'Unforgivable' – Chelsea’s 'childish gimmick' slammed after embarrassing scenes

Chelsea’s centre circle huddles were bound to start getting some headlines eventually, and one writer hasn’t pulled any punches.

Liam Rosenior made a good start at Chelsea, and the results he was getting were overcoming the misgivings about his experience and the snickering about his unusual manner.

But now things aren’t going his way on the pitch, the noise about some of the things he has his team doing is growing. The farcical incident with the huddle against Newcastle has now become the focus of all of that criticism.

Jeremy Cross’ article for the Daily Mirror sums up what a lot of people are feeling about Rosenior right now.

Pathetic attempt at marginal gains slammed

For the last couple of months, Chelsea’s starting XI have gathered in a group in the centre circle before kick offs, standing over the ball. It’s a strange look, a little provocative. Rosenior has denied it’s his idea, repeatedly saying the players came up with it. But that just makes it an even worse look, as Cross points out.

“Nobody at Chelsea has taken responsibility for the ‘huddle’. Which means no-one wants to own it. And there’s a good reason for this… Nobody at Chelsea has taken responsibility for the ‘huddle’. Which means no-one wants to own it. And there’s a good reason for this.

“Coaches like Rosenior are forever looking for marginal gains. But a childish gimmick like this is unforgivable – and has to stop.”

Chelsea’s week has got even worse with the news that they’ve been fined £10.75m and given an academy transfer ban.

The first rumours about Liam Rosenior getting sacked have arrived – they sound like nonsense, but it’s still not a great sign.