If any betting company had a list of managerial candidates for the drop at the beginning of the season, none would be stupid enough to include Jose Mourinho
With recent events on and off the pitch at the Bridge however, you’ll be daft not to place a bet on Mourinho’s odds now.
Chelsea laboured with heavy legs against Southampton at the Bridge on Saturday; there were silly mistakes from everywhere on the pitch, from simple passes to ball control, to ball watching and players absent without leave from their positions, it was painful to behold from the stands.
This was a team that electrified the Premiership up until four months ago, waltzing to a deserved Premier League and League Cup double. Or was it?
Hazard seemed like he didn’t even know what he was doing on the pitch, talk less of having a clue what to do.
The forwards were static, movement was lacking, full backs provided little, midfield had nobody running in from deep, and once the team got the ball, the opponents just knew where to stand in front of them
Jose’s bench also looked demoralised and the icing on the cake was poor Matic, being brought on and taken off after 25 minutes!
He was poor, he lacked confidence, he left his post (in front of the defence) for the third goal, but to be laid on the altar in front of millions of viewers, unless it’s tactical, I think that just puts another sword into the heart of the dressing room.
Another sword? Yes, first it was Terry taken off at half time, then Hazard was benched, then Oscar and Falcao were left behind for Porto game, and now Matic.
Yes it was all to get reactions from the players but I think these players now need a warm hand around their necks and a soft tongue to speak to them….
Can someone mediate in the crisis at the bridge? Perhaps there are divided opinions in the dressing room? ; why is Matic being made a scapegoat when he is working for Fabregas? Do some Players feel they are just being singled out unnecessarily when the entire team or particularly some individuals are bad?
Fabregas has conceded the most cardinal sins in the middle of the park yet he continues to play (Newcastle equaliser, Southampton equaliser, Man City game)
I have been here before in my football career; when cajoling, manipulation, coercion, romance, pressure and everything fails.
This is when the President has to step in and mend the broken fences.
Roman Abramovich needs to have a meeting with Jose and his staff first and then another meeting with the players (clear the air talks)
otherwise this may be the beginning of the end of another Mourinho era.
BRENDAN AND ADVOCAAT GET THE MANAGERIAL ROULETTE GOING
It has finally begun! The English Roulette has started with Brendan Rogers and Dick Advocaat taking the first bullets on an exciting weekend.
I have constantly repeated that BR needed time out from his job. When he took over at Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish had won one League cup and played in two cup finals.
BR’s job was to get Liverpool back to the glory days of the 80’s.
BR lost his job because of his philosophy.
What if he played a tactical game against Chelsea two seasons ago when he needed a draw to close in on the title?
What if he did not go all out gong-ho style as he did against Crystal Palace two seasons ago?
I believe those two games cost BR his job: those games signalled the end of Luis Suarez as they finished again with no title.
Those games set the precedence for the transfer market for the following season ; when they made terrible mistakes in the transfer market, when Sterling realised this ship was going nowhere, and when most great players from outside must have thought they weren’t coming to Merseyside.
Aggar, Gerrard, Suarez, Johnson, Sterling…
If BR was not in charge of transfers, why would you stay at such a demanding club?
He had 3 years to sort it out, so if he stayed, it would be because he was happy with the transfer policy at the club.
If he stayed after the club sacked his two assistant coaches at the beginning of the season, it must have been because he was happy with the direction the club was going.
One thing I do wish him is the best of luck in the future, and another thing I wish is that he has learnt valuable lessons from his time at Anfield. Good luck BR.
As for Dick Advocaat, he came in to just steer the ship away from the deep waters and that he did at the end of last season
I think he didn’t need to stay beyond last season but at least he had a go.
My only worry for Sunderland is that a new manager could have come in at the beginning of the season to buy the players he wants and take the club to the next level (away from relegation)
As it is now, a new manager would have to work with whatever is there at the moment and in December, buy new players and make some redundant.
Well, the managerial roulette has started.