Chelsea do not have a 'really poor defence'. They are excellent defensively. They have probably the best Keeper in the league, at least one of them. They've got a quality left back in Ashley Cole, one of the best right back's in Ivanovic who also is quality at centre back. Azpilicueta is decent. Cahill is good, Terry's still decent at much as everyone hates him and Luiz isn't as bad as everyone wants to think at centre back. Chelsea's back five is as good as anyone in the league and the stats prove it where they are statistically the joint best team in the league defensively with City.
Benitez to Chelsea Discussion & Sack watch
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Chelsea do not have a 'really poor defence'. They are excellent defensively. They have probably the best Keeper in the league, at least one of them. They've got a quality left back in Ashley Cole, one of the best right back's in Ivanovic who also is quality at centre back. Azpilicueta is decent. Cahill is good, Terry's still decent at much as everyone hates him and Luiz isn't as bad as everyone wants to think at centre back. Chelsea's back five is as good as anyone in the league and the stats prove it where they are statistically the joint best team in the league defensively with City.
Stats tell you half the story, really. Their defense isn't as good as you would want to paint. They have good players playing, but they can be cut open by any side playing decent football. Look at Everton last weekend for example. If not for their poor finishing, they would have easily score more than 1 goals you wouldn't be able to use "Statistically the joint best team in the League defensively" argument.
Chelsea have about 20 players on loan. Surely some of them could be recalled to make their squad a bit more better in depth.
"If it wasn't for teams not being able to score against them their defensive record wouldn't be as good".
No shit.
Only difference is that we had massive injury problems that day, Jones and Rafael in centre mid anyone? And Rooney was punished by Fergie for pissing about on the town.
Benitez had everyone bar Terry available, yet chose to rest 4 key players in Cole, Hazard, Mata and Ramires.
Chelsea bought some very talented players this summer but I said at the time that I felt too many of them were similar players (at least in terms of the positions that they played in) and failed to address some of the key gaps in their squad.
It was also interesting to see how they dealt with their first setback in the league (losing to you). Not very well as it turned out.
It was also interesting to see how they dealt with their first setback in the league (losing to you). Not very well as it turned out.
This.
And also, I don't quite buy this lack of depth thing.
They have Cahill, Luiz, Ivanovic covering centre back even with Terry out.
Cole, Bertrand, Ferreira and Azil-something at full back cover
They have Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Mata, Marin, Moses, Piazon for midfield.
It's just up front they're a little weak, but they did have Sturridge as deputy for Torres
I keep forgetting Ferreira is still there 
Is Malouda still playing for the reserves? The depth at that level must be pretty good
Is Malouda still playing for the reserves? The depth at that level must be pretty good
Losing to the last placed team in the League, at home, is absolutely
We did it last year.
Yeah we rested players that day. Wasn't it Rooney/Evans/Gibson dropped?
Chelsea have to rest these players sometime. Mata/Hazard are young. Mata played in the olympics and went to the Euros didn't he? He's a fantastic player but he can't get worn out. When better to rest him for a home game at home v bottom place?
The depth at the club is startling. Aboslutely terrible. When Ferreira is still close to your squad your in trouble.
They bought in players, but lost a lot of squad depth as well. Losing Drogba/Kalou/Bosingwa doesn't seem that clever now. The last few years at Cheslea has seen a complete dismantling of their second string squad in order for them to be able to afford the top players.
FFP means Chelsea can't afford to keep all the back up players on massive wages. Chelsea have made a profit this year, but over the last few years they've lost countless experience/talent who were ok to sit on the bench. It means that by not growing organically they've got a fantastic first team, but woeful second string.
For example, look at the players Chelsea have released in the last three years:
Deco,
Ballack,
Beletti,
J. Cole,
Bosingwa,
Kalou,
Drogba
That would NEVER happen at a properly run none billionaire club. These players were all still playing 15+ games plus (not Beletti) in the side, but were let go because Chelsea need to trim their wage bill.
Look at the other players who've left for nominal fees,
Carvalho, Zhirkov, Alex, Meireles, Sinclair
These are all players that Chelsea let go because they need to get their wages down.
Last year they finished 6th in the league. It was a torrid campaign for them. So they signed Hazard/Oscar/Moses/Azipilicueta/Marin. Fair play, they can only improve you feel.
But at the same time due to FFP they've had to let Kalou/Bosingwa/Drogba/Sturridge/Lukaku/Malouda (effectively) go. Chelsea ALWAYS struggle around November/Christmas and they always will until they get their second string up to standards.
Deco,
Ballack,
Beletti,
J. Cole,
Bosingwa,
Kalou,
Drogba
That would NEVER happen at a properly run none billionaire club. These players were all still playing 15+ games plus (not Beletti) in the side, but were let go because Chelsea need to trim their wage bill.
Look at the other players who've left for nominal fees,
Carvalho, Zhirkov, Alex, Meireles, Sinclair
These are all players that Chelsea let go because they need to get their wages down.
Last year they finished 6th in the league. It was a torrid campaign for them. So they signed Hazard/Oscar/Moses/Azipilicueta/Marin. Fair play, they can only improve you feel.
But at the same time due to FFP they've had to let Kalou/Bosingwa/Drogba/Sturridge/Lukaku/Malouda (effectively) go. Chelsea ALWAYS struggle around November/Christmas and they always will until they get their second string up to standards.
Playing Rafael and Park in the midfield. Yeah, that's similar to Chelsea playing Lampard and Luiz.
I remember drawing 0-0 at OT with Sunderland who were pretty much the worst team in the premier league ever. I also remember losing to Wolves 1-0 at our place I'm sure of it.
Lee Bowyer
Wolves haven't won at Old Trafford for 33 years.
Twiggs got a decent memory then.
no top 4 team should lose at home to a bottom team but we've done it. as has Arsenal I'm sure, and others. could be a minor blip for Chelsea but that trip to Japan had to tire them out sometime so maybe it's catching up now.
no top 4 team should lose at home to a bottom team but we've done it. as has Arsenal I'm sure, and others. could be a minor blip for Chelsea but that trip to Japan had to tire them out sometime so maybe it's catching up now.
Rafa tried to take the piss, it failed. He will do it again im sure and it will always cost him.
How on Earth did he try to take the piss? He's not allowed to rest players now? If he can't rest Mata and the likes against the absolute worst League team in QPR, then when can he?
The fact that you couldn't even get a point against a team that had recorded one win in 20 games, due to resting only 2 or 3 first team players is a damning indictment of how mediocre the Chelsea squad is. Blame the terrible decisions made by the club over the past 4 transfer windows, not Benitez.
The fact that you couldn't even get a point against a team that had recorded one win in 20 games, due to resting only 2 or 3 first team players is a damning indictment of how mediocre the Chelsea squad is. Blame the terrible decisions made by the club over the past 4 transfer windows, not Benitez.
I heard during the game yesterday that Southampton already said that the FA Cup wasn't a priority and would be rotating their squad at the weekend. With this in mind, shouldn't Chelsea have waited until the weekend to play their expensive fringe players against Southamptons fringe players, instead of against a club who is desperately fighting for Premier League survival?
He took the piss because you dont rest big players in the league like that.
Whats going on? Do you not remember how QPR nearly caught you guys out at OT? Suppose you had not had RVP, Rooney and Hernandez on, you never know what might have happened. This idea is nonsense that any game is a gimme, if you go into games with that attitude you are destined for failure.
The Chelsea squad is very thin, although I said that yesterday and was told that was rubbish, so which is it?
Did it not make more sense to rest the players for the FA cup tie, in which Southampton will probably be resting theirs too?
Added to that it was a derby, and you have a recipe for disaster.
We rested RVP and Chica against West Brom. Started with Welbeck up front by himself.
Your squad isn't good. Mata played two international tournaments this summer. RDM played him a ridiculous amount.
Yeah and up til the late few minutes when the big guns were on the only thing seperating the sides was an own goal. It doesnt mean you are always going to be caught out, but our squads weaker than yours, it was asking for a problem.
Mata could have at least come on at half time rather than so late he had little impact.
Agreed, and this is the bit that will have you tearing your hair out. Resting him against QPR was correct, but realising how shit Chelsea were by half time, and with an FA Cup weekend coming up, Mata should have been straight out there at half time.
But dear old Rafa likes his stats, even at the expense of common sense.
Wasn't Mata on the pitch when QPR scored? Maybe it was his fault.
I think Benitez is just generally better with lesser teams. His whole managerial philosophy seems to surround tactics and thus it just ends up one big tactical clusterfeck, take the whole Luiz in central midfield thing for example. It's the reason why he's ended up with some amazing results in big matches but continues to fail against the easier teams in the league, sometimes he just needs to let the players get on with it.
Chelsea have failed to score in 4 out of 6 home games he's presided over now.
Shocking statistic considering the talent at his disposal.
Shocking statistic considering the talent at his disposal.
That has to be down to the continuous bad atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. Away from home they seem fine.
0-0-6-8-0-0. Interesting run. They'll probably beat Soton 7-0 in the next one.
FSW experimenting & tinkering with Chelsea to prepare serving in Liverpool restaurants soon. What do they serve in scouse restaurants?
scouse (a soup) and rats.
He's now made a bollocks of not only one, but two Champions League-winning sides in the year immediately after their success.
Managerial mastermind.
Managerial mastermind.
That's harsh, Chelsea will finish third and they wouldn't have finished above us and City with a different manager. He hasn't fecked them up, he's just not improved them at all. Terrible post match interview. The fans must hate him.
what did he say?
No, it's not.
Their results at home since he's taken over have been unacceptable. Rancid atmosphere or not.
He really is the most overrated "top" manager around.
Losing the world club championship was a big feckup and his league form hasn't been great. Im certain Abramovich was banking on getting Guardiola in the summer. God knows what they will do next because id be amazed if Benitez got the job full time.
He's not done a good job, but Chelsea weren't any better before he joined.
He was very defensive and annoyed and kept going on about on about the next game, the next game. It was the impression he gave off rather than what he said.
Benitez will be on the scrapheap after once this season has ended, if he even lasts that long.
Being so long out of the managerial limelight, in desperation he turned to Chelsea hoping that a good seven months there would either land him the job permanently or catapult him back into the frame for the big jobs around Europe.
Neither will come to fruition. He'll be lucky to get an interview at a club like Villa the way things are going.
Being so long out of the managerial limelight, in desperation he turned to Chelsea hoping that a good seven months there would either land him the job permanently or catapult him back into the frame for the big jobs around Europe.
Neither will come to fruition. He'll be lucky to get an interview at a club like Villa the way things are going.
You'd be surprised. We won't finish third with home form like this and we still have to go to the Etihad, Anfield and Old Trafford.
His performance since he came is worse than Di Matteo's "dip" that got him sacked. You have to ask yourself if Di Matteo was still here, is it likely that we would be doing better in the league, is it more likely that we would have won the World Club Cup and would we be heading out of the Capital One Cup?
I genuinely think we'd be closer in the league and would have won the WCC. It was a little wobble that happens to every manager. We were already out of the Champions League. All that we have succeeded in doing is create a poisonous, mutinous atmosphere around the club and fallen further away in all competitions.
An appalling decision. Roman's acolytes who advised him that this was the best course of action (parasites like Gourlay, Bobby Campbell and Emenalo) should pay with their jobs in the same way that manager after manager does.