Scolari

[Fulham Broadway 16,977]

He seemed perfect when he took over, decent track record, not too controversial, and reputation as something of a tactician. In hindsight, I think most fans would have welcomed almost anyone after Aving A Laugh Grant, and Scolari is sowing a few seeds of doubt.

Little sign of a plan B, and seems hardly committed to the cause. As people have pointed out -Chelsea are yet to do it against the 'big four' in this campaign. Comments like ''If we dont have the quality to beat Cluj, I will pack my bags and go back to Brazil'' dont help.

That said, I've always thought the role of a manager is vastly overrated. The press create them as giants with mystical skills hanging on their every word. The primary role of the manger is to motivate in my book, instil confidence and to have contigencies for shifts in the game and for the players to respect him. Even this is not required if you have a squad of seasoned professionals, as was seen with the imposter Grant.

Jury is still out whether Big Phil is all he was made out to be....

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

I've been thinking the same things myself after the last few games, especially the Newcastle games when we resorted to hoofing high balls into the box. Was that down to the players panicing as they didnt know what to do?

They've been around long enough to figure ways out to make chances against teams who make things difficult. Before when teams had the "backs to the wall" mentality when playing us we played ugly and grinded out 3 points, now we look far from doing that and are looking average when the chips are down.

Scolari has to take some criticism for that. When teams let us play we're a joy to watch. When they dont, its like scraping nails down a blackboard.

[Kez 2,727]

Keep the faith. The end of the season and the amount of silverware in the cabinet will show if Scolari is right for the job.

However I do have to admit he doesnt seem all he was made out to be.

However i' not losing faith yet

[diskoviolente 425]

well, for managing a european club for the first time he´s not that bad, is he ?esp. with so much keyplayers out for a longer time than 2 games...

Champions League is the f*****and highest and most difficult Cup in the whole football world, i´d say and he has no real expirience with that, he is a smart manager getting to know European Club football....we are not out yet, and i have faith in him as well... in the Cluj game he will show all he can

[chelseafc123 0]

I am concerned about what are the results we got at home. I think that ultimately we can still improve for the title. And that first go hide this.

If we look at the data points Stoke draws more local than us, and this can not be possible.

To all this because we do not have these solid defensively that we had in SB, which was key in recent years. Scolari leaves me a lot of doubts, despite the good football that are watching this.

PD: Fuck with the translator...

Edited November 27, 2008 by chelseafc

[BlueLion. 21,491]

The home form will improve. Since Liverpool have beaten us, teams don't fear coming to the Bridge. A crushing victory over one of our next opponents will show them we mean business.

[carefreeluke 27]

No plan B is exactly why we perform better away from home. Teams in the Premiership have to have a go when their at home which is better for us leaving more space for us to exploit. However when we are at home teams play the pressing game putting us under pressure giving us no time on the ball. This is especially true when our full backs come under great pressure.

I fear for what will happen agaisnt Arsenal at the weekend. Liverpool and Man United both came and were good tactically putting us under pressure from the start. I remember Fergie going for two wingers with high fitness levels just so Bosingwa and A.cole were put under a lot of pressure and so it was kept going throughout the match.

[Laylabelle 9,408]

Meh a bit hmmm but hey time will tell,first year in with a European team,players injured etc.

Our home form god knows whats gone with that but hopfully now it'll pick up.Teams wont put 11 players behind the ball,or hopfully not like Newcastle did and volia.

[Elliott 7]

I don't think he's doing very well at the moment, but lets judge him after he's had a season.

[warnie_666 1,081]

It all started with the Liverpool Game.

Jose was more aggressive in his tactics than Scolari. And more effective.

If we were drawing at home against a mid table or a weak team, at around half time, Jose would remove the RB and put an attacking player and go for a win.

Scolari, plays with the same formation for around 70 mins inspite of teams like newcastle Parking the bus. I dont understand why we need a defensive midfielder on when the opposition team striker plays as a midfielder in his own half.

Against top teams when we are 1 goal down, Jose always takes off the RB at half time or soon enough to give time for our team to attack.

We had 0 shots on and off target till 65 mins against Bordeux and we were playing with the same formation. Luckily we scored. Why dont we try to be more aggressive, i have no clue.

[Fulham Broadway 16,977]

True, aggression and sheer desire to put the ball in the onion bag as an end result needs to be focussed.

One reason why Scolari may seem a little disillusioned is that when he signed the £5 million a year contract, he was allegedly told he could buy players he wanted. He immediately chose Kaka and Ribery and was then told he couldnt have them -although silly money was being asked anyway.

Missing out on Robinho has also meant reliance on second choice Malouda, who has erratic form. Mikel in front of teh back four, will never have the natural reading of Claude Makalele.

We still have an incredibly strong squad, and silverware is definitely attainable, but failure against any of the 'big ' teams, including losing to the dippers, drawing with Bordeaux, Cluj, and losing to Roma, has shown lack of concentration and desire imo. The team although sitting atop the Premier League appears a jaded shadow of the 2005

hungry heroes. A win on Sunday will restore confidence though....

[True_Blue 469]

I actually think we only done 1 thing wrong in all of our ''shit'' games,that is that we play 4-5-1.We can't attack with that formation and the defence is shaky cuz we don't know if we should attack more or defend more.I think Scolari would make a brilliant job to start with 2 strikers and 4-4-2 formation which can change on to 4-3-3 to hit on counters.We have a lot of possesion which shows we are comfortable on the ball but we lack attack options severely.I heard we are linked with the winger from Bayern Bastian and he will come on free that would be a massive signing and we would still have money to buy a proper striker to cover our injury striked team.

My ideal formation would be:

-----------------------Cech-------------------------

Boswinga-----Riccy---------JT------Cole---------

-----------------------Mikel-------------------------

-----J.Cole--------Lampard--------Deco----------

---------------Anelka------Drogba-----------------

On the second thought i'll fax this to Scolari

[BlueLion. 21,491]

We all have to remember Scolari hasn't been in league management for a very long time, and hasn't managed at club level in such a massive league. He's still learning, but doing very well nonetheless. We are leaving a lot to be desired in terms of performances against the 'bigger' clubs, but in all the circumstances, he's doing well enough for me.

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

He needs to grab the bull by the horns and get Stamford Bridge back to the fortress it was instead of the wendy house it is.

[warnie_666 1,081]

We need to have Plan B cus we stick to the same formation for too long even if the team has parked its bus. And everyone has realised that even the analysts. Hence, Teams come to Chelsea, Park the Bus, and they know they will get a draw cus Chelsea dont have Plan B.

Edited November 29, 2008 by warnie_666

[bombayblue™ 55]

What scolari's said is that he doesn't have the players in training to try out stuff, which i think and sincerely hope is the reason for the lack of plan B, i mean when you barely have players to make up the 11 and the bench and then the international fixtures and all this travelling it would make more sense to just stick to the basics and hope everyone does whats expected of them..

I agree with the majority in here, we need to wait till the end of the season before we give out our judgement..

[Joe Cool 388]

I'm starting to doubt him a bit now hat we're having this shite spell. But I guess we'll see today if Scolari can actually get 3 points against the big teams.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I'm starting to doubt him now. A lot.