Honest Expectations and Bold Predictions for the 2014/15 Season

[Tomo 21,751]

Think Mou will be sacked if he doesn't win it this year.

Why?

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Why?

It is the way the club works.

[bethos1 802]

It is the way the club works.

Let's hope the club changed then.

[Tomo 21,751]

It is the way the club works.

No, they sack managers who they believe won't take the team forward, I love how people just think that they were sacked purely because they didn't win the league or CL, it's such a simple way of looking at it.

Lets look at the managers Roman has sacked.

Ranieri - Roman never wanted him, he was gone regardless.

Grant - Not a long term option, if he wasn't sacked in the summer it wouldn't have took long after.

Scolari - players were unfit, we had no game plan, Benitez showed the world how to combat Scolaris Chelsea and from then on we had no answer.

Ancelotti - Awful second season, comatose football, sticking to underperforming players, giving to much away tactically in press conferences and pre match interviews, making the same mistakes again and again and again, I mean ffs Kenny Dalglish tactically outsmarted him.

People refer to 2nd place but that doesn't tell the whole story, we still had a good defence that season so managed to scrape a lot of turgid wins but our attack was horrific.

Carlo was sacked due to performances, we were absolute rubbish and that season set us back years.

AVB - Roman wanted to give him time and kept him for as long as possible, until a variety of things forced his hand.

RDM - Never wanted by Roman despite the CL, was always waiting for the first excuse and took it.

If we are dining at the top end and just miss out, what would be the point? We saw what happened to United and if we sack Jose and make a Scolari lite mistake, with competition increasing all the time we could be in serious trouble.

At the very very worst Jose will have us competing at a high competitive level, and I think Roman knows that. Furthermore just because he use to be 'trigger happy' (again overexaggerated, all the managers sacked had reason for dismissal, and all turned out to be right, apart from Jose but that was mutual consent) doesn't mean hr still would be now, are you the same person you were in 2011?

Saying Roman will sack because he done it before is just to easy a way to look at things, I eat a tub of Harbenero sauce a few years ago and I sure as hell ain't doing that again.

[quickpassnmove 924]

I'm not making any predictions, but I am still leery of not having replaced Mikel with a better center midfielder, not having a 3rd striker (just Costa and Drogba), and playing too much in the same style and movement of the 4231.

Despite those problems, Chelsea's future looks good with all the young players that might come into the 1st team in the future and having Jose Mourinho as our manager.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

No, they sack managers who they believe won't take the team forward, I love how people just think that they were sacked purely because they didn't win the league or CL, it's such a simple way of looking at it.

Lets look at the managers Roman has sacked.

Ranieri - Roman never wanted him, he was gone regardless.

Grant - Not a long term option, if he wasn't sacked in the summer it wouldn't have took long after.

Scolari - players were unfit, we had no game plan, Benitez showed the world how to combat Scolaris Chelsea and from then on we had no answer.

Ancelotti - Awful second season, comatose football, sticking to underperforming players, giving to much away tactically in press conferences and pre match interviews, making the same mistakes again and again and again, I mean ffs Kenny Dalglish tactically outsmarted him.

People refer to 2nd place but that doesn't tell the whole story, we still had a good defence that season so managed to scrape a lot of turgid wins but our attack was horrific.

Carlo was sacked due to performances, we were absolute rubbish and that season set us back years.

AVB - Roman wanted to give him time and kept him for as long as possible, until a variety of things forced his hand.

RDM - Never wanted by Roman despite the CL, was always waiting for the first excuse and took it.

If we are dining at the top end and just miss out, what would be the point? We saw what happened to United and if we sack Jose and make a Scolari lite mistake, with competition increasing all the time we could be in serious trouble.

At the very very worst Jose will have us competing at a high competitive level, and I think Roman knows that. Furthermore just because he use to be 'trigger happy' (again overexaggerated, all the managers sacked had reason for dismissal, and all turned out to be right, apart from Jose but that was mutual consent) doesn't mean hr still would be now, are you the same person you were in 2011?

Saying Roman will sack because he done it before is just to easy a way to look at things, I eat a tub of Harbenero sauce a few years ago and I sure as hell ain't doing that again.

I'm not saying you're wholly wrong, but you altered the context of this story of sacked managers ever so slightly.

While your reasons in hindsight might be true regarding all these managerial sacking let's not cover this in blue-tinted glasses. Roman & the board are ready to pull the trigger on any manager they feel won't be able to dig themselves out of a rout the club would go through. While they can be briliant, like in this transfer window, they have the ability (and demonstrated the ability) to undo it all with sacking a manager.

Mourinho won't be a special exception imo. If there isn't silverwear this season, the unfortunately I think the OP was right with the post you replied to, he will be sacked. Mourinho might be special, but in the board's eyes there's Guardiola, Conte and whoever else is going to flavour of the month by the end of the season.

[Tomo 21,751]

I'm not saying you're wholly wrong, but you altered the context of this story of sacked managers ever so slightly.

While your reasons in hindsight might be true regarding all these managerial sacking let's not cover this in blue-tinted glasses. Roman & the board are ready to pull the trigger on any manager they feel won't be able to dig themselves out of a rout the club would go through. While they can be briliant, like in this transfer window, they have the ability (and demonstrated the ability) to undo it all with sacking a manager.

Mourinho won't be a special exception imo. If there isn't silverwear this season, the unfortunately I think the OP was right with the post you replied to, he will be sacked. Mourinho might be special, but in the board's eyes there's Guardiola, Conte and whoever else is going to flavour of the month by the end of the season.

Well hopefully were just win the league and neither of us will have to find out either way

I can understand the caution and maybe im a tad naive thinking this, but I reckon if we are heading on the right path I think Jose will stay regardless, obviously if we nosedive down the league he's gone, but next to no chance of that.

[Billy. 2,742]

Been to long since we last won it, and after what jose kept saying last year about next season being ours its now time to deliver

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Well hopefully were just win the league and neither of us will have to find out either way

I can understand the caution and maybe im a tad naive thinking this, but I reckon if we are heading on the right path I think Jose will stay regardless, obviously if we nosedive down the league he's gone, but next to no chance of that.

the thing is, if we don't win then there would have been a nose dive one way or another. That's how leagues are lost.

[Viper22 2,418]

League and FA Cup double.

I can feel it. My newspaper cut out from May 2010 when we won the double just fell on me while I was thinking about my predictions. So....

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Yup. Premiership and FA Cup double.

[The Rising Sun 711]

Mourinho was fired once.

We all know what happened since then.

Yes we won trophies, but that was with Jose's ageing squad, and we were never able to get a "team" again, no balance.

All it took Jose was 1 YEAR. The way he has fixed our squad has been nothing short of phenomenal.

I think the club and Roman have both realised how important a good manager is and the stability he brings.

Jose by design is a winner, and while he is here, we will win trophies.

His style of play has also improved, and he is much less negative as he was before.

He has also matured over time and is not as confrontational as he was in his first stint.

Meanwhile , Roman has also matured and doesnt desire the level of control he wanted in his first few years as an owner.

Too many things have changed at this football club for Mou to be fired for coming second, why btw wont happen.

I am more confident than ever, that we will win the title this year and should have a long run in the FA Cup and CL.

Not too sure how highly Jose will treat the COC, as the priority this year will be the league over every other competition.

[Styles 9,790]

Man City just have too much firepower and the Costa injury confirms my fears.

1. Man City

2. Chelsea/Liverpool/Arsenal

5. Man United

I think we can definitely finish in the top 3 whatever happens.

We may make another run in the Champions League but that again depends on keeping our one and only quality striker healthy so not confident.

FA Cup/Carling Cup all depends on the draw.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Man City just have too much firepower and the Costa injury confirms my fears.

1. Man City

2. Chelsea/Liverpool/Arsenal

5. Man United

I think we can definitely finish in the top 3 whatever happens.

We may make another run in the Champions League but that again depends on keeping our one and only quality striker healthy so not confident.

FA Cup/Carling Cup all depends on the draw.

Would you completely revise that if we brought in a quality 2nd choice? What striker would you sign if given the choice?

[Styles 9,790]

Would you completely revise that if we brought in a quality 2nd choice?

I definitely would.

What striker would you sign if given the choice?

There has to be somebody out there who would represent an upgrade on our current options and that has scope for further development. It doesn't even have to be a pure out and out striker like a Costa; I'd even take a support striker who can double up as a CF when needed. Look at the variety City have in their attacking options for example, Aguero is very different to Dzeko for example.

One kid I really like is Heung-Min Son at Leverkusen. I first noticed him when he turned Carvalho inside out and scored against us in a friendly game a few years ago. He's more of a support striker but scores goals and definitely has the ability to get better numbers. He's cup-tied for Champions League so will never happen but I hope he's one we're watching.*

Destro looks interesting enough and perhaps even Firmino who was linked a while ago?

My point is there are always players out there; we just have to take a calculated risk instead of waiting and waiting for a sure thing...like Torres.

*2015 Heung-Min Son fan club is accepting applications. Jump on board, Skip.

[iseah100 5,612]

I definitely would.

There has to be somebody out there who would represent an upgrade on our current options and that has scope for further development. It doesn't even have to be a pure out and out striker like a Costa; I'd even take a support striker who can double up as a CF when needed. Look at the variety City have in their attacking options for example, Aguero is very different to Dzeko for example.

One kid I really like is Heung-Min Son at Leverkusen. I first noticed him when he turned Carvalho inside out and scored against us in a friendly game a few years ago. He's more of a support striker but scores goals and definitely has the ability to get better numbers. He's cup-tied for Champions League so will never happen but I hope he's one we're watching.*

Destro looks interesting enough and perhaps even Firmino who was linked a while ago?

My point is there are always players out there; we just have to take a calculated risk instead of waiting and waiting for a sure thing...like Torres.

*2015 Heung-Min Son fan club is accepting applications. Jump on board, Skip.

I remember I was excited to see Son in the WC. He's good, I would personally like to see us try and get Lacazette from Lyon. Like Son, he's more of a support striker too.

[Styles 9,790]

I remember I was excited to see Son in the WC. He's good, I would personally like to see us try and get Lacazette from Lyon. Like Son, he's more of a support striker too.

There are definitely interesting options out there, we can't keep waiting for a big name to become available. If anything Costa is the big name.

Heung-Min Son's goal against us here:

Not only did he make a fool of Carvalho he beat the mighty Ross Turnbull. He did that at 18 years of age...the kid is a beast

That was 4 years ago btw; time flies

[stroey 2,525]

There are definitely interesting options out there, we can't keep waiting for a big name to become available. If anything Costa is the big name.

Heung-Min Son's goal against us here:

Not only did he make a fool of Carvalho he beat the mighty Ross Turnbull. He did that at 18 years of age...the kid is a beast

That was 4 years ago btw; time flies

Nothing special about that goal, especially if U compare it to what Ronaldinho did with Carvalho.

[The Skipper 20,609]

*2015 Heung-Min Son fan club is accepting applications. Jump on board, Skip.

I like HMS, but I've never seen him as the type to be the spearhead of a team? I know he can play up front but isn't he like Schurrle in the fact that he operates better from the flanks where he can start his runs from deep and utilise that cracking long shot he has?

Firmino would be an interesting buy too actually, even though he is more of a 10 than a 9, but he's impressed me when he had to fill in up front. His link up play is obviously very good because of his number 10 background. Would be an interesting project.

Destro, haven't seen much of tbh...

[Styles 9,790]

I like HMS, but I've never seen him as the type to be the spearhead of a team? I know he can play up front but isn't he like Schurrle in the fact that he operates better from the flanks where he can start his runs from deep and utilise that cracking long shot he has?

Firmino would be an interesting buy too actually, even though he is more of a 10 than a 9, but he's impressed me when he had to fill in up front. His link up play is obviously very good because of his number 10 background. Would be an interesting project.

Destro, haven't seen much of tbh...

Yeah, he's quite similar to Schurrle but I think he's more capable to play through the middle than Schurrle is from what I've seen. I would like to see Schurrle given an extended chance as a forward if we don't sign somebody/Torres stays.