Is Luiz Felipe Scolari Chelsea's biggest problem?

Times Online

Luiz Felipe Scolari has consistently said this season that he feels under no pressure as manager of Chelsea. Perhaps his side's 3-0 capitulation at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday will make him think again.

Even the most diehard Chelsea fan will have to confess that their performance was poor. They were devoid of wit, spirit, character and organisation. But was it all down to the players?

Scolari replaced the ineffective Deco with Nicolas Anelka and, in doing so, opened up the game, playing into United’s hands by leaving more space for Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov to exploit. The Chelsea manager admitted as much afterwards, but said that he had little choice. “If I wanted to lose 1-0, I would keep my team with one more in midfield,” he said. “But I needed to change.”

His game plan has looked less convincing as the season has progressed. As confidence has receded, so has the spirit that once coursed through the veins of Chelsea.

The squad is almost exactly the same as the one he inherited from Avram Grant and Jose Mourinho before that, so as we approach the business end of the season, is the pressure beginning to tell on the Brazilian? Do the problems run deeper than purely a patch of bad form?

What is wrong with Chelsea? Leave your comments below.

Comments

[kenan hinweissen]

The chelsea live this really a big problem. Scolari is one of the greatest technicians in the world today, but the big problem is that the play is largely their work. And the English of the great female is very bad. Soon his head will roll ...Go Back to the immortal Scolari there is the man's place

[pete ( man u supporter )]

If Chelsea can't be up for a game like this, then they never will be. They have some terific players but lack self motivation,I dont think too much blame for their poor showing recently should be blamed on Scolari, eventhough he was tactically at fault last Sunday.Maybe the club has become too big too soon, and some of the players are too big for their boots, especially Drogba, ( Sell him Chelsea, get someone who dosn't think the world revolves around him.

[Max]

Scolari is the root of the problem, but the main culprits are Kenyon & Buck, the respective Ch Ex & Chrmn. They allowed the relationship between Roman & Jose to sour, when in a position of strength they fiddled whilst Man U & Liverpool re-grouped. They know nothing about football & everything about mis-spending Roman's finances, much of which went into their inflated salaries. Mourinho & Clarke produced both organisation, spirit & a winning mentality into Chelsea, both have been let go. Who can honestly say that Grant & Scolari have improved on that. Chelsea need to bring in someone who cares about the club, that should be Zola & Clarke.

[Al]

What's wrong with Chelsea? The question should be 'What's RIGHT with Chelsea?'.

This side needs to be completely reformulated. I know Scolari from the time he was starting his career in south Brazil, late 80's, early 90's and I can assure that he's not the source of the problems. In fact, check his resumee. He has consistently delivered everywhere he worked - Criciuma, Gremio, Palmeiras, Cruzeiro... then Brazil and Portugal.

With that said, give the man some time to work, some room to breathe, and let him do the job and Chelsea fans will not regret it.

Believe me.

[Paul]

Poor old Scolari. Never had a chance.
He has been given any money and has been expected to change and aging chelsea team from the results grinder into a flamboyant all conquering master piece.
Some of the players are dead weight and should be let go. Drogba, Malouda, Ballack spring instantly to mind.
Also he has been a bit unlcky to lose Essien who in my opinion is Chelseas best player.

Then add to that he is expected to do better than Mourinho who had this team at there peak, had pacey wingers who supplied width for the very solid spine of chelseas team. AND most importantly for Mourinho he arrived at a time when United where in a slump (or rebuilding period).

I hope he is given a bit more time and allowed to build a sqaud of players. But no doubt he will be sack come May.

Having said all this i can see why some Chelsea fans are upset because he does at this moment in time only seem to have a plan A.

Good luck Phil, you need it

[Dapxin]

Perhaps chelsea as an enterprise (club+fans) is asking too much, given whats on ground-reality?

Its OK to accept Chelsea is big, but 3+ managers in a space of 5 years isnt nearly as rock-solid as MU or Arsenal FC or AV FC. Changes, bring change.

So, get behind your team, chelsea fans, and stop trying to work the team over.

To say it was a pathetic performance, last sunday was the gracing it with fine-speak + I dont support Chelsea but there are loads of changes that happened because everyone seem to think, its a matter of 5years to create a world-class team beater....on account of lousy Mourinho's short-term success, which was in-a-sense-boring football...

Chelsea hasnt just reached the status, most fans seems to evalate them from. Even under J.Mo.

[ALEX EDNIE.]

Chelsea were outplayed,out muscled out fought.they were just dreadful.the defence midfield and forwards were abysmal. The wide players obviously they have none since Robben and Duff left Malouda and Cole are definitely not good enough. Both are unable run at defenders beat them or provide decent openings and crosses. How Cole still gets selected after such performances,is most puzzling. R.A. will have to get the cheque book out to purchase new wing men the sooner the better.
Jokey Blue

[eddie salt]

they only have to do one thing to one thing GET RID OF RAY WILKINS HE,S A JONAH and get someone like gary Mc allister to give them some proper training.

[Wolfie]

Scolari is the problem and until he is goes we will not improve. I head to Southend on Wednesday more in hope than expectation. We will be lucky to be in the top 6 if he, and the ineffective Board, are allowed to ruin what we had under Jose.

[SNACKWELL]

The chain is weak, get rid of Drogba he acted like a pentulant child in front of his 'god' and let's not forget the slap last year- that was his walking paper. Ballack needs to wake up and he will when he is sitting on the bench watching Essien's return.
Don't give up yet, this loss was quite pathetic but they can actually get stronger from it. gag

[Blueboy]

What the hell is going in the dressing room if a few days before this game Frank Lampard is telling any one who will listen to him that he is scared of playing manure.What is all that about??? Not pride for the shirt thats for sure.This team and the manager look and played as though they have given up already -hang your heads in shame the lot of you..

[chelsea fan 4 ever]

Since the minute that Avram Grant left I knew that things were going to go wrong.
I knew that players can't change between 3 managers in one year. Scolari plays with the same players every single game and he didn't let Malouda or any other players to play, he let Deco play EVERY game even if it was after the games that he was horrible in. Not a lot after Anelka scored 14 goals scolari started to play with Drogba and he left Anelka on the bench until he realised that he needs him. In the game against Man. U. deco played better than other games and Scolari took him off after the half time break. Drogba played horrible and he missed 2 shots that could of at least made it a more interesting game (that means the game could have finished 3-2). Lampard also missed a great chance because he turned around when all he had to do was tap the ball in. People are going around saying that when the players are filling down JT and Lampard have to talk to them

I think that if Scolari won't be able to win against Southend this Wednesday then he should be sacked and we should bring another manager that maybe didn't win anything big like Avram Grant.

The biggest problem with Scolari that I already mansioned is that he plays with the same team. According to that he lost our first game at home in more than 80 games in the league (he also lost twice more after that), scolari also barely made it to the finals of the champions league, and now we need to have another match against Southend.

So unforchently big Phil isn't showing us how big he is.

If any of the people that read this are Chelsea fans I don't even wonder if you want one of our players to be in next years best player of the world like I do, then maybe Scolari should start letting Anelka play more so that he will be able to be the leagues top scorer and at least give more players a chance to play more.

[Quilvor]

Steve Clarke's departure has probably undermined the team spirit! Scolari's in-abilty to change tactics during a match is very concerning.

[Tom]

It saddens me to see it but Chelsea have lost the passion and drive that gave us success over recent years. The loss of confidence, the ineffective systems and tactics, the lack of pace and width, the lack of penetration and lack of work ethic(except Joe Cole) are not all Scolari's fault, but lay with the entire outfit. If we don't get the confidence back we're not going to win anything this year.

Above all the team misses Essien's drive and determination for victory and for just playing football: Drogba being the most guilty party here but Ballack, Anelka, and others also at fault for prioritising their their big fat paychecks over their football.

We need an overhaul in summer, replacing some old legs and bringing in new pacey attacking talent, as well as reverting to the tactical and physical approach that brought rewards over recent years. Scolari could perhaps do this, but we need a better balance between defence and attack, which could be helped by the return of Steve Clarke, Henk ten Cate and new young players.

We need to get the old team spirit back, but it's going to take a while

[hmu]

i reckon chelsea should buy a new wide man rather than buying a new striker unless drogba went to inter.but comparing scolari to avram grant, avram grant is better. i think that scolari should go back and managed a national side.

[hmu]

he should have play anelka alongside drogba.Unless Scolari figure out something. it won't work if drogba playing as a lone striker. Scolari should go back and manage a national side. probably Avram Grant was better than him. but, i think they do really need a new wide player because malouda is underperforming.

[ian don chels till i die eh !]

where finished. no spirit. no team bond. poor manager.massive attitude change req & not a shot on goal at old trafford says all

[John]

Chelsea must get rid of Kalou, Malouda, Ballack, Drogba, Mikel...
But they should start with Joe Cole.He deserves to play for teams like Fulham or Middlesborough.Not disrespect to them but certainly not Chelsea. He is a poor player. Ferguson would never sign a player like that. He is pure rubbish.

[Doug Bates]

Under Scolari too many players know their place is guaranteed and so don't bother trying (Deco, Ballack, Drogba). Those who try to break in are demotivated because what they do makes no difference to whether they start the next game or not (Anelka, J Cole). There needs to be healthy competition and people should be played on merit not reputation, a bad performance should mean you get dropped, a good performance means you keep your place. Simple. Effective. Exactly what JM and SAF do....

[John]

Chelsea must get rid of Kalou, Malouda, Ballack, Drogba, Mikel...
But they should start with Joe Cole.He deserves to play for teams like Fulham or Middlesborough.Not disrespect to them but certainly not Chelsea. He is a poor player. Ferguson would never sign a player like that. He is pure rubbish.

[Freddie Green]

First, the loss of Makalele has been the major source of our undoing. His inpenetrable protection of the back four gave us something no other club had. Mikel is not ready to fill those boots.

Cech and Terry, usually willing to put their lives on the line to block attackers, appear to have lsot courage, perhaps due to loss of confidence in the wider defensive picture.

Lampard and the Cole (generally, not yesterday) are the two remaining shining lights. Build it around them; put Ballack on the bench; wait for Essein to return; BUY MICHAEL OWEN (for something different and QUICK), and buy another midfielder.

[Des]

Bring back Grant -- at least the side tried to fight under him.

[Dave]

Having seen them struggle to turn overwhelming possession into real chances against lowly Southend last week I do fear there is something seriously wrong. Is it Scolari? - who knows, but this squad is essentially the same one that won the league not long ago - is that the problem they are all getting on a bit ?
Drogba looks like he doesn't want to be there and Anelka never scores against the other big three. Kalou and Malouda are just not good enough. So they are short of goal scorers big time.
They have bought an awful lot of very average (mediocre even)players in the recent era.
Perhaps it is Mr A's super agent Pini Zahavi who is really to blame for the malaise.

[Stephen]

This is the JM Team Mark III, and it is suddenly looking dated and a new model is required. JM's revolution is now officially over. I don't see Chelsea making headway in the Champions League/European Cup or an impact on the League now.
Reasons: the Russian's indifference; tighter purse strings - feast to famine does not a well-managed club make; manager in a mess with no sense of what to do (Boswingwa's face at Belletti substitution said a lot, Beletti's tackle on Ronaldo a lot more); players - from what I saw yesterday the problem runs to many more players than Drogba and Ballack.

The crucial relationship in any club is between an interested, supportive chairman and a supported, independantly-minded skillful manager. The manager becomes the lynchpin for the club, even as players come and go. Scolari is not a lynchpin. There is no sense he sees this as his canvas to create something great - more a nice fat pay packet.

Deschamps is still my choice.

[Kai]

Scolari has lost the management of his team. It is very hard to come after the "Special One" for anybody but he really failed to impose his style and authority over charismatic (and self-centred) players. The system he had in mind does not translate well on the pitch and he obviously does not have the right player.

A great player can be really awesome but if he cannot play in a team, there is no reason why he should stay... and Chelsea have a lot of "great" players...

Please bring back the old times!