Most of the talk before and after the QPR v Chelsea match was in relation to a handshake, or lack of one, but concentrating on the football, what can Roberto Di Matteo do to pick up his side following a disappointing display?
Here’s a few things Di Matteo should have a look at:
1. Square pegs in round holes
Despite our summer spending Di Matteo has consistently played players out of position, especially in attacking areas, and I cannot explain it. You don’t need to take any UEFA coaching badges to realise there’s no real need to play a left-back (Ryan Bertrand) or a central midfielder (Ramires) on the wing when you possess players that are more comfortable in the wider positions on the bench.
Hopefully someone like Victor Moses gets the nod against Juventus as he looked a handful against QPR when he came on, unlike Ramires who looks out-of-sorts and either needs a rest or played in the pivot alongside John Obi Mikel.
2. Being Frank
One player that does not look comfortable in the current formation is Frank Lampard, who persistently abandons his position in central midfield to join the attack and effectively leaves Mikel to do a two-man job when it comes to defensive duties.
In the midfield pivot it isn’t his job to do this, but to move the ball quickly to our playmakers Juan Mata/Eden Hazard, but their threat is greatly reduced when Lampard runs into the space between the lines and brings a marker with him. He cannot continue to roll it sideways to Mikel before making a beeline for goal, it’s slowing down our forward play and if he doesn’t adapt then Di Matteo may have to give someone else the opportunity there…Oscar? Ramires?
3. The Torres issue
Since Didier Drogba left Chelsea Fernando Torres has been given everything he wanted; the backing of the manager, the patience of the fans, the role of our main centre forward and he’s virtually unchallenged in the position as Daniel Sturridge has barely made it onto the pitch this season, so why did he snub Di Matteo and storm down the tunnel after being substituted in the latter stages of the match? He didn’t even stick around to watch his team-mates who were still trying to win the game.
Everyone wants to see Torres do well, but it’s a worry when your £50 million forward has only found the net nine times in 50 Premier League appearances for the Blues. He has been unlucky at times and hasn’t always had the service, but that excuse is starting to wear thin when we have the likes of Hazard and Mata around. Is it wrong that there’s no competition for his place?
What do you think Di Matteo should do to improve the team’s performances going forward? He needs to start putting round pegs in round holes which will give us a better shape and benefit everyone, including an out-of-sorts Torres who we’re relying on to finally come good.
D basic thing is jst dat RDM need 2 b playing player in their reel positions. Ramires and bertrand were used as winger wen we were lacking many talents and potentials. Nw dat we have more than enuf squad,use everybody in d right position. So i’d go with d following line-up
Cech
Iva,Terry,Luiz,Cole
Mikel,Ramires
Moses,Mata,Harzard
Torres
wel di matio dis is wat hapen wen u wear at wesbrom u beta seet up oooo.
wel di matio dis is wat hapen wen u wear at wesbrom u beta seat up oooo.
up blues one voice aim achieve. I 4 one would not hav these kind of players and suffer my self. Mata,Oscar,Harzard, should all play behind our main man either Moses or Sturrigde cos Torres is withered may be we could use him in FA and Capital one or once in a while for 30 or 20 mins also. and Mikel,Ramires or Ramires,Romeu could play behind our attacking midfielders and lamp could come in once in a while but not in dat defensive midfield. RDM beware of Ibramovic gun, dont get urself fire. let me hint u one tin Oscar is d best passer if u watch carefully, Hazard,Mata play well always but Oscar can be our centre man pls RDM punder well and chose wisely stop making us defensive let us be offensive stop believing that u want to defend always our players can make other teams redundant stop fooling urself. pls make our opponent suffer and stop make us a victim of sufferness. i believe u will change for better we want to play agood football that is why we employ all the talents use them effectively to save ur ass and our future.
will RDM be manned enough to bench lampard n if I may ask, is lampard untouchable n is he RDM ‘s employer?
Chelsea greatest problem is RDM n lampard. flashback to our game between Newcastle to me which is our best performance this season lampard came in as a substitute n d face of his dad when d camera focus him was more than to scare RDM bt we the fans wants him bench, I remain d blues
Funny, I don’t see RDM changin his tactics because he is scared of lossing his job. A reason Carlo lost his job was not dat he wasn’t doin well we finished in d Top 4 but his style of play. Pls play d correct people in d right position.
A coach should be a bold person, one that can decide on things and do them, someone that is capable of reading a match, not just watching it. A person who knows the ability and capability of his players, and utilizes them. RMD does not read or study matches, he just watches them. He is not and would never be the Saint we are looking for.
The problem is the coach himself. He is not good. He is also afraid of the English media so he can’t drop Lampard. After the players’ determination won us the Champins Leaque, RDM has nothing to offer. he doesn’t position the players well as you rightly observed and he has no answers when plays against a better coach. We still play like Drogba is our striker. Torres is a different striker and that is why these new guys were brought in but the coach is making wrong choices and putting them in wrong positions. The solution is simple, RDM must go and Gardiola must come and take over the team.
lets make use of our young midfielder . Lampard is week , is not effective any more . Ramires is better on the centre midfield . Di matteo be wise dn’t be foolish
I totally agree with all the comments. The best thing will be benching torres and give sturridge a chance. please stop playing bertrand as a winger when you have world class midfielders. WHATS WRONG WITH UUUUUUUUU……?!