Caligula wrote:Are you saying that three month slump should be enough to fire Ancelotti? What about the three month, 15 points in 15 games we endured? Is that enough to lead to a manger's dismissal, Ricky?
Different circumstances, different squad, different reasons.
Although, ours was an embarrassment too, without doubt.
What is different that would spell doom for one man and a stay of execution on the other man's dismissal?
A slump like that for a squad full to the brim of experience and proven quality is. or was, unprecedented at Chelsea. It should not happen. A spell like we had with a young, inexperienced group that had just lost their first cup final, on the back of 6 trophyless years, and all the pressure that has brought to bare on the club and the team, is far from acceptable, but at the same time more understandable.
This is what I meant a fortnight ago when I said Wenger's transfer policy shields him from criticism in some quarters. They are young and cheap, so it is okay to play at relegation pace for 40% of the season.
No, it's just a fact.
Ancelloti had one bad year, Wengers had 6.
If I was Abramovich I'd suggest to one or two out of Lampard, Terry and Drogba that they move on, rather than Ancelotti.
qs! wrote:Ancelloti had one bad year, Wengers had 6.
Ancelotti/Chelsea also spent £130M on new players in his time at the club.
Look, I'm not saying I agree with his sacking, only that when Abramovich spends the amount of money he does on his personal little plaything he is right to expect his manager to deliver trophies and excellence, and quite within his rights to act as he sees fit. Chelsea fans don't moan when he spends all the his own money bringing them the next world class superstar, so they shouldn't moan when he makes his own decisions.
Burnwinter wrote:If I was Abramovich I'd suggest to one or two out of Lampard, Terry and Drogba that they move on, rather than Ancelotti.
Terry has years left in him yet. He's, for me, perhaps their best player, or better put; their most important.
Wenger could spend £130m every year and we'd still have trophyless seasons occasionally.
Ancelotti's sacking was a joke.
If they hadn't have had that terrible run of form in the winter, I'd agree. I still think it's the wrong decision, and bordering on a joke, but I can see Abramovich's thinking behind it. Anyway, this is what happens when you become a billionaire's plaything, everyhting the club does, every move it makes, is based on his whim.
Ricky1985 wrote:Burnwinter wrote:If I was Abramovich I'd suggest to one or two out of Lampard, Terry and Drogba that they move on, rather than Ancelotti.
Terry has years left in him yet. He's, for me, perhaps their best player, or better put; their most important.
I think they've all got a couple of good years of football left in them, probably a bit slower and more injured than before; but if you look at those poor three months over winter it seemed to me the senior players were the sticking point. They have stayed, they've remained senior, they've won trophies, and managers have come and gone. And they're all arrogant fuckers.
If the likes of Villas-Boas or Van Basten, a junior manager, comes in he's going to have to make some sort of statement to break up that bloc - in my opinion.
Drogba and Lampard don't have a lot left to give at the level Chelsea are playing at, so I could see those two either departing or settling for reduced roles. Terry will be their captain for another 5 years, though, at least.
Don't think he will last anywhere near that long myself. Drogba's a mess of injuries and already has a somewhat reduced role. Lampard I dunno either.
But as I said, it's not just that they're getting on, it's that they seemed to get in the way of revving up the Chelsea squad last season. I think that's likely to happen again with a new manager, but I suppose we'll see.
You have to be wary of players who feel compelled to pronounce their "full support" for the manager in interviews. Terry was all over doing that last season, talking about hunger and how he knew what was required. Big warning sign, just like when he spoke out at the World Cup.
I think Lampards going to leave Chelsea this summer.
Wasn't Lampard's absence a major reason for their poor form? Can't see him leaving soon. The Drog on the other hand already looks like a player falling out of favour (although the reasons for that aren't too clear).
I dont know where Lampard would go. Maybe Mourinho would want him at Madrid...?
Chelsea would benefit massively from getting a top notch play maker in
Caligula wrote:Are you saying that three month slump should be enough to fire Ancelotti? What about the six year slump we've endured? Is that enough to lead to a manger's dismissal, Ricky?
Fixed. 
Shocking to think this Chelsea team came back to clinch second. Their back 5 is pretty solid, but the midfield isn't what it used to be, Essien and Lampard aren't the forces they once were, Ramires is not the finished article, and they've got Anelka, Drogba, and Torres who have not done the business for them up front.
I'll be surprised if they don't make some serious signings this summer. Having said that, I feel a stronger manager would have done a lot better with their current group this season.
