Barbara

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.

Who? I only saw Silva and Aguero... Once upon a time when he didn't forget how to play football Matic could be considered top player but not in current form... Oh and some think Luiz is one too but those are the only ones I know of

I think the statement made by the club a couple of days ago is huge. At this point I want him gone, but I can't decide if in the middle of the season or by the end of it. But if he stays longer, as long as he starts giving some answers to the team's problems and drilling better our phases, transitions and especially attack, I won't mind if he stays. The fact is Chelsea is known as a club that keeps their business very quiet, even firing managers. If this is the first time in the Roman era that the club went out of his usual way to state they're supporting the manager, so people eager to see him gone should be worried now because I think it's a landmark by the club to state such a thing. Ever since he came back both him and the club kept the same things being said, that they were both in this for the long haul and I think that's just refreshing people's memory. Unlike some people here, Chelsea can obviously survive a season without UCL, it'll have some negative impact in the books, and business, but with the new TV deal it won't be that much of a damage... maybe players we might pursue won't be willing to come here, but then we regroup, do as United did (preferably also missing Europa League, I'd rather us to finish out of top 6-7 and play only domestically next season than go for another good for nothing competition that will only tire our players). It's not the end of the world be out of UCL although is uncomfortable as fuck. We aren't Liverpool, we didn't have a couple of fluke seasons beyond our real capabilities. We were solid for over a decade and that's why if we happen to be out of UCL next year we won't suffer too much from it. I do hope by next season he isn't our manager anymore, but for God's sake, I love Chelsea too much to go years without watching and that's what's going to happen if Pep ever comes here. I refuse to watch that man.

You don't want him to be as stupid as the doctor and bring internal affairs to the media, right?

hoping for the best, but knowing the worst is inevitable.

Mourinho is now a hostage of his own bad management. We had two amazing FB at Luís and Azpili, now he has to play Iva because he really has no other options... Unless he decides to play Zouma, Traoré or Kenedy out of position in the LB, he has to stick with fucking Ivanovic. He truly deserves to see the ax if someone decides to dismiss him because of Iva (not saying they should do it though), it is his fault he doesn't have anyone better to play nowadays. It serves him right for being so stubborn and bad in managing the squad rotation last season.

Yours and Henrique's logic is flawed - and you both know it, especially when I lost count of how many times both of you said we only won the league last year because it's been very poor the last few years. Still, being as poor as you think it is, it took us 5 years and a handful managers to win a title. If managers don't matter, and money wins things, how come with so many rich clubs such as us, City and United this league is poor? So you say the league is weak, but also say that winning was inevitable, still in a weak league we failed to win the title in 5 years. So I suppose, the final verdict is that the league is so weak, that money wins titles - as our rivals fans have been saying all years - except we suck a lot because even with a lot of money and managers we won virtually nothing domestically in the last five years. Clearly the problem isn't Mourinho then, going by this logic.

At least Aguero is my captain in fantasy football. God knows I've been sucking on it for two seasons now

ugh!!!!! I hate late starts (in more one way than one). Why can't we play already and get done with it. I don't have a clue of what to expect... except IVanovic in the team, that is a given, after all, communication is the key

this must have been one of the most ignorant posts I've ever seen in this forum and I've seen my share of them. The money donated for the forum is a low blow and to know people who support the manager are now called glory hunters surprises me. Mourinho lost a lot of my support and I wouldn't mind if he left tomorrow, but I won't say whoever still supports him 100% is a glory hunter. Where is the glory in the first place? Most posting people doesn't support him in the job anymore, so if anyone wants glory here they're likely to start offending others and talking about money if you ask me.

I'm not English native speaker, but I suppose telling someone to take care of one's diet and completely different from telling them to go cook. Maybe only in portuguese there's a difference, but diet means what is part of your meals and that's not cooking. But whatever... this is a free forum, everyone can think whatever they please.