A new Scolari emerges
Signs of the new Luiz Felipe Scolari emerged at his news conference ahead of Wednesday's FA Cup replay with Southend.
Observe the tenor of his answers and you see a Scolari that takes no prisoners, and is willing to read the riot act to his players.
This is the message that Stamford Bridge is very keen to give.
Scolari's position, the Chelsea hierarchy insists, is not in jeopardy following the club's abysmal 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Nor has Scolari been summoned to appear in front of an emergency board meeting to explain his plight, let alone be given a stay of execution.
Indeed there is no emergency board meeting being held.
There is a routine monthly one but that is not due until February, shortly before Chelsea announce their financial results. Stamford Bridge dismisses any talk of getting rid of Scolari.
Indeed there is much affection for the manager and praise for the change in outlook he has brought to the club. Jose Mourinho may have been very successful but he was difficult to deal with and made Chelsea hard to like for many neutrals.
Scolari has been the exact opposite. Chelsea wanted a makeover in this regard and Scolari has achieved that.
The club also recognises that it cannot just keep on changing managers. Getting rid of Scolari would mean three managers going in the space of about 18 months.
He has not matched Mourinho's success on the field, not as yet anyway. But the talk at the Bridge is the club needs to be in contention for major honours at the end of the season. If that happens that would be acceptable, even if Scolari does not land an honour by the season's end.
But it is recognised that Scolari cannot carry on as he has so far.
What Scolari needs to do, say insiders, is be tough with the players. Show them who is boss. One well-placed source told me: "He has allowed his players to get on top of him. He needs to show he runs the team not the players, however well paid they may be or however high profile."
And Tuesday's news conference was meant to be the first sign of this.
Indeed Stamford Bridge insiders even picture the bust-up with Anelka over which position the striker should play in, very differently to the way some in the media have described it.
Yes, there was an argument. But instead of Anelka dictating terms, this was the manager laying down the law. It was never remotely a question of the argument imperilling Scolari's position as manager.
Scolari is well aware that there is no more money available in this transfer window. There is one player Scolari would have loved in his team, Robinho. Chelsea bid £28m for him in the summer but were famously outbid by Manchester City. The chance to buy him may yet come but not until the summer.
For the moment Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is not spending any more money on players. But this does not mean he has lost interest in the club. Chelsea are keen to emphasise that the Russian is not walking away from the club, despite all the talk of the impact the credit crunch has had on Russia and its billionaires.
The Chelsea accounts will show that the Russian owner has made a pledge that will keep him at the west London club. And it also seems that Scolari's current status is not in doubt.
Mihir Bose's blog is no longer being updated. You can read recent entries about BBC Sport's coverage and insights into the latest issues on the 
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So, when will a sports or football analyst will ever be able to look at what the manager is doing and come up with an analysis of whether the manager is getting his tactics right.
I remember that Mihir Bose was very excited over the search for the new Chelsea manager. But now things are going not so well, and the press are all over the players, as if the manager's ability is totally irrelevant in this.
I am yet to come across an article where the ever so obvious flaws in Scolari's game tactics are analysed and presented as at least a major (if not the main) cause of the problem at Chelsea at the moment.
When things are going well, the manager receives praise, but when things take a downturn, its all down to the players. When will normal logic penetrate the game of football?
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A very measured response to the histeria surrounding the events of the weekend. Chelsea are not going to sack their manager on the back of one result, but he must begin to exert his authority and adopt more flexible tactics - he certainly has the players with the experience and ability. Manchester United are a wonderful team but perhaps the bullying style of Freguson and his dominance by fear are a thing of the past. Almost any good manager would become 'great' if they managed United - watch what happens when O'Neill or Mourinho have their chance! This is perhaps Liverpools best chance in ten years of becoming champions, and many of us believe that it will be good for football if they can clutch the trophy at the end of the season.
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I think Scolari should probably get this season and also half of next season to prove himself. He has inherited a squad of players past its peak and he has not had the same opportunity to spend like Mourinho and Ranieri. He will get the opportunity to change the make up of the squad in the summer, even if he has to sell first in order to buy players. Then it will be fairer to judge him as a club managerof Chelsea. However, my gut feeling is that he won't succeed. Yes he won the world cup with Brazil, but I actually think he underachieved with a very good Portugal team, in particular by losing to an awful German side in last year's European Championships.
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At 2. Any good manager would become great managing Man Utd?
Whoever replaces Ferguson as Man Utd manager- even if it is O'Neill or Mourinho- will have a very hard act to follow.
Whenever they lose a big game, they will be under exactly the same pressure that Scolari is following Grant and Mourinho in particular.
Ferguson spent years building what he now has at United, and a 5-1 defeat away at Manchester City in 1989 could have done for him under today's trigger-happy club boards and media pressure from newspapers, radio, and internet.
I also don't agree with your point about Ferguson only 'bullying and ruling by fear'- many of his former players describe him as a master at man-management and motivation. The 'dominance by fear' is the image that the media represents and that is reported by his rivals.
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What tactical flaws are you on about?
Truth be told Scolari can't be expected to come into the English game and turn everything into gold, world cup winner or not, this is the toughest league around and he doesn't have that "special factor" that Mourinho had.
Mourinho was a 'love him or hate him' character and his players loved playing for him, because he we so confident in Chelsea's ablilities. I think Scolari's approach is similiar to that of a national coach, who picks the biggest names expecting them to perform without much effort.
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As a long term Chelsea supporter (40 years) it makes me very sad that yet again we find ourselves in another row about the manager. Last season was a huge disappointment but yet might be seen in years to come as relatively successful. Isn't it time we let a manager manage the team, take a long term view over several years. Not weeks or months and stop looking for instant gratification. Perhaps Arsenal have the right idea after all! Is the stability at Manchester United coincidental with their dominance in most competitions I think not. Come on Chelsea get real.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
The problem is that there is no plan at Chelsea. They have spent themselves into a cul de sac with 1 world class player a few nice players and lots of players being paid to decline into retirement.
Hard to believe in a team with:-
full backs:- none is a physical presence and both starters are only adequate defensively - Ash standing 8 yards off Ronaldo and then hand balling being typical. In addition Cole's skill level makes him a distraction forward not a threat.
centre half:- 2 main players in physical decline no longer able to defend corners. Alex may now be the best of them
midfield:- Essien and Mikel are physical and have discipline. Lampard is still a titan but they play Ballack and Deco who add nothing and get in the way of Lampard.
wing:- Joe Cole a fitfull performer but no genuine flank player unless you count Malouda who is another fee and contract down the drain.
strikers:- Anelka's faux goals total (most of them cream on top even allowing him the inadvertant one that started the scoring at Blackburn). Drogba seems a light of former years and is ageing anyway. Some Chelsea fans think they can/should play together which is true only in the reserves if they had any alternative - have you seen Anelka move when played with Drogba? Have you seen him choose a physical confrontation on his own up front? No.
Reserves are probably weaker than the bench Spurs field. Albeit they may try harder because as Redknapp starts to sound like Poyet about young English players - bet he regrets the triumphalism of his first few games!
Chelsea spent a fortune on kids but blood them only when they get injuries. Short termism. They have no route to the team bar injuries to a hatful of players.
They try to win competitions like the FA and Carling for no reason. The last manager who won both was out within months. At least what Arsenal do in those games makes some medium term sense. With Lampard a precious resource why is he even on the bench for those games (and why does he play them and not an away friendly to show respect to our main rival Germany - his and Chelsea's priorities make no sense). Not to mention with Terry worn down and Lampard ageing it makes no sense with lots of other old players to ego maniacly go for 4 tournaments.
Next year will Carvalho, A Cole and Terry be any better? Unlikely? Ballack, Deco, Lampard? Drogba? Anelka?
They urgently need to target competitions because their team is ageing. The need to blood their youth team or it will just be seen as another expensive mess.
800 million in 6 years and nothing but long contracts to ageing players to go into the future with?
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kandinsky
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7823734.stm
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Four things come to mind...
1. Jose Mourinho may have been very successful but he was difficult to deal with and made Chelsea hard to like for many neutrals.
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He rubbed people up the wrong way, but actually a lot of people enjoyed him too, in no small part because he was able to stand up to Alex Ferguson.
2. Indeed Stamford Bridge insiders even picture the bust-up with Anelka over which position the striker should play in, very differently to the way some in the media have described it.
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The Sun article is meddlesome, but isn't it already fairly clear that if Anelka wanted to play up front against Manchester United that it didn't happen? Scolari clearly laid down the law. And it would be news only if the Chelsea board saw fit to hear known-whinger Anelka's view over that of World-Cup winning Scolari's. There's a good summary of that here:
http://www.sportwithoutspin.com/football090113scolaripressurehtm.htm
3. Scolari is well aware that there is no more money available in this transfer window. There is one player Scolari would have loved in his team, Robinho. Chelsea bid £28m for him in the summer but were famously outbid by Manchester City. The chance to buy him may yet come but not until the summer.
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That's a major point to not qualify! Why is there no money now, but there will be in the summer? Abramovich is worth £7bn, what's going to change in the next four months? Will more players have to be sold? Are there funds that will be cleared in the coming days?
4. Where is the supposed softness with the players coming from? Wasn't Scolari portrayed when he was appointed as an authoritarian, with very clear rules for his players? Can anyone back me up on that?
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I tell you when things started going wrong for Chelsea: the day they failed to sign Robinho. Robinho would fit the team like a glove! As he does when playing for Brazil, he would be able to open spaces for strikers in the middle, attracting 1-2 defenders (and often getting rid of them). He is a better version of Cristiano Ronaldo (less arrogant, much better player, though still quite a mercenary).
As it now stands, Chelsea's problem is not the manager or tactics, it is the quality and choice of players up front. I am sorry, but Joe Cole is very mediocre player at best, useless in Chelsea. Drogba and Anelka cannot play together (like Ronaldo and Adriano in Brazil 2006, one of them will play out of position and will ultimately not be efficient). Scolari has tried to have one of them and hope that either Cole does play, or that mid-fielders are able to fill the gap. No success so far.
With Robinho plus Drogba or Anelka in the middle, and Lampard and Deco giving the ball quick, this team would be on the top. That was Scolari's plan when he started
When Chelsea failed to get Robinho (which I bet Scolari counted as secure), there was no plan B (no Robben-like player available), and it got stuck with Joe Cole. The irony is that Robinho must now be realising the mistake he's made for a couple of extra million, not that he would not be well paid in Chelsea (his impresarios need more the money than he did). There may be another chance in the future, but rather than replace the manager, Chelsea must think how to fix things up front.
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This is the Kings Road curse. Chelsea have a history of under-performing that goes back at least half a century. Doesn't matter how much money they spend, or who runs the club. It seems you can't have the kind if siege mentality of Liverpool or ManU when your ground is up the road from Harrods. Nobody gives a damn really, and they never could.
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Sorry, to follow post 10 - I've found an example of the reports that he was a known authoritarian - here's the BBC's report the day he was hired!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7449627.stm
And former Chelsea player Gavin Peacock believes Scolari, known as 'Big Phil' because of his authoritarian management style, could make the Blues the entertaining team chief executive Peter Kenyon is looking for.
What changed?! Or is this a red herring?!
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Robinho may be more lightweight than Anelka. They beat teams 7 instead of 5 and still score 0 too often. Plus another non factor at corners and set pieces defensively and only 32 million in the end. Just exacerbating the brittleness?
Spending will just lead to another cul de sac even if it brought short term results.
I think people over state the condition of Mourinho as a manager and leader when he left. It was not love or hate I ended up pitying someone who attacked the ambulance service for perceived crimes oh and played Essien at centre half.
Mourinho would not target trophies and build long term and frankly I doubt Chelsea would be greatly different now if he was in charge - maybe worse as he had given up on the things that so excited me as a fan when he started here (use of wingers and strikers as 60/70 minute players who were rotated - 14 man game with the emphasis on midfield and organisation - set piece organisation).
In the end Jose left because he was worn out. It is doubtful he will stay anywhere long. He was also attritional with players and ended up with very few he trusted and fell into a bext XI merchant still chasing 4 trophies. I am also sceptical at his ability to select players other than no brainers - for instance he liked Micah Richards surely one of the poorest players in the division.
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"The club also recognises that it cannot just keep on changing managers. Getting rid of Scolari would mean three managers going in the space of about 18 months."
It would mean another expensive compensation package, which Abramovich probably doesn't want to hand out.
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Good lord, some pretty extreme opinions here....and a few opinions, which are....well....garbage to be honest
Chelsea have an ageing squad, but it still contains many players that are the envy of most of the top teams in Europe: Lampard (upset as I am to say it as a Liverpool fan) is genuinely world class; Drogba, also; Terry (when fit), certainly; Cashley, obviously; Carvalho definitely; Ballack, well maybe; Obi Mikel, potentially; Joe Cole, occasionally; even Boswinga seemed to be during the early part of the season. Notice the ommission ?
Essien. The best player in the squad. Injured. And that is actually what the current 'crisis' at Chelsea is mostly a reflection of. When has Scolari been able to pick Lampard, Terry, Carvalho, Essien and Drogba - from an outsiders point of view the best players in the team - together. Not once this season.
So Chelsea got whipped by United. Big deal: Chelsea had a squad which had just been reassembled for the first time this season, with players that were not match fit, and without the best, most energetic player in the squad and they got beat. Big deal. That doesn't make them bad, or Scolari bad.
As a caveat, what is perhaps not yet clear is whether the team Mourinho built and selected carefully, based around playing a relatively narrow variation of 4-3-3 is suited to playing the type of football that Scolari is seems to want (and has been encouraged to play).
As to Robinho being the answer....well...maybe it would have been a significant building block in the puzzle of how to get Chelsea to play with more width; but it would have had zero effect on your best players being out with long term injuries......
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Chelsea should have kept A Grant. In his period in charge the team won more points than Man Utd in the same period so he won the league from the time he took over. He brought the team to the final of the Champions League which they drew with Man Utd and nobody in their right mind should judge a manager on whether his team can or cannot win a penalty shoot out. He also brought the team to the final 0f the League Cup. In summary, he had as brilliant a season as any manager could have without actually winning a trophy and it defies logic that he was sacked after such a season.
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In response to Post 2: "Manchester United are a wonderful team but perhaps the bullying style of Freguson and his dominance by fear are a thing of the past. Almost any good manager would become 'great' if they managed United - watch what happens when O'Neill or Mourinho have their chance!"
How can one easily claim that just being a Utd manager will make a manager great. Liverpool are historically a great cub but they haven't been able to replicate the success of their yester years. This is not a slight to the managers who have managed the club in the 90s but neither they have become great by the virtue of being in a great club or brought success to the club. You might wanna look across to Spain and see where Real Madrid are and see if there coaches in the few years have just automatically become great. SAF has built Manutd from ground up, I don't think the status that Manutd enjoys in the world would have been achieved if Ferguson was not on the helm. He has taken Manutd from strength to strength and the future coaches should be humbled by this and 'try' to follow his path and that won't even guarantee a single thing.
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Post 1-
Remember lee dixons, and alan hansons columns a couple of months ago? It did basically excactly what you said no-one had yet.
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Regarding post 11.
Robinho a 'better version of Cristiano Ronaldo'? You must be watching a different player from the one I've been watching at Real Madrid and Man City.
Talented, but frustrating and hugely inconsistent. He wouldn't be doing anything for the Chelsea team spirit, thats for sure. A guy like him is not the answer for Chelsea.
I think the player Chelsea miss most of all is Michael Essien.
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therewesaidit
lampard a titan? you are a titan when you are a big game winner, someone the team can turn to for that extra mile. Lampard himself when it comes to nerve games like ManU has SOS written all over him.
i am sorry but I didn't see Lampard against United, maybe you should start being objective. time for being biased is long gone.
Ballack had a much more solid game than lampard who was lost in thin air for 90 minutes with the exception of one occasion when he passed back to drogba for drogba to give manU an throw in. But certainly being more involved means you get more responsibility for mistakes made.
lampard, lampard, lampard...get real, and stop this biased analysis. Lampard is not the type of player who can carry a team among the best.
Now I will leave you do the analysis on the rest of chelsea but I know ballack's and it seems you don't realize his purpose.
At Bayern and Germany before Klinsmann's time, Ballack was the head of the diamond, an attacking midfielder but both those teams had excellent wing players who could play long balls, cross from the wings, take corners and free kicks, thus providing for Ballack. Chelsea doesn't have any player who can do that reliably. Lampard needs 12 chances to get one right.
For the past 4 yrs Ballack due to both Chelsea's and Germany's lack of team balance has been forced to play more defensive positions as his defensive presence is crucial to allow other players who are faster than him get on the attack while he plays the anchor midfielder. The problem with Chelsea is that Lampard competes for that role too and lately so does Deco meaning that you have two players: Lampard and Deco who are all over the field, and more often that not completely out of position thus allowing overconfident full backs A.Cole and Bosignwa to get schooled by the opposite team's attack.
ANd that's precisely what happened with United. Rewatch the match, and notice Deco being everywhere on the field, doing absolutely nothing, notice Lampard being everywhere on the field also doing nothing. ...
it is ridiculous how we have made Ballack a target all this time, when our own english players are just as guilty if not more since they are the ones who are believed to be the spine of the team. But we are biased towards them and don't dare criticize them. Well enough is enough. Give them credit when they deserve it.
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caicocid, i understand your point about Robinho fitting the system and how he would be able to open spaces for strikers in the middle, attracting 1-2 defenders etc. But surely its Chelsea's defensive frailties that are costing them points this season?
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Oh what a mistake it was getting rid of Mourinho! Abramovich pandered to the press and Kenyons PR bullshit. Instead he has helped Man United back into the ascendency. I wonder if Kenyon actually left Man United for any other reason? Chelsea are rudderless and poor old Scolari is now reaping what was sown when Mourinho was forced to resign. Chelsea are making teams look good, Mourinho was right! That was not his team. United can feel happy but deep down they know it was a hollow victory. Mourinho is looming large and Chelsea may win trophies with him again long after Ferguson's gone. It's hard to know wha to do or expect. There have been too many changes of backroom staff and not enough new blood introduced to the team. Chelsea need to release and sell at least five players this summer and bring in two wingers, one creative centre and at least another attacker as I WOULD PERSONALLY SELL DROGBA. HIS RETURN HAS COINCIDED WITH A DISASTOROUS SPELL. Hopefully Scolari can rescue the season but the fans don't really believe he knows what he is doing. Too much over passing, no speed, direction and definitely no defensive strategy. We aren't using players on the posts to defend set pieces, we've decided to allow teams behind us at will and we over commit through the middle..too many cooks spoil the broth! It's predictable and sorrowful to watch. Sell Drogba, Malouda, Kalou, Ballack, Deco and bring in Good old fashioned wingers such as Duff, Lennon, or walcott. In the centre we could use Someone to pull the strings such as Arteta or Iniesta and up front who knows. We all have ideas but most are agreed these Changes are unavoidable if Chelsea want to regain momentum.
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A Grant didn't do anything by allow Jose's team to roll on.
Lampard IS a titan of football and an example to all.
Robinho IS better than Ronaldo (look at what a difference a single player can make to the entire Man City team when he's playing).
Big Phil has had 5 months only. Just 5 months. We're not in a relegation battle.
Big Phil has made mistakes, and he says he'll fix them - so let's see what he does. Give him a chance.
As for those that complain the article doesn't contain any real analysis - and then offer up flimsy repeats of tabloid nonsense and opposition propaganda.... I guess there's simply no shame, huh?
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So, the predictable flood of criticism come our way after a loss, albeit a bad and important one on the back of a month of mediocre results. That's the way it works, yes, but to those posting from reddened stand-points, none of the 'top four' have been either over-achieving or performing to expectations this season. In fact Chelsea's recent dip in form and results has mirrored the whole season for the top sides.
So, what's up then?. A couple of you have rightly mentioned Essien's absence which cannot be underestimated. A colossal of a player who fits in perfectly with the English game and has an uncanny ability to nullify the more dangerous opponents. Deco has shown glimpses of class, which was never in doubt, but is simply too lightweight and gets bossed out of games. Interesting experiment, but one who can't b egiven more time in the middle. When Essien is back, his time will be up, and the Ballack-Lampard-Essien trio will no doubt solidify things in the middle. With the embarrassment that is Molouda seemingly on his way out (finally) the width Chelsea have been blessed with over the years seems thin. Joe Cole hasn't the pace, Kalou isn't a winger, Anelka needs to be central. The reliance on Bosingwa and A. Cole bombing forward and getting crosses in may work away to bottom-half teams, but can't be all we have against the top sides!.
The league will be a close thing this year, more losses for the top four will come, but with Essien back and Lampard (sorry post 21. Frank not a big game winner and not someone you can turn to for that extra mile?!? where are you from, have you ever watched Chelsea play?) keeping up usual appearances, there may be a wry smile left for Scolari come May. Season over? No way.
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What a boring blog. When is this man going to write something interesting and incisive?
So, Chelsea lost to Man Utd and are on a poor run. So what, it's hardly breathtaking news.
Also, quoting " a well placed source" adds nothing to the story. It's just like reading The Sun.
Come on Mihir, please write something interesting (eg like Gavin Strachan or funny like Robbo).
Otherwise give up.
PS Do you ever read any comments? I've never seen a reply yet.
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Whoever follows Sir Alex will be sacked as not good enough. Their successor will be tolerated for a couple of seasons, then sacked as not good enough.
The third person hired by Man U after Sir Alex will stand or fall on their own merit.
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Over recent years Chelsea have been run extremely poorly compared to our rival teams and in my opinion the appointment of Scolari was one of many mistakes made by the Chelsea hierarchy. However, as soon as the appointment was made, as a Chelsea fan, I had to forget my doubts and concerns about an ageing manager who had no experience in major European football and trust him to continue Mourino's good work, whilst at the same time hope he would install the flair that perhaps we have been lacking in recent years. In the first few months of the season, things could not have gone better. Scolari seemed to have managed to revolutionise the way Chelsea play and install his Brazillian mentality into a famously efficient and effective Chelsea team. Games against Middlesbrough and an excellent Aston Villa side spring to mind. It seemed Scolari had an almost instant balance to his team but was eventually found out as rival managers clocked on to the fact that much of Chelsea's attacking play came from the full-backs, just like many good Brazillian teams. The difference with Chelsea is the fact that we don't have any attacking players who can run with the ball and beat defenders, so once our full-backs are stopped making their forward runs, Chelsea become an extremely one-dimensional team. In some ways though it is difficult to blame Scolari, He was brought in to change the style of the team but the current Chelsea team was assembled by Mourinho who bought players to play in his specific system. I just hope the board realise that changing the system and style of a team who have performed so well over the years will take a long long time and Scolari needs to be given this time to decide who does and who doesn't fit into his system in the current squad and who he would like to bring in from elsewhere. Under Scolari, there is major re-building to do at the club. I also notice many of the comments are based on the current Chelsea team lacking youth and this is another major mistake of Ambramovich and especially the ridiculous figure of Peter Kenyon. Chelsea have spent a fortune over the last few years and unfortunantly much of this money has been wasted. It seems we have not planned for the future and have very little talent coming through despite having the greatest talent scout in the world. The signing that sums this up really is the £30 odd million we spent on an ageing Ukrainian striker. A transfer that still angers me today. The board think they can buy instant success with players and sometimes it is possible to do this. However, expecting this from a manager who has a completely different mentality to the any manger Chelsea have had in the last six or seven years is ridiculous. Scolari had inherited Mourinho's team and the day Abramovich got rid of our most important asset was the day it was always going to go downhill. Hopefully though Scolari will be given the time to build his own team but I believe to do this, he will need to have a major clear-out in the summer.
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Whilst Scolari's credentials as a National team manger are not in question, he has never had to deal with the day to day pressure of managing at a club who are expected to win trophies.
Whilst in Brazil managing the unfasionable Palmeiras he was criticised by both fans and the media for his direct style of play, often using a tall centre forward, his team looked to get the ball wide and deliver crosses to score goals. Despite this he went on to win the League and delivered the South American chmpionship.
Whilst with Brazil he again shocked Pundits by playing with three center backs in Roque Junior, Edmilson and Lucio. Whilst he had arguably the two greatest wing backs of all time in Cafu and Roberto Carlos to give width to a side with no wingers, any Brazillian National side that starts with five defenders raises eye brows.
This inspired formation choice saw Brazil win the World Cup, but was the choice to play three centre backs made out of necessity. I would say yes, Brazil had one of the worst qualifying records of all the teams involved and were leaking goals left right and center.
Portugal in contrast to Brazil had a much smaller pool of players to select from. The role of striker was occupied by the distinctly average Nuno Gomes across two European Championships and two World Cups. It was this lack of striking options and a highly talented group of Midfield players that led to Scolari using a five man midfield.
With Palmeiras and Brazil Scolari selected a teams to play to a strategy in a formation that was not necessarily popular. Where as with Portugal the available squad made the formation choice a no brainer.
Chelsea under Mourinho played a 4-1-2-2-1 formation with four out and out defenders and a defensive midfielder. The Chelsea under Scolari plays with two out and out defenders and a defensive midfielder, the full backs are now expected to bomb on.
Comparing with Scolari's previous teams it seems he wants to recreate the attacking full backs Cafu and Roberto Carlos in Boswinga and Ashley Cole without having the three center backs he had with Brazil.
He also wants to give attacking midfielders more space in the midfield. With Portugal Deco pulled all the strings, however Scolari had two defensive midfielders not one to enable this.
I am a life long Chelsea fan and find it astonishing that the 4-1-2-2-1 or 4-5-1 formation however you wish to look at it is still in place.
The main reason Mourinho left was Roman Abramovich's need to play a more expansive atacking style of play The purchase of two players who were squeezed into an already highly successful team meant that a new 4-4-4 formation with a diamond midfield was introduced. Shevchenko and Ballack reduced my all conquering beloved Chelsea side into a mirror image of the England National side.
Avram Grant immediately reverted back to the 4-5-1 and the results came.
Scolari is now trying to play an attacking game with a 4-5-1 formation and this is what is unsettling the Chelsea side.
Midfielders who are used to having the peace of mind in knowing that a mis placed pass that gives away possesion is nulified by the some five players behind to win the ball back.
If Scolari needs to decide whether to adopt the three center backs to accomodate his attacking full backs or a better option in my opinion would be to play with two defensive central midfielders as apposed to one.
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Some interesting opinions given on this site concerning Chelsea's recent demise. One thing I'm really getting tired of is Fergie and all the Man Utd. fans going on and on about Chelsea being an aging squad.
I decided to check out the very young Man Utd. squad ages for last Sunday's game versus those of old Chelsea. Man Utd. was 27.72 and Chelsea was 28.09. Now what? That isn't much is it?
One thing I was very disappointed with from the game was referee Howard Webb. He didn't catch one of Man Utd's divers and they were in true Olympic form. I thought Rooney did a superb job with the one Bosingwa got booked for. There was no contact whatever.
I've been a true Chelsea fan since 1947 and I'm very proud of it.
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30. At 01:28am on 14 Jan 2009, wonderfulchelseattle wrote:
I've been a true Chelsea fan since 1947 and I'm very proud of it.
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You need to mention that. Don't you?
You also need to read. Everyone saying about 1st team squad. Not just the 11/16 played on a particular day.
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26. At 10:45pm on 13 Jan 2009, borogef wrote:
What a boring blog.
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I do not understand your pathtic view. It is his blog & he's sharing whatever he knows with us.
Also not naming (protecting) the source in the blog / column is nothing new. How else will he get future information from his souces, which may speak with him in strictest confidence?
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MUPPETS
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A lot of trashy comments from player haters and armchair generals. But then some gems of insight, i wonder who actually attends chelsea matches, but then remember some of the opinions of me fellow season ticket holders.
What everyone if forgetting is that our defensive woes have become critical since steve clark left. The success in Grants year was due to Steve.
Most, if not entirely, of mourinho's coaching techniques have left with steve (who if you are ignorant was a defense coach). I cannot see how mourinho tactics can now 'fuse' with brazilian magic on the training pitch.
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Mihir Bose has a great job. All he gives us are hints and opinions.
If he could put a name to one of these 'Chelsea insiders', ideally that of Roman Abramovich, that would be news. But he can't, so all he's offering is gossip. If your sources have to be protected, that's because they'd be under threat if their identities were known within the club. For revealing what, according to Mihir, is supposed to be the official Chelsea line?
That doesn't make sense. Put some names to your stories, Mr Bose, and give them some credibility.
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30. At 01:28am on 14 Jan 2009, wonderfulchelseattle wrote:
Some interesting opinions given on this site concerning Chelsea's recent demise. One thing I'm really getting tired of is Fergie and all the Man Utd. fans going on and on about Chelsea being an aging squad.
I decided to check out the very young Man Utd. squad ages for last Sunday's game versus those of old Chelsea. Man Utd. was 27.72 and Chelsea was 28.09. Now what? That isn't much is it?
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It is when you've got Giggs, Neville, Scholes and Van der Sar in the Man U squad, average age 35.
Anyway, ageing isn't just chronology; it's how much you've got left in your legs.
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The problem at Chelsea is simple. There is one essential commodity that the team lacks, that any succesful team requires.
Chelsea lack pace.
Without pace you can talk about systems and structures, motivation and selection, rotation and injuries, but they are all secondary.
It is almost impossible in the modern era to have a successful side without quick players.
At the start of the season when teams hadn't cottoned on to the Scolari system the two genuinely quick players in Chelsea's team were getting space in which to use their dynamism in the opposition half.
Once that had been worked out and they were forced back the only genuinely "quick" player becomes Anelka.
The two centre halves are slow. Under Mourinho and Grant they defended so deep that it didn't matter. Under Scolari, trying to push higher up the field it is a problem.
The midfield is shorn of its quickest player in Essien, leaving the rather more pedestrian Lampard, Deco, Mikel and Ballack in the engine room and none of Joe Cole, Malouda or Kalour provides it from the flanks.
Missing out on Robinho and letting Wright-Phillips depart for City left Chelsea with a lack of pacey game breakers, now they are paying the price.
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We splashed the cash and to often went for big name stars.
We spent millions, and then sold the ones who failed for half price. Now we have an ageing squad, one winger and and no youth being given a chance.
Sacrifices need to be made, why do we need 4 top centre backs? All four are great but surely we need to cash in on either Alex or Ivanovic and let Mancienne take up the fourth choice role.
I look at other premiership sides, and see the youth of our rivals playing on loan at other clubs - when was the last time chelsea did that, we might have some stars but other than Terry, and Carlton Cole there hasn't been any academy players who stayed in the premiership.
Is this a problem with our set up, because Arsenal can real off plenty - sidwell, bentley are still in the prem, and they have plenty still playing for them.
Ronaldo's, Lampards, Gerrards, Rooneys, start somewhere why don't chelsea produce these - probably because we don't give any a chance. Terry came through at the same time as Jody Morris, Kevin Nicholls, and Carlton Cole - but suddenly were expecting youth to be world class from the off.
Losing Robinho cost us big time, with SWP making way thinking it was a done deal. Sell before we buy won't be a problem in a lot of areas - we need one signing - A DRIBBLER!! Someone who can beat a player, against Man Utd was just pass, pass, attempted through ball, lost possesion.
Out - Bridge £10m, Ferriera £3m, Ivanovic £6m, Mini Aero £500k, Hilario £500k
In - A dribbling left winger £20+ million, a Robinho, Ronaldo type player.
Promote - Sinclair, Taylor, Bertrand, Woods, Mancienne.
First Team/Second Team Next Season
4-3-3
Cech/Cudicini or Taylor
Bos/Belleti
RC/Alex
JT/Mancienne
A. Cole/Bertrand
Essien/Mikel
Lampard/Ballack
Deco/Woods
J.Cole/Sinclair
????/Malouda or Kalou
Drogba/Anelka or Di Santo
25 Man Squad
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why does mihir never respond to any comments on his blogs.
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30. At 01:28am on 14 Jan 2009, wonderfulchelseattle wrote:
Some interesting opinions given on this site concerning Chelsea's recent demise. One thing I'm really getting tired of is Fergie and all the Man Utd. fans going on and on about Chelsea being an aging squad.
I decided to check out the very young Man Utd. squad ages for last Sunday's game versus those of old Chelsea. Man Utd. was 27.72 and Chelsea was 28.09. Now what? That isn't much is it?
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No.33
It is when you've got Giggs, Neville, Scholes and Van der Sar in the Man U squad, average age 35.
Anyway, ageing isn't just chronology; it's how much you've got left in your legs.
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I think the point that everyone's trying to make is that Man Utd have youth coming through - wellbeck, Evans, Rafael are getting chances, and Campbell at Spurs - where as Chelsea rather than doing the same are getting themselves in a position where they will go out an buy buy buy, when for all we know Mancienne, Sinclair and Co. could turn out great.
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Another nothing blog by Mihir with no real facts. I'm sure he could have just copied and pasted from other articles.
Why not come up with something original has facts and even names some insiders. This is just a cheap way of doing some tabloid journalism.
How about a blog about your beloved Tottenham and the fact that Harry has not improved the teams points statistically compared to the other managers before him!! Or how they can afford the new stadium!!
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Unlike Ferguson in his early years at Manchester United Scolari does not have time to develop a squad and set-up that he can benefit from over a prolonged period: his age precludes that as much as the current sack-them-after-five-minutes attitude.
Also, words of support for Scolari from the Chelsea hierarchy are meaningless. Experience of professional football over the last decade tells us that. Just check out the Wikipedia page "List of English Football League Managers" and read how many managers in the football league have been in post for more than five years - unbelievably the answer is 8. Only 3 have been in post for more than ten years! Interestingly, of the top nine on the list, Ferguson, Wenger and Benitez feature: there's a message there for all Premier League club hierarchies - long term managerial continuity is the route to enduring success.
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It has been interesting to read all these viewpoints and if each analysis were to be correct then there is more confusion at Stamford Bridge than we see in evidence in play.
Yes, we were poor at Old Trafford and yes, the referee did miss some stunning simulations if that what these antic are still called. More importantly Chelsea missed the opportunity to create good scoring chances. Even with the number of good chances that we seem to miss nowadays this match was a spectacular disaster in terms of a title bid. This is peculiarly ironic as we seem to falter every time Liverpool leave the door open a fraction for us to draw closer. Now United have the games in hand to make their challenge after a wobbly start of the season for them.
The real issue for Chelsea is that in a short space of time we have gone from being a strong club brimming with confidence at home and a strong club away from home to a hobbling shadow of what we were at the start of this season and throughout the year of 2008. This has all happened on Scolari's watch.
In my experience those who take the bouquets for when things go well must also accept the brickbats for when things go askew. True leadership is about doing the right things; taking the initiative and having a clear strategy. In the process a true leader has to win hearts and minds. At present this has not been Scolari's style. We have gone from the highest aspirations and achievements to wandering in the dark. Substitutions have been confusing, for example at Craven Cottage and Old Trafford and basic skills such as marking diligently for set pieces and running on to the ball rather than just waiting for it to arrive have withered. Our form in front of goal has left a huge amount to be desired.
So what are the problems in addressing these and many other issues? Most of these suggest a lack of inspirational leadership from Scolari and the management team. Players of Chelsea's standard do not go into decline so quickly unless there are other factors at work. I suggest that we do not and shall never know exactly what these factors are.
Most of the press, the correspondents on this page, including this one, are merely speculating. The only real evidence we have are performances on the pitch and the results. The one thing we can say for certain is that they are poor by recent comparison and poor by the standards and potential of the players Chelsea have in their squad.
This brings me back to the point that it is a matter of leadership at all levels and that something needs to happen very quickly to address these issues before they become deeply ingrained in the psyche of the club, the players and the leadership team.
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Short, precise and intelligent blog here!! What I still really find bizzare about the so chelsea fans aris the fact that they think Scolari is biased by sticking with Deco and substituiting Joe Cole. I hope sunday's defeat has given you lots an highlight of hi simportance in your midfield as I did not remeber Deco losing possesion for once in the first 45minutes instead got two important free kicks at decent position. While on the other side Joe cole was trying over legs, unreasonable flicks (think he needs to watch Robinho often and learn) which led to nothing but Pressure on poor Bosingwas who is not the best defending full back arround. Ballack and Lampard was alos dissapointing, this does not mean Deco was the best but at least kept possesion and made more impact than Joe cole. I am sure Kalou wouold have done better but because Joe cole was the fan's and press favourite they all think he deserves a place.
How you think it is ideal to stick with Drogba based on his passt glories and bench a player who has found the net 16times this season is still beyond my understanding. If you think it is easy to score 16 tap in goals in 17games then I suggest you should ask Berbatov how the trip has been with Old trafford.
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I think this blog is a very safe BBC appraisal of the situation which tells you absolutely nothing that you could not have very easily worked out for yourself with the benefit of no research.
As for some of the comments, what planet have they been written from?
The key point is that Scolari is under massive pressure from the fans, as he was bound to be as the planned long term successor to Mourinho - no one really believed Grant could be that, contract or no.
He has changed style and that, to an extent is very welcome - but with it he seems to exhibit an alarming naivety as to what it will need for him to be successful in the Premiership.
The current run, his comments about accepting blame led to Greenberg and co (Chelsea's heavies) reminding him he has a hard man personna and from that emanates the any player can leave in January comment and the subsequent limp dropping of Drogba.
Does that really show LFS has his finger on the pulse - not really.
Drogba is a liability, but so at £140k per week is the strolling Ballack, Mikel is out of position - forget his physicality it means nothing if you are not in the right place at the right time to use it. Deco should never have been bought in the first place and Boswinga is limited defensively - well demonstrated by Podolski at the Euros.
And then, looking at the whole team, Scolari is telling us that it is performing at around 40% of it's potential. What? Why?
Could it be that Scolari is being ignored ala Grant? Are they phased by his singular approach to the game?
Yes., logic says that he needs time to bring in his own players, but look at th evidence thus far, Deco, Mineiro, Boswinga and a 19 year old striker who has seemingly disappeared.... Is Abramovich scared of who the next one through the door might be at at what price?
I dearly want to see Scolari grab hold of this and shake it like the master tactician and motivator that he is held to be.
However, if he doesn't start now, not only could he be losing his job but he just may persuade Abramovich that he no longer has any real reason to hang around.
Then forget about a managerial merry-go-round and fear about existence.
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to my point of view the real problem with chelsea fc is the lack of a good winger who can dribble with the ball not a player like malouda who want to shoot from 50 yard from goal who do not ve any skill . selling robben,duff,gudjohnson,and wright philip at the samee time was the biggest mistake that was made by the chelsea board. the solution to this chelsea problem is to look for some young players with legs and can be bought on good price. example of such player is ben arfa of marseille , quaresma at inter will do well in the premiership as he showed againt chelsea and arsenal. also letting drogba,alex, and malouda leave will be a good place to start . a player like bafermi gomis will be a good replacement for drogba but he is more technical and faster than drogba but will need time to adjust to the premiership before he start banging the goals, we can get him for less that 7million pound, also giving the academy players a chance will do alot of good than bad . look at scot sinclair he can become as good as ronaldo but he needs to play in the first team to build his confidence at on 19yrs of nage he has been able to light up the championship. i think he can do the same in the premiership if given playing time in the fa cup this season
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If this whole Scolari thing implodes, I believe John Hollins is available... :-)
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Scolari - "I have my opinion and I will put my opinion on the pitch every game."
Does that sound to anyone like a dig at Abramovich to stop trying to interfere with the line up?
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Has anyone ever seen Mikel have a good game? I'd be interested to hear from people who watch Chelsea every week. He seems to survive off the hype generated by his transfers. When you're getting destroyed in midfield by Fletcher and a 35-year-old winger, something is seriously wrong.
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to ' the venerableabbot' john's available agains is he? That is nealry as amusing as watching his son's attempts to be taken as a serious journalist on the BBC!
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45. At 1:43pm on 14 Jan 2009, Fergie's psychotropic mind games wrote:
Scolari - "I have my opinion and I will put my opinion on the pitch every game."
Does that sound to anyone like a dig at Abramovich to stop trying to interfere with the line up?
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Would his opinion be stronger up front than Drogba and more predatory than Anelka? That's the question.
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At Statto Campo, I agree mate. Admittedly I havnt watched too many Chelsea games lately, but I have never seen Mikel have an outstanding game, merley average at best.
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Oh, and as for our thrashing by man u, and it was a sound beating, there are some other insights worth note:
Manu played a clever position game, inviting challenges by constant pressure combined with changing dribbling pace, almost all yellow cards were crafted by manu, not mistakes.
Set pieces were inventive, prepared and varied. We were simply not prepared.
In all a masterclass of fergie psychology, which jose pronably misses. His attendence, and benitez's outburst simply riled fergie into ensuring we were trounced by the reds
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Abramovich leaving in the next 12-18 months? Extremely likely, the club has been taking steps to become completely self sufficient for a while now. Probably means that we will see some of the big names leave in the summer. Also means that is unlikely that Scolari will be given the boot, even if he doesn't win anything this term. He has a 3 year contract worth just over £6 million which means it could cost Chelsea £12 million to sack him, depending on clauses.
It appears that Abramovich is losing interest in Chelsea as he wasn't present for the United game and has reportedly taken no steps to discuss the defeat with the manager. Sounds to me like a man that has lost interest in the club and will look to sell. Can't beleive that the club will be sold for £1 again though, that rumour surely is a result of chinese whispers?!
Could see some massive changes at Chelsea soon...
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I honestly think Chelsea are missing Clarke.
All teams need a strong partnership in training which Chelsea appear to be currently missing.
Felipe will be at CFC 4 years maximum and a younger up and coming future manager should be brought in not only understudy but also to contribute towards training and tactics.
The return, or buying of one quality player however good will not necessarily change the way a team plays. Chelsea have played Essien in many positions ( Right back, Centre back, attacking midfield, defending midfield.) but so far do not appear to know his best position. Most fans are just as confused on this issue!!
I hope Felipe will find the perfect position for him and build the team of the future round him.
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@46
that question is like asking if makelele ever had a good game. I rate Mikel and am a season ticket holder. We are lacking fitness, pace, and group mentality.
Phil needs to wisen up to the premiership a bit more. Shame Steve has gone. Jose recognised the need for a solid insight from an old boy. Im not sure if Ray is providing that...
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Mihir, you need to bring out the point about Scholari being so much better for the Chelsea PR machine than Mourinho was. Jose was almost a pantomime villain in his dealings with the press. It polarised opinion about Chelsea.
Scholari has clearly much more charisma and this is crucially important to the Chelsea brand as it tries to win more global appeal. The United and Liverpool diaspora is huge and Mourinho was never going to make a dent into that.
I think Roman's recent belt tightening exercise is more cosmetic than anything else. With the riches at their disposal, winning ugly was never enough for Chelsea. Remember Manchester United's popularity grew steadily through the 70s and 80s, even as the perennial bridesmaids of English football. Why? Because they bought the most exciting players and played wonderful cavalier, attacking football. Not Serie A type functional dross. Scholai like to win in style and that is the key.
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#43 Mccuul
Your having a giggle arent you mate?
Quaresma for Chelsea? Theres no way Mourinho will let Quaresma go less than a year after joining Inter - You've got more chance of seeing Anderson score a goal for Man Utd!!
Gomis as good as Drogba? dont talk rubbish - OK Drogba has been well below par this season compared to last but you still cant even compare the two!!
And Scott Sinclair can be as good as Ronaldo - Come on son!! what you talking about!!!!!!
I tell you what you can have Shola Ameobi if you want! he's the next Peter Osgood!!
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wonderfulchelseattle
One thing I was very disappointed with from the game was referee Howard Webb. He didn't catch one of Man Utd's divers and they were in true Olympic form. I thought Rooney did a superb job with the one Bosingwa got booked for. There was no contact whatever.
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I suppose he did a terrible job for not sending off carvalho for his attempted portugese dance with ronaldo..or was it a new wrestling move?
How about Ronaldo's TWO perfectly legit goals that were ruled out?..didnt see those incidents did we?
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(Post 29. At 00:28am on 14 Jan 2009, WanabeeHack wrote:
I am a life long Chelsea fan and find it astonishing that the 4-1-2-2-1 or 4-5-1 formation however you wish to look at it is still in place.
The main reason Mourinho left was Roman Abramovich's need to play a more expansive atacking style of play The purchase of two players who were squeezed into an already highly successful team meant that a new 4-4-4 formation with a diamond midfield was introduced. Shevchenko and Ballack reduced my all conquering beloved Chelsea side into a mirror image of the England National side.)
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So this is the fantastic chelsea analysis - a 4-4-4 system. I suppose you may stand more chance next year if you play this formation, the 2 extra players on the field will really help....
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I'll stand up for Mikel.
I have watched the majority of Chelses'a game this season and in most of those matches he has been one of our best players. He is still learning the trade and he still needs to mature. Yes in the last few games he has lost some form and confidence, but that goes for the whole team. We must stick by him, he has potential to be better than Makele because he has more technical ability. We already made a big mistake letting Diara go and letting Mikel go would be another big one.
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philtin82
u did not get what i was saying i was saying that gomis is a good player that can always replace drogba at chelsea i live in france and i am able to watch this kid play week in week out i i can tell u he is a fantastic player .. he has not been at his best this season but surely he can play football and score fantastic goal . quaresma do not get playing time at inter and i am sure with morinho looking to buy arshavin he will be willing to do bussiness with quaresma for i good price.. sinclair have showed alot of brilliance in the championship and i can tell u that he will become an important part of the england team in some few years mark my word that boy will do wonders if he can get some confidence from the manager.
dont judge gomis just with the euros all the french players were not able to play to their best dont know what really went wrong but gomis is a star of the future
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I really don't see that dropping Drogba for the Southend game indicates any dissatisfaction from the manager. Not being allowed to visit Southend has never been used as a punishment before. Now if he had been sent two days early...
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If Scolari actually showed that he could be flexible in his formations and style of play, then I think that he should be given the time.
But to date all he has done is play 1 system!
That one system might work for a team like Brazil. But the players that they have at their disposal and the culture that they have grown up with plays a big part.
We do have some players that are starting to look like an old racing horse that has ran too many races.
It happen. simple.
What we have to do is deal with it. We now have the plan fully in effect where we have enough stature in the game to out there and buy a couple of world class players and not pay way over the odds for them.
This is why we spent so much money initially so lets now reap the fruits of our hard work.
Scolari will get until the end of the season and if he doesn't compete and improve this side then I see him off in the summer.
If I had a choice. Then it would have to be Mourinho. If not, them give Steve Clarke the chance. He's earned his stripes.
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Steve Clarke would be an excellent choice, It was his influence last season that almost got us the two major trophies, I am not impressed with Scolari he comes with a good track record but there is nothing I have seen this season to show he is a great manager. It looks like we will finish the year with very little and perhaps a 5th or 6th place which will upset our chairmans plans for break even by 2010!!!
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To Forever_Blue 737...
Yes, if you check back on the Beeb's sports pages to Dec.3rd last year, you'll find that Hollins senior became unexpectedly (for him, anyway) available again.
I confess - I have an agenda, as I am a Swansea City fan of considerable age, and recall with something of migraine proportions the Hollins tenure at the Vetch. He starts well, but can't sustain form or progress, makes some absolute howlers in the transfer market, and orchestrated some of the most dull football I've ever seen a Swans side play. We won the 3rd Div Championship through gritted teeth, and robbed a much better Rotherham team of the title.
Anyway, as this is about Chelsea, I'll close with the fact that I saw Hollins play in 1970, in a team of footballing greats that included Hudson (sublime), Cooke, Osgood, and.. err...Harris! Hollins could play, he just can't manage.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7830199.stm
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"Scolari's position, the Chelsea hierarchy insists, is not in jeopardy following the club's abysmal 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Nor has Scolari been summoned to appear in front of an emergency board meeting to explain his plight, let alone be given a stay of execution.
Indeed there is no emergency board meeting being held.
There is a routine monthly one but that is not due until February, shortly before Chelsea announce their financial results. Stamford Bridge dismisses any talk of getting rid of Scolari.
Indeed there is much affection for the manager and praise for the change in outlook he has brought to the club. Jose Mourinho may have been very successful but he was difficult to deal with and made Chelsea hard to like for many neutrals.
Scolari has been the exact opposite. Chelsea wanted a makeover in this regard and Scolari has achieved that.
The club also recognises that it cannot just keep on changing managers. Getting rid of Scolari would mean three managers going in the space of about 18 months.
[...]And it also seems that Scolari's current status is not in doubt."
Thanks as usual for the inside line on sport...
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Scolari fired?
The lunatics have taken over the asylum!
Bad enough that the owner of the place (Abramovic) is a nut case, now they won't give a knowledgable football man time to create a Championship team?
Who else will do any better with this (Chelsea team) collection of overpaid and pampered misfits?
Pox be on the Chelsea group.
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