Righting The Wrongs

[EskWeston 696]

The previous manager isnt coming back -but he knew how to utilise those players. Meticulous notes on our players and the opposition. He had his 'untouchables', and if we take yesterday for example -guranteed Ballack and Maka would have started. Drogba up front, and Anelka on the bench. It's not rocket surgery and you dont need to pay someone £4.5 million a year to fuck it up.

Jose never got the best out of the current crop of players. We got the results we needed but it never clicked into place....

Trouble is though, Maka, Lamps, Ballack, Essien and Mikel are ALL untouchable. Which was why we used the pretty innefectual 4-4-2 diamond so much last season. Jose was the master at winning games, but as the team broke up more and more from the first season the fluid nature of the team became less and less.

For me, Kalou and Cole should have started on the wings with Drogba in the middle. Although Now i want to see us play with only 2 central midfielders because i think it is the only way for us to get some rythem now, Mikel or Essien with Lampard or Ballack.

[Fulham Broadway 17,305]

Jose never got the best out of the current crop of players. We got the results we needed but it never clicked into place....

Trouble is though, Maka, Lamps, Ballack, Essien and Mikel are ALL untouchable. Which was why we used the pretty innefectual 4-4-2 diamond so much last season. Jose was the master at winning games, but as the team broke up more and more from the first season the fluid nature of the team became less and less.

For me, Kalou and Cole should have started on the wings with Drogba in the middle. Although Now i want to see us play with only 2 central midfielders because i think it is the only way for us to get some rythem now, Mikel or Essien with Lampard or Ballack.

He knew how to utilise the current squad a damn sight better than the current clown. Two League titles, Two League Cups, FA Cup and a Charity Shield...and...we wouldn't have lost yesterday.

Abramovich has made it clear he wants a nodding dog puppet, rather than a gobby Portugeezer who knows what hes doing.

For me there is no set way, or line up. So much depends on the opposition. I bet Grant couldn't name the other teams in the Premiership, let alone the players we come up against.

[EskWeston 696]

So you think a new manager with the same team could do a lot better than where we are now?

I agree we need a new manager, i just think there are other issues too...

[Fulham Broadway 17,305]

So you think a new manager with the same team could do a lot better than where we are now?

I agree we need a new manager, i just think there are other issues too...

Lol apologies, you said you didnt want this to turn into a Grant thread.

But for me the priority is leadership. Any one could have got the current crop of results. A Wenger, Ferguson, Lippi, Capello, etc could get wonders and even the elusive 'quad' out of our current squad.

As it stands , it's a crying waste of talent.

[EskWeston 696]

Lol apologies, you said you didnt want this to turn into a Grant thread.

But for me the priority is leadership. Any one could have got the current crop of results. A Wenger, Ferguson, Lippi, Capello, etc could get wonders and even the elusive 'quad' out of our current squad.

As it stands , it's a crying waste of talent.

Lol, EVERY thread is a Grant thread these days - par for the course....

Up until now the results have been good. We have got ourselves in a strong position, we have all our players back and we have no idea how to use them. We should have won the game yesterday, we have the players to win the game yesterday and be very successful.

I still feel long term there are changes needed to make us better on the attack in the way that Man you do or Arsenal do - with pace and inventiveness..

[Fulham Broadway 17,305]

Lol, EVERY thread is a Grant thread these days - par for the course....

Up until now the results have been good. We have got ourselves in a strong position, we have all our players back and we have no idea how to use them. We should have won the game yesterday, we have the players to win the game yesterday and be very successful.

I still feel long term there are changes needed to make us better on the attack in the way that Man you do or Arsenal do - with pace and inventiveness..

The problem I see is with motivation, compared to Man Utd, for example. Can't stand Purplenose, but he knows as did Jose how to motivate players, and get the best out of them.

The last few games have looked very disjointed. If Kenyons smiling mug shows itself anytime soon, guaranteed he'll be spouting ''We're still in with a shout of 3 trophies..." then it'll be " 2 trophies "... "1 trophy" etc.

Then Grant will be given more money to "strengthen for next term". Whereas in reality the rotten core needs replacing.

[EskWeston 696]

The problem I see is with motivation, compared to Man Utd, for example. Can't stand Purplenose, but he knows as did Jose how to motivate players, and get the best out of them.

The last few games have looked very disjointed. If Kenyons smiling mug shows itself anytime soon, guaranteed he'll be spouting ''We're still in with a shout of 3 trophies..." then it'll be " 2 trophies "... "1 trophy" etc.

Then Grant will be given more money to "strengthen for next term". Whereas in reality the rotten core needs replacing.

I don't think there is a manager in the world that could turn SWP into a top class winger who keeps control of the ball or makes Malouda stronger and give him a bit of pace!! But what they would do is play Kalou and Cole for pretty much every game and give the livewire Sinclair more games!!

If we can't pull out of the lull we are in and get this team playing, then i would think he will go in the summer. Although i believe it will take a lot, or some Major protests from fans to actually get him to go!

[Fulham Broadway 17,305]

I don't think there is a manager in the world that could turn SWP into a top class winger who keeps control of the ball or makes Malouda stronger and give him a bit of pace!! But what they would do is play Kalou and Cole for pretty much every game and give the livewire Sinclair more games!!

If we can't pull out of the lull we are in and get this team playing, then i would think he will go in the summer. Although i believe it will take a lot, or some Major protests from fans to actually get him to go!

SWP should be played in the centre as Mourinho did before his departure. Sinclair and maybe Stoch

Whilst we're on 'righting wrongs' it wouldn't do any harm to improve the atmosphere.

Get rid of all the tourists, admission to be a fiver, two massive standing terraces, and reasonable alcohol prices sold from countless bars in every stand. Fortress Bridge, carefree!!

[EskWeston 696]

SWP should be played in the centre as Mourinho did before his departure. Sinclair and maybe Stoch

Whilst we're on 'righting wrongs' it wouldn't do any harm to improve the atmosphere.

Get rid of all the tourists, admission to be a fiver, two massive standing terraces, and reasonable alcohol prices sold from countless bars in every stand. Fortress Bridge, carefree!!

Lol, OK don't push it

Well either SWP or Joe Cole are an absolute MUST if we are to continue with 3 in midfield thats for sure. Sinclair definately should get more games. And on the basis of the wing performances so far this season i would be very tempted to try Stoch......

Atmosphere has been better in general for a lot of this season. Think now though people are starting to get very frustrated. Our complete lack of goalscoring chances is becomming a bad joke....

[warnie_666 1,081]

How do you see this?

From mid December to February First week. We have been playing with more or less the same starting 11 with Ballack in midfield playing so well, Makalele the Holding Midfielder, Joe Cole and Malouda on wings And the best part of it all was SWP in the Central Midfield. With this combination, we won 9 matches in a row.

Then comes the arrival of our injured players, African players...and what do we do? Introduce these players in the 11. Thus breaking the team dynamics of the one tht went on a winning streak for 9 matches.

Our performances have hit ROCK BOTTAM since the arrival of these players. Grant is Rotating the players, and it definately affects the Team Dynamics. A Squad of 11 fit players in every match is the best way to go by, but Grant is trying to introduce all of his players in different matches.

People like Blue Lion and others wanted Lampard and Terry in the TEAM for Finals. Why? Cus they have been Chelsea servants for years. But When you Break a Team Combination, a Team that is set and used to playing togther, IT DEFINATELY AFFFECTS THE PERFORMANCES. BALLACK WAS Benched inorder to accomodate LAMPARD, ALEX who had had such a wonderful defensive partnership with Carvalho, was benched to accomodate TERRY. And all this done in the FINAL of a cup Game. Anelka made to play on the wings (OUT OF POSITION)...why? cus he is Nicolas Anelka and he has to be in the team, dont care which position.

My Biggest Fear is that Grant seems to be introducing the Rotation system. Jose was never a fan of it. I cant imagine he Benched Ballack and Joe Cole the two most inform players over the last 2 months for us to accomodate Lampard and Nicolas Anelka. Again, this Rotation policy has never won trophies for any teams. A team needs to have a core that plays in every important matches.

Blue Lion, I told you Team comes first, and not your favourite beloved players. You change the team to accomodate Chelsea favourites, You are always at risk to losing out.

[joe_kura 0]

warnie666, it is not bluelion who made the called on team selection.

the problem is not the rotation policy, it is Grunt, who tried very hard to look good instead of winning games. Jose had deploy these formation (3 centre midfielder,one winger, two centre forward with one as a winger) and it didn't work. why oh why did grunt try these similar formation. everything he does always try to make a statement that he is better than jose. throw a cup of tea or break a table to fired up players? i think the players will ignore or laugh at those tea cups and table that he broke!!

Edited February 25, 2008 by joe_kura

[warnie_666 1,081]

warnie666, it is not bluelion who made the called on team selection.

the problem is not the rotation policy, it is Grunt, who tried very hard to look good instead of winning games. Jose had deploy these formation (3 centre midfielder,one winger, two centre forward with one as a winger) and it didn't work. why oh why did grunt try these similar formation. everything he does always try to make a statement that he is better than jose. throw a cup of tea or break a table to fired up players? i think the players will ignore or laugh at those tea cups and table that he broke!!

I know its not the Blue Lion who made the selection, but we had a small argument over introducing Lamps and Terry the other day.

Now, The Formation is fine. But rotating the players is not fine. You play with 4-3-3 for the most of the season, with same set of players as we have had pver last several years. The players get acustomed to playing with each other. But when you start rotating the players, you find your self playing along side new set of players in new positions. Hence as we saw...the Passing was FucKALL......We CANNOT SEEM TO PRODUCE A GOAL FROM AN OPEN PLAY!!!.....

[warnie_666 1,081]

Also, Joe, If you see the threads in previous weeks, you'll find most fans wanting Grant to play Anelka on left of 4-3-3 with Drogs in centre. Some Fans even went to the extent of Changing to 4-2-2 formation ALL OF A SUDDEN IN A CUP FINAL to accomodate players. IM GLAD GRANT DINT CHANGE THE FORMATION. But he did play Anelka out of position, as Fans wanted. And when he failed...The same fans go for his head....

As far as I am concerned, HE SHOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED THE TEAM THAT WON 9 matches in a row to accomodate favourite Chelsea players.

BALLACK AND JOE COLE BEHCNED....HOLY SHIT!!!!....I COULDNT BELEIVE HE ACTUALLY BENCHED THE TWO MOST INFORM PLAYERS FOR THE FINALS

And yes...BALLACK IS ANYTIME A BETTER FREE KICK TAKER THAN LAMPS AND DROGBA!!!!

Edited February 25, 2008 by warnie_666

[Elliott 7]

You have made a good point warnie there about the returning players unsettling the team. I do feel Terry had to come in though because he is club captain and should always be playing in a cup final if he can. Lampard though? Would have been understandable if Ballack played.

The main problem for me was a) long balls against Woodgate and King Playing Anelka on the left wing instead of Joe Cole or even Kalou and c) complete ineptitude with regard to motivation

[joe_kura 0]

warnie666, from what i'd read here and also my own opinion, punters bla bla bla, most of us want anelka to be a striking partner to drogba in 4-4-2 formation with either one as a supporting striker, not as a wide player in 4-3-3 formation as you mention. it is a big difference between partnering the striker and playing out wide.

ballack have an off day at greece while lamps on sunday, in my opinion is the best of the midfield three, essien is worst, i hardly know that he is playing. but the tactic is all wrong. two centre forward with a wide players in 4-3-3 formation just didnt work. jose have tried it before (sheva, drogba, robben).

Edited February 25, 2008 by joe_kura