Chelsea 2017/18 thread - FA Cup Champs, League chumps

Instead of building upon a superb title winning season they have been hard at work making life difficult for themsleves. Selling Matic, replacing Costa with Morata (unless he proves much better in his second season), signing Ross Barkley (wut), Zappacosta and the clumsy Bakayoko, has moved the squad backwards rather than forwards.
 
They seem to rest on their laurels every time they win the league and don't really reinforce. It's weird.

I think Chelsea's formula of winning the title is getting out of the CL and winning the title without those extra matches with literally same 11, week in week out.
 
I think Chelsea's formula of winning the title is getting out of the CL and winning the title without those extra matches with literally same 11, week in week out.
Last time they didn't even have Europa League though, this time they will. I really can't explain this slump, it's bizarre. Either the coach has thrown the towel in or the players have.
 
Doubt Conte will be arsed, he's gone anyway. Chelsea are a joke, no wonder United sing about there hollow success and about them never winning three in a row. The plastic flags will have to be put away for a while, the shape of them.
 
Tough times ahead. Hazard most certainly won't sign a new contract imo. Courtois also might not.
Morata looks dreadful at the moment.
 
I think Chelsea's formula of winning the title is getting out of the CL and winning the title without those extra matches with literally same 11, week in week out.
But next season they'll still have these annoying EL matches. It's only last season where they were completely out of Europe.
 
What exactly was your transfer policy last summer?

Value for money, to make a profit. Roman wants sustainability. Even if the TV money reduces, which it has / probably will.

Matic went because Roman let him go, like Cech.

I actually think Baka and Morata will be top players but maybe not in the premier league.

Our back 3 doesn't work well without Luiz in form. Fabregas unbalances the team should be off the bench.

Courtois and Hazard want to go to Madrid. Courtois for Family, Hazard isn't good enough for RM to bother paying that much for. He'll stay imo.

Conte has fallen out with a lot of players, wants to go by the looks of it.

We need to develop some of our own players, that's our biggest problem.
 
Please someone tell me that losing to Spurs 3-1 at the Bridge is an elaborate April Fool's joke!
 
They have a very thin squad and were struggling with rotation this season. Adds in Europe League and can see the next season a disastrous one unless they played full reserves in Europe League or something.

Not just Conte. They need heavy spending and Roman aren't going to do it.
 
It's not like Chelsea haven't spend anything.
Yeah their net spend may not be very high but that mainly due to sales on Oscar and other Chinese exports.
The have just bought very poorly
If they loose Hazard next year, they could be in some real trouble especially if Morata doesn't hit form next year
 
Last time they didn't even have Europa League though, this time they will. I really can't explain this slump, it's bizarre. Either the coach has thrown the towel in or the players have.

The squad's regressed. They've replaced Matic and Costa, two key players neither of whom they had to sell, with inferior replacements. Usually to challenge for two leagues in a row you need to improve and add to the squad as motivation levels can drop after a win, so you can't rest on your laurels.

That and the rest of the top 5 have improved this season too compared with the last.
 
Bit of a fall from grace given they set the record for wins last season.

Don’t think Conte will be short of job offers.
 
Actually quite hilarious that Arsenal are 5 points only away from Chelsea despite them being sixth most of the season and Chelsea at some point were third. :lol:
 
Is Conte likely to get fired for this? I'm not sure who they'd get in to replace him.
 
Is Conte likely to get fired for this? I'm not sure who they'd get in to replace him.

Top 4 is still a realistic possibillity at this point (4 points behind Liverpool), Conte won't get sacked until that is not the case.

He's a goner at the end of the season regardless of where they finish though.
 
Well, if the last three seasons are anything to go by, we'll win the title next season...

Anyway, 28 years, had to happen at some point. Just sad it had to happen in that manner. Would never have gone out with a wimper with players like JT and Drogs in the side.
 
Top 4 is still a realistic possibillity at this point (4 points behind Liverpool), Conte won't get sacked until that is not the case. I do think he's a goner at the end of the season regardless of where they finish though.

What league table are you seeing mate? 10 points behind Liverpool with a game in hand.
 
Who is in charge of the transfers at Chelsea right now?
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Top 4 is still a realistic possibillity at this point (4 points behind Liverpool), Conte won't get sacked until that is not the case.

He's a goner at the end of the season regardless of where they finish though.
What are you talking about? Chelsea are now 10 points behind LFC. LFC have played a game more though.
 
Done a terrible job this season, Conte.

He doesn't strike me as a man you want in the trenches, he dumped Juve the moment he thought it would start getting tougher.

Another Chelsea managerial fling, where ultimately it was a good appointment because they did win the league. Conte's got some good coaching qualities but not someone who will stay at a club a long time. This one is on him, not just Chelsea Football Club. His head has been down since day 1 of this season.

Conte and PSG would be a mistake in my opinion. But probably likely to happen.
 
Well it's obvious now Mourinho was never the problem and player power is very clear at Chelsea. The players decide when the manager goes and that's a very dangerous environment. They are never far away from total capitulation.
 
He'll go PSG. A bit weird as they only want he CL and he's shit in it himself

I think PSG will probably get Tuchel and Conte will to go Italy. Italy's left their job open for a while likely thinking Conte will get fired from Chelsea.
 
Well it's obvious now Mourinho was never the problem and player power is very clear at Chelsea. The players decide when the manager goes and that's a very dangerous environment. They are never far away from total capitulation.

They sold two important players and did not properly replace them. And they did not make signings that improved their depth. That is the issue this season not "player power".
 
Well it's obvious now Mourinho was never the problem and player power is very clear at Chelsea. The players decide when the manager goes and that's a very dangerous environment. They are never far away from total capitulation.

Mourinho wasn't fully blameless and Conte isn't too imo. They both did ton of mistakes but the board are the main culprit.
 
Presuming that Spurs win their game in hand, Chelsea will be aiming to catch Liverpool. Liverpool however only need 11 points from their last 6 matches in order to guarantee top 4 so it looks like top 4 is pretty much set now.
 
Standard Chelsea. Romp the league, you worry about how you'll overtake them, then suddenly an internal meltdown and they drop out of it.

They do normally make the right manager appointment and get back on it, but they have more competition now. The Europa also stops them having their cup distraction free season of last year.
 
Presuming that Spurs win their game in hand, Chelsea will be aiming to catch Liverpool. Liverpool however only need 11 points from their last 6 matches in order to guarantee top 4 so it looks like top 4 is pretty much set now.

There's no way they're catching Liverpool. It'd take one heck of a meltdown.
Losing today has absolutely blown their top 4 chances.
 
They sold two important players and did not properly replace them. And they did not make signings that improved their depth. That is the issue this season not "player power".
Tottenham didn't sign anyone last summer either. Not to my knowledge and if they did then their line up didn't include anyone different from last season. Chelsea have no excuses. They still have a title winning squad with quality players like Courtois, Azpilicueta, Kante, Hazard, Pedro, Willian and even if you take away Costa and Matic they should be comfortably in top 4. A lot of excuses being made with lack of quality signings but the reality is the players aren't performing either and have downed tools from start of January.