GodZola

I asked the powers that be on here in the topics & feedback section to open a whole new section on 'our managers' past & present because I felt it would make sense to do this as we have sections for everything else on here bar one for managers, by doing this the MH section wouldn't get clogged up with various AVB, Jose, managers threads & there would be no need to merge topics. Unfortunately it has fell on deaf ears for some reason..............?

It would be fair to say that our current manager has 'lost the plot' recently, even the staunch supporters of AVB would have to admit that things have been very disappointing in terms of results & performances - he has to take the lions share of the blame, which to his credit he did for the pathetic showing against Everton but this awful run stretches back 2 months atleast...... The one thing that has me scratching my head with disbelief is his continued selection of Bosingwa, I just cannot for the life of me understand why he is still picking him after all the mistakes he makes defensively??? Saturday's game was a prime example of why some fans are losing patience with AVB, he has an England international CB to select & a versatile defender in Ivanovich who can defend far more adequately than fucking Bosingwa - the outcome, Boshitwa is at fault for the first goal against a side you do not want to go behind against, as they just play to draw & hit sides on the counter so he lost us that game, no question. AVB impressed me at the start of the season & I was 100% sure we were heading in the right direction but he seems to of lost the bottle to stick to his principles & make tough decisions. I do agree though that most of the players are doing him no favours, some of them really need to look themselves in the mirror as their performances have not been good enough for weeks, only Mata & Ramires have shown they deserve the shirt all season & that tells us that AVB has a tough job on his hands, however he has to provide the motivation to get some of our over paid lazy arse superstars playing again. Also in AVB's defence he did try to sign Modric & Perriera so things could of been different if he had managed to get them in. I have been playing devils advocate with AVB's future with my own Chelsea community were most didn't want him in the first place but are even more against his appointment now, I am finding it difficult to keep defending him when he makes mind numbing decisions in selecting players of the calibre of Boshitwa amongst other managerial decisions, I sit in the 'he needs time' minority at present, I hope he can turn things around by the end of the season & then kick on from there with the revolution, however if he continues to make baffling, bizarre decisions then I will have to amend my opinion.......tick......tick!!!!!

Similarly to what you are doing to the match day thread (good idea) could you do the same for our manager(s) please? Or better still could you open a new section on our managers - past & present? Last season we had a couple of ever lasting threads about Ancelotti, members also throw in many post about Jose & some threads, now we have a 120 page thread on AVB & more threads are now opening up which is fine but its just going to clog up the MH section. So to me it would just be logical to create a new section, cheers.

Sorry fella but i suggest you take a good long look at the second penalty again? Welbeck kicked the back of Ivanovich's foot and done the triple selco to get a pen, Webb didn't need a second chance to give them something and he didn't disappoint! (see my post to the big drog about the consequence of that decision) A pen is given when a defensive player commits whats deemed as a foul of some description, Ivanovich never touched Welbeck, it was the other way round so cannot in a million years be given as a penalty? As for Bertrand, i stated before the game on this thread and in my previous post that he should of played at LB but was pushed out in favour of a player that cannot defend at RB let alone LB so was absolutely bemused/perplexed by that choice but AVB got away with it, the fact that members on here have stated Malouda was at fault for 2 of the goals and also said that all he done was give the ball away proves my point about him not starting and should of been substituted. Agree it would of been a gamble to play Bertrand there but could he of done any worse than the useless under performing Malouda? Like i said i saw him at Reading, and have many friends that are Reading season tickets holders and they all said the same thing to me about Bertrand and that he was terrific going forward but needed to improve defensively which i understand he has since his return to us. Bertrand must be distraught and i wouldn't blame him if he slapped in a transfer request in the summer. I won't disagree that Sturridge wasn't having the best of games but he produced the goal in the first half and is capable of doing that were as Malouda has offered nothing for weeks, as i said Sturridge is a threat and that coupled with the fact Evra was on a yellow should of been enough and easy decision for AVB, just my way of seeing things doesn't mean i'm right of course.

Yes Anders, bacon face has performed the same way year in, year out. As for this instance he berated the fourth official into submission in the first half and low and behold Webb does what he does naturally for them, its no wonder opposing fans have him dressed up in scum tops - nothing could be more appropriate. I won't disagree that we didn't contribute to losing the lead but Webb gave them the imitative and ultimately the momentum and belief to get something from the game. Its not sour grapes as Jose was a master at it for us and he had Ferguson's measure in the psychological department, Benitez got a lot of stick a few years back for his rant about Ferguson's demeanor but he had most of that spot on, Andre alluded to it a little in his interview by stating that it should be a level playing ground when the top sides are playing against eachother but it hasn't been with his experience thus far, mentioning the 2 off sides goals at scum Trafford as another example. You just know Ferguson's going to come out with something after yet more fortune for his side, now giving the linesman some stick ffs! It's just a clever tactic to deflect the situation so that people in football i.e officials don't view this game as a gimme from Howard fucking Webb, thus continuing the psychological edge in games to help them win the title, Ferguson knows he will need all the help they can get because City are better than they are and we have seen recently the decisions going against Mancini and co, yet it doesn't surprise me one iota!

@ MGuerreiro The second penalty was never a pen, not questionable or debatable, Utd fan Webb simply got it catastrophically wrong, if you think that is understandable then answer me this, do you think we would of got those decisions at Old fucking Trafford? He gave them the initiative to get back into this game by giving them a very soft first penalty then helps them for 2 more by making very poor decisions. Only Utd and Ferguson can get these decisions and its a testament to bacon face that he has a psychological edge on every manager and ref in the Prem, he constantly barracked the fourth official in the first half and i have no doubt this put pressure on Webb to give them an unlikely draw, no other team would get these decisions at the Bridge, maybe one but 3 contentious decisions - not a chance, were the second was just unbelievable! My point is they were huffing and puffing before the penalty decisions but were hardly creating anything of note, Webb's favourable decisions were the catalyst of their fightback at 3 -1 i could see us holding out and perhaps extending our lead but he gave them the second and you just knew we would capitulate. AVB is really starting to confuse me, didn't understand Bosingwa at left back when we are trying to introduce a very capable young player in Bertrand but fair play he got away with it, starts Malouda after all he did against Swansea was give possession away so in effect he rewards his poor showing with a start? I saw a lot of Bertrand at Reading and he was great going forward so he could of played there? AVB then does what some of us have been asking for weeks and that is to play Mata in the middle so i can't knock him for that albeit too late but why Sturridge and not Malouda off? Evra was on a yellow surely it would of made sense to stick with the pace of Sturridge to get Evra sent off? Not only that Malouda was having another one of those games? Must just be my thinking.......... Not blaming AVB totally, Webb gets that vote, i just think his contribution didn't help. Yes people its a decent point under the circumstances but NOT WHEN YOU ARE 3 FUCKING NIL UP ITS NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I rest my fucking case, Bertrand should be nailed on for that place today. AVB doesn't do himself any favours sometimes, well will have to see if his judgement is better than most - i hope he proves me wrong but can't see it somehow.

Good post, I've just changed it for you as i feel that if Sturridge can get involved in the game he will cause them some significant problems with his pace, we have to start with that back four, it is balanced but i'd put a pound to a penny he starts with Bosingwa! Essien for me has to start, we need his experience and grit in Midfield and I've always said i would prefer him played further up the pitch, concur with BL though we will miss Ramires today. They got the luck at Old Trafford against us earlier in the season so lets hope for some Karma today.

People would be surprised at how close to the mark you are with that comment but i can tell you from first hand and recent experience that the standard of some of the coaching that i witnessed at a Pro club was just not good enough, infact i was stunned into disbelief of how bad the standard was. To be fair i witnessed from a far the Chelsea set up and could see that they were far more professional with their approach, this was at under 16 level so my guesses are that the problems at our club are further up the chain? We simply have not produced anything near what we should be from the money invested in our youth set up and Frank ARSEson must take the lions share of the blame, perhaps now things have been shaken up since his departure and we will now start nurturing that talent sensibly were we will finally see them coming through, though it is a double edged sword as they need to get opportunitys in the first team to progress, Bertrand and MacEachran are finding this a major headache........

As i stated, its not my opinion of what i think will happen as AVB will be given to the end of next season at least, he is currently rebuilding the squad and must be given time to get his idea's across, and for HIS squad to gel together - with a couple of top quality additions in the summer especially a creative player then i don't think we will be far away next season. As for Jose, he will be coming back to the Prem - no question, for me its more a question of when as i'm unsure he will leave Madrid this summer. Its a difficult one to assess as he could go to any of the top 6 clubs but despite what we all might think that AVB is safe because of x,y,z etc, Roman is unpredictable and has shown before that he is ruthless when it comes to our managers, so i wouldn't rule the possibility of a return out despite it being a very long shot.

My thoughts entirely, i made it patently clear that Jose would be my number one choice when we were doing our utmost best to get Hiddink, unfortunately it was never going to happen. Concur with this too. This is why AVB must be given time to see through his project, he has always maintained that it is a 3 year one - those of us that are patient can see it is going to take time to turn it around, that's not to say that i am entirely happy with his performance to date but we are going in the right direction. One thing i will add is that only Jose has survived the sack after not winning the PL and he only lasted a couple of months! So its not inconceivable that Roman could get trigger happy again, its not what i think will happen as i believe AVB has his backing and they have probably talked about their objectives at length that has a list of targets to be met in a 3 year plan to get us back where we belong. However if we finish out of the top 4 and Jose is available.....................just saying!

Can't believe some of the rubbish that is posted on here lately & just backs my reason to post less or not at all. Mata & Sturridge not good enough, let's keep Maloulda are just a couple of examples......ffs! If it weren't for Mata & Sturridge we would be struggling to make mid table this season, you just have to look at their goals & assists to realize that they have been our best players this season, infact I'd build my team around Mata - he is class, has vision, 2 great feet & the one player who is creative, which is so distinctively lacking in our play. This is why we so badly need a winger that has genuine pace that can beat defenders & has a finished product. Sturridge is by no means the finished article but he is not far off, I think he would benefit from playing on his natural side & given a run in the FA cup at centre forward, he has that rare quality to get away from defenders. However he will only be a success there if we give him service & here lies our problem, Anelka, Drogba & now Torres have all suffered because we lack quality in certain positions. AVB has to share some of the blame because we have become far too negative recently, he has bowed to pressure & instead of playing the high line against inferior sides he has continued playing a deep line formation which is inadequate & has clearly cost us points, but he needs time to build his squad & as we were prepared to shell out 65m last summer (not spent on Modric & Perriera) then we should be looking to invest some of that now on a couple of class players that will integrate in the side now that will have half a season of PL experience behind them & ready for an assault next campaign. Our problems are a combination of many things from mainly board mistakes to a lack of current quality on the pitch & a failed youth system to date. It will take time to address but I believe we are on that road now, a couple of decent signings now & in the summer will see us challenging again next season. The table is about right in terms of who are better than us & even then Utd are only there through some fortunate results & a very demanding & highly driven manager, however they seem to grind out results which we have lacked since Jose left. We are not far behind Spurs but a distance behind City & I'm not just talking about the points difference! We need to be patient let this season ride, maybe win a cup, hopefully finish in top the top 4 & let AVB continue with the rebuilding job that can finally see us progressing.

Torres played upfront on his own for Liverpool so i would imagine its going to be a 4-4-1-1 formation with Mata in behind him.

Interesting yes, especially for 7m, not totally convinced................ yet! I think he will play better with superior players playing around him and will learn to improve from the likes of JT with his defensive approach, time will tell though.......

Firstly it doesn't matter one iota what we all think about AVB, the most important person in his future is Roman and thankfully he has given him his full backing - maybe at last he has learned his lesson and has got his fingers burnt before, i believe he knows that AVB needs time to build his own squad as the current one has past its sell by date. However fans/members should not be criticized for having an opinion on AVB's managerial performance at our club, for me he is spot on with his decisions off the pitch - new signings, introduction of Sturridge, not afraid to drop the superstars etc, but we also have to be honest and say that recently on the pitch he has made some mistakes that are bizarre and fans have every right to question those decisions. I concur that those calling for his head already are being very premature and really need to be more patient and give AVB the time to prove them wrong before asking for his head. I will judge him in his 3rd season when he has had the time to build his own squad and those players have had enough time to bed in, although i do hope he learns form his own mistakes - very quickly!

I'm unsure too, not seen enough of him to be judge-mental. However he has played well enough with JT for England to be good enough for our squad at the very least and may prove to be a very good acquisition, after all he has come cheap, has age on his side and wants to prove himself with a bigger club. My only concern, is he quick enough to play in this high defensive line that AVB wants to implement?

For me its more to do with the way AVB can't select a formation against the sides we are expected to win against rather than the teams who are/have quality. Recently we beat Valencia, City and should of beaten Spurs (away i might add) playing with a deep defensive line, we then drop 4 points against Wigan and Fulham (at f'kin home!) playing the same way, and barely creating a chance in either game were we could of lost both. IMHO he needs to tweak the formation against the lesser sides so we go for the jugular straight from the off, get the game won and let them come out so they cannot put 10 men behind the ball, this inevitably will leave gaps at the back for the likes of Sturridge, Mata to mop up on the counter.

We had 7 players in the box and still conceded, shocking defending! People are rightly pointing the finger at our defence and Cech but for me Lampard was more culpable as he was tracking Dempsey from outside the box and left him to run freely into the area to score - if he had done his job and followed Dempsey, defended so he was facing where the ball was coming from then this goal could of been avoided. However i have to question AVB's formation amongst other things during this game as he played into a very negative sides hands, if we were set up differently, then them scoring would of been a token gesture as i'm pretty sure we would of got atleast 3 goals with us set up with the attacking formation he used at the start of the season, his philosphy - 'i don't care how many we concede as long as we score one more than them' has now been deserted??? Can understand his decision to abandon his attacking philosophy against quality sides who can hurt you in attack but Fulham at home FFS!!! One thing i will add about the game is that Dembele looks a real class act.

About as poor as it gets, AVB really needs to take a long look at the way he sets us up against inferior opposition, his substitutions were again bizarre. He took a lot of unnecessary flack for most of the season but recent games against Wigan & Fulham he certainly deserves some criticism - why oh fucking why do we need 4 defenders & a holding midfielder against a side that puts 10 men behind the ball when we are also at home & they got spanked 5 nil in their last fixture, simply mind numbing!

Wigan all over again, why does AVB decide to set us up this way where we have 4 f'kin players marking one forward. Ffs change it, so we play further up the pitch, put pressure on their back 4, & push more players further up the pitch - we are playing Fulham at home not Man City/ Utd ffs!!!

Concur with most of your analysis Carefree & glad you highlighted the Romeu substitution as I've said this should happen many times in the past when playing teams that park the bus. However at 1 - 0 the game is far from safe no matter who you play against, taking off your most offensive weapons in Mata & especially Sturridge was just inviting trouble & I'm afraid AVB paid the price because we were far too negative, Wigan however should be given more credit for their performance as a draw was the least they deserved.

Difficult to split the afore mentioned but I will go with Sturridge, he is such an exciting player that has the opposition running scared shitless! I have also been impressed with the way he has improved his ability to kick with his right foot now. If he can just get his head up when in advanced positions he would be frightening! He was my choice to be our player of the year in BL's prediction thread at the start of the season, where I also thought he would make England's Euro 2012 squad. Keep it up Danny boy - lovin it!

I have complete trust in AVB's judgement - his record so far is exceptional. We need a quality CB with pace due to AVB's long term view in high line defending, a quality winger that can operate on either flank. Can't put names to players in these positions as I don't watch enough football but I have seen shaquiri (sp?) play a few times & he looks a player of immense potential that is at the right age & someone that could have a big future ahead of him.

At last, someone else that can see the bigger picture! Can't see it though, as the likes of Maloulda will hang around like a bad smell. I would be happy if a couple of quality signings were acquired in January just to be given game time in preference to the freeloaders if they do remain so that it forces them to sign for another club come the summer.

For me its not a question of Cech's ability but more to do with the fact that he has no pressure from a serious rival as his understudy. Courtois should be that rival, it would keep Cech on his toes as I can't see AVB dropping him for Turnbull or Hilario - therefore Cech knows he is comfortabe & unlikely to be axed unless he has a run of poor performances. Courtois should be brought back for pre season training.