It is an absolute joke that Jose Mourinho is being talked about as being the next Premier League manager who could lose his job.
The success Mourinho has had, especially at Chelsea, means he has earned the right to have a bad three months without being sacked.
Mourinho's body language analysed by Professor Geoff Beattie
He should be allowed to have a poor six months or even a bad season, because everyone has them - even Sir Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United.
The fact people are now questioning Mourinho shows the way football is these days, compared to 20 years ago, but I just don't see that a change is needed for the club, the players, or the fans.
Lacking fitness, form... and good fortune?
What is wrong with Chelsea? First things first, they came back to pre-season a week later than their rivals and many of their players looked a little bit off the pace at the start of the season. Some of them still don't look fully fit now.
Then there is the loss of confidence that a few bad results can cause.
I've been there many times individually and collectively in my playing career and it tests you, whatever your level.
Another factor is luck. Having watched most of Chelsea's games this season, I've seen them be on the wrong end of some unfortunate, marginal and important decisions.
Chelsea lads devastated - Cahill
It sounds like an excuse, but I can understand why Gary Cahill spoke about them not having the rub of the green after their defeat at West Ham last week.
Along with a combination of all of the above, ultimately I think their horrendous run of results is down to too many players having a dip in form at the same time.
The quality is still there in their squad, and I know who I would want in charge to turn things around.
Why is Jose still the right man for the job?
What I don't see at Chelsea is a group of players who are not playing for the manager.
At West Ham on Saturday, they lost 2-1 but with 10 men they put in what was probably one of their best performances of the season. They should have beaten Stoke in the League Cup on Tuesday night too.
Jose Mourinho says 'life is fantastic' despite League Cup exit
I've seen how a team plays when the players stop trying, and that is not what I see at Chelsea. Mourinho is right when he says the players are still with him.
Could Jose have behaved with a little more humility recently? Yes, but his spiky character is part of the reason people love him so much, and it is not a reason for his players' poor form.
When a team struggles, it is usually down to a few reasons rather than one glaring problem, and that is true of Chelsea now.
Are defensive changes a factor?
Even when Chelsea lost some of their attacking flair in the second half of last season, they could always rely on keeping teams out.
That has not been the case this season, but it is not the back four's fault that they are facing more shots and more shots on target - only Newcastle and Sunderland have allowed more this season - and conceding more goals and losing more games.
Chelsea's first 10 Premier League games (rank) |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | Chelsea | 2015-16 |
|
0 (1) |
Defeats |
5 (=14) |
|
109 (6) |
Shots faced |
132 (12) |
|
31 (3) |
Shots faced on target |
56 (18) |
|
10 (=2) |
Goals conceded |
19 (=16) |
|
1081km (11) |
Distance covered |
1077km (15) |
|
4,891 (14) |
Sprints |
4,535 (16) |
I am sure Mourinho would love to be able to play a settled back-line, like he did for the majority of last season with Thibaut Courtois in goal and Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta in front of him.
Together they started seven of Chelsea's first 10 games last season. This time, Mourinho has only been able to pick the same back five once in Chelsea's first 10 games, and they have conceded twice as many goals.
Ivanovic has really struggled at times and has made some costly errors at right-back but, other than that, I don't think Chelsea's defensive frailties are actually down to any issue with their back four, whoever is in it.
Chelsea's first 10 Premier League games (rank) |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | Chelsea | 2015-16 |
|
8 / 24 (1) |
Wins / points |
3 /11 (15) |
|
5,435 (4) |
Passes |
5,098 (4) |
|
85.19% (5) |
Passing accuracy |
81.99% (5) |
|
55.62% (6) |
Average possession |
57.64% (4) |
|
149 (4) |
Total shots |
143 (8) |
|
60 (1) |
Shots on target |
42 (11) |
|
26 (1) |
Goals |
15 (=7) |
Time to take Fabregas out of the firing line
CHELSEA MIDFIELDER CESC FABREGAS
Fabregas has made only one assist in Chelsea's first 10 league games, compared to nine at the same stage last season
Your defence is only as good as the people in front of it, and this is where I think a lot
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