Football

no.....lots of rumours going round though as there have been since Christmas. latest one is
rui faria

Honestly can’t see that happening. He knows the ins and outs at the club better than most but don’t think he’s going to be the one, less so after the AVB debacle.

Corney, my dear chap, this is, of course, arrant nonsense. Chelsea's aim is to win trophies. Benitez has won some trophies but not nearly as many as Chelsea has in his active years.
Newcastle won because Chelsea couldn't be bothered. We would have lost to any team in the league yesterday. The manager gave up after the Liverpool game and the palyers really couldn't be bothered. They were playing for nothing and risking injury ahead of the World Cup. They were tapering ready for their big push in the summer.

Newcastle were lauded by the appalling commentary team for gaining the same number of points since Christmas as Chelsea. Chelsea have been woeful since Christmas. Not quite sure what level of achievement is for Benitez. "Hey, I have done as well as a woeful team".

Anyway, rebuilding starts as soon as they find a way to get rid of Conte for less than £9 million.

yeah I know buts the latest in a long line of rumours linked to the managers job.

I'd like the Monaco guy Jardim if only to get Bakayoko some confidence !

Only Arsenal would think it makes sense to replace a departing manager of 22 years, who has left his mark on all aspects of the club, with a complete rookie with no managerial track record.

@cornelius_blackfoot I’m not here to attack him or his record as a manager.
Some people are the right fit and others just aren’t. Do you look back fondly of George Graham’s time at Spurs?

@cornelius_blackfoot might not, but I do.

Maybe the penny will drop that Wenger wasn’t the biggest problem at Arsenal.

Fair enough IMO, there are very few managers with pedigree available.
Arteta may well be a success, and knows the club. Rui Faria will be hilariously bad wherever he goes.

Ancelotti should have been appointed already.

#sexehfootball

Isn’t Conte out of contract, and shouldn’t the hierarchy at Chelsea not give any manager a contract longer than two seasons so the boom and bust cycle doesn’t keep costing them money?

Never understood the hatred for Benítez at Chelsea, yeah his Liverpool team put the boot into you guys during his time there, but I don’t think it’s comparable to George (spits) Graham coming to spurs.
He’s a good/great manager who would have improved you in the short and long term given the backing.
But you got rid back then and now have to find someone to replace Conte. No chance of him coming back when Conte gets out the door?
Also genuine question who is available or desirable that Chelsea are interested in for the job? I have my doubts about luis Enrique, from his time at Roma. Is he still the front runner?

think this quote didn't help."I would never take that job, in respect for my former team at Liverpool, no matter what. For me there is only one club in England, and that's Liverpool."

Didn’t he also say something about plastic flags?

He did indeed. Or perhaps it was his wife. Apparently they hand them out at The Bridge on European nights.

At least you won something under George Graham, not something to be sniffed at...

Cracking game yesterday between two teams with in-form strikers and crap defences.

@WornCleat do you think there will ever be a long term plan to bring the amazing youth system at Chelsea through to the 1st team. the current youth set up is amazing and the talent is there even with out on loan players (a couple who have got player of the season at respective loan clubs.)
I have high hopes for Christensen and Ampadu.
But had the same hopes for Ake and chaloba

Never understood the hatred for Benítez at Chelsea

When at Liverpool he slagged off Chelsea supporters. Imagine the manager of another club slagging off Liverpool supporters.

When he came to Chelsea he was offered the opportunity to excuse or apologise for his statements. He declined. He then slagged off Chelsea supporters while Chelsea manager.

His management approach at Chelsea revolved solely around Torres. He was happy to sideline players like Lampard and Terry.

His period at Chelsea was almost certainly the most miserable of all of my years supporting the club. There was a wider gulf between the club and supporters than even the darkest days of the Mears’ regime.

Only long term managers like Wenger can really hope to do that. The fact is that so many outstanding youth players end up on the bench for Hull or Preston. Very few Male it even to the PL. Managers at Chelsea have to focus on short term goals. This leads to buying established players and selling on youth. The youth programme helps with FFP.

Isn’t Conte out of contract, and shouldn’t the hierarchy at Chelsea not give any manager a contract longer than two seasons so the boom and bust cycle doesn’t keep costing them money?

They don't. His original contract was a two year contract but, unsurprisingly, he was in a good position to renegotiate it after winning the PL and so he extended it for 2 years until the end of next season.

I don't really think Abramovic cares that much about the money. If anything it probably helps him er... "process" his money and also probably helps him in terms of FFP (as contract payoffs probably don't count). I think he'll just keep doing the same until he finds a manager that sticks and doesn't lose the dressing room (the cynic in me thinks this is done on purpose to get out of what is probably a toxic atmosphere with a nice payoff and no face lost on either side.)

Also genuine question who is available or desirable that Chelsea are interested in for the job? I have my doubts about luis Enrique, from his time at Roma. Is he still the front runner?

Appearently they are interviewing. Lots of speculation about Jokanovic who, while underappreciated while at Chelsea by a segment of the supporters, is well liked at the club and has done well at Watford and Fulham with limited resources. Another idea is Rui Faria who was in London last week for the West Ham game, rumours emerged about the club interviewing someone well known to them and then he handed in his notice at ManU. Must be a better bet than AVB. Jody Morris is also getting a lot of positive mention but probably too early for him.

Also the usual and some unusual suspects from around Europe and beyond. Brenda remains a bookie's favourite especially as he now has a challenger in Scotland.

Jokanovic would be v interesting.
And I'm glad to see Jody Morris turn things around and become what he has for the youth team set up. You cold maybe see him assist 1steam coach/manager to step in the role in the future.

Brenda....not enough chevrons.

Current top 5 (according to the collated bookies odds) are:-

1. Sarri
   
2. Enrique
   
3. Ancelotti
   
4. Brenda
   
5. Sampaoli
   

Jokanovic...that volley vs west ham.