Carlo Ancelotti

[Peace. 4,352]

With all due respect, he made two changes that should have won us the points today, and would have if the players not lost concentration defensively.

The double switch to bring on Kalou and Bosingwa gave balance to the team and some potency on the right flank. It was an inspired, Mourinho-esque move and because we've drawn the game, Ancelotti won't get any plaudits for that particular masterstroke.

Similarly, its not as if we have the personnel to switch to another formation right now. The Diamond failed to inspire last season and with the players we have, we're more suited to a 4-3-3. Furthermore the players seem unable to play anything other than a 4-3-3 variant; namely 4-5-1 or the Christmas Tree.

And to respond to your final point, it isn't as if we have any choice but to play the likes of Anelka at this moment in time. Okay we have Sturridge and Kalou, but we can't rely on their energy to win us matches. Anelka or Drogba can turn a match in an instant, yet be quiet for 85 minutes, as Drogba was today. The fact is we just don't have a squad good enough right now.

When a thing doesn't work this way, you try an other way, right ?

We can't afford to play the same team again and again and beg the Lord ! We're Chelsea for Jesus sake, not West Ham !

And honestly, right now I'd rather a poor player like Kalou than a world-class like Anelka, because he does TRY !

[spuz 143]

With all the respect I have for him, he is going insane...

He keeps using this same ol 4-3-3 who seems to don't work... And on the top of that, he keeps playing those players who just don't give a fuck and who have playing shit for months...

I hear ya. If only Carlo could see that a change in formation and personnel once in a while can do the world of good. A 442 would give us 2 strikers up front for a start. Rather than Drogs looking the lonely figure.

Then when Josh plays for a game and does better than those around him he gets dropped. The poor performers never get dropped.

[True_Blue 469]

Sacking Ancelotti would be suicide at this point.

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

Sacking Ancelotti would be suicide at this point.

Wouldnt surprise me in the slightest if the board announced it though. There seems to be a Russian way of sacking/creating a staff of individuals who have no cohesion and seems to be driven by penny pinching

The appointment of Emanalo, as Assistant Team Coach, (brought by Avram the Spastic from Maccabi) who has no input during games, leaves Ancelotti looking isolated and a man lost. As far as i'm concerned Grant can have him at Wetspam.

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Wouldnt surprise me in the slightest if the board announced it though. There seems to be a Russian way of sacking/creating a staff of individuals who have no cohesion and seems to be driven by penny pinching

The appointment of Emanalo, as Assistant Team Coach, (brought by Avram the Spastic from Maccabi) who has no input during games, leaves Ancelotti looking isolated and a man lost. As far as i'm concerned Grant can have him at Wetspam.

Yeh!! Usually he'd be talking to Ray/looking glum with Ray celebrating with Ray with the other bloke didnt seem to notice he was there though he didnt exactly do much to be noticed!!

Oh god I hope we dont sack him be so bloody stupid...espically if we end up with Rafa or some bloke whose pretty much proved they aint the best manager and been sacked for a reason

[BlueLion. 21,491]

When a thing doesn't work this way, you try an other way, right ?

We can't afford to play the same team again and again and beg the Lord ! We're Chelsea for Jesus sake, not West Ham !

And honestly, right now I'd rather a poor player like Kalou than a world-class like Anelka, because he does TRY !

And I absolutely agree mate, but I just can't think of another formation or system we can field with the players we have fit, unfortunately.

I agree with your point on Kalou, at least he tries!

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

Yeh!! Usually he'd be talking to Ray/looking glum with Ray celebrating with Ray with the other bloke didnt seem to notice he was there though he didnt exactly do much to be noticed!!

Oh god I hope we dont sack him be so bloody stupid...espically if we end up with Rafa or some bloke whose pretty much proved they aint the best manager and been sacked for a reason

I dont think its a coincidence that theres been 1 win in 8 games since Wilkins went. He could speak Italian as well, a good conduit between Ancelotti and the team. Even if his tactical skills werent missed - , it would have depleted morale. Reminds me of Bates reign -''lets do what we can to fuck things up''

lol think there'd be a blue revolution involving empty seats if they appointed Rafa

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I dont think its a coincidence that theres been 1 win in 8 games since Wilkins went. He could speak Italian as well, a good conduit between Ancelotti and the team. Even if his tactical skills werent missed - , it would have depleted morale. Reminds me of Bates reign -''lets do what we can to fuck things up''

Surely we can't put the finger at Wilkin's departure as the sole reason for this pathetic form still can we? It's been 10 games since he was sacked, since then our form has been... P10 W2 D4 L3. Wilkins was not the manager, his effect in the squad was not so huge that the players have stopped giving it their all and become almost tactically inept. You could say maybe the immediate effect was down to it (the 3-0 loss to Sunderland).. But from then on it's just the players not producing.

[True_Blue 469]

Surely we can't put the finger at Wilkin's departure as the sole reason for this pathetic form still can we? It's been 10 games since he was sacked, since then our form has been... P10 W2 D4 L3. Wilkins was not the manager, his effect in the squad was not so huge that the players have stopped giving it their all and become almost tactically inept. You could say maybe the immediate effect was down to it (the 3-0 loss to Sunderland).. But from then on it's just the players not producing.

Finally someone that knows Wilkins is not the reason we have been shit for 10 games.

:goodpost:

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

Surely we can't put the finger at Wilkin's departure as the sole reason for this pathetic form still can we? It's been 10 games since he was sacked, since then our form has been... P10 W2 D4 L3. Wilkins was not the manager, his effect in the squad was not so huge that the players have stopped giving it their all and become almost tactically inept. You could say maybe the immediate effect was down to it (the 3-0 loss to Sunderland).. But from then on it's just the players not producing.

No its not the sole reason, but it was the catalyst that allowed the rot to set in.

5 points clear and top at the end of October to this there has to be more. Players like Anelka and Ferriera are becoming predictable and ponderous on the ball -tactically we're slow to react to the ebb and flow of the game, (this is more marked without Wilkins input) and in a nutshell theres a a lack of sheer desire to put it in the onion bag. You know thats the case when you get Terry on surging runs. If Villa had been a bit more pro active today, like Sunderland were, they could have won. Theres not so much closing down of the opposition when they're on the ball -they have room to manoevre, and it's clear now that all the opposition from now on, Wolves and Copenhagen included will be buoyed by our (lack of) performance.

Also the atmospheres getting worse -too many tourists/foreigners booing

[Kostas 1,468]

Today, the players let us down. Not Carlo.

1. Starting the same hopeless attack
2. Starting Ferreira
3. No subs at HT
4. Took off probably our best player at the time (Ramires) for his 2nd substitution
5. Allowed Anelka 78 minutes on the pitch
6. Another worthless 10 minutes for Sturridge

And you know that I would have posted the same list had we won.

With all due respect, he made two changes that should have won us the points today, and would have if the players not lost concentration defensively.

The double switch to bring on Kalou and Bosingwa gave balance to the team and some potency on the right flank. It was an inspired, Mourinho-esque move and because we've drawn the game, Ancelotti won't get any plaudits for that particular masterstroke.

I saw no tactical masterstroke today.

I'd love to give him credit for what he does (like finally starting Bruma) but those two were just the changes he always makes. I'm pretty sure that it's been a while since we had the same RB for the whole 90 minutes and even if it hasn't substituting a RB for a RB is his second most used sub after (surprise! surprise!) getting Kalou on the pitch. He took off Ramires only because he was behind Anelka and everyone else in the pecking order, just like he used to sub Mikel last year, Benayoun earlier in the season and one of the kids whenever they started.

[eldo 868]

Sturridge doesn't strike me as a player. I'm starting to believe what Fulham Broadway has said.

[Term-X 7,891]

Sturridge doesn't strike me as a player. I'm starting to believe what Fulham Broadway has said.

I'm not suprised, Anelka of all players managed to start the game.

What does Carlo expect Sturridge to do in 10 minutes?

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Also the atmospheres getting worse -too many tourists/foreigners booing

Agreed about the atmosphere. I just hate how highly priced the Premier League games are.. £50 per ticket. It's awful, if I was there today I would've sang all 90minutes.. I've done it before and I'd do it again. I'm never quiet when I go, I'm always coming home out of breath. You just don't hear that lately :\

1. Starting the same hopeless attack
2. Starting Ferreira
3. No subs at HT
4. Took off probably our best player at the time (Ramires) for his 2nd substitution
5. Allowed Anelka 78 minutes on the pitch
6. Another worthless 10 minutes for Sturridge

And you know that I would have posted the same list had we won.

Yeah I know what you mean. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Carlo's off the hook, my reservations still remain. However the reason for us conceding so late was the players switching off. There was no reason why they could not see it out at 3-2, all they had to do was watch the Villa players and keep possession in their half. You're completely right about your points though, especially the 4^th one, which really annoyed me.

I saw no tactical masterstroke today.

I'd love to give him credit for what he does (like finally starting Bruma) but those two were just the changes he always makes. I'm pretty sure that it's been a while since we had the same RB for the whole 90 minutes and even if it hasn't substituting a RB for a RB is his second most used sub after (surprise! surprise!) getting Kalou on the pitch. He took off Ramires only because he was behind Anelka and everyone else in the pecking order, just like he used to sub Mikel last year, Benayoun earlier in the season and one of the kids whenever they started.

I just did not understand why Ferreira was on the team sheet today. Bosingwa is our best right back at the club, so against a dangerous team like Aston Villa why on earth did he select Ferreira?!

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Sturridge doesn't strike me as a player. I'm starting to believe what Fulham Broadway has said.

I'm not suprised, Anelka of all players managed to start the game.

What does Carlo expect Sturridge to do in 10 minutes?

Probably why the rumours of him wanting a Liverpool move are true..