Maurizio Sarri - Chelsea coach

[Rish Sawhney]

Makes perfect sense to me. It actually explains a lot about the differences between the leagues. And this is what should be cited every time people compare different leagues. - what the focus is on in training. I reckon this is a big reason why the English league is considered the best in the world but sometimes gets found out in Europe where the intensity just isn't the same, but the tactics matter a lot.

I thought the same during the PSG game. It just felt pedestrian. Maybe this is what english teams should be capitalizing on instead of trying to out tactic teams in Europe.

 

[predator]

First and foremost I've always strongly disliked Chelsea (to put it mildly) but I like Sarri and I genuinely felt sorry for him regarding Kepagate.

My opinion on his style of football and whether he will ultimately be a success in English football? - I doubt it. He won't be given the time he thinks is needed to fully implement his style effectively. The English media, as they usually are with tactically astute europeans, will hound him out (special mention to Pep who stuck by his guns and is laughing at the British press now).

Having said that, another side of me is sceptical of Sarri. He's no doubt quite a tactician but I've seen nothing (albeit from my limited knowledge of his days at Napoli) which suggests he is a great man manager - which I think is the most valuable trait in management.

 

[Dancfc]

The difference is Liverpool already had a well functioning front 3 and Coutinho's contract still had 4 years to run.

Chelsea look genuinely dull when Hazard doesn't play well and he will only have a year left on his contract in the summer. If he goes, that team will need investment way beyond any money they receive for him.

Actually we produced arguably our best football without Hazard this season away to Burnley and in the first half against Arsenal. We tend to rely on him a bit more when he does play because his presence seems to give the others an excuse to pass the responsibility over but when he doesn't play Willian and Pedro seem to take responsibility a lot more.

Please don't mistake this into me saying we will we better of without him, we obviously won't be, but we don't struggle without him near as badly as people like to think.

 

[Lj82]

Actually we produced arguably our best football without Hazard this season away to Burnley and in the first half against Arsenal. We tend to rely on him a bit more when he does play because his presence seems to give the others an excuse to pass the responsibility over but when he doesn't play Willian and Pedro seem to take responsibility a lot more.

Please don't mistake this into me saying we will we better of without him, we obviously won't be, but we don't struggle without him near as badly as people like to think.

The key is who you replace him with.
It may not be simply replacing him with another world class player, but changing the whole style of play and bringing in players who suit that style. It's experienced similar changes when we sold Ruud. We changed our style and no longer rely on a fox in the hole striker and moved to a more fluid style which benefited Ronaldo and Rooney.

 

[Dancfc]

The key is who you replace him with.
It may not be simply replacing him with another world class player, but changing the whole style of play and bringing in players who suit that style. It's experienced similar changes when we sold Ruud. We changed our style and no longer rely on a fox in the hole striker and moved to a more fluid style which benefited Ronaldo and Rooney.

That's a very good point, if we keep Sarri and replace Hazard with an Insigne or a player with similar characteristics and quality to Mane (Pepe maybe) dare i say we may actually be better as a unit. We do in many ways see more signs of Sarriball with Pedro and Willian on the wings due to their pressing but they don't have the quality to fill the Hazard void over the course of a season.

The key will be his replacement as you said, replacing Courtois and Costa has yielded one success and one failure, i have a feeling had we not got the transfer ban we may have initially shown a leap of faith to CHO and if it backfired or he refused to resign we would have then gone all out, but the ban probably makes it too big a gamble.

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

If he survives until the summer he needs (and i suspect will) be backed massively

 

[adexkola]

First and foremost I've always strongly disliked Chelsea (to put it mildly) but I like Sarri and I genuinely felt sorry for him regarding Kepagate.

My opinion on his style of football and whether he will ultimately be a success in English football? - I doubt it. He won't be given the time he thinks is needed to fully implement his style effectively. The English media, as they usually are with tactically astute europeans, will hound him out (special mention to Pep who stuck by his guns and is laughing at the British press now).

Having said that, another side of me is sceptical of Sarri. He's no doubt quite a tactician but I've seen nothing (albeit from my limited knowledge of his days at Napoli) which suggests he is a great man manager - which I think is the most valuable trait in management.

Something I will always laugh at as well.

 

[haram]

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The disrespect he gets is stupid.

 

[Kapardin]

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The disrespect he gets is stupid.

Lucky as feck more like. Thanks to ourselves and Arsenal slipping up. If we had only managed to win 2 of our games and draw one in our horror run, that would have been enough, which shows how bad he was.

 

[haram]

Lucky as feck more like. Thanks to ourselves and Arsenal slipping up. If we had only managed to win 2 of our games and draw one in our horror run, that would have been enough, which shows how bad he was.

Reaching two finals in your first season is not luck.

 

[BrianMcClair'sBarnet]

Getting the LVG treatment.

 

[Offside]

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The disrespect he gets is stupid.

People give it this but they’ve played rubbish a lot this season. We’ve done it ourselves - clung on to where we’ve finished or what crap cups we’ve won in the past but at the end of the day they were miles off the league and pretty poor all the time.

 

[Kapardin]

Reaching two finals in your first season is not luck.

LvG won a cup too. His league form has been atrocious. Nobody said he was a completely useless manager, but he didn't really do a good job this season considering other factors like boring style, square pegs in round holes and as usual relying on Hazard too much.

 

[haram]

People give it this but they’ve played rubbish a lot this season. We’ve done it ourselves - clung on to where we’ve finished or what crap cups we’ve won in the past but at the end of the day they were miles off the league and pretty poor all the time.

I've seen this type of thinking before...

 

[haram]

LvG won a cup too. His league form has been atrocious. Nobody said he was a completely useless manager, but he didn't really do a good job this season considering other factors like boring style, square pegs in round holes and as usual relying on Hazard too much.

It's his first season. What square pegs in round holes? They rely on Hazard because the team is not that good in general.

 

[Hoof the ball]

It's his first season. What square pegs in round holes? They rely on Hazard because the team is not that good in general.

Exactly. An ideological system isn't plug and play. For that reason a ideological manager cannot be judged on his first season absent of significant recruitment to supplement his desired system and approach.

We all saw how his Napoli played; how they were the closest team to even touch Juve in Serie A with a fraction of the budget; how they played the most enviable football in Europe and most of the Caf waxed absolute lyrical about it.

 

[duffer]

6/10 or 7/10 (depending on whether or not we win the Europa.

I'm glad we didn't sack him.

 

[haram]

Exactly. An ideological system isn't plug and play. For that reason a ideological manager cannot be judged on his first season absent of significant recruitment to supplement his desired system and approach.

We all saw how his Napoli played; how they were the closest team to even touch Juve in Serie A with a fraction of the budget; how they played the most enviable football in Europe and most of the Caf waxed absolute lyrical about it.

They will run in here and say he signed Jorginho and an over the hill Higuain though...

 

[Acole9]

I think they'll win the Europa League. That'll secure his job for next season along with finishing in the top four, it would be a disgrace to sack him.

 

[Orc]

6/10 or 7/10 (depending on whether or not we win the Europa.

I'm glad we didn't sack him.

What worries me is that he's come out already in recent weeks and said he wants to keep both Higuain and Kovacic. Both have been very mediocre. He also said we only need "one or two" players if we are able to make signings which would be suicidal with Hazard going.

 

[crossy1686]

6/10 or 7/10 (depending on whether or not we win the Europa.

I'm glad we didn't sack him.

Still might yet. Didn't keep Benitez in a job...

 

[RooneyLegend]

It's his first season. What square pegs in round holes? They rely on Hazard because the team is not that good in general.

Hazard at false 9 IMO has been his worst decision throughout the season. The fact is he doesn't have all the materials he needs to make this work. We all saw when they played City in the CL that small chinks can derail his team.

Exactly. An ideological system isn't plug and play. For that reason a ideological manager cannot be judged on his first season absent of significant recruitment to supplement his desired system and approach.

We all saw how his Napoli played; how they were the closest team to even touch Juve in Serie A with a fraction of the budget; how they played the most enviable football in Europe and most of the Caf waxed absolute lyrical about it.

This. If he gets what he needs they'll be a great side. Sadly for them the transfer ban has them in a spot of bother.

 

[haram]

Hazard at false 9 IMO has been his worst decision throughout the season. The fact is he doesn't have all the materials he needs to make this work. We all saw when they played City in the CL that small chinks can derail his team.

This. If he gets what he needs they'll be a great side. Sadly for them the transfer ban has them in a spot of bother.

Yeah he has made some mistakes, but every manager does.

 

[Irwin99]

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The disrespect he gets is stupid.

It's astonishing that you have those scenes in the league cup final, Chelsea fans singing f*** Sarri ball, fans booing their players at half time in their penultimate game of the season against Watford...and in all that discontent they finish third and they are in a cup final

 

[duffer]

Still might yet. Didn't keep Benitez in a job...

Benitez was not sacked, he was a caretaker.

There's no chance Sarri gets sacked now, especially with a transfer ban.

 

[charlenefan]

Reaching two finals in your first season is not luck.

It's not luck no but nor should it be used to ignore the glaringly obvious either. Chelsea's league form has been horrendous and the only thing that's got them a 3rd place finish is that it's been slightly less horrendous than that of Spurs, Arsenal and United's

Other than the top 2 neither Chelsea nor Spurs should view their top 4 finish as an achievement tbh

 

[FootballHQ]

Chelsea sack managers when they win trophies so think he needs to win europa to be totally certain of continuing although transfer ban upheld would impact on them being attractive for elite manager.

Their away form has been abysmal since xmas aswell so that fully deserves criticism, think Chelsea have only scored about 5 goals on the road in last 9-10 games.

 

[duffer]

Their away form has been abysmal since xmas aswell so that fully deserves criticism, think Chelsea have only scored about 5 goals on the road in last 9-10 games.

12 goals in our last 9 away games.

 

[charlenefan]

Chelsea sack managers when they win trophies so think he needs to win europa to be totally certain of continuing although transfer ban upheld would impact on them being attractive for elite manager.

Their away form has been abysmal since xmas aswell so that fully deserves criticism, think Chelsea have only scored about 5 goals on the road in last 9-10 games.

If Chelsea want him to stay on it'll be because of the top 4 finish, I can't see a EL win changing anything tbh

 

[Spiersey]

Season has went as expected. It’s been similar to Pep’s first season at City to an extent. The change in style is pretty drastic from all of our previous managers and there has been signs of it working but it’s been inconsistent. We’ve also had a couple of heavy defeats (the 6-0 against city was pretty unfortunate though, the first 4 goals were 3 big errors and a random screamer). Obviously I’m not expecting us to turn into city next season as their squad had much better players but I’m confident we will improve even if Hazard leaves.

 

[duffer]

If Chelsea want him to stay on it'll be because of the top 4 finish, I can't see a EL win changing anything tbh

Indeed.

Sarri also won't kick up a stink about not being able to sign anyone.

 

[P-Ro]

• 0 - 6 vs Manchester City
  
• 0 - 4 vs BOURNEMOUTH
  
• The most sterile football I have seen from Chelsea in my lifetime. In over 2/3 of our games I've got my face grasping my hands in utter bewilderment.
  
• Awful like-for-like substitutions; Barkley for Kovacic (what the HELL does he even do), Pedro for Willian, Girroud for Higuain.
  
• Inability to move away from his formation and his style. We are the easiest team in the league to prepare for.
  
• He's got very skinny arms for a man his size. The hell is up with that? lol
  
• We always concede shitty goals straight after his half time team talk, presumably given whilst guzzling a 20 pack of Camels.
  
• "We must improve the defensive phase". Yes mate, that would be a start.
  
• We got to the Europa League final because most of the teams in the competition are just pretty poor.
  
• We are third because of Hazard (who won't be there to bail him out next year) and the other teams around us have fecked up.

Obviously I want him out. Would United take Sarri over Ole?

 

[Casanova85]

After all the ridicule, he has ended up as the third best PL manager this 18-19.

 

[Mb194dc]

Done well to finish third, very strange season. If he wins Europa I don't realistically think he could have been expected to do more.

Still think he could be sacked in the summer though.

 

[charlenefan]

• 0 - 6 vs Manchester City
  
• 0 - 4 vs BOURNEMOUTH
  
• The most sterile football I have seen from Chelsea in my lifetime. In over 2/3 of our games I've got my face grasping my hands in utter bewilderment.
  
• Awful like-for-like substitutions; Barkley for Kovacic (what the HELL does he even do), Pedro for Willian, Girroud for Higuain.
  
• Inability to move away from his formation and his style. We are the easiest team in the league to prepare for.
  
• He's got very skinny arms for a man his size. The hell is up with that? lol
  
• We always concede shitty goals straight after his half time team talk, presumably given whilst guzzling a 20 pack of Camels.
  
• "We must improve the defensive phase". Yes mate, that would be a start.
  
• We got to the Europa League final because most of the teams in the competition are just pretty poor.
  
• We are third because of Hazard (who won't be there to bail him out) and the other teams around us have fecked up.

Obviously I want him out. Would United take Sarri over Ole?

No, we had enough of Sarriball with LVG

 

[TheThingThatShouldNotBe]

There has been zero improvement in our football since he took over. None.

I can honestly say I’ve not enjoyed a season less than this one, dire football played by zombie players. Our record against the top six tells the story:

City (H) 2-0 Decent performance.
City (A) 0-6 Worst defeat in years.
Liverpool (H) 1-1 Even game, slightly unlucky.
Liverpool (A) 0-2 Lost with a whimper.
Spurs (H) 2-0 Played okay, Spurs made errors.
Spurs (A) 1-3 Soundly beaten.
Arsenal (H) 3-2 Extremely fortunate win, Arsenal missed countless chances first half.
Arsenal (A) 0-2 Easily beaten.
United (H) 2-2 Outplayed and scored last minute equaliser.
United (A) 1-1 Huge De Gea error when losing against the worst United team in my lifetime.

Two good performances in ten.

If we had shown some bright periods of play, some improvement anywhere, then I’d back him staying. As it is I want him gone straight after the European B final.

 

[FootballHQ]

12 goals in our last 9 away games.

In league it's 5 goals since January as I suspected.

Arsenal- 0
Bournemouth- 0
Man. City- 0
Fulham- 2
Everton- 0
Cardiff- 2 (VAR would chalk it down to 1)
Liverpool- 0
Man. United- 1
Leicester- 0

 

[Skills]

After all the ridicule, he has ended up as the third best PL manager this 18-19.

Still more likely to get sacked than the Manchester United man. Christ we're a joke

 

[Casanova85]

Still more likely to get sacked than the Manchester United man. Christ we're a joke

Why the feck would they sack Sarri with a EL final (title?), 3rd spot and the transfer ban. Give him at least 19-20, ffs.

 

[duffer]

In league it's 5 goals since January as I suspected.

Arsenal- 0
Bournemouth- 0
Man. City- 0
Fulham- 2
Everton- 0
Cardiff- 2 (VAR would chalk it down to 1)
Liverpool- 0
Man. United- 1
Leicester- 0

In the league? You've moved the goalposts there my man!

Away form is shit, no doubt.