Chelsea Banter Archive March 11 2015

11 Mar 2015 23:44:00
This teams looks lost mentally.

I'd personally bring in Luis, Loftus-Cheek, Cuadrado and start Zouma vs Southampton. I'd like to see Azpi RB to see how it goes, Ivanovic, Cahill, Oscar and Ramires to make way for them. They all need a good kick up the a**e. Oscar's so inconsistent if a big money offer came in I'd let him go. HE doesn't CREATE! Max Meyer was bossing madrid last night and he's still a teenager. Loftus cheek needs to be given a go in a big game we need someone fresh who will lift our confidence.

{Ed018's Note - agree with Oscar. He rarely produces in big matches and it honestly looks like he's out there just to press the opposition.}

11 Mar 2015 23:56:57
There does come a time when you have to admit maybe Oscar is punching above he's weight now especially in big games he looks like a lost child at times & Even the way he presses lately just ends up him giving countless fouls away, he's still young yes but I can see him being replaced in the summer

12 Mar 2015 00:35:13
We need a proper CAM who can create even if it's to bring off the bench someone like isco or meyer. There's just no threat from him.

{Ed018's Note - Isco would be better than Oscar not sure about Meyer just yet}

12 Mar 2015 07:06:23
Isco is amazing! But I don't think we should count on that happening (he's not even on the list Ed002 provided). I don't see many other CAMs that could replace Oscar in our system (maybe Pogba or Koke?), so I guess he'll stay. I don't mind that, but he has to maintain good form throughout the season and not disappear towards the end.

{Ed001's Note - from what I am told, Isco is way down the list of possible sales by Madrid. They would be more likely to sell any of the front 3 than him. Though you never know these days, as they do need to sell to buy the next galactico and might not raise enough from other sales, but I would not bet on him moving.}

12 Mar 2015 08:03:41
Yeah me neither, Ed001. It seems that he's the Madrid supporters' newest favourite, so I doubt they'd sell him. He's also one of Spain's golden boys so don't see it happening. Great player though, I love watching him :)
Another possible attacking midfielder is Draxler. Though any buyer has to be careful since he got that big injury. Still I think Draxler can be a terrific player as he's got the physical tools to perform a pressing role (though again he's not on Ed002's list).
I all probability Oscar will stay, but I'd like to see Willian challenging him for that spot in the middle and then Traore coming in to provide depth and competition for that right wing spot.

{Ed001's Note - he is very much the favourite in Spain, it would cause uproar if he was sold. Understandable, he is an excellent player.}

12 Mar 2015 08:55:11
Just another point on Oscar, maybe we're a bit too harsh on him. On the first half we played well enough and the game was even. Second half we were dreadful and they controlled the midfield. Now that coincides with Oscar being taken off and I think it has a lot to do with that. He makes our team tick in the attacking third and he let's us control the middle. Verratti wasn't that good in the 1st half IMO but 2nd half he bossed the game. Again, I think the removal of Oscar had a lot to do with it.

12 Mar 2015 11:20:09
Oscar was turning into a bit of a liability in first half with stupid challenges so ideally he had to go regardless, I don't think it would of mattered if he stayed on we just wasn't up for it they deserved to go through 150%, it was a very weird game to watch I could visibly see the anxiousness on the players faces & it makes you think how are we going to cope with the pressure of the league if we can't get through a psg side with 10 men. no idea what to expect from now but this negative football is probably why the atmosphere is poor at the bridge

12 Mar 2015 01:42:16
Anyone interested in Isco Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Real Madrid made Isco available in the summer - although priced at a level where all but a handful of teams could afford him. They also offered him to Chelsea in part exchange for a player but Chelsea were not interested. There was interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the past, but right now I am not aware of any interest that remains from these clubs.}

11 Mar 2015 22:44:54
Hi guys, I usually lurk but felt compelled to post. I thought we looked like the walking dead tonight and I'm not sure where we are going to go from here. I also felt there was a certain level of entitlement in the player's attitudes, as if they to win the game was a foregone conclusion. This was exacerbated, as we have seen many times, by JM's 'shut up shop' approach. PSG were arsing about too with their playacting but Diego Costa. *shakes head* you need to learn to grow up and silence them sticking the ball in the net instead of petulantly lashing out. He's turning in to the next Nicolas Anelka.

We looked tired and lacking creativity - clearly we are in need of some more proficient squad players to rotate in during the arduous premier league campaign. However the fault also lies with Mourinno for not rotating those players in to give them match experience and sharpness.

Here's what I would do transfers wise.

Sell Oscar, Cahill, Cech and Ramirez

Buy Marquinhos, Varane, Pogba, Ruddy, Icardi and Douglas Costa

11 Mar 2015 22:53:39
I'll judge this game after Sunday. I expect a backlash against the Saints and if we get that, the league is back on track. Tonight was our 2nd worst game of the season, beaten only by Bradford.
Do think it would have been a completely different game if Costa had the 1st half penalty he deserved. And how did Verrati not get a red card for persistent fouling again?!

{Ed018's Note - Veratti must have committed somewhere close to 15 fouls over the 2 legs. Great little player though}

11 Mar 2015 22:58:16
Best passer in the game under 25, like little Pirlo. But so petulant, it's impossible to like him.
Matuidi had a poor game, but I'd take him over Ramires or Mikel any day as well.

{Ed018's Note - I don't even want to talk about Ramires or Mikel. Veratti though will be a top player in a few years. I think maybe it'd be hard for him in England but if he stays in France or move to Italy or Spain he will be a big name player}

11 Mar 2015 23:11:31
Verrati would struggle here as he'd be booked almost every match. Plus sometimes he struggles to get into games. I think Bayern might look at him tbh to replace Xabi Alonso in the future.
Also, did a new rule get passed that bans Eden Hazard from getting fouls given in his favour? I can't believe some of the tackles on him this season.

11 Mar 2015 22:38:22
I believe what gets said after a defeat is a true reflection on what people really feel, so here's my view. Right up to our first defeat at Newcastle we looked great, we dominated matches and looked a very good side. Since that defeat we have looked awful at times, our football has totally changed. We constantly sit back and let teams play hoping we can counter. We deserved what we got out of that game tonight. Why when the going gets tough do we resort to having a go at officials instead of knuckling down and press teams. Sometimes it's embarrassing to watch. We have an array of talent but play the same way every game, leaving the opposition knowing what to expect. I'm really shocked and frustrated at the way we played and how far behind the likes of real and bayern we really are.

12 Mar 2015 00:53:07
Couldn't agree more mate, we seem to lack the urgency needed. For all the attacking talent we have we seem too content to defend and try and get chances on the counter, I think all the defending and pressure without the ball is having an effect on the teams creativity and when we do attack look too tired to really break on the opposition.

11 Mar 2015 22:25:33
Totally disgusting that performance they played at weekend and we've had along break they also had 10men for more than an hour and we were chasing people all over the place. If zaltan hadn't of got sent off I would of been in bed ages ago because they would of won in 90. Totally overrated players rami Oscar Cahill everyone under performed they deserved it all PSG. We were rubbish and we have been for afew weeks now so slow and negative.

11 Mar 2015 22:36:02
What's happened too our quick attacking football? Ivanovic although an amazing defender he's been poor attacking and always looks to pass back. Time to let Dave and luis start attacking them flanks. Willian doesn't have a football brain standing still not running in behind it's sickening. Oscar an upgrade on mata? Not in a million years! Go get mata back. Why don't we play to our strengths? Instead we got players like fabregas hazard costa struggerling because of this defensive bs.

{Ed018's Note - we gave up on that quick attacking football at the turn of the year. Clearly Mourinho wants to grind out 1-0 wins from here on out. Let's hope it works better than it did today}

11 Mar 2015 22:41:45
You really think it's because of the Tottenham loss, Ed018? Because if true, that would be a shame. Sure it was a bad loss, but I also think that that was kind of a one off.
We have to use the attacking quality we've got or we'll lose the Premier League as well.

{Ed018's Note - hasn't been many matches were we have dominated since then except the Swansea match I believe. It just looks a lot more defensive and negative than at the beginning of the season but maybe it's just me}

11 Mar 2015 23:00:33
You do make a fair point, Ed. Indeed apart from the Swansea game, every game has been unspectacular to say the least.

11 Mar 2015 22:21:33
Absolute disgrace, starting with wrong tactics. Terry and Cahill are done.Both goals from 6 yards. I really feel bad.

11 Mar 2015 22:25:44
Calm down. Terry's been the best CB in the league by a mile this year

{Ed018's Note - Terry was at fault for the second goal}

11 Mar 2015 22:26:03
What? Ivanovic was marking luiz for he's goal.

{Ed018's Note - correct. Ivanovic at fault for the first}

11 Mar 2015 22:40:10
Please leave Jt out of this I could bet that if there was anyone on that pitch that could have gotten uss out it would have been him, Its all Mourinho if he squeezed this at one nil we would all be up in arms saying how much of a genius he is, he picked the players, he chose for the second time this season to defend against ten men and to somehow wipe out the flair from the team, we praise him a lot but he got this one wrong, him no one else.

{Ed018's Note - it was still Terry who left Silva open. No one is gonna question what he means to this club and we all know he gives everything he's got out there}

11 Mar 2015 22:52:33
It really doesn't even matter who was at fault it was the entire teams fault tonight & nobody can argue that! Now everybody is going to jump on the bandwagon of who needs to be sold etc Ramires although he's a good squad player he just isn't savvy enough for this team, he's too rash in tackles, passing is awful & he's always guaranteed a booking & I don't know if it's just me but I get incredibly nervous when he's in our box. it's so frustrating watching Willian sometimes he's got so much pace yet he stands still & slows the game down! No point scratching your heads tonight guys we lost because they wanted it more than us

11 Mar 2015 21:49:17
I think it's about time we realized ramires doesn't have the quality for this Chelsea side anymore. Ake or Loftus-Cheek would have done much better I'm sure.

11 Mar 2015 22:04:55
Rather zouma started instead of Ramires!

11 Mar 2015 22:17:22
Don't blame ramires! He made a lot of tackles and covered the ground. You need to look at mourinho! His tactics have ruined it tonight. Willian Ivanovic Oscar! No heart tonight.

11 Mar 2015 21:42:49
Okay now we all know howqueezed that through we will all be going on about how great he is, ffs we are having a mare. Lost the midfield against ten men sitting back just like we did against city in the league. Its a joke how can we have such talent and still sit back and let almost every team we play dominate. Would be happy to eat my words after extra time but I am far from impressed with the performance.

P.S Ramires is technically bad, so bad I doubt he is brazilian.

11 Mar 2015 21:08:47
Sorry for the quick post but ramieres is terrible

11 Mar 2015 21:39:27
He offers little to nothing to the team. The only thing I can think of that he did well was run behind the defender and shoot. Its as if we are playing 10 v 10 because he can't hold onto the ball if his life depended on it.

11 Mar 2015 21:40:45
Not good enough, compare him to matuidi & there's a thousand miles between them! Too much tarting around by the whole team has come back to bite them! Nobody to blame but themselves

11 Mar 2015 21:04:25
That was so incredibly close from Cavani. How we're performing so poorly and not dominating despite having a man advantage is baffling.

11 Mar 2015 19:14:55
Why Cahill really. Don't like it

11 Mar 2015 15:27:27
Continuing on the topic of young players, and specifically on Loftus-Cheek.
Last week Mourinho claimed that RLC could be a big surprise in the Premier League next season and that he hasn't gotten a lot of game time merely due to the fact that there's an enormous amount of pressure on the team. Now he says that Loftus-Cheek is a young player to stay for next season, "to stay and to play" as Mourinho put it.
I find it a bit odd that he would talk about Loftus-Cheek this often. Is there something going on behind the scenes, perhaps that Loftus-Cheek is seeking assurances over playing time, Ed? Or perhaps another situation that you're aware of? Or is everything fine and am I putting too much thought into this? :-P it could very well be that I am :)

Anyway cheers, Ed. Any reply would be appreciated greatly :)

{Ed002's Note - If he wants assurances he will be sold in the summer. I have no idea where you are getting this from.}

11 Mar 2015 18:46:24
It was just me probably overanalysing Mourinho's comments. I found it a bit odd that he now spoke twice in one week about RLC and him next season perhaps playing a part for us. I knew in all probability there's no 'situation' (as I called it) going in, but I thought I'd ask.
So not that I got it from anywhere, just me being a bit paranoid :) sorry to bother you with it.

{Ed002's Note - You would do best to take everything he says with a pinch of salt.}

11 Mar 2015 20:06:50
I guess you're right, Ed :)