Not easy to assess if I am honest.
With a new manager and playing style I think I would have taken 40 points from 19 games at the start of the season, but I am conscious that the fixtures have favoured us with home ties agst United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton.
I am yet to be convinced by Sarriball, but the manager needs to be given two seasons and better players than he has now.
I like Sarri a lot. One of the most honest Chelsea managers in a press conference I can remember and he talks sense. Feel he should have played CHO and Ampadu a bit more in the EL and league Cup though.
I like Kovacic and it is good to see RLC starting to look the part. Striker situation is utterly depressing and is compounded by our lack of goal scoring midfielders.
We are probably going to finish 4th or 5th unless we suffer key injuries. Against my hopes, I doubt we will buy or rent a good striker in January.
In the summer the club has to look hard at Willian, Pedro and Alonso.
Most enjoyable games of the season for me have been our two matches against Liverpool.
I am giving Chelsea and Sarri a............ B grade.
How do you guys view our season so far?
Half Term Report - Chelsea
posted on 27/12/18
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 27/12/18
Realistically I'd give Sari a B+. After the utter boring and uninspiring shlt we had to watch last season with Conte with the same players, we've been given some very watchable football. At the same time we've done better than most any reasonable fan would expect from a manager changing our style of play so drastically within a very challenging and tight league.
I understand the want for better use of the youth but it's only been half a season. He's giving everyone (veterans) their fair shot. Starting this coming year I would think he has a better idea of who is ready and who isn't. And tbf whenever he has given Barkley, RLC, CHO, etc chances, they've all been inconsistent. He's doing right imo.
Willan and Alonso though....
A fair few times he has made adjustments at halftime that have inspired. It's been a while since we've had a manager that I can put hope in to turn around a dire situation. We've had some that had us look great from the start but not many who can spot problems and fix it at the half. Good start for me.
posted on 27/12/18
C
If we win Europa and a tin pot he'll get a B.
posted on 27/12/18
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
Realistically I'd give Sari a B+. After the utter boring and uninspiring shlt we had to watch last season with Conte with the same players, we've been given some very watchable football. At the same time we've done better than most any reasonable fan would expect from a manager changing our style of play so drastically within a very challenging and tight league.
I understand the want for better use of the youth but it's only been half a season. He's giving everyone (veterans) their fair shot. Starting this coming year I would think he has a better idea of who is ready and who isn't. And tbf whenever he has given Barkley, RLC, CHO, etc chances, they've all been inconsistent. He's doing right imo.
Willan and Alonso though....
A fair few times he has made adjustments at halftime that have inspired. It's been a while since we've had a manager that I can put hope in to turn around a dire situation. We've had some that had us look great from the start but not many who can spot problems and fix it at the half. Good start for me.
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$hit grades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3oMwDlDm98
posted on 27/12/18
comment by Kante's Dad-Heavy Jumbo (U20563)
posted 26 minutes ago
C
If we win Europa and a tin pot he'll get a B.
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Facksakes you are difficult to please
He does that he's an 'A' all day....get real
posted on 27/12/18
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 1 hour, 1 minute ago
comment by Kante's Dad-Heavy Jumbo (U20563)
posted 26 minutes ago
C
If we win Europa and a tin pot he'll get a B.
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Facksakes you are difficult to please
He does that he's an 'A' all day....get real
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this would get an 'A' nothing less.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBhwKj7DWag
Put Zola in charge.
posted on 28/12/18
Feel like we have regressed since first several matches of the season. Back to being slow and labored in the final third, even after playing it quickly from the back.
soccer?lol.
posted on 28/12/18
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 1 day, 7 hours ago
Considering how dire our strikers have been I think we've done quite well. I honestly can't imagine Pool or Spurs being as high up in the table as they are now if their strikers to pick from were Morata and Giroud.
Our lack of goalscoring midfielders is another issue that definitely needs addressing although we have the likes of Loftus-Cheek and Hudson-Odoi in the squad and they need to get played more. Especially Loftus-Cheek in the PL, his time has come. No doubt.
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Superb, like that comment hits the nail on the head
posted on 29/12/18
Sarri gets a Grade C thus far...
For unwillingness to use Europa group stage as a springboard to blood and develop the two (standout) generational talents properly, comes after acknowledging that it would be easier/quicker for youth to adapt to his methods yet still couldn't afford them (Ampadu & Hudson-Odoi) any worthwhile game-time (2 starts & 2 sub apps between them at the tail-end of dead-rubber group stage matches doesn't cut it) over the wrongly prioritised senior players that serve/have no stylistic or monetary purpose, showing utter contempt to youth. Waste.
From the moment they were promoted to first-team they should be on a level-playing field (based on meritocracy).
Integrating them in Europa from matchday 1 would have been the correct way building/leading them up to this point... Hudson-Odoi would have committed to long-term contract by now (banishing any Pulisic speculation), based on that trust of playing him in matches of importance and Ampadu's natural progression from playing in cup matches last season against PL & Championship in which rarely looked out of place (to the extent that he put some experienced senior players to shame).
The Pulisic speculation are as a result of Sarri not trusting Hudson-Odoi.
The speculation doesn't come into existence had Hudson-Odoi been playing and progressing on the pitch.
Also Pulisic is a player that will need time to develop (time which will be at the expense of developing Hudson-Odoi), not the finished article, waste of time at that rumoured price.
posted on 29/12/18
Sancho is where he is now because he's been allowed/trusted to make mistakes, grow and ultimately mature at senior level.
There's no doubt in my mind Hudson-Odoi can play at that Sancho level, given the chance.
Hudson-Odoi seeing his peers getting substantial minutes will exacerbate the situation (most of which he's better than).
Smith-Rowe another example getting important development minutes he's got under new manager Emery In Europa (against tougher opposition) would almost certainly had been enough for Hudson-Odoi to commit long-term.
That's a player Hudson-Odoi outshone at youth level.
The '00 generation are generally very good.
Develop them properly and will reap the rewards