Chelsea Banter Archive September 13 2015

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13 Sep 2015 20:52:19
Although I don't want to say it I do think this maybe John Terry's final season in the first team. He's been a true leader at the back. Ivanovic's contract hopefully won't be renewed with his lack of performances. I was ashamed to see him saying the team needs to be better yet he can't admit his own performances have been disgraceful.

One question I want to ask is who would you replace Terry with? I don't think Stones is the answer as much as I'd like to see more English players in our squad. Having Zouma and Stones at the back is good but both of them would only be around 22 which isn't great when you're challenging for trophies. Cahill's a decent defender but he's not the elite level and should be used as a rotation option along with Terry next year maybe. We need to sign an experienced CB who's nearing his prime.

If he stays injury free this year I'd love to see us go for Hummels. His positioning and leadership skills aswell as being a rock at the back would really complement Zouma's pace at the back. Who would everyone else like to see replace Terry?

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14 Sep 2015 09:43:34
Not Hummels - not convinced he would suit the Prem. Varane or Stones - if they're good enough, they're old enough.

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14 Sep 2015 10:07:03
No experience there though. We lack leaders everywhere at the minute. Hummels is a leader. Varane and Stones aren't.

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15 Sep 2015 09:09:14
Varane and Stones are international players. Varane, given a permanent starting role(as per for Real when Jose was there) would be immense for us I feel. Stones is not quite at that level yet, but, surrounded by superstars at CFC will become a future star for sure.
The guy I feel most sorry for is Dave, he is played at LB to protect JT's lack of pace, which he does, hence he doesn't push forward on the left so much. Dave is a RB naturally, which is where we should play him in the perfect scenario, however, he plays LB for Jose(and was last year the best LB in the league)and for the team! We are one of the top teams in the world but play a CB (Iva) at RB, Why? At the top level you will be found out, which we have so far this season. Players can't play their natural game when playing an unnatural position at the top level hence we have been attacked (and exposed) at RB with a CB playing there.
Watch the difference when Oscar returns, mark my words. Is it coincidence that when he burnt out(and was injured) last year at Xmas the form of our "superstars" dropped off and this year has not returned.
So, I suppose the question would be, was Pogba being pursued as a "marquee" signing, or, as an alternative(rotation) for Oscar to provide the glue which makes the whole team click?
Sorry, rather long, but interested in your opinions :-)

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13 Sep 2015 15:59:03
Its obvious that a number of players are "off form" and suffering from a subsequent loss of confidence.

However, I am at a loss to understand how the champions can fall so far so quickly.

What does everyone else think?

Jose stating that he is pleased with performances and not with results. is complete baloney!

We only created one on target effort yesterday.

I am starting to suspect that there is something very wrong going on behind the scenes?

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13 Sep 2015 16:20:34
Not sure about behind the scenes. The trouble is with the supporters getting disalusioned with Jose failing to drop under performing players. I mean ivanovic, fabregas, costa and even possibly hazard.
Also due to our ineffect forward play, would we consider adebayor on a free. Not my normal choice but I think things up front are dire and offers something different

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13 Sep 2015 16:30:53
Jose's body language and comments throughout the Summer were certainly not of a 'happy one'. He continually kept saying the players we have are champions and need to improve to challenge again. Translated that meant 'I'm not getting the boards backing in the market'. The season then starts and after the City game it was plainly obvious that we did need new players and the board reacted by going for Stones, pogba et al. This was to late and hence why we are off the pace. Jose is saying the right things in public by supporting the players but behind the scenes he is very agitated. We must dig in now and stay in touch of the top 4 and ensure qualification to the Champions league KO stage and reinforce in January. Make no mistake about it next weeks games against Tel aviv and Arsenal are huge.

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13 Sep 2015 17:40:57
I hope you speak of Adebayor in jest! That bloke has been trouble wherever he has been, hope the guy goes abroad personally. Think he would be suited to a Turkish team, that way he can get a good wage for playing bog standard football.

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{Ed002's Note - Adebayor is not available to join Chelsea.}

13 Sep 2015 17:49:45
But question is why performances of so many are so poor. Makes some of us wonder whether there is a motivational problem among some of the players and why this should be. Mourinho usually so great at motivation, getting players to risk life and limb for cause, yet particularly some of the defenders are looking far too casual, not closing opponents down nearly fast enough. Terry and Zouma also struggling with positioning, suppose they haven't had too many games together.

But is it me or doesn't JM himself look out of sorts, even depressed! Body language pretty negative, far from the Happy One.

Anyway, we've got to get some results this week. win against Arsenal could well get us going again in EPL, and nothing short of victor v Maccabi Tel-Aviv would be acceptable.

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13 Sep 2015 19:27:29
Performances under mourinho have mainly always been poor. Results good but performances poor if that makes sense. Most of the time our defence has been solid so we only needed one or two goals but poor defensive performances highlight the attacking problems we are having. A win v the arsenal would be huge and could hopefully turn around our poor form.

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13 Sep 2015 21:01:33
Interesting comments by Martin Samuel on Sky's journalist forum today. He thinks JM's the man for the job but feels he laid out what he needed to improve the squad and was let down. He commented that as clever as they were with their business of loaning out players for fees, it is getting in the way of day to day business. Worth listening to and he said Chelsea had stagnated when everyone else had upped their game.

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13 Sep 2015 23:41:24
I fail to understand what any of the above has to do with the fact that Jose keeps starting a player in Ivan that is costing us results/points. Even if Fab and Hazard were at their best to start the season, and we'd signed Griezman and Stones, at best we'd be drawing some of these matches because we are leaking goals on the right side of our defence due primarily to one player. I'm putting this 100% on Jose until he plays Caesar at rb and plays Rahman or anyone else he wants to replace Ivan with along with not playing Fab at dm in the 4-2-3-1 and the results are the same. That's the only time I will even consider the possibility that the answers are not in our current sqaud because how in the world can Jose expect a different result when he keeps doing the same thing.

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14 Sep 2015 09:17:04
Jose commands the respect and loyalty of his players and in return they get his loyalty. Unfortunately what I feel has happened is that(at this point in time)loyalty has overtaken pragmatism. Terry (a legend, whether you like him or not)is getting(got) to the "use by" date, Ivanovich the same at right back.
Personally I'd love to see Ivanovich play his true position of CB(in place of Terry)alongside Zouma, then we could play a higher line. I keep reading/hearing how Jose is/has never been more than 3 seasons at a club, so if he wants to(and I hope he does at ours) have a legacy at a club he needs also to adapt and learn to make the harsh decisions re moving players on, or dropping them if their form dictates.
I love Jose, I think he could/can be our Sir Alex for years to come if he is willing to adapt his own mindset in regards to the players. It's about money to the players in the end, it is what buys the loyalty (ala Mikel who could be a star elsewhere but is happy to sit on a bench for a larger pay packet and who is actually not good/hungry enough to be at Chelsea).
Ed 002 has stated on many occasions that players are "transient employees". Maybe this is the thing Jose needs to learn and adapt to moving forward as I feel Jose's loyalty and the players loyalty are not in the same place at the present time.
Sorry, a rather long rant but the players who knew when to go(Zola, Makalele, Lampard to name 3)will always be remembered as true legends and with fondness and appreciation for their efforts for our club without trying to milk the cow past their use by date.

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14 Sep 2015 09:49:28
Kiwi Pete, I have to disagree on a few points. Mourinho is certainly ruthless enough - just look at the example of Casillas at Real. Also, playing Ivan at CB would leave us in the same place, of not being able to play a high line because of Ivan's lack of pace.

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15 Sep 2015 03:10:07
Good shout Kiwi and I agree with Mrs Costa that Jose is ruthless enough when he wants to be (Courtois and Chech another example) which is why I hold him 100% responsible for what's happening. I do agree with Kiwi that Ivan can play high line cb because he has more pace than Terry and Cahill although I wouldn't want to see him there now in his current form.

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15 Sep 2015 09:19:55
Good point Bluelab, a bit of time on the bench may reignite his desire to "perform" for the team. As per my post above Ivan is a great CB I feel but certainly not an EPL RB the way the game is played these days.

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13 Sep 2015 08:38:43
In these dark times, this could provide a glimmer of hope. We're only 6 points off 2nd place. It sure looks bad since we could drop into the relegation zone today if some results don't go our way, but the difference with United and Arsenal is only 6. Not too big of a gap if you ask me.

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{Ed025's Note - its a bit early to be giving up on the title yet jackson, its a marathon not a sprint, and without aguero city dont look all that mate..

13 Sep 2015 09:52:35
Jackson

Try being a liverpool supporter dark times for us for sure you guys have a great squad and better manager you will definetly pull it together and challenge man city

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13 Sep 2015 10:56:43
Well said Jackson, spot on. However, I don't think our league position is a what is concerning anyone, it's the way we are playing. Apart from Manchester City NOBODY looks particularly impressive, some are grinding results out better than others. We all, including me, like playing Chelsea manager when things go wrong and have our ideas of how it should be corrected but I doubt there is a single poster that has EVER influenced the manager! To me we have to get Oscar match fit as an alternative, give Falcao and Costa a full 90 minutes together, get Rahman fit and playing and Ivanovic has to have some time away and as someone impressed, I would give Kenedy a longer run.just in case anyone is taking notes!

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13 Sep 2015 11:08:19
Jackson if we finish above you next May I will be a happy man because we won't be very far from winning the title if we do that.
Things that are wrong behind the scenes and affecting the team will get sorted no question of if but when, I just hope its after next Saturday :-)

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13 Sep 2015 11:12:17
What did Kenedy do yesterday exactly? He had a good 15 minutes against Palace and everyone's overrating him. Get Rahman, Loftus-Cheek and Oscar in the side I think that'll make a big difference.

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13 Sep 2015 12:25:05
So you have an issue with people overrating Kenedy, but want Rahman and RLC in the team as you think it will make a big difference. What exactly have either of them done in the league?

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13 Sep 2015 12:32:52
I think City will just be too strong this season, IF Silva doesn't miss too much time. He's the one that makes them tick, similar to what Oscar does for our team. Their win yesterday was a big one, away to Palace is difficult.
I don't think we can win the title, but that's just my opinion. We lack the necessary quality depth to go all the way because rotation is key to maintain good form as a team.
Hopefully we trash Maccabi on Wednesday. And if Oscar is back, then I fancy our chances against Arsenal next weekend. Winning against Arsenal could prove to be a turnaround in our season.

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13 Sep 2015 13:47:36
Melbourne If our youngsters aren't getting a chance when they play well but the likes of Ivanovic and Fabregas are still in the side that just sends out a straight message to the academy.

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13 Sep 2015 14:12:34
I don't disagree mate, but that is completely skipping over my point. You want two unproven players to get games as you think it will improve the team, but take issue with people praising a youngster when he hasn't proven anything.

You don't see the hypocricy?

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13 Sep 2015 15:36:38
I see what you mean but Rahman is a very good youngster who was one of the best left backs in the German league last season. Loftus-Cheek would just offer more than either Mikel or Fabregas for me at the moment. His physical size and ability to carry the ball forward is something we lack in midfield.

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13 Sep 2015 15:54:37
As much as I agree that our squad is not as good as man citys but I don't understand the comments saying we don't have enough squad depth to win the league. We won the league last season with an almost identical squad. I don't think we will go alll the way but squad depth isn't too much of an issue yet

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13 Sep 2015 16:17:33
I would think that Mikel has more size than RLC, and Matic is a monster, so I don't think him adding size is that important. I do think he deserves a chance though. My concern is once he gets one, and fails to perform, which is bound to happen, fans will claim someone else should be playing and that RLC is overrated. Much the same as you've done with Kenedy.

I kniw fans romanticise with the idea of academy players coming into our squad and having an instant impact and playing for the club for a decade plus, but its extremely rare at the top clubs. We have to accept that the gap between top youth and top professionals is one that the majority struggle to bridge.

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13 Sep 2015 16:45:34
RVD1997, yeah we have the same squad as last season but Jose only used like 15/16 players for the most part. We saw the effect that had when everyone tired come January. Whilst we did deserve to win last year, we only did it so easily due to City being useless. This season our players have started well off the pace, and our lack of depth is showing in the fact that they're still starting despite playing poorly.

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13 Sep 2015 18:10:44
Last season we pulled it off with little rotation because we were out of the CL so early. If we'd stayed in longer the performances would've suffered I think. And I hope we can go a round or 2 further in the competition this season.

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14 Sep 2015 09:58:38
The idea of "a squad"is that there are players putting pressure on the incumbents to perform or lose their place. The way to achieve this is to give the "squad "players a chance, therefore making the incumbents lift there game. As Fuser stated and Jackson sort of reiterated, we had little rotation in the second half of last year, so where's the incentive for the "squad" players. Rhaman is supposedly not up to EPL fitness, but give him a start and see if he doesn't lift his game to maybe become the starter(a rather big motivation I feel).
I think that Oscar is the missing link. Our great start last year was with him always starting, and when he "hit the wall" at Xmas so did our performances and Jose fell back on the "tried and true" with no room for any squad players to get a look in. If you feel you are only making up numbers with no chance of making "the team" that is how you will train, therefore never getting the chance to show you're ability.

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