Chelsea Sack Andre Villas-Boas

[Iced 34]

"Yes, safe until next weekend!!!!"

Yes, safe until next weekend TUESDAY!!!!

[Hysteria 159]

Yes, safe until next weekend TUESDAY!!!!

You have a point xD.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Lads, if the inevitable upcoming changes in the team (Anelka, Alex, and Kalou handing in transfer requests and DD not renewing his contract) are an indicator of anything, it is that AVB will not be leaving any time soon. It is obvious, at least to me it is, that the club has put its trust in him to rebuild our squad.

Bitter as it may taste, we can afford to miss out on the CL knock out stages, because even if we do qualify, what are our realistic chances of winning the thing?

I think the closest time that AVB's future would be at doubt at the club is if we fail to make a top 4 finish in the league at the end of the season.

[Term-X 7,891]

we can afford to miss out on the CL knock out stages, because even if we do qualify, what are our realistic chances of winning the thing?

We cannot afford to miss out on the CL for financial reasons (UEFA's financial fair play regulations), whether we would progress to the later stages is irrelevant. Heck, last season we failed to make the semi's and still managed to earn 44.5m, highlighting the strength of the TV market pool.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Lads, if the inevitable upcoming changes in the team (Anelka, Alex, and Kalou handing in transfer requests and DD not renewing his contract) are an indicator of anything, it is that AVB will not be leaving any time soon. It is obvious, at least to me it is, that the club has put its trust in him to rebuild our squad.

Bitter as it may taste, we can afford to miss out on the CL knock out stages, because even if we do qualify, what are our realistic chances of winning the thing?

I think the closest time that AVB's future would be at doubt at the club is if we fail to make a top 4 finish in the league at the end of the season.

Indeed. Everyone's saying "José's spine needs to leave" and we're seeing it happen. Bar Anelka, who's not a Mourinho signing, it means we'll bring in 3-4 players who will be André's own, and probably have less wage demands.

Replacements need to be carefully sought out, no more established players (Sheva, Torres etc). More players who are young & still an extraordinary talent (like Mata.).

[CHOULO19 24,332]

We cannot afford to miss out on the CL for financial reasons (UEFA's financial fair play regulations), whether we would progress to the later stages is irrelevant. Heck, last season we failed to make the semi's and still managed to earn 44.5m, highlighting the strength of the TV market pool.

That, by the way, is exactly what I said:

Bitter as it may taste, we can afford to miss out on the CL knock out stages, because even if we do qualify, what are our realistic chances of winning the thing?

I think the closest time that AVB's future would be at doubt at the club is if we fail to make a top 4 finish in the league at the end of the season.

[Term-X 7,891]

You contradicted yourself in your own post.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Indeed. Everyone's saying "José's spine needs to leave" and we're seeing it happen. Bar Anelka, who's not a Mourinho signing, it means we'll bring in 3-4 players who will be André's own, and probably have less wage demands.

Replacements need to be carefully sought out, no more established players (Sheva, Torres etc). More players who are young & still an extraordinary talent (like Mata.).

Exactly my thoughts. AVB has showed in the summer that he has a great eye for signings (probably because he used to be a scout). I really hope he continues to prove that in Jan and next summer.

I'll take another Mata, please.

You contradicted yourself in your own post.

How so?

[Henrique 9,133]

“It’s irrelevant what the game represents to me,”

VB future depends of next two games. Bad result today, and a huge defeat against City, it will leave Roman questioning his own judgment about VB being the right man.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

OR... we could win tonight, get a draw on Monday and see this as the start of a brilliant run.

Too many glass-half-empty types on here.

[Milan 17,959]

Why isn't Villas-Boas's philosophy working yet?

Full story

[Blue Armour 4,448]

Why isn't Villas-Boas's philosophy working yet?

Full story

Even if Sturridge only tucks in (which is false, as he does play on the wing as well) you'll have Mata on the other side who can move all over the place.

I guess neither Romeu or Mikel really bomb forward, which is why the attack seems more fluid when Meireles takes on the holding role...If that analysis is right, then we're bound to succeed if Essien comes back fully fit and on form...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Why isn't Villas-Boas's philosophy working yet?

Full story

If only it was this simple, then all AVB has to do is change the runs of a couple of players and we're kings of Europe. Unfortunately our problems are much bigger than that in my opinion, not to mention most of them are with our defense and not our attack.

[Blue Armour 4,448]

Why isn't Villas-Boas's philosophy working yet?

Full story

From the article:

"The absence of a specialist, trusted right-back means the line is split – Ashley Cole pushes up on the left, but the more defensive Branislav Ivanovic does not – and the team lacks balance."

Hasn't the writer realized that it was after Ivanovic came in for Bosingwa that our defense actually started finding some balance, (without two full-backs bombing forward almost simultaneously)?

Wish these armchair tacticians would at least pay more attention...

[Kojo 4,676]

“It’s irrelevant what the game represents to me,”

VB future depends of next two games. Bad result today, and a huge defeat against City, it will leave Roman questioning his own judgment about VB being the right man.

Henrique, AVB has signed 5 players, Mata, brilliant player and has been world class so far, Oriol Romeu, brilliant talented DM, problems that he might not be here for very long he could go back to Barca, but he fits perfectly into our system at such a young age too, Lukaku, not enough games, his movement is good, his strength, needs a bit more technical play to add to his game and he could be a very good striker but who knows, he's untested, and Lukaku for me is a poacher, he has the same problem Torres has, no assistance from the team, Lukaku wont score if given the ball with his back facing the goal, infact he's the very oppesite to Drogba, don't know why people compare them. Courtois, who looks very promising so far at Attletico Madrid, i think he will be a world class keeper in 5 years. Meireles, good squad player, very good technically, adds a lot to the game, but he shouldn't be used as a first team player, however i think he's a good buy for 13 million.

Now AVB for me has made very good buys so far, Mata and Oriol pretty much proven, (except Oriol still has to play more so we are certain), Lukaku unproven, but with every reason why, Courtois looking very promising. Meireles, experienced, brings something to the squad, good signing.

You have many problems with AVB, but don't you think that if we let AVB build his team, with his money, who knows what he could do?, Porto was a very good team, at the moment he's got bad players. Now i don't know what went on in the background between the chairman, the board and AVB in the summer, if AVB had full control over transfers and a lot of money to spend, then to be fair it's his own fault he's in this position, but no one on this forum knows what he situation was, so we can't blame him at the moment. I think AVB can build a great team, that's what i think i could be wrong, but we bought him, we took a gamble, like we did with Mourinho, perhaps Mourinho was better and will always be better. But i want a long term manager, and if we are to have long term we must offer him time and less pressure.

It might not work it might not, but we must take a gamble, otherwise what's the point. You may think it's more worth it sacking him then getting other managers to replace him and looking for instant success, but it's not, and i think that's even less likely of a gamble in it's own way. I say we give him another season, even if this one doesn't work out, even if we lose to Valencia, and don't finish top 4, because in my honest opinion you have to be a miracle worker to get our team in top 4, when you have City, United, Spurs, and Arsenal look much better.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

“It’s irrelevant what the game represents to me,”

VB future depends of next two games. Bad result today, and a huge defeat against City, it will leave Roman questioning his own judgment about VB being the right man.

Wishful thinking, Henrique?

Mark my words, he's here at least until the end of the season. The recent transfer requests are proof.

[eldo 868]

"We'll always work for him and try hard for him. We know he'll be the manager for the next three years. We're not worried about any other manager coming in because we know he's going to be here for those three years."

[Henrique 9,133]

Why isn't Villas-Boas's philosophy working yet?

Full story

The analisys is so bad that puts Ramires in the left and Lampard in the right, when its the opposite, and puts Mata as a typical left winger. Its shows this guy doesnt have a clue about whats going on...

[manpe 10,861]

The analisys is so bad that puts Ramires in the left and Lampard in the right, when its the opposite, and puts Mata as a typical left winger. Its shows this guy doesnt have a clue about whats going on...

indeed, good point... I always read these kind of "analysis" as a form of cheap entertainment rather than a sophisticated opinion.

[Henrique 9,133]

The mean reason to not sack VB is that we have a hot brunnete chick in his staff.