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Picture of Stamford Bridge at a game where Mauricio Pochettino's side could not win

Should Chelsea Sack Pochettino?

By Chelsea AnalysisNo Comments

As a passionate Chelsea fan, the question on whether Chelsea should sack Pochettino is becoming unavoidable.

Performances are becoming more tepid by the week and there seems no clear pathway to success, I continue to be seething with frustration and anger over the disastrous state of affairs at our club.

Pochettino Sack Race Has Begun

There’s no sugarcoating it anymore: Mauricio Pochettino’s time at Chelsea looks to be going the same way as Graham Potter’s.

We can’t ignore the harsh truth that even if Pochettino departs, the options for a suitable replacement are far from clear. And let’s not forget that the board shares a significant portion of the blame for this debacle.

Chelsea Poor Form

Chelsea currently wallow in 11th place in the Premier League, a position that is nothing short of humiliating. We’ve suffered a staggering 10 losses, drawn 4 times, and secured a paltry 9 wins out of 23 matches.

This club has had two decades of success, and our current performance is nothing short of a disgrace, the players lack passion and the manager lacks ideas.

It’s déjà vu from a previous season, where we went through three managers. It’s a painful reminder that our problems run deep.

Lack of Footballing Identity

The root of our problems lies in the alarming lack of identity on the pitch. Under Roman Abramovich’s ownership, Chelsea had a distinct style of play that brought us countless trophies.

But thanks to the questionable influence of Todd Boehly, we’re now adrift in a sea of confusion. Frequent managerial changes have left us without a clear vision of how to approach the game. Our attacking tactics are woeful, and we appear utterly clueless in front of the goal.

Defensively, we’ve become an embarrassment. Costly errors have become our trademark, consistently putting us on the back foot. It’s a far cry from the solid defence we once prided ourselves on. Pochettino’s leadership has been a disaster.

The Board Are Equally Responsible

Now, let’s not kid ourselves. Even if Pochettino is shown the door, the board’s role in this mess cannot be overlooked. They’re equally culpable for the chaotic state of our club. The fact that suitable replacements for the manager’s role are unclear only underscores the board’s poor decision-making and lack of planning.

Mauricio Pochettino’s recent apology after yet another dismal result was a pathetic sight to behold. It showcased a manager who’s in over his head, but it also highlighted the chaos that the board has allowed to fester.

In conclusion, it’s time for Chelsea to act decisively. Either Pochettino needs to step up, or we need to look at alternatives.

However, we can’t ignore the glaring issue that even if he departs, we’re left with an unclear path for a replacement.

The board must also be held accountable for their role in this debacle. Chelsea deserves better, and it’s time for a major overhaul, even as we grapple with the mess caused by Todd Boehly’s influence. Chelsea fans, it’s time to demand change at every level of the club!

Chelsea WSL Review 2022/2023 – The Four Peat

By Chelsea AnalysisNo Comments

The Chelsea Women’s team demonstrated resilience, skill, and grit to claim the Women’s Super League (WSL) title for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year.

But the journey wasn’t a smooth sail from the get-go. Let’s look at how the Chelsea women turned the tides in their favour, emerging victorious in the 2022/23 season.

An Unexpected Start

The season began with a jolt for Chelsea, as the newly-promoted Liverpool team defeated them 2-1 in the opening match. Chelsea’s grip on the trophy seemed wavering, but this defeat turned out to be an anomaly rather than the norm.

The Rise to Dominance

The Blues swiftly regained their footing, starting with an impressive 2-0 win over Manchester City at Kingsmeadow. This match showcased the team’s resilience and ability to bounce back, with goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger making a series of remarkable saves. The victory over Manchester City was the first in nine consecutive league victories that quickly overshadowed the early season defeat.

Among these wins, the highlights were a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in a charged London derby and an 8-0 goal-fest against Leicester City. The winning streak propelled Chelsea back to the top of the WSL table, sending a strong signal to the rivals.

Key Moments and Setbacks

The new year brought a tough challenge against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The match ended in a draw, with Sam Kerr’s 89th-minute equalizer securing a crucial point and maintaining Chelsea’s three-point lead at the top of the table.

However, an unexpected defeat to Manchester City towards the end of March momentarily set Chelsea back to the third position in the league table. But in true Chelsea style, the team bounced back, kickstarting another winning streak with a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa.

The Final Stretch

Chelsea kept their cool with the title race going down to the wire and continued their winning streak. In the final five matches of the season, the Blues won all, with significant victories over Everton (7-0) and Leicester (6-0).

The penultimate match against Arsenal was particularly emotional as captain Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder bid farewell to Kingsmeadow. But Chelsea celebrated their departure with a 2-0 victory, maintaining their lead at the top of the table.

Clinching the Title

The title race extended to the season’s final day, but Chelsea Women held their nerve, beating Reading 3-0. This victory cemented Chelsea’s position at the top of the table, clinching the WSL title for the fourth year.

In conclusion, the 2022/23 season was a testament to Chelsea Women’s resilience, adaptability, and never-say-die spirit. Despite the early setbacks, they rose to the challenge, delivering memorable performances and asserting dominance in the Women’s Super League. As the dust settles on yet another successful season, we can’t wait to see what’s next for this remarkable team.

Banner celebrating Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager at Stamford Bridge

Frank Lampard vs Graham Potter: Comparing Chelsea Managers

By Chelsea Analysis, Chelsea NewsNo Comments

Frank Lampard vs Graham Potter is a debate that will make  Chelsea fans rage.

But for the sake of argument, let’s compare the two managers

Frank Lampard, a Chelsea legend as a player, faced considerable challenges as a manager despite an encouraging start. Graham Potter, lauded for his modern and tactically progressive approach at Brighton, found transitioning his strategies to Chelsea’s star-studded squad more challenging than expected. As we dissect their tenures, we will consider their handling of squad dynamics, tactical implementations, achievements, and their overall impact on the club.

This exploration isn’t intended to tarnish their contributions or capabilities as football managers but rather to analyse their respective tenures at Chelsea objectively. It’s important to remember that leading a club as massive as Chelsea is daunting, where pressures are immense, and the margin for error is slim.

Given the circumstances, this analysis mostly ignores Lampard’s second spell in charge.

Frank Lampard’s First Tenure: A Bright Start Tainted by Turbulence

Frank Lampard’s reign as Chelsea’s manager brought a sense of hope and excitement to Stamford Bridge. As a club legend and one of the most successful midfielders in the club’s history, fans and players met his appointment with enthusiasm. However, despite a promising start, his tenure was marred by issues that led to his dismissal just 18 months into the job.

Lampard’s tenure started impressively, considering the challenging circumstances he found himself in. In his first season, he guided the club to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final despite the club’s transfer ban.

His commitment to promoting youth was widely praised, with players like Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, and Reece James emerging as key figures in the team. Lampard’s ability to nurture young talent was undoubtedly a standout aspect of his managerial tenure.

However, despite this promising start, Lampard’s time at the helm was not without its issues. Expectations were high after a significant investment in the transfer market ahead of his second season. Yet, Chelsea underperformed, with disappointing results leading to his dismissal.

Lampard struggled to integrate the new signings into the team effectively, with big-name arrivals like Timo Werner and Kai Havertz failing to hit their strides under his management. Moreover, Lampard’s tactical approach was often questioned, with critics suggesting that his team lacked a clear playing style.

The pressures at Chelsea and the high expectations placed on Lampard eventually led to his downfall. His dismissal, although shocking considering his status as a club legend, seemed inevitable given the poor run of form and mounting criticism.

Comparing Lampard’s reign with Potter’s is not straightforward, as both faced unique challenges and pressures. While Lampard struggled with incorporating new signings and delivering consistent results, Potter struggled to manage inherited problems and implement a new tactical philosophy. However, both managers’ reigns ended with Chelsea in a precarious position, leading to their early departures.

Graham Potter’s Reign: A Missed Opportunity or an Inevitable Downfall?

Graham Potter’s management at Chelsea was initially seen as a promising prospect. Coming from Brighton, he brought a unique approach and a reputation for playing attractive, possession-based football. However, his time at Stamford Bridge was marred by a distinct lack of success, leading many to question if he was the worst manager the club had ever had.

Potter’s tenure began with a tumultuous inheritance from Thomas Tuchel. Despite Tuchel’s Champions League triumph, his reign ended with a startling decline in defensive solidity and a series of discord with key forwards. As a result, when Potter stepped in, he was faced with an uphill battle in restoring order and harmony within the squad.

Potter’s tactical philosophy starkly contrasted with Tuchel’s defensive approach, which initially won him some support among fans and players alike. He introduced a new playing style aiming for fluidity and dominance in possession, a refreshing change to the somewhat restrictive gameplay under Tuchel.

However, his strategies did not translate into the anticipated success. Chelsea’s performance under Potter’s management was consistently inconsistent, with impressive victories marred by unexpected defeats. This inconsistency was further highlighted by a weak defensive line, resulting in a string of disappointing results.

The lack of improvement in the team’s performance under Potter’s leadership ultimately led to his dismissal, a mere 18 months after his arrival. Despite his initial promise and differing approach, his inability to effectively manage Chelsea’s plethora of talent and execute a successful strategic plan led many to view his tenure as the worst in Chelsea’s history.

While Potter’s managerial stint at Chelsea was undoubtedly difficult for the club, is it fair to deem him the worst manager in the club’s history? The next section will compare Frank Lampard’s reign, evaluating the different challenges each manager faced and their respective impacts on the club.

Given all the factors discussed above, it is difficult to label either Frank Lampard or Graham Potter as the worst manager in Chelsea’s history. However, several key points can be considered to deliver a fair assessment.

Style of Play and Tactical Approach

Lampard, a club legend, favored an attacking style of play and gave opportunities to several young players from the club’s academy. His tactics were often viewed as naive, and he struggled with consistency, especially in the second season. Despite these drawbacks, he led the team to a top-four finish and the FA Cup final in his first season.

On the other hand, Potter, renowned for his modern approach and possession-based style of play, struggled to implement his tactics successfully at Chelsea. Despite showing initial promise, his tenure saw Chelsea slide into the bottom half of the Premier League table and early exits from cup competitions.

Handling of Transfers and Squad Management

Lampard’s transfer ban in his first season meant he had limited options. However, in his second season, despite significant investment in players like Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, and Ben Chilwell, Lampard struggled to get the best out of his squad.

Potter, taking over after Tuchel’s dismissal, inherited a team that had recently seen significant investment. However, his inability to extract the best from these players was evident, and a lack of squad harmony was a recurring theme during his tenure.

Legacy at the Club

Frank Lampard’s legacy as a player at Chelsea is unquestionable. As a manager, despite a turbulent second season, he brought through promising young talents such as Mason Mount and Reece James and maintained a good rapport with fans throughout his tenure.

Graham Potter, while having a strong reputation before his Chelsea tenure, struggled to win over the Chelsea fanbase. The team’s performances under him, combined with an apparent disconnect between his style of play and the squad’s capabilities, led to his dismissal after a disappointing season.

Frank Lampard vs Graham Potter – Final Verdict

Considering the performances, tactics, squad management, and overall impact on the club, Frank Lampard’s tenure, while not without its challenges, showed promise and left a lasting legacy. However, Graham Potter’s reign was marked by significant underperformance given the resources at his disposal, leading to a downturn in Chelsea’s fortunes.

While it is challenging to label either as the “worst” manager, based on the evidence provided, Graham Potter’s tenure was arguably more damaging to Chelsea in the short term. Regardless, both managers’ tenures underline the pressures and demands of managing a club of Chelsea’s stature, and the inherent challenges that come with it.

Reviewing Chelsea’s Highest Paid New Signings Under Todd Boehly

By Chelsea AnalysisNo Comments

Chelsea have invested huge amounts in the playing squad in transfer fees and salaries, but results have been terrible.

While some signings are gradually finding their feet and showing promise, others, like Marc Cucurella, seem to be struggling despite high expectations.

Reviewing Chelsea’s Highest Paid New Signings from 2022-2023

Let’s dive into the performance and prospects of these top earners.

Raheem Sterling – £325k The spirited and lightning-fast England international joined Chelsea with high expectations. Sterling’s transition has been rough so far and the jury is out on whether he could turn it around.

Kalidou Koulibaly – £295k Koulibaly, the highly-paid powerhouse defender, has struggled to settle in. Currently warming the bench with a £295k weekly wage, it’s crucial for him to rise to the challenge, showcasing his undeniable talent and proving his worth.

Wesley Fofana – £200k Our £70 million investment in Fofana was for the future. Despite his season being dampened by injury, we have high hopes that he will bounce back, secure his place in the starting XI, and show the world his incredible talent.

Enzo Fernandez – £180k The world champion midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, joined the Blues with a £106 million price tag. While he’s had some bright moments, we’re eagerly awaiting the full display of his talents. Stamford Bridge is ready for this phenomenal player to shine!

Marc Cucurella – £175k Unfortunately, the £62 million full-back, earning £175k per week, has had a challenging start at Chelsea, and the outlook is far from promising.

With groans greeting his name on the team sheet, Cucurella seems ill-prepared for the rigours of the Premier League. Given the numerous setbacks he’s faced, it’s increasingly doubtful that he’ll be able to turn his fortunes around and make a lasting impact at Stamford Bridge.

The team is in a huge mess now, and we will need the new signings to gel next season under a new manager yet to be determined.

Routine Win Boosts Morale For Ziyech, Havertz and Werner

By Chelsea AnalysisNo Comments

Beating Morecambe met minimum expectations, the main positive of the result was goals for Kai Havertz and Timo Werner. Hopefully, be the catalyst for better individual performances and team performances.

League Two Morecambe gave a good account of themselves, but anything but a comfortable win would have heaped further pressure on Frank Lampard.

The result was comfortable, Chelsea had not lost in the third round since 1999 and the result was never really in doubt.

There was at least one piece of drama, even if a standard piece of Kepa drama almost gave the Shrimps the lead from a misdirected cross.

The biggest moment of the game was a cushioned header by Kai Havertz that game Timo Werner the biggest gift an out of form striker could hope for. Werner was able to smash home from just two yards out.

This was the first time Werner has scored in at least a dozen games and whilst an incredibly simple finish, hopefully, it will give him the confidence to get back to the level he was at in the Bundesliga last season.

Another enjoyable moment was from the also struggling Ziyech who placed a beautiful ball through for Callum Hudson Odoi to convert.

Finally, Havertz got a reward for a decent performance to put a bow on the scoreline. He connected with a Cesar Azpilicueta cross to finish an impressive header past the keeper.

Overall Thoughts

The Morecambe game will not have a significant impact on the future of Frank Lampard or be particularly well remembered. However, anytime fringe players get a run-out and out of form players get a chance to build confidence and get on the scoresheet is positive.

The test will be against Fulham. A good result and performance is vital as it really feels we only have a game or two to save our season and keep the Lampard project viable.

 

Chelsea Fans Stop Complaining & Enjoy The Ride

By Chelsea AnalysisNo Comments

This season continues to bend the mind of football fans used to the top six teams being consistent winning machines. It is time to re-align expectations and enjoy the ride rather than speculating on how long Lampard might last as manager. 

Let’s start by acknowledging that pandemic football is an odd beast.

A wide range of factors including an increase in quality from teams newly promoted or looking to move up has led to goals and inconsistency.

Teams like Leeds have come into the league with no fear and every team with the exception of Sheffield United seem capable of beating anybody else on their day.

This combined with some poor performances has made following the Blues frustrating of late.

However, all is not lost as the entire league is an inconsistent mess, making it exciting to watch and giving us plenty to debate and moan about.

We Are Still In The Mix (For Now)

The impact has been that there quite narrow points spread from 1st to 15th compared to previous seasons.

Meaning that even after 16 games a team that can put a run of 3 or 4 victories together will can storm up the table and suddenly start being feted as a contender.

We have seen this happen to Chelsea early in the season and now Manchester United over the Christmas period.

Chelsea are now seeing the reverse of this at the moment.

A poor December has seen the Blues sink from top of the table to sixth in just a few games. Despite this Frank Lampard’s team are still only seven points from league leaders Liverpool.

Fans on Twitter and Facebook have been posting and complaining about the poor run of form and comparing performances now to previous seasons.

This is fair as poor performances make us all mad, but this season more than others it will drive you crazy

Chelsea do need to refind our rhythm, get our expensive striker scoring and recapture the energy of earlier in the campaign. Frank Lampard has made what look like poor tactical decisions over the last few weeks that have cost points.

Werner has not scored in 11 games and been played out of position on multiple occasions much to fans frustration

The pressure will always be on a Chelsea manager to get results, but judging Lampard and suggesting he cannot get the job done so early in a rollercoaster campaign where others are dropping points with equal regularity is premature.

Things Can Turn Around Fast

These struggles are not unique to the Blues and we have faith that over the course of a topsy turvy season things will turn out ok.

I recommend we embrace the fact that for this season at least the pandemic means the usual hierarchies and expectations are out the window.

We will lose more, but so will others.

Things can turn around fast so lets try and focus on that rather than overanalyse the future of Frankie Lampard as the gaffer.

Beating Man City on Sunday would certainly help.

Can Sarri drop Loftus-Cheek?

Can Sarri drop Loftus-Cheek after hat-trick heroics

By Chelsea AnalysisNo Comments

Ruben Loftus-Cheek kick-started his season with a hat-trick against Bate Borisov to make life difficult for Sarri in Chelsea’s overcrowded midfield.

With Burnley up next will he be dropped for the trip north?

Thursday’s performance was dominating with Loftus-Cheek looking like he would score every time he touched the ball and he could have had more.

It was a huge relief to Chelsea fans who are desperate to see home grown talent established into the first team. The nation is watching as well after England’s inspiring World Cup run.

In the squad instead of being sent out on-loan expecations have been high, but so far he has been almost anonymous as Sarri has had a wealth of midfield riches to choose from.

For the national team his team mate Ross Barkley has come back to form and kept Loftus-Cheek out of England and Chelsea contention. He is also competing with Kovacic, Kante, Jorginho, Barkley and Drinkwater competing for the midfield slots.

Bate Borisov Hat-Trick

Selection in the Europa League was expected and it was clear he needed to do something to convince Sarri he should be in the midfield mix.

He grabbed this opportunity with both hands and has now left Sarri with somewhat of a quandary. How can Sarri drop the English youngster after he has scored a hat-trick it would surely be some kind of horrific record.

Can Sarri Drop Loftus-Cheek

The obvious answer is of course, Sarri has started the season well and has free reign with the squad. From a confidence level though, it sends a horrific message to Chelsea’s youth and squad players that even performances will not get you more first team game time.

Potential fixes would be to play Kante, Jorginho and Loftus-Cheek with an end to the experiment of playing N’Golo further forward.

This would add more balance to the side and get Kante back into the engine room whilst Hazard is supported by a more natural attacking midfielder.

We really hope Loftus-Cheek starts against Burnley.

Can Sarri drop Loftus-Cheek?

The Odds of It Being Chelsea’s Year

By Chelsea AnalysisNo Comments

Sarriball Shed Upper Stamford Bridge

It may be early in the season still, but the Blues have come out with something special this year — an attacking mindset, a cohesive team, and a star player in possibly the form of his life in Eden Hazard.

All that adds up to create something that should be capable of beating any club they come up against. And, though it may not mean much yet, Chelsea now find themselves at the top of the league with favourites Manchester City, and last year’s winner Liverpool, after those teams met in a drab match last weekend that culminated in a draw.

Chelsea, on the other hand, put three unanswered goals past Southampton with a fantastic performance, and they just seem to be getting better and better as each match goes by. It’s surprising looking at premiership predictions from Betfair in light of all this.

While Chelsea’s odds to win outright aren’t bad (15/2), Man City and Liverpool have both been given much shorter odds, with 4/6 and 5/2, respectively.

But of course, odds aren’t everything and Chelsea will be looking back at their performance against Southampton with a lot of confidence and much to be happy about.

Perhaps the thing they can be most pleased about was the performance of Ross Barkley in the midfield, which won him high praise from the head coach Maurizio Sarri.

Not only did he set up The Blues’ first goal, beautifully put away by danger man Hazard, he also went on to score himself, becoming the first English Chelsea player to do so in the Premier League since a certain Frank Lampard did the same way back in December 2013.

Barkley’s performance prompted Sarri to say that the player will be an extremely significant asset to the England side. Hopefully, he’s right.

But in the meantime, Chelsea have so much more to be happy about. They’ll look forward to hosting the out of form Manchester United on October 20 and will be looking to repeat their performance against Southampton.

The only thing they may not want to emulate from that performance was a few defensive errors. There were times where they did not look as solid at the back as they should have been and they were lucky to watch a poor Danny Ings effort sail over the crossbar.

Equally, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga showed some real promise, picking up the pieces and seems like the kind of player Chelsea will be able to rely on to get them out of sticky situations in the future.

Ultimately, it probably is too early to speculate as to whether Chelsea can win the league this year. What we can say though, is that they’ve shown great promise at the start of the season and their attacking play is both exciting and clinical.

Judging by their start, it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to expect the boys in blue to fetch a top-four finish. Either way, what a season we have in store with three undefeated teams at the top of the table and a lot of talent on display at Stamford Bridge.

Video of Loanee Mason Mount’s Goal In Lampard’s Managerial Debut Win

By Chelsea Youth Development, Former Chelsea PlayersNo Comments

Frank Lampard’s Derby kicked off the start of the Championship season against Derby and it was Chelsea loanee, Mason Mount who struck the first blow for the Rams who scored a late, late winner.

Mount played the whole 90 minutes of his Derby debut and looked solid throughout, his strike got the Rams up and running after they fell behind to a Bodvarsson goal.

This helped set up a stunning stoppage-time winner, to give Lampard a winning start to his managerial career.

Lampard’s first competitive game as a manager was against a manager he will know well from his playing day’s. Former Chelsea assistant manager Paul Clement was in the dugout falling victim to a bit of a smash and grab raid from the Rams.

Derby loanee Mount is a talented member of the Chelsea academy. It is no surprise that Lampard wanted to take the attacking midfielder who has been likened to the Blues legend with him to Pride Park (or whatever they call it now).

He had this to say about his debut

Yeah, the manager has put a lot of faith in, we got our rewards for keeping going. It is unbelievable to score on debut, this (Derby) is a great club.

Mount has yet to play for the Chelsea first team, however, he has been part of the all-conquering FA Youth Cup teams over the years. A year in the Championship could be a good building block for a future career at Stamford Bridge or somewhere else at the top of the game.

The season has literally only just started, but it is an exciting highlight of the opening weekend.

With his time at Chelsea and Gianfranco Zola the new assistant manager, I think we can look forward to more than a few Blues youngsters getting the opportunity to shine in the Championship at Derby.

Best of luck to Mason Mount, Frank Lampard and Paul Clement for the season ahead.

Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea Future – How Worried Should Fans Be

By Chelsea AnalysisNo Comments

Despite 17 years of supporting Chelsea Football Club outside influences seem to have put the future of Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea future in doubt.

Escalating political tensions have put Russian billionaires in the crosshairs of British politicians who have increased the pressure on them threatening their ability to live, work and invest in the UK.

This has affected Chelsea as Roman Abramovich withdrew his investor application after months of delays which are being attributed to mounting tensions with Russia.

This is despite Abramovich contributing millions if not billions to the UK economy and being about to pull the trigger on a huge stadium project that would have created thousands of jobs.

The issue became visible to the media when Abramovich was absent from our FA Cup triumph earlier in the month.

Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea Future – How Worried Should We Be

I think Chelsea fans should be incredibly concerned about the impact of Abramovich being unable to get into the country he has invested so much money into.

Already we have seen new stadium plans halted, plans that have been years in the works and put an incredible strain on the club and its fans. The delay of this long-term club goal is confusing and can only be explained by the actions of the UK Home Office.

Is this the end of Roman’s investment in the club, will he be looking to sell or are there other factors in play that could yield a new twist.

In the short-term, the club is trying to sell the delay as an opportunity to invest in the playing squad. In the long-term, we will need to see how the situation plays out before we know whether we are coming to the end of an era.

I hate uncertainty, so as Roman Abramovich claims Israeli citizenship and plots his next move I will be hyperventilating and hoping everything works out.