Leif

My only real concern about this game is who will start as centre-backs. I feel Bale needs to be pressed a bit, which Terry certainly does not do, so Luiz playing should be a given. Then it simply comes down to who partners him.

"Sky Sources have David Moyes as next Manchester United manager." *SkyBet have Jose Mourinho as favourite to take over at Manchester United*

People seem to forget (or simply not know) that David Gill is also leaving. They. Will. Crumble.

It has to be asked though; If this idea of Mourinho going to a direct rival is even being entertained by many, should he be held in such a high regard? Maybe King Carlo is truly our king, eh? Or Di Matteo

Now Chelsea fans on Twitter (some) are almost crying and saying he won't return because some Mirror journalist said Mourinho isn't a fan of Mata

NO DEMBELE!!!!!!!! Now just hope for Bale to take a wrong step on the way to the game and sprain his ankle

Because despite failing to win the Champions League with us, for obvious Liverpool related reasons quite possibly; he was at his absolute best here, dominating teams both in Europe and the league. No manager would raise our atmosphere and confidence like he would. His press conferences bring joy. He understands the club and it's fucked up policies. He's going through a crisis - a crisis which could be completely reversed at the one club which adores him most. It'd be a match made in heaven reunited.

Who in the world would think - "AWH YEAH!!! I'm gonna choose United over Chelsea/City because they have Moyes at the helm!!! " ? Manchester United have just lost a huge X factor when it comes to signing players. Even if the biggest die-hard Chelsea supporter or Liverpool supporter was approached by either CFC or LFC AND MUFC, almost every time the idea of working under Ferguson would simply be too hard to pass up. He is now history. Watch United take the AC Milan route.

I'm a pessimistic & non-logical Chelsea fan. Mourinho to United and Steve Kean to us!!

Why?

Kinda sickening seeing Chelsea supporters to pessimistic thinking Mourinho will join United in all honesty. Do you really think the United board are there thinking - "Hmm... who should we bring in to replace our greatest ever manager? Ah! The guy who just crumbled in Madrid (the only team we can be compared to), lost the dressing room and has turned the majority of fans against him! Yes! Perfect! Solution!" ??? Do you really think that after carving out his own footsteps (Mourinho), he'd want to join a club where he'd then be following someone elses? (SaF). I don't.

Rejoice the fact that our opponents just got weaker. Even if Jose joined them they'd be weaker IMO. No disrespect to Mourinho, but his current mindset would fuck United's strict, disciplined look at everything. Rio, Scholes, Giggs etc. would probably have ruffled feathers too.

I actually didn't have a big problem with him like so many seem to have I thought it was cute watching old Red Nose get wound up so easily and enjoying his chewing gum!!! That said, I've always wanted to see United without him. No doubt they'll still be incredibly strong - but just not as strong.. which is great for us. I can't see Mourinho joining them. Although later on I'll think the opposite. Then the opposite again.

Purely from a fashion point of view, I believe Puma is looked down on in the UK now for being 'out of fashion', so ha and ha to Arsenal.. as usual

Apparently Puyol will join AC Milan at the end of the season...

So. Potential knock-on affects if we lose this (and fail to get top 4). No CL revenue next season. No Mourinho (well, even less chance anyway). Less chance of attracting top players. Tottenham keep Bale. They strengthen during the Summer and it becomes even harder the following season for Champions League football. New players such as Hazard and Oscar may question whether they made the right move or not. The "We're not becoming Liverpool ffs!" sentence loses it's validity as this is similar to how they fell, regardless how rich our owner may be. Thus begins a potential crumble. If we win tomorrow (and obtain top 4 while Tottenham fail to get it). CL revenue on top of the cash we already have. A higher chance of Mou coming back. The usual "Pick who we want and then sign them" policy (within reason anyway). Tottenham sell Bale (hasn't AVB conceded they'll let him go if they have no CL footie next season?) Other stars such as Dembele or Sandro could be sold, weakening an already questionable midfield. With irreplaceable Bale gone, getting top 4 the following season again looks much easier. We get to rub it in Spurs fan's faces that we've made them miss out on the CL yet again I've just made myself even more anxious for this game

Not gonna sleep tonight. You know sometimes when you're just genuinely excited for something so much that if you shut your eyes you can see flickers of light, you feel restless, you keep tossing and turning etc? That's all I'll end up like in bed tonight. It's pointless to me. I just need to find something decent to entertain me. Wish it was an early kick-off ffs.

I wish this thread was more active. Domestically isn't this the biggest game we've had in the Roman era?

I keep reading about the club refusing to pay Mourinho's buy-out clause hence why it's stalled or some shit. If true, It (close your ears) fucking infuriates me how we can pay disgusting amounts of money on wages and transfer fees for useless players like Marin (£7m), Benayoun (£5.5m) and so on yet not cough up what, £15m for Jose? That's only £3m more than we paid for fucking Raul Meireles. "Don't slate the board, they signed Hazard, Mata and co.!" Who the fuck didn't know about them before we signed them!? I despise our board. I despise whoever advises Roman. I despise the FSW. Just a few years ago I despised nothing about this club.

The board are going to fuck up. Roman is going to fuck up. They're not going to bring him back are they?

Golazo

The Etihad is like a library today.

Amazing so far.

Starts vs. Man City.