Blue Armour

Never knew we did that RDM, but makes sense considering that AVB also removed that same year.

If these figures are correct, then it would explain why moving to another manager would be difficult. Especially this season. "We paid a release clause for Graham Potter to get him out of Brighton. (£22m) then gave him (£12m) per year, (£60m) in total to make him one of the highest paid managers. Why? Would he have rejected £8/9m? All his staff’s wages/clauses. Speechless situation."

Funny how all it took was a win against Everton for them to come surging back. The fact that Potter thought it was okay to rotate heavily again when we've only had 3 wins since October, is laughable. These kind of results not only destroy the teams confidence, but also could reduce their faith in him. And this is a problem because we have a whole bunch of new players too. It's not like you can pin the blame on the old lot, and say they'll be moved on anyway.

And to add to my comment about him not giving proper instructions to the players on what to do off the ball - In the first 15 mins of the game our front 3 were mostly standing several feet away from the Saints back 4, easily giving them time to play out from the back (the opposite of what they did to us). It took us another 20 minutes before DDF, Mount and Madueke started doing the same. Maybe he occasionally does have the right ideas - but what's the point if you can't execute? Are we going to keep spending time and money changing players till we get him a first 11 that fully understands his intentions?

He definitely did some of the things we wanted in the lineup. He moved to a 4 man defense too. But being a good manager is more than just selecting a starting 11 or changing the formation. There are levels to everything. The players that played yesterday seemed unaware of what their roles were, especially off the ball. Granted that Southampton changing their manager right before this game could have thrown people off., but you shouldn't let the bottom team in the league come and dictate your play at home. Anyway - this season is lost. I don't think there's anyone out there that is exciting enough, who would join. We should have just kept Tuchel. I'm more interested in his last comments, about this whole thing not being his fault. Who's fault is it then, Potter?

Graham Potter defends goal-shy Chelsea's failure to sign a proven hitman as embattled boss points out buying a big-money striker like Romelu Lukaku 'didn't fix the problem' previously at Stamford Bridge https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11764595/Graham-Potter-defends-Chelseas-failure-sign-proven-goalscorer.html This on the other hand, is exactly the kind of stuff I want to hear from Potter. Our tactics and need for a no.9 He has rightly pointed out that City won the league without a recognized no.9 . So did we in the CL 2021. All fair points.

I just hope he isn't spouting the same stuff in the dressing room. Imagine a player gets wrongfully red carded. Is he going to tell then to 'chin up & move on?'. Hopefully he's got it right and it works well.

Do we REALLY want every decision to be correct?': Graham Potter claims it would be 'BORING' if there were no human errors in football as the Chelsea boss defends VAR referees... admitting he prefers a system where 'whatever mistake happens, happens' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11763501/Chelsea-boss-Graham-Potter-claims-boring-decision-correct-football.html While I understand where he's coming from, and also agree that ranting about referees won't change VAR decisions, I dont see how his refreshing take will be seen by the players. Especially when players, especially winning players, are the first to get infuriated by on field decisions. Didier Drogba, anyone? I want Potter to succeed, but these kind of oddball comments might not serve him well. It would be better for him to not say anything at all. Maybe he is trying to instill a different kind of culture. Hopefully it only serves him well.

Don't want to use this as an excuse for Mount, but to be fair - the internet crowd is always a reactionary lot, and most of the critics exist there. Twitter can be a toilet plenty of times.

He deserves credit for how the team played in the early part of the second half. The fullbacks Chillwell and James pushing forward and interchanging positions with the wingers to create opportunities, is easily the best football his team has played in 2023. Let's see if he can do it again in the weekend. He however needs to drop Havertz as a no. 9. It's probably not all Kai's fault, but he is little more than a lamppost at this point.

And whats with the English media's wankfest over Bellingham? Did he do anything of note in the game, apart from not getting sent off? Carragher saying that he would love to see him in a red shirt. Oh, give it a rest spitty.

On the contrary, after seeing the first 20 mins of the second half, I'm surprised we did. Easily the best football I've seen from Potters side this year, and gives me a little hope. Dortmund utterly undeserving of taking the lead. And I'm sure we will be able to turn it around in the 2nd leg.

It's still remarkable how horrible he has become after 6 months here. Hasn't looked the same even after going back to Inter. Never fancied him even before he arrived, but the decline is significant. It's terrible because he won't be in demand.

Wouldn't be surprised if we see a back 3 again. Potter hasn't tinkered in a while, and he might try something different for Europe. Especially with an away game and no Badiashile.

Goodiashile ☺️

Yeah, he is trying - but definitely not at Silva levels or even Rudiger for that matter. Good thing is he is good and confident enough with the ball at his feet. Which to me is a big positive. But yes passing needs to improve. With all teams trying to press from the front foot, we are screwed if our CBs can't pass out from the back.

Who's going to start in CB? The magnificent Koulibaly or the fully match fit Fofana. Ans: Probably Chalobah. And maybe even a back 3.

Why even start Cucurella? Don't see what he even offers over Chillwell. Might as well start the latter.

And of course, Southampton sack the manager right before they face Chelsea

I feel the players are already reflecting their managers mindset. Apart from a few new signings looking to impress, the team in general is just content. Happy to score, but not too fussed if they fail to get a win. It's all par for the course. Let's see what kind of mindset they use for the CL game midweek. He might ask them to give it a go, because it's a cup competition where anything can happen. Probably a break from the stale stuff we see in the league game.

I wonder sometimes whether he refuses to play the strongest team available so that he can hide behind that excuse. If he restores Cucurella or Gallagher to the starting 11 again he's asking for it.

Fair enough, thanks for the correction

In terms of rival club fans, this guy is more neutral than most: Not convinced he has our best interests at heart, but it's still refreshing to hear something than the usual rhetoric

That's not even Mount. That's Chillwell

At least Potter picked RLC in this game over Gallagher in CM. Should have left him there for the whole 90 mins instead of killing our momentum. And hopefully Chillwell starts over Cucurella in the remaining games. Did more in that cameo than Cucurella ever did.