Post-season review - Chelsea 2013/14

[Special Juan 28,089]

This thread. I won't be back on until later after the football, but I will crack open a bottle and look forward to reading more.

[Barbara 15,149]

And how long will that last, considering that to me there is nothing there that indicates that he has changed his method of mangement and is still acting on short term ideas.

That's one of the funniest things I've read here lately

Unless you're serious...

If you think Jose is approaching things like he did in his first spell here I'd have to ask if you were a fan back then (maybe you were too young to remember) bc that makes no sense otherwise. His philosophy and approach were completely different. Sharper, more aggressive, less tests were done, he went for a completely different profile of players. Schurrle, Salah, even Marco didn't come to be bench warmers for 3 seasons. They've been used and will be even more next season. So how is his method the same? Enlighten me please

[duo11bluecl 207]

Oh dear now finishing potentially 3rd and get to QF of CL is success...Arsenal style ambition now?

We are Chelsea for God sake, we GO FOR EVERYTHING and only going out like against City in the FA Cup is acceptable. Nor does losing 4 games against bottom half table teams are acceptable. On CL it is MANDATORY to get to at least QF every season unless we meet Bayern/Barca/Real in the last 16. Should be making at least QF/semi of Capital 1 and FA Cup EVERY SINGLE SEASON at least and only could lose to the likes of Liverpool/Man City.

[Muzchap 8,966]

The thread = failure

Chelsea = success

<ends>

[Barbara 15,149]

Oh dear now finishing potentially 3rd and get to QF of CL is success...Arsenal style ambition now?

We are Chelsea for God sake, we GO FOR EVERYTHING and only going out like against City in the FA Cup is acceptable. Nor does losing 4 games against bottom half table teams are acceptable. On CL it is MANDATORY to get to at least QF every season unless we meet Bayern/Barca/Real in the last 16. Should be making at least QF/semi of Capital 1 and FA Cup EVERY SINGLE SEASON at least and only could lose to the likes of Liverpool/Man City.

Sorry for sounding like an entitled bitch - maybe that's what I am but WE are Chelsea fans and we have titles expectations like any other fan (except Arsenal) but we can recognize progress and label it success even without titles bc we are here to support the manager and the team no matter what without demanding titles as if we were the only team in the world to have money and good players.

This thread worn me out already. It's a lot of fan character showing, the kind I have no patience for. Come back when we win something as that is all that matters

[Alan Partridge 1,124]

In terms of silverware, a failure

In terms of the future of the team, a success. First proper transitional season under a long term manager and we have challenged for the title and still in the CL, which is more than Arsenal can say.

We are a couple of players away from being a team capable of winning anything

[Weckerz 3,781]

wtf is this..

1. still competing in the CL

2. We were top of the league just a few days ago and still have a decent shot at the title

Taking into account the squad without a proper striker or playmaker I'm not sure how this season can be anything but a success so far?

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

That's one of the funniest things I've read here lately

Unless you're serious...

If you think Jose is approaching things like he did in his first spell here I'd have to ask if you were a fan back then (maybe you were too young to remember) bc that makes no sense otherwise. His philosophy and approach were completely different. Sharper, more aggressive, less tests were done, he went for a completely different profile of players. Schurrle, Salah, even Marco didn't come to be bench warmers for 3 seasons. They've been used and will be even more next season. So how is his method the same? Enlighten me please

Last time he also had a relatively young squad. If I remember correct Lampard an Terry were in their early 20s, as well as Gudjonhson and Duff. Robben and Cech were one of the most exciting young prospects when we got him; and I should also mention that many of them never won a major trophy before so you could not say they were experienced winners . And lets not forget that the two seasons after that we spent huge amounts of money on young players that were made by other clubs or introduced by them. £21 million on Shaun Wright Phillips, £25 million on a 23 year old Essien, £18 million on a teenage Mikel. How is this any different? We are still paying huge amounts of money for players that were molded by other clubs so they can make an immediate impact. A real change of emphasis would be actually using scouting and networks to bring in young players (mainly 16-200 that we bring up ourselves through the youth and reserve squad that would blended into the team. So far, despite claiming throughout the summer that youth products like Kalas, Chalobah ect would be used in this season, we have not seen any of them given any starts at all. The fact that we are paying £12 million pounds on Zouma who already has over 40 appearances at 18 with his parent club (and was heavily hyped over Europe) instead of giving the likes of Kalas a chance says it all. If he were to actually use youth products that did not cost over £10 million pounds and got rid of some of the older players like Lampard, Cole and Ivanovic to make way for them, then I would see this as long term planning with a completely different direction of managing the club. So far its the same old, expensive transfers for players other clubs have molded so they can make an immediate (or in about 6 months) impact.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Added a poll as suggested by some.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Last time he also had a relatively young squad. If I remember correct Lampard an Terry were in their early 20s, as well as Gudjonhson and Duff. Robben and Cech were one of the most exciting young prospects when we got him; and I should also mention that many of them never won a major trophy before so you could not say they were experienced winners . And lets not forget that the two seasons after that we spent huge amounts of money on young players that were made by other clubs or introduced by them. £21 million on Shaun Wright Phillips, £25 million on a 23 year old Essien, £18 million on a teenage Mikel. How is this any different? We are still paying huge amounts of money for players that were molded by other clubs so they can make an immediate impact. A real change of emphasis would be actually using scouting and networks to bring in young players (mainly 16-200 that we bring up ourselves through the youth and reserve squad that would blended into the team. So far, despite claiming throughout the summer that youth products like Kalas, Chalobah ect would be used in this season, we have not seen any of them given any starts at all. The fact that we are paying £12 million pounds on Zouma who already has over 40 appearances at 18 with his parent club (and was heavily hyped over Europe) instead of giving the likes of Kalas a chance says it all. If he were to actually use youth products that did not cost over £10 million pounds and got rid of some of the older players like Lampard, Cole and Ivanovic to make way for them, then I would see this as long term planning with a completely different direction of managing the club. So far its the same old, expensive transfers for players other clubs have molded so they can make an immediate (or in about 6 months) impact.

Chalobah you may have a point. Kalas got injured near the start of the season and where he would've got games I don't know.

Simple fact is that you're judging him way too soon. You can't just throw young players in when there's no spine to the team. We can actually play Chalobah next season ALONGSIDE Matic, but are you seriously saying that either Mikel or Ramires had enough leadership skills to actually take him under their wing? As for the older guard, he's sold Essien (a guy you were unequivocally disrespectful too if I remember correctly) and dropped Cole. Who would you like him to play now? Aina?

I've criticised him (because I am capable and willing to do that when I feel it is appropriate and not in a scattergun manner like you do you mewling quim) for not going with Lukaku this season but beyond that it's hard to fault the guy when it comes to integrating youth. You need that firm foundation to do that though, unless you're as hopeless as we were last season in which case fuck it.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Chalobah you may have a point. Kalas got injured near the start of the season and where he would've got games I don't know.

Simple fact is that you're judging him way too soon. You can't just throw young players in when there's no spine to the team. We can actually play Chalobah next season ALONGSIDE Matic, but are you seriously saying that either Mikel or Ramires had enough leadership skills to actually take him under their wing? As for the older guard, he's sold Essien (a guy you were unequivocally disrespectful too if I remember correctly) and dropped Cole. Who would you like him to play now? Aina?

I've criticised him (because I am capable and willing to do that when I feel it is appropriate and not in a scattergun manner like you do you mewling quim) for not going with Lukaku this season but beyond that it's hard to fault the guy when it comes to integrating youth. You need that firm foundation to do that though, unless you're as hopeless as we were last season in which case fuck it.

What, you need a firm foundation and someone to guide them to just introduce at least one youth player into the team? I don't buy that excuse (which is you trying to create a chicken and egg paradox), is it really just hard to make way for one youth player, you can't just trying to make excuses to try and not play them (whether its because they don't have enough experience or because their is no one to take them under the wing (Seriously? they are football players not Jedi knights) despite the fact that the likes of Terry and Ivanovic (who apparently are leaders) are regulars in the team. That's the reason why they have been rotting away on loan. Since Jose is apparently here for the long term and does not have to win anything this season (and possibly the next 2 seasons after that), there is no reason why he can't introduce them into the squad now and make them part of the "foundation" you claim is needed. You have to take chances with these players instead of spending £12 million on someone like Zouma who already has first team experience and basically means that we won't bother with the likes of Chalobah and Kalas. Just look at Everton and Martinez in his first season who have introduced Barkley and Stones into the squad, who don't have world class players like Hazard now has a really good chance of landing a top four spot, if he can do that in his first season then Jose has no excuse.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

If we win the title and maybe a cup next season then this one will be a success. If we don't it will be a big failure.