Where Do Chelsea Go From Here?

After Monday night's loss to Leicester City, Chelsea's flirtation with relegation and the troubles of Jose Mourinho in the Premier League has been given a lot of media attention. 

What is wrong with Chelsea? This is a question many have grappled with. But the answer to this question is not as straight forward as Chelsea supporters would like.

Many pundits in the British media have had their say as to what needs to be done for things to improve at Stamford Bridge. Some are of the opinion that certain players need to be shown the exit door while others like Jamie Carragher feel Mourinho's time is up.

Others such as Frank Lampard feel that Mourinho, although, needs time to turn things around, appears not to know what to do since this is the first time in his career he has had to deal with what seems to be a relegation dogfight.

In his post match interview after the defeat to Leicester, Mourinho appealed  to the Chelsea board and Roman Abramovich to stand by him because he intends to remain as manager and fix the problems with the squad's performances.

But how long Abramovich will heed this call is anybody's guess. He is not one to be too patient with failure as Roberto Di Matteo and Luis Felipe Scolari can attest. They were kicked out in situations that would be considered bliss now. Apparently, Mourinho's popularity, track record and reputation is what's keeping the "Special One" in a job.

With Chelsea lying 16th on the league table after 9 defeats, should Chelsea allow Mourinho to remain as manager so that he can oversee a change in the club's fortunes? Does he deserve it? If Roman Abramovich decides to pull the trigger on Mourinho's time at the club, who is out there that could galvanise the team? Is  Chelsea's predicament solely down to the actions or lack thereof  of Mourinho?

Some analysts are of the opinion that Chelsea's problems is more than just Mourinho not doing his job properly and the players under performing. It stretches up to the very top as far as Technical Director, Michael Emenalo. 

Looking at Chelsea's transfer policy since Mourinho's second coming, it is clear that there is some sort of disconnect between Mourinho and Emenalo. Players like Felipe Luis, Mohammed Salah, Juan Cuadrado, Papy, and others seem not to be the type of players Mourinho likes to deploy. And as a consequence, Mourinho hardly gives them much playing time.

This has led to the sales of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku to other clubs. Then the policy of loaning out bit part players have also played a role in Chelsea's struggles as there seems to be no back up for injured and fatigued players. Players like Victor Moses who are in good form would have offered an alternative to Mourinho as Hazard struggles to reenact last season's form. Chelsea surely, could do with the attacking threat of the likes of Moses.

And speaking of players, Chelsea have serious issues with their current playing staff. Whether it is a coincidence that all Mourinho's trusted 'Generals' in the likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill,Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are out of form at the same time will only be confirmed in the coming weeks if their form improves dramatically or Mourinho is fired (it is inconceivable to think that Roman Abramovich will not act decisively if the current meltdown continues).

But many critics are of the opinion that the under performing stars plight might be a combination of age catching up with  some of them like John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic and/or a mutiny is well and truly in progress in the dressing room. This is not out of the realms of possibility but what could cause a team to turn against their manager? 

Some have spuriously suggested that Mourinho lost the players support the moment he fell out with Dr Eva Carneiro. But this seems a bit too simplistic. Yes, some players might have been upset at how Dr Eva was treated but this happened in August. Come on, who holds a grudge that long because of a third party who was being made a scapegoat?

A more credible explanation for the poor form of key Chelsea players is that which has been alluded to Mourinho's methods which is physically draining to the players. The problems of Chelsea can be traced to last season when they managed to crawl over the line to win the league as they laboured to win games or held on for draws in their last 8 or 9 matches.

The warning signs were there, nobody heeded them. Now, it has led to a crisis and a fall that is more than anyone anywhere could have envisaged. Perhaps this is the reason why Mourinho after the Leicester City game made a damning statement that his players betrayed him because he brought them to the level  where they could compete and win trophies but were unable to repeat same this season.

How would Mourinho's men react to his criticism? Would they continue to struggle for form or will they raise their game to the levels we know they can? Whatever it is their response turns out to be, Mourinho has to act fast and tweak his squad so that they can claim maximum points in their next two home games against Sunderland and Watford.

But where does he need to make changes? John Terry may have to accept the fact that he is past his sell by date. He can't play games anymore at the level we know he used to. He needs to be dropped. Matic has to be motivated to regain his form of last season or anything close to it. John Obi Mikel does not look like a solution. Fabregas is no longer assisting unlike last season that he racked up assists such that he threatened to set a record. He has since faded as usual but has failed to come back this season. Mourinho may need to look at options on the bench to bring energy and creativity in midfield.

Diego Costa and Eden Hazard between them last season contributed 40 goals as Chelsea marched all the way to the title. But this season, only 4 goals have been scored between both forwards. A stat which shows the extent at which Chelsea has fallen this season. Diego needs competition which he at the moment isn't getting because Falcao and Remy have been out of their 

depth. Costa has been all aggression this season but no substance and has even drawn criticism from Mourinho himself. Had his form been okay, things might have been better. 

Eden Hazard on the other hand needs to rediscover his form quickly or Mourinho may need to give Kennedy a run in the team. But with reports suggesting Hazard and Mourinho already have a fractious relationship then someone has to eat humble pie for the benefit of the team.

The verdict though is that Chelsea's fortunes can be turned around by Jose himself if given time. Any other manager can as well because the Chelsea squad is a good one. This is based on the premise that the players are under performing not out of a desire to frustrate the manager but because of other variables already discussed. But will things get worse before they get better? Time will tell.

Can LVG Salvage Man United's Season?

After Manchester United's embarrassing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Wolfsburg in Germany, questions about Louis Van Gaal's tactics and methods have been brought to the fore again by analysts.

A group featuring the likes of Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven, and CSKA Moscow who are hardly European heavy weights is one a team of the status and calibre of United  should successfully negotiate through. This brutal failure to get past this stage is a huge wake up call to both deluded fans and the powers that be at Old Trafford.

How did Man United get to this sorry mess? LVG who was given a mandate to restore Man United into the Champions League after the ill fated David Moyes reign, achieved the goal but the club's sharp exit at the group stages is not what anyone with any ties with United had in mind.

The team's performance against Wolfsburg may have been valiant, but ultimately, they came up far below the standards required to progress further than the first round. This United team is regarded as a dull and boring side with a lack of pace and pedestrian movement. Many fans and critics alike have rightly pointed at LVG's system or philosophy as the reason for this style which contrived to produce a goalless draw against PSV which with the benefit of hindsight proved to be the game that sealed United's fate in the Champions League this season.

As Paul Scholes said, you wouldn't expect Wolfsburg or PSV to get past the round of 16. Yet, these are the teams (not Barcelona, not  Bayern Munich, not Real Madrid but Wolfsburg!) that eliminated Man United. What Scholes forgot to add is that on the evidence of that display in Germany, that United team would also not progress beyond the second round.

Michael Owen buttressed this fact when he said that LVG's transfer policy should be called into question when he said that the players that have been pushed out for those brought in would defeat Wolfsburg. He mentioned the likes of Vidic, Evra, Chicarito, Evans, Van Persie etc would defeat Wolfsburg easily if they were in his squad. 

Former Wales striker, John Hartson, believes that there hasn't been any significant progress with LVG in charge from the Moyes era. A transfer policy and squad management where Wayne Rooney is the only recognisable striker has to be slated. 

Javier Hernandez whom LVG sold to Bayer Leverkusen meanwhile has at this point scored 14 goals in 19 games for Leverkusen. How desperate would LVG be for such firepower now?

Wayne Rooney has come in for criticism for his performances this season but the performance against Wolfsburg shows that United's problems in attack is not down to Rooney alone. He may be past his best but LVG should receive a large share of the blame for the bluntness of United's attack. No one foresaw the scale of Rooney's regression even though the signs have been there a few years. But the fact that LVG only signed an unproven 19 year old from Monaco and let experienced strikers like Van Persie and Chicarito leave has to be a serious mistake on his part, one deserving of the sack were LVG a nonentity.

In LVG's defence, it has to be said that he hasn't had much luck with injuries. Luke Shaw's double fracture against PSV in the first leg started a run of injuries that has swept Valencia, Jones, Herrera, Rooney, Schnerderln, and now Darmian and Smalling.

These injuries though, reveal the hollowness in the squad. A lack of depth which is surprising considering the amount spent on the squad. Another minus for Van Gaal. 

What next for LVG now? Can he turn United's fortunes around? Should the top brass start thinking seriously about the direction United will be going after Van Gaal?

LVG can turn the fortunes of United if he wants to. However, as former United captain, Roy Keane said, it appears LVG has seen something many United fans don't want to admit: that the players, good they might be, aren't good enough for a club like Manchester United. And as a result, LVG has taken the safe option of making his team compact and difficult to breakdown so that the weakness in the squad won't be exposed. But the strategy has led to a sacrifice of a more fluid and dynamic style. 

As things stand, he has to raid the transfer market in January in the hopes of getting a dependable striker, particularly if Wayne Rooney's poor form continues. Perhaps, his current system could yet work if United had a dependable striker who will bury the few chances they create. 

United are only 3 points off league leaders Leicester City. The Premier League is quite open and with Chelsea out of the picture in the title race and also with Leicester City expected to falter as the title race begins to hot up, United have a good chance of winning the league if they can get a decent striker. A feat which will more than compensate for the early champions league ouster.