Muzchap

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/155862/1/watch-chelsea-vs-fulham-fc.html

Hmm... They are employee's he's the Boss - I doubt they exactly 'pander' - I would imagine they either get over-ruled or at least influence the decision... As far as a board goes - our's are pretty astute - we've made a profit, got some great sponsorship and extra revenue deals in place - it's certainly better post Kenyon (who I never liked @ CFC + UTD)... I wouldn't be too harsh on the board, compared to some other clubs - we're not that bad...

It's pyschology at it's simplest form... The Manager can't start off with 'you have been shit etc' - he will start with - how can we improve things... Soooo soooo sooo much of Sport is all about 'mental strength/personal belief'... Look at the great players, they have an inner foundation of confidence, sometimes it comes across as Arrogance (Ronaldo) or quiet unassuming calm (Messi) - but they both have mental strength and belief.... So in 'pyschology' - what people do is say 'fake it' - e.g. if you're unhappy, they say look in the mirror every morning and tell yourself you are happy - after a while, the person adopts this belief - and bingo... So IF and a BIG IF - RB can do some simple things with Torres and the team - then GREAT... We're not that far away from a GREAT team - we just need better positioning and understanding of how to 'Win' a game - this is achieved through Experience - either on the pitch (Missing Lampard + Terry - no coincidence - both proven winners) - or via and assisted by the Manager - and RB certainly has 'credentials' showing winning (please no RDM debate - I'm not comparing!)... Hope that makes sense... Well it does to me anyway

100% Agree. I don't mind Valencia, hate Young... But Fergie has this Midas touch with balancing and shape, or his coaches and assistants do. I agree on RB - don't love the guy, but he has spoken sense and I can see why Lpool fans rate him. I also think people saying he destroyed Lpool is unfair, it was a boardroom imploding that caused that - luckily we don't have that situation so hoping he can succeed!!! Roll on tomorrow

Eughhh she definitely won't be getting any appreciation threads... She looks more like a bloke than our players! Hope she's good at her job tho

Sheva is Roman's mate - so he probably asked him for his 'personal' opinion.... I agree with @Blue Gino - Sterling is playing for Liverpool and he's a young lad and doing well - why dont we give some of these guys a chance? What's the worst that could happen - they miss the target, are ineffective, constantly lose the ball? Isn't that the situation we're in now... I can only see upsides - e.g. they SCORE

For me 'defence' means the 'collective' effort of the team - as referenced by the shape and personnel... I know we suffered by dropping the players deeper - but I'm confident once the players understand how to defend properly, they can move as a fluid unit, transitioning from defence to attack. I hate to say it but Man Utd are probably the best at this in the league at present, and over the past few seasons... They always manage to attack as a fluid unit, and have people hitting front post, rear post and edge of box (a la Lampard for us)... I agree that our 3 midfielders don't get into the box when Torres runs the channels - it's really frustrating to watch. That's why I'd like to see Marin given a game - I think he could really do a job getting behind the full back of the opposition... Hazard did this at the start, but has regressed somewhat - maybe a lack of confidence? hmm - would you purchase players, or just take it on the chin? Considering we have some good players out on Loan? That if were not loaned could do a job? (Essien/Josh/KDB) Definitely agree on the Striker... I know Torres gets abused - and often it's me - but think he really needs to play on the shoulder of the last defender - he's too easy to play against when coming deep - he should always be the spearhead, with (like you say) the midfield trio attempting to get past him - for an easy ball, and then he should burst into the box for the return... I just don't get that sense of urgency from him? Hopefully we can have a mini-revolution Tomorrow night and really string our Defence+Attack play together... will be interesting to see what RB can do on our overall shape when transitioning from Defence to Attack...

What's amazing in that video is the amount of times TORRES is bypassed... The TEAM clearly see him as a wasted ball - they know the opposition will turn the ball over... He needs to sort his shit out, start shooting and stop dribbling - AND then people might pass to him... But watching that video - effictively shows we are playing a 10 man team... #dissapointed

Think @seb is right - we normally disagree, but cannot fault his logic here... We have a really bad attacking shape - all our players converge, narrowing the game and playing through the middle - we also look very STATIC - we need more shape and player runs off the ball, to pull defenders around and open up space. I think we are REALLY easy to defend against at the moment, we need to improve this, but as RB has only had 3 sessions, he focused on Defence - which was great, if he can bring the same organisation to our attacking play, then we really are in a good place... I also hope he expirements with the formation a bit - (4-2-3-1) doesn't always appear to work properly with the players we currently have... he could try 442/352 etc - obviously when Sturridge is fit again... Torres + Trio are guilty of dropping too deep, Torres should be on the shoulder of the last defender at ALL times - this normally forces the opposition to play 2 defenders next to Torres -which then automatically opens up space and stops those defenders joining in the attacking play. Torres / or the Striker - really is the KEY piece on the pitch - get a good striker with great movement and they open up space all over the attacking third....

Hmm I had a different image when you were described as a 'Pussy Magnet'...

The only pace he has ever shown, was that when he was whisked from Liverpool to CFC in a Bentley... Since then he's confused and is playing like David Bentley... Maybe he should have gone in a Falcao-on (awful pun based on Ford Falcon) Even I feel shame at this post... Oh well it is Monday!

Hmm 1 goal every 2 games Compared to: 1 goal in every 8 games He's got a shit load of catching up to do

Maybe English is not his first language and he's failing to make his points correctly? I think he doesn't rate Oscar in that position and thinks he is too young for the Brazil team? Controversial opinion! Personally Oscar has been a breath of fresh air. Don't forget we originally purchased him with the intention of loaning straight back out! As somebody else said 4-2-3-1 is perhaps the wrong formation for him... But there is no doubt the boy will be World Class + in the future...

Yup - but if we don't have the 'players' for that - then we shouldn't be afraid to change...! That's what I hope we see - the famous Plan B - I keep referring to

Well our players need a rest - and Marin is definitely a GOOD player who deserves a chance... He did as much as Hazard in the Pre-Season, but he's guaranteed a start?

Basically for the past 6-7 years Ashley Cole's ankle is absolutely dead - he hobbles around like an 'Old Man' after the game and during the week - he just plays through the pain barrier each match. Ray said he used to tell him - Ash, we're 3-0 up - try taking it easy, but he wouldn't - he kept bombing forward to try and get the 4th! Massive increase in respect for him - Ray Wilkins is also a top bloke - really wish he was still @ CFC - he's got some great tactical insights and is such a CALM person - if reincarnated, I want to be as calm as Ray - lol...

MARIN MUST START FFS! The guys needs some minutes under his belt... He was awesome in Pre-Season, can score goals as well... HE SIMPLY HAS TO START! WAITER - I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER MARIN ON LW PLEASE! I would also play Moses on RW - he was rubbish yesterday, so must be getting rusty, needs some game time... I'd probably play Oscar through the middle - or Lampard if he's fit... Defence = Same as City - let them build a relationship and understanding... (unless Cole's ankle is a problem, then Bertrand) - I didnt realise how bad Ashley Cole's ankle was - Sky Sports via Ray Wilkins gave a REAL insight into the problems he has - feel even more respect for the guy now and he really should be given a 2yr deal...

FINALLY A post that matches my thoughts (and previous comments)... This 4-2-3-1 formation CLEARLY isn't working for us - so why do we persist with it... Let's try 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3 or 3-5-1-1 or 3-5-2.... Why we are playing a system where the players aren't correct is beyond me! 4-2-3-1 was RDM's favoured formation... Hopefully, RB will mix it up - as you should have different formations for different games and different personnel - this is called Tactics

Hmm I'm not sure Zolayes meant that - I think he's just really pissed off at the moment - wouldn't take it personally... Although overseas myself at the moment - I went to lots of games as a 'Security Guard' in those bright jackets - and I got paid to watch the game Ahhh those old Student Days

But what about missing out on Europe next season, because of a finish outside of the top 4? We've been on a poor run of form - and I think the board just couldn't see any signs of improvement - I think the loss to WBA was the final nail in his coffin... I also think the excellent start to the season - gave the Board unrealistic expectations - hence RDM made a rod for his own back - Going from 1st to 3rd (when he was sacked) seemed like a U-Turn in performances and form. I think 'everybody' was surprised he wasn't given until after Xmas - but the Board clearly thought a new manager before Xmas and January window would be a better option than retaining RDM's services. We won't ever know if this decision was correct - as even if we judge RB from now to the end of the season, that's not comparing Apples with Apples... So understand the frustration - but hopefully as a forum we can all move on and look forward to smashing Fulham...

Cheesy nope - but Tapas flavoured - sure He best give MARIN a start! - he deserves it

Hmm - but having a disruptive thread where people are drawing enemy lines is not conducive to a 'debate'? A debate can be broken to down into component parts - the problem is, that 99% of the posts are emotive and not judging RDM on his managerial skill... RDM = Club Legend RDM = Super Guy RDM = Average Manager Now that's my opinion - I'm trying to remove emotion. I went back and studied WBA form, the same thing was repeating itself at CFC - so for whatever reason, the board didn't feel comfortable that RDM would be able to turn it around. Now RA and the Board are being abused, for putting the club first, in their opinion and best interests... I just dont see how people can be claiming this is so bad and they don't want to support the Team because of 1 decision. None of us know if it will be the right decision until the end of the season, but my stance is, the decision has been made, let's back the Team. If people want to bash RA - then they should send emails to the Club, not protest in-game / at games etc - as this damages the player morale - which we shouldnt be doing. Hope that clarifies the situation...

So you're a leader because you slag off RA and the Board? Hmm - I would change Leader into spoilt, whiny, clueless, spineless numpty... What's done is done, you bleating on about (sheep reference) ain't gonna change anything. So either accept this is the way it is (reality) or go on living in your fantasy world where RDM was the best manager in the world.

Yaaaaawn - surely not another topic on the same thing... Hero gets fired, people get angry, life goes on...

Hmm think the conditions played a part, but we closed space down well and made them look ordinary. Apart from the lack of physical stuff from CFC, this reminded me of a more Mourinho esqe performance, except we didnt have Drog or Lamps to nick the win... City weren't great, because the conditions and our tactics stopped them playing... Defensively they were good though - which is a shame...