'This paradox only ends one way'

[BBC]

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You won't see many 7-0 victories celebrated as half-heartedly as Chelsea's over Port Vale 10 days ago.

Despite such a heavy win, and the morale-boosting bonus of having seven different goalscorers, supporters had seen more than enough in the preceding defeats by Newcastle, Everton and PSG (twice) to know that things were going seriously wrong. It would have taken more than a big win against a League One team to change their mind.

What really mattered was the game against Manchester City on Sunday and that match proved the fears of those supporters correct. The Blues were right back to the worst of their recent Premier League defeats: weak in defence, blunt in attack and lacking any conviction from the moment they conceded.

Liam Rosenior has only been in charge since January, a fact he likes to repeat as a means of excusing the huge problems with the team he manages. Given his limited time in charge, it's astonishing how often we've already heard him repeat the same lines to explain defeats.

His team are "immature", lacking in resilience both physically and mentally. They miss too many chances and make too many errors defensively. They have no discipline both tactically and professionally, with dissent on the pitch now joined by dissent off it as an issue. These were all problems before Rosenior arrived, but they've all worsened since he took over.

If it didn't already, his reign has a familiar, Graham Potter-shaped shadow hanging over it. A manager without the credentials either as a player or a coach to convince top players to buy into his system needs results to act as his CV. Once he stops getting those results, and the players stop believing in him, he enters a vicious circle.

He can't win games without players buying in. They won't buy in because they aren't winning games. This paradox only ends one way.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News