6 hours ago, Argo said:

Personally, i wouldn't trust many if any fan opinions regarding club decisions, and i include myself in that.

Would you trust a managers opinion that swaps a RB for a worse RB at 2-0 down at home in a cup game with less than 10 minutes to go? 

 

I would love to sit down with Sarri and hear an explanation behind that change because there is absolutely no logical reason to make that sub.

 

Of course fans don’t know everything but once the fans turn, particularly match going fans - it usually only goes one way.

5 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Spread from Roman to us. We wanted Claudio to stay. We wanted Jose mark 1 to get more time, we supported jose mark 2 even when we were near the drop zone. We did not want carlo or robbie sacked.

However a lot of us started turning on conte early on, and now with sarri. I like to think we are fair minded people, for the most part. So long as our team and manager are trying there best we dont have to win trophies every year. We were not seeing enough effort or care from Scolari, AVB, Grant, conte year 2 and now from Sarri. We just hated Rafa and gave him no time.

Maybe I am wrong and we have become spoiled.

I agree, I think there was a lot of sympathy for Conte even in his second season because of the boards failure to recruit top players. He was backed by the majority over the Costa debacle as well.

 

Grant I also thought wasn’t as bad as was made out. He was a JT slip away from delivering our first CL title as well.  That could just be time blurring my memory of it all mind you!

7 hours ago, Argo said:

Lets not exaggerate, while these are very much testing times it isn't our darkest days since 2015, let alone 1980.

Ok, 'darkest days' might sound a tad dramatic but, I do think you can interpret the current situation as being as bad as things have been in a very long time. The squad has definitely deteriorated since 2015 through poor management and we continue full steam ahead in this apparently disorganised and directionless fashion. We didn't replace Emanelo, Roman has gone AWOL, we've got a manager that can't motivate players and says they play confused football, the fans have very vociferously turned on him and we look to be on the cusp of losing one of our two truly world class players and our best youth prospect in a good while. And meanwhile the teams around us are getting their sh*t together. I think that if the club don't do something positive, coordinated and fairly expensive very soon then we look like we are bang on course for a sustained period of 6th to 9th type mediocrity and I believe the further we slip the harder it will be to reverse.

I still cannot make my mind up as to whether it is the Players causing this (again) or it is Sarri-ball (or the lack of it)

We undoubtedly have a talented squad but I fear that it is bored with the coaching and tactics of a man who would rather keep losing than change his philosophy. His team selection, especially with continually picking players out of form, his in-game management, substitutions and then after match explanations (excuses) that he cannot motivate the players, means regrettably, he must go and I see no point in ruining any chances we have of winning the Carabou Cup or the Europa League by keeping him one second longer

All this comes from a complete cock up by the club, so many players on the books, can't see the forest for the trees, world class players have been allowed to slip away, half a dozen bang average players brought in for extortionate amounts of money, some club record transfer fees among them.

If we sack Sarri, we will still have the problems i stated above. This is a deep lying problem within the clubs model of operation.

12 minutes ago, coco said:

All this comes from a complete cock up by the club, so many players on the books, can't see the forest for the trees, world class players have been allowed to slip away, half a dozen bang average players brought in for extortionate amounts of money, some club record transfer fees among them.

If we sack Sarri, we will still have the problems i stated above. This is a deep lying problem within the clubs model of operation.

If?

Come on Coco, he's the wrong man. We all know there is plenty wrong with our club but you can't then put your trust in a guy as clueless as Sarri clearly is. Last night was the final straw and even his staunchest supporters must now accept he isn't up to this job.

 

Edited February 19, 20197 yr by Nibs

Why is he still here?
Stamford Bridge completely turned on the manager last night. And no one can blame them one bit.
Sarri have made a completely joke out of us lately, the Bridge was half empty before the game was over yesterday, the boos were ringing around the stadium and there were songs of “Bring back Mourinho” and “F**k Sarriball” and “You don’t know what you’re doing” from the home supporters.

And yes, we have other massive issues but right now Sarri is the biggest one.

2 minutes ago, Nibs said:

If?

Come on Coco, he's the wrong man. We all know there is plenty wrong with our club but you can't then put your trust in a guy as clueless as Sarri clearly is. Last night was the final straw and when even his staunchest supporters must now accept he isn't up to this job.

 

Ok Nibs you tell us the answers on the pitch, who would you change around, cho in for willian, Emerson for Alonso, any more ?

there are decent enough players, sarri just can not get them playing

27 minutes ago, luckywerthers said:

there are decent enough players, sarri just can not get them playing

I don't agree, This set of players doesn't have enough of a goal threat. Our midfield is tidy on the ball without actually taking it forward with any kind of impetus. There's no leadership either.

At the same time though, I don't think anybody could come in and turn us around at this point. The fact remains that this is an average squad of players. They tried tonight, they worked harder than usual when things don't go their way, but they just don't look good enough.

This just make me appreciate Conte more.
Do you remember we were in a similar situation before we played United in that Fa cup final under Conte? United was in a better form haven secured the top 4 spot and were favourite to win that cup over us at a time when our team were still in a bad mood after a poor season? Yes! Conte worked on motivating the players for a crucial game, he probably spent sleepless nights prior to that final thinking of the formation to use that will get the best out of his average squad players and give us an edge over that in form United team. He eventually came up with the 3-5-2 formation instead of his favourite 3-4-3. The rest is history.
How I wish the board were as ambitious as he was!

10 minutes ago, Luca Vialli said:

I don't agree, This set of players doesn't have enough of a goal threat. Our midfield is tidy on the ball without actually taking it forward with any kind of impetus. There's no leadership either.

That's another key point of how we've allowed our squad to deteriorate. Not only have we seen a reduction in quality both in the best 11 and in the squad as a whole, we've even lost all that toughness of spirit and perhaps even some of the togetherness we had for so long.

This is why I fear we've let this situation go too far now for any quick fix. Sacking Sarri won't in itself turn things around because the player pool isn't good enough. Sticking with him is madness because for him to get the squad of players he needs for this to (hopefully) work, it'll take numerous transfer windows, and that would even need a dramatic change in the way the club go about signing players and an unlikely return to very lavish net spending. And whilst all that is happening (or not) we look well equipped to be slipping out of even being serious contenders for Champions League football and we all know how important that is to revenue and attracting players.

I blame the management, but sadly for Sarri, he looks every bit the last man you'd want to be keeping a steady ship with this crew whilst these greater issues are addressed.

38 minutes ago, coco said:

Ok Nibs you tell us the answers on the pitch, who would you change around, cho in for willian, Emerson for Alonso, any more ?

Those are a couple of obvious ones. I would "rest" Jorginho and put Kante back and bring in Ampadu.

But as well as the personnel, players need something more from their coach. Look how OGS has got a team spirit back at Utd in such a short space of time. Look how Lamps & Jody are doing at Derby when they don't have a huge amount to work with. 

When the rumours started last year that it looked like Conte was going to be replaced by a guy I had hardly heard of I couldn't believe it. Thought it sounded like a recipe for disaster and then when it actually happened thought, well we best go with it and got carried away with the hype about what a genius the guy is and how he will transform things. He would have been allowed a dodgy start and then look for things to improve but in hindsight the worst thing that could have happened is he got off to a good start. Now it has all gone backwards and we look a complete sham and Sarri-ball is a myth. Sometimes coaches have a lucky run - everything clicks into place for a while but then the luck runs out and they get found out. Add Sarri to the list of McLaren, Pardew, O'Leary, Hughes etc................... Can't believe that we replaced a top coach, a winner like Conte with an unproven unknown. It was a gamble that has back-fired badly.

 

  

Honestly, get rid of this guy. His post match comments show that he's simply unchangeable. 

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2019/2/19/18230040/sarri-still-clueless-about-whats-going-wrong-at-chelsea

Ok Nibs you tell us the answers on the pitch, who would you change around, cho in for willian, Emerson for Alonso, any more ?

Kovacic for Jorginho while Willian plays in the midfield with Kante and Kovacic, that will make the midfield more creative and gives CHO more time on the wings.

10 hours ago, Stas1 said:

For those who slag off Sarri, here is a little story:

Two city brokers bumped into each other in a wine bar. Usual questions about jobs, families, mistresses, etc. Then one broker says he was lucky enough to buy an elephant recently, and he is absolutely ecstatic about his acquisition:  the elephant plays with children, carries water in his trunk and washes the cars, keeps the trees and bushes trimmed in the garden, an absolute delight.  Another broker goes: f**k me backwards! I want this elephant and I will gladly give you 1 million squid for it.  Done deal.

Two months later they meet at a party again. The fella who bought the elephant goes apesh*t: that f**king beast destroyed my garden, shat over the whole driveway, smashed all windows, wrecked my car and scares the sh*t out of my whole family!!!  What the f**k!!!!  The other bloke goes:  easy, pal, easy! With such attitude you'll never be able to sell it on.

My point is:  if we want to get rid of Sarri.....

 

Out like a fat kid in dodge ball

10 minutes ago, Nibs said:

When the rumours started last year that it looked like Conte was going to be replaced by a guy I had hardly heard of I couldn't believe it. Thought it sounded like a recipe for disaster and then when it actually happened thought, well we best go with it and got carried away with the hype about what a genius the guy is and how he will transform things. He would have been allowed a dodgy start and then look for things to improve but in hindsight the worst thing that could have happened is he got off to a good start. Now it has all gone backwards and we look a complete sham and Sarri-ball is a myth. Sometimes coaches have a lucky run - everything clicks into place for a while but then the luck runs out and they get found out. Add Sarri to the list of McLaren, Pardew, O'Leary, Hughes etc................... Can't believe that we replaced a top coach, a winner like Conte with an unproven unknown. It was a gamble that has back-fired badly.  

Spot on. I still shake my head at the club's decision making.

I think the last month all but confirms that Conte is a superior manager to Sarri. Anyone who's still doubting it needs to have their head checked.

59 minutes ago, coco said:

Ok Nibs you tell us the answers on the pitch, who would you change around, cho in for willian, Emerson for Alonso, any more ?

I'd agree with Nibs' response to that question. Given the state we're in, a pragmatic approach is sensible. Get Kante back to where he is best and we can hopefully stop teams slicing through us like a knife through butter. United launched a counter attack after nearly every corner we took in the second half last night. It was like watching schoolboy football. Then yes, give CHO a couple of games and see if he can step up for the generally underwhelming Pedro/Willian partnership. It's perhaps as much about formation changes as personnel changes right now. With City and Spurs coming up, if he doesn't do something we're going to be further embarrassed in the next week or so and he will get the sack.

That doesn't mean that he can't ultimately aim to deploy Sarri-ball at the Bridge, but maybe he can ease into it as he gets the right type of players and prevent it being a system famous for wining the Championship.

I've said a lot now about this but I'm kind of feeling that unless the hierarchy of the club get their act together, it's a pretty pointless discussion because with or without Sarri, we're going nowhere other than down.

“No, [I’m not worried about getting sacked]. I was worried when I was in League Two in Italy, not now.”

-Maurizio Sarri; Source: Football.London

He's not worried because his financial future is secured in a way he couldn't have dreamed of when he was in League 2 in Italy. 

4 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

He's not worried because his financial future is secured in a way he couldn't have dreamed of when he was in League 2 in Italy. 

You could be forgiven for thinking he's just going for the money at this point when he subbed on Zappacosta when we had to score two goals in ten minutes last night. With a striker and Hudson Odoi on the bench...

5 minutes ago, Sindre said:

You could be forgiven for thinking he's just going for the money at this point when he subbed on Zappacosta when we had to score two goals in ten minutes last night. With a striker and Hudson Odoi on the bench...

Zappacosta - who last saw any action on the 5th of January ...

15 minutes ago, Jezz said:

Spot on. I still shake my head at the club's decision making.

I think the last month all but confirms that Conte is a superior manager to Sarri. Anyone who's still doubting it needs to have their head checked.

Conte didn't want to be our manager. We sacked him because we had to. We'd be in a worse position now if we had kept him. 

1 minute ago, bisright1 said:

Conte didn't want to be our manager. We sacked him because we had to. We'd be in a worse position now if we had kept him. 

We really wouldn't.

All these rumours about "Conte didn't want to be here - we had to sack him". All bollocks. Look at Conte in that first season. He was loving life at CFC and we loved him. Something went wrong, no doubt, but if the Club had put themselves out and backed him, he would have stayed and we would 100% NOT be in a worst position to we are now with Sarri-ball.

 

 

Out for me now.

I was willing to give him a chance but his stubbornness and lack of rotation is bringing his own downfall.

If he was given money for a new midfielder who do think would be most likely to get dropped first for the big games, Jorginho or Kante?

I fear if we keep him we could eventually lose Hazard, CHO and Kante.

I'd prefer to keep these players more than I'd prefer to keep Sarri.

Edited February 19, 20197 yr by 2211