P302Rivals Football - Chelsea FC
Sarri Question
by upthechels @, 13/05, 10:14

Was he a decent regular goalscoring striker (or 2) away from being close to City and Liverpool? For example, if we had the pair Arsenal have in attack how different might things be?

I think he's very close.

Sarri Question
by NORTHLONDONCHELSEA, 13/05, 10:24 @ upthechels

I think we're miles away strikers full backs classy midfielder.Without Hazard we will be 5 or 6 next season.

Sarri Question
by upthechels @, 13/05, 10:39 @ NORTHLONDONCHELSEA

[^] Opinion respected and agree we have other positions to improve upon.

I don't think Hazard will be as big a loss as some think. Rather have him but not the end of the world should he leave as expected. I look at Liverpool without Suarez and Coutinho as an example of getting over the loss of their best. City have won the title without KDB for a large chunk of the season too...a superstar for City.

Sarri Question
by stanic_worship, 13/05, 10:32 @ upthechels

I'll answer your question in a bit of a long-winded way.

Has he done well? On paper, he has. At the start of the season, two cup finals (with the potential to still win one) and a 3rd place finish in the league is a fantastic achievement. However, I think that's only half the story.

Does he deserve a bit more credit than he's had? Perhaps (given the above), but equally a lot of the criticisms levelled at him throughout the season remain the same, mainly:

- His unwillingness to alter approach (he is all about aesthetics - as Famous has said previously, the board should have been aware of that when hiring him, so not entirely his fault if he then sticks to what he's always done, we shouldn't be surprised he has)

- His substitutions and use of players - He barely rotated his teams and made the same subs for the majority of the season. Only when he was bullied into it did he start playing Emerson, RLC and CHO (not sure he would have otherwise)

- I don't think the players particularly respect him - The obvious example is the Kepa business, but there are a few others over the course of the season

- His use of Jorginho who in fairness hasn't been as terrible as is made out by some (I say this as someone who definitely isn't a fan) - There was a point early this year when he was desperately out of form...but kept playing (along with the likes of Alonso)

- We have scored something like 5 away goals in 2019. That, for an "elite" club is shocking and our league finish has a lot more to do with the form of our peers than it has with anything we've done (we've just been less shit than them...and shit really is the word)

- I haven't really seen any progress over the course of the season. In fact, we were arguably better in the first couple of months of the season than we have been more recently - We are fairly dire to watch, I can't remember a less enjoyable Chelsea team (probably since Porterfield in my lifetime)

- He asked for (and got) Higuain - There is clearly a decent finisher there, but his all-round game is not suited to the Premier League in my view. The fact Sarri wants to keep him despite the evidence that he's not really suited to us speaks volumes about him I think

Sarri Question
by upthechels @, 13/05, 11:09 @ stanic_worship

[^]

My opinion.

He took over a side that failed to qualify for the CL just weeks ahead of a new season. I think he always intended to use the like of RLC, CHO and Ampadu...he had many chances to use/hide behind Cahill, Drinkwater, Moses etc but the 3 mentioned were his go-to replacements.

He has a style, it's right his philosophy should be stuck to IMO, it's what got him the job. Sticking to that style (Jorginho key) saw us look to dominate the ball more. Counter-attacking football remained but it was less frequent as we took the fight into enemy territory rather than sit deep with the like of Cahill (respect but not the type needed). This change cost us Kante in his deep role but the whole change was one I am delighted with. Perhaps a fault using Kante and not just dropping him for someone used to and more suited to that new role? Although I do appreciate Kante not only scored more he actually improved his passing, movement and positioning. A manager with a long term plan will be very happy Kante has that season of learning under his belt.

I 100% understand why Sarri wants Higuain, their record together is impressive. However, I don't share Sarri's faith in Higuain at this stage. Batshuyi and Tammy are a better combo than the ageing Giroud and Higuain for me. Neither pairing is near good enough, sadly. The 5 away goals you mention tell us all we need to know about the current strikers.

I agree I don't think the players respect him, fuck the players - they have a habit of sticking the boot in on our managers. Spoilt cnuts think they run the club!!!

Sarri suggested the players had an attitude problem, they can give us top shows and then the next game the opposite. I think Sarri was quite right, the lads as a unit were/are never hitting consistency. This is the poorest squad regarding character that I can remember under RA. Sarri does not have the luxury of JT and Frank and that shows hugely.

Sarri Question
by CLL_JT26, 13/05, 11:16 @ upthechels

Closer to them but not very close imo.

We really need to sort our back 4 out somehow. I wonder if Reece James, christensen next to rudiger and azpi moving over to LB again, is our best option for next year under a transfer ban.

If we could get a striker (Jovic) in and spend on the defence then I'd fancy us to finish 3rd and closer to the front 2 next season, even without hazard. I think kepa in goal, midfield 3 of jorginho, kante and Ruben with a front 3 of CHO, Jovic and pulisic would be pretty decent but that defence worries the life out of me.

As we cant strengthen the defence or buy a striker and will lose hazard, I think we're probably looking at 6th at best next season.

Sarri Question
by upthechels @, 13/05, 11:25 @ CLL_JT26

I'm not suggesting a title challenge as a result of having goalscorers...but I think a safe 3rd spot was lost due the flops we had mate. The whole side needs change but for this last season just a goalscorer would have seen a more comfortable season. In my opinion of course!!!

Sarri Question
by CLL_JT26, 13/05, 13:09 @ upthechels

I agree. Someone like jovic or a piatek in January would have seen us about 6 points clear of sp*rs probably. A shame higuain wasn't a success.

If we want to get anywhere near the top 2 then we need to sort the defence out aswell, which is going to be tricky with a ban, as is the striker situation. Hopefully Reece James, zouma and abraham can make a difference next season to help us improve. Tammy surely cant do any worse than higuain/morata. Has to be worth a go next season, if not we might aswell sell him, which would be the wrong move.

Sarri Question
by cfcww, 13/05, 18:40 @ upthechels

The lack of a decent finisher plus hitting the woodwork 21 times was probably the difference of around 10 - 12 points so a comfortable third. Two decent centre backs is the major requirement for how Sarri sets up and has been since day one. Christensen is a massive disappointment for me this season, to not reach the standard required to usurp Luiz or Rudiger is a worry.

Sarri Question
by Walter @, 13/05, 22:20 @ cfcww

Yeah that is a great shout about Christensen.

Re: up front next season: I personally feel that hauling back Morata and bringing back Tammy and Michy sees us in a much better place, on paper at least.

I like Morata, (and know i'm in the minority in that), and being at Leicester yesterday it made me think that the last time I was there, Morata scored the winner.

I hadn't had a drink yesterday so I always tell myself that I'm the dogs bollox when it comes to match reports: RLC was a beast.

For the record, I'm Sarri Out unless there is a better alternative. If that alternative is Rafa, I'm Sarri In.

A fella told me yesterday (no reason to think he's lying or being a Billy big bollox) that Roman will stick (with Sarri and with the stadium plans) and not twist because of the current political situation.

My biggest issue is seeing and hearing of so many fans who love Chelsea having to knock Baku on the head. The board can fk right off. They can subsidise this without a thought for every European and H&A ST holder - plus every ST holder who has renewed / been there since the Shed was knocked down. It's all on their database.

Wankers.