The Roberto Di Matteo Thread

[francozola 2,040]

The ex-Chelsea youth player who posted that article about JT said that Desailly was always a bit of a cunt behind the scenes.

Let me find the article again...

EDIT: Here we go:

Marcel Desailly, the captain before him, didn't do anything like the things John did. He couldn't care less about the young players or anyone else in the club for that matter. As a player he was impeccable but as a captain he did nothing and wasn't even close to what John is. In my first and second year in the youth team it was our job to get signed shirts from players from the first team, those shirts where then sent to fans or to a charity. We all stood in a row in the hallway before practices when the first team players walked passed us and then they signed the shirts. When Mr. Desailly came he usually pretended to be on the phone so he didn't have to do anything. We were like "Marcel, uuuuuumm, Marcel, could you please....." and then he was gone. Disappointment.

[robdog 2,084]

I agree with the above.

I love legends coming back. It makes the club more attractive and improves the family feel.

Example - Zidane, one of the greatest players of all time, now works at Real Madrid and does scouting, gives opinions etc.

If an attacking midfielder who idolized Zidane (like many do) is deciding whether or not to join Madrid after receiving an offer, and then finds out that Zidane himself was part of the people wanting him at the club, that would almost guarantee him joining.

It also adds more people to the club who genuinely want the best for the club, and don't just want to fill their pockets as a staff member while secretly supporting Arsenal or someone.

I'd be very glad to add Desailly as a defensive coach, Zola as a member of the board (wouldn't have to be too involved), and then Shevchenko or Tore Andre Flo or someone coming in and coaching the strikers.

I wish I could think of a role for Dennis Wise (if Newton leaves, I'd love him as assistant), but I can't come up with something which would best use his skills as a person. He's more of a motivator than a coach in my opinion.

IMHO I rather have Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink coach our strikers. I know Jimmy was pursing his coaching credentials & I believe he has finished getting them.

[strong centreback 157]

Never a fan of desailly well past his best when we got him and quite over rated by our lot, certainly not a legend of the cub either.

[michaelme 1]

I thought Desailly was in the run for the Mangers role at Swansea?

[Blue Armour 4,286]

The ex-Chelsea youth player who posted that article about JT said that Desailly was always a bit of a cunt behind the scenes.

Let me find the article again...

EDIT: Here we go:

http://forum.talkche...lly-john-terry/

I remember that one, and also remember reading somewhere that he loved his time at AC Milan better..

[Spike 12,049]

Eh, I don't see why he gets so much stick. So what if he liked his time at AC Milan better? Everytime I see him on the tele he is always smiling and very proud of what Chelsea has done. He and Franck Leboeuf always have very nice things to say about Chelsea. They show their support so why do we question them? It's foolish and pointless to question another fan's support. If they support the club, they support the club; no ifs, ands or buts about it.

For a matter of fact, Leboeuf always picks Chelsea to win the Premier League on ESPN Soccernet Presspass.

[Superblue 6,370]

Eh, I don't see why he gets so much stick. So what if he liked his time at AC Milan better? Everytime I see him on the tele he is always smiling and very proud of what Chelsea has done. He and Franck Leboeuf always have very nice things to say about Chelsea. They show their support so why do we question them? It's foolish and pointless to question another fan's support. If they support the club, they support the club; no ifs, ands or buts about it.

For a matter of fact, Leboeuf always picks Chelsea to win the Premier League on ESPN Soccernet Presspass.

People have to appreciate that the foreign lads will have grown up following other clubs in other leagues, etc.

Look at Zola - when chelsea played napoli he didn't want to lean to prefer either, he loves both clubs. But when it comes to the prem he'll always support us.

And Desailly was interviewed before the champions league final saying how desperate he was for chelsea to win it.

In fact given we were not a european powerhouse 15 years ago, to have players like gullit, desailly and vialli who had enjoyed stellar careers and were in their twilight years, talk fondly of their time at the club still now and continue to follow us is something special!

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

The ex-Chelsea youth player who posted that article about JT said that Desailly was always a bit of a cunt behind the scenes.

Let me find the article again...

EDIT: Here we go:

http://forum.talkche...lly-john-terry/

Meh...I'm always hesitant to judge a human being based on personal anecdotes. One person doesn't like another and all of a sudden it's "so and so is a cunt". Maybe he just hated signing autographs? Maybe he didn't want to stand around talking to kids half his age. You have to remember their ages. In say, 2003, Tillen was 18 and Desailly was 35. Terry was 23. Of course Terry is going to be talking to the youth players more, they were his contemporaries. Desailly was a grown man who probably wanted to just get home to his wife and kids. To me, Desailly was a great Chelsea defender and all this other stuff seems petty and insignificant.

[Superblue 6,370]

Meh...I'm always hesitant to judge a human being based on personal anecdotes. One person doesn't like another and all of a sudden it's "so and so is a cunt". Maybe he just hated signing autographs? Maybe he didn't want to stand around talking to kids half his age. You have to remember their ages. In say, 2003, Tillen was 18 and Desailly was 35. Terry was 23. Of course Terry is going to be talking to the youth players more, they were his contemporaries. Desailly was a grown man who probably wanted to just get home to his wife and kids. To me, Desailly was a great Chelsea defender and all this other stuff seems petty and insignificant.

Agreed. For every bad reference you can find a good one and vice versa. Just ask john terry what he thinks of marcel and you'll find a depiction of a near perfect captain and role model.

[pride of lions 59]

If it came as a straight choice between Franck Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly I wouldn't give it a moments thought, Leboeuf all day long.

[strong centreback 157]

If it came as a straight choice between Franck Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly I wouldn't give it a moments thought, Leboeuf all day long.

Leboeuf was two/three times the player desailly was for us.

[Superblue 6,370]

Any announcements/news on Eddie Newton yet?

[Tomo 21,733]

We all thought AVB would give us the long term stability and sort our future for the better.

Well AVB brought RDM back here, so maybe he has done just that after all.

[Kieran. 6,317]

We all thought AVB would give us the long term stability and sort our future for the better.

Well AVB brought RDM back here, so maybe he has done just that after all.

I was thinking that the other day

[silviupastean 135]

Any announcements/news on Eddie Newton yet?

i think it's obvious he'll stay. RDM gets to pick his backroom staff, and he will definatly want to hold on to eddie

[royg 96]

Marcel Desailly lined up for shock Chelsea return as coach

http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2012/06/20/3188237/marcel-desailly-lined-up-for-shock-chelsea-return-as-coach

[silviupastean 135]

Marcel Desailly lined up for shock Chelsea return as coach

http://www.goal.com/...return-as-coach

has already been posted mate

[LDN Blue 7,903]

About time I got a chance to make a few brief points on this;

The two-year deal is a lot more reassuring than the rumored one-year rolling contract. This keeps Di Matteo's mind at rest also the players who will start to be a bit wary come January-March where the media will begin the excruciating rumor mill of will he sign, won't he sign? Will Chelsea offer a deal, or won't they?

For the sake of harmony it's also a good choice. Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku etc had all gone to the press about wanting RdM to stay in the hotseat, for the club to go against this opinion would've risked some backlash, albeit minor ones because the players know that's how this club operates.

The momentum of the end of the last season will play in Robbie's favour a lot and it's a truly testing time for how he starts the season. Good job about the 2-year deal is there won't be that big of a compensation pay-out when it comes to it (should he be fired).

Common rumours suggest we're only waiting for Guardiola to return, and even if that's true I don't really care. Di Matteo has the chance to continue his good work at the end of the season and if he does, we won't even need Pep.

Good luck to him, hope he doesn't get sacked if it all goes pear-shaped.