The only place to be

Not much of that is on Mike Forde in my opinion. I got it from speaking to people within the game...sorry, but that wasn't on the record. He was one of the first people in this country who looked at a way of implementing analytics into the game of football which is why he's invited to conferences on the issue (analytics is essentially what the book/film Moneyball focused on and what the Red Sox used in order to help win the 04 World Series, and is what Henry has tried to bring to Liverpool). He's also become something of a go to guy for teams in other sports.

It sounds like you're suggesting The FA is handicapping us by placing the fixture as they have done, in order to help United. If I've got the wrong end of the stick I apologise.

I think the main thing held against him has been the 'imbalanced' squad with too many attacking players, not enough for the double pivot. The problem I think we faced was the season ending injury for Romeu who was expected to play a bigger role in the second-half of the season and Lamps simply not being quite as suited for the position as everyone expected. Meireles was seen as very much an AVB guy so it was felt his presence might not be good for squad cohesion, and the cash on offer was pretty good whilst Essien was simply seen as costing too much for too little productivity. The fact he's stayed injury-free this long has amazed everyone. It's not like we didn't go after a player for that position either, but Levy simply wouldn't sell to us.

What are you on about?

That's just factually incorrect. Sorry. Maybe we just have different sources and one of them is wrong, but I'm fairly sure that the Technical Director would have the final say on such things. I wouldn't just guess something in the hopes of it sounding right. At this point in time he still has Roman's ear which (if the story is true) might be the source of Jose's objections. I'm not sure why you'd think Mike Forde would be in trouble. The guy's massively respected within the game and one of the best sports minds in this country in my opinion. If you're looking for a scapegoat who isn't a Russian billionaire then I'd personally look at Bruce Buck - the guy you put on your 'dream team', despite him being here for the entirety of Roman's reign even when we were acting in a kamikaze, short-term manner which is the root of many of our current problems in my opinion. In fact, you put Peter Kenyon alongside him as well who I think also bears the responsibility of many of our actions then. Yet you'd have both of them back in a 'dream team'? I see our current predicament as the culmination of years of mismanagement. We simply didn't plan for the future which is why we're suffering now and we're actually building something sustainable. If you actually had expectations that it would be a faultless transition then I can see why you'd be disappointed in Emenalo. But there is a consistent system which is fairly amazing considering the change in managers we've had to endure. Each one comes in and wants to treat the youth differently yet Neil Bath and his coaches have done a remarkable job in engendering an ethos that goes from age-group to age-group. You say he's had two years, I say he's only had two years and that it's fair too early in his tenure to judge him based on the massive task he had after years of mistakes. We neglected players in the age group 18-24 for almost two seasons and now we're surprised that we're lacking key players in that age-group? That to me is the biggest mistake this club made, it's the key to every problem our first team is facing now and that simply wasn't his fault in my opinion. I don't know at this stage. I'd personally like to see what the squad make-up would be at the start of next season before making a judgment because I don't think I can make a fair one at this stage. If we have Chalobah, Lukaku, De Bruyne and one other (possibly Piazon, maybe one of the younger defenders current in Holland) in the first-team squad, and we sign the right players (a midfielder is essential, other positions are up for debate) then I don't think he'd deserve to go. If he doesn't do that then I'll be calling for his head too.

That's just how many contracts work nowadays - this is fairly typical.

I'm afraid it isn't (to the best of my knowledge). All loans are ultimately Emenalo's decision which is why when there was a discussion about Chalobah's recall and a possible loan for Ake in January it was his call. That's one of his main roles at the club. I'm not saying Eddie wasn't involved in handling it and I'm sure you're aware of his role in monitoring players on-loan, but the person he reports to is Emenalo.

We're just going to have to agree to disagree because we're just going round in circles. Personally I think it's too early to judge him but I like what I'm seeing since he took over. You haven't convinced me otherwise and I doubt I'll convince you. Giving Eddie all the credit for the loan of Lukaku and Chalobah is a little unfair and I suspect it's based on the managers at those clubs. Eddie reports to Emenalo and so it would've been his say so, although it does hint at how many things are in play at the club and how important it is to have someone who co-ordinates it all. If Jose can help build a system that manages that efficiently then it might make sense to get rid of Emenalo (who isn't 'increasingly isolated' as you've suggested - in fact he's probably more powerful than he has been at any other time purely because of Benitez being a short-term appointment) but that has to be a system that can survive without Jose, which is what we have now. But like I said, we both want what's best for the club we just have different opinions of how that's best achieved.

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.