Eurosport - Tue, 13 Jan 15:00:00 2009
Chelsea boss Phil Scolari is under enormous pressure after his side were thrashed by Manchester United at the weekend. It is time for the Brazilian to go?
Chelsea's slide in form over the past couple of months has seen them lose matches to Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, drop four points off the pace in the title race, and fail to beat first Barnsley and then Southend in cup competitions.
But is the poor patch merely a temporary glitch or the sign of a managerial approach that just isn't working in south-west London?
Luis Felipe Scolari might have lead Brazil to victory in the 2002 World Cup and turned Portugal into one of Europe's slickest national sides, but it's easy to forget that he is as-yet unproven in European club management.
And with the cracks beginning to show at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has reportedly put his high-profile managerial signing on an eight-week make-or-break trial that will decide his future.
What do you think? Is this another example of the ridiculous knee-jerk calls for a sacking that follow every poor spell? Or is Scolari's reign a blind alley that the Blues need to get out of as soon as they can?
Click the buttons on the football homepage to vote - and don't forget to let the world know what you think on the message boards below.
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Comment 39 - 58 of 58
my blief is that the players are not playing for i think the manager or even more so that fol wilkins how can he possibly have the knowlegde to tell someone like lampard or ballack how to play football there is no team spitit at chelsea and much backroom bad feelings they should have broken that team up after the champions league final and brought in fresh blood and i dont mean that has been deco to old scolaris pet
I'd rather sack Roman Abramovich if it were up to me....
i dont blame Scolari he was doing ok with Steve Clarke,Chelsea was playing
some good stuff .
then Steve left for west ham, i couldn't belive my ears when they made Ray wilkins
his no2 .this man was sack at QPR has manager them he was the cause of Viallie getting
sack. so since he's come in what have chelsea done nothing he taken chelsea back not forward.start of the season chelsea was scoring goals for fun .
if they sack Phil who's out there to replace him ,get rid of wilkins now before its to
late
I think the silly thing about Chelsea is sacking their manager at the slightest provocation. Scolari remains a world-class manager and as such should be given ample time to get settled at Chelsea. Most managers that are churning out results have equally gone through thick and thin at one time or the other in their carriers. moreso, Scolari is just beginning to get aclamatised to English football and as such may need some time to get himself fully rooted in The Premier league. However, Chelsea's recent lack lustre performance should be blamed on the players,some of who have been playing in the Premiership and know its nitty gritty. they should work for their pay: "To whom much is given, much is expected", they should show great committment and enthuisiasm so that they can keep banging in goals. Above all, Abramhovic should learn to know that there's only little as to what money can do in football and as such, should learn to give manager enough room to operate, This I believe will bring about the much desired results.
What's this fuss about sacking scolari coming from the Chelsea supporters and fans. Sacking him may not neccessarily be the solution to the present problem of chelsea. jose flourished at chelsea not only because of his tactical ability but for the robust financial support he enjoyed under abramhovic. with these he was able to bring in the likes of Carvalho,Drogba etc.This is eluding Scolari who has found it difficult to get the nod of Abramhovic to bring in new players in this current transfer market. Moreover, some of the players themselves are not showing the committment and team spirit. Above all Scolari needs to be more tactical about team selection and changes as these had cost Chelsea quite a handfull of deserved wins in recent time.
From Dairo Akinwale
long live chelsea,we gonna win the prem this year i an feel it,defeat to man is only 3 points nothing more we not too bad ,we shall rise
In my own opinion and as a big fan of chelsea, i suggest roman should forget what people will say and reconcile with jose. as long as english premiership is concerned, jose mourinho is the only answer to chelsea. i dont see scolari good enough to challenge man united and liverpool.scolari may win world cup but not strong enough for english football. Jose is the key and the only tablet that can cure chelsea headache. this message is not only my opinion but from all chelsea fans in AFRICA
scolari down, bring back the special one
Notice To ALL clubs And Fans GIve your Managers and some players a Chance and Time!!
Ok they may well be well paid but they very often get asked to turn things around in days not months or even years. Expectations within the Premiership with Money and everything else ( Ie Celeb @#$% +!!) are unsustainable. Footballers are JUST that - No More ( Sorry Vinny + you're a footballer) so pay them accordingly!!! Managers are JUST that No More so pay them accordingly!! Pundits are JUST that no more so pay them accordingly!!
Reality hurts But English, Spanish and Italian Football need a huge dose of reality!! ALL Footballers / Managers are not Worth the ridiculous wages or expectations.............. To all those wealthy THICK Russians, Sheiks + IT'S A GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a Liverpool fan for 20years, I think the only treat we have had so far from Chelsea is Morinho then his squard.With him off.we are sure of everything and our only treat is ManU
Scolari isnt a club coach....he is a national team coach and I would suggest he be relieved of his duty
If Scolari was the right man a couple of months ago how is he the wrong man now?
most important did u REALIZE Chelsea showed their TERRIBLE season FROM GOOD 2 BAD after mr phil (manager who use only experience but not his wisdom) sold our most trusted steve clarke (jose second tactican) to west ham... THIS mr phil already made a mistake... lack of spirit... change the assistant quick! did u realize it??? please help us mr jose we miss u!
so easey to rest all the blame on the manager,at the end of the day,its the players on the pitch that give the final results....
THE PLAYERS ARE GETTING OLD.
good comment nat heyes when he was at utd he only ever passed the ball sideways or backwards had.nt got a clue where forward was.
LETS JUST BURY CHELSEA.
Much the same squad as Jose had two years ago. So it isn't the players (or is it???). Why is it that the best defence in the country can't now defend corners (Jose gone, Stevie Clarke gone etc)??? Why is it that Chelsea concede late in the first half and injury time at the end of the amtch? It's coaching and nothing else. The players aren't fit enough mentally or physically. The new regime is soft. Ferguson must have been very thankful on Sunday that he 'lost' John Obi-One Kenobi to Chelsea - he's another one along with Kalou and Malouda that isn't physically fit enough or mentally strong enough for the Premier League.
I always wonder why supposed fans attack the opposition players for their behaviour when their own have performed so badly, eg Mr Brian B. All this hype against the manager when he was the most liveliest of all the Chelsea staff including players. Cant understand also what the Chelsea players were laughing in the dugout towards the end of the game.
Footballs boring and now outdated
It's the players, not Scolari! They've lost their bottle. Simple as.
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