The Roberto Di Matteo Thread

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Well AVB was brought in because of his attractive football, i am guessing and most likely Roman still envisions a more attractive and attacking Chelsea football brand in the future.

Is RDM one to bring in attractive football to Chelsea?

I don't think so.

He is making the most out of what has been given to him, and results have been good and we are solid on the way of making this shit season, into something grand!

[strong centreback 157]

Robbie had the dons and west brom from playing some tidy footy during his time there, give him a pre season and a transfer window then lets see what he can do, I personally would be very happy with him staying in charge not only because I'm happy with a chelsea man in charge who actually sees this as his dream job, and he is doing a very good turn under some difficult conditions, but also in the back of my mind is because I can't see any other top coaches out there that would realistically come to us, the only person that is making noise about wanting the job is the fat spanish waiter and I don't want that cunt anywhere near our dugout.

[Laylabelle 9,359]

Even if he doesnt get manager hope he least gets assistant manager cause otherwise new management team...no doubt end up with the same problems on who to keep and let go cause they wont know..least he can offer advise from his experince with us...

I hope he gets some reconsation at least!! And if he does become manager I just hope he doesnt end up being treated like crap from the board and fans when things start going a bit wrong...

[Justin_3d 1,140]

Yeah even though I want Moyes or Bielsa, I would not be mad if RDM continues.

He has done good, but we need to see how he holds for one full season.

I def. like that he has been giving time to Ryan, it's a start compare to other so call "top" managers.

I always wanted a manager that will gamble with youth!

[Cripen 110]

Just like many of you I really like that he gave a chance to Bertrand. Also Im happy that he trust in all of our players not just his favourite 13-15 players and that paid off.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Tactics and all that aside, I personally love the way Robbie conducts himself. Proper gent

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I think di Matteo certainly has put forward his case for inclusion - but I fear this is just a case of the players spitting their dummies out again. Under AVB we saw they were more than capable of playing how they currently are, but almost out of spite they refused to show the same commitment that they did under Hiddink or Mourinho, for instance. It was almost as if as soon as they realised things were going south, that they could not be bothered anymore and that they were just biding their time until his eventual sacking. They let Villas-Boas down just like they did with Ancelotti, and I fear they would do the same with di Matteo if they were given the chance. He has been savvy and kept them onside by playing a lot of the 'old guard' and rotating the squad as well as he possibly can, giving gametime to everyone and thus getting a happier squad as a result. What he has done deserves great respect and I think all it has done has endear a Chelsea legend to the fans to an even greater extent.

But I fear that if he gets the job, he'll have got more than he bargained for. Let's be frank; he isn't the tactician that Mourinho was, nor does he possess Hiddink's motivational skills. Whilst he has got it right more times than wrong, I still fear this is a case of Avram Grant all over again - he might have been the coach, but he certainly wasn't the manager of the club. That duty befell the likes of Terry, Ballack and Drogba and they led the club to a Quadruple of near-misses. 2007/08 was the greatest ever Chelsea team in my opinion, and we underachieved. We did the same under Hiddink; we should have got to the final of the Champions League that season.

Finding the perfect man for the Chelsea job isn't an impossible task, because we found him in 2004. We need a man who can handle the pressure delivered from the players, the media, and of course the owner, and as much as I respect him, I do not think di Matteo has these credentials. He certainly has the fans onside and the players have his back (for now), but I don't think he'll get the job because if he was going to, Roman would have offered it to him by now. Instead we only have reports that he's set for an interview in the summer, and that the 'interim' part of his title isn't there to humour the press; it is very much an apt choice of phrase.

It just seems to me than Roman is holding out for the Special One...

[Justin_3d 1,140]

Or Guardiola.

[ZanSnake 1,211]

I can see the only person besides Roberto at this moment in time being Jose, but with how much more of a reputation he has got since leaving, as well as the major job he has landed now, would he come back, and would the price be too much to bare?

We need to look more towards the frute, and the over-haul that should have heppened in the beginning time, and what AVB had planned. I can't see anyone else being able to tame this club more then Jose, but i think it would look suave to have a certain legend in the seat also.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Well said Alex.

It's a gamble on RDM because of those stated reasons, now who knows if the players would react to him in a proper managerial environment. But at a time where the club is in a vital need to a rebuild, is the gamble calculated enough for RDM to take the reigns? I say, why not. Let's be honest, no-one else is available. Mourinho is likely to stay at Real or end up at City, Hiddink doesn't seem like a long-term option & Guardiola is rumoured to be taking a sabbatical after Barcelona. There is no-one else.

[Wxgba 306]

Regardless of what happens come the end of the season, Di Matteo's situation needs to be analysed critically and in a lot of detail; not just a knee-jerk reaction depending on whether he's brought silverware back to Stamford Bridge come May. In the unlikely circumstance that we were triumphant in Munich should we get there, I think Roman will instantly offer him the job on a full-time basis. However, there's a lot more to consider when choosing the "right man", particularly when preparing for future, long-term success.

There's all this talk about "Barcelona did it with Guardiola, why can't we?" and that there's "no-one better out there that is available". How do we know there's nobody more suitable for the role out there, somewhere amidst managerial obscurity? Barca did nurture Guardiola in to the manager that he is today, yes, but that won't be the case for every former player. Di Matteo's a legend amongst the stands, and I'm sure he'd like to keep it that way. Taking the job could run the risk of dinting his relationship with the board and fans alike.

Hypothetically-speaking, what would we, as fans, do if Di Matteo's offered the job in the summer and his terrific turnaround this season is overhauled by torrid turbulence, such as what Liverpool and "King Kenny" are facing currently? It wouldn't leave us in a promising predicament, and both Di Matteo's reputation and our top-four hopes will be taking severe blows.

He is a viable option, yes, but I just hope the decision made isn't a rash one. Roman and the board have become prevalent in premature decision-making; I just hope this isn't the case this time around.

[warnie_666 1,081]

http://f00tballmatte...erto-di-matteo/ Why Chelsea should NOT hire RDM

I would rather have a manager that has got lady luck on his side instead of a manager with no luck at all. Fergie's Man Utd have been lucky for years. To win competitions you need luck else Barcelona would be winning it every season.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Even if he doesnt get manager hope he least gets assistant manager cause otherwise new management team...no doubt end up with the same problems on who to keep and let go cause they wont know..least he can offer advise from his experince with us...

I hope he gets some reconsation at least!! And if he does become manager I just hope he doesnt end up being treated like crap from the board and fans when things start going a bit wrong...

You think he will stay on as an assistant after doing what he has?

My guess is Spurs might approach him in place of Harry ie if we do not make him perm

[warnie_666 1,081]

I think di Matteo certainly has put forward his case for inclusion - but I fear this is just a case of the players spitting their dummies out again. Under AVB we saw they were more than capable of playing how they currently are, but almost out of spite they refused to show the same commitment that they did under Hiddink or Mourinho, for instance. It was almost as if as soon as they realised things were going south, that they could not be bothered anymore and that they were just biding their time until his eventual sacking. They let Villas-Boas down just like they did with Ancelotti, and I fear they would do the same with di Matteo if they were given the chance. He has been savvy and kept them onside by playing a lot of the 'old guard' and rotating the squad as well as he possibly can, giving gametime to everyone and thus getting a happier squad as a result. What he has done deserves great respect and I think all it has done has endear a Chelsea legend to the fans to an even greater extent.

But I fear that if he gets the job, he'll have got more than he bargained for. Let's be frank; he isn't the tactician that Mourinho was, nor does he possess Hiddink's motivational skills. Whilst he has got it right more times than wrong, I still fear this is a case of Avram Grant all over again - he might have been the coach, but he certainly wasn't the manager of the club. That duty befell the likes of Terry, Ballack and Drogba and they led the club to a Quadruple of near-misses. 2007/08 was the greatest ever Chelsea team in my opinion, and we underachieved. We did the same under Hiddink; we should have got to the final of the Champions League that season.

Finding the perfect man for the Chelsea job isn't an impossible task, because we found him in 2004. We need a man who can handle the pressure delivered from the players, the media, and of course the owner, and as much as I respect him, I do not think di Matteo has these credentials. He certainly has the fans onside and the players have his back (for now), but I don't think he'll get the job because if he was going to, Roman would have offered it to him by now. Instead we only have reports that he's set for an interview in the summer, and that the 'interim' part of his title isn't there to humour the press; it is very much an apt choice of phrase.

It just seems to me than Roman is holding out for the Special One...

Initially even I thought this was Grant all over again. But in case of Grant I never heard one player come out in public and appreciate Grant's effect on team. In Roberto's case, players are actually appreciating what he has done.

He changed the formation to 4-2-3-1 which was similar to what he used at West Brom.

He got Eddie Newton and a completely NEW BACKROOM STAFF in its first year while Grant had Steve Clarke from Mourinho's time.

He put Ramirez on the Flank and he Ramirez is killing it out there.

He made Bertand play and not Bosingwa or Ferriera and that for a youngster is a big boost of confidence.

He told the Old guard that they gotta go out in style and be remembered as Champions and not as losers who were once great and now past it.

He has created a Seige mentality. He basically undid everything that AVB did.

He got Luiz firing on all cylinder and Luiz was one of the players on AVBs side but was still rusty. But under Roberto he is Brute.

4-2-3-1 has made us concede less goals.

He surprised everyone with his squad selection for FA Cup as most were hoping he would rest players for Barcelona and ended up winning both the ties.

He is lucky and like I mentioned I would rather have a manager who has luck on his side. Mourinho's Chelsea were unlucky in the Champions League.

When people say you were lucky to win a game in Champions League knock out, then rest assured you have good odds of winning the tournament. I am not saying chelsea is destined to win it this year but the odds look great and here is why.

Liverpool's Ghost Goal and a lucky Penalty in the finals.

JT slipped and Man Utd won it.

Ovrebo helping Barca by coming out with the most ridiculous refereeing displays.

Inter Milan were lucky they were not reduced to 10 men when Kalou was hacked down in the box with a penalty to us and later against Barcelona, a legitimate Bojan goal was disallowed by the ref which had it been allowed Barca would have gone through.

Compare that to our luck this year and its nothing. couple of shots hit the bar against Barca.

[francozola 2,040]

All this AVB playing Bosingwa at LB is bullshit. How many games did he actually play there? I think only a couple. The only one I can remember clearly is the Napoli game and theres no way in hell that Bertrand should have started that game. There's one more match but I've forgotten who the opponents were...?

And LOL - RDM got Luiz back to his best? Utter nonsense. Luiz has been superb for a while now. At least 4-6 weeks before AVB got the sack. The other points may be valid but These two are rubbish

[warnie_666 1,081]

All this AVB playing Bosingwa at LB is bullshit. How many games did he actually play there? I think only a couple. The only one I can remember clearly is the Napoli game and theres no way in hell that Bertrand should have started that game. There's one more match but I've forgotten who the opponents were...?

And LOL - RDM got Luiz back to his best? Utter nonsense. Luiz has been superb for a while now. At least 4-6 weeks before AVB got the sack. The other points may be valid but These two are rubbish

LOL..... absolutely ridiculous. Was was shit at Napoli and FYI we havent been keeping clean sheet to save our life and you claim one of our defenders was "Superb"

And regarding Bosingwa, its not about how many times he made Bertand play, its about did he make him play when he had the opportunity.? and answer is flat NO.

[francozola 2,040]

LOL..... absolutely ridiculous. Was was shit at Napoli and FYI we havent been keeping clean sheet to save our life and you claim one of our defenders was "Superb"

And regarding Bosingwa, its not about how many times he made Bertand play, its about did he make him play when he had the opportunity.? and answer is flat NO.

Haha okay clearly you have no idea what you're talking about. Luiz was excellent for a long time before AVB left. Stay deluded.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Haha okay clearly you have no idea what you're talking about. Luiz was excellent for a long time before AVB left. Stay deluded.

Good Job laughing like an idiot and calling others deluded by writing a one liner response without backing up with facts