The reaction next Thursday will tell a lot. The players didn't look like they bought into Sarriball against Arsenal and his angry comments were interesting. We needed Morata even if he's not playing well but i guess he's on his way. It's clear Hazard doesn't want to play false 9.

Like most fans i don't like losing but i REALLY don't like seeing a spineless display: predictable, horizontal, lack of fight, lack of hunger. I'm sure there's a few more negatives I could throw in.

Ultimately Sarri is responsible for getting us out of this hole.

I

That game against Arsenal in Conte’s first season is what turned everything around.

With Higuain coming in tomorrow or Wednesday, and the game against Spurs in an injury crisis, I feel positive. The buzz of beating Spurs and Higuain arrival, could be enough to set us back on the right path.

2 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

That game against Arsenal in Conte’s first season is what turned everything around.

With Higuain coming in tomorrow or Wednesday, and the game against Spurs in an injury crisis, I feel positive. The buzz of beating Spurs and Higuain arrival, could be enough to set us back on the right path.

Definitely a big week ahead. If it goes well we will hopefully be in another cup final, and into the FA Cup 5th round. If we have a bad week we could be left with the Europa and a fight for 4th.

His post-match interview after Arsenal was really bad.
If you can’t motivate the players you need to resign or have a good hard look at yourself.
He’s responsible for just that and admitting that you can’t is like turning the gun on yourself and pulling the trigger.

Give him time you will not regret

11 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

That game against Arsenal in Conte’s first season is what turned everything around.

With Higuain coming in tomorrow or Wednesday, and the game against Spurs in an injury crisis, I feel positive. The buzz of beating Spurs and Higuain arrival, could be enough to set us back on the right path.

I agree. It was doom and gloom central on here before the City game, big smiles after. Have got a feeling we’re gonna turn them over.

Might silence some of the emotional rockhoppers who seem to alternate between suicide and delirium.

At the moment teams sit back against Chelsea knowing we don't create much, the ball normally goes out wide and the fullbacks don't cross because there is never a target. Having Higuain will mean we can now cross the ball, I'm just wondering is this Sarri football?

When Chelsea signed Sarri ofcourse we understood that he brings with him a certain style but at the same time the club would expect coaches to adapt that and constantly improve to get results. Pep's city is compeltely different from Pep's Barca and Bayern - he has changed his style slightly to adapt to the league.

The frustration with Sarri is his inflexible approach - chelsea have given him his big chance and by doing this he is blowing it. Even minor tweaks might improve results but Sarri is not making the required changes. The best coaches have a philosophy but also change based on match situation. Fergie used to send his CB's uptop in the last 10 mins when they were changing. A loss is a loss but you need to take risks. You cannot finish a match (Spurs/Arsenal) 2 goals down on the scoreboard but with 2 Defensive Minded midfielders (Kante/Jorginho) on the field.

For me however promising the start was; Sarri seems to be operating in a very rigid manner. We cannot afford another doomed regime and that is the reason why so much frustration with Sarri.

Do you peeps agree w/ Big Sam?

13 hours ago, Jangz said:

When Chelsea signed Sarri ofcourse we understood that he brings with him a certain style but at the same time the club would expect coaches to adapt that and constantly improve to get results. Pep's city is compeltely different from Pep's Barca and Bayern - he has changed his style slightly to adapt to the league.

The frustration with Sarri is his inflexible approach - chelsea have given him his big chance and by doing this he is blowing it. Even minor tweaks might improve results but Sarri is not making the required changes. The best coaches have a philosophy but also change based on match situation. Fergie used to send his CB's uptop in the last 10 mins when they were changing. A loss is a loss but you need to take risks. You cannot finish a match (Spurs/Arsenal) 2 goals down on the scoreboard but with 2 Defensive Minded midfielders (Kante/Jorginho) on the field.

For me however promising the start was; Sarri seems to be operating in a very rigid manner. We cannot afford another doomed regime and that is the reason why so much frustration with Sarri.

Absolutely spot on. Totally agree.

Made me laugh anyway. 

From the Press Conference today: 

Sarri on reaction to Arsenal loss: "We need to react on the pitch. The rest is nothing. We discussed with the players about how to try to improve the approach, motivation and determination. We are trying to train something in training, pre-match and everything."

Sarri on player power backlash at Chelsea: "No, why? I can't understand why. We need to discuss about our problems, I think. The first step to improve is to accept the mistake otherwise it is impossible to improve. It is normal."

Sarri on previously mentioning 'losing points of reference' at Chelsea: "I don't know very well. I can't understand exactly the old situation because I wasn't here but maybe this group lost somebody important for driving the other players."

Sarri on improving mentality: "The situation can change suddenly without logical reason sometimes. It depends on the atmosphere around the player but we have some players with the characteristics to be a leader. Azpi & Luiz. They can help the other players"

Sarri says Hazard isn't a typical leader but that he is a great player "who can win the match in two or one minute. Then he adds... "At the moment he is not a leader, he is a great player, one of the best in the world."

Sarri on Hazard future: "No, no. I know very well that he is discussing with the club but I don't know anything else at the moment. I don't know if he has decided yet that he wants to stay here or have another experience in another club."

Sarri on Higuain: "He is a very strong striker, especially in my first season in Naples. He scored 36 goals in 35 matches in Serie A. He did very well. For sure he is one of the best strikers in my career"

Sarri on Higuain: "He played four seasons for Real Madrid, so I think he has the right experience to play here"

Sarri on Hazard: "Sometimes [Hazard frustrates me]. I prefer he speaks with his feet" Joking about Hazard's interview

Sarri on Hazard: "I think he has to do more. His potential is higher than his performances. He has to respect himself. He has to do more."

Sarri on Hazard false nine: "Eden is a wonderful player but he is an individual player. He is an instinctive player. For him it's very difficult to play only in one position. He likes to go to the ball"

Sarri says Higuain is a few hours away from signing his contract at Chelsea. He says he hopes the striker can start scoring straightaway, but he says there is plenty more to his game than goals. He hopes he can get him back to his best form.

Sarri on Higuain's mentality and AC Milan form: "He wants to win all the time in any situation. In the last five years he lost his temper twice a little bit." Adds his time in AC Milan isn't a failure and says "he felt a bit lost"

Sarri on Higuain playing vs Tottenham: "It is impossible [to be done in time]"

Sarri on Higuain medical: "I don't know. I have to speak with the doctor and see him more, but I think for tomorrow it is impossible."

Sarri on Higuain helping him: "I hope so, I think that the club agrees with me when I told them my opinion about the team. So January market is very difficult especially for a striker, it is difficult to find one of the most important strikers in the world."

Sarri on Christensen's toilet break at Arsenal: "I was worried more than anything. You know very well that Christensen on matchdays always has stomach ache. I don't know the reason but he is always very nervous. I don't know what to say."

He’s got the best player in the league by a distance & he’s not happy! 

This bloke would of coached the skill out of Maradona.

I don't really see what Sarri has said wrong about Hazard here?

He's said he'd rather he not talk so much in interviews. Correct.

He said he's not performing to his maximum at the moment. Correct.

He says Hazard is an individual player, not one who plays for the team. Once again, correct. Even Hazard himself said this the other day.

As for coaching skill out of people? I'm sure this is one of Hazard's best seasons to date in a Chelsea shirt.

Hazard does play for the team, very much so otherwise he would refuse to play the false 9!

He is an individual player that doesn’t fit into a rigid system, but then neither do the worlds best.

when you have a player like Hazard, the team plays to that players strengths because they’re match winners.

20 hours ago, Jangz said:

When Chelsea signed Sarri ofcourse we understood that he brings with him a certain style but at the same time the club would expect coaches to adapt that and constantly improve to get results. Pep's city is compeltely different from Pep's Barca and Bayern - he has changed his style slightly to adapt to the league.

Plus endless amounts of money for the players he wanted. And he came and was an instant disappointment in the Premiership, with a flop of a first season for what everyone expected.

20 hours ago, Jangz said:

The frustration with Sarri is his inflexible approach - chelsea have given him his big chance and by doing this he is blowing it. Even minor tweaks might improve results but Sarri is not making the required changes. The best coaches have a philosophy but also change based on match situation. Fergie used to send his CB's uptop in the last 10 mins when they were changing. A loss is a loss but you need to take risks. You cannot finish a match (Spurs/Arsenal) 2 goals down on the scoreboard but with 2 Defensive Minded midfielders (Kante/Jorginho) on the field.

For me however promising the start was; Sarri seems to be operating in a very rigid manner. We cannot afford another doomed regime and that is the reason why so much frustration with Sarri.

Is he really blowing it? We are 4th, still in all competitions and, while we have had some poor performances we have also played past City and had a great game in the Cup at Wembley despite losing to an offside, non-existent penalty by that diver twat Kane. He is trying to adapt to a new league where he has been for just 4 f**king months, and he may need a season or two like those media (and some Chelsea fans in here) darlings Klopp and Guardiola.

What changes is he not making to call him rigid? FFS he is playing Hazard as a false 9 because we have no recognised centre forward, which is a change he was praised for when we played City. He is trying to get us a centre forward because he knows what is missing. Do you think he plays Luiz because of his defensive abilities? He is adapting to the fact that many times we need long-range passes to get over packed defensive lines, and the only other player with that quality is David Luiz. What other changes do you want him to make? Ok, he could play more of CHO, but everyone wants him to play instead of William. This is a change of personnel but not of style. LC is with injury, but Sarri was introducing him into the first team when he got injured.

I really don't see where he can change more. Should we revert back to the 343/352 everyone hated last season so that we can say he is not rigid? Play Kante to cover the defence line and become more defensive team with Kovacic and Barkley on left and right, which not many of you think are "good enough" anyway? Give the coach a break, let him settle and get on with developing a team that plays his style (he is doing better than Pep on his first season).

Big week - 10 days for Sarri. 3 very winnable games, home games (depleted Sp*rs, Sheff Wed & Huddersfield), with Bournemouth away in the middle. 

Be interesting to see what line-up he plumps for in each of these games but let's hope we win all 4 in style and put ourselves back on track before we are away at City on the 10th Feb.

 

Edited January 23, 20197 yr by Nibs

28 minutes ago, shedpensioner said:

Hazard does play for the team, very much so otherwise he would refuse to play the false 9!

He is an individual player that doesn’t fit into a rigid system, but then neither do the worlds best.

when you have a player like Hazard, the team plays to that players strengths because they’re match winners.

He is refusing to play false 9. Go look at his heat map, he spent the game at LW. 

What's the point of having a manager if a player is just going to do as they please?

Don't say Hazard doesn't fit into a rigid system either after playing under Mourinho and Conte.

Just now, RIP Mourinho said:

He is refusing to play false 9. Go look at his heat map, he spent the game at LW. 

What's the point of having a manager if a player is just going to do as they please?

Don't say Hazard doesn't fit into a rigid system either after playing under Mourinho and Conte.

In both successful seasons under the managers mentioned, Hazard had a starting position on the left & was allowed his freedom. Once both managers asked him to conform more, his form suffered & so did the teams results.

4 minutes ago, shedpensioner said:

In both successful seasons under the managers mentioned, Hazard had a starting position on the left & was allowed his freedom. Once both managers asked him to conform more, his form suffered & so did the teams results.

He was never given freedom. Mourinho complained regularly about his willingness to track back. 

1 minute ago, RIP Mourinho said:

He was never given freedom. Mourinho complained regularly about his willingness to track back. 

Agreed.  I remember after the first couple games under Conte, a lot of pundits and fans were saying how much more freedom Hazard had.  Then of course we went to the back 3 and things changed.  This season has given Hazard by far the most freedom he has had in the past 5-6 seasons.

1 minute ago, RIP Mourinho said:

He was never given freedom. Mourinho complained regularly about his willingness to track back. 

But not too loudly in the title winning season. Mourinho only started moaning when things weren’t working for him.

2 minutes ago, shedpensioner said:

But not too loudly in the title winning season. Mourinho only started moaning when things weren’t working for him.

But why did things go wrong? 

You've said things only went wrong when Hazard was given less freedom. Now you're saying he was given less freedom because things went wrong? hmmm.

Well there is no problem with Hazard he got the contract offer which he is happily ignoring for a month or so now.

Go ahead boycott the third manager it doesn't change the fact that as soon as the summer starts Hazard is off to Spain, he could have fought with all he's got but he prefers to once again play the big diva card, but as soon as this mentality stops the club will have the staff that are ready to once again fight for the club for real.

2 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

But why did things go wrong? 

You've said things only went wrong when Hazard was given less freedom. Now you're saying he was given less freedom because things went wrong? hmmm.

Remember in the first half of the season we won the league, the football was really good? Hazard was on fire, then pragmatic Mourinho came along everything got tightened up, that’s when it went wrong.