Chelsea Banter Archive November 22 2012

22 Nov 2012 22:44:13
ED is there any possibility that Chelsea will sell David luis. The reason I ask is because as the season progresses his ability to defend gets worse and worse. He has no idea about position and with ivanovic at right back it is a recipe for disaster as we have seen in the last few games. I feel we need to purchase a new centre back or give one of the kids a chance. Put the Spanish lad at right back and it hurts to say it but drop ivanovic. Sort out the defence and rest will come {Ed002's Note - I wouldn't think so.}

Let's see how he does under a new manager

22 Nov 2012 20:17:48
Ed, two things to ask. Are we interested in signing Stephan El Shaarawy from AC Milan for 20 million euros? And now that Benitez is our manager, will that mean our interest in Falcao will fade?
Thanks in advance
RT {Ed002's Note - No.}

22 Nov 2012 21:31:25
Hey Guys,

Can someone tell me what Benitez's style of play is?

Tactics, formations, stuff like that.


Thanks Guys


Samir

I believe defensive counter attacking is his approach. 4-3-2-1 is what i think he will adopt.

PB

It is something similar to Dortmund

It's like wimbledon, but with more moaning by the manager.

22 Nov 2012 21:23:23
From what I can see we need someone to organise the team give us some structure. Something Benitez is good at.
Longer term the club have other targets for manager, that was the case even with RDM.
Benitez had been out of work for a while and looking to rebuild his reputation and get a top club next season. If he fails he will be sacked and will probably not get a top club again. So it is in his interest to make this work and like he says win trophies.

22 Nov 2012 20:23:25
I have to say I was really pleased with Rafa press conference. All he wants is to do well and win trophies. I say lets get behind him and judge him at the end of the season.

marksnes Chelsea forever!!!

22 Nov 2012 19:05:26
Sweet mother of pearl! I thought could handle it but seeing him holding up the shirt made my stomach turn! This had better work! Really, really not sure about this.

Blue25

I am angrier now about it than I was yesterday. No matter what he does I will never be able to like the man, the sooner he is gone the better.
Maybe RDM was not the right man long term but he won us the champions league something no one else had managed. It is very easy for people to critisize the guy saying he got lucky/tactically inept whatever. Yes we rode our luck but I would argue that in winning it he was far from inept.
RDM is a class act and handled himself with great dignity during his time with us. I wish him the best of luck and would like to say thanks Robbie.

22 Nov 2012 18:54:16
Wernt pleased with rafa coming in but will always support whoever wears that shirt.. On another note
Rafa actually done really well in his press conference, was pleased how he went about his answers etc! Happy or not let's get behind him and CFC ! Matt m {Ed002's Note - Given the amount of dumb and leading questions he did well.}

Exactly, but all we can do is wait and see, he is an organised manager and good tactitian, get defenders defending and have plan b and approach each game different. Matt m

I thought he showed passion when asked about the plastic flags?
it was never going to be easy,its happened as quickly for him as you lot. we will see if hes a top manager,he is surrounded by top players,its not like he is taking over at liverpool or tottenham.

look what happened last year rdm and he did not have nothing on what raffa has done.
you will play on the break and with your summer signings i think you will hammer teams.

champagne charlie

22 Nov 2012 18:05:33
Hey EDS

Is it still in Chelsea plans to pursue Pep in the summer or is there another manager the blues are looking at. {Ed002's Note - The summer is a long way off.}

22 Nov 2012 16:04:57
Guys, is it just me or....... I mean I can not wait till Sunday because finally there is a really good chance of Mikel staying on the bench!!
DanCfan

22 Nov 2012 14:54:59
Going to invest in a neck brace, for all the long balls & defence, we will be watching.

22 Nov 2012 14:33:32 Chelsea is a big club with Fantastic players, every manager wants to coach a such a big team. But I would never take that job, in respect for my former team at Liverpool, no matter what. For me there is only one club in England, and that's Liverpool." (2007) "If Chelsea are naive and pure then I'm Little Red Riding Hood." (2007) "We don't need to give away flags for our fans to wave - our supporters are always there with their hearts, and that is all we need. It's the passion of the fans that helps to win matches - not flags." (in regards to the 2007 Champions League semi-final between the sides. The quote has been immortalised in a plaque at Liverpool's training ground) "I'm sure Chelsea do not like playing Liverpool. When they are talking and talking and talking before the game it means they are worried. Maybe they're afraid?" (on the same tie) "We were good friends until Liverpool started winning, then he started changing his mind." (on then Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho) "After the game, Sheila, who was sitting right in line in the main stand, said to me that the ball had crossed the line. She is a very honest person and that was good enough for me. It was a goal." (on taking his secretary's word that Luis Garcia's so-called 'ghost goal' had crossed the line in the 2005 Champions League semi-final between the sides) "To me, Arsenal played much better football two or three years ago. They won matches and were exciting to watch. Barcelona and Milan too. They create excitement so how can you say Chelsea are the best in the world?" (after Chelsea's first Premier League title win). All quotes from our new boss slating our wonderful club. I spit on him and the decision t make him manager, he doesn't deserve our support, but our players and our great club do .so because of that I'm gonna support him. Eli

Ooooh, how the truth hurts, eh?

Not much you can argue with there (outside of the purile nonsense in the last sentence).

Mrpjd

'I spit on him' What a class act you are.

Not so bad if you say it like the French guy from A Holy Grail

Good thing I'm french eh?

ELI

22 Nov 2012 12:41:06
Right so, here goes. I'm gonna get slated for this...

Rafa (can't beleive i'm calling him that) did well at Liverpool when he inherited Houlliers squad and coached them. When it was left to him to buy players and run the club, he imploded. We won't have that problem as he will be strictly coaching the team and not running the club. So fingers crossed it works out.
Same goes for his time at Valencia, he started well when he inherited the squad, then he got to big for his boots and started wanting to run the club again, and again it didnt work out. At Inter, lets face it, he had an average squad of experienced players who had just exceeded all expectations due to Jose. He is nowhere near Jose's level and struggled to live up to what Jose achieved, i honestly think anyone would have. So tbh i'm not surprised he struggled.

Now from all accounts, its well known he had an ego and didn't get along with the owners at any of his previous clubs. But he knows that Roman runs the club, so there should be no problem with that, he knows he's coming in on an Interim basis to coach the team, so there should be no power struggle. And you hope that with the experience at Inter and the fact he hasn't managed for so long, that his Ego has been well and truly dampened, hopefully he's more humble and his man management may have improved.

Know one can deny he does build a solid team, so we should see some solid performances and hopefully a sustained title challenge this season. And from remembering playing him when he was at Liverpool, his tactical knowse was quite annoyingly good. Liverpool always gave the top teams a good game if memory serves right.

I know i'm only focusing on the positives, but i don't want to dwell on the negatives or i might as well stop watching football.

On this one i'm gonna go with my head over my heart (even though it kills me), and give him a chance. If we beat City and can go into the new year top of the league, then maybe a few others will give him a chance? Wishful thinking i know.

Come on guys, we're Chelsea fans. Lets support the club no matter what. I do have quite a bit of respect for him for walking into the lions den knowing he is going to get abused. Takes some balls to be fair to the guy.

OsgoodIsKing

Agree with it all Osgood, until you said you respected him in the last paragraph. Doesn't take balls at all, takes a man willing to spit in the face of LFC (his old club), knowing full well what he has said about our very own club. I will support him, but only knowing he will be a distant memory come June 2013.

Melbourne CFC

Or a not so distant memory should we fail to lure Pep or Jose to the club.

IB.

I am really surprised Rafa has taken this job knowing its only for the short term. Still I suppose that means he has little to lose and it will lift his profile again. He has been out of work for too long. I can`t say I`m surprised at the hue and cry from Chelsea fans. What I would say is don`t listen to all that crap about him having a huge ego and wanting to be in total control, that is just crap. He is one of the most genuine, honest, hardworking and talented managers out there. Forget all that has been said in the gutter press. You have appointed a man who will give your club his all for the cause. He is a analytical and tactical genius who will bring you success. Yes I am a red and would love to see him personally succeed because he was given a raw deal at LFC and if he`d been given more support who knows what might have been. I don`t believe in going back so I`m more than satisfied with Brendan Rodgers. You have no choice you have to get behind him for your teams sake. Probably get loads of stick for this, but I am really sure history will say he was a great choice even if its only to steady the ship till another certain Spanish magician takes his place. Give Rafa the chance and respect he deserves. I wish him luck, we`re not anywhere near at the moment so hope he wins the title for you. YNWA
ROYZERED {Ed002's Note - There will likely be a job available in the summer and doing well for 6 months at Chelsea will do him nothing but good.}

Is this likely job you mentioned in Spain Ed002?

Melbourne CFC {Ed002's Note - It is.}

Do you expect the current manager, will head to England?

Melbourne CFC {Ed002's Note - Not necessarily.}

Ok thanks Ed. Personally could only see it being Germany, England or France. Although I'd imagine there would be an enormous amount of offers. Do you think he could take a break from football, or do you expect him to go straight into another job?

Melbourne CFC {Ed002's Note - We'll see.}

Been reading the sun newspaper mate

No mate, I've been using my brain and paying attention to what Ed002 says.

Melbourne CFC

22 Nov 2012 11:19:30
come on fellow chelsea fans, lets get behind Benitez. KTBFFH

We got to cos wht we don't Have chance! So we got to our best this season n thn pray for pep to join in the summer n get him to bring our youngsters through!

Wheelycfc

Chelsea fans favourite words

Lets get behind the new manager

Shouldn't if be 'Let's get behind the latest new manager' ?

Puzzled

22 Nov 2012 10:42:19
Regardless of Manager Chelsea don't perform without Terry!
Tom

22 Nov 2012 10:07:39
I am not here to slag rafa, I am not happy about it but we just have to suck it up and support the team.
What really annoys me is the way the club treated RDM and the way they conducted themselves.
We are akin to the Mafia, with the feared leader at the top who nobody ever sees surrounded by yes men.
Anyone who doesn't do exactly what he wants is disposed with.
No class and no way to run a football club.
Love our club but not the way it is run at the moment.
Pep or Jose wont touch us with a barge pole and to be honest who can blame them. {Ed002's Note - Think of it more as a quest for success and doing what is seen to be the best for the club. A tactical change if you like.}

I am not saying he does not want what is best for the club obviously he wants success and has he saved our club. But itis getting to a stage where it is becoming a shambles. Roman wants success the same as the rest of us but I feel some of his ideas and policies are directly working against that quest for success. {Ed002's Note - Actually Chelsea has been very successful in recent years.}

22 Nov 2012 09:37:41
morning ed002
I HOPE YOU BLUES DONT MIND ME COMING ON HERE TO ASK YOU ALL A QUESTION

if rafa does not get any wins in the 1st 6 games can you see him getting the sack?

champagne charlie

PS i was in lanzarote when you won the cl with a load of spud supporters in a pub and i was the only 1 cheering you on,"LOVE IT"

{Ed002's Note - I would expect him to leave if that were the case.}

If he doesn't get a win against Citeh, I expect him to get a very, very hostile reception. Although unfortunately I see that happening before the game. If he doesn't get results quick, I expect him to leave. He will not be welcome at the bridge for long Charlie.

Melbourne CFC

22 Nov 2012 09:56:54
I would love to claim that i hadn't given that a moments thought... but i can't! Lets just hope it doesn't come to that! :)

J22

22 Nov 2012 09:05:57
Ed002, I am assuming we approached Pep for the job. Obviously he was not interested, as he wouldn't be, in taking any job currently, due to deciding on sabbatical. Can you give any information out as to whether pep closed the door on Chelsea completely, or was it simply as I stated before (taking a break from football)?

Melbourne CFC {Ed002's Note - It was made clear yesterday that he was taking this year off and not interested in a position right now.}

Did discussions take place as to whether he would be interested at the end of the season, or as I'm guessing , it is far to early to comment?

Thanks for all your work today, you are due a beer or three I reckon.

Melbourne CFC {Ed002's Note - I have explained what happened.}

22 Nov 2012 07:03:37
To me the RDM sacking was very surprising but at the end of the day it somewhat makes sense. To start off the run of results were not good enough plain and simple. Another thing which to me was far more troubling was the fighting within the team. There has been a lot said in the media and a lot of it is probably off the mark however having a divided team is simply unnaceptable. Third RDM was not rotating the squad and this could have lead to a very ugly winter unless things didn't change. There were also other contributing factors that were troubling but those were my three main concerns. As far as the firing goes can anyone argue that it hasn't always turned out positive (don't give me Jose because that was mutual). Moving on to Rafa and I think regardless of personal opinions we must get behind him. In all honesty he checks a lot of the boxes that we were struggling in. He provides steel in defense that we've been lacking for some time. He rotates the squad very regularly which will help us down the line. And finally if anyone in the world will get Torres scoring again it would be him. I agree one player doesn't dominate the team however who is to say we will get another top class striker in January. To start Falcao will cost a crap ton and athletico realize they will get mega money either in January or the summer so they might as well keep him and give themselves the best shot to get champions league money as well as his transfer fee. Bottom line you can't argue with the results of firings in the past and not getting behind the club isn't productive and sells yourself short as a true blue.

Tk

Really cannot see why you was surprised

22 Nov 2012 01:57:51
Ed - Do you think that Rafa Benitez will drop John Obi Mikel and what is your predicted formation for the Chelsea-Man City game ? {Ed002's Note - It will be the same as the last predicted formation I gave you.}

Ed002 - I thought you were a grouch only on the main page but I see you are the same with your own people

Puzzled {Ed002's Note - These aren't my "people".}

Ouch!!

Puzzled

22 Nov 2012 00:03:10
hey all,

im not really firmiliar with rafa's system... will he be using a 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2. is he more offensive or defensive?

thanks

4-3-2-1