Corner

Another update on Taison: Shakhtar Donetsk and Benfica are interested in making a move for him.

Apparently, Taison is gone back to his home in Brazil after negotiations with Chelsea broke down.

To be honest, I hope neither of those happens.

I made that point, and I think you're totally wrong. You suggest that Mata went downhill in the second-half of the season. I haven't actually checked the stats but is it that surprising in his first season? The simple fact is that he's started scoring important goals in our games and at a decent rate too. The idea that we're going to enter a period of darkness just because he leaves is utter cunting bollocks. It's the type of thinking of the person who didn't know what Chelsea football club was before Lampard joined and ignores the fact that even with Lampard in the team last season, we finished sixth in the league. The truth is that no-one knows what will happen to the club after he leaves, but the board are putting us in a pretty strong position for that eventuality. The type of fan condemning us to failure before we even begin this new period in the club's life isn't the type of fan we really need in all honesty. On a separate note, it's interesting to read that Frank's missus is also coming to the end of her tv contract and has apparently told friends that it's between Italy and America - considering the fact that she already struggles with English I would've thought LA was the best move for both of them.

I will always be grateful of Mourinho for what he did for our club and all of the trophies he brought us, but he's done so many disrespectful things over the past few years that I just don't have much respect for him anymore.

I'm not sure to be honest mate, you could be right.

Players, national team managers and journalists I think.

He scored 91 goals and had 22 assists in a single calendar year. If he didn't deserve to win it, then no one did. And in my opinion (and most people would agree) he is the best player in the world right now, and has been consistently for the past four years. Therefore, he did deserve to with it four years in a row. No one else has been anywhere near his form over the past four years. They shouldn't award it to someone else just because Messi already won it the previous three years.

The media won't allow that to happen, unfortunately.

Don't shoot the messenger.

It's no secret that Spanish (mainly Barca and Real) clubs get special treatment when it comes to things like this.

Vicente del Bosque just won Coach of the Year.

The first two quotes are completely taken out of context from the situation. The third quote gives a better impression. But you have it wrong. Pep was exhausted because of non-football problems within the club, yes. But that never caused any tension between Pep and the club. And there were many other things that exhausted Pep, none of which caused any tension between Pep and the club like I already said. What this proves is that Pep doesn't want to be involved in the business side of football. So why would he care if City have hired a new leading director and a new CEO? I'm sorry but you keep contradicting yourself and you have read the whole situation incorrectly.

Ballon d'Or winner will be announced within the next hour.

What do you think happened? Do you think Pep said to City 'Sign my friends and I'll come too.' The reason City hired Soriano and Begiristain is completely related to business; money. Pep has said that he wants a change, a new challenge and a new lifestyle. He doesn't want to relive Barca all over again with the same colleagues etc. That is utter hogwash. There was no tension between Pep and Barca. I have no idea where you're getting that from. Pep left Barca because he was tired of football and the stresses that come with it. He said himself that he wanted to take a year out to spend some time with his family. There was no tension there. An emotional and private press conference was held in Pep's honour so he could officially announce he was leaving. All of the staff and the players (except for Messi) attended and there were no hard feelings. This is a massive contradiction. Basically, you're saying that City are impatient but also patient. There's nothing that suggests City will sack Mancini. Maybe some rumours, but nothing concrete at all.

In other words: 'Hey, top clubs in Europe. I'm available soon, so get your cheque books out!' Although I would prefer if it was 'Hey, Abramovich, get your cheque book out. I'm coming to Chelsea!'

That's what everyone in this thread is doing. It's all they can do though. I'm only paying attention to what Brazilian members have to say about him because they've seen a lot more of him than we have. Oh, and watching youtube videos.

Criticize Hazard - Get attacked Compliment Mikel - Get attacked Compliment Luiz - Get attacked That's the way it is on this forum, it seems.

Ramires = Khedira? What Madrid games have you been watching mate? They're both very fit and have insane amounts of stamina, but Ramires doesn't have the tactical awareness to perform the role Khedira does. Khedira is also a much better tackler.

This is awesome and actually quite accurate. Although you might want to put Adán in there instead of Casillas.

True, but Mourinho has been criticized because of it too. There are rumours that Mourinho had no plans for Callejon in his team, but had to use him to make the fans happy. Either way, he's done a great job of helping Callejon to improve his mentality and abilities. Okay then. No more Florentino Perez. He shall henceforth be knows as Fiorentina Pires. How's that?

Watching this video makes me think two things: 1. Ba did very well for a player that had had one training session with the team before this game. 2. Moses was brilliant and involved in almost every attack.

I wouldn't worry about that. Of course he's going to speak well of his teammates. Ba knows as well as we do that if he keeps performing well and scoring goals, then he's going to playing a lot more games than Torres.

That is a solid team, but they get criticized a lot by their own fans for not having enough academy players in the first team, compared to Barcelona. I think there's only two in the first team now (Arbeloa and Callejon). This is another reason why Mourinho gets a lot of stick from the Madrid fans.

That's the thing, it's going to scare every manager and probably always has. But managers still took the job and other managers still will. Why? Ambition, ego, determindation... most likely money.