RDM Sacked. Who's next?

[Peppen 934]

Like Di Matteo said: "If you win, you're a tactical genius, if not, people will criticize everything about your lineup'" Give him time. Yes I agree that we played way too defensive today, but do you even remember last season? AVB complete and utterly destroyed our strong defensive mentality, and scrapped everything that Chelsea was built on. It takes time, and I understand that Di Matteo wants to bring balance to the team by implementing a solid 4 back first. Remember the season where Cech broke the record for most minutes without conceding a goal?

That being said, I don't get why he chose Ramires and Betrand over Moses or Oscar. Oscar might be justified by the lack of Premier League games at the moment, and to throw him into the heat could have turned out worse. But Moses looked sharp when he came on the pitch, and we need to be sharp to take the 3 points even when the team has an off-day. Torres had a good first half, but didn't have much to work with in the second. Sturridge was another bright substitute, I'd like to see more of him. Maybe try out something different against Nordsjælland? I'm hoping so.

I want RDM to succeeded more than anyone. And it's far too early to decided whether or not he is the right man for the job. But winning us the Champions League trophy should at least give you more than 4 PL games, 1 Supercup (still hurts) and a Mickey Mouse Shield. Come on guys.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

But winning us the Champions League trophy

What did he actually do though? He didn't do anything tactically special. He just basically sent the team out and told them to defend for their lives. He still has a lot to prove and the early signs are pointing to the fact that he is a one trick pony. After 10 or so Premier League games serious scrutiny will be headed towards RDM's way. Lets see how we've performed at that point.

[Peppen 934]

To say RDM didn't do anything in order to win us the Champions League is complete rubbish. Come on? The team was torn to pieces by AVB and to bring back the morale in dressing room, and being able to win the FA cup and the Champions League should not be taking lightly. Of course the players play a big part in the triumph. But don't they always? You could say the same about Barcelona, Real Madrid and City. Go out and play the best you can, and they will win. The manager plays a big part, and so did Di Matteo. We played the only way the team we had back then could, and that was defending throughout the game, and succeeded.

I'm not saying that RDM is a perfect match. I'm not saying he will be the manager after this season. But to sack him now would be mad. He deserves a chance and we need consistency. I agree with you, 10-20 PL games, and we might be able to get an overview, but for now, it is way to early too judge him. I just hate the way people start moaning EVERYTIME a bad result comes along. Of course we'll have bad games! We are in the midst of a Blue revolution, and I can't remember a season like this that I've been so excited about. Oscar, Moses, Hazard, Marin, Azpi are all good and most importantly young players. I for one support RDM all the way, but we as fans certainly have the right to question his tactics which I also do. Don't get me wrong.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Di Matteo is not a tactical genius, nor is he a man-motivator. However he is a lucky manager, and they are probably the best type of manager to have.

There are times when I have thought that di Matteo is way, way out of his depth, yet other times he has been very shrewd and won us matches through his managerial competencies. I also like the way he deflects media attention, and his composed attitude is a far better image than Villas-Boas. Roman has nothing to lose by giving Robbie this season as he has already delivered two trophies. If he can win us another two this season then you have to say he is the right man for the job. Trophies don't win themselves; nor do they happen by accident.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Love the guy but i dont think he is the right man, also i just fill he is filling the void for Pep IMO

I agree there, all roads seem to lead to Pep. It's common knowledge that he is Abramovich's dream manager, the constant first choice for the job for quite some time now. Getting him to come to the club might be quite the challenge though, particularly when you factor in that Bayern Munich are apparently quite keen on him once Heynckes steps down after this season.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

Di Matteo is not a tactical genius, nor is he a man-motivator. However he is a lucky manager, and they are probably the best type of manager to have.

There are times when I have thought that di Matteo is way, way out of his depth, yet other times he has been very shrewd and won us matches through his managerial competencies. I also like the way he deflects media attention, and his composed attitude is a far better image than Villas-Boas. Roman has nothing to lose by giving Robbie this season as he has already delivered two trophies. If he can win us another two this season then you have to say he is the right man for the job. Trophies don't win themselves; nor do they happen by accident.

Depends what those 2 trophies are. If they are the Club World Cup and Carling Cup and nothing else then I can't see that being enough. I have my suspicions that RDM's main objective is to keep us in the top 4 and basically not stuff up until the fire in Guardiola's belly reignites. I hope Robbie tweaks his tactics and is just changing things slowly rather than not at all. We need to see changes in the way we play by about 10-15 games into the season otherwise things won't change at all.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

If di Matteo is trying to instil a new mentality he is learning to do it in a different way than Villas-Boas attempted. Although I see absolutely no change, besides Hazard.

The thing that annoys me most is he is killing Oscar's potential by putting him on the bench and playing Mikel and Lampard ahead of him. Though I agree with his team selection yesterday, Oscar should be playing more. However he may be short on fitness.

[Madmax 9,219]

Him not making the best use of the personnel at his disposal is a worry if I'm being honest.

[laura90 556]

There are few misleading facts about RDM's time here.

- His poor form in the League last year. It could be due to his incompetence to maintain on high level or simple fact that he gave up on the League and put all eggs in Champion League and FA cup basket.

In first case he is mediocre manager; in second he is tactical genius.

- Champions League and FA Cup. Winning those trophies with that squad is stroke of the genius. No doubt about that. However, ability to remain around top and to justify all high expectations success brings makes great manager. Trophies won in one season don't make great manager. Continuity does. Not continuity in winning trophies very next year. Continuity in winning in tough and easier matches and ability to do that by getting the best out of squad manager has. Ability to make change when things aren't working well and learning from mistakes in the process.

Great achievements - yes. Great manager - not yet.

- We are on the top of the League. Misleading. Yes we are, but after four fixtures against relatively easy teams, we were favourites against. It takes much more time and games for this fact to have meaning.

It's not that I think RDM is not good enough anymore. He has potential to be great.

However, I truly believe that this Chelsea job is dificult and requires experienced manager with proven and successful attacking philosophy.

[NishC300 1,865]

Agree with u Stewie. Doesn't know what he's doing. Our CM needs to be sorted out someone needs to tell lamps to play like Pirlo and Mikel should be replaced my Ramires, McEachran or Luiz. Yes, Luiz can play at CDM He's gr8 going forward and he's go this hard tackling nature.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Hmm feel bad about starting this thread now...

It wasn't that I wanted him gone, more just trying to understand his thought processes on making lots of signings and failing to incorporate them..

E.g what's his defining football strategy...

Mikel + Lamps is not working, why can't he try something else?

Ramires on the wing is not working, he also didn't track back either.

I just think the team lacks natural balance and fluidity - not playing players purchased is hardly inspiring to them is it?

Loaning out and selling midfield options is also not great.

He's gambled on that, instead of formations and I just hope it doesn't bite us in the arse.

Quick analogy - Arsenal a few seasons ago, teams worked out their one-dimensional approach and put 2 banks of 4 behind the ball, result - Arsenl don't break them down and Wenger started the Anti-football campaign.

I'm worried this could happen to us

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

No.

Why? Because he keeps playing Rami as a winger when hes got Moses there who came on and looked decent yesterday. He also keeps playing Mikel and Lampard as the two holding players despite Lampard being awful there, constantly going up and not tracking back leaving Mikel exposed. Yesterday it looked like for a while Ramires dropped slightly deeper to a more central role and Lampard went further up. Ramires isn't the best passer of the ball but I'd have him there over Lamps every day of the week. Also he needs to sub Sturridge for Torres much quicker when Torres is playing shit... which is most of the time. Also why did he play basically two defensive wingers against QPR? They are QPR not Barca. If thats how we played against QPR expect something awfully defensive against Juventus. Yes he won two trophies but apart from us being back in the CL due to winning the it you would expect us to win the FA cup normally. Also hes not a very great manager if he gets rid of two midfielders and doesn't replace them when we need at least one more midfielder, is he? Leaves us fucked if we get injuries....

[HNKS 508]

I dont think we will do badly under RDM, but I honestly dont believe we will improve much. Playing a defensive game against QPR was a big mistake.

[unclezillion 23]

To say RDM didn't do anything in order to win us the Champions League is complete rubbish. Come on? The team was torn to pieces by AVB and to bring back the morale in dressing room, and being able to win the FA cup and the Champions League should not be taking lightly. Of course the players play a big part in the triumph. But don't they always? You could say the same about Barcelona, Real Madrid and City. Go out and play the best you can, and they will win. The manager plays a big part, and so did Di Matteo. We played the only way the team we had back then could, and that was defending throughout the game, and succeeded.

I'm not saying that RDM is a perfect match. I'm not saying he will be the manager after this season. But to sack him now would be mad. He deserves a chance and we need consistency. I agree with you, 10-20 PL games, and we might be able to get an overview, but for now, it is way to early too judge him. I just hate the way people start moaning EVERYTIME a bad result comes along. Of course we'll have bad games! We are in the midst of a Blue revolution, and I can't remember a season like this that I've been so excited about. Oscar, Moses, Hazard, Marin, Azpi are all good and most importantly young players. I for one support RDM all the way, but we as fans certainly have the right to question his tactics which I also do. Don't get me wrong.

nope it was not RDM it was the players deciding to actually do some work!

[Peppen 934]

nope it was not RDM it was the players deciding to actually do some work!

If so, you could say that about every team in the world, man. Of course the players played the biggest part in winning the Champions League. After all it was them who played the final, not Robbie. However he did settle peace back to dressing room told by several of the "Old Guard". I am convinced that he played a part in it, albeit not as big as the players. Don't underestimate what he did for our club. After all, he was the one to bring it home, not José, not Ancelotti, not Scolari, not Grant. Roberto Di Matteo. And that deserves some real fucking credit.

[Kajo 176]

I think RDM is a smart guy a sooner or later he will realize that certain things needs to be changed. I think we should stop forcing our players to play out of their natural positions tbh. Bertrands and Ramires on the wings for example. One is CM and the other is LB u can't expect them to be as much creative as Mata, Marin, Moses, Hazard or Oscar. Everything works out for RDM last season when we were playing very defenisve type of football with counter-attacks but when u want to play offensive u need offensive players to do that tbh. I like RDM and I don't want Roman to think that RDM don't know how to play offensive football with so many quality players in the team.

[unclezillion 23]

I think RDM is a smart guy a sooner or later he will realize that certain things needs to be changed.

Just like he did at West Brom? I don't want him to fail but i don't see anything very positive at the moment!

Look at the Reading game and 2nd half against QPR and the fact we really have not played anyone!

[Rowan_Osborn 58]

If di Matteo is trying to instil a new mentality he is learning to do it in a different way than Villas-Boas attempted. Although I see absolutely no change, besides Hazard.

The thing that annoys me most is he is killing Oscar's potential by putting him on the bench and playing Mikel and Lampard ahead of him. Though I agree with his team selection yesterday, Oscar should be playing more. However he may be short on fitness.

You agree with his selection yesterday? Why did he essentially play 6 players whose main job was to defend, also with Mata out it was the perfect opportunity to give Oscar a start. Oscar doesn't appear short on fitness, he seemed to run non-stop when he has come on as a sub, he clearly wants to prove himself and in my opinion he has been giving very little chance to. Im not calling for RDM to go after 4 BPL games but his team selection at times has confused me, similar to how AVB kept selecting Malouda and Merieles as starters last year despite having better options.

[Django 83]

It's not like we're top of the league or anything like that.

[Peppen 934]

It's not like we're top of the league or anything like that.

Sadly, people tend to forget the positives. The team needs to gel. I expect a top 4 this year, and maybe a win in the FA cup or World Cup. Those two would be enough for me.