What would it take to turn the season around?

[bluephoenix 1,125]

As a concerned Chelsea fan I am kind of really wondering what it would take for us to turn the season around ? I am ashamed to say that I have lost interest in watching Chelsea matches (no it's not results that I stopped watching its because of how poorly we have been playing) history repeating itself, once we start losing everyone start to hopelessly desperate and in the process we are unable to go back to fundamentals and do that properly. Manager looking clueless, players looking clueless, etc.

What I am hoping for is analysis on the matches played and course of action you guys think (please be more informative than just "sack Mourinho", "stop playing Fab/Iva", basically don't point the obvious) what our priorities should be(I know recent run of results would warrant just staying away from relegation zone)

I think our first and foremost priority should be defense, try to avoid defeats at all cost( happy with one point to begin with for the next couple of matches) while we work that out slowly develop good football. Clearly result oriented mindset and approach isn't taking us anywhere period. Personally focus only on premier league, use rest of the cup competitions to develop the young players and try different tactics, basically use that as a training ground to play better football while focusing on PL. At this point silverware is not something I care for, obviously good results would be welcomed in that competition but not at the cost of not playing good football/team football (I would take defeats/draws all day long in other competitions to see us improve our play and tactics). Use this season as much as possible to build the long term team, because short fix won't win us the league, so pretty much pointless) figure out kind of players we need or kind of players from our loan list who can fit in, tactics that would exploit the best of everyone we have in our team sheet right now(this part is so try and salvage the way we play in the league).

I am keeping sacking Mourinho out of this thread because that is well taken care of in the Mourinho Thread[http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/20662-the-mourinho-thread/].

We are currently 15th on the table, what is the most realistic position that you guys think we would/could/should end up/aim for at the end of season( on that note, it is pretty clear Mourinho can't be aimless and be like we will concentrate one match at a time. He needs to set goal, and work towards it).

ponder on the following and post your response:

1. What formation or tactics do you think we should adopt going forward?

2. What do you think should be our priority going forward?

3. What position do you want to see Chelsea be at the end of season?

4. January transfer window (who should we buy, how will they fit in the grand scheme of things)?

5. Who should play, who shouldn't?

6. What kind of tactics do you think will get us out of this slump?

As a bonus, how did we go from Premier league to staying clear of relegation ? (quiet frankly I knew we weren't good enough to defend title the way we played last season, but this?)

Sorry if this repeat I tried to see if there were any other threads but couldn't find one so thought I would create one.

PS: Keep this thread as informative as possible please, if you like someone's opinion hit like button(I know that I have been guilty of being the guy who quotes and just types "+1" for response) . In fact I don't even want this to be a discussion thread, I just want it to be opinion thread(one post per member of the forum )

As always mods if you think this thread is useless, feel free to delete/lock/merge it.

[Fulham Broadway 16,383]

Good thread

1) Restore some discipline - manager and players.

2) Go back to basics and stop defensive errors - play Mikel in the holding role for a few games and make sure players like JT and Costa can put a ball in row z, rather than gift it to the opposition in or around our box. (Lead to both goals on Saturday)

3) play players in their correct positions.

That would be a start.

[Gappy 130]

The Balance of the XI mainly at the midfield pair

Cesc - Matic won't work cause they both out of form

Cesc won't work cuz he too slow, I think jose want to play him like pirlo Deep line Playmaker

But EPL and pressing higher compare to Cacio and Cesc don't have skill enough to survive that pressing ( hard tacking, less foul, etc )

Matic can't do his job in cover and screen the opposite attacking at WHU was that case to show he lost his position and forgot how to tackle or break the game without received a card

Last season he may made a lot of foul but not received too much card like this that his job to break the tempo of opposite attack

This make our attack and defense had a hard time to do their job

From our choice of midfield now

Matic , Cesc, Ramires, Mikel, RLC we short of midfield that can hold the ball and create the game

Matic use to be a AMC but now he can't create a chance from pass ( he often to run with ball )

Mikel use to be AMC in loooong time ago now he was just a decent DMC

Ramies was BoxtoBox love to go with ball ( jose try to play him at RW it won't work cuz he just can run with ball straight he can't dribbling ) and as you all know his passing was the worst.

RLC was a kid he play like Matic he won't perfect yet but he should gave more chance in MC not AMC like jose played him at VILLA

So Cesc was the only man that fit the role he has no competition in his role by nature

But he so slow and lost a ton of ability that he use to have when he was at assenal

No doubt that jose list was have a tons of MC like KOKE POGBA ISCO may be he know that cesc suck but he has no choice in that role

IMO is hard to seek for the best solution now but I'm sure that in January Board must buy

At least 1 decent MC not a noname MC

1 Center Back not a 2m£ nobody know Center Back

1 Right Back and don't dare to give Ivanovic a new contact

That will help us a tons of improve, with or without Jose this still a must

From now till the market open every 2 midfields that he'll pick will won't work

Even we can buy Messi here but that not the answer of this mess

And in the next summer we should let Oscar go and find new AMC that didn't have injured prone and spark for a while and then gone for the rest of the season.

[Heisenberg 1,824]

Play the kids, no Ivanovic, no Baba, no Matic, no Fabregas, No Hazard.

[Lapo Blues 21]

Let me just straight to the renewed tactics formation and idea of starting 11 (capital letter for January addition idea) with 4-3-3 FORMATION:

Begovic (Courtois later)

Azp Cahill Zouma CRESSWELL

Ramires KRYCHOWIAK Mikel

GRIEZMANN Costa AUBAMEYANG

[didierforever 7,349]

Let me just straight to the renewed tactics formation and idea of starting 11 (capital letter for January addition idea) with 4-3-3 FORMATION:

Begovic (Courtois later)

Azp Cahill Zouma CRESSWELL

Ramires KRYCHOWIAK Mikel

GRIEZMANN Costa AUBAMEYANG

that is so unfair to willian.

[Lapo Blues 21]

that is so unfair to willian.

my bad, I forgot the lad.

Thanks mate, get me new idea for revised formation:

Begovic (Courtois later)

Azp Cahill Zouma CRESSWELL

Ramires KRYCHOWIAK Mikel

GRIEZMANN AUBAMEYANG Willian

[BlueLion. 21,491]

A fucking miracle.

[11Drogba 2,000]

Two midfielders and one right back, but Mourinho's actions make me think that we won't spend much in January.

[kellzfresh 7,226]

Hire me as the manager

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Good thread!

- Play proper fullbacks. Use Brana as a CB when needed.

- Stop with the fucking us against them mentality, it serves no purpose other than frustrating our fans and making us look terrible.

- Don't ever use Fabregas in the pivot again, he cannot be trusted. Possibly even out of the team and shove the hard working Ramires/RLC in there with Mikel or ...I know it's come to this.

- Play RLC, he galvanises the supporters when he plays and brings a much needed feel good factor, much like the young Martial at United, there's excitement when he goes on a run with the ball. Play him.

- Get Bamford back from loan and get rid of Falcao in Jan. He is another player who could galvanise the fans and give some much needed positivity around the place.

- Restore fitness of key players. Hazard especially.

- BUY IN JANUARY. I usually don't like mid season sprees but we have to right the wrongs of the summer window and do it quickly, get our business done and move on. Get a CB: Be it Stones, Marquinhos or whoever. I'd also buy a left back, if Baba can't be trusted we need to buy one who can. Not that I think Baba has done anything wrong. I'd buy a CM - Ruben Neves has been mentioned a fair bit. But as I said, be swift and get it done quick.

That's what I've got so far. Cheers for reading. I hate this, Chelsea shouldn't be like it.

[Cosmin 2,484]

I think everyone who doesn't want to be here anymore, needs to be let go. No matter if their name is Hazard, Fabregas or Mourinho. There's a mental block somewhere and that's what's holding us down.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

Some would say that sacking Mourinho would solve all of our problems but I think an interim manager would just exacerbate things - we just need a couple of squad changes and some discipline and we will come around.

Example in hand, we could have put 4 past both Kiev and WHU.

So I don't think the situation is that dire really, albeit frustrating, but the next 3 games are must win and I think we will.

[manpe 10,855]

1. What formation or tactics do you think we should adopt going forward?

More important than the formation is how players adopt the system, but generally I believe 4-3-3 would fit us the best. 4-2-3-1 can have its uses, but we need better players in deep mid for that to work consistently. 4-4-2 could be tried out more, haven't seen much of it so can't really judge.

2. What do you think should be our priority going forward?

Securing key signings first and foremost. During January and summer we simply must get a CB who walks into our line-up, a CM who walks into the line-up and a full-back who also walks into the line-up. While we're at it let's get a proper nr.10 too.

3. What position do you want to see Chelsea be at the end of season?

Champions. Failing that, top 4.

4. January transfer window (who should we buy, how will they fit in the grand scheme of things)?

A deep midfielder to occupy Cesc's spot for good. Fab can keep playing as an advanced midfielder, but our big glaring weakness is holding our own in our half of the pitch, somebody to get the ball rolling while also keeping defensive solidity. Currently we have zero players who can fulfill that role. If a marquee player of this mould would be our only signing in January, I would be pleased.

5. Who should play, who shouldn't?

Based on merit Azpilicueta and Willian are undroppable atm. Costa should play because he is better than the other strikers. Everybody else isn't anywhere near Chelsea standard, so they shouldn't play, but we have no choice.

6. What kind of tactics do you think will get us out of this slump?

Holding a low-mid block, get other players besides Azpi and Willian to press as a unit, having won the ball opt for quick counter-attacks since we can't do anything meaningful with possession.

Yes that's small team tactics, but we are playing like a small team, so let's at least try to play to our strengths.

As a bonus, how did we go from Premier league to staying clear of relegation ?

Beats me, seriously. We could predict a subpar campaign based on how we ended last season, being dormant in transfer window and horribly planned and played pre-season, but this? I'm at loss for words.

When Mourinho first came he made us solid. Our performances improved gradually until it peaked at the start of next season, when we were playing some wonderful stuff. Then winter came, expectedly we became more tired and not as creative as before, but we still had grit! It's been downwards ever since and now we've hit rock bottom with the same players who set the world alight last year. Players don't lose their quality this quickly and this badly, I've no doubt some reckless coaching has a hand in all of it.

[coolhead23 1,146]

Honestly, not expecting a massive turn around but atleast we can salvage some pride.

· Everyone should let go of their EGOs and start fresh as if we are starting day one of a season. Believe in the team.

· Go back to basics, we have been good with parking the bus or defending deep let’s go with it. One point is good than no point should be the punchline atleast for the next 10 games.

· 4-3-3 is the best formation with Matic-Ramiers-Oscar/RLC. Need to forget creativity and dump Cesc for now, get in Oscar atleast he is a work horse and can defend well. Hazard, Willian and Costa should be the one with minimal defensive duties. Get back few of the loanees who aren’t getting game time (eg: Bamford and Chalobah can atleast provide some muscle in the center & up front, they can’t be bad then what we are currently so better to give them a chance). Don’t play Iva in the RB but he can be used as a CB, he might do a better job. I wouldn’t mind Ramiers at RM for now rather than Zouma only till we don’t have a solution.

· Don’t think we will finish in top 4, 5 or 6 would be a real bonus for us because the top 7 teams from last season baring Chelsea have improved or have got momentum … so it would be difficult with the current form to even finish top 6. But anything is possible on the standings.

· I doubt we will go shopping in Jan but if we do get in team players rather than stars who will fit in a system. We need a Young CB, LB & RB, a work horse B2B atleast. However getting in new players would resolve our issues with the mentality we have right now.

· On sacking Jose, for now I don’t see the board firing him not because of money or for the extension that he has received. I believe our owner/board have surely evolved for period of time. I believe they have accepted the fate for this season and they will keep continuing with Jose so that we can score some points in the manager’s community (surely have a bad reputation with all the chopping and changing) which means we still are showing confidence in the manager despite bad results.

[Jase 43,479]

Hire me as the manager

We should submit our Football Manager/FIFA CV to the board.

[Fulham Broadway 16,383]

Performance related pay.

Soon buck their ideas up...

[bethos1 802]

We need defenders to stop fucking up, we need our attackers to step it up and Mou needs to start playing with some real fullbacks instead of playing with 3 cb's and 1 RB at LB.

Oh yeah and we need better midfielders instead of Mikel and Ramires, they shouldn't even be an option for a club like Chelsea. Too bad our board fucked up our transfers.