Chelsea Banter Archive January 31 2019

31 Jan 2019 20:36:09
What if love next season? All the mercenaries out. Hazard, Willian, Luiz. Let's bring in a new breed.

Go 4-2-3-1.

Striker I've got no idea. Maybe extend Higuain's loan 12 months and sell Morata, Batshuayi, Giroud. As for a new one maybe Jovic?

For out wide? Bring in Pepe. Hudson-Odoi, Pepe and Pulisic as our wingers, proper pace and directness which we don't have. A proper number ten who could be available, Fekir. RLC as rotation.

As for Cm, Kante back to a holding two where best. A deep lying playmaker instead of a Regista, try for Ruben Neves who's also strong and can shoot.

For full backs I'd bring back James for the right and sign Chilwell for the left. Then a quality CB who leads by example. Koulibaly or Romagnoli. Not asking for much eh 😂

In:

New ST
Fekir
Pepe
Neves
Chilwell
Koulibaly/ Romagnoli


Out:

Morata
Batshuayi
Giroud
Hazard
Willian
Kenedy
Moses
Bakayoko
Van Ginkel
Pasalic
Luiz
Alonso
Zappacosta.

31 Jan 2019 21:00:32
The outs are more interesting than the ins for me Ranger.

Luiz is about to extend his contract.
Bakayoko not sure we can but i would give him another go.
Alonso will probably stay, Sarri seems to like him.

The remainder, as things stand, I would be to worried if they left.

Two more for exit door

Drinkwater, what’s the point. Rahman who has been unlucky with injuries but I can’t see him being given a chance.

31 Jan 2019 21:05:11
Hazard - insigne
Willian - Pulisic
Pedro - Pepe
- CHO
Bakyoko - doucoure
Zappacosta - Reece James
Drinkwater/ Cesc - Rúben neves
Cahil - Romagnoli
Piazon / kalas / Palisic / Michy / Giroud / morata - zapata
- fekir / havertz
Imagine that for a clear out and in. This is a dream by the way I’m under no illusions all this could happen in one window,

31 Jan 2019 22:08:31
Duvan Zapatero for thé number 9 spot.

31 Jan 2019 22:39:44
Forgot about Drinkwater and Rahman mate. Also forgot about the likes of Kalas, Kane, Omeruo and Kenedy who should be moved on. I’d like Luiz to stay as long as he goes to midfield.

31 Jan 2019 22:48:46
I agree with some of them Matt. I think Fekir and Pepe are definitely attainable. Pepe has stated before he would like to move to Chelsea and I’m star struck why we haven’t already signed Fekir. Romagnoli or Koulibaly but I think Romagnoli would be cheaper option. Neves needed next to Kante and James should come back and start now. Tank that lad is.

31 Jan 2019 20:24:34
Hazard is understood to be among the players Sarri singled out for criticism following yesterdays defeat as he accused the Belgian of playing how he wanted to, rather than doing what he had been asked.

31 Jan 2019 18:44:07
Duvan anyone? Has Drogba written all over him.

31 Jan 2019 15:32:13
Azpilicueta has spoken well today. Let's see how the players react over the next few weeks!

31 Jan 2019 15:54:46
He spoke well after the defeat to tottenham nothing has changed he's not a true leader he's just the best of what we have.

31 Jan 2019 16:08:03
He is not a JT, Lamps, Ballack, Drogba or Big Pete that’s for sure!

31 Jan 2019 18:12:40
Funny how they all talk after a game. And not during it. Screaming at each other to pull their socks up etc. All friendly friendly. No real leader. Isn’t that why Conte wanted Bonucci last season as he felt the squad lacked leaders?

31 Jan 2019 18:40:21
So many of our team are weak Adam. Some might use the term gutless but I prefer the term weak!

31 Jan 2019 19:32:19
I prefer spineless.

31 Jan 2019 14:51:46
Don't think ill ever come to terms with the fact we paid 50+million for a white Jon Obi Mikel in CM. Id have rather have kept Cesc and have runners in Kante and Kova either side. At least Cesc passed forward.

31 Jan 2019 15:21:14
He has made 2nd highest forward passes in the league? It's pretty obvious you just don't get it. Maybe you should be thinking why the attackers aren't doing their job instead? Or maybe why the defenders can't defend? Stop using jorginio as a scapegoat for the rest of the team playing terrible. This agenda is just boring now. The whole team is terrible. Including poster boy hazard.

Chelsea fans are so extremist and reactionary. Did you really think we would be doing awesome 6 months into changing or attempting a new philosophy? Have a wooooooord.

{Ed001's Note - that is a pointless stat. He is the deepest lying player, even his sideways passes can be counted as forward as they are going forward slightly being as how he is so deep.}

31 Jan 2019 15:23:04
well we paid 30 plus for drinkwater
20 plus for zappacosta
20 plus for baba rahmen
30 plus for batshuayi
70 on morata
25 on cuadrado
40 odd on bakayoko
im sure ders plenty more on the list
what about all the deals sanctioned for the likes of micheal hector and matt miazga pur club is a joke last few years. at least we have pulisic to look forward too he's 1 im excited about.

31 Jan 2019 15:36:57
The point is that people think he is responsible for assists which isn't the case. And they slam him for it.

31 Jan 2019 15:48:59
He hasn't set a tempo we still play boring football he's just not impacted our team.

31 Jan 2019 15:50:02
worst stat ever there's a reason rudiger is 2nd on that list try watching him for 90 minutes mc see if he does anything special.

31 Jan 2019 16:29:25
Jorghino's role was to set the tempo and create. The tempo is almost static with his short and sideways passing and after over 2,000+ minutes on the pitch he has not one assist to his name. The Premiership does not suit his style of play and good teams know how to nullify him. Fabregas on his day was by far the better player.

31 Jan 2019 17:01:09
Jorginho hasn’t fully adapted to the fast pace premier league. Teams are identifying him as a weak link to the amount of time he needs to pass the ball. My main problem with him is that anyone can do the link between defence and midfield but he cannot do the defending side which is what’s needed as he’s the deepest player in midfield. Maybe a simple 4231 would benefit everyone with kante playing a more holding and allowing Jorginho to have more time. Also think a centre attacking midfielder would allow us to play RLC behind the striker, which is also a position Barkley would play better in. This is exactly the mistake a lot of managers make when joining the league as you have to adapt to your surroundings.

31 Jan 2019 17:30:02
I have said it before: there is a simple solution to our current predicament and that is to play Kante in his proper position. I am convinced that this 1 change would bring about a massive improvement in our game.
Ps £55m for Jorginho? And when Sarri gets sacked (soon, hopefully) and a new manager plays Kante in his correct position - where does that leave Jorginho - because I don't think he is quick enough to play in midfield in the Prem?

31 Jan 2019 17:55:33
Mrs costa what does it take for you to realize Kante has never been best holding in a 3 man midfield he's best in a two? My god some people.

31 Jan 2019 21:10:20
The problem is hazard. The quicker he goes the best. He has no intent to stay just wants to leave contract to this su. we so he sold cheaper to get higher wages. Unfortunately this is going to be a thing in the future. He things he the best. Which he good but will never be in same league as Ronaldo or Messi.

31 Jan 2019 13:37:38
A lot of interesting posts by fellow fans. I think we all are pulling in the right direction and agree that player power must stop.

Sarri in my opinion should be given a fair chance, he will turn out to be the right manage. We shouldn't judge him yet, he needs a chance before we do that. Yes recent performances have been really bad - slow, lethargic, no movement and not playing as a team. This is totally different to how we started the season under Sarri where we created so many chances per game. Now we can count the number of chances created with one hand. This says to me that the players couldn't wait to see the back of Conte. So when Sarri took over it was a breath of fresh air. It seems like they are reverting back to their old habits again.

Things have changed recently. I haven't liked the press exchanges between Sarri and Hazard. Hazard lacks respect and leadership, he should not take sarri on? . Our manager is now struggling to motivate some players and has come out public and why does that not come as a surprise? If that is the case then get ready for some more bad results. These players are known for downing tools.

Personally we need to back the manager here. Even if we don't get the top 4 something needs to be done to get rid of the cancer. Hazard = player power. The man is bigger than the club at the moment. If he had achieved what Messi and Ronaldo did then fair enough. not even a pinch on them. The quicker we get rid of players who down tools the better. Id rather be a team like in the past where we had so many players to rely on.

Its a joke now. so frustrating.

31 Jan 2019 14:25:06
dont think our prayers will be answered with willian.

31 Jan 2019 11:21:06
really interesting from janie redknapp saying chelsea selling willian would be a huge statement from the club and would open up cho for more first team oppertunities and in turn might mean hel stay. for me id sell willian make cho the rm with him an pedro rotating but this is just opinions and wat ecer the club decide is best im sure theyl make that decision. i agree do selling a 30 year old to ensure cho gets more time and in turn signs a new contract would be a giant statement for me
were all dreaming of a superstar to be born an blooded out of the youths since jt.

31 Jan 2019 11:56:56
We should 100% sell Willian. Pedro first choice a second he is but CHO backing him up, RLC an option also.

31 Jan 2019 12:24:56
Sell Willian and bid for Pepe as quick as we can then sell Hazard in the summer when Pulisic comes. Id rather a team of players than a team of mercenaries.

31 Jan 2019 13:51:29
Willian should go. It will make life easier for Sarri when it comes to team selection. He won't have to be stubborn and leave CHO out entirely. The boy needs a chance.

Sarri has always said it’s not about the players and he can train anyone. But unfortunately, I think he may have met his match with this group of players.

31 Jan 2019 15:36:58
Interesting and Jamie Redknapp are not compatible in my book.

31 Jan 2019 18:00:51
maybe not tom but he speaks sone sense on this 1.

31 Jan 2019 10:09:55
I am a fan of how sarris Napoli played the game but it's starting to feel like same old. Villa boas Porto played excellent football as well and he was possibly the worst coach we have had in the last 30 years next to scolari. Over the last 4-5 seasons it feels like our spending has not matched other top teams as well as the quality of player we are looking at so it's not a major surprise to see us one week looking great then the next looking awful. It's got to come to a time we're the club fully back the manager and bring in the players he needs as at the end of the day it's his job which is on the line. For me both Mourhino and conte failed towards the end due to poor signings. If we were playing a team containing CHO, RLC, mount and James I could probably accept results like last night as a way of learning but we are playing with a team of players who think they are better than they are. We need to give these youth players a chance now, they won everything there was to win at their level and now it's time to put them in. A lot of them have proven themselves out on loan so deserve a shot. You could see in pre season that CHO was certainly someone who could play now but it's had to come to Bayern showing an interest for us to wake up and now it might be too late. Lastly I can see results not going our way over the next few weeks and sarri losing his job with us trying for zidane to try and keep hazard. I hope I'm wrong but it just seems this is how the club is run nowadays.

31 Jan 2019 10:23:50
in comparison to city and liverpool wev brought some extremely average an poor player
cuadrado
baba rahmen
drinkwater
kenedy
batshuayi
zappacosta
morata
bakayoko
just to name a few
we paid 23 million for zappacosta why not pay the extra 20 like city did for a top player like walker.
drinkwater cost what 30 plus and bakayoko 40 plus that's 75 million ruffly . we could have got a serious player for 75 million.
baba rahmen was what 20 odd million
batshuayi a d these players crazy money for rubbish players this maria 1 is probably a big part of these signings. people had the kneck to criticese the last guy that used do these deals he signed some of the best players that's ever played for us. what's his name again forgive me?
lets keep backing sarri and blame these players and d person signing them let's be honest all these rubbish signing are the reason we now look a million miles away from city am liverpool.

31 Jan 2019 10:33:00
Zidane in - Sarri out - in just a few weeks time? Oh, NWBLUE, please, please, please be right.

31 Jan 2019 10:52:59
wow let's get zidane in just to keep Hazard happy again joke of a club and fans just get rid of Hazard he's got a shocking mentality not even anywhere near as good as he thinks. Id rather start fresh player power is killing us from being in the top bracket of clubs again. No consistency.

31 Jan 2019 10:53:36
zidane is a strange 1 to call for to be honest.

31 Jan 2019 11:07:56
I’m not saying I want zidane, I said it’s a Chelsea thing to do. The club make so many bad decisions I could see us doing this.

31 Jan 2019 11:22:12
ur point is taken every1 is entitled to there opinion mate.

31 Jan 2019 09:54:43
I'm confused but am I alone?

Sarri was hailed by some on this site as the second coming, who would bring to our club a "style" of football that the owner and supporters crave For the first part of the season everything was as expected, Sarriball was wonderful and Chelsea, given a period of transition would sweep all before it.

Jorginho was hailed as a play making maestro that opposing clubs could not hope to cope with. I'm fact he was so good Clubs like Spurs set themselves up to stop him playing.

One after one our players came out at press conferences and said how much they were enjoying football under Sarri.

Over the last few weeks the views of virtually everyone concerned have changed.

The tactics of Sarri are now called "slow" or "boring" and a lot worse. Jorginho from being a true playmaker is now a passing crab.

The board/ owner surely did their homework before hiring Sarri as I assume they did before signing Jorginho. They must of realised that this was a project that would take time.

Sarri told everyone it would take time, so I suppose we have to give it to him but some of our players have been over indulged and if they are unable to play the way a manager demands they have to move on.

I've made NO secret that I am NOT a Sarri fan but I think the board and us fans have to support him for a reasonable period of time.

31 Jan 2019 10:16:51
i don't think ths system is slow or boring its the players we have playing in the system. hazard as i said blows hot an cold faster than the irish weather and den players like willian stop the ball dead too much instead of going at the full backs then u have a midfield 3 of which have literally no creativity or goals in them. ya kante scored 3 or 4 goals big deal overall he's been a lost puppy in my opinion he's being ruined in this system for me. jorginho is a good footballer and a good passer but he's too slow to sit in front of that back 4 he can't cover half the ground kante does in that position. that is a problem. and as we no luiz has been amazing this season but he can go from a 9/ 10 to a 2/ 10 within 10 minutes of a game. its easy to point fingers after a bad result but i think were short 2 key players for this role. 1 a rm whos direct and will run at players pulisic coming in the summer should sort that.
2. a midfielder who can create an score an get box to box . kante is doing that at the moment but it doesn't suit him his final ball is poor around the opposition box and he wastes a bit of possession not critisising im his biggest fan just saying. kovacic an barkley have been battling for the other role an neither have done anything to prove der good enough for me 1 or 2 decent games here an der. not sure on hazard if he goes i do hope wel replace him with a top winger whol run at teams as like pulisic will.

31 Jan 2019 16:07:32
The thing I understood about Sarri’s style of play though was that it isn’t about running at players at all really, it is more about moving the ball around quickly to create and exploit space. As soon as Hazard currently gets the ball and slows down to take players on it is very exciting g to watch, but also means that everyone else can get back into position. I may be completely wrong and feel free to correct me if I am, but if Hazard were to leave then to suit this style of play we would need a winger who is more pass and move, making intelligent runs without the ball and releasing it quickly when they do get it. Is that about the gist of the attacking play, Ed or anyone else more knowledgeable than me?

{Ed001's Note - pretty much yes.}

31 Jan 2019 07:52:05
Ed1, what are thoughts on chelsea's struggles mate?

To me it seems like as we reach the opposition penalty box our play stops and we ping it back. There seems to be a massive lack of movement from players. We didn't the season in this manner.

{Ed001's Note - it seems like the same old story with Chelsea, sadly. Too many players who play for themselves and not the club so will stroll around when they can't be arsed. The club needs a clearout of players who have now done this to 3 managers in a row, so are obviously the problem. They have too much power, they are too settled and no longer feel like they need to earn their place as they own it. I think you will always have this problem while you have your key player being someone who freely admits he ignores manager instructions to work harder. Hazard should have been sold the moment he come out with those comments imo. Dreadful attitude to the game and shows why he has never made that step up to be in the top rank, he simply can't be bothered unless he feels like it.}

31 Jan 2019 10:50:22
Thanks fprnyour input ed1. Its so frustrating seeing these players do this.

{Ed001's Note - it will never change while Chelsea think about being a business first and a football club second.}

31 Jan 2019 12:54:52
not sure what your opinion on maria granovski or however u say her name edd but im sure if she was at any top club other dan us shed have been chopped long ago d signings shes sanctioned and the players sold since shes been here is nothing short of embarrassing.

{Ed001's Note - is it her, the remit she is working under or the club's advisors that are the problem though? For me I think it is more the remit she has that causes the problems.}

31 Jan 2019 13:13:17
ya u may be right i don't have a bulls notion what goes on or who is over that lady at the club so i suppose its a bit unfair to comment but maybe ders a reason the bloke that left did so maybe he felt he was no longer an influence or his opinion didn't count.

31 Jan 2019 13:15:35
100% about Hazard. I would have offered him to Madrid now. Named a price and sold him. No ifs no buts. Bought Pulisic in now rather then the summer and gone from there. As are said, three managers in a row and only sarri has the balls to admit that these players you cannot motivate. Do we keep sacking managers or actually get to the root of the problems and sell the “comfortable” players. I know what I’d rather do.

31 Jan 2019 20:35:37
hence Sarri statement on Hazard- if he wants to go then he should go. Think Sarri isn't happy with Hazard public admission for his love for Madrid. With that being said he should drop him then. However with the being said he may lose his job based on results cos hazard is our main man.

31 Jan 2019 07:47:49
I think the teams slump is a mixture of things:

1) Hazard is not world class. He is a decent winger with a low centre of gravity and good turn of speed which makes him able to ghost past players. His attitude comes across as "I'm so relaxed about everything", but we all kmow that's bollocks and what it really is is an attempt to absolve himself from the leadership responsibilities of the team. Whenever we lose, you never see Hazard come out and say "yup we were rubbish, we need to improve. " I get the impression it's because he is convinced of his own greatness and that while everyone else around him played bad, he was playing slightly better so he's ok with that. That's what Sarri meant about lack of leadership from him I think.

2) Our starting line-up is one of the least rotated teams in the league. That's going to take its toll at this stage in the season.

3) Our brand of possession football doesn't work because the players in our team don't work the ball fast enough, and try and play it through the middle.

4) The team currently struggles to deliver quality crosses from the wings. Hazard is our only good winger and he never crosses it becaus he is too busy trying to score. Same with C H-O. Alonso and Azpi are not good crossers. Try and remember the last game where we consistently pinged dangerous crosses in like Liverpool and Man City. It's was probably when we were playing wingbacks like Moses.

5) The worlds best DM is being played as an AM. W the actual F?

6) Willian is possibly the most wasteful player ever to wear the shirt. Barkley also makes a lot of bad decisions.

7) Sarri has lost the respect of some of the players

What a mess!

31 Jan 2019 01:35:25
There is an underlying issue at play here and it's the disconnect between what the board sees as the future of this team and what the manager sees as the future of the team. Sarri is stubborn there's no doubt about that, however he is within rights to be because if he moves away from the philosophy that he believes in then we may as well have not hired him. He was tasked to bring in and change the style of play that has been ingrained in this team for the past 10+ team. Everyone mocked Pep for this stubborn mindset but then the club backed him and he delivered the following season, albeit by spending the GDP of most countries. Now this is where I see the disconnect, the board want the style of play that Sarri envisions but are hesitant to back him to give him what he needs.

31 Jan 2019 07:22:06
Agree 100%.

31 Jan 2019 07:49:29
U are right The Legend of Zola, I also feel that when Sarri's demands (that will help produce his philosophy) doesn't fall in line with the club's vision- then there's that refusal to back him (which in some cases we can't help but disagree or agree with the club) .

31 Jan 2019 03:34:56
To try and adopt his philosophy he's making square pegs fit in round holes until he can get the players he wants. Jorginho is being singled out because the other midfielders don't know their roles (I thought he was close to the best player on the pitch in the first half, breaking up the passing lanes etc) . The LCM needs to be a 10-15 goals and assists player and currently we don't have that. Kante may be out of position but is learning the role and will get better when the LCM does what he's supposed to and takes some of the attacking burden off him while he's learning, Napoli would love Kante in Allan's role he's perfect for it. We need a significant clear out I'm afraid and to back him in the market (especially with a transfer ban coming), not what the board thinks he wants. I'm afraid this might mean the end of Hazard and Dave and also Willian and Pedro and not signing Kovacic. Barkley will stay due to being homegrown and then have an early beginning to preseason to have much time to learn and practice. We need to be patient not create more uncertainty that's got us into the position we're in currently!

31 Jan 2019 08:54:16
Have to agree here. Why not keep Jose/ Conte and play that way if you're not going to back a coach who wants to play a free flowing attacking football.

We also have to say, they might be willing to. An extremely short summer window, with a successful start to the league/ Europe, it may have looked like Sarri could use the squad he had.

Late November on has shown there's a squad overall needed. A winter window is not the easiest time to buy as players are overpriced due to teams knowing Chelseas need for certain players.

I loathe to go down the route of sacking managers every couple of seasons, I want to see someone in charge for a long period.

30 Jan 2019 23:36:58
i worry for sarri already been honest he said in his interview after the game maybe he doesn't no how to motivate these players thats worrying to hear a manager say this . this is the 3 rd time he's come out an said he can't motivate the players . is he not respected by the players? do they not want to play for him? or is it a case of they can't play his system? they don't want to play hos system? or maybe the team just isn't good enough full stop. its a strange league this losing 4-0 to bournemouth.

man city losing to newcastle who in my opinion are 1 of the worst teams in the league by a mile and benitez deserves a medal of honour for the heroics he's doing there with no money. anyway wats your thoughts? im sad if its a case of the players not wanting to play for sarri or is it a case of were just extremely inconsitant or what?

DONT sack sari is my opinion get rid of the players who are causing trouble sarri seems like a good guy im sure if he's surrounded by players he's brought am trust hel do fine. saying that jorginho is his main man an he's been our weak link all season an he still won't drop him.

31 Jan 2019 00:24:43
Heard anything ed001? We’re absolutely shocking right now.

{Ed001's Note - no mate nothing.}

31 Jan 2019 09:06:19
Thanks anyway, I miss conte. I’m at the stage I’m missing my exes (managers) because my current girlfriend (sarri) just isn’t working out.