Stop the excitement. I want to get off

[just]

Another attack filled, fluberfest of all out total football.

Don't believe the hype.

Where exactly does Jose leave and Avram start?

1 up front again. Thrill me with ein sexy footbaallen baby. ZZZZZZzzzzzzz

We are grinding results out in the JM stylee............................. Except at the Library and Old Titford. Where, rest assured, the gooners and mancs are mighty glad Jose the winner is far, far away.

[loz]

There will be no excitement with this squad Just.

For me Grant is right to say that we should be looking to play more attractive football however he was wrong to say it when he did because people are now looking for instant results and until we make changes to the squad it isn't going to happen.

We have one player in our entire squad capable of exciting a crowd and that person is Joe Cole and his stock is, for me slightly inflated beyond what he is capable of purely because we really want to see something special. The only other player we have who can excite is Sinclair and his future is still very much ahead of him.

Jose has built a very effective but decidedly methodical squad. No manager is ever going to get it playing open attractive football because it simply doesn't have the necessary components.

[The Brit]

thing is loz, i think a lot of people were prepared to give grant time,I was, but it's his weekly bluster that he has improved the style and saying we are playing better football now, when I think at times it's worse in that we look very vulnerable...the midfield seems to be easily bypassed by the opposition and today'spassing was woeful...grant should just keep quiet and stop tryimng to justify the club's decision all the time...

oh by the way, the style under jose wasn't that bad in the first place

[AmericanBlue]

I think that besides his lack of finish, Wright-Phillips plays with the most excitement on the team.

[loz]

I think that besides his lack of finish, Wright-Phillips plays with the most excitement on the team.

I can't agree with that - well maybe relatively I can in that the rest of the squad is not that exciting, but overall SWP simply lacks quality. I huess hs is the most excting in that you get the impression he wants to run at players at pace but unfortunately that is abut his limit and that simply isn't enough at the highest level.

[AmericanBlue]

I thought the thread was discussing "excitement" rather than "quality".

[loz]

I don't think anyone is daft enough to accept one without the other (apart from Kevin Keegan!)

[AmericanBlue]

Let me start by saying that this is the first year that I have watched any kind of professional football outside of World Cup competitions. In recent years I have grown tired of American Football and College Basketball. My satellite company finally acquired the rights to Setanta Sports and I have become an avid, yet unknowledgable fan of the English Premier League and the Bundesliga. I threw my support onto the Chelsea bandwagon partly because of the number of quality English player's on the Stamford Bridge side. And also partly because of the antics of JM and the ownership by RA. Chelsea reminds me of the NY Yankee's, they have deep pockets and a swagger about them. This being said as I have watched and learned as this season has gone by, I have realized that Chelsea's strategy is not nearly as high flying and exciting as I initially thought. However, I certainly appreciate the tactical, conservative, and defensive team I watch each week. As an American Newb to your sport and team I hope that you all can tolerate my short-sighted opinion. In my opinion Sean Wright-Phillips agressive, in your face style of play is what we need to pick the lock of other defensive minded teams. I think that he will continue to develop as a player whether for our club or another and eventually be a difference maker for the Enlish national side.

[loz]

More than welcome mate and fair play to you for holding up your hand and being honest about how much you know about Chelsea and the Premiership in general.

Personally I don't think SWP will develop as a player to be anything more than he is right now. SWP is a player of unquestionable pace and an appetite for taking players on (when his confidence is high) but unfortunately he lacks the quality to really hurt top quality defences, both in terms of his craft and also his delivery. A winger who does the same thing the vast majority of the time and whose crosses are only dangerous 2 or, at most 3 times out of 10, is never going to give good defences headaches. At the very highest level you can't afford to waste possession too often and this is why SWP will be useful against Sunderland, Derby, Fulham, Boro, Reading etc but will always be frustrating against the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal or in crucial Champions league matches.

He is very much a confidence player. Whe he was at Man City and was considered the next great English talent it was because he was the focal point of the team and he was looked for whenever City were in possession. At Chelsea he was just one of a number of players, and his first team opportunities were limited. When this happens you have to be able to make your make when opportunity knocks however unfortunately he hasn't been able to do that.

I do think that he is a player who was never suited to Jose's style of play and that has not done him many favours and maybe he should have been less determined and left Chelsea to further his career elsewhere.

[barak81]

Said it before he was let go and i feel the same way now, "jose's rigid football" was a myth created by the media and Liam. that most on here bought in to... fikle fikle people!!

Jose had to deal with a squad that lost two keepers for long long periods, both jt and ricky being out for long periods, lampard injured, Cole out for most of a season, robben doing his usal pysio stuff and swp even spending some time on the treatment table!

He didnt have the luxery of sexy football because he didnt have the players to make it happen

Instead he pushed manur to the bitter end with a masivly depleated squad, and in his spare time picked up both domestic cups as well beating arsenal and united in the finals. This is what sets jose appart from all others.

Go back in time a season though and with a fitter squad we'd won the prem by x-mass (ok not mathamticly but near as nailed on) and we where wiping teams aside add to that livepool at anfield, playing some great stuff.

We have never been arsenal in terms of style but we dam sure knew how to win and manur super football is a myth as well with out ronaldo they aren't that special!! and are they any more attractive than when we had robben/duff/cole all avalible? im in the no camp

But he's gone now and grant ha a four year contract in which time a predict a repeat of the claudio era... he's the faveriot manager of all are opponents!!

[Scott]

I think that besides his lack of finish, Wright-Phillips plays with the most excitement on the team.

I can't agree with that - well maybe relatively I can in that the rest of the squad is not that exciting, but overall SWP simply lacks quality. I huess hs is the most excting in that you get the impression he wants to run at players at pace but unfortunately that is abut his limit and that simply isn't enough at the highest level.

Sweepy, a small dark Gronkjaer like creature.

[Essien's Strike]

Sweepy, a small dark Gronkjaer like creature.

lol, harsh

[Scott]

I was just going by Loz's description.

[loz]

Said it before he was let go and i feel the same way now, "jose's rigid football" was a myth created by the media and Liam. that most on here bought in to... fikle fikle people!!

I don't see it as a myth at all - it is a reality that unfurled before our very eyes. You only have to look at the squad we now have to see that fact. We have one orthdox winger in SWP with the other two (Joe and Malouda) being wingers who rarely hug the line, rarely beat the full back and rarely deliver a killer cross. Meanwhile when it comes to picking who should play in the centre of our midfield we have more options than Ron Jeremy when asked to name his sloppiest co star - yet despite the fact we have more central players than the current British political spectrum not one of them is a player you would seriously call a creative force.

[barak81]

Said it before he was let go and i feel the same way now, "jose's rigid football" was a myth created by the media and Liam. that most on here bought in to... fikle fikle people!!

I don't see it as a myth at all - it is a reality that unfurled before our very eyes. You only have to look at the squad we now have to see that fact. We have one orthdox winger in SWP with the other two (Joe and Malouda) being wingers who rarely hug the line, rarely beat the full back and rarely deliver a killer cross. Meanwhile when it comes to picking who should play in the centre of our midfield we have more options than Ron Jeremy when asked to name his sloppiest co star - yet despite the fact we have more central players than the current British political spectrum not one of them is a player you would seriously call a creative force.

At no point do i remmeber him telling duff or robben to go, both pretty much made that decition and as you'v said many times on here good wingers are hard to come by now days. in theory kaulo should have been perfect as he played that position in holland but as ive said jury still out on that one.

There were games we were fantastic and there were games we stuggled but won, same as any team, but because we spent a fortune we should have autamatic great winning football regardless of what the opposition might have to say about it, or at least thats the way people seem to think

[loz]

It isn't about whether Duff and Robben decided to go, but more about why they decided to go and who they were replaced with. Now none of us know for sure why they decided to go but my guess is that a lareg part of the reason is becaue they realised that, as orthodox wingers, they were luxury players in Jose's eyes, a possibility made more believable by the fact that Jose made no attempt to replace them with wingers.

Jose's style as Chelsea manager is, for me, not open to criticism in the short term because in the short term it delivered and it delivered in spades however in the mdeium to long term it is also the reason we now sit with a lack of creaitivty in the squad. Jose didn't do expansive, Jose did suffocation. It worked for a few years, and it MAY have worked for longer, my guess it wouldn't however I am perfectly happy to hold up my hands and say we don't know that for sure as the opportunity to prove it, or otherwise, was taken away from him.

[just]

Problem is Grant is not even attempting to set the team up any differently. He does have the option of playing two up front, and God knows, Sheva needs all the help he can get! I'm not saying a simple change in formation such as that is going to see us turn into Brazil '70 but, for a fella supposedly in the job to provide more entertainment and attacking intent, you'd think he'd give it a go. Surely, it would give us more attacking edge and the capability to hold the ball up in the final third?

[abramovich]

Problem is Grant is not even attempting to set the team up any differently. He does have the option of playing two up front, and God knows, Sheva needs all the help he can get! I'm not saying a simple change in formation such as that is going to see us turn into Brazil '70 but, for a fella supposedly in the job to provide more entertainment and attacking intent, you'd think he'd give it a go. Surely, it would give us more attacking edge and the capability to hold the ball up in the final third?

Grant is still playing with the same squad he took over at the end of September. You can change the formation but it won't do you any good if you don't have the right players.

He is also under pressure to deliver results while trying to change the style, i doubt Roman allowed him to give up on the season and start experimenting.

Plus, all the injuries to the key players we suffered in the last few months forced him to get into survival mode. I don't think he had a full starting lineup available to him since the time he took charge.

[just]

Grant is still playing with the same squad he took over at the end of September. You can change the formation but it won't do you any good if you don't have the right players.

Yes you can. In fact when you're labouring with one central striker, who clearly isn't suited to the system you're using, and you have another out and out forward who could play alongside and spread the load, it appears stupid not to at least try it.

He is also under pressure to deliver results while trying to change the style, i doubt Roman allowed him to give up on the season and start experimenting.

If this were true, it begs the question whose picking the team Grant or Roman?

Plus, all the injuries to the key players we suffered in the last few months forced him to get into survival mode. I don't think he had a full starting lineup available to him since the time he took charge.

Same could be said for Mourinho for virtually all of last season and the early part of this one.

[Essien's Strike]

um, i saw sheva beat 2 defenders for pace and get the through ball at blackburn...

maybe hes close to being the sheva?

anyway, when we had crossers everyone cried out for dribblers. now you all want crossers again...

[loz]

To an extent I agree that we should look to playing two strikers, especially when Drogba is not available, however I guess the main concern is what formation do we go with?

An orthodox, British 4-4-2 with a flat midfield requires good quality wingers, we have none. SWP is not good enough, Joe is not an orthodox winger and would struggle to play the role effectively.

Which leaves the diamond as an option with the only option for the front tip of the diamond being Joe. A role he is not accustomed to and not one he could easily adapt to.

Not saying these are the only two options which would leave us able to play two up front - just illustrating the point that this squad isn't designed to play with two up top and therefore it is going to struggle to do so.

If we go through the January window and no attempts are made to adjust the balance in the squad then I think it will be fair to ask questions. I say attempts as we know it is not always easy to get the players you want in January. If Grant's dips into the transfer market leave us still with an unbalanced squad and playing the same way then all crtiicism will be totally fair game in my opinion,

[andy]

I think that is the crux Loz, how can you judge him until he has been through a couple of transfer Windows.

He has given more freedom to Joe that has paid dividends.

[Dorset]

Another attack filled, fluberfest of all out total football.

Don't believe the hype.

Where exactly does Jose leave and Avram start?

1 up front again. Thrill me with ein sexy footbaallen baby. ZZZZZZzzzzzzz

We are grinding results out in the JM stylee............................. Except at the Library and Old Titford. Where, rest assured, the gooners and mancs are mighty glad Jose the winner is far, far away.

Getting back to Just's main question - where exactly does Jose leave and Avram start - What’s the difference? Simply put as a question to Avram as to how he has changed the Chelsea we knew (and the majority loved) under Jose and he would be hard pressed to say a great deal that would convince us… at the moment. Maybe more freedom for Joe, maybe more men getting forward on the counterattack, but no more than that and certainly nothing resembling a drastic overhaul. Nowadays I find myself worrying more when the opposition attack and expecting more when we respond and pretty soon we will either concede two or three in a game without reply or end up walloping a Citeh look-alike side that has similar delusions of grandeur.

The cynics (I regret, I’m still one) have an all too obvious grievance every time Sheva appears upfront and ineffectual in a 4-3-3 and if it keeps on occurring I’m afraid I might just shake my head off displaying my disbelief - they try to make him play there - we say, no, no, NO! Those Chippies off the old block prepared to wait patiently and supportively until the transfer window before readily committing themselves to the Grant Era will no doubt welcome Anelka with open arms, but this could well be no more than a stopgap measure and certainly, on it’s own, wont herald the revolution in our style of play that is so eagerly anticipated. That will only arrive with a Huntelaar, a hit-the-ground-running Di Santo, and probably most important of all, a midfield passer of the ball who can pull the strings at the behest of Avram the Puppet Master. Only then will we understand the extent of the change, or even be in the position of acknowledging the existence of it.

In the meantime Pizarro might as well pack his bags, so slim are his chances of making an impact within the present system… and Sheva too. Isn’t it strange that the Jose trademark 4-3-3 should be so revered by the present regime, even to the extent of excluding Pizarro and putting Sheva through his purgatory, yet it was always cited as a major contributor towards Jose’s downfall. The token gesture 4-4-2 he used to placate Roman and accommodate his biggest signing hasn’t had a look in recently and our tinkering policy seems only to extend to the wingers. Still, there’s always the Christmas period to look forward to and even though Saint Nic arrives a little late, here’s hoping he provides some presents for us in the New Year. Even as a youngster, you know, I always believed in him

[abramovich]

Yes you can. In fact when you're labouring with one central striker, who clearly isn't suited to the system you're using, and you have another out and out forward who could play alongside and spread the load, it appears stupid not to at least try it.

The problem is we're still pretty much using the same system that we had under Mourinho,because once again, this is still his team. The better question would be why once Drogba is out we struggle to come up with any attacking solutions? How come he is the only striker in the squad that can effectively play in this system? Who was supposed to be his replacement on such occasions? Why wasn't there any plan B in The Special One's great tactical scheme?

We didn't start looking confused and short of ideas upfront once AG arrived. It has been going on for quite a while. Drogba and to some degree Essien have bailed us out on so many occasions last season due to their out of this world individual form it belied the fact that we were struggling for answers and didn't work very well as a team.

If this were true, it begs the question whose picking the team Grant or Roman?

What i meant was that RA as the team owner most likely hasn't told Grant :'It's okay if we win sweet f.a. this season, keep trying your new formations, few losses here and there won't make a difference, just take your time." He still has to win matches and(hopefully) win trophies, even though he didn't build the current squad, had no time to prepare it for the season and lost more key players to long term injuries already than Jose in his worst period with the club.

This has nothing to do with who's picking the squad.

Same could be said for Mourinho for virtually all of last season and the early part of this one.

I may be wrong but i think we've already suffered more setbacks in that department than all last season.

[evissy]

Another attack filled, fluberfest of all out total football.

Don't believe the hype.

Where exactly does Jose leave and Avram start?

1 up front again. Thrill me with ein sexy footbaallen baby. ZZZZZZzzzzzzz

We are grinding results out in the JM stylee............................. Except at the Library and Old Titford. Where, rest assured, the gooners and mancs are mighty glad Jose the winner is far, far away.

I think Grant wasnt a man with a plan when he took over. I dont think he even had any vision how his chelsea looks like. He just took over and watched how it will develop. Well we got into winning and he saw how nice it is to win and his confidence grew. He told he is going to entertain but we havent really seen it since ManCity.

I hope he is going to chance things and that he has a vision and his future purchases will back thoses visions!