ChelseaFanUK

do you think? I am convinced Higuain starts - he has missed the Malmo game and got about half hour yesterday or so, and Kovacic. We have just done 120 mins, I dont think there is a chance we play that same team. You know what Sarri is like with his system and "my way or no way" thinking. I reckon alonso comes back in, and Christensen may start too.

Not a fan of Joe Tweedie's. He's another who jumps on the youth bandwagon and goes mad for the flavour of the month, then six months later he never mentions them again. Distinctly remember him creaming over Dujon Sterling... now its Reece James and Sterling doesnt get a shout. He's a tit Writes a few blogs and thinks he is Mr. Know it all. Piss off

yes and Sarri should have gone to Jon Moss and said i want him off. And gave the numbers to the 4th official to hold up. It showed a lack of authority (sarri) and professionalism (kepa) If a keeper goes down twice, in space of 5mins and needs physios to see to him both times, then is seen stretching it as if its still giving him trouble, you fully expect your manager to think right hes coming off. Especially close to pens, where your leg muscles actually assist in your diving range and leap. whether you have bad cramp or hammy, it'd affect it. I fully understood Sarri wanting to take him off and reasons why, Kepa blatantly refused to come off. No players went over to Sarri and said "look hes fine, leave him on" That was shocking too. Sarri has lost some players, clearly. Wednesday could be very interesting. Kepa probably starts, to continue the notion that all is well - but I'd say right, Caballero you're in. Make a statement, get some dignity back for Sarri. But then if Caballero starts, it shows that we are right, it was not a simple 'misunderstanding' I had little confidence anyway for Weds. Just hope we fucking win

Its not a misunderstanding anyway. A misunderstanding does not continue for best part of 3mins, leading the manager to want to fuck off out of the stadium (lol) and then have to be restrained from getting to Kepa before pens. Its face saving from the club. I suspect many photos of Kepa and Sarri laughing and joking to surface soon, too

Think Sarri has lost authority in some aspects. He should not have backed down, it was crazy. Kepa should have gone off, too Of course the inmates will run the asylum when our manager bows down and gives in I dont buy the statement either. Misunderstanding my arse

both have come out of it looking bad. Kepa for unprofessionalism. Sarri for lack of backbone.

then again, part of me thinks if it was pre planned, Willy would have already been warming up. Its hard to say

Same. Suspect today was a one off though.

I reckon it was a pre planned sub by Sarri for Willy's penalty saving ability. No misunderstanding. Otherwise explain Rudiger having to hold Sarri back from ranting at Kepa before the pens were taken. Face saving exercise. If Kepa starts v Spurs, then its been dealt with internally. If Kepa's hamstring is suddenly playing up so he misses out... says it all Cynical bastard that i am

If he ends up going, seems like Holland could get it, Telegraph claimed other day

Dont hate Sarri seems a nice bloke. We always want a manager to do well, and maybe the penny might drop with him now. If we beat Spurs, i may just believe he can do something here., but right now I just think our job might be too big for him, or at least one that he is struggling to grasp. I think the Kepa explanation from both parties is absolute BS. Trying to save face for the club. I wouldnt say Sarri bottled the decision, but id have demanded Kepa leave the field if i was him. The sub was quite clearly, imo, a pre planned change due to Caballero's penalty saving ability. I have constantly complained about his lack of change and flexibility, and despite some saying today was a tactical masterclass or whatever, it wasnt. It was simply realising we'd beaten them with this system before and hoping it worked again. Because if we had played the way he would of really wanted, we'd have got thumped. It wasn't a complete change if you get me, or a real re-think of how to get us going. Absolutely not a chance in hell he 'wanted' to play false 9 The team v Spurs will prove it, he will go back to the old 11

Sarri seems a nice bloke, possibly with a good football head on his shoulders. But we aren't the club for him to show that. You kind of hope it'd work, after he has shown today (albeit not totally on his own accord imo) that he will adapt given the chance. but that Kepa incident just smacked of someone giving the manager a big FUCK YOU on global Tv. wouldn't be surprised if Kepa knows Sarri is off and gives zero fucks

I dont buy the "misunderstanding" story. the physios told him he was ok to continue apparently, so explain the attempt to rage at Kepa when Rudiger had to hold him back, during the penalty huddle?

Today didnt fill me with any more confidence that he has total backing of the team. I think they played better today because they arent being overloaded with his tactical instructions, and played a system theyve played many a time, even prior Sarri. They knew what to do. Wednesday we will be back to turgid shite again unless he plays a similar kind of game as today

i was surprised how we played today, thought we did well. I don't think he is the right guy going forward. Sarriball which we all call it, (albeit i have never believed it existed) doesnt work in EPL. Napoli played some nice stuff and it would have been good to see it in our club.

correct. but we can't overhaul our squad with the impending ban. And who is it easier to release? Overhauling this squad would take 2-3 windows anyway

listen, sarriball does not exist. Sarri doesnt even know wtf it is lol How simple can i put it? It's a hipster name for playing the old Johan Cruyff way. Sarriball is nothing new or genius. Lets have it right, they are not your typical Sarri subs. and i will put any money on it, come Wednesday, usual 11, usual subs.

I didnt like when the pens were approaching, Rudiger having to hold Sarri back.

Sarriball does not exist. It just doesnt. The problem is both. Both are massively to blame. Sarri for creating a divide it seems and having favourites (jorginho) and the squad for being petulant. Neither side is blameless. Its going one way

The post saying if we had tried to play sarriball we'd have lost, is totally right. Only times we have done well v them was compact, using a false 9. when we tried Sarri's way, 6-0 Cynical twat in me thinks todays set up was not all Sarri's doing. Definitely a bit of Zola in there. I still think part of it was because it was a cup game, albeit the final. you watch Wednesday, back to same old 11. Despite todays positive performance at times. Sarri was coming out of this with a bit of rep restored. That Kepa incident was fucking mayhem. Unprofessional from Kepa and undermining the boss, and Sarri should have stood his ground and made him go off if that was his plan. When Moss called Sarri and Zola over they should have told him, i want him off end of. Instead it seemed like Zola had a word, and on the way back to the bench Sarri and Zola had words. Absolute mental

2 strikers, play none. emerson i approve. I know it was only malmo but CHO over pedro for me. Hes been lacking lately

poor selection

usual team. 99% anyway

i think deep down we all want to back him, but there is no positives to cling to. No successful history, just a good 2/3 seasons at napoli, where he still won nothing but played nice. Not one of us, in all honesty, would have chosen him in the summer. thats what grips my shit, he had nothing to make you think "wow we got sarri" hope hope hope for a change today (and i dont mean barkley for kova on 73mins)