The British & Irish Football Thread

[Pizzamorg]

It's not just how well Leicester are doing, either, it's also how bad other big teams are doing. Chelsea and Man UTD look like mid table clubs and clubs like Liverpool or City either win big or get completely turned over.

[Geoff D]

That's what also snaffles up the headlines, they'd still rather bang on about the big teams doing badly than the 'little' clubs crashing the party.

With that moan in mind, I still say Chelsea have got to be careful down at the bottom there. We're almost at the halfway point of the season and they've got to get their arses in gear lest the clubs around them go on a run.

[Pizzamorg]

I'll be amazed if Chelsea get relegated but I'll also be amazed if Chelsea end up in the top third of the table, I mean, like how are they meant to achieve that? They can splash the cash in January but then they have no time to break any of those players in, work out strategies, they just have to hope the players can play the moment they arrive and how likely is that going to happen? Chelsea might manage a few points at the end of the season but I don't see them achieving anything at all this season now.

[tob]

I don't know never seen a season where any of the top six or seven teams can win the title this season.

[Pizzamorg]

Interesting discussion on Sky Sports on the "quick fix" of just swapping managers but maybe sometimes an entire team needs an overhaul. Very few clubs approach it like that.

[D-Blitz]

Originally Posted by Pizzamorg

I'll be amazed if Chelsea get relegated but I'll also be amazed if Chelsea end up in the top third of the table, I mean, like how are they meant to achieve that? They can splash the cash in January but then they have no time to break any of those players in, work out strategies, they just have to hope the players can play the moment they arrive and how likely is that going to happen? Chelsea might manage a few points at the end of the season but I don't see them achieving anything at all this season now.

What kind of class player would want a move to Chelsea now in January? I think they'll struggle to attract any major names. The only thing they have going for them is the champions league this season... so far and I'm not sure that's enough.

As an Arsenal fan I'm loving this. If Chelsea get relegated it'd make my life. They're one of three teams I truly hate in the PL (Spuds and manu being the other ones).

[tob]

Originally Posted by D-Blitz

What kind of class player would want a move to Chelsea now in January? I think they'll struggle to attract any major names. The only thing they have going for them is the champions league this season... so far and I'm not sure that's enough.

As an Arsenal fan I'm loving this. If Chelsea get relegated it'd make my life. They're one of three teams I truly hate in the PL (Spuds and manu being the other ones).

Same here man.

[Pizzamorg]

True that, what player with a forty million price tag is gonna want to be in a relegation battle? It may also mean they lose a lot of players, whether they like it or not, as well given that they'd want to jump ship before they lose all their value and no one wants them.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Pizzamorg

Everyone seems to count Leicester out, still even now, everyone is just waiting for Leicester to unravel. Why won't people have any faith in us?!

I have faith .....for superb work ethic and pace is a powerful combination that I truly admire. My only reservation is whether their legs can last for a full Prem season. I don't know but they are truly enjoyable to watch.

As a side note, the post match interview with Jose that I saw was the most honest interview I've ever seen the Chelsea manager give...no spin at all.

[Geoff D]

I didn't hang around for the post-match stuff, but really? Jose didn't try and blame everyone but himself and/or his players?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I didn't hang around for the post-match stuff, but really? Jose didn't try and blame everyone but himself and/or his players?

I found the interview regarding the assessment of yesterday's match and some of his players to be accurate and refreshingly honest…unlike past interviews which remind me of consumer electronics executives spinning at trade shows and such.

[Pizzamorg]

He blamed his players almost exclusively, and admitted Leicester were the better team, at least until the last twenty minutes which I think is a fair assessment. Especially when compared to say, Van Gaal where no matter how badly Utd perform they are always "the better team" "improving" "didn't deserve to lose" etc etc etc Mourinho of course also inspired interesting debate about how, whats the expression, I don't know, "true" Chelsea's season really was last year. Were they really just a lot of one hit wonders? Is the squad going to need a complete overhaul?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Pizzamorg

He blamed his players almost exclusively, and admitted Leicester were the better team, at least until the last twenty minutes which I think is a fair assessment. Especially when compared to say, Van Gaal where no matter how badly Utd perform they are always "the better team" "improving" "didn't deserve to lose" etc etc etc Mourinho of course also inspired interesting debate about how, whats the expression, I don't know, "true" Chelsea's season really was last year. Were they really just a lot of one hit wonders? Is the squad going to need a complete overhaul?

Like I said several months ago, they are a plastic club now. They will just keep throwing money at the problem. Same as Man City amongst others.
It's almost impossible for these clubs to be relegated and trust me, Chelsea will be able to attract the top players, regardless of their current position.

Regardless, they will get back to winning ways on Saturday against my (IMO) gutless wonders. Best home on the coupon.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I didn't hang around for the post-match stuff, but really? Jose didn't try and blame everyone but himself and/or his players?

I'm just missing that pretty woman with her healing hands! Bring her back, they will shoot up the league.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I'm just missing that pretty woman with her healing hands! Bring her back, they will shoot up the league.

I’m no fan of Jose, especially after that incident with the team physician (who I’d read had actually been motioned onto the field by the referee to assist the seemingly injured player), but to answer Pizza, imo, a lot of his players don’t have the heart nor drive to win (they got fat and lazy after winning the title so easily last year)…..inexcusable for professional athletes getting paid the salaries that they are.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m no fan of Jose, especially after that incident with the team physician (who I’d read had actually been motioned onto the field by the referee to assist the seemingly injured player), but to answer Pizza, imo, a lot of his players don’t have the heart nor drive to win (they got fat and lazy after winning the title so easily last year)…..inexcusable for professional athletes getting paid the salaries that they are.

Behind the scenes at Chelsea it is rumoured in the media that the dressing room is split with players who are for mourinho and those who are not.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

Behind the scenes at Chelsea it is rumoured in the media that the dressing room is split with players who are for mourinho and those who are not.

That's nothing. Our dressing room is split between players who can pass a football and those that can't! It's a 60/40 split however!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m no fan of Jose, especially after that incident with the team physician (who I’d read had actually been motioned onto the field by the referee to assist the seemingly injured player), but to answer Pizza, imo, a lot of his players don’t have the heart nor drive to win (they got fat and lazy after winning the title so easily last year)…..inexcusable for professional athletes getting paid the salaries that they are.

I'm sure there is more to it than that, we probably won't find out any time soon though.

[tob]

Chelsea sack Mourinho.
http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...-a-second-time

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

Chelsea sack Mourinho.
http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...-a-second-time

Just in time for Saturday **** me! I am sick of this season already.