2 minutes ago, abramovich said:

But it was a well-known fact that back in the summer Sarri desperately wanted Higuain and the club didn't.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/gonzalo-higuain-explains-chelsea-snub-maurizio-sarri-only-one-who-wanted-me-a3903411.html

Not disputing Sarri wanted him then and perhaps with longer he might have got fitter sooner and gelled with the team, yet so late in the January window just bad for me.

Of course Higuaín may not regain his form and we might have bought past his natural sell-by date.

8 hours ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

I think we are improving and I think we will continue to do so, 2 seasons of buying what he wants (assuming ban appealed) we will look like I better Napoli, I don’t think many people on here watched Napoli to appreciate how very good this system is when it works as it’s meant to, why does Pep and klopp get all the support and time in the word but sarri doesn’t, I personally like him and his temperament and would like to see him get a proper chance 

If people were to look back at Serie A before Sarri, Napoli were way, way behind Juventus. Under Sarri Napoli actually started to become competitive in the league and could have won the league last season. This season, Napoli are something like 17 points behind Juve (and a worse Juventus too imo) and that's under a manager that won a hell of a lot of trophies and is praised by many of our fanbase as a fantastic manager too. Granted, they lost Jorginho and Hamsik, but it just shows how much good work Sarri did at Napoli. However, because he didn't win anything at Napoli people think he's not a good manager. 

Edited April 15, 20197 yr by enigma

5 hours ago, abramovich said:

He had two strikers right from the start, they were just in poor form. Whether it's due to them being average or Sarri's coaching I don't know, but he did have strikers available. That group of players won two legue titles in the last four years, they're not as bad as Sarri's fans make them out to be. They're not good enough to fight for the title, but there's more than enough quality to finish in the top four, if you have the right man in charge. Spurs, Arse and MU aren't better than us, they all have flaws, they just have managers, who for the most part know what they're doing.

The manager's job, the way I see it, is to get the best out of the group he's got. Solskjaer, Emery and Pochettino are doing quite well in that department, Sarri clearly isn't, that's why we won't finish in the top four. He insists on playing his favourites in a system that's been figured out by the opponents for months now and he doesn't know any other way of playing, that has nothing to do with the quality of the players he's got and everything to do with his stubbornness, stupidity and arrogance. 

I want him sacked not because we're a couple of points off top four, I want him sacked because I've known long before today that he's the wrong man for the job. We had many chances to claim a top four spot and we? failed time and again, because he's a loser, who commands neither fear, nor respect amongst his players, and whose rigid tactical approach has been sussed out since our loss to Spuds back in November and he's never learned from it. In fact, that's probably his worst flaw, he simply never learns, he refuses to learn from his own mistakes. His apologists keep bleating about him being a great student of the game, well, if a student keeps failing the same exam over and over again, I'd say he's either a lazy bum or an idiot. Arrogance can be useful to those who are successful, but when you accomplish nothing, you have no right to be arrogant. Just like Mourinho said, what's the point of having a vision if you don't win anything. That's what Sarri should be scribbling in his notepad time and again.

He phased out right from the start several players (Moses, Cahill, Drinkwater) because they aren't suited to his style. He waited two thirds of the season to start integrating CHO and RLC into the side, and that was when he had nothing to lose because it was obvious his preferred eleven were embarassingly bad for weeks and weeks. His signings Jorginho and Higuain are busts, he apparently knew nothing of the challenges of playing in England and didn't realize how wrong they both are for this league. Our mental fragility and lack of Plan B have been discussed for ages now, no progress there. We're terrible at set pieces on both ends, disorganized at the back, slow and toothless going forward and mentally weak to the point that we stop competing once we concede. Did I forget anything? 

Okay, so who, in your opinion, will do a better job? Because we are running out of managers and keep going from one system to another until it runs it course and we sack another manager. We have to bring in a bunch of new players to fit another new system, then when we don't do well people are surprised and call for the manager's head. I can see how it all pans out, it's become very tiresome now. Pochettino has been at Spurs, for what, 4 years? He's won nothing but gets praised despite having, in my opinion, a better side than we do.

Edited April 15, 20197 yr by enigma

38 minutes ago, enigma said:

Okay, so who, in your opinion, will do a better job? Because we are running out of managers and keep going from one system to another until it runs it course and we sack another manager. We have to bring in a bunch of new players to fit another new system, then when we don't do well people are surprised and call for the manager's head. I can see how it all pans out, it's become very tiresome now. Pochettino has been at Spurs, for what, 4 years? He's won nothing but gets praised despite having, in my opinion, a better side than we do.

The problem with the last 2 managers is that we're not bringing in a bunch of new players to fit a system.  Conte got virtually no one he wanted, and Sarri got a regista and an aging striker.  

A classy touch by Chelsea. RIP to the 96

6 hours ago, abramovich said:

He had two strikers right from the start, they were just in poor form. Whether it's due to them being average or Sarri's coaching I don't know, but he did have strikers available. That group of players won two legue titles in the last four years, they're not as bad as Sarri's fans make them out to be. They're not good enough to fight for the title, but there's more than enough quality to finish in the top four, if you have the right man in charge. Spurs, Arse and MU aren't better than us, they all have flaws, they just have managers, who for the most part know what they're doing.

The manager's job, the way I see it, is to get the best out of the group he's got. Solskjaer, Emery and Pochettino are doing quite well in that department, Sarri clearly isn't, that's why we won't finish in the top four. He insists on playing his favourites in a system that's been figured out by the opponents for months now and he doesn't know any other way of playing, that has nothing to do with the quality of the players he's got and everything to do with his stubbornness, stupidity and arrogance. 

I want him sacked not because we're a couple of points off top four, I want him sacked because I've known long before today that he's the wrong man for the job. We had many chances to claim a top four spot and we failed time and again, because he's a loser, who commands neither fear, nor respect amongst his players, and whose rigid tactical approach has been sussed out since our loss to Spuds back in November and he's never learned from it. In fact, that's probably his worst flaw, he simply never learns, he refuses to learn from his own mistakes. His apologists keep bleating about him being a great student of the game, well, if a student keeps failing the same exam over and over again, I'd say he's either a lazy bum or an idiot. Arrogance can be useful to those who are successful, but when you accomplish nothing, you have no right to be arrogant. Just like Mourinho said, what's the point of having a vision if you don't win anything. That's what Sarri should be scribbling in his notepad time and again.

He phased out right from the start several players (Moses, Cahill, Drinkwater) because they aren't suited to his style. He waited two thirds of the season to start integrating CHO and RLC into the side, and that was when he had nothing to lose because it was obvious his preferred eleven were embarassingly bad for weeks and weeks. His signings Jorginho and Higuain are busts, he apparently knew nothing of the challenges of playing in England and didn't realize how wrong they both are for this league. Our mental fragility and lack of Plan B have been discussed for ages now, no progress there. We're terrible at set pieces on both ends, disorganized at the back, slow and toothless going forward and mentally weak to the point that we stop competing once we concede. Did I forget anything? 

Spot on, I would love the day when we settle on a manager and build a side with our youth at the fore, but this Sarri bloke is definitely not the answer, if we go into next season minus Hazard and Sarri in charge then prepare for carnage, they'll be further days like spurs away, Arsenal away, Wolves away, City away, Bournemouth away this season. Depressing thought

Adrian Durham focusing on Salah's dive in the first half and asking why has there not been more talk about that  - should he face a ban for simulation? It's a fair shout but there's no way Salah will get a ban for that, the Liverpool love-in at the top of the game in England wouldn't allow it.

double post

Edited April 15, 20197 yr by carrickblue
double post

2 hours ago, enigma said:

Okay, so who, in your opinion, will do a better job? Because we are running out of managers and keep going from one system to another until it runs it course and we sack another manager. We have to bring in a bunch of new players to fit another new system, then when we don't do well people are surprised and call for the manager's head. I can see how it all pans out, it's become very tiresome now. Pochettino has been at Spurs, for what, 4 years? He's won nothing but gets praised despite having, in my opinion, a better side than we do.

I share your concerns about us running out of managers, I really do. On one hand, I thought the club handled the Conte situation pretty badly, he certainly deserved backing after winning the league in his first season with somebody else's squad. Then again, his volatile character and Costa fiasco give me pause about Antonio. He just seems to fly off the handle far too easily and perhaps the club wasn't happy about his behaviour behind the scenes. One thing for sure, he's a better manager than Sarri.

Jose had to go, his United stint only confirmed that he's not the manager he was back in the day, the spark is gone. Di Matteo was never a serious option, AVB hiring was a mistake, so was Scolari's. It's actually quite difficult for me to point out a single sacking that wasn't warranted, even Mourinho back in 2007 was the right move for both parties, we've learned since then that Jose effect has an expiration period of two-three years max before it leads to self destruction.

One case stands out for me. I felt Carlo's treatment was unfair and classless. This was one time where even now years later I can neither explain, nor justify what happened to Ancelotti and how it happened, shameful behaviour from the owner/board, he didn't deserve it all.

Edited April 15, 20197 yr by abramovich

Okay, so who, in your opinion, will do a better job? Because we are running out of managers and keep going from one system to another until it runs it course and we sack another manager. We have to bring in a bunch of new players to fit another new system, then when we don't do well people are surprised and call for the manager's head. I can see how it all pans out, it's become very tiresome now. Pochettino has been at Spurs, for what, 4 years? He's won nothing but gets praised despite having, in my opinion, a better side than we do.

Pochetino is getting praised simply because he is getting the best out of there average players.
And please, don't tell me they have a better squad!

8 hours ago, abramovich said:

His signings Jorginho and Higuain are busts, he apparently knew nothing of the challenges of playing in England and didn't realize how wrong they both are for this league. 

I agree with virtually everything you said (and love the passion you showed to lay it all out).  But I disagree with this part.

Remember, Jorginho was set to be bought by Pep and go to City.  The acknowledged Best-Manager-In-The-World wanted him for a team that's pushing to win the Quadruple.  Clearly, Pep believed he was suited to the Premier League.

Where I will concur is that had Jorginho gone to City, he'd be a better player and more revered than he is today at Chelsea.  The players around him and Pep's system are more suited to the way he plays.

41 minutes ago, Boston Blue said:

Where I will concur is that had Jorginho gone to City, he'd be a better player and more revered than he is today at Chelsea.  The players around him and Pep's system are more suited to the way he plays.

I agree with what you say though note he would be surrounded by a custom made team of expensively bought players.

At Chelsea due to the Conte fall-out we have half a team of misfits.

21 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

I agree with what you say though note he would be surrounded by a custom made team of expensively bought players.

At Chelsea due to the Conte fall-out we have half a team of misfits.

Indeed...…..

1 hour ago, Boston Blue said:

I agree with virtually everything you said (and love the passion you showed to lay it all out).  But I disagree with this part.

Remember, Jorginho was set to be bought by Pep and go to City.  The acknowledged Best-Manager-In-The-World wanted him for a team that's pushing to win the Quadruple.  Clearly, Pep believed he was suited to the Premier League.

Where I will concur is that had Jorginho gone to City, he'd be a better player and more revered than he is today at Chelsea.  The players around him and Pep's system are more suited to the way he plays.

 

Pep is not a messiah, he's made mistakes in the transfer market in the past, just like any other manager.

It's entirely possible though that Jorginho would be a better fit at City, in fact I've menioned that possibility earlier in the season in the Jorginho thread when his struggles became more and more apparent. It doesn't change the fact that he's a lightweight who gets manhandled far too easily and whose decision making, given the position he plays, has been our Achilles heel for quite some time.

Can't fault Sarri too much on the starting lineup, Higuain and Giroud have been awful in the League, it's easy to call it out in hindsight. 

On 14/04/2019 at 18:33, embattle said:

Just read Chelsea under Sarri have never won a game from a loosing position.

Funny that, i must of imagined that game i went to watch against Cardiff.

2 hours ago, coco said:

Funny that, i must of imagined that game i went to watch against Cardiff.

Which one?