31st Fixture: March 29th, 2014- Crystal Palace FC vs Chelsea FC - [R]

I suspect we'll either win or at least get a draw against Liverpool but I'm not sure it's going to matter in the long run.

To me, that sums up the problem

 

I think it's a little harsh to put much of the blame on Mourinho. Even with the team that was deployed, there is no excuse for the players when we lose to Crystal Palace. It was a very fragile performance mentally, and I think it went on to show that the team is not yet mature enough to be champions as Jose has been saying all along. My only criticism was the lack of Willian coming off the bench; thought he could've made a difference today.

I suspect we'll get some sort of result against Liverpool; big games have not been our problem. The players really seem to have a hard time getting up for these supposedly easy games, especially when there is a little added pressure or expectation, i.e., winning the title. And as always, it was difficult making clear cut chances against a team that plays everyone behind the ball. I think we'll see a whole different team next season when it comes to our mentality and overall "swagger" for these types of games. One of those times where we need to just get on with it and look forward to the next game.

 

If/When this team understands that they must beat bottom feeders just as much as top teams, they'll be a danger. Until then, 2nd, 3rd or 4th.

Oh, and we need a striker.

 

Sigh
Well
we blew it
against villa and palace we should have got at least 4 points [if not six] and instead we got 0 - zero.
so I guess we shall just have to win the Champions League now

 

They mention David Luiz, Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, and Frank Lampard but, of those, I can imagine David Luiz improving. The other ones, sadly, probably aren't so, on that basis alone, it would be better if they left.

Maybe keep Frank around as a sort of elder statesman for the younger guys and to play out time in games where we're ahead to give people a rest? A bit like Giggs did a few years back.

 

Really awful performance… still amazes me how we can go from winning big games to capitulating against sides like Villa and now CP.

 

Oh, hang on... I thought his contract ran out at the end of this season? Maybe I've got that round my neck though.

 

Yeah, this article from last May says it was a 1 year deal
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/22548313

 

Mourinho's still charming after the loss, apparently, which is quite nice of him. He didn't seem that critical of Chelsea's players as such, although that side of things seems to have been emphasised more than it was in the original. That said, it does seem that the 'balls' reference later on would actually be more noteworthy than the actual incident.