15 Feb 2025 04:47:37
We have a lot to look forward to before our next game against Villa.
There will be the "manager has lost the dressing room" observations from fans.
The club will issue a statement saying something similar to "it supports the manager. "
The club will then send out various players including the captain saying "they 100% support the manager" and "us players have to do better. "
The pundits and newspapers will say something like "Chelsea crisis. "
I'm sure there must be an instruction manual that all the participants refer to in these circumstances.
15 Feb 2025 08:14:15
All of the above Tom but none of this would be happening if the owners, SD's and players were doing their jobs properly and if we had a decent coach at the helm.
15 Feb 2025 09:23:44
There is no Chelsea crisis. No one expects us to challenge for trophies. It is just the normal cycle of uninspired football and mid table mediocrity. Nothing to see here.
15 Feb 2025 09:29:27
Bill, obviously if we were firing on all cylinders there would be very little criticism of the players, manager, SD’s and owners. It will be just as it was for the first 15/ 16 games. That is my point, nothing changes. Unfortunately that includes the stubborn approach how manager has to his tactics.
15 Feb 2025 10:23:13
What has changed since end of January transfer window is the removal of much back up if injury list grows or to rest players like Caicedo who must surely be our most consistent player this season.
Instead we loan out another shed load and don't eg recall Santos from Strasbourg. Instead Casadei sold and Chucky and Felix (who loaned out. Leaving KDH and the new youngster from France Amagou (sp.? ) as back up.
One change we might make for Villa is Tosin for out of sorts Colwill perhaps. certainly the Vhalaboah-Colwill partnership didn't work too well but then EM tactics so predictable and clueless when not changed to meet circumstances that perhaps that won't help much. Madueke has apparently done his hamstring and given the lack of rotations and substitutions made by Maresca in general this season why is this not a surprise. But suddenly our opotions upo front look as thin as those in midfield and at the back. How long will Caicedo or EF last before getting injured too. or Cucurella or Gusto? or Neto?
Our players did try last night so I don't think EM has yet lost them or certainly not most of them. But they did look lost and our play shapeless and devoid of ideas after an energetic - as usual - first ten to fifteen mins or so.
Yes please let is regain some pride and at least a point v Villa but I'm not optimistic. Sorry Tom, wish I could be!
15 Feb 2025 10:50:22
JBS, optimism will be in short supply.
My guess is that when I feel it necessary to apportion blame it will be as follows:-
The manager to stubborn to change or vary tactics.
The SD’s have in my opinion made mistakes but probably not with the signing of young players. My guess is that idea comes from the owners.
I always look for a common denominator and for me it’s the owners. Let me make it clear I am not being critical of the player rebuild idea as I think it was overdue but they have never demanded a measured or balanced approach to transfers.