Post-season review - Chelsea 2013/14

[Laylabelle 9,359]

Say in between...failure because we came so close and messed up against teams which on paper we should be beating...success imo as never thought we would challenge or keep it up till the end.We were the last team in Europe again although didn't really matter in the end as we were poor in that game got further then thought we did.Cup run however was a bit shite but hey...

[Jase 43,479]

Throwing in some (depressing) stats...

1. Man City have 4 players who have scored 20+ goals this season in all competitions - Aguero (28), Dzeko (26), Toure (24) & Negredo (23).

2. Man City have scored 154 goals in all competitions this season and 101 of them have been scored by Aguero, Dzeko, Toure and Negredo.

3. Man City have scored 100 PL goals this season. Only need 4 more goals to break the goalscoring record by a team in 1 PL season - 103 by Chelsea.

[zolayes 14,489]

now I will say it depends what happens with Oscar . Hazard Luiz and Courtois

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

So the season is now officially over and I’m interested to 'hear' some fellow Chelsea fans thoughts on this most enigmatic of seasons (Not just whether it was a failure or success ).

Overview: It’s been a long season, and one that’s ended trophy less. For a club like Chelsea it’s not one to be celebrated but on the balance of things, I’d still say it's been a decent one. Top 3 without a proper striker, reaching the semi-finals of the UCL after being embarrassingly knocked out in the group stages last year. And perhaps with a bit more luck we’d even of had some silverware (Supercup).

I think it’s fair to say that the performances on the pitch have been lacklustre overall, there are times when we’ve struggled to even string together more than a few passes. But that’s not to say there haven’t been any great performances, i.e like against Citeh at the Etihad and Liverpool at the bridge. Once we actually have a proper striker and a better partner for Matic (hopefully) this will obviously improve.

For next season it’s hard to predict what will happen until the transfer window is closed (please start by getting rid of that spanaird up front ).But I trust that Mou’ will improve things, he’s already talked about how his report is ready which is great to hear. He’s also said throughout the season how we will be proper contenders for the title next season. So, although premature, I really expect next season to be a success.

Most Memorable Moment: Can’t decide between Ba’s winner against PSG, the 6-0 thrashing of Arsenal and the Gerrard slip (also props to Eto'o for his hat-trick against United) (I’m also not including the youth cup victory as I’m focusing more on the first team)

Worst Moment: Probably the Sunderland game, really was an awful moment, at least the ex-Liverpool player linesman can tell his mates he did all he could to bring the title to Anfield . The second leg against Atletico was also a bad moment, but we definitely deserved to lose, making it a lot easier to digest than some of our previous UCL exits in that sense.

Best player: Eden Hazard (just ahead of Azpi). It’s the easy option but he was overall superb.

Best goal: Been a long season but off the top of my head I’d say it’s between Torres vs Bayern, Eto’o vs Arsenal or Hazard vs Sunderland.

Season in a word: Transition

[Special Juan 27,429]

I have merged this into the success/failure thread. It all sits into the same thing.

[Pizy 18,368]

After all the praising and the creaming of pants by the media and other clubs' supporters about how incredible and amazing Liverpool and City have been, after all of the shit that has been spewed about how we play dire, boring, defensive football we finish only 2 points behind the "neutral's team" Liverpool and 4 points behind the most expensive team in professional sports WITH NO STRIKERS.

Liverpool and City finished with over 100 goals scored and still barely finished above us. Massive improvement over last season for us.

Next season will be our year. We'll be one of the most feared sides in Europe with a few key additions.

[Special Juan 27,429]

I've said before it was a success, that was before the CL loss to Atletico and before we were out of the league.

Looking at things now I do not change my mind. Still think going into the season with Torres, Eto'o and Ba was like giving someone a PC without a keyboard.

[zolayes 14,489]

I think there should be a special award for Liverpool ...not quite sure what

Best fans in the World ?

Oh for finishing higher than Manure

Their strikers having most bite ..

Oh anything to stop them whining about "istory "

see I didnt use a H

[Laylabelle 9,359]

We came 3rd with no strikers and not far off the top either...we helped to save everyone sanity by beating Liverpool and giving City a hand in winning the title we also beat Liverpool twice woohey..crazy how quick its gone!

[LAM09 6,752]

I will have to sit on the fence on this one. It has been a bit of both. We were so close to reaching another European final and lifting the Prem title, but our lack of a poacher has cost us once again.

I personally think we are only short of a few improvements throughout the squad, with upfront being the main priority. If we do good business in the summer, next season could be one of our most successful.

[mediator 2,026]

Jake Cohen ‏@JakeFCohen 2 h

Despite a trophyless season, Chelsea is set to earn, conservatively, £340m for its efforts, an incredible 30% increase from last season #CFC

[Fernando 6,465]

Jake Cohen ‏@JakeFCohen 2 h

Despite a trophyless season, Chelsea is set to earn, conservatively, £340m for its efforts, an incredible 30% increase from last season #CFC

Would be good if we could knew our expenses.

Like how much do we expect our wages to be and such?

Cause we might actually turn a profit in the new reports.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Jake Cohen ‏@JakeFCohen 2 h

Despite a trophyless season, Chelsea is set to earn, conservatively, £340m for its efforts, an incredible 30% increase from last season #CFC

He's going to write an article on it tomorrow, breaking it down completely financially then will use some guesstimate to guess how much Mou could potentially have for the summer this season.

It certainly means we can comfortably spend quite a bit this summer though, especially considering the TV deal will increase even further next season (not sure if he's already put that in there yet but we'll see).

[Blue Armour 4,289]

I think there should be a special award for Liverpool ...not quite sure what

Best fans in the World ?

Oh for finishing higher than Manure

Their strikers having most bite ..

Oh anything to stop them whining about "istory "

see I didnt use a H

Lol...that's a good one..

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

I have merged this into the success/failure thread. It all sits into the same thing.

Your first action as new Mod, tell me, how did it feel?

P.S. *Congrats also, on being named new Mod, Great choice.*

[gary gordon 1,777]

We lacked a midfield leader and a decent finisher. Without those two, 3rd in the league and CL semi final, I'd say it's been a success. Our dominance in Europe is only not far away.

[Tomo 21,733]

Btw interestingly enough if someone told us 2 years after that night in Munich we would only win Europa league and Mata would be sold, what do you guys think we would have reacted like? Cannot believe it that is for sure so it is OK to write this season off but since winning the CL this 'transitional' period is a failure.

Munich was incredible, an amazing underdog story but that was it, underdog, we were rubbish that season and could barely string 2 wins together for the most part, Munich was an incredible moment but it didn't change the fact we still had a long way to go before we were back at the top pyramid of football.

Last season was a little baby step in the right direction, Hazard, Oscar and Azpi helped breath some fresh energy in a stale squad but we still had the problem of the squad being terribly unbalanced with no distinct style of play.

Jose has come in, and we are looking like a club with a direction again, Jose has set a blueprint to make us a solid counter attacking team in the mould of Leti this year and Bayern the year before, no more floating around in endless transitions making strange signings with no plan on how to integrate them, no more player power, no 50m flops getting unconditional minutes over vastly superior players, the manager is incharge and it's his way or the high way.

[Special Juan 27,429]

Your first action as new Mod, tell me, how did it feel?

P.S. *Congrats also, on being named new Mod, Great choice.*

It was a nervous moment.