The Roberto Di Matteo Thread

[Superblue 6,370]

Thing is you can't just jump into decisions like that, thorough analysis of his performance needs to be done. And also evaluation of other candidates.

We're never likely to know. The board could have said to Robbie to go and enjoy a holiday and they'll sort out the contract when he gets back. Sure enough as soon as he was back from a holiday the appointment was confirmed. I'm sure I saw something somewhere that Hazard had spoken to Robbie about his role in the team and this was before Robbie was confirmed.

It is also a little weird that if Robbie wasn't fully confident in landing the Chelsea job, then why didn't he hold talks with any of the clubs who needed a manager during that end of season window - Liverpool, Villa, Lazio, etc. Are you telling me after what he achieved with us that none of the mentioned wouldn't be interested in him?!

[Justin_3d 1,140]

Benitez achieved something great, and Liverpool got blinded into that.

I am glad that the club is not easily falling into that.

One year contract would have been the best, but can't complain with a 2 either.

RDM must now show that what he did the last few months was not a one trick pony.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

Chelsea News ‏@chelseanewsonly

Newton to be confirmed as Di Matteo No2 at Chelsea - Eddie Newton is set to be confirmed as Roberto di Matteo's No2 ...

[Ollie 4,400]

A 2 year deal basically means if next year is shit, i'll give you another year to put it right. If both years are shit, you can leave without me paying you a penny in compensation. We've paid off way too many managers recently it's embarrassing. AVB was the worst tho, paid to come, paid to leave. 2 years is perfect for any manager but i think every manager should get the 2 years without being sacked mid way through. Can't keep throwing money away.

Anyway.... Happy Eddie & Robbie are staying. Would love to win the prem with them.

[Superblue 6,370]

Chelsea News ‏@chelseanewsonly

Newton to be confirmed as Di Matteo No2 at Chelsea - Eddie Newton is set to be confirmed as Roberto di Matteo's No2 ...

News I've been waiting for since Robbie's appointment

[Justin_3d 1,140]

A 2 year deal basically means if next year is shit, i'll give you another year to put it right. If both years are shit, you can leave without me paying you a penny in compensation. We've paid off way too many managers recently it's embarrassing. AVB was the worst tho, paid to come, paid to leave. 2 years is perfect for any manager but i think every manager should get the 2 years without being sacked mid way through. Can't keep throwing money away.

Anyway.... Happy Eddie & Robbie are staying. Would love to win the prem with them.

People keep thinking that Pep is the one to take over in a year or so...but I really see him going to Bayern.

I think the one taking over will be Mourinho.

Roman and Mourinho may have resolve their difference, and by that time Mourinho may have won what he wants at Madrid and then decide to come to England where no doubt Roman will give him the job.

[Beigl 1,387]

I hope Eddie will stay at Chelsea,he and Roberto di Matteo are a perfect team.

[Jase 43,479]

Chelsea News ‏@chelseanewsonly

Newton to be confirmed as Di Matteo No2 at Chelsea - Eddie Newton is set to be confirmed as Roberto di Matteo's No2 ...

Expected that. Don't see the reason of ditching Eddie after the part he played in our success last season and the fact that he was brought in by RDM himself as well.

[Tomo 21,733]

If Robbie ever gets sacked, only Mourinho's return would probably end up winning the fans back in favor of the board

Regarding what Bad Boy said, i don't think its solely trophies Roman is looking at winning next season, if we win nothing but their is genuine signs of progression (IE solid 3rd place finish, intergretion of younger squad, strong shot at retaining the CL), then i can't see RDM getting sacked. AVB, Carlo and Scolari got sacked for the way we were appeared to be heading under their leadership more than the fact we won nothing in their tenure's at the club (AVB and Scolari) and during his last season (Carlo).

If next season brings positive signs that RDM is taking us in the right direction then he won't get sacked, if we stagnate again then that's a different matter altogether.

[Badboy 1,526]

I don't think many people understand my point of view. I want us to have an established structure were we have a manager for a good 5-10 years at this club. Chelsea has had too much uncertainty in recent years and we need to give the manager the full reign while knowing he ain't going to get the sack if doesn't win the league or THE TEAM loses a few games. This merry go round of managers is damaging this club and I don't care how much money we've got we'll struggle and that's the reality. I don't believe that ALL the managers we've sacked in recent years have been lacking I just think it was because of other factors so we have to stop this culture of sacking managers when the going gets tough. Alex Ferguson had 5 years before he won a league title at United and in that 5 years he was able to establish the culture of bringing in young players and establishing his philosophy on the pitch. We don't have a culture at this club and that's because if a manager doesn't win the world cup then he's not good enough even though Chelsea can't compete in the world cup. Sometimes in life you have to sacrifice for a better tomorrow and this is the time we have to sacrifice so we can have a club philosophy !

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

this is the time we have to sacrifice so we can have a club philosophy !

We already have a philosophy and that is to win things.

[Badboy 1,526]

We already have a philosophy and that is to win things.

That's not a philosophy you clown that's a target. I'm talking about a football philosophy that runs through the club from the youth to the first team.

[Tomo 21,733]

We should not look for a set manager for 10 years just for the sake of longevity, if one comes along that fits that bracket and manages us for the long haul then great and hopefully that man will be RDM.

BadBoy i do however see where you are coming from and fully agree, it will be nice to see a manager in for the long haul.

[The Skipper 20,593]

That's not a philosophy you clown that's a target. I'm talking about a football philosophy that runs through the club from the youth to the first team.

That doesn't come automatically with managerial stability. Wtf do you think Roman wants to do? Why the fuck do you think he hired Ancelotti and AVB? Because he wants our club to have a philoshophy.

Would you really say Man Utd have a solid philosophy? They vary their tactics to suit their opponent. They play to win things.

It's something that comes from top down and it takes longer than a decade to really become the soul of the club.

[Badboy 1,526]

That doesn't come automatically with managerial stability. Wtf do you think Roman wants to do? Why the fuck do you think he hired Ancelotti and AVB? Because he wants our club to have a philoshophy.

Would you really say Man Utd have a solid philosophy? They vary their tactics to suit their opponent. They play to win things.

It's something that comes from top down and it takes longer than a decade to really become the soul of the club.

Yes Man Utd do have a philosophy and its clear as day what it is. Man Utd use the size of the pitch through wide players to create pockets of space for their central players. They will dominate play against weaker opposition while still maintaining lightning counter attacks if the opportunity arrives. They will conform to a pure counter attacking game against some of the bigger sides because its a low risk strategy but the spreading of the play to the wide area's will always remain. I admire the way they use the pitch to their advantage because it opens up the game and that is the reason why they score a lot of goals that come from crosses.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Yes Man Utd do have a philosophy and its clear as day what it is. Man Utd use the size of the pitch through wide players to create pockets of space for their central players. They will dominate play against weaker opposition while still maintaining lightning counter attacks if the opportunity arrives. They will conform to a pure counter attacking game against some of the bigger sides because its a low risk strategy but the spreading of the play to the wide area's will always remain.

More tactics than philosophy to me. It's funny how when Mourinho basically introduced the 4-3-3 into the PL that Man Utd decided to adopt the tactics too. They went from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 to a more recent 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1.

It hasn't always been pace from the wide areas under Ferguson. Prime example: the David Beckham years.

Philosophy is Barcelona-esque. Milan under Carlotti. Just examples.

Not many clubs have an actual consistant philosophy, it is quite rare to see.

[Kostas 1,468]

If our managerial merry-go-round keeps damaging the club while it wins leagues and cups in contrast to Arsenal's philosophy then so be it.

We had a man who enjoyed stability at a probably more important position than the managers and was brought to implement a specific philosophy. He had control over the 2 things that shape a clubs visible future: the Academy and the scouting network. I don't remember much of a revolt when we lost that stability yet we constantly go nuts over the risk of losing stop gap managers like Scolari, Ancelotti, AVB and Di Matteo.

[Badboy 1,526]

If our managerial merry-go-round keeps damaging the club while it wins leagues and cups in contrast to Arsenal's philosophy then so be it.

We had a man who enjoyed stability at a probably more important position than the managers and was brought to implement a specific philosophy. He had control over the 2 things that shape a clubs visible future: the Academy and the scouting network. I don't remember much of a revolt when we lost that stability yet we constantly go nuts over the risk of losing stop gap managers like Scolari, Ancelotti, AVB and Di Matteo.

What you fail to understand is the whole thing becomes unsustainable if the merry go round continues. The benefit of having a long term management system is much better because I believe the ends will justify the means. The fact that you view RDM as a ''stop gap manager'' worries me because that was exactly what i fear. If doesn't win the league then another manager comes in with another set of back room staff and we start all over again. Young players don't get a look in because the new manager is under pressure to produce a miracle then he gets sacked then start all over again.