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I'm fully aware about that. But one more time there's things to separate: the fact to produce attacking sequences and the fact to score from it. I would be happy to see drafts of attacking sequences, even not concluded. At the moment that's not a matter of new arrivals, that plays a litlle part. The issue is "what game plan, planned sequence are they expected to be adapted to ?" There's no work in progress. I missed almost every game live, I saw its after without the live event pressure and knowing the result, I could watch its in a more attentive way. I really would like to see some concrete stuff, I could then become optimistic about the potential of the squad this season. I really have nothing against Robbie... but there's not even one worked sequence per game...

That's a fair remark, I do think it shows how inefficient is the attacking animation for quite some time. There's a huge room before expecting a team to be unidimensionnal and always attack the same way. I mean that we should be able to show some oiled combinaisons proving there's work done at training. There's two things I do think one has to separate: the fact to have an oiled pattern of play, way of playing etc... and the quality of the players at your disposal. Basically small clubs tend to work on the collective aspect, outsiders depends on the collective aspect and on the form of individuals. Big teams are expected to mix a collective playing habit with individuals. Chelsea when going forward isn't able to produce a specific attack for some time, that mainly relies on what can individuals do. Regarding Torres' topic of yesterday, who can blame Torres to search himself in the play considering he doesn't know how the ball will come to him ? I would call our attacks and the chances we produce as "opportunist", it relies on Hazard's, Mata's... technical ability and it depends of what is possible in a given situation. We attack depending on how the opponent behave... That's like our ball retention issues at the moment, we shouldn't wait the opponent to commit a mistake and then exploit it. We should inbalance the opponent with the quality of our attacks, not attacking after seing an inbalance. I don't know if I managed to be clear enough...

Chelsea (like another big club) won't ever sign him due to his leg condition, his career literrally relies on one bad tackle. Beside that he's not very clever, we've to list all the recent signings who are wise, well educated and intelligent people (Lukaku, Mata, Moses, Oscar, Azpilicueta etc...). Ba couldn't enter into that list. I've been told a striker has scored 3 out of his 3 only attemps at goal so far, I don't remember the name, I recall he plays in Northern England...

Chelsea's hated in France because of the right-thinking and all the clichés. Same old pile of crap: no history, money flowing... Biaised opinions conveyed by papers, pundits, TV pundits. And then the footballing audience. Though Marseille's very popular, there's a lot of Drogba fans (haters as well). Chelsea is an usual kit otherwise, it became common to see Chelsea shirts I think

Guthrie has been played in Mikel's zone, in support of Pogrebnyak especially for that purpose But that's not as clear in 4231 as in 433, in 433 he was really targeted

You're kidding right ? That's what the teams we face do every game since 2010 and the start of Ancelotti's second season... Center backs are far away, there's only one player in the central zone... one'd be mad not to press him! My answer was rather when he's going to distribute, not when he receives the ball in dangerous position by the way

Ramires is very quick and can cover the full back (that's not litterally a covering but in that case, Ramires' speed is the slow defenders's positionning sense), he plays a huge part to maintain balance in midfield considering that the left flank is constantly out of position. He's not at his best offensively on a flank because he's inconsistent (can do great suff or proper crap). But one just cannot deny his impact on the team balance

Look at the pictures, I even think one can understand it just with the load of pictures

Mine's better http://mypremierleag...els-de-chelsea/ Playing 2 upfront isn't allowed by the quality of your 2 centre forwards. The main thing is the midfield, if you have 2 midfielders who are sound tactically, covers a lot of ground, have a huge volume of play and are good to defend & distribute you can play 442. If you haven't those 2 midfielders you're fucked. Before thinking about what your forwards can do, you have to know how to gain the ball and how to keep it

I double disagree on that. WHen he is in the last tier, his passing is as quick and accurate as the very best. When he's deeper, here's what I wrote on my own blog I launched recently: How Mikel’s “vulnerability” on the ball can help to break teams parking the bus

Sorry for the catchy title, if you're reading this, then it means I managed to make you reading what follows I wrote that last week (fucking international break), it's in french but there is 17 charts and schemas (like kids' books, if you can't read, look at the pictures Elder ones, use google traduction ) I divided my article in 8 parts 1: How the good start of the season from a statistical point of view is the "tree which hides the forest" 2: Briefly, what happened last season, basically why AVB was sacked and what did Di Matteo do when he came on 3: What are the changes ahead of the new season: keeping the 4-2-3-1, one less midfielder, one more support player. Torres' role, Abramovitch's wishes and the consequences of the 4-2-3-1 on the use of Ramires 4: "A fragile balance": difference between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 regarding the zone in front of the outcentered centre backs, the behaviour of the full backs, how Mikel now works with Lampard and not with the back 4. The consequence of the laziness of the 3 man line defensively, why that's hopeless situations for the players at the back 5: Unability to keep the ball. I didn't say that the 4-2-3-1 isn't suited for the possession (you can play every style with every system, some are just better than others), I rather highlighted several things: the unaviability of the player in the hole, the non-existing link between the double pivot and the 3 line and the poor distribution from the center backs (Terry excluded) (an illustration on why the player in the hole is crucial because the double pivot is easily closed down by a zonal marking not even requring the opponent to open up) 6: "In the funnel": Our current lack of width, I picked THAT sequence vs Brighton 7: Di Matteo, the right choice ? His career briefly and the context he worked in last season and the issues at WBA who may repeat itselfs at Chelsea. (then I gave my opinion, I said he was a school supervisor) 8: What to expect from the season: The small squad, the lack of guarantees for the forward players, having signed players who are sound tactically, why 4-3-3 may re-impose itself and how we could be the big fish in a small pond despite our numerous wins where we weren't the favourites in the past. http://mypremierleag...els-de-chelsea/

Yeah, like I responded to zolayes, that was just precisions on my remarks, I didn't wanted to be involved in a wild debate The 25 points thing is a real thing, I don't doubt our quality on 90mn but on the season long. Tactically we're not sound (laziness of some players is at the expense of others who basically has to chase the ball for them) and we lack a proper bench depth. We've enough quality to end above the 6th place. 4th, 3rd is my current expectation, and probably also 20 points away from both Manchesters

Thanks, I just used your post to say that I had precise explanations for why I answered "no" and that it's not just a post-match reaction (considering I didn't even watch the game yet)

I'm not leading an anti RDM riot, I'm just expressing my current concerns. All I want is to be proved wrong, I just have no material to make me think that my concerns aren't etablished at the moment.

If he can't handle things and produce results he'll be sacked, he's not at Wigan (I'm not mean) with a chairman who'll let him time etc... Ancelotti etc got sacked because the results were below the expectations. I voted no, I've always been a huge Ancelotti admirer but I agreed that we had to move on. I supported Villas Boas on some aspects on his game but he showed despite himself that some aspects of his management weren't sound for keeping his job. That's more complex than "yes" "no" in a poll. You can get results without skills and you can have skills without results. The feeling I tend to have with Di Matteo as the moment is rather the 1st option. The start of the season (and pre season) showed that nothing really changed since last season. Not even a matter of "things will be better with time". If you have ideas and it needs time to get oiled, you've plenty of opportunities to notice it when you watch a game. At the moment I haven't a clue about where he wants to go with that team. Is that to keep the ball ? Where's the pressing then ? (same crap than under AVB after the autumn)

I don't look at the statistical aspect of the season. Many will say that's the only thing that matters, the table is the truth. That's not false but in order to make a team improving, you need something else than "we got ... points out of ... games" etc The table is the reflection of your work on training. Work is a pratical value, stats are the illustration Basically I've concerns about Di Matteo's ability to change things under pressure (we've no clue about that when we look at his managerial career) and find the right balance tactically. But on the other hand, players have their responsibilities as well. I prefer to be pleasingly surprised rather than expects marvellous things and get disappointed. All I want is to be proved wrong. And all my concerns are currently confirmed and materialized as the season goes on

Nope, I've concerns on my own for months. Not reproaching anything in a targeted way at the end of last season, it basically depended of a precise context. But then I though we won't be able to more forward from what was basically a good caretaker job. Way too much clubs got fooled by the "caretaker effect" by handing him a contract. I explained my thoughs in the "RDM out" topic during the summer. I really like Di Matteo, I wasn't a Chelsea fan when he played but I know the impact he had on the club. I do think we don't have to force fate and ask some legends to come again into a daily routine. Manager is such a difficult job, especially at Chelsea where there's a need to produce results quickly. Even with a good season or two, a time will eventually come where we'll have to get rid of a former player who was cheered by the crowd. That's too sad to dehorne a legend's image (reason why I really don't want Zola near the Chelsea's bench in the future) Di Matteo was a plan B after Guardiola, Hiddink, Capello or whoever. I doubt his managerial skills for quite some time and I must admit that I do feel for him in the same time, he's been made the figuerehad of the "revolution" whereas the only thing he got is an even smaller squad where experience has been transfered into expectations on young players who has a lot to prove. I made an article about Chelsea's current issues (at least questions) that I shall put online next week

I agree with you, you shouldn't play a whole season before 22 or 23 years. I mainly agree with you about Walker but I think there's differences with Bertrand in terms of consistency. Bertrand's limits would be from a physical point of view (with consequences on his playing level) and not straight due to his state of mind (and getting worse with the accumulation of games played) Walker was the best U21 in that awful tournament one year ago but I didn't wait to see him being overplayed overplayed to conclude he had concentration swings.

I don't think there's a link with the amount of games he played. He's basically inconsistent on a run of games and in a game, you never know if he'll manage or miss his challenges. He misses 1 tackle out of 3, he can give brilliant crosses or absolute shit, he can be a great defender with retreating defense but he can have an elatic marking as well. I think the reason to that is his state of mind, I wait a bit more to conclude if he's rather a future Glen Johnson or just a young player who wants to do too much and then can't canalize all his energy and willingness. Offensively he was good for Villa, scoring that goal against Fulham. But I saw several games, his positionning and marking shouldn't be showed on videos in academies

Point after point: > He's a 88% tackling ratios. You definitely should search this Alonso interview when he says that tackling is not an ability, that's a last choice when you cannot regain the ball another way. That's pleasant to see players going into dirty tackles, work their socks off... But that's not a Sunday League derby. A defender has to defend standing, not going on the ground. Just an illustration: I can't stop saying to the kids I coach not to dive into challenges they'll miss because if they don't knock an opponent, they leaves him a boulevard. There's nothing that pisses me off more than a player diving into a challenge when he can regain the ball standing. Why? Because if you regain the ball, is that common to ask your opponent to give you a hand to lift up? A famous bald philosopher said one day (err... actually more than just one time) the now famous quote "stay on your feet" ! > Mikel's has strict zonal marking instructions (especially in 4-3-3, in 4-2-3-1 that's less strict), he's not expected to press the opponent nor to close on him if he's 15 yards away.The best tactic to create holes in the opponent's defense is to attract him. Why kids are taught "don't get attracted by the ball" and so on during their formation as future senior defenders ? He could chase the ball like a 4 year old but not only that would create huge inbalances but athletically speaking that's completely stupid. The 11 players has to share the defensive duties in order to optimize the collective athletic potential of the team. Kojo said above (lazy to quote the sentence) "who's the defensive midfield there ?". That's not the right view of the thing. Chelsea is a team who keeps the ball (top 5 possession rates) and then has to press to regain it. Mikel is the player whose role is to pick up the crumbs of the opponent's attacks which are expected to be chopped by the collective pressing ahead of him. The players ahead of him don't press, then Mikel doesn't collects crumbs but the whole bread Football is a collective sport, the possession is a team thing and so is the ball recovery. > Sometimes I wonder if I watch the same games as other people. Saying Mikel never dropped between the CBs is like saying Lampard never scored goals with late runs into the box... that's insane. In 4-3-3 that's Mikel's trademark move ever since we switched to 4-2-3-1. In 4-2-3-1 people should have a look on the organisation before drawing conclusions, that's just not 11 dudes on the pitch. In 4-3-3 the anchor works with the back four and fills the holes made by a CB coming out to challenge the ball or covering his full back. In 4-2-3-1 his only role is to cover his double pivot partner (you've to imagine them being linked by a rope, they always have to be at the same distance) > I don't get the "excellently" for Romeu. He's the basics and knows to drop betwenn the CBs but that's not a reflex and he hasn't Mikel's skills there. At a low level you ask your anchor man only to play through the passing angles he's offered when he gets the ball, when he faces his goal, then he has to play to his CB or his full back. This is due to the fact this player hasn't the ability to turnover with the ball, in order to keep the ball you ask him to play backwards. That's what Romeu did most of the time. Mikel has the outstanding ability to turnover and get rid of players harassing him, thanks to his brilliant ball retention. Then he can face the play and distribute studiously (one more time he's not expected to be creative).

Everyone's the right to have his own opinion (regardless if that's based on facts or not, this is credibility) but you should wonder why he's been a starter for every manager since 2008. And please don't reply "we haven't anyone else to put there". In such a key part of the field, if Mikel wasn't good enough he'd have been replaced for ages.

First of all I don't pretend to be a scout, I just give my opinion. What I said on Cahill is that he's a decent defender, commited and strong in 1vs1 challenges but that tactically he was poor (covering his full back) and has a poor distribution. I don't know what's wrong in there. I never said he won't make it there either, when he came he was a 3rd choice CB You really seem to have reading or understanding issues as well, I said that I did feel Wheater stronger than Cahill in his man on man challenges when he came to Bolton in January 2011. If that's slating, well, yes, if you want On Atletico's 2nd goal, no mention about Luiz trying an interception and defending front to his own goal? And Cole's ballet moves to "prevent" a shot? No, that's Mikel's fault, a players is bombing in his back and he doesn't see him coming (as usual, he's used to that) and then the defense is a strainer and nobody gives a fuck ? I don't know who the fuck is Graham Carr by the way.

Haha you miss the schools days don't you? Fat lad in the goal and scapegoat staying at the back, everyone else forward? The guy at the back should defend on his own? I love your view from the game, even if I know we won't ever agree on anything Mikel-related, I can't help replying you

I really like reading you about Mikel, you get even more laughables points everytime. Problem with you or others is that when you aren't able to see facts (not even a matter of what you prefer, your view of the game etc...) so the figures is the only option left. Statistically Mikel managed a better season than Romeu, even being far from his best level (level he showed in the conquest of every trophy won since he's a regular starter). Romeu is a poor tackler, he barely wins anything in the air, he's uneasy under pressure, his movements aren't good on phasis when we distribute from the back. Above all, he wants to be creative whereas the role is given allows zero creativity About the Atletico game, your comments are ridiculous. What about the amount of defensive work from Mata, Hazard etc... when the ball is lost? When we haven't the ball we're ridiculously outnumbered in the center of the field. When we have the ball we haven't any passing choices. You can't keep the ball with only two players, everytime you need to make triangles on the pitch. Hazard is closed into the last 1/3 (I think that's instructions when he plays central). Mata can't keep the ball under pressure and then becomes too creative (what explains why Silva's ahead of him with Spain NT). Lampard and Mikel are cunts, they only pass to each others or to the defenders. How can you blame them and not the cadaveric front 3 in terms of off the ball movements ?

£17m includes bonuses