Superblue

Agreed, if we're going for a manager purely based on their style of football then Sarri is the best potentially available on the market by a mile. Pochettino offers other positives (used to the league, will fuck up Spurs, etc) but he plays a far more balanced game. Spurs play good football but they aren't the great attacking force they're made out to be but they have Kane who scores an absolute boat load. If Sarri is still a possibility we should be pushing for it, because to me he seems the best option on the market that is realistically attainable.

Sampaoli manages Argentina i think mate.

If we're getting to that position with regards to the pool of managers we can pick from, I'd far rather take a punt on someone perhaps less proven, higher risk but potentially higher reward. The type of thing Spurs did by appointing Pochettino. For example someone like Jokanovic. Fulham play some seriously good football in a brave, attacking manner. Laurent Blanc would fill me with no excitement and hope whatsoever.

The difference between Chelsea and City right here if they get Jorginho. City buying from a position of strength to stay on top. I bet they won't be selling any of their starting XI either to make such a deal. We have failed to do this in the last few years which is a big contribution to our inconsistency and failings. You need new top players to freshen up the squad and dressing room, even when successful. It keeps players on their toes and motivated to keep their position in the side.

Care to elaborate your reasons why?

I'm starting to think the same. My biggest worry about that is that Conte has been so unmotivated and unenthusiastic this season. Is he going to just go through the motions again? Or would keeping him be a huge sign by the board of more longer term thinking and Conte would kick on with the sign of board confidence? If Sarri isn't happening, the only other one can be Luis Enrique. It's funny because it was almost assumed he was a 'lock' for next season and it has gone eerily quiet since. Maybe that's because he's already set up and in place once the cup final is done and dusted.

There's reports coming out of Italy today that Sarri will sign a new contract with Napoli. Doesn't look like there is much out there that fills me with optimism and excitement.

Agreed, I watched both legs and he was woeful. Alan Hutton did a number on him man marking him in both legs and the times he did get free his distribution/decision making were horrendous. This is one of those examples where I can't understand why we would be looking at a player like him for £30m when we could use a player we already have on loan or from our academy (Hudson-Odoi? Sterling?) who are more polished on the ball and we can then use that £30m to move up a level in recruiting a top player (£60 - 70m) from a decent/good player (£30 - 40m)

If it further pushes the board to buck up their ideas this summer then great. I would be more than happy for Hazard to commit the next few years with us and we add to him. He's amongst our most important players and from an attacking perspective he's obviously our talisman. However I cannot agree with this idea we should feel sorry for Hazard. "he's probably sick to death of going from mountain top to valley every other season" - Hazard's form has fallen below expectations in those poor seasons too. I do feel its less about quality and more about mentality for why we have been so inconsistent over recent seasons. And that is across the whole club - board, manager and players, including Hazard. City have though clearly raised the bar this season and the club need to make sure they get things spot on this summer.

I just hope the Board know how vitally important this summer is. There cannot be the same drawn out sagas we experienced last summer, with constant managerial rumours. The club must make a decision that they are ready to follow through on as soon as next week's cup final is done. If that is sacking Conte or keeping him, it must be done efficiently. If Conte is to be sacked then the club has to have the new manager in place ready to appoint. There will be a couple of weeks before the World Cup and the club must be working on both buying and selling players in that time period. It cannot be all left until after the World Cup, there simply isn't enough time with the shortening of the transfer window this summer. Mourinho's second summer the club acted ruthless in adding Fabregas and Costa early. We need similar action but on a far greater and wider scale.

I would say quite a lot. But he's by no means the only one culpable for that shit.

Fair play to him.

The manager, the players, the board - they are all guilty of taking their "eye off the ball" and feeling that the job's done from last season. We lack a ruthless cutting edge throughout the whole club. The lack of characters and desire is quite frankly shameful.

I do think he was pretty damn effective last season coming off the bench fresh when opposition defences were tiring and falling deeper which gave him the time and space to create and do damage. I think he could fulfil this option again next season, but definitely shouldn't be starting most games for the same reasons highlighted, he just isn't mobile and strong enough to start regularly in midfield. He looks tired and fatigued at the moment, and his creativity has severely suffered this year as a result. Even if we do replace a few players we can't replace everyone, and will need to retain some of our experience throughout the squad. Fabregas will only have one year left on his contract so unless a sizeable offer materialised, I would assume we'll keep him for one more season and let him leave once his contract is up.

It will be interesting to see if he takes the step up playing for Wolves in the Prem next season. He definitely has potential though.

Agreed. Our away form hasn't been champions standard, but should have at least been good enough for top 4 if our home form held up to it's usual standards. We've dropped 20 points at home this season, over a third of the possible points played for, and managed 30 goals in 19 home games. It's just not been good enough and highlights our struggles at being able to break teams down; and then when we do break them down, to kill them off.

Whilst I agree that it wasn't the time to make so many changes to the starting XI, it also puts into perspective just how poor the overall quality within our squad is that we can't make a few changes and beat Huddersfield at home. Zappacosta, Pedro, Willian and Morata were brought into the side - that is about £150m we've spent to bring these players to the club. I agree with the consensus that Conte's era has run its course but changing the manager is just the tip of the iceberg at the moment.

Something I realised more than ever tonight whilst screaming at the TV is why won't any player dare shoot from outside the box. The days of Lamps, Ballack, Essien, Drogba peppering the opposition goal from all angles and distances is the furthest away it's ever been.

So you'd rather see Mourinho bouncing around Wembley with the cup?!

Liverpool away when we stopped them from winning the title. We were wasting time at goal kicks in the first half, and literally parked the bus the whole time after Demba Ba scored.

Those complaining about Huddersfield tactics have quickly forgotten how we played at times in big games under Mourinho

Fuck it that will do lol

Pathetic all round

Hopefully positive. I would far rather keep Hazard and add to him than pocket the money and try to replace him.

I would definitely give him next season to find his best for us. He has had to adapt to the Premier League and being the leading striker at a top club, shouldering all the responsibility which comes with that. I believe we'll see his best potentially next season when somebody like Giroud can not only push him for a starting spot but also take some of the burden off so he doesn't get burnt out like he did this season. His petulant attitude seems to have improved a lot over recent weeks and he does look like he's finally understanding and adapting his game to the demands of our league. He's saying all the right things too, but behind the scenes he has to be fully committed. If he does want to move back to Italy or Spain then I would also be just as inclined to let him leave as his heart clearly won't be fully into it. To be honest too, I think the best thing for him would be to miss out on Spain's squad. If he has the right attitude and application, it will not only give him a summer's rest but should also ignite an extra sense of determination to better himself next season.