Chelsea 'crisis'

[Tim]

So, according to many in the media, we're in 'trouble' due to our poor home form and unrest amongst the players.

Whether the latter is true or not is pure speculation, and while the former is worrying, I do find it odd that people think we're the ones in trouble, when every other one of our rivals also have their fair share of problems.

Looking at them one by one...

L*verpool - have spent 20 million on a player who doesn't play and may or may not leave the club, and have a star striker who appears to be spending more time injured than on the pitch. Add to that the interest from other clubs in Agger, their most promising defender, and all is not exactly perfect for the Scum. Granted, they are probably in the best position of the Big 4, but no one can honestly say that they have been playing that well, and they have had more than their fair share of luck so far this season.

Manure - Patchy form and are having to deal with the added pressure of playing considerable catch-up with their main rivals due to a very poor start to the season. While Berbatov has shown glimpses of genius, many fans are unhappy with the omission of Tevez to accommodate the tempermental Bulgarian, especially with the former's loan deal soon to run out. Add to that Ronaldo's relatively ordinary form, the resurfacing of the 'will he won't he' Real transfer saga, the furore over Evra's suspension and the ludicrous distraction of this Club World Cup, and all ain't exactly rosey for the Red Devils.

Arse - Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahaha. Where do i start? No spine, no commitment, unhappy players, unhappy fans, no consistency, no chance of winning anything, again.

So, to summarise, yes things are far from perfect at the Bridge, but the same could certainly be said for our rivals, so all is not doom and gloom. Furthermore given the injuries we've had to contend with, again, and the loss of our home form, it is a big bonus to still be very much in the mix for the league, and (to adopt a cup half full approach) hopefully things can only get better?

Let's face it, if any of the Big 4 had actually got their act together this season, they would most likely have a commanding lead in the league, so I am at least thankful that both red and blue have been miscuing on a regular basis.

Edited December 18, 2008 by Tim

[BLUENUT]

So, according to many in the media, we're in 'trouble' due to our poor home form and unrest amongst the players.

Whether the latter is true or not is pure speculation, and while the former is worrying, I do find it odd that people think we're the ones in trouble, when every other one of our rivals also have their fair share of problems.

Looking at them one by one...

L*verpool - have spent 20 million on a player who doesn't play and may or may not leave the club, and have a star striker who appears to be spending more time injured than on the pitch. Add to that the interest from other clubs in Agger, their most promising defender, and all is not exactly perfect for the Scum. Granted, they are probably in the best position of the Big 4, but no one can honestly say that they have been playing that well, and they have had more than their fair share of luck so far this season.

Manure - Patchy form and are having to deal with the added pressure of playing considerable catch-up with their main rivals due to a very poor start to the season. While Berbatov has shown glimpses of genius, many fans are unhappy with the omission of Tevez to accommodate the tempermental Bulgarian, especially with the former's loan deal soon to run out. Add to that Ronaldo's relatively ordinary form, the resurfacing of the 'will he won't he' Real transfer saga, the furore over Evra's suspension and the ludicrous distraction of this Club World Cup, and all ain't exactly rosey for the Red Devils.

Arse - Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahaha. Where do i start? No spine, no commitment, unhappy players, unhappy fans, no consistency, no chance of winning anything, again.

So, to summarise, yes things are far from perfect at the Bridge, but the same could certainly be said for our rivals, so all is not doom and gloom. Furthermore given the injuries we've had to contend with, again, and the loss of our home form, it is a big bonus to still be very much in the mix for the league, and (to adopt a cup half full approach) hopefully things can only get better?

Let's face it, if any of the Big 4 had actually got their act together this season, they would most likely have a commanding lead in the league, so I am at least thankful that both red and blue have been miscuing on a regular basis.

Optimistic post there but Utd have played away at Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Villa. With Liverpool and Arsenal dropping points all over the place, and Chelsea with a less than 30% win rate at home, they have a game in hand and are only a couple of points off the top. Their run in is a stroll in the park compared to ours. Utd should be staring at a 10 or 11 point gap when they return from the far east, but they won't due to their rivals failing to capatilise or win at home. Utd haven't really played well at all this season and are the most likely side to put together a run of 8-10 straight wins. There is no talk of player unrest at Manu either, unlike all 3 of their closest rivals.

[Tim]

I know I know, it IS optimistic, I just am a naturally pessimistic supporter, but am getting tired of all the doom and gloom, so thought I'd try the other approach!

All your points are fair ones, but it is worth mentioning that all the Big 4, Manure included, have dropped points against teams that they 'should' have beat, so even if on paper they've played their tougher away games, all it takes is a few injuries and some of the smaller teams to have a blinder, and the banker games end up being dropped points.

[dkw]

I know I know, it IS optimistic, I just am a naturally pessimistic supporter, but am getting tired of all the doom and gloom, so thought I'd try the other approach!

All your points are fair ones, but it is worth mentioning that all the Big 4, Manure included, have dropped points against teams that they 'should' have beat, so even if on paper they've played their tougher away games, all it takes is a few injuries and some of the smaller teams to have a blinder, and the banker games end up being dropped points.

on the plus side, we have had a very tough set of home fixtures for scolari to settle in with and hopefully will mean we can get our home form going in the new year with an easier home run in, plus we can take our excellent away form into the games against dippers, manyoo and the arse.

[BLUENUT]

I know I know, it IS optimistic, I just am a naturally pessimistic supporter, but am getting tired of all the doom and gloom, so thought I'd try the other approach!

All your points are fair ones, but it is worth mentioning that all the Big 4, Manure included, have dropped points against teams that they 'should' have beat, so even if on paper they've played their tougher away games, all it takes is a few injuries and some of the smaller teams to have a blinder, and the banker games end up being dropped points.

I thought pessimism was one of the qualifications you needed to support Chelsea, they always let you down once you get your hopes up don't they!?

[coco]

Utd have played away at Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Villa. With Liverpool and Arsenal dropping points all over the place, and Chelsea with a less than 30% win rate at home, they have a game in hand and are only a couple of points off the top.

But weve already played Manure, L'pool, Ars, Villa and Spuds at home, and we already have a MASSIVE goal difference in our favour. Another point to remember is we have 3 key players in Riccy, Essien and Drogba who have yet to contribute much this season.

Half full or half empty ?

[BLUENUT]

But weve already played Manure, L'pool, Ars, Villa and Spuds at home, and we already have a MASSIVE goal difference in our favour. Another point to remember is we have 3 key players in Riccy, Essien and Drogba who have yet to contribute much this season.

Half full or half empty ?

And our record against them is Played 5 won 1 Lost 2 Drawn 2. That's 5 points from a possible 15!

A massive goal difference is no good if you're 5 points behind the leaders

anyway back to the opmisim.....................

Edited December 18, 2008 by BLUENUT

[dkw]

And our record against them is Played 5 won 1 Lost 2 Drawn 2. That's 5 points from a possible 15!

A massive goal difference is no good if you're 5 points behind the leaders

anyway back to the opmisim.....................

and if we win most of the away games against them then we can regain the advantage using our goal difference. theres your optimism... B)

[Mr Chelsea]

no crisis, just the media trying to get a rise out of scolari

he's been very good with the media and they dont like it, and they will keep pressing until he comes out and as a go at them so they can slag him some more, but i dont think he'll rise to it

[TheWestwayWonder]

If we really are in a period of adjustment, and results start to get better from here, then we really have done well despite the new manager and all the injuries.

Remember the first third of the 04/05 season, i.e. Jose's first season, we weer chasing Arsenal who were still "les invincibles" until Man United brought them back down to earth. Then, and last year, imo, we have shown ourselves to be a strong second half team. Hopefully that reamains the same. And hopefully our away form continues when we visit the big boys. Something is definitely not right at home.

The Keane Liverpool thing is a disaster in so many ways. Huge money, manager looks like a tit, and now good old Lawro. If Benitez blows the league lead or falls out of contention, and Keane remains withering away behind the likes of David N'Gog, i would be confident its curtains for fatty

[Kerry]

I agree fully with you that compared to those others we are not that bad off.

On the downside this would mean we just have luck this season. I would not go that far to say we have a crisis at the Bridge though not everything is working perfect; if Scolari leaves now and we stand there empty-handed without a substitution than yes we have a real crisis but the current situation is not comparable to that.

Though this would suggest we have damn luck till now. It could relatively have gone otherway; one of the other clubs (even ManCity!) could have taken the lead. We're a bit lucky that everyone else has been f*cked up so far. But that's not to our merit.

What worries me more is that I have the impression there is nobody there to take the lesson. It's human to fail; nobody is infallible and we have no godly right to win everything. Errors are made to learn of them, but I have the impression nobody seems to be able or willing to react what has happened during this season so far. We've seen and heard a lot of promises to improve, but we haven't seen or heard any real measures for this. Maybe it's still too far, so we shall come back to this later in January, that's for sure, just what we've seen so far isn't very promising. Be it Scolari's tactical enigmas. Be it rumours of unrest in the dressing room. Be it Kenyon's pleading over and over again that we won't spend. Be it Drogba's seesaw "I will stay" and "I hate you all". I understand we don't need a radical change. All my impression is solely there's done nothing, and that's too less.

[PloKoon13]

We're a bit lucky that everyone else has been f*cked up so far. But that's not to our merit.

I agree.

Look at how bad Man Utd and Liverpool have been up until now, and it's credit to how bad we've been that they're still within touching distance of us...

Man Utd should stroll to the title as soon as they hit form. :(

[Paul Seery]

I do not believe that there is a general crises at the club but I believe there is a crises in terms of home form. The reason why I do not believe that there is a general crises is that we are only a point behind the league leaders, still in the European Cup and in the FA Cup. I further believe that once we get the home form right and our key players like Essien back from injury and in top form then things will look alot better for the club.

Keep the faith! :(