Chelsea Thread 2014/15

[toffee balls]

We finish above them , we win the league.

It really is as simple as that

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

We finish above them , we win the league.

It really is as simple as that

Not strictly true, but I know what you mean and agree ;-)

 

[greasedupdeafguy]

Chelsea have won the league once in the last 8 seasons.

They didn't win it 7 times with much better teams than they have now.

Blues really need to stop shitting themselves about them.

Pretty amazing that really when you consider how much they've spent. They're a great cup side but it shows how difficult it is to win the league.

 

[Castiel]

Chelsea have won the league once in the last 8 seasons.

They didn't win it 7 times with much better teams than they have now.

Blues really need to stop shitting themselves about them.

Pretty amazing that really when you consider how much they've spend. They're a great cup side but it shows how difficult it is to win the league.

I think that has more to do with our constant chopping and changing in coaching and management. Mourinho finished without a trophy last season and he's secure, like I said when he first returned I think this is a new chapter on Abramovich's part. Usually this would not be tolerated. Ancelotti was sacked after winning a double and breaking scoring records. We've won more trophies than anyone else in the same period, even United, but we've often come just short in the league. United were our main rivals over the last 10 years and they had stability and consistency, while we had an equally strong squad but a constant change of manager. Nobody had time to implement the team they wanted, or the style they wanted. They could only do the best they could with the players they had.

 

[Don Davido de la Manchesta]

Yes, they're a good team, but unlike those years when the rags and Chelsea - took turns winning the league there are now at least 3 other teams in contention, and a decent Everton and Spurs side snapping at their heals. So merely having an excellent team like they had 10 years ago may not be enough.... Liverpool, Arsenal and ourselves are stronger so even though they've (Chelsea) brought some great players they may only be treading water, as everyone else has great squads. So yes, I think they're a side capable of winning the league, but just as likely to end up 3rd or 4th. um....

 

[Helmet Cole]

That's two years in a row they have won the BBC/Sky 'Champions before the season has even started' trophy - do they get to keep it if they win it 5 times?

 

[Blue Haze]

Nice to not be the favourite this season.

A Mourinho second season has always guaranteed the league. Pressure is on them, not us. We didn't even splash big cash this summer if you net our sales against spending.

 

[Castiel]

Nice to not be the favourite this season.

A Mourinho second season has always guaranteed the league. Pressure is on them, not us. We didn't even splash big cash this summer if you net our sales against spending.

I think you've spent slightly more than us with Mangala, if not close to the same amount considering we robbed PSG for Luiz.

That's two years in a row they have won the BBC/Sky 'Champions before the season has even started' trophy - do they get to keep it if they win it 5 times?

I don't understand it tbh. The bookies don't put much in it but as champions you should be favourites. Our squads are comparably strong on paper but you produced the goods where we came short. Most of our fans over at our forums think you're favourites. Better odds to bet on your own team though!

The thing with City is you have this tendency to get complacent. Last season you should have run away with the title if you ask me, pulling off a points tally like ours in Mourinho's first spell. But you made your relatively easy early start much more complicated than it needed to be when you could have pulled away (like we did back then). We saw this again against Arsenal. City are their own worst enemy in this respect and it almost cost you. When we defeated Liverpool and opened the door for you, your poor run of form suddenly reversed and you stormed to the finish line.

With us there was a clear weakness in personnel, we needed a striker. With you it was more to do with mentality, there were no obvious weaknesses in your squad. Whatever the cause of that phenomenon, I think that's what makes pundits doubt you. During your best spell you looked completely unstoppable, particularly at home, but when things aren't working you look like a different team. Pellegrini could also adopt more pragmatism in the big games IMO, this is particularly key to succeed in Europe which I would guess is the next big priority for your club.

In any case I don't think there's much between us and Pellegrini now has plenty of PL experience, and both managers have had time to mould their teams. With Arsenal looking like they actually mean business now, United free of European distractions, and Liverpool being a surprise package - we're all going to be in for some serious competition this year. I prefer it to the 2 horse races of the past.

 

[Blue Haze]

I think you've spent slightly more than us with Mangala, if not close to the same amount considering we robbed PSG for Luiz.

Yes, but you've brought in big name players. The press determined that you failed to win the league last season because you lacked a big time striker. On top of Costa, you've added Fabregas and one of the best LB in the world. And for the price of a CB that Mourinho had no intention of using.

If we had spunked another 100m, we'd be the favourites, but that's you now. Net spending for Chelsea doesn't matter because everyone knows you raped PSG for a fortune and that's distorted the relationship between net spend and net talent flow.

 

[GHoddle]

I don't understand it tbh. The bookies don't put much in it but as champions you should be favourites. Our squads are comparably strong on paper but you produced the goods where we came short. Most of our fans over at our forums think you're favourites. Better odds to bet on your own team though!

The thing with City is you have this tendency to get complacent. Last season you should have run away with the title if you ask me, pulling off a points tally like ours in Mourinho's first spell. But you made your relatively easy early start much more complicated than it needed to be when you could have pulled away (like we did back then). We saw this again against Arsenal. City are their own worst enemy in this respect and it almost cost you. When we defeated Liverpool and opened the door for you, your poor run of form suddenly reversed and you stormed to the finish line.

With us there was a clear weakness in personnel, we needed a striker. With you it was more to do with mentality, there were no obvious weaknesses in your squad. Whatever the cause of that phenomenon, I think that's what makes pundits doubt you. During your best spell you looked completely unstoppable, particularly at home, but when things aren't working you look like a different team. Pellegrini could also adopt more pragmatism in the big games IMO, this is particularly key to succeed in Europe which I would guess is the next big priority for your club.

In any case I don't think there's much between us and Pellegrini now has plenty of PL experience, and both managers have had time to mould their teams. With Arsenal looking like they actually mean business now, United free of European distractions, and Liverpool being a surprise package - we're all going to be in for some serious competition this year. I prefer it to the 2 horse races of the past.

That's one reason why I don't think City will win the league (though I know City fans will disagree with this of course), I have a suspicion that they might do what they did last time after they won the league - wasn't it a drop off from 89 to 78 points? I just think there may be some potential for complacency since they've just won the league, and it's a difficult thing to repeat. Some star players might not give their all in less glamorous matches imo. I could just see United, Liverpool, and Chelsea having a bit more motivation, but I might be wrong.

Whatever happens, it's going to be a fascinating season imo, really can't wait to see it play out.