League Cup: Wycombe Wanderers 1 - 1 Chelsea

No real harm done...yet!

The defence did quite well, I thought, considering a lack of height to combat Mooney, however SWP was again dismal and Ballack, whilst combative, didn't really manage to link at all with the forwards.

Kalou is no Drogba, and to have less chances than Wycombe over the 90 minutes should be a concern for Jose.

I still think it was a bad performance. These players should be able to play in different positions for the money they cost. Seriously Nick, explain Ballack, SWP, Kalou, Mikel and Makalele to me, each playing in their preferred position and yet unable to pass the ball to a player wearing the same shirt, or to keep the ball in any meaningful way. Maka was no better than a pub player last night, his leap over Mooney was cringe inducing and his form has been way below where it was last year. Ballack seems lost, and although his style maybe languid (as alluded to by JD in an earlier comment) to me it looks like he is just picking up the cash. SWP had a real chance to shine duringthis injury crisis, but has he? To me he just isn't good enough in a team like ours - could you really see Joe Cole, Robben or even Duffers being so poor against such lowly opposition? And as for Kalou....ell he would have been better had his game been anonymous last night but he looks lost unless Drogba has his arm around him. A good prospect, maybe, but he's far form ready yet. Mikel is just plain out of his depth, we'd have been better keeping Tiago or even Carlton Bloody Cole. He has a suspect temperament and to me is nothing more than a reserve team filler.

Having said that I do agree that some players are doing well, Ashley Cole, Bridgey, Geremi, Paulo and Essien were all trying hard last night and can't be blamed for our shortfalls, but at the end of the day thats just half a team and any half-team will struggle if their team mates are there for the ride. I am simply stating my belief that the first group of players have a long long way to go to prove themselves anything more than bench-warmers or current day versions of Winston Bogarde *shudders at typing that name*

JM has problems and his demeanour is showing it. His response to Sky's questions on his future last night will have done nothing but feed the conspiracy theorists of the press and broadcast media.

chelsea is the champion of league 2

Morning all,

There are a few points being missed in the fallout from this game, but Tony has picked up on one of them. Our failure to keep possession or string passes together; arguably the problem that has cost us most this season. Essien (in midfield) and Drogba are key to that but Makelele's dip in form (which I still think is down to the often narrow midfield more than anything else) seems to have harmed us most, along with the lack of confidence in the backline. We (maybe understandably) take the option of hoofing the ball from defence, rather than playing it across the line and building an attack gradually. None of them seem to have any confidence in Hilario either.

Certainly wouldn't defend the overall performance, but as for the individuals, I think some have been harshly treated. Kalou doesn't have the composure yet, but he certainly has the talent and one thing is for certain, he isn't a line striker by any stretch of the imagination.

The lack of leadership on the field last night was a worry; if there is a criticism to be levelled at Ballack then it is that he should have been able to take up that role with his level of experience. He did look lost at times; but that is hardly surprising given that he spent much of the game watching the ball fly over his head. And if we're criticising the midfield, Frank shouldn't be 'untouchable' - he was far from his best last night and I'd argue that we got worse when he came on.

Surprised at the criticism of Mikel - out of all of them, I thought he looked very composed on the ball and played a few great passes; I think he has been rather surprised by the intensity of the last two games (and English football as a whole), but he (and the other younger players) will learn from it. Still picked up his inevitable booking though. SWP I'd agree hasn't grabbed his chance at all; he can't even stay on his feet nowadays - the exit door beckons, sadly.

Huge credit to Bridge; gutsy performance and a vital goal - still a very important player for us and one who hasn't moaned about his position in the pecking order as far as I know. How their keeper wasn't booked for that challenge I'll never know. And as for Steve Bennett, (almost) in the words of Big Ron, I don't criticise referees and I'm not going to make an exception for that prat.

The comments about JT were a worry; possibly not back for Wigan now as I understand? And is Jose just being his usual contrary self on the subject of his future? Is he batting the ball back to the supposed 'source' in the club that appears to have been speaking about him? Or is he just farked off with it all and wants out? Only time will tell.

Still in the race for four trophies. If this is a crisis, god only knows what we'd be like if we were Liverpool at the moment.

Oh, and joecole - we've been the champions of the league twice; do get your grammar correct if you're going to come on here in between crack pipes and cleaning the loos in McDonalds, there's a good chap.

There was a strange feeling in my house last night. Come the final whistle, whilst I was disppointed with the outcome, for the first time I wasn't surprised.

Not the sort of game you expect you so-called continental superstars to relish, but too many non-performers again. If the apparent lack of faces coming in is true, it looks like we may be stuck with some pretty average players. I cant help but feel for Sahar - full of running, but hardly got a sniff of the ball as there was no ball retention in midfield or up front. But now wont be seen until the second leg. It seems pretty clear to me that some of supposed regular squad members just aren't performing, give Sahar and Sinclair a go. At least they'll feel they have something to prove and might actually play with some drive.

I'm afraid SAF must watch every game Mikel plays in and piss himself with laughter to think he got £12m out of us for him - for what ??? Cant play it simple in the middle, had to try and take on the entire opposition midfield and lost it nearly every time. He doesn't seem to have any pace, and makes Paul Scholes look like an expert tackler.

With no JT on Saturday, I shudder to think how the defence will cope, as Wigan are another direct, long ball team. Yes Carvalho is back, but Ferreira looks plain awkward in the middle and Geremi, well, is just Geremi.

Admittedly far from a crisis, and we will win at the Bridge.Just pray to God some of our injured players are back soon.

joecole
This is becoming tiresome,your level of writing and overall intelligence is better suited to the 606 boards.

We welcome supporters and fans of all teams on this blog that are able to contribute something sensible, which clearly you can't

So i'll say something in a language you'll understand FCUK OFF!

To the game I thought certain players we're rather poor last night, and as Tony mentioned we're playing in their correct positions. On saying that, there was certainly an unbalanced look about the team.

The overall impression I got from the game was that neither team really wanted to win it. I think Wycombe just wanted to avoid a possible embarrassment, and so did Chelsea, hence a lot of running around (especially by Wycombe) with very little end product.

Obviously a poor performance, but I think we played with a 'let's get them back to our place and finish the job' attitude. Clive's right, neither team did much that was good or interesting. We were missing the three leaders in the team, and it showed.

As for JM's comments - who knows what that's all about. If he is being edged out by Kenyon, I despair of this club and its future, I really do.

As for Saturday: Heskey v a Terryless back four will be interesting...

At last the board has decided to stop this rot continuing.

New signings would have diverted attention from JM's incompetence. And the only thing that would redeem him is winning the CL. And if you look at the chaos on the pitch, he rather start clearing his locker.

Long live Kenyon and Roman!

The lower end of the food chain seems to have stirred...

It seems that joecoles intellectual twin brother, Henry is back on the scene. It must be these high winds that blow these tumbleweed brained pillocks in.

JD, I agree with you about the ref - I sat there with my better half and said that the keeper should have been booked. It wasn't quite the Toni Schumacher challenge from the 82 World Cup on Patrick Battiston, but it wasn't far off. I've seen yellows and reds dished out for lesser collisions than this and he can consider himself a very lucky bloke not to have at least got a booking. Steve Bennett is one of the better refs, and he had a perfect view according to the replays and one can only wonder what he would have done had Bridge missed the goal or had to be stretchered off.

As for the whole JM thing doing the rounds today, I do think this is the power of the media in jolly old Blighty. JM is an expert in diverting attention away from the team and creating the siege mentality and my initial view is that all this stuff about wanting players but not being allowed to buy them, and the enigmatic politician style answers on his future are him being playful and getting the media on the go. There may be some dissent between him and the board, but go into any organization and you'll find the board are issuing "budget challenges" to the management. I don't think Roman is that despotic that he wants JM out, nor do i think Kenyon is about to manoeuvre a great money spinner and marketing tool as well as top class proven coach out of the club. Remember he had to work with arguably the most irascible old goat in football management today, Sir Rednose of Salford Quays. He knew Sir rednose was a good thing and no doubt they often disagreed about players coming and going, or tactical choices. These debates between board and management happen in every HEALTHY, competitive organization. lets be honest, CFC is a business, who's core activity is football, which in turn underpins marketing and strategy and all other aspects of the business. Say what you like about Kenyon and Roman but both are proven top businessman and these people only despatch the underling managers when they are absolutely blocking the progress and growth of the business. JM is doing neither and after 5 years (2 and a bit with us) is having his first "dark moment" . Nah, he's not going anywhere just yet.

On the players in/out front I am minded of the outspoken, but common sense oriented and intelligent Simon Jordan at Crystal Palace. When asked on Soccer AM what happens when he is asked for money for players he answered " The first thing I do is ask the manager if he's getting the most from the players we already have, and if he says No, then I say No, because we need to be seeing the best from what we have and then we can determine where we are short, and then we can identify areas to strengthen"

Common sense indeed, and a tenet that may have finally got to RA and PK. One thing JM cannot deny is that we are NOT seeing the best from what we have. We are not "sweating our assets" and some of them are certainly not sweating for us. You could walk off with ballcks shirt and wear it without washing it such has been the paucity of passion in his displays thus far. JM's job as coach is to do exactly that and to make Mikel, Ballack et al perform (its too late for SWP, and Maka now looks to old to be a force). If he's not doing that then the board are right to withhold further funds. Only when I see true desire and
absolute commitment would I agree with dipping into the market, and then only for someone like Upson at the back (max £6m) and maybe a striker. Throwing money is not he solution, with the caveat that JM has thinned the squad too far and maybe he now realises this is a mistake if you want success on every front.

Don't get me wrong I'm not advocating a clear out of Ballack and Sheva, just that one more season would be apt in order for them to show they've adapted and can play to PL level.

One more (scary) point -remember the Newcastle side that Keegan built that had the 12 point lead at Christmas - it all unravelled when he went and bought the highly rated Faustino Asprilla. rememeber the fesity West ham side from last year that surprised everybody? Then remember how 2 highly rated world class Argentinians came in and upset the whole applecart. Now remember the side we had last year that fought for each other, played flowing and powerful football and had a team spirit that was the envy of everyone else. Bring in 2 highly rated World Class players in Ballack and Sheva and is ity just possible that the same has happened to us? Just a thought.......

From "Spy in the Camp" on the official club site:

"[I]f things get difficult [against Wigan on Saturday], will the crowd support the team? Or will the crowd turn against the team because at Chelsea now expectations are blindly high?

I will be looking for the crowd's performance as keenly as the team's. In football, you have no right to win. It has seemed at times in the two-and-a-half amazing years of Jose Mourinho's reign to date as though Chelsea possesses the right to win.

A draw at Wycombe? Bah! Remember those second round two-leg League Cup defeats to Plymouth (1979), Cardiff (1980), Reading (1987), Scunthorpe (1988), Scarborough (1989), Reading (1991) and Stoke (1995)?

Those were troubled times."

Like "The Spy", I'm not feeling the current "crisis" quite so acutely as some.

Last night's performance was crap, but I went into the game expecting little else given how things have been recently. In the grand scheme of things, a draw at Wycombe in the first leg of a semi-final is nothing to get overly concerned about.

I agree that a few players could do a lot better under the circumstances, but ultimately it's themselves they are damaging; once Mourinho has a fit squad to choose from they are going to find themselves either warming the bench or playing for another club.

Tony - I agree that the current Mourinho stories are nothing more than the British media being the British media. If this blogging lark teaches you one thing, it's that the football media in this country is 75% fiction, driven mostly by personal feelings of journalists. Obviously it's all about shifting print in the end.

I've always wondered how anybody with a passion for football and one club in particular can write objectively about the sport. The truth is, most football journalists find it difficult.

I think it is simply Chelsea being charitable.

Wycombe will get upto a combined 1mGBP for their draw with us now.

Be safe in the mind we are doing good for football!

Nick i know what you are saying about standards being high, but that comes with being champions surely? i think recently the mighty chelsea haven't been mighty at all, All of this talk about Mourinho leaving i sit and wonder would it be at all that bad?? he has bought some crap signings hands down!! Boulahrooz,Shevchenko, Ballack,SWP and the list goes on, people say he is the special one but the back bone of the team was Ranieri's making!! We have looked dreadful lately and it is depressing to watch how poor we have become!! And Billy i understand also about Wycombe but it's Wycombe and it should've been a walk over you've got an 80,000 pound player in Easter against a 21million pound SWP and who looks better?? Something needs to be done soon because we look crap, I thought we can bolster the squad in January but everyday i pick up the back pages of a paper in anticipation but nothing is happening!! apart from Baros coming... yeah great signing!!Having said all of that i am impressed that this season we have played so poorly yet are still 2nd!

Matt, I have had similar feelings but I don't think its as easy as saying JM's signings have been crap. Bouhlarouz lost a lot of confidence after being skinned endlessly by Ronaldinho in the Nou Camp, but in the Villa game he looked very good and seemed to be enjoying himself prior to the injury. Similarly Sheva has shown he knows how to say the right things and we should stick with him for at least another season - I'm convinced once he adapts he will be a real force within the side. We can't keep applying knee jerk reactions to poor form and thats what we've been doing. Kezman is a case in point - he deserved at least one more season as reward for his obvious desire to do well. SWP is a poor buy and that seems obvious (your example about the gulf last night in cost was a good example) but compare this duff purchase to other top coaches record, Wenger with Jeffers and Reyes, Benitez with Kronkamp and Crouch and Fergie with Jemba-Jemba, Massimo Taibi etc. SWP is a blip and a stain on JM's record but no worse than any others, and JM is young and will, like many of us , be prone to lapses in judgement.

I was critical of Mikel last night and during the season but he's young and inexperienced, as is Kalou and given time they will develop. After all, Ranieri bought Joe Cole but patently didn't fancy him and did NOTHING to develop him, instead preferring to humiliate him by bringing on an unfit Veron against Monaco when what we needed was greedy hunger and desire. JM was the man to improve him, and he has done the same with Terry and Lampard, bridge looks every bit the better player as well. Ballack has been a passenger thus far, but you can't deny he is a proven quality player and maybe , just maybe he'll be about to prove us wrong. :Look at Drogba (A Mourinho buy) - for 2 seasons parts of SB have pilloried him, the very same people who now chant his name. Sometimes it just takes time to adapt, gain confidence and then show your worth. Ashley Cole, another JM buy has been bloody good all season and shows real commitment and desire. Ferreira and Carvalho were also JM buys and they both look good (Paolo looks better each game so maybe his dip was a confidence thing as well). Whilst Ranieri bought some good players he had his share of duffers as well, so take off the Ranieri tinted glasses and remember such luminaries as Jokanovic!

I think Jm has bought well for the most part but like most Chelsea fans I am impatient and have an unfair level of expectation these days. I think we will improve but it may just be too late. One things for sure, performances of the calibre we displayed against Wigan, reading, Fulham, Villa and Wycombe will be exploited by Man Utd, Arsena and Liverpool. We play the Scousers in 9 days and thats a short lead time for improving to the point where we can get a point least of all a win at Anfield.

Some thoughts :

SWP is a lightweight, and there is rarely any end product from him. We've spent enough time finding out that he's not up to it. He should only play again if there are no other alternatives. (ie. I'm not sure I cn take much more of him).

Geremi is very limited. Doesn't go past many people, crosses rarely create any danger. I think opposition managers have twigged this and are happy to allow him space as nothing will come from it. Paulo is much better going forward than Geremi; more likely to go past people and a better crosser of the ball. They are both a bit flawed defensively at FB, but I think Paulo's positioning is a bit better. Once Paulo is no longer need at CB, I'd pick him over Geremi every time.

Difficult to know about JOM (or is it MJO ?). I first saw him in some African Nations Cup extended highlights, and he looked terrific. Premiership is completely different to his previous experience and at the moment he gets brought often for 20 minutes and asked to perform different roles. Also he's supposed to be a midfield 'General', and its not easy for him to be that, particularly if Frank and/or MB are on the pitch.

I think at lot of our current problems (at least going forward) stem from Frank. If he's not scoring, his reputation way exceeds his contribution, which too often consists of trying to set himself up for (mostly off-target) shots. We need more ways of scoring goals in open play other than Frank's bombs and deflections and the wonderful DD. At times when we should be building pressure on the opposition by having good spells of posession (and thus taking the pressure off our defence and also building confidence), Frank plays thoughtless passes to give the ball straight back. This is not helped either by Maka's dip in form.

When will it all end ? Hopefully if can get JT, Cech, Robben and/or Joe Cole back, it will be seen as a temporary blip, but the truth be told, we've not often played really well in the last 12 months other than in short spells in games. And as JM says we are still in with a chance in every competition. Doesn't say a lot for the rest, does it.

I think jose should leave the club now..being a Big Jose fan,I think he has to taken too much from people from past 2 years..Everyone talks about money spent by chelsea and nothing about him..And now,even chelsea board seems to be having a difference..So it would be better for him to leave to some of the big clubs in Italy/Spain..Bearing in mind that success always followed jose,he shouldnt think much about leaving chelsea...And lets see where chelsea goes after he leaves..lampard has commented earlier that chelsea will go lightyears behind if jose leaves the club...But lets see what will happen...Atleast jose doesnt have too hear and read rubbish stuff day in and day out for being a Great Manager..

Crisis . . my foot. We are well on our way to win everything.

What people dont understand is we might lose some battles, but we will win the war.

LINK

Alrite Peeps, just wondered if anyone else is feeling increasingly frustrated and worried JM might leave us?? I mean after the Wigan match all is not brewing well at the bring with JM saying "im not important" and "noone can leave even its a player i think should go" because of the board?? I mean im not one to believe papers but his attitude right now isnt great, it seems as if hes had enough and im not just saying that. ive felt like this since we started to go downhill. I think our team wouldnt be as good if JM left but what if hes had enough?

I mean people are saying Peter Kenyon and Frank ARSEn have alot more power and backing from RA, but i cant understand why,

To me Jose would have never have brought shevchenko and thats whats costing us right now. 30 Million?! think of who we could have, a nice quick forward with a finish to pay of DD like - Bent, Defoe, Villa, Torres, Ibrohimavic, adriano, all would have cost less than sheva. RA wanted sheva and m gut feeling says RA is telling Jose play him, when hes not up to scratch.

Any thoughts on this ?????

Yes..Richard..You are right..Jose was never a great admirer of sheva..I think he was in because of RA...And PK and FA are thinking in thier own ways...Business Mind...But Jose is thinking only about club and supporters...I strongly believe that he should leave when he doesnt have enough room to work...He should look for other countries and lets see what PK and FA does for us in coming years...

Yes Richard, I'm feeling a little worried Jose might be leaving. But only because I'm letting the media circus penetrate my normally dismissive attitude towards it. And because sometimes the media gets it's way, creating self-fulfilling prophecies. Which could only happen if Jose takes them seriously too. Also, if reliable and influential journalists with an honest approach (and no inbuilt anti-Chelsea bias) are talking about sources inside the club propagating against our manager - see article: LINK - then that adds to it. But, then again I look at a piece of press reporting like this from the Mirror after the Fulham game: "Mourinho's lack of a rightback has been apparent all season, with... Boulahrouz, understood to have been furious when told he was being left out of the 16 for the game with Reading." When Boulahrouz was actually suspended, so factually could not under any circumstances be furious at being left out. And I realise I probably should not listen to any of it.

Don't stress guys.........I believe that Jose will leave on his terms and as a winner.......He is a very proud man and I believe he will see it as unfinished business at Chelsea until he wins the Champions League.

Having said that, we will need to play considerably better than we are , if we are to win the Champions League.......but things change very quickly....only 2 months ago we were taking 4 pionts off Barca and looking the real deal in Europe.

Still a very long way to go, and unless Roman sacks Jose, he will not walk out on 5 million pounds a year wages!

I'm not worried! The anti-Chelsea press is just trying to undermine Chelsea particularly when we are not winning. (But who have the divine right to win very football match?)

JM will onll comtemplate to leave if chelsea wins the CL. he his a proud man and an achiever and will never leave as a coward because his team is under-performing. its unfortunate now that we have let the press get to us. this has been perpetrated over the last 2 year, no one cowed in.

it will be important to see the team perform without Ballack in our midfield and i can assure you of us scoring more goals. the role he his suppose to play is quite important in the diamond formation a lack lustre player is big disadvantage. you need someone who can charge, cover spaces and supply the passes.

i still believe sheva will still come good but he needs the wings play rather than the diamond to perform.

though low moments, and what the team needs is confidence. Essien, cole and Drogba have sustained their energy. the return of cech and terry will ensure total return of confidence.

Great line in the Times article that dannybrod linked to:
"Bambi in a blue shirt would not get a sympathetic "aah" these days."

Let's just suck it up, get our heads down and get on with it, whatever happens!

Fear the worst V wigan. Heskey will terrorize our ragdoll CBs fereira and Hilarious. PREMIERSHIP looks beyond grasp now. Reds playing miles better + Larsson = more goals. Wigan wont be easy, Scouserland is never fun - Points to be dropped before players return. Lay off Shev please. Drogba had two unimpressive years -now he's a hero. Dig into the German bag of balls with pitchforks, cos he's been EFFin SCHAISTA! JM's fault for thinnin squad. .S.W.P is suffering cos he neva hit ground running. If he was at Arsenal now he'd be a superstar, unda JM who has improved on an individual? Joe Cole? He wasn't englands hope for nuffin. Maybe he just grew up a bit, (footballers do actually mature without self professing portugese geniuses like JM - unda other top coaches we may have seen an even better Cole.) . Terry? Improved cos he works bloody hard in training AND looks extra good cos of top players around him, cech, macman, gallas. Was improving unda Ranieri. Lamps? He's improved cos jm made him main man. So he scores more now, but is one dimensiomal. Unda JM's 'Transition Football' philosophy lamps is key cos he can ping some decent long passes. But that's all he does now. Used to see him (b4 jm came) do nifty little dinked passes, swerving outside boot, chipped passes with all sorts of spin, clever one-touch through passes... Now he plays it simple, Goes for predictable one-twos or hits long balls in gen direction of isolated forwards. DROGBA? Reaping the benifits, as heimself admits, of finally havin anuva strika on the pitch n not just wingers 40 yards away. Now he's freedom and confidence and fan-backing, all cos jm finally decided to use 2 .PROPER strikas (ALAS at expense of 2 wingers. When 2 strikas with 2 wingas becms part of jm's main system, chelseas goals will fly in lefruytncenta.