The only place to be

Well I think we've found the replacement for Emenalo lads.

I think you've just presented an argument against us having any scouts whatsoever, but you have a point. Everyone is my local was talking about Azpilicueta back in 2010.

Really? Since Emenalo has been in his current role our transfer dealings have been geared towards acquiring younger players who have sell-on value, at competitive transfer fees and on a more sensible wage scale. Or have I got those facts incorrect? If I have then tell me and I'll take them back. Please, I'd hate to be wrong on this point.

More points? Did you count them because I sure haven't. I also think the word 'nefarious' is unfair and I've pointed out before that Begiristain also came into his position without any experience at coaching or scouting level. But I'm sure you know full well that football is very much a 'who you know' business at times. Did Gullit have experience? Did Vialli have experience? Let's be fair and judge him by the same standards we apply to others. He's been in his current position since 2011, which is why I don't give him much credit for the youth team's success. Non-contributors yet you just asked me to define his role. You say football people in, yet Emenalo is an ex-pro who lives and breathes the game. You may argue about the level he played at or the fact he managed a girls team, but to say he isn't a football man seems a little unfair. That's ignoring the fact that the term 'football people' is at best subjective and fairly meaningless in a grown-up conversation. You've suggested getting Pat Nevin in before when he's previous stint as a director was pretty disastrous, although I'm sure you'll say that he wasn't responsible simply by being present (which is fair). I'm not crying foul. I've actually praised you for your maturity in this debate (hope that didn't sound patronising because I truly believe you want what's best for this club). Ferguson wouldn't want ANYONE around at this point. It's a completely spurious point that you keep raising, will all due respect. THEY are the consistent presence at their club. For fuck's sake, they ARE their respective clubs and if you stick on Sky Sports 2 now you can see just how that's working out for Wenger. They can't sack him because he's so entwined in the club. I agree that Jose will galvanise the first-team but we also have to look at everything else happening around the club. How well we do in recruitment and development of youngsters will decide what future we have. We need to give Mourinho the right eggs don't we? In that regard we're moving in the right direction. It's also worth pointing out that we are seriously in for Mourinho - and Emenalo is part of the board, so doesn't he get any credit for that? If he's to bear the burden for the Benitez appointment then what about Mourinho's possible appointment? And then who continues that legacy? This is one of the questions that needs to be asked without people's motives being questioned. Azpilicueta. Omeruo. Courtois. De Bruyne. Now I'm sure you know the main people involved in the scouting of those players but let's not pretend he's simply bought from the top table. We have about 20 young players out on loan. Many of those are worthwhile loans, some are phenomenal (Lukaku, De Bruyne, Courtois, Chalobah) and I think he deserves some of the credit for that. Josh is years off being ready because of his physicality and, in my opinion, his mental approach to the game. He hasn't gone backwards, he simply has a different development curve to other players. Fair enough. But still the questions remain - do we replace him and if we do, who with? Mourinho has been a short-term option at every club he's been at. I intend on supporting this club in 4 years time and I'm sure you do to - what happens then?

Azpilicueta, Moses, De Bruyne, Omeruo, Courtois.... Bought under Emenalo's watch, but again there a numerous people involved in each deal. This is the problem with this whole debate. People don't want to look fairly at what has happened under his watch and what was happening in the years before.

A number of people were involved in that decision but of course he has to take his share of responsibility There have also been a number of good things that have happened whilst he has been in his position. The question remains, why does Mourinho want to do this? Does he want someone else in there, does he plan on staying for the long-term, what happens if he gets fired? These are all questions that have implications for this club's long-term future - that's something I care a lot about which is why NO DECISION regarding our board is a no-brainer. That doesn't seem an unreasonable view to take, and it would be very easy to get 'likes' simply by saying Gourlay OUT, Emenalo OUT, Buck OUT over and over again.

It wasn't demonstrated - it was argued. In what way did he gain his role 'nefariously'? He seems to have worked his way up through the club which has always been a good thing in our culture. And again I've demonstrated....sorry, argued that many of the problems came before him. A manager we've already sacked, who doesn't stay at clubs for too long. I'm not saying we should or shouldn't fire Emenalo but we have to look at the long-term of our club which we didn't do for the first 8 years of Roman's reign. Suggesting it's a no-brainer could possibly lead to a brainless decision which could further damage our future. You may say it's unreasonable, I don't. At the very most I've argued that it's too soon in his tenure to judge him fairly. Throughout, you've argued respectfully - don't now cast aspersions about why I post what I do. Asking me to explain his role when you've said he's not suitable for it seems odd. With what's in the public domain and what I've heard, different people view it differently. What we need is a consistent presence who can unify every facet of the club and get them working towards the same goals. Now you've used examples like Wenger and Ferguson for people who wouldn't accept Emenalo reigning over them, but that's because THEY are that person at their clubs. If the Mourinho hiring doesn't work out then we have another vacuum for a time. Now if Mourinho has a plan than involves someone else in that role then that's one way of moving forward. If he's prepared to commit himself to this job for more than a few years then that's another way. All I've asked is questions which any reasonable person who cares about the future of this club would ask. I'm sorry I don't have blind faith in Mourinho coming in and keeping our recruitment and development processes moving in the same direction they are now, but I don't trust a huge amount of people without first having an idea of what exactly they want to do.

Any particular reason? Should he be replaced?

Isn't it the case that Rooney has scored in more away games in the Champions League than anyone else? Plus he scored in the 2011 final. I don't think he's as terrible as you're suggesting.

So do we eliminate the role altogether or hire someone else? Under those circumstances, who? And who appoints him? If it's true then it needs some thought.

Doesn't the club have to plan for the future if Mourinho doesn't work out? Don't we need a consistent presence to oversee the club? If you're saying then we should get rid of him and replace him, who with? It's by no means as simple as you're suggesting, if it's true.

I'm never going to say I want the team to lose because people pay their money and deserve a good night out more than anything, but the Southampton and Sunderland games will be tricky whilst the Man United game is obviously huge. It would be mightily helpful if we didn't have a game on the Thursday..... Even then it's going to be a massive ask for the squad.

China maybe. Russia possibly (mustn't make a Zenit joke). America.....tricky. I don't know if he's still our best defender because he's not really strung together that many performances recently. His reading of the game has always been exceptional, but his body has taken a battering over the last decade so it's hard to know just where he is right now.

Replay set for Monday April 1st, 12:30. Away to Southampton on Saturday March 30th, 15:00. Two games in less than 48 hours The first leg of the next round of the Europa League would then be on the Thursday after that, and then on the Saturday after that we're facing Sunderland at home. 4 games in 7 days?????? Fuck.

I think a new contract would be very unlikely and I can't see any other clubs coming in for him purely because of the baggage he comes with. What will be interesting will be the fight to replace him in the squad. If you assume Ake and Chalobah will be midfielders (albeit ones who can cover defence) then it could be between Kalas (who'd be 21 and could have a year's PL experience if stories about West Brom are true) and Omeruo (20).

The question is whether it's Emenalo specifically that he doesn't like, the fact he's apparently close to Abramovich or the idea of having anyone in that role in the first place. It's all very well bending to his requests and getting rid of certain people, but Mourinho has a tendency of not sticking around for long so what happens when he leaves? Who provides the stability at the top of the club then? If this is true (and it's a big if) then it's not an easy decision by any means.

Well it's the Daily Star. But if it were to be true then that would be an issue for the club going forward.

At first I thought this was a stupid idea and I was like Then I saw the amount of money on offer and I was all :tophat: :tophat: Then I noticed Spurs and Liverpool hadn't been considered and I went :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

He'll have transfer value for that period. Plus Chalobah will need a break every now and then.

So you're saying he's using cocaine? I thought that was just some twitter bollocks that no-one had a shred of proof about. As for him as a player, I think he's an undeniable talent who has some question marks over his fitness. The way he came back from such a serious injury has been impressive and he seems to have a decent attitude regarding his profession. But I can't see him leaving unless something major happens, like Wenger leaving.

If we want him back, we click our fingers and he comes running. Fortunately I've seen nothing to suggest he's going to be troublesome. As for Cech, we're going to move on from him at some point and if we have a once in a generation chance to do that then you have to remove emotion from the equation and take the sensible business move. It's very rare for a team to go from one player who's best in the world to another.

Instead of what? Letting him go on a free? I wouldn't read anything into that except us having businessmen on the board. I'm also going to defend myself against a couple of accusations made my some yappy little dog on this thread. Firstly, I'm not 40. Secondly, I haven't been constantly quoting him - I think I've quoted him twice in the last fortnight one of which was a comment he made about Lukaku in June as an example of the way some people perceived him. Obviously little Cujo has a problem with sticking by his words, but no problem with insulting people that he wishes to ignore. I'd prefer he didn't lie about me in future. There's a good boy.

We have him under contract. I doubt very much he's going to kick up a fuss when we decide to make the change but I agree he's too good to stick on the bench.

I'm not sure City offer that much more stability than us. The job only become available if they sack their manager who won them the league last year. Mancini has also complained about the players who were bought in and I can only see Begiristain's role increasing. Mourinho is ambitious. If he goes to City, the best he can make them is the second biggest club in Manchester. If he comes here, then the sky is the limit over the next decade.

And everyone agrees that we need a playmaker in that position too. If we're going to play with a two-man midfield, then one will need to hold and one will dictate the play. The latter needs to be bought, the former will be one of Mikel, Romeu or Chalobah. If you include Ramires then you are basically saying that you're going to let the other team dictate the play and we'll try and hit you on the break. That may well have it's place in certain games, but I don't think he'll play the majority of games if things go to plan. As I've said, I think you can win cups with a player like Ramires playing consistently but I don't think you can win leagues like that. You can't rely on teams attacking you and you hitting them on the break. Too many teams will sit back and you have to be perfect in your execution which is impossible 100% of the time.