The Roberto Di Matteo Thread

[Superblue 6,370]

A lot less pressure next season IMO. Liverpool are in serious transition, Spurs could fall back into place now, and I don't see Newcastle doing as well as last season with europe a distraction.

Top four should be easier next season. I would take a couple of cups, one definately being the World Club Cup (maybe with the FA Cup and Super Cup), a top four finish and respectable defence of our european title. And if the play is a little more pleasing on the eye and a few youngsters on the fringes, that too would be a welcome bonus.

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Good appoitment.

Has got the respect and the applaudence from pundits, critic and the players themselves - and shows passion for a club, which came across so vocally last season. Hopefully he can add more of his magic into the squad, and sign some more additions for our revolution of the squad. Two years is the perfect amount of time to establish himself, build his own mark on the team as well as blocking out Pep.

[Jase 43,479]

We did not loose the tittle in two or three games . I realize that some games had special circumstances, but my point was that last season's squad will never win the league even with better luck and only the league to concentrate on.

Yes, while I do agree with you that our squad wasn't good enough to win the Premier League BUT if it weren't for AVB's insistence of playing his high line, open attacking game etc, we would probably have been more consistent in the league and actually be able to finish in the Top 4 at least.

[Superblue 6,370]

I could appreciate some of the changes AVB was trying to implement, but it was a case of too much too soon.

For those that felt Robbie went in and made no changes, just reverting back to the tried and trusted, he successfully implemented a 4-2-3-1 to get Mata in the centre and a formation which I see us building towards next season. It is a subtle yet largely effective change to the way we play.

I see further subtle changes over next season, as we slowly move to what I would expect to be a more expansive, expressive style of play, but I think Robbie will be smart and not try to change too many things all at once.

[Jase 43,479]

I could appreciate some of the changes AVB was trying to implement, but it was a case of too much too soon.

For those that felt Robbie went in and made no changes, just reverting back to the tried and trusted, he successfully implemented a 4-2-3-1 to get Mata in the centre and a formation which I see us building towards next season. It is a subtle yet largely effective change to the way we play.

I see further subtle changes over next season, as we slowly move to what I would expect to be a more expansive, expressive style of play, but I think Robbie will be smart and not try to change too many things all at once.

It doesn't take an Albert Einstein to realize that a manager shouldn't be making drastic changes immediately when taking charge of a new club. Do it gradually, not drastically! He always kept on talking about this 3-year project but at the pace he was trying to change things, you would have thought he only had 3 weeks or even just 3 days to do it!

[Superblue 6,370]

It doesn't take an Albert Einstein to realize that a manager shouldn't be making drastic changes immediately when taking charge of a new club. Do it gradually, not drastically! He always kept on talking about this 3-year project but at the pace he was trying to change things, you would have thought he only had 3 weeks or even just 3 days to do it!

Maybe given our track record he felt he wouldn't get the time. I actually think if we had consolidated last season he would still be in a job now and continuing with his project.

I sincerely hope Robbie gets the time to do things his way. It's a strange circumstance because any other manager over the Abramovich reign would have been bullet proof for a couple of years having won the Champions League, but Robbie doesn't. I just want to see him shown some respect and backed accordingly.

[Blue Armour 4,286]

This comparison between RDM and AVB is a bit irrelevant at this stage, as the latter isn't coming back. RDM is a young manager, and I feel he is still learning his trade. It will be interesting to see how he sets up his team next season.

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

hopefully he switches from 4231 to 433, can only see great valuable players slipping through cracks if we stay 4231.

i kinda hope we start quick and can build an identity with all these new signings. Are we gona play solid footbal like in 2009 and current city team, pass and move with non ending runs mike man u, high line lots of pressure, counter like REAL, whatever it is along as it wins games im happy.

A slow start wont surprise anybody and i think is justifiable with euros going on, UCL hangover and new signings.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Oh please, we drew with Arsenal's first team with our second, then we lost to Liverpool with our second team after beating them in the FA Cup.

The difference with AVB and RDM in the league is that we could beat the mediocre teams.

Not really. We beat poor teams under AVB as well. We didn't play in well in the league under RDM at all. I'd say we played 2 good league games under Robbie, against Villa and QPR, but that's hardly something to brag about. We had a whole bunch of very good games in the Premier League under AVB. I'm not saying that AVB should have been kept on or that Robbie is a terrible coach, but I think some people are seeing the league through the lenses of the Champions League final. I'm happy that Robbie has been given a chance, but I do have a few concerns about the way he coached last season. Of course, it was a crazy season (still, like some kind of weird dream) so things might be very different this year.

[Spike 12,049]

Oh please, we drew with Arsenal's first team with our second, then we lost to Liverpool with our second team after beating them in the FA Cup.

The difference with AVB and RDM in the league is that we could beat the mediocre teams.

I seem to recall quite a few 1st team players in both of those games. I get your point but to say it was the second team is an overstatement. It's not like the reserves were played!

The loss to Liverpool was quite aggravating even with the FA Cup win.

[capriccioso 2,545]

He wasn't great in the league but his heroics in the two cups cancel that out.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

He wasn't great in the league but his heroics in the two cups cancel that out.

The first thing led to the second. he saved power to the cups.

[capriccioso 2,545]

He had a 48% winning record with West Brom. That's very good for a team of that stature. Only lost 24 out of 83, as well; hopefully he can translate that to Chelsea losing about 5 per 83.

[francozola 2,040]

I can't judge him at all based on last season's form. After the Napoli game we basically gave up on the league. Our performances in the Prem were hardly much better than under AVB. Take the Spurs home game for example. If we had won that, at that point in time we would have been favourites for 4th. But we didn't turn up that day despite a totally full-strength side playing. After that result it was clear what the priorities were.

I'm glad he's been given a new contract and am looking forward to seeing how he handles his "own" team. Last season had too many external factors so can't really say how much was actually down to him and him completely. His man-management is good though, and he's pragmatic, not naive like AVB was.

EDIT: Also, even though we did indeed have weaker players playing against Arsenal & Liverpool in the league, it's not as if we played the reserves as Spike pointed out. Those players should have been good enough to perform better. I'm not blaming this on RDM but basically it kinda shows what a weak squad we had last season and that many of those fringe players simply did not have the mentality to fight

[Fhaarkas 39]

[Ollie 4,400]

You can't judge him on performances too much last season because he was using the same players that had struggled for 18 months. The thing with him is that he got the squad feeling good again, feeling happy, feeling that they want to play and give their all. He got them winning games and fighting. It wasn't pretty but he got them winning.

The most important thing about a football team is players' morale and relationship with the manager. If everything's hunky-dory behind closed doors, it will show on the pitch. If there are problems 'back stage', again.... it will show.

AVB tried too hard to put his foot down and take control and be 'boss' and it backfired on him. Robbie is true blue, a Chelsea hero and one of the lads who already has their respect. You can have the biggest name in the world but it doesn't beat a good relationship between a manager and his players.

When i saw Robbie and Eddie sitting in the WBA dug-out, i wished they were here. I'm so happy they are now and i hope they can win the Premiership. To see Robbie and Eddie lift the prem would be a dream. I'm really, genuinely so excited for the next couple of years.

[blue_swaggin_96 96]

people say preasure and he had none when he took over from AVB, he had nothing to lose!

i seriously hate this comments, well because we still had a good chance of finishing above 4th, CL was just a dream, but then when we made it to the semi finale and beat barsa, everything changed, we started playing our second string! enough of with being irrelevent!

know lets look @ the napoli win

basically with out " Weakest squard in years " RDM did a great job, he didnt have the hiddink chelsea or the grant chelsea that was far superior!

i would bet my house will be top of the league and have good feeling retain our european glory next season,

RB

RW

GOOD BACK ST. hopefully jovetic!

we'll be the greatest decade

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

GOOD BACK ST. hopefully jovetic!

What about Sturridge?.....