Or perhaps they will reflect that they were totally correct in their forecasts which required the removal of the coach who was overseeing the nosedive towards relegation. They may even guess that the Pozzos were of similar mind which led to their excellent decision to get rid of the snake.
We did indeed. And a number of times before that. Which was really my point. But I think it's pretty clear already that Gracia is a rather different character compared to Silva.
we did, but silva seemed like an arrogant **** who was just using us as a stepping stone from the outset. Gracia doesnt give off those vibes at all.
Clearly not awake as read this and found myself wondering when we signed a player named Astute......... need to pay more attention to the puncuation that is clearly there!
Some of you did, not all of us - he got great results at the beginning but that terrible performance against City followed by that half time change at Swansea away (and subsequently almost losing as a result) had alarm bells ringing for me.
Gracia's imprint was on that performance. Yes Chelsea were not at the races but they were not there even in the minutes leading up to the sending off. There is a renewed work ethic, the formation suited the strengths of the side in that as anyone who had eyes to see (apparently that coaching messiah Silva could not see this) that Zeegelaar and Janmaat are not fullbacks and that the team worked as a unit in cohesion. The press was there , both wingers and wingbacks shut the flanks down and no one not even Capoue and yes Delofeu who has a habit in the past of dropping in performance as a game wears on were still snapping away right to the end. The players look happy and relaxed both at London Colney and on the pitch and Deeney did a very good impression of leading from the front again (albeit with a minor indiscretion). Pereyra looks rejuvenated, Prodl is starting to find his form and Doucoure who is the best midfielder I have ever seen play for us was simply magnficent. I am positive that Gracia will have brought the players in on Tuesday sat them down and told them that is what he wants in every game. Not just the 'glamour' games. The same level of work rate and commitment must be seen at West Ham. Fingers crossed the positive energy generated by this result will feed into the rest of the season. And hopefully we will see some of the injury room residents return to the squad soon and push us to safety.
I've been saying for months that I thought the defenders were good enough, and that replacements were not required, as good coaching was all that was necessary. But even I was starting to have doubts up until the Stoke game. But, instantly it was clear to see a renewed discipline at the back. Stoke don't have a great attack, but they ripped apart Huddersfield under their new manager, yet they looked feeble against us. And Chelsea even more so. Our defence was a revelation against a very good attack. We still miss a goalscorer in my opinion as we cannot rely on midfield and fullbacks scoring brilliant goals every week. But the improved movement going forward, and the increased energy demonstrated with the constant pressing was outstanding. All in all, it bodes well for a good finish. ...but of course it is early days, very early.
I think it was perfectly valid to worry two weeks ago that Gracia was a big risk of an appointment. New to this country, to the league and taking over a squad that seemed in disarray, both confidence and injury wise. Would he have the experience and the big personality to stop the rot and to turn us around? Everybody deserves a chance of course, but you react as you react, at the time, about the here and now, as none of us are blessed with ESP. Two weeks on and I echo the words of Kelso on the previous page. He seems tactically astute, and a decent and humble man. I’ve been impressed with everything he’s said and done so far. I like too how he obviously doesn’t hold with this ridiculous ‘free hit’ theory. When you are sliding down the table and in danger of being dragged into the dogfight, every game must be seen as winnable. Point proved on Monday. Gracia has got us all buzzing again and back in love with our club. Whatever else he does or doesn’t achieve with us (remembering the reigns of our last three coaches also started quite positively) he should always be thanked for that. I worried he might be the right coach at the wrong time, without a summer pre-season to settle in. On the evidence so far I was wrong, and glad to be so.
I'm not a subscriber to the coaches from different countries thing. For me, football is an international language, tactics are tactics whether it's in England, Spain, Italy or Germany the risk lies in whether the coach can communicate those tactics and will the players understand and buy into it. It's usually the latter that costs the coach/manager his job. Hate to admit it but Kevin Affleck summed it up perfectly in a tweet after Monday: Kevin Affleck @KevinAffleck Feb 6 Thrilled for Gracia last night. Thoroughly decent and humble bloke and clearly a good tactician. He’s not moaned once about injuries and has extracted maximum out of what he’s had to work with. Whole greater than sum of its parts. Sign of a good coach
I agree, I also think it’s unfair they have to share the sky money with us lower clubs , if we had any decency we would pay to play them and let them have the gate takings
The timing could work well for us. A good positive start for three months, then our form dropping off in May, June and July, then picking up again in August.
this made me chuckle today <iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Just fast forward to about 2 minutes from the end. Some very serious looking geezers there although I like the smiling far eastern chaps smiling when our fourth went in!
Silva felt temporary from very early on. Assuming Gracia does as half as well as he's started, it not only gives us a really good chance of finishing in the top half this season, he will almost certainly be around for next season too. We all knew, including the players, whatever happened Silva was not going to be Watford's manager next season and that was bound to be unsettling.
Yeah it was bonkers looking back. We all just accepted that he was using us as nothing more as a stepping stone and were just grateful he had decided to grace us with his presence for one season. Where was our pride and dignity?? He treated us with utter contempt.
If that was Ndong, good spot, Clive. Footballers’ haircuts change quicker than hemlines these days. Maybe Seba was just channeling Courtois in making himself ‘as small as possible’.
Malts, is the subject of para 3, Senor Gracia or Senor Kelso? If the latter, one would have to question the shrewdness of the ‘pulling an all-nighter’ strategy whilst at the same time being awestruck by its virtuosity.
Love the gangsta rap and most especially the extensive reverent and idolising references to "Chalo-bah" (he'll come to you and cause a Massa-cah") That's not very 100% Chelsea now is it?
Due to being very busy lately, I missed out on all the post forum euphoria over such a great win. I admit I didn't see it coming in a million years. Fancy now having a coach who can "coach" players, as opposed to one who just sulks and has tantrums because the players available to him couldn't carry out the one single game plan he had!! Quick word on Janmaat - we've all pretty much criticised his defending, but there's no doubt he's a threat going forward. Great pass that lead to the penalty, and a superbly taken goal. He also has a great shot on him and the header he scored against Palace was a cracker, to. If defending is his weak link, then find a way to get him in where that's not such an issue but his inclusion still enables us to utilise his eye for goal. Thankfully, it seems like we have a coach who's quickly realised this and has found the solution. Both him and Kiko in the same team could be very interesting. And a final quick word on Doucoure - the rest of the prem have definitely noticed him now. A quick look at all the "big 6" forums all read the same - they'd love him in their team. Get that contract extension sorted, Gino...... 4 cracking pics of each goal being scored. Enjoy
And somebody flagged this up on Twitter, courtesy of Bill Edgar at The Times. I've checked his name and it turns out it's not a pseudonym for Ian Holloway Always got to be somebody to try and piss on your bonfire........... Feel free to let us know your opinion of this "journalist"
Home office day and a noon game allowed me to catch this one on tv. What a delight! I had to explain to the carpenter working on my house that my team won the football 28-7
Sorry for the late reply, he's excellent no doubt but is he really better than John Barnes? (I'm too young to have seen him so I can't comment further)
Barnes was a winger.We effectively played 4-2-4 back in the good old days, with Kenny Jackett and Les Taylor in midfield.
Well, a winger is still a midfielder when played between the defence and forwards. But yeah, if Barnes was played upfront it's not a very good comparison. I am certainly see how someone could think Doucoure was better than both Jackett and Taylor, great though they were by all accounts.
This lads vlog has got each goal filmed from their seat in the Rookery. I know some people like seeing that kind of thing:
Thank god we got this victory, otherwise we would have been right in the mire after losing to the Spammers on Saturday.
He does stats of all sorts, some good, some silly. E.g. first time a team beginning with W has beaten a team beginning with C 4-1 on the same day that a team beginning with C has beaten a team beginning with W on the same day since 1933 (I made that one up)
Deulofeu and Janmaat's goals filmed from the SEJ by a Portsmouth fan! Worth a watch: https://twitter.com/carlofooty/status/960659391698567169 https://twitter.com/carlofooty/status/963372516550107137