The Roberto Di Matteo Thread

[CHOULO19 24,332]

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.

You're missing my point which was: We did not loose the EPL because of AVB or luck or refereeing, we didn't win it because our squad was simply not good enough.

[blue_swaggin_96 96]

You're missing my point which was: We did not loose the EPL because of AVB or luck or refereeing, we didn't win it because our squad was simply not good enough.

our squad was strong enough to finish above arsenal and spuds, but avb and his high line cost us around 14 points with that stuff

[CHOULO19 24,332]

our squad was strong enough to finish above arsenal and spuds, but avb and his high line cost us around 14 points with that stuff

Two things:

1) Is finishing above Arsenal good enough at Chelsea? I don't think so. Over the last 8 years, imo, this club has thrived on competing for every tittle and for settling on finishing 4th. If the squad can at best finish 3rd, then it is simply not good enough by our standards.

2) AVB was brought here to try and implement exactly what he tried to do. The owner's plans for the club, which have continued after Andre's departure through the signings we are making, took a blow when some of our players refused to take the managers instructions. I'll never forget our players wasting time in the last minutes of the game when the team was loosing 2-0 against Everton and 1-0 against WBA. It was the player power, spear-headed by Lampard, that cost us those points. Not to say the Andre didn't have his obvious flaws.

[Superblue 6,372]

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 6,372]

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 6,372]

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 4,436]

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 13,571]

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.