SOMETHING IS WRONG

[Star]

Stevie Clarke goes, Brendon Rodgers goes, Arneson is questioned, Robinho is not secured, We never flex our financial muscles.

We HAVE NO TEAM SPIRIT, we lose TWO home games, both against decent teams, after JOSE THE MAN, and AVRAM the pretender.

Peter KIN Kenyon a Manc I thank you.

STAMFORD BRIDGE A FORTRESS NO LONGER

Essien/Drogba/Jose we miss you

I was sucked in by Deco, that was why Barca flogged him, that's why Milan played playball with Sheva, and Roman has been sold down the river like the rest of us, take in, think and discuss it makes sense.

[Modueke]

Welcome back

[coco]

Stevie Clarke goes, Brendon Rodgers goes, Arneson is questioned, Robinho is not secured, We never flex our financial muscles.

We HAVE NO TEAM SPIRIT, we lose TWO home games, both against decent teams, after JOSE THE MAN, and AVRAM the pretender.

Peter KIN Kenyon a Manc I thank you.

STAMFORD BRIDGE A FORTRESS NO LONGER

Essien/Drogba/Jose we miss you

I was sucked in by Deco, that was why Barca flogged him, that's why Milan played playball with Sheva, and Roman has been sold down the river like the rest of us, take in, think and discuss it makes sense.

Agree about Deco, but we did outplay Arsenal today until the lineo wanted his 15.

[Kerry]

It doesn't astonish me that Arnesen is questioned.

We played beautifully today but failed to score and lost. We've now even proven that we can lost beautifully.

[Backbiter]

We played beautifully today but failed to score and lost.

We were good for an hour - comfortable and hard-working. We fell apart after their two quick goals and played shocking stuff for the last 30.

As has been repeatedly pointed out, our forward line is a joke. With no Drogba or Joe Cole there is no real threat (despite Anelka's goals against weaker teams) and bugger all on the bench to make an impact. It would be nice to see Stoch, Di santo and Sinclair, but it's asking a lot to expect them to perform at the level we need straight away.

I actually thought Kalou was pretty good today - went past players and worked hard. Did one fantastic bit of chasing to win the ball back and then sped off down the right in the first half. Deco ignored his superb run. Kalou was also shafted by the lino, too.

Deco was absolutely garbage - his second half display was horrific.

[Elliott]

Spot on.

At least we had four decent years.

[andy]

What exactly is serioulsy wrong I dont understand ?

[Lofty]

In what respect don't you understand? When in a few short weeks, we can lose at home twice in the league, fail to beat Newcastle at home, and get knocked out of the League Cup by Burnley .. well it's not exactly a sign that all is well at the Club, now is it? Neither is our Champions League form. And then there's Scolari's embarrassing statement about their first goal killing the game. Even worse that the players lack of response to the equaliser, and even more so to going behind to the bar stewards, would appear to back this up. Kenyon twatting on that there will be no signings in January, because Abramovich isn't making any funds available, Kenyon showing himself to be the biggest slimeball in the history of the game by going up to collect a losers medal in Moscow.

[ethicalstrategy]

What exactly is serioulsy wrong I dont understand ?

Someone snuck in and castrated the team when we weren't looking. If we respond to a bit of adversity like that then we may as well change our home strip to a bra and panties.

[midlandblue]

I have been saying for some time that Deco's form had dropped and was continuing to drop. Is Phil truly Deco's biggest fan, and because Phil signed him does it mean he wont drop him.

Deco needs a spell on the bench and Phil needs the balls to make it so.

[andy]

Sorry still fail to understand how top of the premier league.. okay maybe 2nd in the next 24 hours is WRONG.. call me old fashioned

[4EVERCHELSEA]

This team lacks pace. it's way too slow. cut off our wing backs and we're f**ked.

JT looks clueless without ricky back there with him.

Essien has being missed so much.

and what teh f**k has happened to us at home?? i'm worried for every game we play there now. Just last year getting a point there was a result.

are we really good enough??? i'm starting to wonder.

[ethicalstrategy]

Sorry still fail to understand how top of the premier league.. okay maybe 2nd in the next 24 hours is WRONG.. call me old fashioned

Watch the last 30 mins yesterday. Or the matches against Roma or Bordeaux away. Then you'll understand!

[coco]

Sorry still fail to understand how top of the premier league.. okay maybe 2nd in the next 24 hours is WRONG.. call me old fashioned

Andy, I know what your saying, but if you want to use stats (league position is afterall just a stat) take our last 10 games....

The last 35 days form are as follows...

Played 10 (L'pool-Hull-Sunderland-Roma-Blackburn-Burnley-WestBrom-Newcastle-Bordeaux-Arsenal)

Won 4

Drew 2

Lost 4

Goal scorers last 10 games. (No Deco, or Kalou, or Joey, or Ballack, last time A.Cole scored ??)

Anelka 8

Bosingwa 2

Lampard 2 (very poor return)

Drogba 1

Malouda 1 (519 shots)

Terry 1

Alex 1

Last time a Chelsea player scored a league goal at HOME was against Sunderland (Anelka 52 mins) Thats 218 minutes of play at home without a Chelsea player scoring, and rising.

Now do you see why were worrying ?

Chelsea fan on Radio5Live yesterday "It feels like we are going down a firemans pole, one thats been greased up"

Edited December 1, 2008 by coco

[Elliott]

Mourinho being falsed out by the snide advisors that all now seem to be jumping ship; Arnesen, Piet de Visser, etc, Kenyon and the management buying players that werent even wanted; Sheva, Ballack, Malouda, whilst selling players like Gallas against his will. Kenyon f**king up with Robinho, who would have been the one player that would have solved half our problems. Going into the season a striker short. Again. Our slow, ageing midfield, and our bloody reliance on Drogba all the time. The fact that Kalou still, and never will live up to his billing. No team is going to win the title with Malouda and Kalou in the side. Deco showing us why Barca wanted to so desperately get rid of him. Scolari blaming everything except for just coming out and saying that we were sh*t. The lack of fight. The lack of communication. The whole circus just looking like one huge gravy train thats just about to de-rail.

And all the while Kenyon marketing us with those bloody fake Brazil away shirts, with No20 on the back to try and make us something were not.

Im ashamed and sickened today.

At least when we lost under Jose, we had the bottle to fight for it.

Edited December 1, 2008 by Elliott

[TheWestwayWonder]

Sorry still fail to understand how top of the premier league.. okay maybe 2nd in the next 24 hours is WRONG.. call me old fashioned

you see the big picture thusfar, and there is nothing wrong with that, but we have been worryingly sh*te the last month and i hope to god we can resurrect some kind of form

-Obviously we miss Ricky and Essien. Ess is the beating heart of this team, and when Riccy comes back, imo, he should replace JT, not partner him. If JT cant lead the way with his form, then there is little to no hope for his words and encouragement. Of course, they would never do that becuase of his role for England

-We can win the title with Kalou and Malouda, but only when they are third and fourth options off the bench, and we have players like Joe Cole or Andiry Arshavin or Vincenzo Iaquinta in front of them. World class attackers that strike fear into opposing defenders. We used to have three of those, more than we could play. Yesterday, we didnt field one

-Its time to get real about team selection. If you cant perform, you ass belongs on the bench or in the pressbox. No more justifying signings to make the big man happy you spent his money. This is football, and to win you have to waste money all the time. Sometimes wading through the rough is the only way to find a diamond. Do you think Ferguson is ruing all the money he wasted on Hargreaves who has been laid up? Not after the last two years.

-Get a fit, committed striker who actually gives a fark into this team on New Years Day and not a second later. If all we have to look forward to is a crocked Drogba im gonna be mad. I see Kenyon saying he will stay for his full contract in the press, and I dearly hope that is just a load he is selling to up his value, but lets cash in on him while we can move on. This is a new era at Chelsea and we want young, fiesty and committed players.

[Elliott]

We can win the title with Kalou and Malouda, but only when they are third and fourth options off the bench, and we have players like Joe Cole or Andiry Arshavin or Vincenzo Iaquinta in front of them. World class attackers that strike fear into opposing defenders. We used to have three of those, more than we could play. Yesterday, we didnt field one

Exactly.

I hate to go back to this comparison, but when we had a front three of Duff, Crespo/Drogba, and Robben, we scared the sh*t out of teams. We also had the likes of Eidur and Joey Cole waiting to come on if needed?

Teams dont fear us anymore.

:Berbatov, Rooney, Ronaldo. - I'm afraid this is the type of quality needed.

[Dorset]

Worst fears realised, the aftermath of this game for me has been a strange mixture of annoyance and relief. Annoyance that nowadays we can be derailed so easily by official ineptitude and relief that our manager should now, hopefully, see the light in terms of priorities, playing the passing game, Plan B and his own ability to deal with all three with the players he has got for the rest of this season. Let’s get the annoyance out of the way quickly before moving on to the more important aspects…

Was it just a case of our luck running out yesterday and we should accept the fact as gracefully as we have accepted poor decisions throughout the campaign so far? Well, Scolari thought the time had come to scream ‘conspiracy’ and, with the evidence of two fractional offside decisions going against us followed by a blatant one going in Arsenal’s favour, all by the same assistant referee in similar circumstances, who can blame him? I know I didn’t, but I also know that Felipe was due his reality check with Premiership officialdom - it is poor, being nice to it gets you nowhere, and the only edge you will ever get is when you moan about it constantly.

The Respect Campaign was made for a newcomer to the Premiership like our manager in so far as it provided an impressive initiation olive branch of fairness for him to grab, which, to his credit, he duly did with both hands. However, the campaign primarily carried with it the authorities hope that it would encourage old stagers like Ferguson to mend their ways, which is laughable really, especially when you consider the advantages to be gained by putting pressure on referees and, somewhat ironically, there is no point now telling Felipe otherwise because he’s played ball for four months and in his first, critical, non-pressurised situation, an official makes the good old human error{?) and our boss receives a big slap in the face for his compliance to date. Incidentally, a straightforward example of luck running out would have been the van Persie decision going their way in isolation, but following as it did hard on the heels of two clearer calls not going our way makes everybody, except Liam, suspicious and much more likely to disrespect any respect campaign in the future. Anyway, enough carping, as there could ultimately be benefits gained from having a more streetwise guy at the helm. Let me explain…

From this point onwards the Scolari ‘Mr Nice Guy’ persona should definitely be shelved, both behind the scenes and front of house. Declared friendships with Ramos, Benitez and Wenger, followed by an ongoing bonhomie before each home game, garnered one point and little else that can, with hindsight, be regarded as helpful. Indeed, it is time to cut the c**p and start to put some fire into the players bellies rather than dampening down ’enthusiasm’ for these meetings. Tricky away fixtures and all still to come, thank heavens another ‘Mr Nice Guy’ Ramos has gone, although I wouldn’t put it past ’Arry to contrive a dugout love fest in its place just to serve his own purposes. No visible change here would be a sign that Roman has hired his man to present a pleasing image to the public regardless of circumstance and this leads to my next point - our priorities under the Scolari regime, what are they and how far are they affected by off pitch influences such as financial restraint and the need for future development of our own players rather than using the transfer market.

In our present position, and bearing in mind Kenyon’s latest comments on transfers, there is no doubting that Roman has set great store in bringing the kids through, but it will never be at the expense of, or risk to, finishing in the top four and gaining a Champions League place. Those same romantics who would have greeted yesterday’s result with subdued smugness [they’re getting their Chelsea back after all] might ask why we don’t bring them in regardless, but that would be to turn every imaginable priority list on its head and that isn’t going to happen on the Abramovich watch. Presumably the same priority placing applies to entertaining football as well, which means that Scolari’s scope for blooding a Stoch or Kakuta is limited to say the least and makes a ten minute appearance at the end of yesterday’s game look more like a cry for help than anything resembling a Plan B.

For this to change, or for any other set of priorities to be seen to exist, we would need to see wholesale transfers in January resulting in, for example, two or more strikers going, thereby allowing the purchase of one expensive replacement, supplemented by promotion from the reserves or the return of a loaned player. Turning to the defence, naming names and, if cash was really tight, you might see Riccy or Ivanovic go, or Wayne or Paulo, to be replaced by a recalled Mancienne or Bertrand. Tweaking the priorities even further and placing the emphasis on entertaining play, we might even get to see Didier disappear over the horizon and a massive bid go in for someone to keep us all happy rather than frustrated during the winter months. Not only does this seem unlikely, but it might also prove difficult for Big Phil should he have already have been forced by then to sacrifice Deco to ensure the regaining of lost Premiership points in the interim.

Without knowing the order or extent of these priorities nobody can say for sure how the present situation is viewed in the boardroom and what those On High are going to do about it, if anything. Scolari will have learnt more in the last week about his squad than he has done in the previous twenty. It will hurt him that this latest result is viewed by the fans as Soft Touch 1 Arsenal 2 and whatever is on his brief I’m sure that that outcome against that opponent doesn’t feature. He may not be able to spend. He can’t afford to experiment too much, if at all, by bringing in the youngsters and cracks are appearing in those solidly built foundations. Mind you, he didn’t set them up and neither did Avram Grant before him, so maybe they have been built on sand since way back in the days of you know who. It certainly didn't feel like it at the time.

[moi]

Sorry still fail to understand how top of the premier league.. okay maybe 2nd in the next 24 hours is WRONG.. call me old fashioned

OK, Andy, you're old fashioned! Sorry, but Geezer doesn't seem to be around, and I'm sure that's what he would have said, so I'm appointing myself as Big G's spokeswoman.

[Bal]

-We can win the title with Kalou and Malouda, but only when they are third and fourth options off the bench, and we have players like Joe Cole or Andiry Arshavin or Vincenzo Iaquinta in front of them. World class attackers that strike fear into opposing defenders. We used to have three of those, more than we could play. Yesterday, we didnt field one

Iaqunita is just not world class. He rarely gets in the Juve team when other attacking players are fit and no one stumped up the cash for arshavin in the summer which begs the question how good actually is he? I totally agree that are current attacking options are poor, in particular kalou and malouda but going on about duff and robben in unjustified as since they have been sold they have only played a handfull of games combined.

I dont like saying it but we miss Drogba. He really does bring something different and had he been fit (and not not suspended) im sure our record over the past month would have been much better. Anelka scores goals when he can find space but against quality defences and teams that \'park the bus\' as we have seen over the last 10 games he aint gonna do the business that a fully fit drogba would do. Essien is a massive miss and he is our only truly dynamic midfielder.

Edited December 1, 2008 by Bal

[Bal]

-We can win the title with Kalou and Malouda, but only when they are third and fourth options off the bench, and we have players like Joe Cole or Andiry Arshavin or Vincenzo Iaquinta in front of them. World class attackers that strike fear into opposing defenders. We used to have three of those, more than we could play. Yesterday, we didnt field one

Iaqunita is just not world class. He rarely gets in the Juve team when other attacking players are fit and no one stumped up the cash for arshavin in the summer which begs the question how good actually is he? I totally agree that are current attacking options are poor, in particular kalou and malouda but going on about duff and robben in unjustified as since they have been sold they have only played a handfull of games combined.

I dont like saying it but we miss Drogba. He really does bring something different and had he been fit (and not not suspended) im sure our record over the past month would have been much better. Anelka scores goals when he can find space but against quality defences and teams that 'park the bus' as we have seen over the last 10 games he aint gonna do the business that a fully fit drogba would do. Essien is a massive miss and he is our only truly dynamic midfielder.

[Elliott]

Worryingly, Dorset, cracks are beginning to show in the foundations of this current team. Cech’s not always looking his commanding self? Ballack and Deco look off the pace? Terry looking increasingly uncomfortable with every other centre back pairing? A horrible reliance on a petulant Ivorian, who looks more interested in sharing a laugh with friends, or changing tracks on his I-Pod when a 2nd Van Persie goal flies in?... Which begs the question; is it time for wholesale changes?

We got so far with a squad of Wise, Zola, Poyet, Di Matteo, Frank Le Beef, etc which then needed a revamp. And the other nice guy, Ranieri, in fairness did a fantastic job of it.

Are we approaching that time again? Have we come full circle? - I’m inclined to say yes.

As I’m sure you will agree, January will not be the answer to all our transfer prayers, as most of the quality needed to improve our squad will not be available through being cup tied, or being over-priced, which means that Scolari will have to wait until the end of this season before he can put his own players in place.

If he’s still here....

[TheWestwayWonder]

Iaqunita is just not world class. He rarely gets in the Juve team when other attacking players are fit and no one stumped up the cash for arshavin in the summer which begs the question how good actually is he? I totally agree that are current attacking options are poor, in particular kalou and malouda but going on about duff and robben in unjustified as since they have been sold they have only played a handfull of games combined.

-Iaquinta was a reach, yes, but at the time I was thinking of a winger/forward hybrid and came up with nobody better. Someone like Schweinsteiger might be more appropriate as people seem to believe he is on the outs in Germany

-Arshavin was passed over because nobody wanted to stump up the cash due to a lack of belief in his ability. I have seen him, both for Russia and for Zenit. And in my professional estimation he is the real deal as I have seen him come on against sides like Man U and Madrid and tear them to ribbons from the outside with counterattacks. He is small, but boysterous and fearless, and has the kind of pace and mentality to succeed in England

-Dont let Robben and Duff's injury proneness erase their class or their contributions here. They were constantly walking wounded, but you might recall the six months in 2004-5 we spent tearing teams apart with Joe Cole and Damien Duff, and then brining on Arjen Robben to run them ragged for the last half hour. THAT was quality. THOSE were real world class wingers. Malouda is another product of Lyon's system who has never fit in here.

Elliot is dead right. When we had talent like Robben and Crespo to fill in the places of Drogba and Cole we were invincible in the eyes of some. Over the years we have improved all over the park, except in our attack.

Edited December 1, 2008 by TheWestwayWonder

[forbzy]

As always Dorset a well though out post and a level headed opinion on the current situation.

I've stood up for Scolari but that doesn't mean to say I'm convinced he is the righ man for the job. Far from it. But I think he will be given at least this season to prove himself so we may as well get behind the team and try to inspire them with our support.

I also think the current problems we are seeing go way deeper than the manager. This has been a direction we have gradually been heading in ever since those running the club decided to put a stop to the big spending and try to make a profit or at least break even. We've seen the squad gradually reduced in size and in several positions the quality of departing players has not been adequately replaced. Notably strikers and wingers where we have lost the likes of Crespo, Guddy, Robben, and Duff and replaced them with players who have either not worked out (e.g. Sheva, Malouda) or been promoted from previous squad roles (e.g. Kalou) and looked out of their depth when relied upon as our main options.

The club has made it clear that they will continue to follow this direction. But in the meantime our rivals and other clubs below us continue to spend big. With that in mind we cannot expect to stay at the top regardless of manager. If expectation levels remain the same then the managers will continue to come and go. The club either needs to acknowledge a rebuilding phase where youth is given a chance and we don't expect to win much or continue to spend money to keep up with the rivals. I don't think we can expect both. I'm OK with the first option although I think we would have been better off going with somebody like Zola or Hughes as manager if that was our plan. It seems as though the club thought they could just bring in a high profile manager and he would be able to bring back the good days with largely the same squad. Perhaps he would have a chance if we were lucky with injuries but that was always unlikely looking at previous seasons. Our squad is much less than the glory years whereas our rivals have continued to strengthen.

I agree with Dorset that we could possible try to sell a couple of players to raise money for a big January signing. But who would we be willing and able to sell in order to raise enough money? Drogs perhaps but he is getting older. Maybe Citeh would be willing to buy one of our players for silly money but I doubt it would be Malouda or somebody we want to sell.

I'd be happy to clean out some of the driftwood in January and perhaps bring in a more modest signing like Zaki. Combine that by recalling some of the more talented loanees like Mancienne. however I am realistic enough to know that probably won't bring in any trophies this season.

Like or not that seems to be the strategy of the club and I think we need to readjust our expectations or be prepared for disappointment.

[forbzy]

Worryingly, Dorset, cracks are beginning to show in the foundations of this current team. Cech’s not always looking his commanding self? Ballack and Deco look off the pace? Terry looking increasingly uncomfortable with every other centre back pairing? A horrible reliance on a petulant Ivorian, who looks more interested in sharing a laugh with friends, or changing tracks on his I-Pod when a 2nd Van Persie goal flies in?... Which begs the question; is it time for wholesale changes?

We got so far with a squad of Wise, Zola, Poyet, Di Matteo, Frank Le Beef, etc which then needed a revamp. And the other nice guy, Ranieri, in fairness did a fantastic job of it.

Are we approaching that time again? Have we come full circle? - I’m inclined to say yes.

As I’m sure you will agree, January will not be the answer to all our transfer prayers, as most of the quality needed to improve our squad will not be available through being cup tied, or being over-priced, which means that Scolari will have to wait until the end of this season before he can put his own players in place.

If he’s still here....

Agreed. Actually Ranieri would be a great guy to bring back in with somebody like Zola if we were looking to rebuild. I wouldn't expect to win much for a year or so but we would hopefully be able to build a great new team in a few years.