4 minutes ago, Argo said:

Ferguson is the ultimate anomaly, i mean don't get me wrong if we find our Fergie or even 90s Wenger then great but I don't want us to get so obsessed with finding them we give a wrong man years like Arsenal are doing.

Yes, but Arsenal have changed three times the coach in the last 3 years and haven’t improved a bit. Their issue is other than the coach, it runs deeper in their club and mentality, different from Chelsea.

4 hours ago, RMH said:

Why do some of you keep giving stick to us fans who wanted stability and stuck behind Frank, and every f**king time TT does well come here to show off and give us more stick? Where were you after the WBA debacle or Leeds? Where are you going to be once things go South? I am glad that Tuchel is doing well, am happy about the achievements that Chelsea is getting under TT, and I like the bloke. That does not mean that I wanted Frank to stay for the whole season and I stick to it because of reasons other than silverware. You sound more bitter about Frank after two months than any of us about Tuchel.

To be fair, the same can be said about the other side. After the wba defeat a lot of people crawled out of their holes to use it as proof that hiring Tuchel was a mistake. Some even calling for head. Personally I think this competition between lampard outers and lampard inners is now stale and we should all just come together as a fan base and get behind the team. 

1 hour ago, Argo said:

And if that happens it happens. The obsession with managerial longevity in football is ridiculous, Arsenal are the one club that put major emphasis on it and look what is happening to them.

Nothing wrong with it as long as you get the right person or somebody who isn't a complete disaster. We have had the right person many times and still got rid of them.

56 minutes ago, RMH said:

I am excited at the possibility of the FA Cup and getting into the UCL semifinals, but I don’t need to keep reading after every good game how Frank was rubbish and TT has taken us to the next level. Because who’s to know whether the players would have got back in form under Frank or whether TT would cope with playing 3 games a week as when the team lost the form in December-January. Some got what they wanted, Frank is gone, and I don’t get this need to slag Frank off or us fans that supported him staying til the end of the season every time we beat a top team.

Yep. I agree, it needs to end.

29 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Nothing wrong with it as long as you get the right person or somebody who isn't a complete disaster. We have had the right person many times and still got rid of them.

The right person for long term? Not sure I agree there. Conte is too loose a cannon who walked out on even his beloved Juve, Jose has repeatedly at multiple jobs proven unsuitable for a long stretch, people may say Ancelotti but he's had 5 jobs since us and he's not yet been in a single one of them for a longer timeframe as to what he was here.

The most successful clubs in the new millennium are Bayern, Real, Barca and Chelsea and we all change managers regularly.

Could well be wrong but out of the defector 6 clubs I can really see him being the first manager to say he did not sign up for this super league trash and quit.

If Germany and France do indeed refuse to pick players from the super league 12 I could also see the likes of Havertz and Kante saying they did not sign up for this either and find us in breach of contract with them too. Think they would have a solid case if the clubs actions stop them playing international games.

I suppose he can stop worrying about Top 4 now. Making the rest of the league-campaign completely meaningless.

And from next season the title is the only thing that even remotely matters.

 

8 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Could well be wrong but out of the defector 6 clubs I can really see him being the first manager to say he did not sign up for this super league trash and quit.

If Germany and France do indeed refuse to pick players from the super league 12 I could also see the likes of Havertz and Kante saying they did not sign up for this either and find us in breach of contract with them too. Think they would have a solid case if the clubs actions stop them playing international games.

Some talk that he will leave for Bayern now.

8 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Could well be wrong but out of the defector 6 clubs I can really see him being the first manager to say he did not sign up for this super league trash and quit.

If Germany and France do indeed refuse to pick players from the super league 12 I could also see the likes of Havertz and Kante saying they did not sign up for this either and find us in breach of contract with them too. Think they would have a solid case if the clubs actions stop them playing international games.

The contract of the players at the club is a good talking point. How exactly would their contracts cover something like this? 

2 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

The contract of the players at the club is a good talking point. How exactly would their contracts cover something like this? 

Exactly. If Jose did indeed get fired because of the opposition to the super league what happens when players speak against it? Some from none defector clubs have already. We may be about to see players revolting.

35 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Some talk that he will leave for Bayern now.

Would not blame him.

42 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Some talk that he will leave for Bayern now.

He's given a very level headed press conference tbh. When asked he has replied that he hasn't got a formed opinion to give because he hasn't got any information about it and obviously hasn't been informed (nor the players), so he wants to wait and see. He also mentioned that he is an employee of the Club and trusts the Club's decisions. And finally, that he and the players need to focus on the next game and to achieve the goals of this season as that's their job. So I'm not sure where these rumours come from, but he's not hinted anything like that.

21 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Exactly. If Jose did indeed get fired because of the opposition to the super league what happens when players speak against it? Some from none defector clubs have already. We may be about to see players revolting.

Toni Kroos spoke out about these plans a while back. But if I remember rightly he also said that the players have little power in these decisions due to a lack of union. That may just be in the Spanish League. The PFA exists in England but not sure what could be done here. Also players will know the money on the table and also know that there are others willing to step in and take the opportunity if they leave. I hope FIFA enforces the international ban to leave players out if they choose to stay with this greed league.

9 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Toni Kroos spoke out about these plans a while back. But if I remember rightly he also said that the players have little power in these decisions due to a lack of union. That may just be in the Spanish League. The PFA exists in England but not sure what could be done here. Also players will know the money on the table and also know that there are others willing to step in and take the opportunity if they leave. I hope FIFA enforces the international ban to leave players out if they choose to stay with this greed league.

The Spanish footballers also have a union but, like you, I'm not sure how they can do anything about it if this ESL does not break any of the players' rights.

37 minutes ago, RMH said:

He's given a very level headed press conference tbh. When asked he has replied that he hasn't got a formed opinion to give because he hasn't got any information about it and obviously hasn't been informed (nor the players), so he wants to wait and see. He also mentioned that he is an employee of the Club and trusts the Club's decisions. And finally, that he and the players need to focus on the next game and to achieve the goals of this season as that's their job. So I'm not sure where these rumours come from, but he's not hinted anything like that.

Bit of nothing reply to the situation really. I don't think this is the time for coaches and players to play it safe. If they are against it, then speak up now.......what are these clubs going to do, sack everyone? Good luck forming your league with no players and coaches.

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Bit of nothing reply to the situation really. I don't think this is the time for coaches and players to play it safe. If they are against it, then speak up now.......what are these clubs going to do, sack everyone? Good luck forming your league with no players and coaches.

I'd tend to agree as I'm a hot headed mediterranean  But I can understand him to want more information before he tells the Club that pays him to stick it... It's better to have an idea clear before you defend it publicly.

I reckon Tommy already knew before he joined, as did Frank, as did Jose. I can’t see anything happening with TT, I’d be very surprised.

I don't think coaches or players were made aware of this, tbh. TT said he and players had not been informed, if he had, why not give a more evasive response? To tell you the truth, I think that this ESL announcement has been rushed to coincide the UEFA announcement of changes for the UCL. They were probably discussing this and had a plan redacted, but the timing for some Clubs involved (mainly us, City and Real Madrid) just doesn't add up as we risk not completing the tournaments we are in at final or semi-final level. So there probably wasn't time to tell coaches and players before the announcement either. Just pure speculation from my part though.

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Chelsea fully merited their 1-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were superior in almost every aspect — more defensively solid, more confident in possession and more capable of creating clear-cut chances. Not only did Chelsea appear in command from an early stage, but it also felt inevitable where their goal would come from.

Tuchel’s side made inroads throughout the first half by attacking down the left — and, in particular, by playing out-balls to Ben Chilwell. As Chelsea’s wing-back on that side, he enjoyed great freedom out by the touchline, in a position where right-winger Ferran Torres didn’t want to retreat to, and where right-back Joao Cancelo was scared to advance to, for fear of Mason Mount attacking in behind him.

Here’s a good example from the opening ten minutes. Jorginho is in possession, Mount wants a ball to feet, but Jorginho spots Chilwell free on the near side and plays a long pass out towards him.

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Chilwell is completely unmarked because Cancelo senses Mount making a run in behind him, although Mount’s movement has also distracted Fernandinho, who tracks his run into City’s defence.

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This pattern was obvious throughout the first half. Here’s another example, this time with Rodri, rather than Fernandinho, matching Mount’s run.

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Here’s another telling situation. Antonio Rudiger plays the ball past Torres and into Chilwell, with Cancelo pushing up to shut him down.

 

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Mount again makes a run in behind Cancelo, with Rodri tracking him. Chilwell realises Rodri has left the midfield open, so dribbles into that gap, and ends up in a No 10 position, where he is dispossessed.

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It was a long pass to Chilwell that created Chelsea’s first clear chance of the game, when Reece James scampered down the outside and crossed deep to Chilwell, whose volleyed effort was miscued. That was another example of the space he was being afforded out wide.

Quote

But in general, the attacking flowed down his side, particularly when Mount was involved too.

Here’s an earlier example. Where Mount is in possession, Cancelo is caught between closing down the overlapping run and confronting the man on the ball. Mount takes advantage by aiming his dribble towards Cancelo, tempting him to commit.

 

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On that occasion, Mount eventually dribbled inside into traffic, but in the next situation, almost identical to the previous example, he feeds Chilwell on the run, and his cross is deflected behind for a corner.

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And if there was a feeling that Chelsea would score through a long pass out towards the left, it’s because they’d already had the ball in the net, with a “goal” correctly disallowed for offside.

When Kepa Arrizabalaga has the ball, he’s presumably aiming for the unmarked Chilwell on the near side — with Torres, as always, pressing higher up.

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Kepa’s kick goes slightly longer, and forces Cancelo up the pitch to contest an aerial battle with Mount.

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The ball goes up into the air, so Ruben Dias moves across to sweep up, but he only heads the ball to the man it was originally intended for, Chilwell.

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Chilwell has a simple task, lobbing the ball in behind the defence for Werner, who has strayed offside…

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…but he nevertheless sprints in behind and squares for Hakim Ziyech to finish, before the flag is raised.

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That, of course, was the warning sign — and Ziyech’s winner was very similar. Again, there’s a long ball out towards Chilwell, this time from Thiago Silva.

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Before the ball reaches Chilwell, it’s worth checking out Mount’s position — and, more specifically, his head position. He’s checking that Dias is matching his run over to the left.

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Chilwell, meanwhile, receives the ball, dragging Cancelo up the pitch. Mount, marked by Dias, drops deep to offer the option of a short pass out to the left

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Chilwell plays it inside to Jorginho, who plays it onto Mount. That puts Dias in an awkward situation, because Werner and Ziyech are also high up the pitch. He can’t afford to push forward and shut down Mount, for fear of leaving Aymeric Laporte against Chelsea’s two forwards.

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Mount, therefore, is free to receive the ball and immediately plays it in behind for Werner. Dias has stayed in position but can’t match the pace of the German…

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…and then, just like for the earlier disallowed goal, he squares for Ziyech to finish.

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Clearly, the positioning of Zack Steffen is very strange. Yet it was somehow fitting — Chelsea had constantly played combinations down the left to drag City’s players out of position, and eventually, that concept spread to City’s goalkeeper.

BY MICHAEL COX FROM THE ATHLETIC

Edited April 19, 20215 yr by DidierDrogbalala

Got to feel for TT right now. He's done an incredible job since being appointed and yet now that could all count for nothing.

This f**king club. Every time we get a coach where you think we could be looking to build something long-term, the club have to f**k things up and implode. What a f**king mess - but at least we're not alone this time.

Edited April 19, 20215 yr by Nibs

What did he learn from the West Brom game exactly?

If this is what it's going to be like under Tuchel, then it's going to be more of a chore watching us than it was under Sarri. 

Flipping joke!!! Him and the players. Absolute joke. I'm fuming .

Will he ever learn the strength of the premier league? Woeful performance from all involved tonight!

Another couple of points dropped, down to poor tactics and team selection 

Let's not overreact.

The ESL-farce have been difficult enough for many of us. Now imagine how hard it was for the players who would have been worried about whether they would still be part of the Euros come summer and if they would still be part of the CL and/or the Premier League come August.

Every single one of our lads looked exhausted. Mentally and physically.

No manager would win with tonights performances from Mount, James, Zouma, Alonso, Ziyech and the others. Their minds were elsewhere and you couldn't really blame them for being extremely distracted either.