Tag Archive for 'avb'

Chelsea: Do I Want Di Matteo To Stay?

Published on April 5, 2012 in Sports. 0 Comments

Honest to god answer – No. But do I believe Chelsea can find a better manager with no Champions League – Probably not.

Don’t get me wrong. Di Matteo has done a fantastic job since taking over from Villas Boas. This Chelsea team had been written off by one and all. Napoli players knew that they were into the next round even before visiting the Stamford Bridge. It’s a testament to the our interim Italian manager that he brought together a divided dressing room to produce a brilliant display in front of the home crowd. Chelsea fans will be hard pressed to find a more emotional and charged atmosphere than the second leg victory against Napoli.

Amazing as the start has been to Matteo’s managerial stint at Chelsea, the spark is still missing. One notable difference between Villas Boas and Matteo’s side is the change in formation from 4-3-3 to 4-5-1. The biggest loser from this change is Sturridge and the biggest gainer being Kalou. Let’s not get into that though.

Villas Boas tried to create a Chelsea team that attacks with flair. This required a high line of defense and lot of pressing. Chelsea got off to a great start in the Premier League. It was not soon enough when the opposition team started to realize that the Chelsea players were not suited to the high line tactics. Villas Boas reluctance to change his style eventually cost him his job.

Di Matteo has decided to pack his mid field and play with a lone striker. Luckily for him Torres has begun finding his feet and Matteo can make the simple decision of playing Torres ahead of Drogba – which must be pleasing Roman as well. But when you play with 5 in the middle you are expected to retain possession for majority of the game. Stats paint a completely different picture. Only against Stoke at home did Chelsea have like 70% possession. Other games we have been chasing mostly with around 47% possession. Villas Boas side almost always managed a 60% possession even with just 3 midfielders! This could mean only one thing – Di Matteo has set up his side to play defensively. Chelsea don’t care about possession play any more, they just want to sit tight and attack on the break. This also explains why Matteo prefers Meirless and Kalou over the tired, slow legs of Lampard and Malouda.

Now I don’t have much problem with a counter attacking setup. The German national team played the whole World Cup 2010 with that philosophy and no one can complain that the German games were boring. They were high energy exciting games! Napoli, that caught the eye of Europe this season, have been setup to play counter attacking game and even they are an exciting sight to watch. Chelsea on the other hand fail to convince. They are too slow – even when counter attacking. Most of the times the Chelsea midfielders run out of ideas after reaching the final third and instead of playing a defense-splitting pass to release the striker they just play the ball back to their safest player.

Di Matteo has been effective but not interesting or exciting. Chelsea have gone back to being boring and this is not what Roman desires – nor do I. One could argue that Matteo is doing the best with what he has and if given a chance to create a new team during the summers then he could turn around Chelsea fortunes. But the argument isn’t as convincing as one might want to believe.

The biggest problem that Chelsea will have to deal with this summer is attracting exciting players. They either need the Champions League or a charismatic manager. Champions league qualification looks more and more unlikely as the days pass by. So to finally bring about the transition that we’ve been talking about for a year not we would need a coach with lots of klout – someone players will want to play for – a man with reputation.But then without the lure of Champions League would a manager be willing to take up the high-profile high-risk job of Roman’s empire?

It’ll be unfair to Di Matteo after his inspiring work in these few weeks. But being realistic and without meaning any disrespect to him, I do not believe that he’ll remain as our manager the next season. The only reason I could perhaps want him to stay will be his love for the club. In fact, getting Zola as the manager could perhaps be the best solution. He’s a legend at Stamford Bridge. He could be to Chelsea what Pep has been to Barcelona. But after the spectacular failure of the young Villas Boas do I really believe Roman will go for another not-so-experienced coach again – naah.There are quite a few big names being talked about.

Patience is the key. I’m already looking forwards to the next season with a hope that nothing can be worse than the year that has just passed. Just when you think Chelsea can get out of the miserable form they pull you back in!

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Chelsea: In Torres We Trust

Published on February 5, 2012 in Sports. 0 Comments

It’s been an year since Torres joined us and even he would agree that it has not been a rosy 12 months experience. He has struggled for goals. And just when we thought he was getting back to his best, he got himself red carded and sidelined for a whole month. Torres has failed to live up to his standards set at Liverpool. His first goal for us is something I always go back to. I remember that night. I was jumping up and down with madness. I was watching the game live on TV and could hear the 40K crowd of Stamford Bridge go “Torres Torres!!”. Even the heavy rain could not dampen their spirits.

Twelve months in and even today the Chelsea fans are fully supportive of our number 9. There are flashes of his brilliance. On his day he torments the defenders – doesn’t score is a different matter as he compensates it by creating lots of chances for others. But then the very next match he once again becomes that lonely man roaming around without any purpose.

I’d like the Chelsea fans to disagree but I feel that our midfield is partly responsible for Torres’s extended goal drought. With Lampard aging, Essien injured we do not have any good player to play the through ball to Torres. A striker feeds off his midfielders. Torres does not have anyone feeding him those balls on a regular basis.

I was watching the Arsenal vs Blackburn game tonight. Arsenal demolished the Rovers 7-1. Do you know how those goals were scored? Walcott received the ball at the edge of the penalty box and he played a wonderful cross to Van Persie who was right in front of the goal. All Persie had to do was to tap the ball in. Sadly for Torres though Sturridge is way too selfish to play him such crosses. On the right we have Ashley Cole who these days just lofts his final ball into the air and hopes someone from Chelsea will head it in. The third goal that Chamberlain scored today was because of an incisive pass by Persie right at the edge of the box. When Torres provides such passes to Ramires or Mata, they just flash their shot wide. No quality finishing.

The lack of ability to finish or create forces Torres to run deeper into the midfield and receive the ball himself. That is something you’ve seen Rooney do last year. The lack of service forces your striker to become a midfielder. And yet you expect goals from him!

I think the manner in which Chelsea play their 4-3-3 doesn’t suit Torres. Chelsea takes the easier option of running down the flanks – supported by Cole and who ever is right back for that game – and then loft the ball into the penalty box for your striker to score. This worked with Drogba because he was that strong bullish presence in the center who could brush aside his markers. With Torres the same does not work. With Torres you need to pass him the ball along the ground through the midfield. And this is exactly why I think a change in formation might just help Torres.

If Chelsea were to go into a 4-4-2 formation with Torres and Sturridge as the two central strikers and Mata playing just behind them, then I think our strikers will have better chances of conversion. Sturridge likes to come inside into a more central position and this formation will help him. For Torres having Mata in the attacking midfield position will help as Mata can provide those passes Torres used to get off Gerrard.

The 4-4-2 system logically should have been the preferred one. I don’t know why AVB still insists with the 4-3-3 when it’s clearly not working for your strikers. I so want Torres to succeed. I will him to score every time he walks onto the field. If Torres were to spend the next 6 months just as hopelessly as the last 12 Roman might not be so forgiving. It’s Abramovich’s unpredictability that freaks me out sometimes. I so want Torres to come good.

PS: I started following Chelsea only after the Shevchenko era. I do not know if there were people just like me then willing him to score every time he came on. That story ended badly. I do not want a repeat of the same with Torres.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Rumour: Jose To Chelsea?

Published on February 4, 2012 in Sports. 0 Comments

I know this will never happen mostly for two reasons – the breakdown in relationship between Jose and Roman was regarding the power of control of the club that Roman will never agree to compromise and also because I can’t see Chelsea wasting another 20-30 millions firing AVB. But if it were to happen it would make every Chelsea fan around the world happy.

Jose Mourinho brings with himself a guarantee of trophies that no other manager can. He guided us to first Premiere League trophy after like what 50 years of drought? He has the experience and the technical know-how to put in order our messed up team. He can be that ruthless person to make tough decisions and not care about what people say. AVB, who is much too younger, has tried and failed at the same. To control the egoist dressing room of Chelsea you need a man like Jose.

Now seems like the right time to bring Jose back to Chelsea. Earlier Jose had been too defensive. When at Chelsea his success was built upon a miserly defensive team playing counter-attacking football. He carried over the same philosophy at Inter Milan. Remember the Champions League match against Barcelona. Inter sat back in their last 1/3rd and just defended with their lives – only trying to score at the break. That is why I was not much in favor of getting Jose back to our club. I wanted our team to play with flair and to barrage the opposite end with lots of shots on target. That is something Chelsea does not do.

These two years at Real Madrid has seen a change in Jose’s style. He still cares a lot about the defense – against Barcelona, Real Madrid play like his Chelsea and Inter Milan used to play – but he has also opened up to an attacking style of football. It helps that he has players like Ozil and Ronaldo to make the most of the chances. Look at Real Madrid now. They have won a number of games with 2+ margin. Any manager would be happy with such a record.

However, one must look at all the aspects. Jose needs a team of his liking. If he were to come to Chelsea, he will undoubtedly make lots of changes. With the UEFA’s financial fair play coming into picture it seems highly unlikely that Chelsea is again going to splash lots of money in the transfer market. The philosophy of buying lots of young players point to the same – we would rather have lots of Sturridge like cases rather than Torres. Given the current team, without much tinkering, does Jose have in himself to deliver the Premier League again in his first year? I think not.

Also firing AVB would be senseless. We spent like 15 millions in the summer signing him from Porto. It would be just a waste of money firing him after an year. The guy has potential. He must be given time to create a team to his liking. Unlike his predecessors AVB was not handed a treasure chest to go and hand pick any player in the world. Belief and stability is something Chelsea managers need at this transition period. I’m pretty sure that we’ll finish among the top 4. AVB deserves to continue after that.

Lastly, I think Jose would never come back to Chelsea so long as we have Roman. Jose needs complete control over the club – he had that at Inter and Madrid. At Chelsea he’s never going to get that. Just the last week AVB let it known that the signing of Kevin de Bruyne was club policy and not his decision – read, Roman wanted that deal and not the manager. Roman strikes to me as a dictator kind of a person. It’s good that he loves and cares so much for Chelsea and that love will never let him part his veto power. He’ll always continue to influence the club.

And if Jose really wants to get back in England, he’ll find plenty of opportunities. SAF is getting old. Perhaps Manchester United decide to offer Jose the chance to manage the club where he’ll have complete control just like SAF has. If Manchester City fail to win the Premiere League this year Mancini is almost sure to get fired. City can offer Jose a huge salary and also lots of money to attract players. Arsene Wenger could get booted out in favor of Jose – seems highly unlikely though. With English national team place opening up and Redknapp as the most-probable successor, Spurs could be a destination. But with their wage structure and limited funding it might not be the ideal club for Jose. Liverpool? King Kenny fans will be very upset and the move will surely backfire.

When you just sit back to think about it, and knowing Jose, it could just be that he’s trying to stir up the nest and trouble a few people and nothing more. There’s very little reason why he might leave Real Madrid. He has built an amazing team over there who have not yet managed to win the Champions League. And even if he leaves the two Manchester clubs seem like the more likely destination. I would not even give 5% credibility to the rumors of Jose coming back to Chelsea. It’s just that improbable.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Torres Benched Again !

Published on November 26, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

Drogba and Torres

It’s been 4 matches now that Torres has had to wait for his turn. In fact, he has only played 51 minutes of the last 360. It’s so frustrating to watch him warm the bench. We could use his quality on the pitch than the dug out. He was so close to re-discovering his touch.

I do not speak for AVB, but here’s my take why Drogba has been starting ahead of Torres. This has coincided with the “difficult period” as perceived by everyone at the club. We are not playing like AVB wanted us to. He has come under a lot f strain recently to produce a string of victories. Talk of his getting the sack is rubbish, but knowing Abramovich, one cannot be sure. He needed someone on the pitch to help his case. So it makes sense to go with the big bullish character of Drogba than the silky smooth and stylish nature of Torres.

When Drogba plays you can just shoot a long ball to him and expect him to hold the play for others to catch up thus bypassing the midfield. And Drogba does that very well. This allows the troubled back line to clear the ball quickly and get it into the attacking half. Torres is not good at this. He loses out to long balls and when he tries to hold up play he is often dispossessed. He’s better at having the ball played to him through the midfield in front of the goal – which Chelsea has had trouble with.

Do I believe that Drogba will always be preferred over Torres? No. Once we move on from this difficult times and put in a victory streak, I’ll expect AVB to shed all the negativity and revert back to his principle of stylish play in which Torres has a major part to play. Mata and Sturridge link up so well to create lots of chances. Throw Torres in and we’ll have an entertaining front for Chelsea.

Once again Drogba has shown that Chelsea needs him. He may be past his best but he’s still got the quality to pull us out of miserable times. It’s only me speculating and being optimistic here. I hope I am right. It’s such a shame that they can’t play together. They could have been the fearsome couple!