Martina

Sounds like Chelsea at the moment to me. Expensive squad, fans in despair and a manager leaving a club in turmoil having fallen out with several players.

Pepe our next captain?

No one would try to bite Pepe - that's for sure.

I honestly wouldn't mind if we didn't win anything next season - as long as the Special One is back. I know it sounds crazy, but after all the misery and humiliation we went through this season I just want to be able to actually enjoy watching us play again - with a manager who's blue for a change :-)

It's on TalkSPORT at the moment - the interview is over, but they're talking about the situation in Madrid.

Brian Laudrup (Michael's brother) with a big grin on Danish TV: "We know where they love Mourinho most". Then interview with Mourinho for Danish TV: Mourinho: I need my family, I need my football and I will decide what's best for my life. Q: Are you going to Chelsea? Mourinho: I don't know He look real tired.

Nothing. I just like his accent

But I'm not saying he is not capable - I'm saying I cannot judge whether he is or isn't capable. But yes, I have some concerns and would personally prefer a more mature player. The reason I mentioned Cahill and Cole is mainly because they're English and more familiar with the culture/unspoken rules of English football.

I have nothing against Luiz. He might be "captain material" - I cannot judge that before he actually shows he is capable of handling this kind of responsibility. But is his English good enough? Cech on the other hand often calms people down and would (possibly) be more respected by the younger players. Then again, it's just a personal opinion - but if not Cech then I'd rather see Cahill or Cole in that role.

Being a captain - IMHO - is something one should earn - and in no way has Luiz done enough for Chelsea to be a captain. And on a different note: should Abramovich make this kind of decisions?

I'll never forget Ballack chasing the referee - Ballack was one of my favourite players. And Petr Cech's injury…we got tickets (mostly because of Cech, my son is his biggest fan) for Czech Republic - Denmark friendly (I'm Czech but have been living in Denmark since 1987) and Cech got injured a week or so before the match and obviously didn't play.

I can't really disagree with you - the irony is though that even if we didn't go through the group stage we were the club that scored most goals (and it was all down to home vs away goals). I believe RDM was under pressure (Roman apparently didn't appreciate parking-the-bus style and wanted more Barcelona way of football) and RDM proved last year he was capable of good defensive tactics. It just seems a bit unfair coming from new players who didn't really know Robbie.

I really don't understand why some players are so positive about Benitez. Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta believes that the club have benefited from Rafa Benitez's appointment as team manager, and admits he was disappointed with his start at Stamford Bridge under Roberto Di Matteo. "Rafa Benítez has given more tactical rigour to Chelsea. Until his arrival we were conceding lots of goals and we were not as solid as we should have been. Now we try to play like a team both in defence and in attack, and that's the most important thing." http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3890/england/2013/04/27/3935385/azpilicueta-benitez-has-given-chelsea-more-tactical-rigour

Latest rumour Done Deal: Chelsea to Appoint Jose Mourinho as New Manager: £120m Transfer Budget Handed to Returning Boss http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/04/27/done-deal-chelsea-to-appoint-jose-mourinho-as-new-manager-120m-transfer-budget-handed-to-returning-boss/

Thank you :-)

And that is a big plus Here is where I seek comfort: http://rafaout.co.uk

I suppose I feel sorry for him in a way and wish he left on his own this summer. On the other hand his latest interview made me really angry - it seems he is living in his own world detached from reality. Or - far worst - he knows he is finished and wants to stay put and make as much money as possible. I personally never wanted Torres. My hope is our new manager (hopefully Mourinho) will deal with him. And I have been reading this forum for a long time…but didn't "dare" to write anything…knowing what men think of women talking football :-)

Does Torres actually know the fans aren't happy? His latest interview suggests otherwise (he says he wants 3 more years and has so much to give to Chelsea). No matter what he does on the pitch Benitez mentions him in post match interviews - and you always know what he's going to say - "Torres worked really hard" is a standard reaction to a very bad performance. I don't think the fans should turn agains Torres during matches - but what if he stays for the next season? How much more can we take?

Benitez to Newcastle? Twitter: @indykaila: #NUFC officials have made early enquires on Rafael Benitez according to club sources. Alan Pardew future unclear and talks are planned.

Yossi Benayoun takes to Twitter to slam Chelsea fans and praise Liverpool support following return to Anfield "Disappointing result yesterday, always great to go back to Liverpool..really great full for the warm reception from the fans as always," he wrote on Twitter. "There is some other issues that the club is taking care and try to handle them in the right way..as sometimes people are crossing the limit and I'm sure the club will sort it." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10010786/Yossi-Benayoun-takes-to-Twitter-to-slam-Chelsea-fans-and-praise-Liverpool-support-following-return-to-Anfield.html

I know it's Daily Mail…but still I'm glad they've mentioned it. Liverpool love story: Benitez made his intentions clear by refusing to condemn Suarez for biting Ivanovic Link: http://cl.ly/OTRs I've been having a strange feeling lately that Benitez might get a new contract at Chelsea. Somehow it all fit together - the media kept telling us how the Chelsea fans began to accept him etc… But this Liverpool match must be an eye-opener, together with Benayoun slamming our fans on Twitter. A proper manager would never say he didn't see the incident - a proper manager would get behind his players.

OK. And thanks :-)

Now you've really lost me :-)

First Torres didn't perform because he played too many matches. So we go and buy Ba and let him sit on the bench, so Torres can play - while Rafa is inventing a new "explanation" for his bad performance. It's all about twisting "facts" and finding scapegoats. Torres in form? Excuse me - he did exactly what any other average player does in every single match, nothing more. The only difference is that you don't call those players "in form" because they just do what they are EXPECTED to. The thing is Torres is so bad that when he actually does have an average game and doesn't ruin it for the rest of the team we feel somehow we need to give him credit for it.

A Liverpool fan :-)