EskWeston

You most certainly can't disagree with the mans record! Depends if the club want to build something for the long term! I know it is impossible to plan as we saw with Jose, but if it was the case they wanted something long term then i would guess Lippi would not be an option... The situation we are in now this is the biggest descision the club have had to make, bigger than when we appointed Jose because now we are winners at the highest level and expected to win things. This appointment is supposed to signal a new chapter in our history so it will be a very interesting one.

I don't think we would discount someone on the basis that they couldn't speak English, there are ways around it while that person learns..

I don't think he would be anyones FIRST choice to be honest, but i think the majority of people would be willing to give him a go.

So far, 4 votes and 4 different managers named! Just goes to show that there is not one outstanding candidate out there. IF the club have no already decided then it could be quite a long process to decide on who to appoint, meeting with the interested parties ect. to discuss what their plans would be.. Lippi is an interesting one, aparently willing to work in England but maybe his age may put the club off going for him.....

I think out of the leading candidates now Hughes would be the biggest risk. Certainly wouldn't be the worst thing we could do if we do appoint him although i do feel it is highly unlikely.

Well at the moment from everything that has been said we have managed to rule out Jose, Hiddink and Mancini. Any one else is a possibility. Make no mistake this is a job that all top managers will want unless they are secure in a job already. A top manager is an absolute must for us.

Would be interesting to know how he knos he is on a shortlist? I have no idea of what his managerial style is so it is hard for me to comment on him to be honest, would be unsure what to expect if he was appointed.

Too many questions over Hughes for my liking to appoint him! Can he manage at the highest level? Can he handle the big big name players? Will he be able to bring attacking football?

So lets try and guage the TalkChelsea opinion on who the next manager should be. This isn't who you think will be the next manager but who you would most like to see in charge next season.

I agree Rijkaard is the best option! There are so many things pointing to it being him, and i hope it gets announced very soon.

Not the ideal man for the job thats for sure! Can't see him being the appointment somehow, but it makes a change from all the denials we have had so far lol

Well time will tell. Rijkaard is still my tip, for me too many things point at him being the appointment and that it has been long planned. No matter what now we are on the brink of a new era, and getting this appointment right is the absolute key to how it will go..

It all comes down to WHAT the club are looking for in a manager really. We have been told all season long that Attacking football is the main thing along with success..... I can't see Hughes being the right man for the job at all, just doesn't fit the mould of what we are aparently looking for. Like i have said i would be extremely suprised if the club do not have their man already. And i would also not be suprised if we had an announcement very very soon. Which would be good for all involved, the club, the players and the new man so things can get moving for next season.

If we are going by the press then there doesn't seem to be any clear leader for the job. Although i am sure that they already have the man decided. I can't believe that it wasn't planned all along fro Grant to go, also it would be strange to be arranging transfers without a new man decided. Hopefully it won't be dragged out too long now...

Well i think really it comes as no suprise that Grant has gone. It seems like it was planned all along and i am certain that the new manager has always been decided and we will see sooner rather than later who that person is. I honestly don't think that this was done because of the results. I think Grant was always just a stand in for a season while we waited for the man we really want. At the moment it is looking like Rijkaard, Hughes and suprisingly Jose are the 3 current favorites......

I dont really think the Lone striker HAS to be physical and good in the air. Certainly it helps but it is not the most important thing. The striker has to be able to stay high up pitch and not drop deep. When were at our best with the 4-3-3 scoring plenty of goals and playing great football our front 3 was Duff, Robben and Eidur, Eidur isn't a target man but because we had excellant wingers it meant he got the chances and he is clever enough to bring others into the game without having to be big and strong in the air.

I think with Drogba it goes beyond someone needing to control him. Last season he had a lot to prove to everyone, and he set about every game giving his all. This season right from the start you could see a more casual approach from him. He is a strange character who needs to be in the right frame of mind to get the best out of him - like the second Liverpool CL game.

If it is Hiddink, then it certainly will be after the Euros. Which would be a pain really as this is one situation which should not wait any longer to be finalised.

Yes, but attacking and entertaining football is what we are told by the club is one of the requirements going forward. If he is not the manager who will bring that then i doubt he will be seen as an ideal appointment.

He has had the best possible loan period, playing regular footbal at PSV in the CL. If he is not ready to come into our squad and be a contender for a staring place then we should not bother in my opinion. Another loan to a PL club who is not as good as PSV will achieve nothing for him....

Would Lippi bring the kind of "attacking" football that this club want to see though?

At the moment the noises comming out of the club are positive. It seems like Grant will be moved upstairs with a new man to come in. They can see the club needs clearing of deadwood and some exciting talent brought in. Lets hope that this summer can iron out all the little (and big) problems we currently have and make next season a massive one for this club.

Couldn't agree more FB!!! Good call on Ashley Cole, outstanding and a very underrated player who doesn't get anywhere near enough credit, the best player in the world (aparently) wouldn't go anywhere near that side of the pitch because he know he would get no joy out of Ash. Drogba was stupid, i won't hate him for that. I would be delighted to see him stay next season. But i would want to see more from him than we got this season, he went from a destroyer of everyone being totally unplayable to looking a lot less interested and lacking form.

Which is why looking at all the criteria we want in a new manager i think he is the best choice for us: Experience - Yes A Winner - Yes Attacking entertaining football - Yes Will allow youth players a chance - yes

I think to say that this seasons was a "bad season" is doing the players a massive disrespect. Through a loss of manager, the ACN and a LOT of injuries we have had a damn fine this season and the players have given their all for us and come up just short, we cant expect to win something every year, there are too many good teams around for that to happen. We came within a whisker of a fantastic treble this season.......... Everyone knows Avram Grant is not good enough to manage Chelsea and no-one wanted him in the first place and he should never be given the job. And it is reasuring to see that it looks likely he will once again be moved upstairs to allow a proper manager to take us forward. But you cannot use what we have achieved this season as a stick to beat Grant with because we have done fantastic. Even BEFORE Grant was appointed when Jose left pretty much everyone thought a top 4 finish would be about the best we could hope for even with a decent manager comming in instead of Grant.