IS RDM the man to take CFC Forward?

[Miguelito 459]

im not sure if this has been discussed or mentioned at all, but talking strictly about the transition of our team, di matteo has been beyond vital.

i think that he won so much respect from the players last year in his accomplishments and how he went about things, that it earned the right to lead this team through our transition phase. One thing i think that has been overlooked is that if it was a new manager coming in and trying to make all of the changes suddenly that it would have upset the changing room. I'm not sure that the players would have been ok with that and player power would have taken to big of a role in things. I think the respect he earned from the players gave him the ability to rid of bosingwa, kalou, meireles, essien, dropping ferreria and malouda to reserves, etc with minimal fuss from players. i think that it was essential it was rdm because of that fact that it gave the players a sense of continuity and not just some new manager trying to implement his ways. people underestimate the importance of the dressing room, its mood, and how the players feel about the manager; and right now rdm obviously has got it on his side.

also, he got us transitioning slowly in to a new, more attacking team. he started off the season with atleast one defensive winger every game. that was his rule of thumb last year also. even tho at points i was mad at us not using our players abilities at our disposal i think it was essential to slowly transition for the team, especially for the defenders. the more attacking way of playing effects defenders way more than people realize. they might have to play higher up, they might be caught on the break more, they may need either stay back more, or join in the attack more. i think the slow transition was important in maintaining our defensive shape and record and that worked; we have barely conceded many goals.

so to answer the question on if he is the right man to take Chelsea forward; he was the right and for me, due to this reasoning, the only man to lead Chelsea in to the transition phase. i dont know about long term because it always depends on results, but i hope he continues to perform at his job as he is now; exceptionally

[chelseathebest 150]

I think he is absolutely the man to take Chelsea forward!

[Sheva. 5,373]

My opinion on him has changed a lot since he started playing Hazard, Oscar and Mata together. The only real problem i had with him was the defensive winger thing. It really limits one side of our attack and you can already see the difference when we play with 3 attacking midfielders like all other top clubs do (those who play 4-2-3-1)

[SeB 1,281]

My opinion on him has changed a lot since he started playing Hazard, Oscar and Mata together. The only real problem i had with him was the defensive winger thing. It really limits one side of our attack and you can already see the difference when we play with 3 attacking midfielders like all other top clubs do (those who play 4-2-3-1)

It was coherent as Hazard and Mata's defensive work (like most of the attacking players) wasn't sufficient. Hazard improved physically, Mata benefited form his break and we worked a lot on the pattern of play to keep the ball easier.

There's a massive improvement on the shape of the team, the shape of the pressing as well, the ball retention and the combinasons on the wings. That's really pleasing

[Sheva. 5,373]

It was coherent as Hazard and Mata's defensive work (like most of the attacking players) wasn't sufficient. Hazard improved physically, Mata benefited form his break and we worked a lot on the pattern of play to keep the ball easier.

There's a massive improvement on the shape of the team, the shape of the pressing as well, the ball retention and the combinasons on the wings. That's really pleasing

Our pressing really has improved in the past few games, it was most evident in the Arsenal game.

[Jase 43,479]

We'll find out more about RDM's management with the team in the next 10 games as we play:

Tottenham (A)

Shakhtar Donetsk (A)

Man United (H - Premier League)

Man United (H - League Cup)

Swansea (A)

Shakhtar Donetsk (H)

Liverpool (H)

West Brom (A)

Juventus (A)

Man City (H)

All of them are pretty tough for their own reasons.

[SeB 1,281]

Our pressing really has improved in the past few games, it was most evident in the Arsenal game.

Against Juve we didn't press for 90mn, players got tired before, 70th minute. Yeah, definitely improvement.

I have to plan to see the games chronogically, I haven't saw the Arsenal, Nort.. and Norwich in full.

[Hutcho 8,443]

TBH, i think a lot of these thoughts came after the QPR game where we all saw our poor performance and the likely cause of it, which was the defensive winger and rambo on the RW. Since then RDM has adressed those issues, and now we are seeing a amazing trio of oscar hazard and mata who have all fitted together nicely as a 3, with a lot of freedom in thier own respective roles, and no longer is rambo at RW. Rambo then moved to play with mikel and we saw a great improvement defensively and in ball retention. In todays game we saw the return of the lampard mikel partnership though tbh i think that the partnership in question doesn't limit us on offense and only on defence which against the lesser teams we can greatly use to our advantage.

Overall though he has implemented the wholesale changes we wanted to see and although all of us have our own personal ideas about some minor issues (Like perhaps norwich being the perfect game to give azpi a start over ivan) he will never be able to please everyone and thats not his job to.

People can say what they want about him, but 6 WINS 1 DRAW. TOP OF THE LEAGUE, is all that matters right now.

[Milan 17,854]

We'll find out more about RDM's management with the team in the next 10 games as we play:

Tottenham (A)

Shakhtar Donetsk (A)

Man United (H - Premier League)

Man United (H - League Cup)

Swansea (A)

Shakhtar Donetsk (H)

Liverpool (H)

West Brom (A)

Juventus (A)

Man City (H)

All of them are pretty tough for their own reasons.

10 small finals in a row I suppose. A game by game approach with a team rotation. Motivation lies in the fixtures themselves.

[Jase 43,479]

10 small finals in a row I suppose. A game by game approach with a team rotation. Motivation lies in the fixtures themselves.

4 points against Spurs and United would be a good return. And in the double headers against Shakhtar, a minimum of 4 points is a must!

[Spike 12,049]

Fluid in attack and possession allowing players to express themselves. Rigid and disciplined in defence allowing no goals to get through. There is a reason why Chelsea is the highest scoring and least conceding team in the Premiership.

[bloody 209]

We'll find out more about RDM's management with the team in the next 10 games as we play:

Tottenham (A)

Shakhtar Donetsk (A)

Man United (H - Premier League)

Man United (H - League Cup)

Swansea (A)

Shakhtar Donetsk (H)

Liverpool (H)

West Brom (A)

Juventus (A)

Man City (H)

All of them are pretty tough for their own reasons.

starting line-up for tottenham (a):

cech

ivanovic - cahill - luiz - cole

ramires - mikel

hazard - oscar - mata

torres

starting line-up for swansea (a), shakhtar donetsk (h) and west brom (a):

blackman

azpilicueta - terry - cahill - bertrand

romeu - lampard

moses - piazon - marin

sturridge

starting line-up for the rest of the listed matches:

cech

ivanovic - cahill - luiz - cole

ramires - mikel

hazard - oscar - mata

torres

[kellzfresh 7,229]

It was coherent as Hazard and Mata's defensive work (like most of the attacking players) wasn't sufficient. Hazard improved physically, Mata benefited form his break and we worked a lot on the pattern of play to keep the ball easier.

There's a massive improvement on the shape of the team, the shape of the pressing as well, the ball retention and the combinasons on the wings. That's really pleasing

You're right. We've gotten better. And I think it was since the juve game when oscar came into the mix. Chelsea changed. His high pressing and energy is just a major plus in balancing the attack and defence.

He makes hazard and especially mata a far better player. Taking the defensive pressure off mata.

Against Juve we didn't press for 90mn, players got tired before, 70th minute. Yeah, definitely improvement.

I have to plan to see the games chronogically, I haven't saw the Arsenal, Nort.. and Norwich in full.

Remember at the 70th minute was around when oscar got of injured. His pressing was missed and we couldn't take the ball off them quickly again.

The same with arsenal, oscar pressed arteta into losing possesion. Since he started playing our possesion has greatly improved even the chances we give away are lower.

[Clevemayer 764]

I was Very critical of him for known reasons but know im pretty sure he can lead us past that glorious Lamps and jt Time and thats more then needed

[The Skipper 20,593]

starting line-up for tottenham (a):

cech

ivanovic - cahill - luiz - cole

ramires - mikel

hazard - oscar - mata

torres

starting line-up for swansea (a), shakhtar donetsk (h) and west brom (a):

blackman

azpilicueta - terry - cahill - bertrand

romeu - lampard

moses - piazon - marin

sturridge

starting line-up for the rest of the listed matches:

cech

ivanovic - cahill - luiz - cole

ramires - mikel

hazard - oscar - mata

torres

Ridiculous.

[Rmpr 8,977]

We'll find out more about RDM's management with the team in the next 10 games as we play:

Tottenham (A)

Shakhtar Donetsk (A)

Man United (H - Premier League)

Man United (H - League Cup)

Swansea (A)

Shakhtar Donetsk (H)

Liverpool (H)

West Brom (A)

Juventus (A)

Man City (H)

All of them are pretty tough for their own reasons.

Swansea (A)

Liverpool (H)

West Brom (A)

These are the easiest game of the sequence. That alone, prooves how much though this is!

If we retain our 2 game lead and finish 1st on UCL, we will be in very good shape.

I am looking foward to see how we perform. It will be exciting, for sure.

[Tomo 21,733]

Don't think RDM is the man to lead us forward. He's not a 'talented' manager, he doesn't have the ability to be flexible with his tactics but he's a good-enough motivator & he's brought good luck to the club.

Im sorry but that's insane, at his previous clubs he played an attractive brand of attacking football but last season when he got the job here he realized he didn't have the resources to be as attacking, so reigned it in and produced the tactics suitable until now where he has the players to attack, attack, attack he is.

I would rather have a manager who makes use of his resources to give the team the best chance to get results (Robbie, Carlo, Fergie, Jose) than a manger who has an idealistic view of the game and will stick to it regardless of how detrimental it is to results (Wenger, Holloway, Rodgers - i imagine Pep will soon be added to this list also).

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

Its not a matter if i think he's the man to lead us forward, its that i WANT him to lead us forward. I trully am sick and tired of the revolving door, i want stability and RDM to be the manager who serves 10 years+. I have full confidence that we can be top of EPL at the midpoint, but the real test wil be during that 10 game stretch and how we react to a loss (if we have any) or a dissapointing draw.