THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Should Chelsea have sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari?
February 10th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Felipe Scolari was not given any chance to prove his worth at all. One can put it down to the earnest quest for instant success in the dog-eat-dog world of EPL. Man Utd persevere with Sir Alex despite not winning anything worthy during his early days. However, the top dogs are not so forgiving nowadays, given that Abramovich is operating Chelsea more like a business than a pure football club.Scolari should be given a performance plan of say, 2 years in order for him to build a team which he himself is responsible for.The Chelsea fans had been tasting instant success bought by millions of roubles. They don’ t see that money cannot buy the passion to play for the club. Money as a motivator is passing, not sustainable. The fans should have at least give Scolari some support, rather than shouting for his head when things are not going their way.Sir Alex was right on when he commented at the start of the season that the present group of Chelsea players are over the hill. They cannot improve further. Yet, there were no replacements. No youth programme. No plan B for players. Man Utd can just show them that. Look how a young player like Rafael slots into the team effortlessly to eventually replace Gary Neville? Jonny Evans showed that he is a bight prospect in case Rio Ferdinand is not available. In Chelsea? Zilch!Where is Peter Kenyon now? Why is he not sacked too? He should shoulder some of the responsibilities, too.Wish Sclari all the best. He may land up in Spain or back to Portugal where is much more welcomed.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Arsenal's season
Can Eduardo save Arsenal’s season?
February 20th, 2009 at 2:25 am
I am sorry that the return of Eduardo is not going to help Arsenal challenge for more honors this season. I say so because he was never a proven player in the first place. Having just spent half a season and as substitutes for Van Persie and Adebayor last year before breaking his leg, he still has someway to go before he proves himself. Coming back into the rigours and pace of the premier league might be very demanding for a player who has just suffered a horrific injury and has not fully acclimatized to English football yet. All along, Arsenal has been crying out for a holding midfielder, so the return of Eduardo hardly will help stabilize their flailing midfield and shaky defence. With the purchase of Arshavin, and Van Persie hitting fabulous form, the creative department and attacking department is well taken care of. ALso what is left of Arsenal’s season might just be the Champions League and FA cup. Getting into that 4th place might prove beyond them as Aston Villa and Chelsea will have the tenacity to last the distance. With so many strong teams in the Champions League playing fantasy football at the moment, Arsenal’s chances do not look at at the moment. Perhaps they should just focus on the FA cup for a realistic prospect of Silverware.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:25 am
I am sorry that the return of Eduardo is not going to help Arsenal challenge for more honors this season. I say so because he was never a proven player in the first place. Having just spent half a season and as substitutes for Van Persie and Adebayor last year before breaking his leg, he still has someway to go before he proves himself. Coming back into the rigours and pace of the premier league might be very demanding for a player who has just suffered a horrific injury and has not fully acclimatized to English football yet. All along, Arsenal has been crying out for a holding midfielder, so the return of Eduardo hardly will help stabilize their flailing midfield and shaky defence. With the purchase of Arshavin, and Van Persie hitting fabulous form, the creative department and attacking department is well taken care of. ALso what is left of Arsenal’s season might just be the Champions League and FA cup. Getting into that 4th place might prove beyond them as Aston Villa and Chelsea will have the tenacity to last the distance. With so many strong teams in the Champions League playing fantasy football at the moment, Arsenal’s chances do not look at at the moment. Perhaps they should just focus on the FA cup for a realistic prospect of Silverware.
Chelsea Formation against Villa
THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: IMAGINE yourself in Guus Hiddink’s shoes and come up with your ideal Chelsea line-up for this weekend’s game against Aston Villa in the Premiership.
February 18th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
KPIs for the Defence:- reduce the defensive errors which leak goals to zero- hard tacklers like Alex and JT ro have 100% communication with Cech- wing backs to reduce urge to attack by 50%
KPIs for midfield- have three central midfielders, two holding (Deco & Mikel) and one scheming (Lampard)- Belleti to come in when system changes to 4-4-2- let Lampard forage upwards with confidence of suppurt behind
KPIs for attackers- improve tha average to 2.0- Drogba to lead line with Anelka support, interchange positions every minute- Quaresma to cross from the flanks or cut in from sideline in every attack
Guus’s Note; To use the same team formation for at least 3 games.System 4-3-3
February 18th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
KPIs for the Defence:- reduce the defensive errors which leak goals to zero- hard tacklers like Alex and JT ro have 100% communication with Cech- wing backs to reduce urge to attack by 50%
KPIs for midfield- have three central midfielders, two holding (Deco & Mikel) and one scheming (Lampard)- Belleti to come in when system changes to 4-4-2- let Lampard forage upwards with confidence of suppurt behind
KPIs for attackers- improve tha average to 2.0- Drogba to lead line with Anelka support, interchange positions every minute- Quaresma to cross from the flanks or cut in from sideline in every attack
Guus’s Note; To use the same team formation for at least 3 games.System 4-3-3
Robinho in trouble
THE POSTMAN LIM SAY HENG says: When will he ever learn? Sure, he may love partying a lot, but this is the time for him to hunker down, especially after all his recent bad press.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
It is so easy to fall into various traps laid out for these young, rich and gullible footballers to fall into. Robinho is the latest. When Man City bought him, they could have already known about his excesses and extra curricular activities of the past but they conveniently ignored them as they were desperate for instant success. It could be Robinho’s way to deal with situations like not being able to play with Kaka, no other Brazilians playing beside him as Jo is in cold storage, playing in a really mediocre team which signed only more mediocre players like Bellamy, De Jong, after being in a star studded Real Madrid team, etc. He needs a really firm man-manager to put him in place and Mark Hughes is not known as one.Poor lost Robinho. You must not go the way that Denilson, once the world’s most expensive footballer, went.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
It is so easy to fall into various traps laid out for these young, rich and gullible footballers to fall into. Robinho is the latest. When Man City bought him, they could have already known about his excesses and extra curricular activities of the past but they conveniently ignored them as they were desperate for instant success. It could be Robinho’s way to deal with situations like not being able to play with Kaka, no other Brazilians playing beside him as Jo is in cold storage, playing in a really mediocre team which signed only more mediocre players like Bellamy, De Jong, after being in a star studded Real Madrid team, etc. He needs a really firm man-manager to put him in place and Mark Hughes is not known as one.Poor lost Robinho. You must not go the way that Denilson, once the world’s most expensive footballer, went.
Liverpool vs Chelsea
THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who will come up tops in the battle of the ‘Troubled Two’ as Liverpool face Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday?
January 28th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Blues vs Reds
Team balance : +1 Redsas they have a more balanced side if Rafa Benitez does not tinker again. Liverpool’s backline of Hyppia, Skrtel. Carragher and Aurelio is steady and solid in front of reliable Pepe Reina. The midfield have enough ‘generals’ in the form of Gerrard, Reira and Alonso. Fernando Torres is gaining fitness and form and his combination with Gerrard holds the key to unlock the Blues’ shaky defence. JT and Carvalho are on the decline. With that they leaked goals through the centre as Petr Cech was exposed time and again. In the midfield, Ballack and Belleti are not as creative as Liverpool’s pair. It is in the attack that the Blues are weak especially when Drogba is still warring.
Form : +0.5 BluesThe Reds have been frustrated in the two meetings against Everton while the Blues won their two games, esp the one against Stoke with the firm belief that they won’t lie down and surrender.Midfield general : +0.5 Reds There is very little difference between Gerrard and Lampard in all manner. Gerrard leads slightly as he has a tried and tested partner in Fernando Torres wherelse Lampard had to do it all alone.Manager: +0.5 RedsRafa Benitez is more experienced in managing a league team. Though, at times he made puzzling team decisions, he had more tactical variation than Scolari. Moreover, Rafa is managing HIS team as all the players were identified by him whole Scolari inherited the team.Homeground : +0.5 RedsThough the Blues had an impressive away record, they can be thrashed as witnessed in Old Trafford. The Anfield ground is not a pleasant one for the Blues.Overall, Liverpool scored in more areas. However, all these pluses would turn into crosses if the effect of the self inflicting internal troubles get into the Liverpool team.Final score : 1:1
January 28th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Blues vs Reds
Team balance : +1 Redsas they have a more balanced side if Rafa Benitez does not tinker again. Liverpool’s backline of Hyppia, Skrtel. Carragher and Aurelio is steady and solid in front of reliable Pepe Reina. The midfield have enough ‘generals’ in the form of Gerrard, Reira and Alonso. Fernando Torres is gaining fitness and form and his combination with Gerrard holds the key to unlock the Blues’ shaky defence. JT and Carvalho are on the decline. With that they leaked goals through the centre as Petr Cech was exposed time and again. In the midfield, Ballack and Belleti are not as creative as Liverpool’s pair. It is in the attack that the Blues are weak especially when Drogba is still warring.
Form : +0.5 BluesThe Reds have been frustrated in the two meetings against Everton while the Blues won their two games, esp the one against Stoke with the firm belief that they won’t lie down and surrender.Midfield general : +0.5 Reds There is very little difference between Gerrard and Lampard in all manner. Gerrard leads slightly as he has a tried and tested partner in Fernando Torres wherelse Lampard had to do it all alone.Manager: +0.5 RedsRafa Benitez is more experienced in managing a league team. Though, at times he made puzzling team decisions, he had more tactical variation than Scolari. Moreover, Rafa is managing HIS team as all the players were identified by him whole Scolari inherited the team.Homeground : +0.5 RedsThough the Blues had an impressive away record, they can be thrashed as witnessed in Old Trafford. The Anfield ground is not a pleasant one for the Blues.Overall, Liverpool scored in more areas. However, all these pluses would turn into crosses if the effect of the self inflicting internal troubles get into the Liverpool team.Final score : 1:1
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