So with yesterday’s loss, it’s the Europa League for us next year and for the third time in a row, we’ve performed poorly attempting to defend the title. Lots of blame being given out to Conte (who hasn’t helped himself) and the players (many of them have been poor). However, its been three different managers (Carlo, Jose and Conte) who have all struggled in the season after a title win and pretty much three different sets of players. So to blame the manager or players is, for me, a lazy narrative.
My view is that it’s the strategy of the people above the manager which needs to be called into question. We have been successful in the past by planning for short termism, which was fine when we had a group of real leaders like Terry, Lamps etc but won’t work with this current crop so we need to look longer term.
We need to completely change our transfer policy. We spent loads on the summer but mostly on bang average players. No more Drinkwaters or Zappacostas, give those squad roles to the younger players we’ve been sending out on loan or selling. Then spend that money on two or three top quality players who will improve the first team.
For example, if instead this year we had not spent £50 million on Drinkwater and Barkley and instead given those squad roles to, for example Chalobah and RLC, we could have brought a real quality central midfielder with that money instead. We should be looking for quality, not quantity - look to the youngsters for that.
Basically, unless we completely change transfer strategy, I can’t see this cycle ending any time soon in fact it’s only going to get worse with no CL football to offer next year.
So, where did it all go wrong?
posted on 2/4/18
When it comes to Conte, I do feel that he has been unfortunate that both Morata and Bakayoko have been so underwhelming this season. You could argue that the board signed these players, however these were signings Conte was in favour of as well.
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In particular Bakayoko - just because he's been chit doesn't mean Conte didn't want him. Been linked to many chit players Conte supposedly targeted himself (Candreva, Biabany, Llorente). Conte has had links in newspapers to Bakayoko since December 2016..reportedly went with Emenalo to watch Monaco vs Tottenham at same time as Bakayoko links started coming about. He's also used him a lot, meanwhile other signings have been brought in who he barely uses, potentially because he doesn't see them as 'his' players.
posted on 2/4/18
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/conte-wants-bakayoko-to-replace-60m-oscar-pv86rbkkc
^first links of Conte wanting Bakayoko.
And at same time, reported he went personally with Emenalo to watch Monaco vs Tottenham
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/572395/Chelsea-Transfer-News-Antonio-Conte-Moanco-Tiemoue-Bakayoko-Djibril-Sidibe-Gossip
posted on 2/4/18
comment by The Chavy One (U12176)
posted 1 minute ago
Sheriff
It worked for Real Madrid and Zizou.. Yes they have a quality team but he recognised their "weakness" in midfield in that despite having quality players in Kroos, Modric and James, They lacked anybody with real bite. He brought Casemiro back into the fold and hes won back to back European Cups.
All I'm saying is the solution could be staring us in the face.
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More chance of us getting Zidane in....I cannot see how Morris gets that gig in a month of Sundays.....we don't do youth players...why should we do a youth coach
posted on 2/4/18
comment by The Chavy One (U12176)
posted 5 minutes ago
Sheriff
It worked for Real Madrid and Zizou.. Yes they have a quality team but he recognised their "weakness" in midfield in that despite having quality players in Kroos, Modric and James, They lacked anybody with real bite. He brought Casemiro back into the fold and hes won back to back European Cups.
All I'm saying is the solution could be staring us in the face.
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Solutions staring us in the face are a huge weakness with us
Vardy is a prime example
posted on 2/4/18
I would love to know exactly who did sanction the signing of Bakayoko, whoever it was should facking fall on their sword.
I cannot envisage him coming good even under a new manager next season, I did think he was a Conte choice when I saw him getting selected week in week out while offering nothing and others were getting left out instead of him and they did more in those games than he did.
The only game I felt he played well in was Athletico away, the rest of the time we could have played a bod out of the youth team and still had more return than we did out of him. For me he has to go at the end of the season. I appreciate that some players take time to settle but I don't see him coming good now or in the future.
As bad as yesterday was I was so glad he stayed on the bench as he would not have brought any solutions to the problems that we were having.
posted on 2/4/18
Bakayoko strikes me as a player who is used to being able to physically bully his way through games without needing much technical ability.
The problem is, it’s more difficult to do this in the PL, where there are tonnes of physical players in every midfield and you can’t just rely on physically intimidating opponents.
posted on 2/4/18
Doesn't help when the likes of Fabregas are well past their best either...Moses is not good enough when on...leaving Kante to clear up the mess...he deserves better around him
Barkley isn't ever going to be fit...or good enough...Luiz is a liability fitness wise...drinky is average Hazard is just a luxury player now...not contributing enough for the team
Big clear out next term
posted on 2/4/18
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 23 minutes ago
For me the one transfer that sums up the ludicrous transfer system we have, is the signing of Zappacosta.
Nothing personal against the bloke but he's an average player, signed basically as cover for Moses and some one deemed that paying in excess of £20m for him was acceptable.
Would it not have been better to have used Sterling or James for the same purpose?
I have a feeling that if some one at the club had a bit of vision one of those two could have turned out better than the hapless Moses!
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Same thing with Drinkwater too. Even if Chalobah and Loftus Cheek leave, surely there’s someone from the academy who can be 4th choice CM? Would save us over 50m on the pair of them as well which could go towards an actual top player.
posted on 2/4/18
comment by Erik (U21750)
posted 2 hours, 22 minutes ago
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 23 minutes ago
For me the one transfer that sums up the ludicrous transfer system we have, is the signing of Zappacosta.
Nothing personal against the bloke but he's an average player, signed basically as cover for Moses and some one deemed that paying in excess of £20m for him was acceptable.
Would it not have been better to have used Sterling or James for the same purpose?
I have a feeling that if some one at the club had a bit of vision one of those two could have turned out better than the hapless Moses!
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Same thing with Drinkwater too. Even if Chalobah and Loftus Cheek leave, surely there’s someone from the academy who can be 4th choice CM? Would save us over 50m on the pair of them as well which could go towards an actual top player.
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Exactly what we need to be doing going forward.
posted on 2/4/18
the lack of preperation doesnt help.
we dont seem to do our business early before pre-season.
then their is the lack of motivation and hunger to defend our title.