Joker10

I wouldn't worry about Benitez being back next season atm, he is nothing more then an interim manager and only shot of being here longer is if he impressed enough to win the job. Lets just say having the worst start as a manager in the Roman Abramovich era is not a good start. I know most people don't think we have a shot with Klopp, but i don't think it is unrealistic as most think. First of all he makes 2.1m euros at Dortmund, our two previous mangers: AVB was on a5€ & RDM was on a 4.8€ annual contract. The financial gain makes it interesting enough, and i am sure Klopp has enough ambition to wonder what he could do at a club with Chelsea resources.

I dont agree with the other poster but i also think your position is also very extreme. Messi was recognized as a top 3 player in the world before the age of 20 for god sake, he was still amazing under Rijkaard. Xavi?He was recognized as the best player in the 2008 Euros and was a catalyst for Spain triumph, that all happened before Pep managed his first game at Barcelona. He had amazing career before Pep and it would absolutely be ridiculous to call him just a decent midfielder. Pep arrival at Barca and Spain amazing international streak puts Xavi career in amazing category. Iniesta? was always known to be a very talented midfielder but he didn't shine with Deco and Ronaldinho ahead of him. Yes not everything was good before Pep arrival it was definitely an end to Ronaldinho and Rijkaard cycle. But before those two Barcelona was even a bigger mess, they absolutely revitalized Barca. I don't think many remember what Barcelona was pre Ronaldinho and Rijkaard, they were nowhere the glamorous club they are now and more closer to being a mid-table team then an elite club. While Pep, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, etc definitely took the club to another level and unmatched success the club had never seen before. I absolutely think Pep accomplishment is amazing with Barca, and it is bollocks for anyone to completely discredit him because he had such an amazing squad. He had a great squad but he also got the very best out of them, which is a great accomplishment. But i personally recognize other factors too, like he was at the right place at the right time. Even in 2006 i remember there was something special about this generation of Spanish players and remember Spain success in the Euro and the "tiki taka" football predates before Pep arrival at Barcelona. I also think he was the perfect manager for Barcelona, he knows everything about the club and endeared by the players in the locker room giving him immediate respect. I respect Pep accomplishment but i think it would be fair to have a level of skepticism.

That is what will come down to, Piazon needs to contribute and make a impact right away. Pellegrini and Malaga are not interested developing Piazon since he is there for six months, and only will play him if he perform right away. Josh struggled early and Gylfi who was also loaned made his impact from the beginning. Tbf to Josh his problem was lack of fitness he barely played for the first team and secondly he was not even part of the reserves. It was a tough task, asking him to match Swansea intensity level and a side in the midst of fighting regulation.

He has the same problem as David Luiz, both when on the pitch do a lot of good things but they do have those WTF moments and which is mostly remembered and criticized for. Greatly unfair imo, David Luiz is an excellent defender and Sturridge brings a lot to the team. Another similarity between the two is that both are very proactive and always in the midst of activity, Luiz with his aggressive style and Sturridge always seems to be in good position. Whats the difference? Luiz comes off as very likable person, while Sturridge not so much. Well thats my take on why Sturridge was so much criticized and vilified.

What do you think Pep would possibly accomplish here that you seem to have a "pep or we are fucked" mentality? Would honestly like to know. I sure would like Pep to manage Chelsea, i would probably be ecstatic.

You can believe whatever you want to believe.

London > Manchester, that is true and arguably it is something Roman wish that can win Pep over. London best city on earth? Well that is your opinion but i am having a laugh. There was tension between Barca reigme and Pep, and a lot of Barca fans acknowledge that. Here is Cruyff on the subject: "Yes, of course. Terrible exhaustion. Previously he was surrounded by people with weight who disappeared. He was more alone," "Those who came in after the election had criticised the previous management so you think: 'Are those who were critical going to help me now?'," "If the same people who have to take charge have criticised all those who helped you, without wanting it that creates conflict," he added. "From then on, the problem was all Pep's. He had to deal with other problems than football. It exhausts you much more than you can imagine because no-one likes that." Link: http://www.supersport.com/football/spain/news/120524/Pep_departure_ends_cycle_at_Barca No one could accuse City of being impatient if they have a chance of hiring Pep and sacking Mancini. btw i never said City owners are patient, i said they are more patient then Roman clear difference.

That was pretty bad. City have the best chance of landing Pep and imo he will be coaching them next season. Don't think you painted their situation that fairly. It is no secret City also admires Barca like Roman, City figureheads like Veira have been quoted saying they want to match Barca attacking style in the future. City has already hired two former Barca executives in Ferran Soriano who is now City CEO, and Txiki Begiristain leading the director of football role. Their hiring is a maneuver to get Pep to Manchester, hiring former colleagues and friends that Pep can be comfortable working with and that can support his agenda. Remember it is also widely speculated that one of the reason why Pep left Barca was because of tension between him and current Barca regime. Getting people Pep would be comfortable working with is a great way of landing him. City can also give Pep everything Chelsea would and more, an owner that will give him infinite more time. Mancini? I don't know why you are so confident of him being retained next season, he has failed to get them out of the group stage two years in a row and Mancini has always had lackluster moments in CL going back to his Inter days. FFP will hardly be a reason to keep Mancini lol, trust me they can afford to sack him. I really like both, but for me Klopp is the better option. I believe Dortmund playing style is much more attainable then Barca well in the short term anyway, and Klopp has a greater chance of doing so. If there is a flaw in Pep from his Barca reign is his mediocre record of transfers. Meanwhile Dortmund signing record is outstanding. This is why Klopp edges it for me, he has a amazing record with transfers and also gets the best out of them. I really would like to see what Klopp can do with more funds, what he has done at Dortmund with limited fund is simply amazing.

Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=1287602&cc=5901 Could be another fine piece of business.

Meh, doesn't take much to spot Holtby talent he has been one of the best player in Bundesliga and he has stated on many occasions wanting to play in England. Great pickup for Spuds though, hate it that one of my favorite non-Chelsea player is going to Spuds.

That was a shit game and so much wrong with it, won't draw any conclusion from that single game.

Do agree, for me the biggest reason why Oscar is not playing his best is mainly due to Hazard and especially Mata occupying his space on the pitch. He is struggling to impose himself on the match because of the other two, where with Brazil he has so much freedom and everyone look for him to playmake. But i still believe the three of them can still work upfront, time can obviously help with that as the three of them can adjust to each other play. But this will also take the right and creative manager to do so.

That is great and all but hardly anyone is using that criteria on this thread. Including you here is your own quote: You and others have filled this thread with so much idiocy about his so called attitude problem. There is hardly any real critique of Sturridge as a footballer on this thread, but much to do with him being "arrogant,""egomaniac," "he thinks he is too good," etc. These are all assumptions and not founded by any means, because no one here has been to a training session or know him personally to make so many critique of him on a personal level. For me Sturridge is a great talent and has impressed in limited opportunity, but sadly Chelsea is not the club for him. He needs a AVB or Coyle type manager to get the best out of him. I think Rodgers can do that, and is good match for him. This also a good deal for us, we get 12m for a player with less then six months on his contract and btw we have barely used this season.

Can you prove that with either an article or quotes?

Don't think we can ever do that, unfortunately we have shot our selves in the foot because of overspending and flop signings. That is another thing that gets missed about when we overpay for a player+ even worse when they flop(ex Torres). Other clubs take notice, when we go after their players they make sure we pay a premium.

Pellegrini is a very good manager. You have to respect what he has done at Villarreal and now at Malaga, while playing exciting attacking football. To me he makes a good candidate and a good match to our current players.

Lets come back to that in the end of the season, better to evaluate that then. Rafa has until the end of the season to make a case for himself and win the job, he has to accomplish something worthy to manager Chelsea beyond this season.

Overrated as hell on this forum. When he is being credited for being a good finisher, you know most are talking out of their ass. He is average-horrible finisher, and that is apparent to any Bunde viewer. Imo he is nothing more then above average. He has good movement and is excellent in his hold-up play, i will give him that and really does well in Dortmund system. I just cannot rate him as a striker because he has way too many Kalouless moments in front of the goal. Dortmund and klopp can do better then Lewandowski, and watch them replace him with a better striker for under 5m. For me he is going to be another Kagawa or Sahin, decent players but truly maximized and look better then they are under Klopp. I seriously hope United do buy him for 20m+.

I also can't agree with the view that "Rafa is doing a good/excellent job." Mainly because of what happened in Japan, as i said before CWC was his biggest challenge as Chelsea manager and he failed. For that reason i think it would be unreasonable to say he is doing a good job. He has time to change that opinion obviously in the next couple months.

Are you forgetting a certain trip to Japan? That was his biggest test as a manager yet and he failed. I don't really get the criticism of Rafa on a personal level, that is quite irrelevant imo.

Well did you at least notice Alti regulars like Turan, Godin, Courtois haven't appeared in Europa either? I guess not As for Sturridge? I have felt for a long time if he wants to fulfill his potential he has to leave Chelsea. Really do believe in his talent and he will do fine at Livepool. Good luck and i hope he proves his doubters wrong.

I really hate this logic. "If Torres is worth 50m then player x is definitely worth (insert amount)."

I am wondering the same thing. Hazard contributed when the game was latterly over.

disagree, our defenders may have been wrongfully blamed a lot this season and our forwards have dodged a lot of criticism, but today was not one of them. Jesus Corona just got the better of Cesar today.

Not going to replay to the rest of your post, don't feel you have seen much of Verratti and PSG games. Verratti was turned into a Regista/DLP because in Italian tactics he is more suited for a Regista/DLP role then Trequartista/CAM position. In Italy their number 10s plays like a second striker and are very attack natured examples like Del Piero, Baggio, Totti, Cassano, etc. While it is not the same in other popular football nations, the CAM is played deeper and act as a distributor in the final third. There is also a significant difference between Verratti and De Bruyne playing style, Verratti is barely to never directly involved in PSG goals and his play making contribution don't show up in the stat sheet. De Bruyne is all about movement dropping deep at times to build up attacks and then moving into attacking/finishing area. He has been directly involved in a lot Bremen goals and is great in getting into good attacking positions, for me he is a CM/AM hybrid best position is in the hole or CM in 4-3-3. Beside the defensive aspect another concern i have with KDB in the pivot is that he is way too aggressive and adventurous with his passing. Careless is another way i would describe it.