The TT Football Club

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I know the feeling! It would be great if we still had Drogba, just to see what he would do with Mata, Hazard and Oscar. He didn't have that kind of service when he was here, i'd love to see him bullying both centre backs whilst they ran riot in the gaps.. ahh well.

I see the papers are laying into Chelsea already, describing how it's all fallen apart and Di Matteo will be gone soon. It's a load of crap, we're closer in the title race than I, or any 'pundit' thought at the start of the season. Whilst being in a fight to get out of the group stages of the Champions League was always likely, Shakhtar and Juventus are great teams.

The problems that the papers blame the manager for are stupid, Terry being missing and injured, Cole injured, Lampard injured, Torres as hopeless as ever, Essien and Meireles moved on. The squad is thin, hardly the managers fault.

A team slowly improving doesn't make a headline does it?A crisis in which the manager has not performed the "expected" mirical will and if there isn't one best we make one up!
I should say i mean pre kicking Berkovic in hte face Hartson, lean, fit and willing to run through a wal to get the ball, he was good to watch! On a side note it's good to see Benayoun back, glimpses of qualuty offering a nice outlet, hammers are collecting some good creative players again.At least Big Sam isn't likely to do a pardew!

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by NickC

Yeah I don't think Roberto is going to be sacked, he'll be given a full season at the least; Roman owes it to him.

Though are you starting to see what I was getting at regarding letting Meireles and Ess leave? Raul would have fit in perfectly right now and Ess is doing alright in Spain, it seems he's fit in their system better than Modric has. Chelsea is desperate for experience at the center of the park. And Essien can cover in defense too. Cole's off to PSG, Lamps is gone in January, and now the boss will go too if the press are right Lukaku should come back. So should de Brunye.


(but to be fair Essien needed to get out of England, he's still young-ish and great when fit, but all those years in the Premier League have taken a toll on his knees. Perhaps a refresher in Spain is all he needed, perhaps he'll be able to last a season there. With that being said, Chelsea were dumb to let him leave after a decent preseason and fit, I personally think he'll be this year's "Sneijder", meaning the cog that just makes the team work infinitely better, straight into the Champions League title like Mou did before at Inter, he got Wesley at a bargin price and he just was the piece that was missing to make the team work. Madrid need an all-action defender/midfielder who's got speed, size, a wicked shot off both feet, and the ability to move forward. He's played left back before under Mou and he could fit in as a wingback at Madrid, kind of like Coentrao who tends to drift into the center of the park to help with the attack)

Madrid didn't need Modric, his best role is already taken up by Alonso and now he's forced out on the wing, where creativity goes to die. Essien fits in wherever Madrid need him and adds a rocket shot from range.

Yes, it's ridiculous, total nonsense, if anyone's talking of replacing Roberto. He's utterly turned to the club around, effectively changed how they play (and in a far better manner than, dare I say it, AVB), and in winning the CL, reached undreamt of success. As has been well documented, seems to me they just really badly need that top tier striker to bang in the goals.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Yes, it's ridiculous, total nonsense, if anyone's talking of replacing Roberto. He's utterly turned to the club around, effectively changed how they play (and in a far better manner than, dare I say it, AVB), and in winning the CL, reached undreamt of success. As has been well documented, seems to me they just really badly need that top tier striker to bang in the goals.

Well he's gone for it, he's dropping Torres and playing Hazard up top on his own tonight. It's a brave move, but Torres and Sturridge have been so bad that something has to be done.

Personally i'd of gone with Moses. He can drop back to help in midfield, which we need, he's played the position before and he's been taking chances when he gets them. That's what i'd of gone with.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Well he's gone for it, he's dropping Torres and playing Hazard up top on his own tonight. It's a brave move, but Torres and Sturridge have been so bad that something has to be done.

Personally i'd of gone with Moses. He can drop back to help in midfield, which we need, he's played the position before and he's been taking chances when he gets them. That's what i'd of gone with.

That was frustrating. Talking of tactics, Roberto's were off tonight! Hazard is a winger or a supporting striker. He isn't a striker.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

That was frustrating. Talking of tactics, Roberto's were off tonight! Hazard is a winger or a supporting striker. He isn't a striker.

I didn't have any problems with it. Hazard has been very good in his short time here, i'd have him in the team over Torres any day of the week! He wanted to get another defensive player into the team, which dropping Torres allowed.

Torres and Sturridge have had plenty of chances to show what they can do, and failed. Playing with no striker is pretty much what we do every game anyway, they're that ineffective

I think ideally Di Matteo would of wanted to play Ramires on the right, where he did last year. That would of left Mikel as the only midfielder though, it's funny how shocking it is that a top team has so few options.

[PED]

Didn't realize Juve was so good, don't watch the Italian league usually, so fluid, it's a shame they didn't get RvP, than all of our teams would have had an easier ride this year.

Don't think Dimatteo should be fired but I'd like to see it and see Pep brought in.

That way, we can see what a complete wanker Roman is when he fires him in 2014.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by PED

Didn't realize Juve was so good, don't watch the Italian league usually, so fluid, it's a shame they didn't get RvP, than all of our teams would have had an easier ride this year.

Don't think Dimatteo should be fired but I'd like to see it and see Pep brought in.

That way, we can see what a complete wanker Roman is when he fires him in 2014.

Juventus are brilliant. I watch about the same of Serie A as I do the Premier League, and ESPN put their matches on more often than not.

I don't think we would of done much better against them in Turin even on top form, they're so strong at home. It was a tough group, lets be honest. If Shakhtar and Juventus can avoid Barcelona, I believe both are capable of making it to the final stages.

[Ross K]

WTF is going on at Chelsea???

Absolutely stupid... I can only think Chelsea have got Guardiola on board - but even then, this is just incomprehensible to me... madness!

[Ross K]

Interesting reading.

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/...ing-di-matteo/

I do expect the likes of Utd and City are very happy at this morning's culling of Roberto.

[Cesc Fabregas]

I personally think Benitez would be a good appointment for Chelsea, he has a good relationship with Torres and could sort out their defense.

[crosscourt]

Originally Posted by Ross K

WTF is going on at Chelsea???

Absolutely stupid... I can only think Chelsea have got Guardiola on board - but even then, this is just incomprehensible to me... madness!

I doubt they have. A combination of bad results and more importantly the Clattenburg affair seem to have been fatal. Sad because the results could easily be turned around and because the Clattenburg business could (i) turn around and (ii) would be forgotten with some success. I like R di M and thought he did well at WBA and well again at Chelsea. But I doubt that he is sufficiently pragmatic for the Chelsea management. I am not sure Guardiola is either. I think someone like Hiddink would be a better choice.

[Feña14]

Gutted, even though it was obvious that it was going to happen.

Looks like it will be Bernitez then, which also puts an end to Falcao in January, he loves Torres too much.

[fusion91]

Originally Posted by Ross K

WTF is going on at Chelsea???

Absolutely stupid... I can only think Chelsea have got Guardiola on board - but even then, this is just incomprehensible to me... madness!

When Chelsea signed Roberto Di Matteo on a two-season contract, did no one realize that meant Summer and Autumn?

This club has zero class.

ZERO.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Gutted, even though it was obvious that it was going to happen.

Looks like it will be Bernitez then, which also puts an end to Falcao in January, he loves Torres too much.

Should it have happened though IYO? Did RdM's record etc merit this?

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Should it have happened though IYO? Did RdM's record etc merit this?

Nah it shouldn't, no Chelsea fan I know thought it should. The only problem is that the squad is seriously short in too many areas.

Players lose form throughout the season, but there is nobody else to come in, same for injuries.

I wonder if Benitez will try 5 at the back to tighten the defence, he did it for awhile at Inter. I suppose it makes sense, with Mata, Hazard and Oscar not giving much defensively. It would allow for Terry to have extra cover, Ivanovic is great in the middle and Luiz could have more freedom as a sweeper. Cole and Azpilicueta are good going forward so it would work there too.

It would allow us to counter attack more, which is what Torres did so well at Liverpool when he had alot of space. It makes sense on paper.

[Feña14]

"It was an honour for me to be appointed manager of the club that I loved playing for and one that is so close to my heart. I am extremely proud of the successes and trophies that we were able to bring to the club in recent months.

"Lifting Chelsea's first Champions League trophy, in Munich, was the best achievement in club history and without doubt the highlight of my career to date, both as a player and manager. It is a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.

"I have a deep and unreserved passion for Chelsea Football Club and I would like to sincerely thank all of the staff, my players and of course the Chelsea fans, for their tremendous and unconditioned support in the intense time I have been the manager at the Bridge. I wish all of them every success for the rest of the season and beyond."

[Cesc Fabregas]

Even though he won the CL I don't think RDM is a top manager.

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by crosscourt

. I like R di M and thought he did well at WBA and well again at Chelsea. But I doubt that he is sufficiently pragmatic for the Chelsea management. I am not sure Guardiola is either. I think someone like Hiddink would be a better choice.

WBA seem to be a lot better after him than they were with him.
Does anybody think that Guardiola would want the job? He achieved good thing with Barca but it takes time, that is a club that's been usign the same football blueprint for the last 15 years, would he get the chance to build it?
I think RDM leaving was always going to happen, took too long for him to be offered the job (I think Fena may of said that before?) in the summer for him to seem like first choice and the owner seems to want to be entertained.I wonder if he's considered getting his licence?

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Cesc Fabregas

Even though he won the CL I don't think RDM is a top manager.

Personally, I thought he was very good. Last season his tactics, in Europe especially, were always spot on. The team look so prepared for opponents and you could see how much work had gone into preparation. Benfica away especially, it's a tricky place to go. He made some left field selections and the players looked like they knew what the opposition would do before even they did. For that game he played Ferreira from nowhere, Kalou, Meireles, dropped Lampard, Torres instead of Drogba etc.. Huge decisions that were spot on.

This year he managed to make huge steps towards changing the way the team plays, after a decade of the old way of playing, to make any kind of change was a huge ask. We're conceding too many at the moment, but we're 10 times better to watch than in the past. He did great work to get us started on changing, it's a shame he isn't going to get to carry it on and sort out the defence, bring in options in midfield, get a striker who can actually do something etc.. It was never going to happen over night, a few growing pains 3 months into it shouldn't be a reason to fire him in my opinion, especially when you consider whoever the manager is will be leaving in May anyway.

As it is, we've got Benitez for the next few months before the next permanent manager. I'd of prefered to see Di Matteo keep going.

[crosscourt]

Originally Posted by Dave M

WBA seem to be a lot better after him than they were with him.

They keep evolving -- good for them. Most of our leading clubs aren't evolving at the moment.