Pizy

This XI struggled against a promoted team yet we put it out again. How does it make sense? Hazard was instantly our most dangerous player after coming on and has admitted that he fully fit. How on earth isn't he starting?

Are you fucking kidding me with this lineup!? No Hazard AGAIN!? Do we want to win games?

Özil and Arse destroying a small team. Same old, same old.

I feel pretty confident as well. On the other hand, I remember how Martial destroyed Ivanovic repeatedly last time. It would never happen obviously, but playing Azpi on the right and Baba on the left would make a whole lot of sense here so Martial can be handled better. Iva is undroppable of course so I can forget about that.

Depends on our next manager. I'd have him back in a heartbeat if we appoint a more attacking manager or one who loves having loads of possession. If it's Simeone then I'd say no. Still love the little guy. Still good enough to play for a top PL club and too good to go back to Valencia. Just being used completely wrong at United.

Really hope that since we're home here we won't allow them to completely dominate the ball like they did last time we played them. If Hazard doesn't start I may break something.

What he said there is common sense, though. You win the title and should build upon the team to elevate yourself even further. You don't rest upon your laurels and feel content. Anyone and their mother could see that as the season went on we became weaker and weaker. When you don't bring in new, top class players the current lot didn't feel threatened or any pressure. They turned up fat and out of shape and comfortable knowing that their places weren't under threat. Most probably felt like our board did; that "oh, we won the title at a canter last season, we'll do the same this year." As City found out after their last title win, you can't buy a handful of average squaddies and no top quality first XI addictions and replicate the success when everyone around you improves. Of course Mourinho deserves plenty of blame for the fighting, the outburts, and the sometimes stupid tactics, but I can't help but feel that he would 100% still be Chelsea manager today if we had had a brilliant summer like we did in 2014.

As predicted, the (justifiable) digs at our board have already started. Also, as if we didn't know, he CLEARLY had targets he wanted that the board utterly failed to secure and thought that the same squad was good enough to repeat.

I know they have a great shot at the title and play some decent stuff, but I just can't bring myself to appreciate Spuds at all. They're such a boring (in terms of their players) average side. They have about 2-3 good players surrounded by okay players. They'd be the lamest PL champions ever in my opinion. Benefitting so much from ourselves and United being down. I think with us appointing a great manager and Mou going to United they'll go right back to where they belong in the 5-7th range.

My order of the 4 mentioned would be: 1) Simeone 2) Conte 3) Allegri 4) Sampaoli Simeone in my opinion would be the only sure thing. He's still a risk as any manager would be, but I feel like we have the kind of squad that would serve as a great base with which to build around. He brings in a few of his type of players and we'll compete for the title next season.

Odds Roman will be on the phone with Claudio to return?

I don't think so. I just think they have brainless CB's and Yaya has been checked out since the start of the season. He's useless when he isn't up for it.

Wow. He's so good. Wonder where he ends up in the summer.

Mourinho is the perfect manager for Woodward and they should be a match made in heaven. Woodward has shown over the past few years that he's obsessed with big name, superstar signings that help the United "brand." I'm sure José will have no trouble coming up with a nice fat list of top players he wants. Will be interesting (and annoying/sad for us) to see City/United battle it out for the likes of Pogba and Stones.

Hughes is moving on up in the estimation of many. Maybe the board will give him a shot. He can bring Crouchy with him.

That's probably why Pellegeino is being talked about. He'd be a yes man and a puppet that does what he's told without complaint.

Didn't he extend his contract before the season started? At that time he probably genuinely felt like he would be able to build a dynasty here and the board would back him properly.

It's being reported by some reputable outlets that José was in contact with United within 24 hours of us sacking him. That to me sounds like he's absolutely desperate for the job.

Don't think anyone will dominate points wise like Bayern, PSG, or RM/Barca do where there's enormous separation between them and the other clubs, but I can definitely see domination in terms of titles between those two if we don't appoint the right manager. We're the only club that can (theoretically) keep up with them financially in this league so I'd say we have the best chance of any PL side to challenge them. Again, assuming we appoint a top man.

You couldn't make it up. Just have to laugh because it's so unbelievably mad.

Maybe not at first. I think he'll talk about how he didn't feel like he was backed like he should've been in the market this past summer. I think he'll say that it was a joke that we sacked him again and I think he'll take a jab or three at our players for underperforming. I have a feeling that his unveiling press conference will be painful viewing/reading for Chelsea fans. I also remember him saying he'd talk about the Carneiro situation "when the time is right," so I wouldn't be shocked if he explained what happened at some point. "Out of respect" doesn't mean much to him in this case I feel. He'll be angry as hell and out for revenge against Chelsea. Think we'll see the best José Mourinho since his first stint with us. He'll have his "dream job," as disgusting as that is to type.

Looks like it's close. This is going to suck. Be prepared for a whole bunch of dirt about Chelsea to be made public.

Hey, man, I'm with you. Hopefully the next manager agrees and brings a few through. The question is if our board and owner share the supporters desire to implement youth. They've shown over the past few windows that the answer may be "no."

I guess the argument for some of our youth players is that they go on loan to much smaller clubs than Chelsea and don't exactly shine. Bamford couldn't get a game for Palace and when he did he struggled. If he can't do it there how would he here? RLC is certainly good enough and deserves more opportunities. Must annoy the shit out of him to see players like Dele Allie light it up at Spuds.