EskWeston

Experience isn't everything. Mancienne has pace and can read the game fantastically, he could be ideal up against the young and fast Young and Agbonlahor.

I don't think i would argue too much with that. Although personally i would play Mancienne instead of Belletti, either at Centre back with JT with Ivanovic on the right or the other way around. Most of the papers today seem to think that Hiddink will give Deco a run out in the holding role, which is a bold move.

lol What a wonderful image you have given us all there!!!!!!

£10m for Ballack? He is out of contract in the summer. But we can get his wages off the books. For me we have to be looking at keeping a nucleus of Established players and using younger players, both our own and brought in to beef the squad up. Out go Hilario(£0), Alex(£10m), Belletti(£2m), Ferreira(£5), Ballack(£0), Deco(£5), Miniero(£0), Malouda(£7m), Drogba(£10) Total Income: £39m We should have some money carried over from player sales this Season, lets say another £20m. So that means we should have about £60m to spend on a backup keeper, a right back, 2 central midfielders, and a striker. Which for me should be more than possible. The most expensive purchases would be a striker and 1 of the midfielders. £20m of a striker, £15m on a decent young midfielder of a high standard. Which leaves £25m to spend on the keeper, right back and a midfilelder. Keepers: P.Cech (26) ??????? (??) R.Taylor (19) Centre Backs: J.Terry (28) R.Carvalho (30) B.Ivanovic (24) M.Mancienne (21) Full Backs: A.Cole (28) J.Bosingwa (26) R.Bertrand (20) ?????????? (??) Midfielders: F.Lampard (30) M.Essien (26) J.O.Mikel (22) J.Cork (20) ??????? (??) ??????? (??) Wingers: J.Cole (27) S.Kalou (24) R.Quaresma (25) M.Stoch (19) Strikers: ???????? (??) N.Anelka (30) F.Di Santo (19)

Over the last week or so we have seen the club enter a time of some termoil. A manager gone and we have no idea who will be in charge next season. Also today we have been given the news that while our actual debt has been halved we now will not be signing any players unless we sell first. I think everybody has looked at our squad this season and said that something is very not right with it. First of all we are carrying a fair few players not pulling their weight and never look like they will do, secondly we have a lot of players into their 30's which for a club like us these players struggle to be top class. Man Utd's 30+ players are now bit part players and because of that are able to make an impact, ours are regulars every game. So bearing in mind the state of our squad and the knowledge that we have to sell to rebuild, how can you see us doing that and what would you like to realistically see now. Squad: Keepers: P.Cech (26) H.Hilario (33) R.Taylor (18) Centre Backs: J.Terry (28) R.Carvalho (30) Alex (26) B.Ivanovic (24) M.Mancienne (21) Full Backs: A.Cole (28) J.Bosingwa (26) P.Ferreira (30) J.Belletti (31) Midfielders: F.Lampard (30) M.Ballack (31) M.Essien (26) J.O.Mikel (22) Deco (30) Miniero (32) Wingers: J.Cole (27) S.Kalou (24) F.Malouda (28) R.Quaresma (25) Loan M.Stoch (19) Strikers: D.Drogba (30) N.Anelka (30) F.Di Santo (19)

Absolutely mental!!! 12 years old and knocking someone up..... When his kid is his age now he will only be 26! Imagine being 26 and having a 13 year old child.

Will be interesting to see how Ray and Clem set out the team and the way they approach the game. Even though Guus has said he is leaving this game to them i am sure that he will be having some level of input into this game for sure!

There is always one journo who thinks that they knew what is happening. Chances are that this is not decided at all. But i suspect that most people would be happy to see it happen.

To be fair it could have been worse. Also there have been quite a few player sales after these figures, so thats players off the wages and also incomming transfer fees. The most disturbing part of this news for me is the fact that any future buys are dependant on sales......

Not too sure why Hiddink isn't taking charge for this game if he is meeting the players today! But either way, team selection should be interesting now. Also playing Watford gives us some sort of breathing space. Team selection for me would be: ................................Cech................................. Ivanovic....Mancienne.........Alex.................A.Cole ...............................Belletti................................ .................Lampard.............Deco....................... Kalou.......................Drogba.......................Stoch

Considering the lack of spending this year it would not suprise me if we announce something close to even and actual profit. Kenyon and Buck are on CTV tommorow to discuss finances and they have been saying for a while that this will show that Roman is still commited.

That is the worry. Look what happened to Robben after a couple of long lay offs. Kakuta also has only just come back from a fairly long injury. He will need to be mentally strong now and be ready to get going again once he is fully healed.

I am sure he will return. But it is a serious injury, Sam Hutchinson and Adam Phillip both been off with lengthly lay offs and returned. The question is how much will is slow his development? He has made the first team bench this season and now this will put him right back....

There have been a lot of things comming out about Scolari's training methods, mainly to do with fitness of the players. Scolair is a very decent bloke but it seems that the training and preparation, not to mention him never trying anything new formation-wise has meant that he has had to go.

On blues News last night they said that in a reserves friendly game Kakuta suffered a broken ankle, i think they said it was broken in 2 places so is going to be out possible for up to a year. For probably the brightest star in our academy this is a massive blow in his development!

It is impossible to guage anything from the media. Any managers in jobs will not come out and beg for the job, they will always cover their backs with their current club! We will see people ruling themselves out and then come right back into the frame again! But out of all the talk the one thing i don't want to see is Avram comming back! I could take us sliding down a little if we had a clear plan to rebuild for the future, because make no mistake we DO need to rebuild massively.

For me there are not many candidates who would fit the bill of what we are trying to achieve, we need someone who tactically can be astute enough to make big chances to a game, and someone who can build for our future. Looking at what seems to be available i would say the choices we should be looking at are: Hiddink Rijkaard O'Neil I am a bit disturbed by the news coming from SSN that there is only 2 people on the list and the new man will be announced in 24 hours, and those 2 are Grant and Hiddink.

I think most people would agree with that, Minto and Cundy certainly did on CTV last night. I find it hard to believe that Avram would even be discussed as a possibility! I hope it is just paper talk because i would hate to think that the club are seriously considering it....

Completely agree. Scolari had the problem in the summer during the transfer window of not knowing his players well enough to build on the squad! If someone comes in now they have the rest of the season to judge the squad and decide what they need to do in the summer. After all the grief and 99% of fans wanting him out it would be the biggest joke of all if Avram Grant got the job again! If that happens you have to seriously consider the sanity of those running the club.

Zola i agree isn't ready yet, i think a lot of people like the romantic idea of an ex-player, especially one as loved as Zola to come back and take us to a new level. Saying that i don't necissarily believe that our new boss has to be a big name, look at what has happened at Barca.......

Welcome to the forum! I would agree that Rijkaard has to be the favorite for many reasons. Moyes i am not convinced about, i would rather O'Neil than Moyes. Can we take a chance on a relatively unknown like Barca did, look where they are now - could we do the same with say Brendan Rodgers, Zola or Di Matteo? Wholesale changes are needed at this club, at management and player level. And we need someone strong to do that.

This is an almost impossible one to call. No matter what i think there will a large chunk of people not happy with whoever we appoint! One name not mentioned yet. Martin O'Neil.....

I agree, there are a few people around the club who should probably also leave. We was in a great situation a few seasons ago and we have failed big time to build on that. We need to take a good long look at every level of this club and do what is best for the club.

Personally i am not to sure of Hiddink.... Rijkaard Mourinho Not many names spring to mind who you would want at the helm. A Chelsea connection would be nice, but is it practical? Too soon for Zola or Di Matteo? Too soon for Brendan Rodgers?

To be a bit fair to the club, things really didn't look like turning around. And Scolari was never going to be a long term appointment. Hopefully this time we will make the RIGHT choice and appoint someone we are willing to give time and backing to and build this team up again because there is a big need for a shake up.