6 Tactical Changes To Save Chelsea's Season
Mourinho must find a way to reset the Blues league title defence
At Cobham, Jose Mourinho closes the door to his office and slumps in his chair, fearing the worst. His team look great in training but that would lull weaker managers into a false sense of security. Falcao scored twice with not a hair out of place, Terry was imperious in their usual 5-a-side session. He asks himself, "What am I not seeing?".
Jose's phone vibrates. It's an email from the FA about his post-match comments after the home defeat to Southampton. Great.
While he is the best manager the Blues have ever in football sentimentality is for the history books and, currently hovering above the relegation zone after eight games, Chelsea's season has run aground.
It's not yet the spectacular fall from grace Leeds United experienced in 2004 nor is it the arid ten-year trophy drought that forced Liverpool to hit the panic button and give Brendan the boot - but it is disastrous form.
The Curse of Eva Carneiro would make a great headline but the solutions are easier than having to climb atop a mountain and sacrifice Branislav Ivanovic.
Here are six tactical changes to save Chelsea's season.
6. Address The Future Of John Terry
Captain. Leader. Legend.
If these words are to count for more than a pretty banner at Stamford Bridge the fate of John Terry needs to be addressed.
A combination of back problems and lack of pace limited his game-time under both Andre Villas-Boas and Rafa Benitez. Almost four years on and Mourinho favours a high-pressing game and a lightning quick counter-attack, neither of which can accommodate the former England captain.
He's only 34 and he's been written off before but he's not playing midfield like Ryan Giggs or Didier Drogba where mistakes further upfield can be mopped up by a dogged defence.
Immediate replacements are thin on the ground but it looks like rotating the back four every week hardly helps with form and confidence.
For the sake of the club rather than have John's his passion, energy and tactical nouse overlooked every time there's an error in the back four and churned into frustration and anger surely he would be better off spending match days in a tracksuit, barking orders from the touchline and rallying players when his performance can be free from blame.