Things Arent As Bad As They Seem

[Alee. 182]

Everyoen is picking on Avram.. And i hate him as much as the next person.. but.. Yes, he has done nothing extra ordinary so far.. But hes got us through this phase very nicely..

I mean, when Jose left.. If we were offered this:

6 Points away from the league leaders..

Carling Cup Semi Final...

Champions League Knockout Round

FA Cup 3rd Round..!

I mean i would have took it..

If we stop picking on Grant and look at it for a while.. its not so bad..

[.Cee 50]

Good point and so would I, TBH.

[SuperSheva7 0]

and I as well, it really isn't that bad.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Add to that the injury list.. It is Worse than what it was last year with Jose at the Helm. Last year we missed Terry and Cech this time its Terry, Cech, Carvalho, Lampard, Drogba, Sheva(just when he gave his best performance in blue shirt), Malouda. And still we are in the same position as we were last year under jose and thats 6 points away from the leaders in the new year.

Grant did this, with players he dint choose, with players who dont fit his style of play, with players chosen by another manager. He did this when the team hit rock bottam after Jose left. He did this when his side has kept losing its top players while Arsenal and Man Utd are playing with full squad. and still we are rite up there.

I guess you guys should come out of that mental block against Grant. :thumbsup:

[pluto 0]

You're right things are not as bad as they seem.

We are roughly where we probably should be all told - but that's no surprise since this is basically Mourinho's team, playing similar formation and similar style with no new additions to personnel.

I'll stop giving Grant a tough time, when he stops rambling on about our how much better our football is now under him than it was under Mourinho - when patently it is exactly the same give or take.

He's been very lucky at times meeting teams that are far poorer this season than they were last and got his arse saved again during the Newcastle game when it looked like we were heading for a draw. It's that kind of luck which has kept him in clover, that and the team he has inherited.

His talk of attractive football is bullsh*t and I hate to be insulted by being told the sun is red when I know it's yellow.

If he would just stop pretending that he has changed Chelsea's style for the better and stop the digs about the previous regime he woudln't bother me at all as he's so dull that it's easy to forget he even exists.

I still don't think he's good enough for Chelsea, although results wise right now it's hard to argue with that he's done but that doesn't stop me being annoyed at times with the guy.

But results wise I don't think we are doing too badly but I still think we are too far off the pace to bother MU or Arsenal long term this season.

[bombayblue™ 55]

I mean, when Jose left.. If we were offered this:

6 Points away from the league leaders..

Carling Cup Semi Final...

Champions League Knockout Round

FA Cup 3rd Round..!

I mean i would have took it..

And what if you were offered,

League Leaders

Realistic chance of winning the league

Confidence that jose inspired even when facing barcelona with hilario in goal

Now which one would you take,

The thing is Grant has done better than what we expected to do cos we thought jose was everything and him leaving meant doom for our club.. We (including me) overreacted..

Try thinking what position we would have been had jose still been around or a competent manger was in charge..

most of the hate for grant comes from his appointment as director of football and suddenly we don't need one now.. making it even more certain how the exile of jose was planned..

i dont hate grant, but i don't love him or rate him either..

[Elliott 7]

I'm not sure I would take 3rd in the league 6 points off the leaders. But the main problem with Grant is his luck is beginning to run out and he doesn't look as if he has any more ideas.

We could be in a much worse position though I agree, but that's just the calibre of the players at Grant's disposal.

[joe_kura 0]

You're right things are not as bad as they seem.

We are roughly where we probably should be all told - but that's no surprise since this is basically Mourinho's team, playing similar formation and similar style with no new additions to personnel.

I'll stop giving Grant a tough time, when he stops rambling on about our how much better our football is now under him than it was under Mourinho - when patently it is exactly the same give or take.

He's been very lucky at times meeting teams that are far poorer this season than they were last and got his arse saved again during the Newcastle game when it looked like we were heading for a draw. It's that kind of luck which has kept him in clover, that and the team he has inherited.

His talk of attractive football is bullsh*t and I hate to be insulted by being told the sun is red when I know it's yellow.

If he would just stop pretending that he has changed Chelsea's style for the better and stop the digs about the previous regime he woudln't bother me at all as he's so dull that it's easy to forget he even exists.

I still don't think he's good enough for Chelsea, although results wise right now it's hard to argue with that he's done but that doesn't stop me being annoyed at times with the guy.

But results wise I don't think we are doing too badly but I still think we are too far off the pace to bother MU or Arsenal long term this season.

totally right. i cant stand people who tell me about something but the prove show something else, crystal clear. statistically we are not as bad as it might be but there is no attacking football as promised and our fighting spirit and discipline had been deteriorate eversince. i dont think he can handle the increasing number of player after the transfer windows closed.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

If Grant had any ordinary squad his lack of tactics would have been discovered much sooner. The mentality of Mourinho is still in the minds of the players, and will be for a long time.

[misschief 24]

If Grant had any ordinary squad his lack of tactics would have been discovered much sooner.

Absolutely nail on head there.

The mentality of Mourinho is still in the minds of the players, and will be for a long time.

Not quite so sure about this bit anymore. Ok, they still battle but is it as convincing? Do they still look as solid as a unit? I think its slowly slipping away tbh. When Jose was around we played from the back, not sexy but bloody effective and the players knew what his expectations of them were. As long as we were sorted defensively we could play the game from there as a unit - and it worked. Now though, theyre being asked to play in a totally different way by a manager who clearly has no idea how to implement that change so the result is a defense thats losing its solidity, an attack thats nowhere near potent enough and a confused midfield. In short, our play reflects our manager - "dont know what you're doing" - ring any bells?

Edited December 31, 2007 by misschief

[pluto 0]

Not quite so sure about this bit anymore. Ok, they still battle but is it as convincing? Do they still look as solid as a unit? I think its slowly slipping away tbh. When Jose was around we played from the back, not sexy but bloody effective and the players knew what his expectations of them were. As long as we were sorted defensively we could play the game from there as a unit - and it worked. Now though, theyre being asked to play in a totally different way by a manager who clearly has no idea how to implement that change so the result is a defense thats losing its solidity, an attack thats nowhere near potent enough and a confused midfield. In short, our play reflects our manager - "dont know what you're doing" - ring any bells?

I do tend to agree despite our good run and everyone harping on about how Grant has shocked everyone with keeping us winning - well sorry it's no real surprise to me, the squad Mourinho left behind is a damn fine one (injuries and form permitting) and they have had three years of Mourinho's teachings to know how to battle and win games.

Grant may have been the driver but he sure as hell has had to do little steering! I don't think Grant has any attacking plan personally, I think he has fed Roman a load of bull about his attacking credentials since he met him, promised that he could do the job if only it was given to him and now he's got it the time has come for him to quick make something up! He's been winging it from day one in my book just throwing all the cards on the table and hoping a Royal Flush comes up. So far he's got away with it but for how much longer he can keep telling people about our new style of football when there is precious little to show for it I don't know. For how much longer he can last on lucky offside decisions to save him again I don't know but surely it can't continue much longer. I guess Roman will hardly fire the guy - he can just move upstairs again as Director of Football. Don't we need a new one after all?

When he did have to think on his feet and face the tougher teams he has failed - either a loss or draw. All the big wins and goal fests have come against relegation fodder or very poor opposition on the day that has just let us play.

The only game that impressed me was the Valencia away game and even they were starting their downward spiral and seemed more Clarke's prep work than Grant's.

As for whether this team will still have the same spirit continuing for a long time - I'm not so sure. Already in the recent games you can tell we lose confidence as soon as we concede a goal, our shape goes and we look lost. Teams come to the Bridge now thinking they can put a goal past us and what's more they can, I don't think they are scared of us anymore. Despite conceding few goals up until recently now we are starting to ship them suddenly during a game when we shouldn't. Defensively we look far less secure and often totally disorganised.

I think that the spirit and strength so inherent in the team whilst Mourinho was there will slip away - how long that will take I'm not sure but if we buy new players in then that process will speed up I think as they will know nothing of the way things were before.

That may be a good thing ultimately I don't know but if Grant manages to hold this team together as a solid and effective attacking unit good enough to win us something at the end of the season I will damn well eat my hat.

[Mungii 3]

We all know that Avram has done som egreat things for CFC and maybe he will do everything great but I think we neeed a greater manager in the future someone with more expirience....like Capello, Lippi, Rajkard etc

[Layla 0]

We all know that Avram has done som egreat things for CFC and maybe he will do everything great but I think we neeed a greater manager in the future someone with more expirience....like Capello, Lippi, Rajkard etc

And someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to subs.

If Steve Clarke should leave then think we'll see Grants true colours good or bad.I think Clarke has helped him a heck of a lot having worked with Jose

[Elliott 7]

I'm just sitting here wondering how everyone knows that Clarke has had this effect and Ten Cate has had that effect. How do we actually know this?

[Badboy 1,526]

I'm just sitting here wondering how everyone knows that Clarke has had this effect and Ten Cate has had that effect. How do we actually know this?

I think its beacuse grant is clueless just a guess

[Elliott 7]

I think its beacuse grant is clueless just a guess

Yeah that's the answer, but any time we do well it's down to Clarke. How do we know this? We're just guessing. I've caught myself saying it sometimes, and I just had to take a step back and think about it.

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

Well, judging by Grants antics on the touchline during a game where he continuously stands there with his hand on his head looking bemused by it all. What sort of message is that to send out to the players looking over at him for inspiration.

You need someone who will yell and scream at the players, telling them to move here, do this, do that, etc....I have yet to see Grunt do this. OK he may not be that sort of manager by going spastic on the touchline. He doesnt send out the right message. Full stop.

Half time blows......the players walk into the changing rooms. Sit down and look at their manager to see what he has to say. He stands there with his hand still on his head. They look at each other, then back at the manager....still with his hand on his head looking into empty space. He walks out of the room and comes back in moments later with some cones for the players to run around and gives the odd numbered players a bib to wear.....blah blah blah...

This is where I think Clarke and Ten Cate come into play.

Yeah, I know....sounds stupid, but thats the impression I get. Now tell me you dont feel the same way

[Layla 0]

Defo lol.

And true for sure duno how much help Clakre is but doesnt help when you get a shot of the bench for a reaction when something has just gone wrong/decison taking palce etc and Grant is kinda tum tee tum and Clarke seems to be the first to leap up with a 'I am angry look on his face' while Grant still tum tee tums.

JT is prob the inspiration we get now these days.And yeh he's Captain gotta do it but not on his own.

And agree about the touchline thing,Jose would stand there going barmy,Grant is still tum te tumming.Ok maybe its the way he is a quiet guy but still doesnt help!

Edited December 31, 2007 by Layla