The Roberto Di Matteo Thread

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

I grew up watching Australian rugby, Australian tactics, Australian style. When I see people like Steve Nicol talk about the 'hard days of football' and 'these diving foreign types' I kind of laugh, I'm used to seeing 120kg monsters running at eachother and even AFL is twice as physical as football. Need to jump higher in AFL? That's alright, you can use the opponet's head as a launch pad, haha. I though I'd share my history...

I don't give a fuck how it's done (as long it's within the rules of the game), winning is winning. You only need to score 38 goals a season to get maximum points.

BARCA, UNITED...

[bushman 2,043]

Since I do not like Barca or their tiki taka or whatever one calls it I would not want to see Chelsea playing it.

Still I would not want to see the club in defensive mode for 70 minutes of any game.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I think we let Robbie's "Legend" tag get to us a little too much when it comes to this subject-matter. I think we've done him a favor to be honest, the timing of his departure didn't tarnish his hero tag because it was so early one. He's in the Champions League Winning Coach's alumni and no-one will take that away from him, but if he wasn't a club legend, I don't think his sacking would come as a surprise to most - considering he wasn't the club's ideal choice in the first place.

I don't want to stir up the discussion again but saying we did him a favor is very biased in my opinion. Regardless of his status at the club, it was extremely unfair to sack him two months into the season. We should not have given him the contract in the first place. I don't think he is good enough to be our permanent manager, but once we gave him that contract we should have given him until the end of the season at least. Sacking him and getting Benitez made absolutely no sense back then and is making even less sense with every passing game.

Yes, he benefited from leading us to winning the CL, but after that I think we treated very harshly by offering him a contract then sacking him a few months later. We certainly didn't do him any favors there.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I don't want to stir up the discussion again but saying we did him a favor is very biased in my opinion. Regardless of his status at the club, it was extremely unfair to sack him two months into the season. We should not have given him the contract in the first place. I don't think he is good enough to be our permanent manager, but once we gave him that contract we should have given him until the end of the season at least. Sacking him and getting Benitez made absolutely no sense back then and is making even less sense with every passing game.

Yes, he benefited from leading us to winning the CL, but after that I think we treated very harshly by offering him a contract then sacking him a few months later. We certainly didn't do him any favors there.

True, but we also have to remember that the club basically forced its own hand into offering Robbie a contract. Firstly they had to save face with the media and fans, fans would have only tolerated Guardiola or Mourinho to take over, especially after we'd won the Holy Grail. It is unfair to sack him after 2 months, but let's face it, Robbie looks on top now especially when you consider how poorly we're doing with Rafa.

I don't think Di Matteo will have a problem finding a job now. He might not be getting a call from Real Madrid anytime soon, but he won't be short of options anytime soon either.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

True, but we also have to remember that the club basically forced its own hand into offering Robbie a contract. Firstly they had to save face with the media and fans, fans would have only tolerated Guardiola or Mourinho to take over, especially after we'd won the Holy Grail. It is unfair to sack him after 2 months, but let's face it, Robbie looks on top now especially when you consider how poorly we're doing with Rafa.

I don't think Di Matteo will have a problem finding a job now. He might not be getting a call from Real Madrid anytime soon, but he won't be short of options anytime soon either.

Agree there. I know it's easy to talk in retrospective, but both hiring and then sacking him are such big mistakes. The first overlooked ability to avoid the fan's fury and seconds did exactly that except ten times worse.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Agree there. I know it's easy to talk in retrospective, but both hiring and then sacking him are such big mistakes. The first overlooked ability to avoid the fan's fury and seconds did exactly that except ten times worse.

Yep, it was the classic double-edged sword. Sometimes I wonder if the club would've found it easier had we not won the Champions League - I'm sure Gourlay/Buck think about it.

[Rmpr 8,977]

I'm sure Gourlay/Buck think about it.

I am not sure they think at all mate!

[communicate 2,703]

True, but we also have to remember that the club basically forced its own hand into offering Robbie a contract. Firstly they had to save face with the media and fans, fans would have only tolerated Guardiola or Mourinho to take over, especially after we'd won the Holy Grail. It is unfair to sack him after 2 months, but let's face it, Robbie looks on top now especially when you consider how poorly we're doing with Rafa.

I don't think Di Matteo will have a problem finding a job now. He might not be getting a call from Real Madrid anytime soon, but he won't be short of options anytime soon either.

There are not many available ucl winning manager out there but he did not win ucl convincingly. Next job is the key for him

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Since I do not like Barca or their tiki taka or whatever one calls it I would not want to see Chelsea playing it.

Still I would not want to see the club in defensive mode for 70 minutes of any game.

If it won us trophies, I wouldn't give a shit.

You don't look in the history books for it to say: Chelsea FC: European Champions 2012 (but they played shit defensive football for three games against two of the best teams in the competition), it just says we're the Champions of Europe. By hook or by crook, I don't give a fuck.

I'd rather win a game playing shit football 1-0, than draw 1-1 because we left ourselves too open. Look at Arsenal, then look at us, and tell me which tactic works better.

[bushman 2,043]

If it won us trophies, I wouldn't give a shit.

You don't look in the history books for it to say: Chelsea FC: European Champions 2012 (but they played shit defensive football for three games against two of the best teams in the competition), it just says we're the Champions of Europe. By hook or by crook, I don't give a fuck.

I'd rather win a game playing shit football 1-0, than draw 1-1 because we left ourselves too open. Look at Arsenal, then look at us, and tell me which tactic works better.

Trophies that were won, I am very pleased about them. Nonetheless, I prefer good offensive football played by Chelsea. I believe, I already had explained myself here. Different strokes for different folks.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Everyone would rather see the attractive style - I don't believe there is any member here who wouldn't be delighted if we resumed the style under Ancelotti when scoring five or more goals was considered a normality.

The grim reality is that the English Premier League is far too competitive for that style. You can succeed fighting fire with fire against another passing side like Swansea, but the minute you go up against a ten-man defence, á la Stoke, you are dropping points.

[bushman 2,043]

I agree. However, if one looks at the fire power of Manure he could see plenty of offense & scoring goals.

A good offense is & has been a good defense too.

Most likely, we may even see an avalanche of offensive power by Real tonight. Personally, I like that style.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Since I do not like Barca or their tiki taka or whatever one calls it I would not want to see Chelsea playing it.

Still I would not want to see the club in defensive mode for 70 minutes of any game.

It's not just CFC that have done it though. Look at United against Madrid as a prime example. Madrid who aren't even that renowned for their passing game compared to Bayern and Barca.

[bushman 2,043]

It's not just CFC that have done it though. Look at United against Madrid as a prime example. Madrid who aren't even that renowned for their passing game compared to Bayern and Barca.

Barca´s passing game cannot be duplicated by REAL.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Barca´s passing game cannot be duplicated by REAL.

I know, that's the point I'm trying to make...

[bushman 2,043]

I know, that's the point I'm trying to make...

Even though, Barca plays it to perfection but I still do not like it.

When I see Barca playing, mind you I rarely watch them, I always want them to be defeated though.

However, there are the team to beat in CL competition this year, I feel.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Apparently he's been removed from all Munich footage on the big screen and also air-brushed from a photo on the West wall.

Absolutely disgusting.

[Liquidator 5,176]

It wouldn't surprise me to be honest. I'll check that next Saturday. Stamford Bridge is like a fucking dictatorship the way Chelsea TV won't say a bad word about Rafa, they don't allow banners for fans to give their opinions and now this. Absolute bullshit.