The Hiddink Thread

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

In Grandpa Guus we trust!!!!

 

[Henrique 9,133]

Best performance I've seen from Chelsea since 2013. Team winning 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, and still exchanging passes in the attakcking field (many passes), instead of trying stupid long balls, and the team never stopped moving forward, instead of sitting back and trying counter attacks.

As a result, biggest win since January, and Palace suffered biggest home defeat since 2013. Palace was completely dominated during the 2nd half. If there was Hazard instead of Pedro, the result would be a 5-0 or 6-0.

I'm so glad the right decision was made weeks ago. It seems we will see some decent piece of tooball for the rest of the season.

[Stats 7,136]

I hope all those critics who said he will not be any different to Mourinho give him the credit he deserves. Clear difference he has made so far and the team looks so much fluid. Like I said, I am greatful for what Mourinho has done here but this change for the season should have been made a lot earlier.

[Clockwork 1,794]

I have been away for a few weeks, but not sure it has been discussed but we need better distribution from the back four. Especially CBs that are conferable on the ball. Watford and United showed, pressure the back four you are going disturb the flow of the team. I hope we address this need in the transfer window. 

[LDN Blue 7,903]

More like it from Guus, definitely built on the dire performance in Manchester a few days ago. Ballsy to drop Matic in favour of Mikel - That hasn't been done in years.

[Milan 17,955]

 

[Ossie the King 634]

16 minutes ago, Stats said:

I hope all those critics who said he will not be any different to Mourinho give him the credit he deserves. Clear difference he has made so far and the team looks so much fluid. Like I said, I am greatful for what Mourinho has done here but this change for the season should have been made a lot earlier.

I think, unless you were leading the 'Stevie Holland for coach' charge a few weeks ago and are just being consistent, that maybe it's worth taking a step back and not taking too much from one result. We played equally well against a poor Sunderland side so hopefully this isn't just a case of us turning over two poor sides. Palace normally wouldn't be considered a dodgy team, but this one today really weren't at the races and it's too early to say if that was because of our performance or not in my opinion.

[Barbara 15,149]

Yep, been overly criticizing of him. He's done much better already than I thought he would.

Well, I guess I was blinded by my dislike for interim managers... he's done well for us. Keep it up, Guus

[Stats 7,136]

1 minute ago, Ossie the King said:

I think, unless you were leading the 'Stevie Holland for coach' charge a few weeks ago and are just being consistent, that maybe it's worth taking a step back and not taking too much from one result. We played equally well against a poor Sunderland side so hopefully this isn't just a case of us turning over two poor sides. Palace normally wouldn't be considered a dodgy team, but this one today really weren't at the races and it's too early to say if that was because of our performance or not in my opinion.

Palace were poor today but it was more because we were the better team and dominated. Pardew praised our performance himself. Mourinho after the 1-0 lead would sit on it and invite way too much pressure. Yeah, it could turn out to be a false dawn but I saw a lot today (against a team who many people thought we would lose) to convince me we are on the way up.

[Ossie the King 634]

1 minute ago, Stats said:

Palace were poor today but it was more because we were the better team and dominated. Pardew praised our performance himself. Mourinho after the 1-0 lead would sit on it and invite way too much pressure. Yeah, it could turn out to be a false dawn but I saw a lot today (against a team who many people thought we would lose) to convince me we are on the way up.

Fair enough, but Pardew also said that losing Cabaye and Bolasie would be like Leicester losing Vardy and Mahrez. That's not too say we weren't good today but that it's one result. A good one no doubt but unless we build on it then it's meaningless.

Guus made the right call with Mikel though. Absolutely superb and got the whole team ticking. I was just very surprised at how much space we had compared to when they played us earlier in the season or when Bournemouth or Leicester played us.

[Azul 1,615]

He's done good for this game but he hasn't proven shit yet. I hope we continue like this, but I still do not agree with his line-ups. Let's wait and see if this will be consistent.
Chelsea's story this season has been one step forward and 2 steps back. Let's hope that this is not the case.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

He's done great, imo. I think this is the thing to do when the team is in a crisis: first steady the defense and solidify the midfield, then allow attacking players to express themselves. Obviously easier said than implemented but we seem on our way towards that. 

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

And we had none of Costa's petulance today. Hiddink probably told him to calm it down your not doing yourself and the team any favours. Mourinho on the other hand was more then likely encouraging him to practice the dark arts.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Ehh.. Slight hyperbole here?

Yeah it was a fantastic game today and Hiddink deserves credit with the way the team was set up, the inclusion of Mikel seemed justified too. But we've had these moments in the season and what's the real test for Hiddink is being consistent in this approach to games. We had an advantage in the fact Palace were rubbish & missing a lot of key players, we deserve credit for actually exploiting that.

Anyway, I hope we continue to play and kill of games like this. But I'm curbing my own enthusiasm here until it's consistent

[Styles 9,790]

Quote

Hiddink: "If the team hasn’t been doing well for a long period then it is important to look for security. That’s why we emphasised on good, hard work in a tactical defensive way. I don’t like to see a team drop back very far and seek false security but to look forward and get the ball forward as soon as possible. When they get the ball they know how to play."

What an absolutely brilliant quote and great term.

False security. Wow. Sums up most of 2015.