Can Chelsea succeed where Arsenal have failed?

Rex

It seems quite obvious that Andre Villas - Boas wants Chelsea to play like Barcelona. He wants them to play possession football, put pressure on opponents early when they lose the ball, and he has them playing with that high defensive line.

He has problems of course. His squad isn´t really suited for that kind of football. The big difference though between Arsenal and Chelsea is that Villas - Boas may have money at his disposal that Wenger can only dream of.

Do you think Villas - Boas will stick to his guns regarding playing style or try to adapt his approach?
Do you think Abramovitch will stick with him?
If so, do you think Abramovich will make enough funds available to him to get the right sort of players in?
Do you think the sort of football he wants to play can be succesful in the PL? Very different from doing it in Spain IMO.

Clrnc

I think he needs to be given more time, maybe till next season where he sign more of his type of players. Chelsea squad badly needs a rehaul. He needs more samba player aka in Porto. More South American signings.

Rex

Do you think He will be given that time? What if they finish 3rd or 4th?

kamikaze

Its what Abramovich wants, so its what he'll get. I think he'll get more than one season, and its somewhat worrying that they'll prob be in for the same type of player we'd be interested in.

Gazza M

Villas-Boas needs to be given the freedom and time to gut the current Chelsea side and remake them entirely in his image. I think he's capable if Roman doesn't hit the Mr Burns button too early.

Biggus

They want to play like Barcelona, well we saw the result of that......😆

They'll fail like us and like everyone who tries to do that in the PL.

Rex

We came pretty close on a couple of occasions. Even you can´t deny that Biggus. If Abramovitch wants to put up the money though, then they can get those "3 or 4 players" of top, top quality we were always talking about making the difference.

Timbob

Well they need to overhaul the midfield. You aint gonna play quality, front foot football with Ramires, Mikel and a 33 year old Lampard in your engine room.

Biggus

Humble Rex wrote:
We came pretty close on a couple of occasions. Even you can´t deny that Biggus. If Abramovitch wants to put up the money though, then they can get those "3 or 4 players" of top, top quality we were always talking about making the difference.

I most certainly do!
We hung on to Man Utd's and Chelsea's tails in 08 but I wouldn't call it 'close' by any stretch of the imagination.

Burnwinter

Is this the article that inspired the thread Rex?

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/10/26/chelsea-villas-boas-pressing/

Thought it was a pretty interesting read. So far the experiment of Villas-Boas at Chelsea proves interesting for us because (a) the statistical similarities are somewhat verifiable (b) the results are somewhat similar: high risk defending, fewer chances conceded, but devastatingly good chances where they are. As it proved when we took them on.

Biggus

It will be great if Chelsea are going to open up like cheap slappers as well, maybe "the prize" is on this season again.

Ricky1985

Villa Boas' Porto side played nothing like Barcelona. More power based, and with lots of width.

Biggus

http://www.football365.com/news/21554/7282921/AVB-We-Should-Look-To-Arsenal-s-Example

😃 They're screwed!

Rex

Burnwinter wrote:
Is this the article that inspired the thread Rex?

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/10/26/chelsea-villas-boas-pressing/

Thought it was a pretty interesting read. So far the experiment of Villas-Boas at Chelsea proves interesting for us because (a) the statistical similarities are somewhat verifiable (b) the results are somewhat similar: high risk defending, fewer chances conceded, but devastatingly good chances where they are. As it proved when we took them on.

Hadn´t seen that article, but it IS very interesting. At this point in time they are not very good at this type of game, defensively at least. Will Roman open his chequebook though and allow Villas - Boas to get the right players for the system?

Think it is also interesting to see how much formation and tactics do to how you perceive a player. We all KNOW Terry/Ivanovic is a great CB pairing. Probably one of the best in the world when playing a lower defensive line. In THIS system they look like mugs.

Biggus

Humble Rex wrote:
At this point in time they are not very good at this type of game, defensively at least. Will Roman open his chequebook though and allow Villas - Boas to get the right players for the system?

Think it is also interesting to see how much formation and tactics do to how you perceive a player. We all KNOW Terry/Ivanovic is a great CB pairing. Probably one of the best in the world when playing a lower defensive line. In THIS system they look like mugs.

😆 Nor are we.

Most defenders do look like mugs because its such a high risk system.

Burnwinter

The high line makes the CBs look like stranded morons in the middle of nowhere every time a goal gets scored on the counter. There's no way round it, but I loved seeing Terry subjected to it. I bet he has his doubts about Villas-Boas all of a sudden.

Claudius

You better have some fast Koscielny / Vermin types if you plan on playing a high line. I don't like the high line because it leaves you very susceptible to foot races and also puts the goalie in danger of having to come storming out of his area to confront opponents who've breached the defense.

Biggus

Yeah and any challenge has to be spot on or you're going to have an early shower alone.

Burnwinter wrote:
The high line makes the CBs look like stranded morons in the middle of nowhere every time a goal gets scored on the counter. There's no way round it, but I loved seeing Terry subjected to it. I bet he has his doubts about Villas-Boas all of a sudden.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. 8)

Mello

Biggus wrote:
Yeah and any challenge has to be spot on or you're going to have an early shower alone.

Burnwinter wrote:
The high line makes the CBs look like stranded morons in the middle of nowhere every time a goal gets scored on the counter. There's no way round it, but I loved seeing Terry subjected to it. I bet he has his doubts about Villas-Boas all of a sudden.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. 8)

😆