Barbara

I'm more than ready for a new manager next season (even if I don't know who that is yet), but I think it won't help to get an interim for the rest of the season and I'm not sure we can get someone worth it during the season...

His (Cesc) passing turning sides and getting players through was good, I thought, but you're right about Ramires running and fighting. I just thought we still look so weak, but yeah, maybe not Ramires' fault (his passing is still off)

we continue to look to weak, uninspired and insipid. We've got involved by this AWFUL Villa side at some point and with so many changes of players, while you can (and should) put some responsibility over their shoulders, it shows it's more a management problem than technical (although definitely technical too). If no matter which players you use, we still look shaky, toothless and can't attack or defend, it means there's something seriously wrong with our approach as much as with the players' form.

Matic can't possible do worse than Ramires there, can he?

I liked this one

btw when I wrote this we haven't scored yet, my stream is behind. I just felt posting it after he put that FK on Terry's head.

Our best player so far this season in addition to the keepers, has gotta to be Willian. He started slow because of Copa America, but he resumed where he's stopped last season and added goals and assists to his name, he's by far our outline player

you with a comment like this? Wow.

sorry I can't help myself, but for the 3 minutes of match I've watched (had trouble with a stream working), if Iva had made the same mistakes Baba did, this thread would have 4 pages for those 3 minutes alone, but except one comment here and there, there's nothing. That's my problem with Mourinho, we don't have good FB, Iva isn't the answer, but Baba is even worse imo

easily beaten... exactly the kind of stuff I expect from Baba... I do hope he improves though.

Chivu was mostly played in the pivot in his time at Inter... because of injuries he played there some times, but not too often, unless I'm very mistaken, my memory is foggy and Chivu played so long in Inter and not only under José that I might be mistaken, but as far as I remember it was Maicon and Zanetti :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: for like 90% of the matches under Mourinho. Chivu used to take turns with Motta in the middle.

isn't Iva off for three weeks though? Baba will have more than one opportunity I suppose...

you don't tell me, it's the first time in many years (definitely over than 5) that in Brazil we don't have a Chelsea EPL match being broadcast, especially now we have two different channels with the rights to EPL, but one of them showed Liverpool earlier and the other is showing both Manchester teams live, no Chels.

That's why I said he might not have in him what it takes, what I mean is that he's trying. He isn't being stubborn as people label him (which he is, but not now), people don't recognize him for trying, but he's been trying. I don't think he has aversion against real fullbacks, I just think he's limited in some of his views, he's had teams with real fullbacks more often than he hasn't, much more IIRC all his teams here, at Inter and Real. But I do agree he's normally trying to nullify. I don't think he benched Hazard today to offer support to Baba. He could just ask Willian to play there and move Hazard to the middle if he felt like protection was required, I think he benched Hazard because he's been awful. People were asking him to bench him just weeks ago (then there was international break) and using his lack of action on that as Mourinho protecting his untouchables. You won't read the same people asking Eden to be benched to praise Mourinho for now doing it.

I'm not saying he isn't making any mistakes, I'm saying he's trying. After he dropped Hazard, I think he might drop Cesc if he doesn't improve. People keep saying he doesn't touch his untouchables, but so far this season he's been touching them a lot more. I do agree with you Iva is our worst performer, but I don't think Cesc is the second. I think the way we've been playing exposes him even further. He played another level for Spain, Mourinho should admit to himself that playing poorly as we've been, especially defensively, playing Cesc makes us even worse, and that's why he should be benched, but I don't think Cesc is the problem strictly. I think the problem is how bad we've been playing and that makes him even worse. Cesc works only when most of other things are working too. I also believe with two B2B behind him he won't compromise at all. But I understand everyone who believes he should be benched too.

It is, but all three have been really bad at Chelsea so far this season, so I understand

Jose dug a big hole, one he might not be capable of getting out, but no one can say he isn't trying or changing. He might not have what it takes to make it work again (not saying he doesn't, just a possibility) but he's definitely trying.

but when I watched him playing I didn't feel it was only experience. He was off pace, he was shaky, he was soft. That's not only experience, although also because of that. You might have a point in saying there's no way we can be worse than we already are. I'm looking into improving, I don't think he can, but on the other hand can he worsen? Probably not because I don't think we could be any worse defensively, so yeah, like we'd say in Portuguese it'd be changing six for half a dozen.

Which is why I keep blaming Mourinho for our RB situation, it's his fault alone. he's out of form, no questions about it. But he's used to the league, no questions about that either. I understand our situation makes people desperate for changes, but just because we need to change it doesn't mean anyone we throw there will solve the problem. I don't like Iva in the team, I don't think Baba is the answer. I'd rather Ramies, Zouma, Kenedy or whoever else Mourinho wants to play out of position there than Baba. I might prefer any of them over Iva too... What I really wish was for us to have started the season with two FB playing on their rightful positions. Azpili is playing in the wrong side and IVa is a CB playing as as RB. Mourinho has to be really naive or stupid to think this could go on forever... As for the Bundesliga comment, seriously? That league couldn't be weaker for lack of more teams playing there. They have Bayern, and a merry-go-round for the second strength in the country. Germany has great players, not a great league, people confuse both things as the same, but they're completely different stuff.

it might not be, but he doesn't make me feel good about the defense. We already enough defensively problems. I have no reasons to believe he'll turn around weak presentations against weak teams in top flight. He has a long way to go imo. not saying he won't ever be ready, but right now I think he'd compromise.

Don't hate him, just see him as completely incapable of defending in EPL. If he couldn't be solid against a 4th division team or whatever in COC, how do you expect him to do in EPL? He was shaky at moments there, and I wasn't impressed against Maccabi either. I honestly see him being worse than Iva defensively and that says a lot. I'm still angry that we had Luís and let him go because lack of playing time. Very stupid from Mourinho imo.

I don't know who I'd like to start in this game. I think maybe it's better if we play with three defenders (would play with 3 with Baba anyway) I don't oppose to Zouma in LB, I trust Baba a whole amount of 0 defensively, but then again this is Villa at home, maybe, big maybe, he could not detract that much. I'd play RLC and Ramires in the middle, with Pedro, Willian, Hazard and Costa ahead.

what if I am? Since when is that anyone's business? Do you mean that as an attack? Well, I think everyone has the right to feel whatever way they want and I find it so childish for others to judge it. If people only think about trophies, is their right and prerogative. Others would rather have a style, even without titles and some, ironically enough talk about dignity, even if they show very little of it... to each their own. Respect should be a mark of everyone though, that shouldn't be negotiable and very often some members here cross that line, despite their so 'noble' speech. Talk about irony, or talk about real life, we always value things what we don't have our lives... I'll enjoy Chelsea, thank you very much, regardless of what others - opposition or 'support' think of the team or the manager. I don't need any validation - especially in something as passionate as sports where the fun of it is when your team wins, but also to mock your opponent. My 6yo students have a better gist of that than some of you and they're supposed to be childish because they're kids after all...

Good for you and good luck with that. Just because you feel like that it doesn't mean everyone else or the majority does. This popularity talk is biased as the FA itself, but some here like to transform their perception and view into universal truths... People are getting carried away, Mourinho is wrong about everything for those people... Their feelings definitely blinded their vision...

Completely incapable, first half of last season was all Chelsea fans in an alternative universe. I'm the first to say this team currently is badly drilled and trained, but I don't use selective memory to talk about the manager. He can and have to do better, but he seems lost and focusing on the wrong things. What you plant is what you get. Some arrogant git like Mourinho have a moment like this coming. Some call it karma. I still love the guy, but I think it'll take him a while and tons of humble pies before he gets over this slump in his career or he won't be able and it's his declining, I don't want Chelsea to pay for either.