Chelsea Banter Archive May 06 2013

06 May 2013 20:27:13
Rafa is one of the best managers around. I have absolutely no doubt about that.

I have always thought that Rafa would be a great manager for Chelsea and Manchester City simply because he kept Liverpool competitive without ever getting his first targets with the exceptions of Torres and Mascherano. Still he kept Liverpool not only competitive but almost took the team to the promised land. the league title.

Its baffling to see the disgusting manner in which Chelsea fans have treated him. I thought when he was selected it seemed a perfect fit. It was like all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle were finally complete but the Chelsea fans decided to undo it.

Sincerely I do not think Mourinho will work like most fans seem to think. There are many things to it.
1. He is no longer the unknown quantity he was in 2005
2. He no longer has the same hunger which has been evident in his present campaign. He has left Madrid out to dry sometimes blaming Casillas and press for all the lack of hunger in the team.
3. His exploits were great in an era where defensive counter attacking football was at its height. All his teams are essentially counter attacking set specialist teams. Th present chelsea team has been created with a view to possession football.
4 Opposing teams will know that they have to sit back and counter Mourinho teams as La Liga teams have done all this season.
5. He will not last beyond the third season.

I could give many other reasons but the fact remains if Chelsea fans do want sustained success Mourinho is not the man plus he comes with a lot of baggage.

I think Chelsea fans have missed a fantastic opportunity by effectively throwing him out of the door.

What is this dribble?
1) He was no longer an unknown quantity in his 3rd year here if not then, definitely by the time he moved to Inter.
2) He lacks hunger? Based on Real's poor form and the fact that he blames Casillas? LOL There was a fallout between Mourinho and the Spanish players and Casillas has been said to have ruled the dressing room similar to the way Terry/Lampard have been said to. Not to mention the fact that he won the league last year so was focusing on winning the Champions League this year.
3) Yes his teams were counter attacking teams but many of them simply had the players already to play in such a style. If he were to come I could envision him playing like Bayern does. Possession with counter attacking. Which seems to be the way forward.
4) The league was never his focus this term and there have been internal problems.
5) How do you know this? His past behaviour perhaps would indicate such a situation but how long will he continue to jump clubs every 3 years? He's 50 and I'm sure his family will want to settle down at some point. Not to mention the fact that he will run out of big teams to manage. He enjoys projects. Taking big teams that have been missing out on titles in recent years and making them title winners again.

By his so called 'baggage' I assume you mean the way he handles the media? It's actually very clever and similar to Fergie. He often creates a big fuss in order to deflect the attention off the team onto himself in order for them to get on with things if they're going badly.

And finally Rafa. He's not a great manager. His tactics are often wrong, subs useless or too late. Personally any great success he's had this season has simply been due to the players themselves not his tactics. Yes he had success at Valencia and Liverpool but failed spectacularly at Inter and hasn't been 'great' here. I fail to see how losing in 3 cup competitions and barely scraping top4 can be considered great considering where we were when he came in.

Stupid post.

Stupid because there is a difference in opinion?

A difference in opinion is saying Ronaldo is better than Messi. This is like saying Benayoun is better than Mata.

06 May 2013 13:25:05
Ed is it true that Frank Leboeuf will be joining next year in a coaching role? {Ed002's Note - Don't hold your breath.}

06 May 2013 09:45:03
Just wanted to state how proud I am of our Blues, we don't get the credit we deserve and this season has been a titan for us. To be where we are and having changed a few players in the squad and had lots of bad press ect we have really come together and shown our strength and unity. Next season is promising to be a real treat especially if we get some of the players been mentioned on here and in the press. Hope we beat the Spuds and that will put is in the driving seat for sure to get that top 4 finish, wish I was going to Amsterdam but the lack of tickets given and the fact I have to work away is a real kick in the teeth. Ill not be there in person but always in spirit. COYB! Scott M.

06 May 2013 06:49:31
Can't believe nobody's mentioned it but azpilcueta in his first season in prem has been immense v man UTD
And all season. What a brilliant buy.

Also Oscar really not great today but as a young man usually played outwide has really impressed me. Hazard we all know is class and next year when they have been there a while will be brilliant. Need not of muscle to let these guys play

You are right about Azpi. If he improves his crossing he will be one the best rightbacks. Proitos.

His cross for Torres against Villa is one of the best crosses I have ever witnessed. The only area he needs improving is his overall defensive performance.

JG

I loved oscar at the start of the season and his tenacity and workrate is great. I think he just needs to work on his stamina because he fades in games and tiredness seems to affect his overall performance

jscottjr

Play him in the two man midfield, he's just the passer we need from deep. Get a new winger, or actually give Marin game time.

From a Liverpool fan:

Imo Azpilicueta along with Zabaleta r the two best right backs in the bpl. However azpi can get better because he is still in his early twenties.
Fancy a trade with my least favorite Liverpool player G. Johnson?

Azpi has been awesome. I hope these rumours of him leaving aren't true. He is by far our strongest full back as cole has been poor this season.

06 May 2013 00:35:44
Could peter Kenyon Return if The special one comes back?

Strange you should say tha as I was wonderin why his name was starting to appear again in matters Chelsea

An not to shore if kenyon still does abit for Chelsea as in representing there name across the world {Ed002's Note - PK has some involvement with the club but not "representing" the name of the club - whatever that might be.}

I'm sure he means affiliated. {Ed002's Note - Meaning what?}

Working with/for/ in conjunction with Chelsea in whatever role. His role at Chelsea was to deal with the non-footballing side of things such as marketing. {Ed002's Note - So you have no idea is what you are saying?}