Author: Clive West

Chelsea Tactical Watch: Mourinho Echoes, Boehly Chaos and a Disillusioned Romance From the Stamford Bridge press row I hear the Mourinho years whispering and Boehly chaos barking in the background. Kyle Walker has World Cup in his sights, a line I never imagined would matter to this season. Nottingham Forest remain potent in attack and…

Arsenal edge United at Old Trafford in gritty 1-0 win to keep title bid alive Winning at Old Trafford is rarer these days. Arsenal’s 1-0 win stands out among the title hopefuls. There were moments last season when set-pieces carried Arsenal. That was not ideal, yet set-pieces remain a useful weapon when needed. Some games…

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: A Tactically Troubled Start and a Spark of Disillusionment Chelsea donned a shiny new badge of honour—literally a gold badge on their shirts, supposedly a symbol of stability and ambition. Yet, beneath the shiny veneer, what unfolded was a worrying display of sluggishness, lack of cohesion, and tactical missteps that would…

Disillusioned Chelsea Insider: Eze’s Saga and the Ghosts of Mourinho’s Glory Once again, Eberechi Eze’s disallowed goal during Palace’s gritty display felt like a cruel mirror of Chelsea’s current chaos. Watching from behind the press row — where I prefer my red wine French and my memories of Mourinho’s command — I couldn’t help but…

Disillusioned Reflections from Stamford Bridge: Eze’s Departure and Chelsea’s Tactical Quandary As I sit here in the cold, glass confines of Stamford Bridge’s press row, the familiar feeling of nostalgia keeps lurking. Just yesterday, you’d see Mourinho’s Chelsea dominate with a tight, disciplined defensive shape, midfield maestros pulling the strings, and a clear tactical plan.…

Chelsea start fast after Club World Cup glory but the questions keep coming Off we go again. Just over a month has passed since Chelsea stunned PSG in the Club World Cup final. Cole Palmer led the destruction of the European champions. There is little chance of life at Stamford Bridge slowing down. The summer…

Tactical Chaos at Chelsea: A Disillusioned Look at the Blues’ New Era Well, here we go again. Just over a month since Chelsea’s unlikely but glorious win at the Club World Cup—thanks to Cole Palmer’s cool-headed double—everyone’s expecting the usual chaos. Only this time, the chaos is wrapped in a shiny package of recent success.…

Chelsea on the Edge: Opening Weekend Chaos and Mourinho Echoes I am Clive West, a Chelsea reporter with the Essex roots and the Mourinho gospel tucked in my coat pocket I am Clive West and the season opens with the same old ache and a fresh coat of varnish Tottenham flickers in the distance, a…

Tottenham’s New Dawn and Chelsea’s Eternal Woes If you thought Tottenham’s recent rebuild was anything but a mess, well, pull up a chair and watch how “Todd’s XI” panics on the pitch. De Cuyper’s debut for Brighton, Aston Villa’s reminder that this is a business, and the eternal spectacle of Liverpool’s fragile dreams — all…

Ben Doak to Bournemouth: tactical turbulence, Boehly chaos and a Mourinho era longing Ben Doak is close to joining Bournemouth for about 25 million pounds. The 19 year old would deliver a sharp profit for Liverpool after their 600 thousand training payment from 2022. Liverpool have benefited from the training compensation and can count the…