Leif

It's uncanny how both Ronaldo & Morata leap like actual, literal salmons. What do they feed them in Madrid? Do they really become what they eat?

Well fuck knows what Emenalo's vision was.

Emenalo has always had contacts with certain agents, agents close specifically to Papy, as one example I can remember explicitly. With the amount of managers we go through, we had long periods where there were no managers to make signing-related decisions for us; we had interim managers, or brand new managers who weren't allowed to hammer home their own philosophy. Throughout all of those shaky periods, Emenalo has been chief of signings in one way or another. His role has been very fluid so it's hard to define. A jack of all trades, a master of none. Anyway, I believe our very best signings, were often identified eventually by some of our 'new' managers, who'd clearly been interested in those players while at prior clubs. Specifically AvB comes to mind there, and then Jose. And then Conte too, who hasn't made a bad signing (and regardless what you think of Baka, everything points to the idea that Emenalo went for him. I mean, jumping on a player after 1 season of being in the papers - it's something unlike Conte, but very much like Emenalo, considering it took into account 0 footballing knowledge, and more of a marketing-related mindset. 'If a player's hyped, he must be good!!!!!' Baka's certainly not a Conte player, neither is Drinkwater his desired quality, and odd signings like these are why any potential power-struggle needed crushed, violently, far sooner than now. And, if a DoF is going to have a say in our signings, like most clubs allow now, have someone with experience at other top clubs in that role at least) As for the Belgians, that's all Piet. Even he himself has said he identified them in his book. I mean he's the guy who found Ronaldo and Romario - do people think he just sits here and isn't a driving force behind our brilliant Belgian acquisitions?

He was part of the problem. There are only so many people at Chelsea, and we can name them one by one, and conclude that 99% of them do brilliant jobs. We end up being left with simply 'the board' as we call them. Nobody's calling him the problem anyway, everyone's acknowledging both Roman and Marina in this.

Yet, he was perfectly happy to when past managers would bend over and take it in the end. Just not happy to play that game when his victim can overpower him.

Whatever your opinion, just don't call the next one a 'scapegoat' if we've already been moaning about them for over 2 years It's a fallacy that we just pick new players and staff to target after another leaves. We don't move on from Mikel to Cahill - we wanted them both gone at the same time. Same for Emenalo and Marina. No scapegoats here. And to think Emenalo signed Hazard, and not our bags of money, our dominance, our position in European football, our managerial history, our scout (one of the best if not the best to ever grace the game)...now that's crazy. As if Emenalo did anything to secure these signings which couldn't be done by anyone standing in his place. You really think it's Emenalo that was the convincer, the part that sealed the deal for these players? He was basically a paperwork-pusher when it came to acquiring our best players. We'd have had as much success by just sending Terry to meet these players we signed. So he can't take any credit, at all, for our great signings. They were not identified by him. Now, our terrible signings, like Papy, Miazga etc? None of our managers targeted them. So, who? This shouldn't need to be explained. Him not being instrumental to our successful signings, does not mean he was not instrumental with our bad signings.

There have been plenty of signings which raised eyebrows for the wrong reasons. It obviously doesn't all come down to him but a large part of these strange transfers seem to have his rubber-stamp. Over the past 7 or so years, we've made more questionable signings than good signings. And the only constant at the club regarding signings throughout that time has been Emenalo. Need anything more be said? Would any club envy us for having him? Maybe an npower Championship side

Nevermind disliking *him* - i didn't. My issue was, having a yes-man with 0 experience in his position, outlasting brilliant managers and brilliant players. Just hovering like an under-qualified ghost, picking up credit here and there that deserves to go to our scouts. He offered nothing and less still than anyone else in his position at a top club, I have no doubt about it. And that's enough reason to have angst and aggression towards his sector of the club, of which he was the accountable head. Beyond that, it's reasonable to put 2 + 2 together and deduce that he's had big says in big moments for us, big negative moments. But that's another discussion which honestly, none of us want to have again. Ultimately this all goes back to Roman though, who appointed him, and allowed shambles to go on this long (and perhaps even longer if it's Emenalo's decision to walk.) Point is, if you really love your football club, you don't want it run by headless chickens. He was a headless chicken. And Marina is the next one, no doubt about it. Who knows - maybe Roman's ready to take a back seat to an extent, and bring in a real footballing board.

My guess is he couldn't handle being around the only manager to make it clear to the media he's worthless to the club. There's already sugarcoated lies, out today, that he's responsible for bringing Hazard, De Bruyne, Courtois & Lukaku to the club Swear everyone gets credit at this club except Piet de Visser.

I will throw off the hat of maturity and genuinely party over this. Pray for my liver

None of us give a shit that Wilkins isn't here. What's bizarre is not understanding where the negative, valid energy came from.

No coincidence that Conte ignored him after our win. Maybe Roman grew some balls and realised, he really was a problem, for every manager. Can anyone picture any of our ex-coaches having anything positive to say about him?

FUCKING ECSTACY YESSSSS IT DOESNT MATTER WHO IS RIGHT OR WHO IS WRONG WHAT MATTERS IS WE NO LONGER NEED TO ARGUE. THE COMING SEASON WILL TEACH US WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW AND JUST SPECULATED ON. I AM FUCKING HIGH OVER THIS, I CANNOT BELIEVE

I'd love to know the current record amount of assists provided by a centre-back in 1 season.

United did allow us, and it's Atletico's worst season really under Simeone I believe. Both performances are no measure of our quality; the games vs. Roma however, were.

....nobody's really saying he had a great game; our stance is unchanged..I think. He's ultra limited, clumsy, lacking technique, etc etc etc. It was all displayed again today. We aren't talking about that, though. And 1 competent game does not paint a player.

If he can add the accurate long-ball distribution Luiz often has to his game, he'll be more than great. If he stays just as he is, he'll definitely go down as a great for our club, presuming we keep him in the XI.

To say that at all implies he has pride regarding his decision. As if you can take pride in joining PSG. No player can take pride in that unless they're past their prime & unwanted by their team. A player with everything to prove, going there, understands too little to talk on others.

Ensure you treat her to a 2nd round. If you can conquer #2, you can do it 20 times.

Bakayoko's faults & qualities are a lot easier to accept if he can be assigned a role called 'the mayhem role'; i like that.

Alright, sounds like a bluff now with more words added to the quote.

I don't understand. On his day, Luiz is 1 of our 4 best outfield players. And he doesn't have off days that often. Regardless, Conte should only have a say in the future of our players if he himself has a future here.

Yes, I believe we should have a midfield 3 every game, and considering we aren't great at crossing the ball (or any play up-field really), why have 3 forwards? Just Morata + Hazard is enough up there, especially in a system where they're supposed to be supported by wing backs. This should absolutely be our formation for the season instead of being copy-cats of last year. This also means a fresh Pedro to come off the bench more often, which can only be good in my opinion, which further marginalises Willian (hopefully).

High-flying United 1 point ahead of disaster-season Chelsea Says everything about the level they're still at. This'll make it what, 4 seasons in a row of them being the new Arsenal? One more season and that's a whole half-decade of being a nothing team. Manchester United. Never thought it'd happen so soon in my lifetime.