

15 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

What like Wesley Sneidjer and Deco?.

Ajern Robben, Joe Cole, Hazard, Ozil, Kaka, Di Maria.... 

5 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Ajern Robben, Joe Cole, Hazard, Ozil, Kaka, Di Maria.... 

Exactly Joe Cole had one of his best season of his career under Mourinho, Duff and Robben were great together under Mourinho. So easy these days to put down Mourinho. I cant imagine many managers getting Samuel Eto'o to play nearly at right back in certain games.

Sarri is really one of the best coaching managers out there.

The team looks so professional where everyone is trying to keep the formation in line and do their role the best they can.

Today showed how something so complicated can look so easy on the eye, get the ball inside the box where your forward will be able to finish it off with a goal.

Sarri is the first Chelsea manager to not lose in the first 10 PL games, I can only imagine how good the squad will look in one year time.

Edited November 4, 20187 yr by Gol15

If any of you listen to The Totally Football Show, James Horncastle made an interesting point on Sarri and how, at Napoli, if you were in his favoured starting 11 you loved him. Yet if you were on the fringes you were almost frozen out. I hope that doesn't happen here. Also seeing the impact he's had, talks of Sarri being a breath of fresh air is giving me a feeling of dejavu of when Conte came. I think Sarri will be different but i'm reserving part of my judgement for a few years time. 

When asked to comment about the Man City win where they scored 6 goals and if Chelsea could cope with that:"I don't know, in the beginning we knew very well that there was a gap last season, it was 30 points so in the moment we need to try to cover the large part of this game, I hope to cover almost all the gap but I don't know I think it's difficult to cover a gap of 30 points in a matter of 6 months, but we are trying."

Edited November 4, 20187 yr by Gol15

He inherited this squad, and credit to him for only bringing in one player (Jorginho) and coaching the rest of the players to play the way he wants. I honestly thought that only a few of the players would adapt to his style, but pretty much the whole first 11 and also a good handful of fringe players are able to play his way. I just really hope the board bring in good players to suit his style where needed because he needs the same support as Pep has had at City. 

5 hours ago, enigma said:

 I just really hope the board bring in good players to suit his style where needed because he needs the same support as Pep has had at City. 

Pep has the wealth of an entire nation, Roman is one rich man. 

On 02/11/2018 at 09:09, icecoolguy22 said:

Only the real unprofessional ones say that kind of things, that's why. Certain type of players succeed with Jose, and more often that not are the hard working, physical strong, and not creative and flair type.

During JMs last season, he kept picking Ivanovic when he was woefully out of form. His legs had gone and it looked like he was running in treacle.

When pushed in an interview, he remarked that we needed his height at set pieces. Says it all....

Thoughts on Sarri.

Like Conte we have a particular style.

I prefer Sarri’s 4-3-3 to Conte’s 3-5-2 0r 3-4-3.

I prefer the fact we are always trying to get forward and having lots of possession.

Sarri himself seems a decent sort and handles the media well so far.

Things not so sure about;

Loads of passing around the back and DM area which can look aimless though I think that is to probe and wait for an opening.

Great that we are now seeing lots of attacks on goal.

Like his substitutions that normally make sense and are made in good time.

Like the fact he is using Barkley and RLC though hope to see more of CHO.

Going forward

The EPL is always a game of two halves and so far we are going well. The challenge appears after Christmas as you face the EPL teams for the second time along with the other cup competitions.

In the last couple of matches against Utd and Palace I see Jorginho is being man-marked or closed down. Yesterday Luiz was a great outlet though it will be interesting to see how Sarri reacts as other teams seek similar methods to disrupt our momentum.

I've mentioned this previously, but I feel for Sarri. He's come into a Premier League which is the toughest it's been for a long time. There are now genuinely 6 sides who can finish top four and maybe 3/4 which can challenge. He came in off a poor season by us and with a squad which nobody knew if he could get them playing his way. Fortunately majority of the players can play his way or learning to. I thought before the season started that top four is our aim, but I now genuinely think that Sarri can have us challenging until the very end. Of course, anything can happen between that time, such as injuries/suspensions, but if our key players stay fit and we make a couple of good signings in Jan, I think we can run City close. 

Edited November 5, 20187 yr by enigma

17 minutes ago, enigma said:

I've mentioned this previously, but I feel for Sarri. He's come into a Premier League which is the toughest it's been for a long time. There are now genuinely 6 sides who can finish top four and maybe 3/4 which can challenge. He came in off a poor season by us and with a squad which nobody knew if he could get them playing his way. Fortunately majority of the players can play his way or learning to. I thought before the season started that top four is our aim, but I now genuinely think that Sarri can have us challenging until the very end. Of course, anything can happen between that time, such as injuries/suspensions, but if our key players stay fit and we make a couple of good signings in Jan, I think we can run City close. 

I think close might be too big an ask, but if we can finish within about 10 points of them I think Sarri deserves to be praised to the heavens.

All we have to do is match their results each week, and beat them when we play them.  Simple old game, really, Saint.

19 hours ago, rtwelch said:

If any of you listen to The Totally Football Show, James Horncastle made an interesting point on Sarri and how, at Napoli, if you were in his favoured starting 11 you loved him. Yet if you were on the fringes you were almost frozen out. I hope that doesn't happen here. Also seeing the impact he's had, talks of Sarri being a breath of fresh air is giving me a feeling of dejavu of when Conte came. I think Sarri will be different but i'm reserving part of my judgement for a few years time. 

Early signs suggest he may be learning from that, he's quite evidently working hard with RLC despite him basically being the reserve of the reserve and outside of defense he's actually rotating pretty well in the league. 

We will have more of an idea on what his rotation policy will be like here if we get to the latter stages of Europa and the big games come every few days.

4 hours ago, Kentonio said:

I think close might be too big an ask, but if we can finish within about 10 points of them I think Sarri deserves to be praised to the heavens.

What could work in our favour is if we can keep them close till February CL will be their main aim.

4 hours ago, Kentonio said:

I think close might be too big an ask, but if we can finish within about 10 points of them I think Sarri deserves to be praised to the heavens.

It won't be simple (as Conte would say haha) because our team is still young to his style. Sarri has only been in charge of the squad for 4 months and the changes have been very evident, but head to head of course City are better because they've had 3 seasons together to gel. It will be interesting to gage where we are at when we play them next. We have come on leaps and bounds since the community shield game, so I think the game will certainly be tighter this time around.