Grant Equals Mourinho Record

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

"and on the internet to boot"? how else do you want us to make contact?, smoke signals?, and just who said I was "older" than you?!

alright CM don't panic i now confirm i'm the eldest on here

and i think the longest serving supporter, 45 years or there about.... can't remember my first match i'm to old and my memory's gone :huh:

regards: JBD

[changingman2000 35]

alright CM don't panic i now confirm i'm the eldest on here

and i think the longest serving supporter, 45 years or there about.... can't remember my first match i'm to old and my memory's gone :huh:

regards: JBD

And the deserve the utmost respect JBD, fair play to you mate

[changingman2000 35]

Well alright, I wasn't really responding the above exchange with BLS, but your earlier post a page back.

I'm glad you don't think your opinion as gospel

You know Elliott, I think you would come to like me if you just gave me a wee chance. I'm patronising, self indulgent, self opinionated, selfish with, quite frankly, a terrible, terrible accent. Apart from that I'm pretty much tickety boo

[Elliott 7]

You know Elliott, I think you would come to like me if you just gave me a wee chance. I'm patronising, self indulgent, self opinionated, selfish with, quite frankly, a terrible, terrible accent. Apart from that I'm pretty much tickety boo

Nah I don't dislike you, you're a credit to this forum I can disagree with you without disliking you!

[changingman2000 35]

Nah I don't dislike you, you're a credit to this forum I can disagree with you without disliking you!

Why Thank you, But tell me, is there anything we will/can EVER agree with?

[Elliott 7]

Why Thank you, But tell me, is there anything we will/can EVER agree with?

Haha. Erm... How's about Mourinho is a better manager than Grant? If you disagree with me on that one I shall be very surprised!

[Guest TheStylishKidInTheRiot]

Maybe Cousin Avi is starting to prove himself and the idiots who still sing mourinho and you do know what your doing (which does not help the team what so ever) will be proved wrong..

[misschief 24]

Apologies dear, was Julie Goodyear a tadge harsh? I was originally going to "plum" for Pauline Fowler

Ok great, from a tarty northern barmaid to a dead woman........keep digging that hole.

You know misschief, debating with some of the up and coming Bamber's in here. Its becoming more and more clear that maybe there is a "divide" with the level's of intelligence on here.....................................with us "older" ones clearly on a higher plain

Older one's? I take it you're referring to yourself, JBD and FB there?

Ok back on topic yeah I think the divide comes from some people being happy as long as the results keep coming, after all, it wasnt that long ago when we were struggling a bit and looking pretty unconvincing that the 'Grant's ok' bandwagon lost a bit of momentum - we get into a final and hey ho, he's doing a good job again. Our opinion might not be fully understood but at least its been consistent.

[Fulham Broadway 17,362]

Thats pathetic FB.

"He wrangled his way into it"? How? By accepting a job as director of football? Again, he was hardly going to say no was he? No disrespect to Portsmouth, but i'm sure most would rather have that job here than there.

"He's (Grant) a useless lump" and "and Ten Cates and Clarke are doing a sterling job", why is it that way round? Do you see our training sessions every day?

As for your "I hope he drops dead tomorrow" comment, I think thats just pathetic. Your team and your manager need your support, so sort it out.

No one particularly 'likes' Avram, but hes doing a good job, and he deserves credit.

Yes, we all doubted his ability at the start, but he's done very little wrong. He's not a character like Jose was, so what? As much as I loved Jose for that, its kind of nice having the press off our backs a little bit in that respect.

Well his Israeli counterparts have said he knows nothing about football and everything about positioning himself amongst the wealthy and powerful to increase his bank balance. He did this with Gaydemark , and then sidled up to Abramovich when in Israel.

OK you say its not Clarke and Ten cates because I ''dont see training sessions every day''. No but I've read the reports. ''Players know more what he doesnt do than what he does'' Conversely what evidence do you have he's doing a good job? Do you see the training sessions ? Do you fuck.

Ok the managers I've seen deserve some respect -Sexton, Neal, Hoddle, Bobby Cambell, Gullitt, Shellito, Blanchflower, Bobby Gould, , Vialli, Ranieri, Mourinho even fucking Porterfield, Geoff Hurst and Rix. This is the first cunt that deserves zero. You're what 18 ? From your blind adoration of the charlatan, it would be easy to label yourself as laughable, and pathetic as well. But I wont.

Anyone can buy a McDonalds franchise for £200 000+ and make a profit, yet know fuck all about manageing it. You have managers and staff to do that.

Grant is a shyster. The main thing is that Chelsea FC are doing well, we have two lynch pins with a Toad croaking in the middle, a void, which could be filled with someone who knows what they're doing. But it's Romans money and he can squander it on a fraud if he wants.

[misschief 24]

Anyone can buy a McDonalds franchise for £200 000+ and make a profit, yet know fuck all about manageing it. You have managers and staff to do that.

Grant is a shyster. The main thing is that Chelsea FC are doing well, we have two lynch pins with a Toad croaking in the middle, a void, which could be filled with someone who knows what they're doing. But it's Romans money and he can squander it on a fraud if he wants.

Rapturous applause. Well said that man.

[ironhorse 0]

Hi

Well here we go i have been reading all thats been said , and i could say plenty about what i think about grant !!! sorry what i dont think about him .

but i am not going to as it not bring jose back or help the team , there was a time but its past now

So reading the threads is which some are the best , is still keep me slient

As for some unkown reason we are a real force again , players playing for each other and we are team who can win things

SO i will say he , grant has done well

There i said it

[warnie_666 1,081]

JT also confirmed a few weeks back that Grant has done little to change anything training wise until next season because he didn't want to disrupt anything. Just shows you there was little wrong with what Mourinho was doing because otherwise Grant would have needed to start meddling but the fact he can let the players carry on as they were tells me all I need to know.

People want to know why Avram's done so well and has exactly the same record as Mourinho? Well you have your answer because we are still doing everything a la Mourinho that's why and Grant's rather hapless and groan inducing attempts to pretend otherwise during some press conferences can be seen to be just smoke and mirrors hiding a fundamental truth. The emphasis with Grant should be on "little" in terms of doing "little" to rock the boat of what was and is a winning machine more often than not.

And he is the very lucky recepient of a bedrock of success built up initially with Ranieri and then fully realised under Mourinho.

Why should I praise a guy to the heavens for doing nothing more than faithfully copying what his predecessor does because he knows it gets results? It may be a smart thing to do but how brave or brilliant is that? It just shows he's smart enough to know a good thing when he sees it - well join the club!

I'll praise him when he does something that is not based on what Mourinho did and he does it with his own team and he does it consistently.

Ok so you want the manager to take over a squad of players selected by his predecessor mid way through the season when the club is on a verge of collapse, playing 2 games a week and change the entire style of play, and setup a new training regime...? ...No one can do that, to be honest ....had he done that we would have been in a mess rite now,..the players need atleast a month of training to get accustomed to the new system. And the set of players that we have arent suited for the Free flowing football. To play a certain system on the pitch you need certain type of players and No wonder we got Di Santo. Look at the squad of Arsenal, Manutd, Barcelona, and compare their squad players to that of ours. We have the Robust , Physical squad built to play efficient football where as these teams have Nimble footed players, dribblers, like ronaldinho, messy, iniesta, deco, Giggs, Ronaldo, Nani, Tevez, Hleb, Flamini, Diaby, Adebayaor........I for one am Glad he dint try to mess with the system that was in place...cus it was not the rite time to change it. But if you come out of your blinkered version of Jose, you will see that we are attacking more and winning more games than we did during Jose's rule. The only Bad remark about our Game this season is that we are letting in more goals and less clean sheets which is understandable cus we are playing a more attacking game with the same 4-3-3 formation that jose played with. But his game was built on defense. This Chelsea's game is built on Attack.

Also, Care to take a look at Real Madrid. Their Coach Bernd Schuster has not changed anything from the Capello times. He is playing with the same formaton that Capello played with and almost the same squad of players. He hasnt messed up with Capello's style of play. And its paying devidends as they are 7 points clear of second placed team.

Thank You

Warnie...

[PaulHopkins 1]

Grant seems to have given certain players more confidence most notably Wright-Phillips who has been getting starts and in this new position which he seems to be excelling at. Belletti has also improved a great deal as he is now allowed to bomb forward. Ballack as captain is another positive move as he has really taken the role on in a fantastic manner.

All positive for Grant as far as I'm concerned

[pluto 0]

No Warnie, I'm not suggesting he should have changed things that much because yes it would have upset the team balance and results most probably.

But equally I don't see why I should shower Grant with praise either for basically not really doing much at all other than continue on with what has already been laid down for him, he has a great squad, with great quality, great inbuilt team spirit and experience and he has benefitted accordingly.

Through in the additional aggro factor for me of his claims that we are playing better football under him than previously and that things are changing from what went before - well I just have to sigh inwardly every time.

Yes he deserves plaudits for what he has done but I will not be going down on bended knee to laud his genius as a manager when sources from within the club can't actually put their finger on what he does do but only on what he doesn't!

Next season I think we will see hopefully more of the real Avram Grant right now I see is Mourinho's team playing like just they used to.

Sorry, please point me to the stats that say we are winning more games than under Jose - I thought the stats said he has the same record at this stage to the one Jose did when he started?

And no we are not attacking more in games, I can count on the fingers of one hand where we apparently attacked more overtly than we might have done under Mourinho, in other games we have played exactly as we have done before. You obviously are taken in by the Grant mantra after every game about how much more we attack now than ever before.

Classic example the Derby game when our players were taking the ball to the corner flag to waste the minutes out until the end of the game which we had in the end comfortably won! If we are so much more attacking why are we still winning games 1-0 or 2-0 generally?

Jimmy Anfield on Five Live after the Wigan game said how it was interesting to see how Grant had maintained the importance of a solid defence just like Mourinho and how much importance he placed on it - seems he's got Jose tinted specs on too.

I don't need any Jose blinkers to know we are playing pretty much the same way, I can hear it from the media, many fans and pundits who commentate on the Chelsea games and they tell a similar tale so it's not just me that's insane then it's quite a few of the footballing population who apparently are missing this new attack minded Chelsea Grant has created.

What he has done in not changing anything is smart but copying something that was already pretty darn good is not the work of brilliance, just common sense.

Edited January 28, 2008 by pluto

[BlueLion. 21,491]

If we do end up playing more attacking football from next season, so be it. But I think it it wise not to change our style of play just yet, our 4-3-3/4-5-1 is working brilliantly at the moment.

[pluto 0]

Anyone can buy a McDonalds franchise for £200 000+ and make a profit, yet know fuck all about manageing it. You have managers and staff to do that.

Grant is a shyster. The main thing is that Chelsea FC are doing well, we have two lynch pins with a Toad croaking in the middle, a void, which could be filled with someone who knows what they're doing. But it's Romans money and he can squander it on a fraud if he wants.

Love your quote, I'm trying to think positive thoughts about Mr Grant whenever I can even when he carries on about our non existent new style and looks as if someone has died every day he cares about but you sure have a way of putting things that makes me grin whether I agree 100% or not!

[warnie_666 1,081]

No Warnie, I'm not suggesting he should have changed things that much because yes it would have upset the team balance and results most probably.

But equally I don't see why I should shower Grant with praise either for basically not really doing much at all other than continue on with what has already been laid down for him, he has a great squad, with great quality, great inbuilt team spirit and experience and he has benefitted accordingly.

Through in the additional aggro factor for me of his claims that we are playing better football under him than previously and that things are changing from what went before - well I just have to sigh inwardly every time.

Yes he deserves plaudits for what he has done but I will not be going down on bended knee to laud his genius as a manager when souces from within the club can't actually put their finger on what he does do but only on what he doesn't!

Next season I think we will see hopefully more of the real Avram Grant right now I see is Mourinho's team playing like they used to.

Sorry, please point me to the stats that say we are winning more games than under Jose - I thought the stats said he has the same record at this stage to the one Jose did when he started.

And no we are not attacking more in games, I can count on the fingers of one hand where we apparently attacked more overtly than we might have done under Mourinho, in other games we have played exactly as we have done before. You obviously are taken in by the Grant mantra after every game about how much more we attack now than ever before.

Classic example the Derby game when our players were taking the ball to the corner flag to waste the minutes out until the end of the game which we had in the end comfortable won. Wigan smash and grab raid, the list goes on and on.

I don't need any Jose blinkers to know we are playing pretty much the same way, I can hear it from the media, many fans and pundits who tell a similar tail so it's not just me that's insane then it's quite a few of the footballing population who apparently are missing this new attack minded Chelsea Grant has created.

No ones telling you to go down on your knees and hail him....but the man deserves some credit atleast....for his man management skills. Look at his positives over Jose's...he is not a cribber. Jose had Terry ,Cech out and he cribbed soo much so that it spoiled his rship with the owner. Now see Grant....He has lost the core of Chelsea(lamps, Drogs, Terry, Essien, and other 1st team players) ALL AT ONCE....and he is quietly doing his job and giving the club the results....it wants. And I appreciate that quality of Grant's.

I still respect Jose and I still feel he is the best Manager in the world...but at the same time I wish to give credit to people who deserve it for what theyve done in the difficult times for the club. And I hope you do the same in future.

[PaulHopkins 1]

I have the greatest respect for Mourinho and what he has done for the club but Grant is the future and he is taking the club forward in an admirably manner. Keep up the good work Avram! :thumbsup:

[pluto 0]

No ones telling you to go down on your knees and hail him....but the man deserves some credit atleast....for his man management skills. Look at his positives over Jose's...he is not a cribber. Jose had Terry ,Cech out and he cribbed soo much so that it spoiled his rship with the owner. Now see Grant....He has lost the core of Chelsea(lamps, Drogs, Terry, Essien, and other 1st team players) ALL AT ONCE....and he is quietly doing his job and giving the club the results....it wants. And I appreciate that quality of Grant's.

I still respect Jose and I still feel he is the best Manager in the world...but at the same time I wish to give credit to people who deserve it for what theyve done in the difficult times for the club. And I hope you do the same in future.

I'm not suggesting we should not praise Avram but I can't get myself into a state of nirvana over his management to date sorry I just can't.

Injury wise what has Grant had as replacements? Ballack a German captain and international for Lampard! Yeah that's a real bust out. Alex an international for JT - have you missed JT really? Belletti has been available, Ashley Cole and Bridge both available, Joe Cole and SWP both usually fit, and now Anelka to help in attack. Last season we had Essien and Ferreira playing at CB or RB in one game! We have cover now - excellent squad cover and that had aided Grant enormously.

And who have we played during this time? Newcastle in crisis about to sack their manager, Fulham just sacked their manager, Blackburn going through a scoring slump, the only team that did bother us was Villa and we played them at home so we had at least some sort of advantage.

It says something when you can say we are going through difficult times because you "only" have Ballack but no Lampard, Joe Cole but no Malouda, Alex and Belletti but no JT or Ferreira and no Mikel okay then how about Maka a legend to replace him? Yes that's really is scraping the bottom of the pit isn't it?

Yes we have had squad depletion but when you consider the options Grant has had available it's a joke to talk of a reserve squad struggling against the likes of a Wigan et al and how hard it must be for him to formulate a decent side. If he was playing Arse or Man you then yes I'd be more concerned but not the competition we've been facing over Christmas.

Mourinho was given no cover in January which he badly needed, when he asked for reinforcements he was told to sod off. Grant wanted a striker? Take you pick. He bought Anelka, the same Anelka that scored and gave an assist against Wigan. The squad cover purchased in the summer (Belletti, Alex, Sidwell and god help us Pizarro) that has helped Grant maintain that nice calm, stoic demenour you are raving about. No wonder he didn't complain, total support of the boss, can buy players during the transfer window to get him out of a hole if necessary and he a good quality players in reserve who will also be able to play in their correct positions. Throw in toothless opposition of the likes of Wigan, Newcastle, Fulham, QPR and your laughing.

Grant may have had it difficult but not half as difficult as some like to pretend.

We probably have the deepest squad in the premiership and the way we have coped without a blip merely confirms that. We have international players not only in our first team but very often in our second now as well.

Edited January 28, 2008 by pluto

[Elliott 7]

Is anyone in a state of nirvana pluto? I don't think anyone is. You seem to be arguing with a hypothetical Grant lover... I don't see any, only those recognising that he's done better than expected.