Football

But Chalfie, isn't that part of team building, getting rid of the chaff, and keeping the wheat, seeing the potential in players who hadn't been given a chance, look at busquets, personally I'd take YaYa Toure over him everyday of the week, but Guardiola thought the opposite and allowed him to go because he valued Busquets ability to both break up play and initiate it..
No manager's perfect, but Bojan seems to be valuable enough for teams around the major leagues to keep taking a punt on him, and young enough to still be viewed as able to make the step up..

What would UEFA do if Pep went to Chelsea?

Clive?

I agree, but he's not having to come in and sweep it all clean.

You could, if it hadn't been argued before, state that Pep just put a cherry on Frank's work. But, as with all greats, it's having the cojones to stay the course. Of course, Nigel's doing this already. But with a lower talent level due to less money, fortunately this keeps him from being poached. See his 10 years at Burton.

Whereas Holloway, the opportunist, saw his chance at palace.how is that working out?

And while you laud Swansea, do you also value Wigan? Who are doing similar things?

(apols: coffee.not a ranty shout at youN read "you" as royal you.)

happy 150th birthday to the FA

Fergie Alex is 150?

i thought that wasnt until next year

So dicki was all huff and puff (no change there) and so MrsMyth has stepped into the breach.

Pooface/TS didnt get in contact?!

If Guardiola went to a team in the Premier League - I am pretty sure it would be us or Manchester United, despite Man City attempts to turn themselves into a cheap chinese Barcelona knock off to tempt Pep.

I know Goal.com ran a pretty convincing article on Pep's advisors sounding out Arsenal about his preference to choosing them. This could be total horse shit but it does make sense. They are a stable team with a brilliant youth setup and like to play attractive football. The lack of success (trophies) in the recent past also plays into his hands - unlike at Manchester, where instant success would be required, Arsenal could offer a safer period of accilmitisation.

It's all guess work, I guess.

Remy and M'villa going to QPR - two players hoping to play well and move on and in the mean time pocket 70-80k a week in the process.

Arsenal would suit him better. A traditional club seemingly run by sensible people and not a bunch of nutters, in a decent part of the Country with very low expectations for success.

I think being in London is a pretty big thing.

He's spent his sabaticle in New York - so location would seem to play a part in his choices.

Close to Pisti though.

like TS i can imagine SAF stepping down if we win the league this year. but have pep pegged for arsenal. couldn't give a fuck about mourinho. tbh, this talk of manager movements doesn't really do anything for me.

would be a lot more excited if we were talking about ronaldo coming back and messi and iniesta coming over too.

i want ronaldo back at utd. i miss him.

Close to Pisti though.

That is a problem. Though as he seems to spend most of his time plasticing it up abusing Gooner Whoppers and Cockey Kopite cunts in his local, I doubt their paths will cross

Chalfie,

all valid points, you'll know more about the Championship state of play, but Holloway at Crystal Palace, a quick gander at the table, shows they are still in 4th, 10 points off top, but only two below 2nd and automatic promotion, last ten games won 2, lost three, drawn the rest. So he's not made them any worse since his arrival and the speculation about Zaha's future can't be helping matters either..

With Wigan, Martinez has been there a while now, and keeping them up every year after players are poached, and unearthing cheap gems, Valencia, Figueroa, Diame, Kone, Rodallega (though I think he's overrated) as well..

I kind of think like Moyes at Everton, he's run his course there, he and we need to see what he can do with a bit more stability, a bit more money to burn and a higher quality of footballer. I like the fact he's not a knee jerk manager, ready to throw the ref/linesman under the bus when decisions go against him, and his teams play good, attacking football. Wigan have overachieved under his tenure, and I'm still not sure why he hasn't made the break. Wonder if he'd consider dropping down a division to manage one of the sleeping championship giants and to bring them back up...

Pooface/TS didnt get in contact?!

Would have but ive already got a ticket for tonight!

^^I'm sure Palace were actually top of the league (or at least second) when Holloway took over. Winning 2 out of last 10 isn't promotion form either.

Would have but ive already got a ticket for tonight!

Yeah, but that's for the Royal Ballet's Nutcracker performance isn't it.

Pooface/TS didnt get in contact?!

If they moved the game to the Effra, I'd consider it...

Chelsea would be the perfect team for Pep.

They have the money and significant recent success.

More importantly, they have a history of difficulties with managers. They need a top class manager and Pep can dictate terms.those terms would include independence and performance targets.

Oh Clive!

What would UEFA do if Pep went to Chelsea?

Alter the conspiracy, natch.

3.5.1 b) In the Group Stages, Chelsea will play Barcelona and any team managed by a former Chelsea manager until such time as Pep leaves.

Roboto,

Like I said not up on the ins and outs of the Championship, Palace aren't doing as well as they were, could be put down to mid season dip in form, transfer tittle tattle, or Holloway being a poor manager, but despite this, they are still in with a shout. They get on a good run and automatic promotion is a good possibility.

@Clive and his putting out the possibility that Pep would come to Chelsea, its possible, but I'm not sure how probable it would be, Chelsea are starting to resemble Real Madrid, in that there is an inflated sense of worth, its not good enough to win, we have to win like this, which isn't coming as it normally does from the fans, but from the owner. And I'm not sure Guardiola is going to want Abramovich's fingers in his football pie. Also Chelsea's youth policy isn't as deep as some others, especially when Macheacran (sp) is off on loan at Middlesbrough and the last youth product to settle in the first team was John Terry.

Dictating terms and having those terms agreed to, and then adhered to are two different things. Abramovich will surely want to get involved and what about the backroom staff, Emenalo (sp) is he still around and what does he do? and is he any good at it?

Blow me down, Pep is off to Bayern Munich.

Good riddance. Didn't want him anyway ;o)