GodZola

Hypocritical really? This coming from someone who thinks Mourinho is 'lucky' for his unbelievable list of achievements in a very short period of time & apparently Ferguson & Guardiola are the best thing since slice bread & have achieved their success without luck?! You really know how to set yourself up, quite simply mind numbing! You also forget that he is responsible for turning mediocre players into better ones & decent players into great players - these are not my words, just ask Frank Lampard & Joe Cole amongst others who have put their improved performance down at Jose's door. Not to mention the records our team set in winning the title, mind you that's just ordinary isn't it? Just lucky that Jose has some tactical nous - eh! As for those Barca results, well I can't argue & wouldn't either but how are those results going to help Pep & his all conquering team win the title this season? Barca are a terrific team, possibly the best ever according to many pundits which makes winning this title even more incredible. However, you will just retort with something that totally devalue's that achievement, probably along the lines of Barca only had 10 players throughout the season & 5 of those played with wooden legs!

Extreme over what exactly? Please go & read this lads first response to me which I believe is at the top of page 13 & then ask yourself whether my post constitutes him calling me a 'pathetic fool' & apparently I'm irrational & illogical? A little confused by your post as you have quoted me yet you are concurring with part of what I've been trying to say?

You arrogant , do you ever take the time to read other people's post and actually take the time to digest it? What is irrational or illogical about a counter argument about your outrageous and ridiculous post about Jose being lucky? So when he 'APPROACHED' Porto were they CL winners before his tenure? Inter had spent a far sum before his 'APPROACH' but were they CL winners? We had spent a lot under Ranieri, yet were we Champions? Did Pelligrini or whatever his name was that managed Madrid before Jose win the spanish title despite spending huge sums? Of course its a huge fucking NO, they had good squads, spent fortunes but couldn't achieve what Jose has. What is 'truly astonishing is people like you who cannot bring yourself to give the man a tiny bit of credit for his achievements but continue to play down his success because you have a wankfest over Playstation of FIFA 10000 and you think you know it all, there are too many jumped up arseholes like you on here that need to fuckoff and support someone else! You typify what is wrong with fans today, haven't got a fucking clue yet you preach from the high heavens and show complete disrespect to the best Chelsea manager ever and when did i ever spout off that 'Jose was the best manager in the world' i stated and it is FACT that he is the most successful Chelsea manager ever, next time you reply to someone read and take in their post before counteracting with abuse and a response that clearly puts you on a fishing trip. Its clear to say that best you avoid me in future.

Luck? Every manager benefits from luck, look at your hero Ferguson, in 99 they benefited from an offside goal that Del Piero scored and went through, then they get outplayed in the final by Bayern who also it the post twice and get 2 goals in the dying minutes to win it, then JT slips when taking his pen with Van Der Sar beaten to hand them another CL success thats not too mention some of the luck he has got down the years from generous refereeing in the PL. You think luck is going what was it 4, 6 or was 8 years unbeaten at home? Taking Porto were he spent next to nothing and made them Uefa and CL winners is luck? Double CL winner - Luck? How many other managers would of taken unfashionable Inter to CL success within 2 years? The fact he has taken on the great Barca side 'the greatest chemistry you have ever seen' and is now a mere 10 points ahead, is that also luck? Please give the man a little bit of credit, goodness me if that's all luck then i'm going into club management tomorrow - must be easy!

You have a point fella but i think we got an absolute bargain in Mata for 23-26m and i think City got Silva for around the same amount, these 2 imho are worth double that in todays inflated market compared to some of the mediocrity that has been bought now. Lets not forget that the market was still inflated then with Madrid lashing out fortunes on the likes of fat Ronaldo, Figo and Zidane - that was before Roman arrived.

Yes mate he is not accountable for some of those players (which i stated in my first post) but the fact is AVB is our current manager and if he was sacked tomorrow those sums would still be in black and white what he invested in his tenure at the club. Jose didn't sign Shevchenko reportedly amongst a few others but its still there in fact that he spent the 32m on him.

Yeah and referenced to that already LDN, and i wish the hierarchy would catch a great big snow drift!

Why? Any manager is accountable for his expenditure, the fact he doesn't use the tools he builds with is his funeral.

Mata, Lukaku, Meireles, Courtois, Romeu, Cahill, De Bruyen (sp?) Bamford, you do the sums fella. Reporter on talksport said it was in excess of 75m so i was being conservative.

Jose spent about 110m in his first season and most of those players continued our success long after he left, i wouldn't call 70 odd million 'peanuts' to spend either? I'm pretty sure the like of David Moyes would love that sort of investment. Yes he inherited some shit but he should of weeded and fucked off the mediocrity in July, August last year and replaced it with quality - something Jose did remember!

That's always been a serious bone of contention of mine on here, its just mind numbing! Jose was not only the most loved but IS the most successful manager in our history but of course that counts for nothing.................. Lampy i salute you for some of your posts and Laura90 again makes a pertinent point in that Jose will attract the players we need to reinvigorate this squad because what fans must realize is that finishing out of the top 4 this season is more than a distinct possibility, it will be much more difficult to recruit top players then, he will also squeeze every bit of the best out of the 'old guard' and get rid of the mediocrity that has infested itself in our squad. When Andre was appointed i felt sure that the hierarchy had finally been put in their place as regards transfers but oh no we have found out recently that they still have their grubby fingers in the transfer pie which categorically must not happen, Jose's return would put an end to that. Jose already has the ear of the old guard so he will be up to speed on the current status of the club, including some very exciting young players coming through the ranks - he will know their are many positives still at the club just a matter of putting the right pieces to fit the jigsaw and without question he is the man to do it. Oh this bit about stability and Jose not staying, what makes you lot think that AVB will stay after 3 years if he indeed is successful and last out his contract? Whats to say he won't up sticks and go to Barca or Madrid if they come calling? Anyway its all hypothetical as things stand now but i do fear for Andre if we get knocked out by Napoli, i can see his long term vision and totally agree with it but i worry that his man-management skills are letting him down and i think that always stands great managers apart - this is were Jose stands leagues above every other manager bar a very select few. I hope Andre can turn it around but if not and it meant the special one returning then i'm in!

Actually mate threads like this were about last season & the players I want out are not too dissimilar to what I have posted on this thread, & if you take the time to read some posts they don't all say the same things, I don't want the old guard out I want the mediocre players got shot of & to be replaced by some youth & 3 or 4 quality players bought to invigorate our stale squad. It's not being called playstation manager its called being a realist!

Off course you quite correct about too many threads etc & it wasn't finger pointing at anyone in particular, was a generalization but some of us havn't even read the post on threads let alone posting & yesterday was the first time ever I have posted a formation on this site & that's was only because I felt strongly about our team selection & formation that I feel needs to be used til the end of the season. So some have good reason to. Besides I did say a few weeks back that there should be a new section for our managers past & present & then there could be sub categories for all these never ending threads in there, therefore not clogging up things in here. Perhaps if someone else who actually gets noticed on here says something then the powers that be might give an answer, I feel like a ghost on here most of the time!

Fair comment, I just feel that some of these players are just dead wood anyway, I mean look at Ferreira & Hilario? I respect both players especially Ferreira but they never play & to me they are holding back are youth players. I think its time we started promoting are youth/reserves to some of the positions that are vacated this would save on transfer fees & huge salaries & then we could spend a decent sum on 3 perhaps 4 quality additions & I mean real quality not run of mill rubbish, fuck the puppets out of buying players & leave it to the manager again, like Kenyon's relationship with Mourinho, Jose gave him a list in the summer & Kenyon done the rest (before Roman got his fingers in the pie) This squad needs rebuilding, I've always said its 2 years too late but unfortunately its better late than never.

.........................................Cech ...................Ivanovich.......Cahill........... JT .....Luiz.........................................................Bertrand ......:................Ramires..............Romeu ......................................Mata ...............Drogba/Torres.............Sturridge Some pointers, I would use this side & formation against almost every side in the league apart from Spurs & Arsenal as they will attack us. Every other team we play against stick 10 men behind the ball & hope to nick a goal on the counter hence our hefty possession & poor results. Cahill in the middle of a back 3 because he's the quickest, Ryan instead of Cole because he is far better going forward & Luiz has to be moved forward quite simply because he is the most technically gifted player at the club, Ramires due to his industry & Romeu alongside. Mata has to play as our AM in any system, Danny to play upfront on his natural left side alongside one of Drogs or Torres - can't decide! This team & formation would provide width, flair & goals, I would revert to a different system when we play attacking sides & adapt personel/formation when/if needed, which would be 4-3-1-2 with Cole, Essien & lamps coming in for Bertrand, luiz & Romeu.

Enlighten me?

You almost nailed this BB, however you omitted Ferreira from your list to be sold & you are right about Drogba but I will get back to that later in my post. All those players need to go first before you start getting rid of the players that we need to keep for a while longer yet, yes used less but let's use their experience to help promote the exciting youth we have got coming through the ranks & who better than lamps, Essien, Cole & Drogba, besides the hierarchy have got their fingers burnt before with letting decent players go to soon. Now I'm surprised that this thread has not had more exposure as to me this situation is the most pertinent issue that needs to be addressed at our club because the way I see things at the mo, is a power struggle between manager & senior players that is having a detrimental effect that is affecting the club from top to bottom. I'm not going to go into the politics of whose right & whose wrong but I will say that the senior players are giving the exact reaction you would want from top pro's, I just wish they could show more dignity by keeping their grudges in house. As for AVB, I think he has made mistakes with poor man management, he needs to get these senior players on his side & this is were Drogba comes in, for me he would make a terrific coach, so with one common sense decision the club could have a win-win situation on their hands if they installed him as player coach, he wants to stay, has Chelsea in his blood, the players respect him & he could act as the negotiator between the players & Andre. Yes I did say that DROGBA FOR PLAYER COACH - you heard it first! Lastly the only way I cannot see a change is if we turn our season around, otherwise something has got to give the manager or the senior players? The next couple months will reveal all, I will say one thing - there's never a dull moment at our club nowadays!!!

Some bullet points.... - anyone who thinks AVB is not to blame for this defeat should just look at his team selection for the answer. - Meireles was atrocious on Saturday against a championship club yet still gets selected tonight??? - Bosingwa at LB, instead of a fit Cole??? - Maloulda starting? Couldn't for the life of me of seen that & still bewildered! - as much as I rate Luiz, there's a defensive mistake in him every game. - Ivanovich's worst game for the club, normally so consistent, played against a top player in his defence though. - yet again our CF gets no service, proving again that Torres is getting a lot of unnecessary flak. - Napoli deserve the win but I feel this tie is far from over, they have 2 very good players upfront - that's it, with the right team selection & little luck we can go through but It's difficult to see us creating enough chances on current form/tactics/formation & not conceding. - yes AVB fucked up tonight but the players owe him, the club & the fans some big performances so its about time we saw some of it with consistency I might add. - I still think we can get through despite tonights disappointment & if we do I'll take our chances, well if fucking Liverpool can win it whilst being lucky & shit........

Those 3 names say it all to me, my goodness a RB that can't defend at RB but puts him LB, Meireles has been simply woeful & I can't remember the last time Maloulda had a half decent game let alone a decent game?! This team is a massive, massive gamble & if we pull it off with a damage limitation result I will be totally stunned, its almost as though he wants the sack! I hope AVB gets it right but this team would certainly not be my selection.

Echo partly what BL has said, Ivanovich must play at RB & Essien must come in for Meireles, we need to be solid at the back & we simply cannot afford to give away possession like we did on Saturday to a team with Napoli's attacking prowess - we will get thumped! Even though he was poor on Saturday I'm pleased to see Ramires return as we will need his energy & pace from midfield, hopefully they may just underestimate Sturridge & he could play a key role tonight. If AVB plays Boshitwa then I fear for us & possibly his future........

Birmingham fans only I think although the shed end may well of joined in! There were boos at half time, full time & when AVB stupidly decided to take Mata off.

Said the same yesterday on the way to the Bridge, if you look at the games we have played well this season its generally been against quality opposition, Utd, City, Spurs yet we play a championship side & are atrocious. Some of our players are in the last chance saloon for this competition, so it should inspire them to perform but its not to say they will. I'm not confident but it wouldn't surprise me if we turned Napoli over either.

Top post fella, you are spot on with your analysis. I was there yesterday & couldn't believe that AVB didn't take off Mikel & Meireles at half time, all they did was give the ball away, how the fuck Meireles got 90 minutes was beyond me & everyone in the stand! I rate Ramires but he really has to improve his technical ability as he also gave away possession far too often. Didn't agree with him taking Torres off either as he made run after run but was simply not given the ball, anyone who keeps asking why Torres isn't scoring just need to look at this game for the answers as our midfield was shocking, Drogba got exactly the same service - fuckall! Why oh why does he persist in taking off our most creative player in Mata, just doesn't make any sense at all. Says it all when our defenders are out best players especially Luiz & Cahill, Ryan had a steady game & Ivanovich set up the goal & its good to see a player that can actually defend at RB, take note AVB & never select fucking Bosingwa ever again, please do us & you a massive favour by getting shot of him in the summer.

See were you're coming from but the fact is we have spent a fortune on our academy since Roman has been in ownership yet we have not produced 1 player that has made it as a first team regular to date & that's almost 9 years of zero productivity which is totally unacceptable whatever way we dress it up & that cannot just be down to young players not playing at a decent standard. Man Utd as much i detest them seem to get it right as they are regularly producing young players that are in the first team - Welbeck & Cleverly the latest 2. Its perceived that the club are making some catastrophic mistakes with their decision making, in how to get the very best out our future stars of tomorrow, you only have to look at the way Josh MacEachran has been handled this season to see my point, imho I believe there has been a combination of very poor decision making & some coaching not up to the required standards. A succession of managers who havn't utilized the youth either doesn't help. I believe nothing beats experience & if young players are good enough they should be introduced into the first team fold, if they are not ready they should go out on loan were the club should ensure that they get a minimum amount of playing time before releasing them to loan clubs, look how well that benefited Sturridge at Bolton last season. Mediocrity has manifested itself in the first team with atleast 5 or 6 senior players blocking the path of our youth, not their fault but the clubs again for not throwing out the likes of Maloulda, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Hilario et al but those players you mention could of been given their places in the squad & thus their path opens up - surely we must have an up & coming RB that can defend who should be in the squad ahead of Bosingwa? I truly hope that we have learnt from those many mistakes over those costly years & they are behind us because I see a very bright future ahead for us just as long as those young players get the expert coaching required & the club make the right calls on their future development.

If the majority of our current under 16's are kept together & continue developing then I can see them winning the youth cup comfortably, well that's from what I witnessed earlier this season, atleast 6 of those players caught my eye & I'm not that easily convinced! However doesn't it or shouldn't it ask the powers that be at the club that something is significantly wrong that these talented young players are not making the grade? I know their opportunitys are limited which obviously doesn't help their development but it seems they hit a brick wall come 18? To me there is something awry with the coaching staff at this level at the club as these youngsters are simply not stepping up, I hope that questions have been asked & the next generation are given every opportunity to make it, including top level coaching.