lionsden

Absolutely this. All the teams he's managed since leaving porto have been public enemy number one from chelsea to inter to madrid. To further buttress your point on the impact a manager can have on the popularity of a team. Our popularity was the highest it's been in the Roman era under Ancelotti. even despite winning the double (The theory is always they hate us because of our success) most neutral fans and even some bitter rivals found us much more likeable and the media and FA significantly eased up on their "bias" at the time.

And mourinho has also gotten away with a few of his own. Even if the system was imperfect (which it is, just like any other systems really) An intelligent, professional and responsible manager would do everything possible to avoid giving the FA ammunition to punish him and his team. What made his controversial remark bizzare is that it wasn't even a remotely legitimate shout (That was never a penalty i a million years but ironically Southampton had two legitimate pens denied) If you are going to criticize the authorities atleast make sure you have a solid case.

Ofcourse this is the type of response I expected. biased to the core. Apparently the English FA, Spanish and Italian media and FA all have an agenda against him and his teams. It's just so happens that the controversy that seems to follow him around every club he goes are not his fault and the whole world are out to get poor old jose. It's time he takes a hard look at himself in the mirror and start taking responsibilities for his actions (if he's ever capable of that). All things considered, he's actually gotten away with quite a few professional misconduct since he arrived, many jabs at referees and opposition managers and players that haven't been punished. Majority of his senseless rants about "conspiracy against chelsea" were ignored as well. And the gullible people that have fallen for the "He's doing it and saying it to take pressure off his players" "classic jose mind games" (as if that's a justification for being controversial and unprofessional) do not help matters either.

He just branded the decision by the FA "a disgrace". a leopard never changes its spot SMH. he will never learn/change. I hope they increase future ban/punishment if he continues on the same path.

The pass at 2.48 is ridiculous. I'm so glad he's finally adding productivity to his game. Happy for him.

And so it begins.

The myth that Costa has a good allround play is one of those things that actually baffles me. I watch every chelsea games and see Costa busy wasting possession and generally looking like a semi pro on the ball majority of the time then I come on the forum and see comments like "His link up and hold up play is excellent" " He's one of the best strikers in the world" and I say to myself, are we watching the same games?. I still maintain that Costa is nothing more than a glorified, scary looking Huntelar/chicharito. A decent goal poacher and nothing more.

While carlo wouldn't be my first choice, I will take him back gladly. He will restore our status as a football club from the circus/soap opera of a team/club that Mourinho and Costa have turned us into. at the very least. And I have no doubt he will do a much better job in terms of tactics and team selection than Jose currently.

I don't know where this myth that carlo is anti youth came from. He was very pro youth at Chelsea and madrid, giving respectable opportunities to players like Josh, Sturridge,kakuta,Jese,Morata. And what do you mean by the highlighted? I hope you are not trying to imply Carlo plays the same style or poorer football than mourinho because that will be a shocking opinion and no neutral fan who have any knowledge about football will ever agree with that as carlo's teams are more attacking and better coached offensively than Mourinho's teams (well the current version of mourinho anyway).

Are there any rules prohibiting selection of players who aren't fully fit? if not,don't be shocked if Mourinho still starts him against Villa.

José must be absolutely gutted

And this is the man people want as our manager in the long term. SMH.

When you think about it. Mourinho really is a rich man's Roy Hodgson. inclination for Big, tall, powerful, athletic players, banks of four, lion-heart, passion, awful football and all that. He should consider taking over as England manager when he leaves Chelsea (which I hope will be at the end of the season) He would fit right in.

If this is the case, why fire any manager at all? Couldn't the same apply to every single manager that's ever been sacked due to poor performance in the history of football?

It's like choosing between a turd and a refuse bin that's been left to sit outside in the intense summer heat for a few weaks.