Chelsea Sack Andre Villas-Boas

[manpe 10,861]

"Nothing new for Chelsea"

[Iced 34]

love avbs team selections and so far have agreed with most of his sub choices but today... why kalou in for lampard when we were already up by 1

[CHOULO19 24,332]

AVB handling the press superbly as always:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09KlBGHuZZY&feature=feedu

"The refereeing? Nothing new to chelsea."

We were unlucky not to win yesterday due to some very poor finishing and a couple of pens that weren't given, but I think AVB was feeling a bit guilty for his last sub.

[seangalton 0]

As long as we don't try a you shot, we shot, you pass, we pass against Barca i think we will beat them.

TBH time will change that but right now we aint ready to play that game against Arsenal let alone Barca.

I think the best way to beat Barca would be to play them at a higher tempo version of their own game like Wenger did at the emirates last year. The reason they do so well off the ball is because very few teams have the technical ability to keep possession under the pressure they put on but their back four are relatively weak and they play with very few defensive players in their lineup. Doesn't guarantee success but nothing does, especially with their cheating habits.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I am sorry but which of these do you think are physical with their game?

Torres?

Mata?

Studge?

Ramirez?

Meireles?

Let me remind you that the ones you are referring to are on the bench or in the injury room or have left Chelsea

Drogba

Ballack

Essien

Malouda

Lampard

Ramires and Torres are stronger than people give them credit for.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I don't agree about Torres, but Rami's definitely one of our most strongest players!

[termninja 5,290]

Coyle on AVB

Ahead of Sunday's trip to the Reebok Stadium to take on Bolton the Blues are third in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Manchester United.

Four years on from that first meeting, Coyle is not surprised the now 33-year-old has progressed as rapidly as he has, and that he will already be crossing swords with him in the top flight.

"Ultimately he is a winner. I saw that when we did our pro-licence together," said Coyle.

"This is not somebody who thought 'I'll go to Scotland on a whim and do a coaching badge, and then I might come back a year later.'

"This is somebody who knew exactly how they wanted to plan their future development, to go from one year to another to progress.

"That emphasises how meticulous he is in his preparation, and that goes for everything."

Coyle could recognise at the time Villas-Boas was a managerial star in the making, adding: "I think all of us on the course could see that.

"As a group we all liked him, we all took to him, and I certainly felt he was somebody driven to succeed, very good at what they do and obviously wanting to progress.

"And like anybody else, because we all crave the same thing, if an opportunity did arise then I felt pretty sure he would take it, and he has done. He has become an outstanding manager."

Coyle was also fortunate enough to get to know Villas-Boas, and like his talent, was also struck by his character.

"He is an absolute gentleman," added Coyle.

"Under Jose he had a fantastic set-up to learn, but when you sit down with him as well, you find he is a gem.

"He is somebody whose company you like. You could sit and chat with him all night about football, and any other topic, because he is a very intelligent man as well.

"And what a lot of people might not know about him is he has a very good sense of humour.

"He joined in with the banter, gave as good as he got, and we liked that about him. He didn't take himself too seriously.

"If you give a bit of stick you have to take some as well. We all did that openly with a big smile on our face, and he was a big part of that.

"I became very good friends with him on the back of that, and he is somebody I've a lot of time for, and because of that I'm looking forward to Sunday."

[zolayes 14,489]

good read thanks for posting

[dodojojo 510]

Non-sensationalistic take on AVB's new regime.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/09/30/smith.villas.boas/

[termninja 5,290]

On Bolton match

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I love how he handled the Tevez question, he didn't upset anyone. Very intelligently put Mr.Boas.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Ramires and Torres are stronger than people give them credit for.

Torres and Ramirez are strong but their game isn't physical. They rely more on speed and movement.

Hernandez is strong too but like Torres he is reliant on pace and movement

Where as drogba essien ballack were pure brutes in the box and in THe midfield

[Sheva. 5,373]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/30/chelsea-andre-villas-boas

"I have a couple of bikes. I go into mountains with the big rocks and almost kill myself"

[Madmax 9,219]

Non-sensationalistic take on AVB's new regime.

http://sportsillustr...th.villas.boas/

Wonderfully written.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

http://www.guardian....dre-villas-boas

"I have a couple of bikes. I go into mountains with the big rocks and almost kill myself"

That is so out of character for him.

[manpe 10,861]

I thought AVB made all the right subs today... Ivanovic for Bosingwa was a bit unexpected since we haven't seen him do it before, but it was a very welcome sub in my eyes and it paid off imo. Many managers are reluctant to change the defensive line, but AVB clearly has the balls to take off weak links no matter which line. As Bolton started whipping in more long balls and looking for fouls, more aerial power was needed.

Mikel for Ramires was a change towards more defensive and physical approach. He provided much needed cover, security and physical presence in defence. As we were leading comfortably, one of Ramires or Meireles deserved a rest. A good sub by AVB.

Mata was clearly struggling in this physical game and his touches didn't seem to be as good as in previous games, but shit happens, you can't expect him to be class A every single game. He looked tired as well. I really wanted to see Lukaku get a run, but I was pretty sure it was either Mata or Sturridge going to make way, and as game went on, I was 90% it was going to be Mata going off... And I was hoping Anelka would come on instead of Malouda, and it did happen.

I think AVB did everything right today in terms of tactics, team selection and substitutions.

[termninja 5,290]

I thought AVB made all the right subs today... Ivanovic for Bosingwa was a bit unexpected since we haven't seen him do it before, but it was a very welcome sub in my eyes and it paid off imo. Many managers are reluctant to change the defensive line, but AVB clearly has the balls to take off weak links no matter which line. As Bolton started whipping in more long balls and looking for fouls, more aerial power was needed.

Mikel for Ramires was a change towards more defensive and physical approach. He provided much needed cover, security and physical presence in defence. As we were leading comfortably, one of Ramires or Meireles deserved a rest. A good sub by AVB.

Mata was clearly struggling in this physical game and his touches didn't seem to be as good as in previous games, but shit happens, you can't expect him to be class A every single game. He looked tired as well. I really wanted to see Lukaku get a run, but I was pretty sure it was either Mata or Sturridge going to make way, and as game went on, I was 90% it was going to be Mata going off... And I was hoping Anelka would come on instead of Malouda, and it did happen.

I think AVB did everything right today in terms of tactics, team selection and substitutions.

AVB does that pretty much everytime

Good post

[LDN Blue 7,903]

AVB does that pretty much everytime

Good post

coughkalou@valenciacough.

[TomCFC 357]

This is amazing. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15135672.stm

[LDN Blue 7,903]

The passion for two wheels is something that grew in me. My first bike was a Yamaha XT 350cc, a heavy engine at the start. Then I've had Hondas and KTMs, as well as the trials bikes I've got.

Impressive.