OT: Chelsea fires Manager
Those that follow Premier League Football know that no manager is safe, particularly at top teams. Chelsea took silliness that to new heights today, firing Manager Carlo Ancellotti in the hallway after today's game at Everton. This after a second place finish in the league this year, and after having won the double for the first time in club history LAST YEAR. There is no sport's owners more about what have you done for me lately than that league.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/22/chelsea-sack-carlo-ancel…
Anyway, I know there is a majority of mgobloggers who don't like to see soccer news, but there are many that do, so here you are.
I believe that my avatar obligates me to say "bwhahaha."
Unless of course Gera's red costs Fulham their Fair Play Europa League spot. In which case I'll just be another fan whose club disappointed them on the last day of the season.
And as long as we are talking about the EPL, pity Blackpool got sent down today. They were fun.
They were fun to watch, played with a lot of passion. Sucks they were just a couple of decent players away from being middle of the pack. Now they will dissolve as a team and may never see the EPL again.
and to be honest, i "love" chelsea because of this ... even when i am pissed about our lackluster play, chelsea reminds me how lucky we are to have sir alex running our team and not some crazy russian oil barron, i really believe Ancellotti was gone after we destroryed them in the CL even if we hadnt shat on them again to take the EPL. Regardless, to me, Chelsea will always be the team that air mails a PK to give us a crown.
"our lackluster play"
"how lucky we are"
"we destroyed them"
'even if we hadn't shat on them"
"air mails a PK to give us a crown"
seriously. Quit conflating "we" with "they." The only sense you are a part of Manchester United is to the extent you give your time and money to the Glazer family. Don't be confused for a minute - Man U couldn't care less who you are, so long as you pony up your money.
welcome to the reality of sports fandom in 2011.
I am very aware that Man U has no clue who I am however it is just how I talk about sports ... I believe the fan is an important part of the whole industry and hence in a very roundabout way a part of the team ... I understand there are millions of them but if we (the fans) didnt exist, pro sports wouldnt be possibly (in sert wnba joke here) ... I really see no problem identifying with your favorite teams as many on this board do with Michigan sports
I won't give you a hard time about the we/they stuff, because everyone does it.
I do, however, find it remarkable that 99% of "huge fans" of European soccer just happen to support the richest, most successful clubs. How come there are no "huge fans" here of Bolton Wanderers?
I think a lot of it comes down to exposure. It seemed like for the longest time the only games you could watch (until Fox Soccer Channel became more prominent) were in the Champions League. So your choices from the Premier League were basically ManU, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal +/- a random team here and there or the other big clubs from Spain, Italy, etc.
I believe the sacking of Ray Wilkins had a lot to do with the decline in this team also. They were playing so well before this happened. It also seems like Carlo could not motivate this team as they played half without passion it seemed. Example yesterdays game vs Everton. Your not suppose to lose a game when the other team is a man down. And to hold Drogba out of any game is stupid. He is a playmaker and should be on the field. I know Torres had to play, but seems like there is no work ethic on the pitch with him. I know some players will leave but I hope DD is not one of them!
Your not suppose to lose a game when the other team is a man down.
Interesting. But the question remains, is all his base are belong to Chelsea?
I just started following the EPL this year. I became a close follower/supporter of Chelsea. I don't know enough about the game in general or managing styles to really opine upon his firing. But I will give it anyway. I think if Drogba didn't get malaria in the middle of the season, Chelsea would have been in much better shape. Tough to blame that on the manager.
There is an mgoblog equivalent here: http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/. They gave reasons for the firing that boil down to a couple points that he has harped on all year: 1) Lack of playing some of the youth on the squad (see Daniel Sturridge or Josh Mceachran); 2) Ancellotti wasn't technically superior -- he had some questionable formations in big games (the Liverpool match at Stamford bridge, e.g.) and he never really figured out how to use Torres.
ND fan here. Long time reader of this site but this is my first post.
I am a huge EPL fan, more specifically Liverpool. I have followed the team since the late '90s and I watch a ton of EPL games as well as some Spanish and Italian league games. I love soccer.
Ehatch:
I hear what you say about Drogba but in reality even after he was fit again Carlos was selecting Torres. I love Torres but I think his signing ruined Chelsea's season. Drogba and Anelka play well together, adding Torres to the mix was unneeded in my opinion. thedeezy couldn't be more correct - total Abramovich signing. Torres will score goals for them in the future but i think this was their last year to get a title for some time.
If I was Drogba I would be totally pissed and feel disrespected at having to come on at 70 mins for Torres in the latter part of the season. Im sure him and Anelka will be gone.
Touching on the points that you posted - Agree on Mceachran on the lack of playing time he got. Loaning Sturridge was the correct move, he wasn't going to force Anekla or Drogba out of the squad so loaning him out to gain top flight experience was the correct move. It wouldn't surprise me to see Anelka and Drogba gone this summer to make room for Sturridge although they may hold on to Drogba for the last year of his contract.
When it comes to Torres, with the players they had and the introduction of him was never going to work under Carlo's formation. Torres was a long term buy but was never going to fit that system. That was an Abromivich signing clearly. I think Carlo is fine tacticlly with the diamond midfield but the deterioration in Lampard and Essien's game killed them.