async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8">>Absolutely terrible from Chelsea no desire to go and win the ball, no pressing, nothing. pic.twitter.com/TkOvcVFKAr
— ً (@Virgiloholic) March 4, 2018
They drew at home to Barca, they dropped points at Old Trafford, and they lost to the best team in the PL by a country mile.
They also didn't have Kante for the Man City match, so the one guy who can help control the midfield (if you can even do that against City) was gone, so he played way back and that was that.
I do agree that part of the problem is the tumult from the quick trigger on managers, it's created a situation where any downturn and you start talking about firing the coach. It happened the first week this season, after running away with the PL last year. It's kind of ridiculous, but it is what it is. Any Chelsea fan who looked at the last 3 fixtures and thought Chelsea would look dominant, was kidding themselves. That's probably the toughest 3 game stretch anyone has had in the PL all year.
That said, they actually played very well against Barca, decent half against Man U, and held on for dear life against City. It hasn't been as god awful of a stretch, the GD for those 3 matches was -2.
And yes, they dropped points against some terrible sides, earlier in January, but are past that now. Most people expect we'll start piling up points in the next few matches as the schedule gets much easier and the key matches are at home.
I'd put my confidence level at 95% of qualifying for the CL next year. We're done with Man U and City. There are other teams in front of us who have yet to lose the next match to City, so we'll pick points back up then.
But the quick trigger has turned any difficult stretch into a full blown crisis, which is absurd, but the reality of being a Chelsea supporter. You take the good with the bad.
Conte hates it there and is waiting to be fired so he can start coaching Italy.
95% is pretty confident.
Conte bitches about upper management and boards wherever he goes.
Eden Hazard isn't happy.
The only question becomes what to do with the war chest from Madrid for both he and Courtois this summer, because they ain't going to come cheap.
Yes, Hazard and Zidane have a good relationship and Hazard has said he would like to play for him but I do not see Real paying $200 euro plus for him when they have Isco locked up until 2022 and also Marco Asensio who can play in that role.
If they are going to drop that amount of money I think they would try and pry Harry Kane away from the Spurs.
Then again, nothing surprises me anymore after last summer. Real Madrid has been very frugal in the last two windows but they are due to recklessly throw around insane piles of cash.
Who can afford his wages and the transfer fee is very small. If not Real, I know there has been talk of PSG, but I just don't see how they do it an keep kosher with FFP.
The price for anyone else in the PL (Man U or Man City would be so exorbitant, and even then, they probably wouldn't do it).
That leaves Barca and Bayern who could theoretically afford his wages, and his transfer fee
Because I cannot see Bayern entering the 200 euro crazy pool. They may have the materials to do it but they just don’t seem to be the type of club who wants to enter the fray of that insanity,
Word out of Spain is that Barca is all in on Griezmann this summer which is perplexing given the insane amount they spent for Coutinho and Demebele. Would they also add Hazard? If so, they are also getting into FFP territory. It is crazy that Griezmann is a bargain at $100M.
I fully expect Real to flash the bling this summer. If they sell Bale to Man U my belief is they will tell Tottenham to name their price on Harry Kane. The thing is though they have to address the defense as Ramos will be 32 at the start of next season, They have also expressed interest in Griezmann. Throw in the World Cup and you have a great summer season ahead.
KHR and Uli have discussed how they may have to start paying higher transfer fees as they recognize the inflation, but I don't see them going well over 100M to sign an established world class player.
They may be most efficient club in Europe when it comes to transfers, so even if they start paying more they will continue to be smart about it. I'd love for them to steal Sane away from City to replace Franck on the left (giving them multiple Robbery replacement options) but Citeh will ask for a fortune and that won't happen.
to get in the highest level of spending but their common sense and frugality always win out which, to be honest, is a more sustainable and better operating model than what the top of the EPL and La Liga do.
I love Real but I do not want to spend 200+ million Euro for Kane and I do not care if he is the best striker in Europe. I would rather spend in the low 100s (crazy) for someone like Icardi and then put some money into the defense.
I also wonder how Bayern and Real will settle on James. I am thrilled he has had a positive year for Bayern. He definitely deserved the chance and at $30M to own him outright he is an all out bargain in this market.
They own the right to buy him outright at the completion of the loan. Total cost is something like 45M. What a crazy bargain - in part, it was payback for selling Kroos at a low price. RM and Bayern have a great working relationship.
Despite what many people think, the Bayern board have great relationships across Europe (particularly with Juve and RM, and within the BL) and it helps get deals done.
And yeah, paying 200M for Kane is absolutely nuts. Nobody has any idea how he'd blend into La Liga.
if Chelsea is out of Champions with a 5th place finish and Barcelona on the horizon. Hazard may be gone anyway.
On a side note, I wonder if the constant manager tumult at Chelsea is starting to wear thin on the players. I think it is tough to make the argument given their results but it seems like every other year there is some type of controversy in the manager's seat. If I was a player I would tire of it.
they are 25 points down in the table.
This is and will be the worst second half of any PL season.
That's what separates the 4 teams fighting for the next three spots at the top.
It's also whay separates 10 teams in the relegation zone.
Also three players in it for golden boot/shoe.
Arsenal is interesting if you like train wrecks. And Conte and Mourinho are good for at least another sub plot each yet this year.
City are the champs. But there is still plenty to interest fans for the rest of the season.
That’s pretty crazy
and its been a papering over the cracks approach by the board, I don't get excited for the 2-4 seeds into CL.
The bottom table is good fun... it will be fantastic scenes if the Orcs of Stoke are relegated.
Much more fun will be the teams in the mix of championship playoff. I'm hoping for Villa or Fulham to make it up back up.
You don't get excited for the 2-4 seeds because you've never had to. But if Arsenal don't win Europa this year, I think you will have to re-calibrate expectations. It will be awfully difficult to recruit players and a manager without UCL.
Unless rules change, I'm not sure how clubs will be able to regularly compete with the money thrown around by the billionaires on their pet projects.
On the one hand it ruins the game. On the other hand, most good sports need villains.
like we have never been on the threshold of missing CL...
Arsenal fans don't know how close they are to becoming Liverpool of the last decade or so.
I can understand not being excited about this top four race that they've stumbled from. But they'd better be all in on Europa or top 4 is their new goal for quite a while.
its been my outlook for about six years.
If anything I was mocked for a case of rich spoils in calling for Wenger to move on and we were lucky to have his stability.
They have been papering over the cracks every transfer window, style of play change and scouting rebuilds after selling star players.
You really don't appreciate what Wenger has done over the years. The problem is much more Kroenke than anything.
If ownership isn't going to splash money like City, Chelsea or United, then you should really have appreciation for the 2-4 race and Wenger's consistency. Because that was the one thing that had the ability to lure big talent.
But Gooners have wanted him out for several years now. Combine his loss and Kroenke's reluctance to spend like the big three, Arsenal are in big trouble.