Scolari: Is A Rethink Overdue?
Scolari wasn’t a happy chap after our game against Fulham yesterday. In fact, he seems unhappier after every passing game lately, so what’s his take on it this time?
Well, having seen us concede not one, but two goals from set-pieces, the Chelsea boss says “we lost two points today. We made two mistakes with our marking and conceded two goals. I think they had one more chance – we had 10 chances and scored two goals. We have been very good with corner kicks and free-kicks this season but not today. Before the game every player knows who to mark. After the first goal we tried to make sure it didn’t happen again but we made another mistake.”
I don’t think there’s any doubt about it, we wouldn’t have seen that sort of defending for set-pieces in Mourinho’s era, so what’s going on? Well, for a start, as I pointed out in an earlier article the fact that Scolari doesn’t seem to believe in having a man on the post is something he needs to rethink if he doesn’t want mistakes repeated.
Whether or not he’ll consider his own tactics though is another matter because, in spite of yet another disappointing and costly result, Scolari suggests “the championship is not finished today. It will be finished in the last two or three games. It is normal in England. The Premier League is difficult.”
And he’s yet to find out that games like yesterday’s make it harder still.
Filed under: Rants
The defending errors are so basic that thy defy all reason. For the second one our best defender was on the pitch so it can only be inferred that the manager has changed the defensive system. It is time to change him before it is too late to rescue the season, one or two quirky results can be down to “that’s football” but not as many lapses as we have had this season. I keep on about it (and keep being shouted down) but the really disturbing aspect is the total lack of backbone, e.g. giving up when the Dippers scored. I have been a CFC supporter for 45 years and so am used to most thigs CFC but I cannot get my head round them not trying.
Ranners - I made exactly the same sort of comments on a forum recently. Not about Scolari because I think the plan is for him to stay til the summer, but about our backbone. We just dont seem to have the stomach for it this season. As for Scolari’s system, for me, a man on the post really is basic defending of set pieces. Posts might very well not score goals but Scolari seems to miss the point that they dont defend either.
These are really goals that are rarely seen during mourinho’s era. I wonder why no one will be at the post. This happens in local leagues not in the epl. And not with a team of chelsea’s status. Scolari better re-think and just make it fast cos liverpool are loosin us. Unless u want 2 be another runner up like Grant; the greatest runner up medal coach in the history of the game.
Look none of this is new - Deco has played like rubbish preety much since the second game against Wigan.
He doesn’t need a rest he needs to be got rid of. He never tackles back, he takes up lamps and ballack’s room, he gives the ball away, he lowers the team’s tempo and there’s nothing he can’t do Joe Cole can’t do better. IMHO Scolari’s perservering because he can’t ask Roman for more cash if his marquee signing is dropped.
The deeper problem is Scolari himself
-he’s out of touch with club management, training tactics etc.
- no plan B he keeps moaning about missing out on Robinho - why then did he sell Shawn W.P? maybe not be as good but runs at players
- he doesnt understand the english league and unlike Mourinho ( first game v Man U 1-0 win) he hasn’t bothered to learn.
-he has an overblown fascination for Brazilians - the team doesn’t need to be the passing kings of west london the team did well enough last year without it - Roman’s fantasy of flashy football is ruining the club and scolari’s the flag bearer for that.
-his substitutions are shit - how many times is Cole taken off and Deco still playing?
- tactics, he doesn’t seem to have any.
-alex and ivanovic seemed to not even played a practice match together prior to fulham why not? Mourinho trained all his centre halfs in various combos for just such circumstance.
- anelka or drogba? do me a favour!
The fact Scolari is struggling over this shows he doesn’t understand AT ALL what makes this team tick.
I mean one spoilt goalscore who is in form to be fair, but who only reluctantly tackles back, verses someone who brings everyone into play, scores great goals, defends like a trojan and gives the side belief and leadership? Big choice.
Most fans are realised this already and are resigned to missing out of silver ware this year. Trouble is you can’t replace Scolari now.
All the same if Chelsea finish higher than third i’ll eat my hat.
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