D'Arcy on 20/7/2006 at 22:02
Quote Posted by Paz
I also get the impression that Abramovich is slowly beginning to fashion an Italian-style model at Chelsea, whereby he has greater control over transfers than the manager/coach. Jose probably won't like that.
You're right about that. But anyway, Mourinho's next step is probably Italy. He already stated a few times that winning in Italy is what he considers to be the biggest challenge.
Although I'd love it if he fancied an even bigger challenge, and decided to return to Portugal and try to conquer Europe with Benfica :cheeky:
SD on 20/7/2006 at 22:27
Quote Posted by D'Arcy
Liverpool is capable of beating Chelsea on a head to head match. But in the long run, Chelsea seems to be by far a lot more consistent than any other Premiership team. They don't throw away as many points against smaller teams as the other ones do.
Umm, this isn't borne out by the statistics I'm afraid.
* Liverpool (82) finished nine points behind Chelsea (91) last season.
* Liverpool dropped 14 points out of 18 against the other "Top 4" teams (Chelsea, United, Arsenal).
* Chelsea dropped 3 points out of 18 against the other Top 4 teams.
This means that Liverpool accumulated more points (78) against the 16 smaller teams than Chelsea (76) did. It's not consistency Liverpool struggled for - just points off their title rivals.
Quote Posted by Paz
I also get the impression that Abramovich is slowly beginning to fashion an Italian-style model at Chelsea, whereby he has greater control over transfers than the manager/coach.
Latest rumours are that Ashley Cole will be bought as first choice left-back for £16m, with Roberto Carlos also signed for £4m because "Roberto Carlos is Arkady Abramovich's [Roman's son] favourite player". I think you might be on to something there...
But will Mourinho walk? No chance. He has the easiest job in football. A child could have chosen Chelsea's transfer targets this summer, and you'd have to have a total ignorance of world football not to be able to fashion a functional 11-man team out of such a squad.
Paz on 20/7/2006 at 22:27
Quote Posted by D'Arcy
Mourinho's next step is probably Italy
If he wants to manage in Italy, he'd better get used to club Presidents dictating transfer policy! Maybe he's sticking with Abramovich for some light training in that respect.
He's hardly going to escape "pfft, you bought the league" type comments in Serie A either - they have a more literal resonance in the current climate.
I suppose this is all a little premature, Chelsea haven't pissed him off too much yet ;)
Quote Posted by Stronty
But will Mourinho walk? No chance. He has the easiest job in football. A child could have chosen Chelsea's transfer targets this summer, and you'd have to have a total ignorance of world football not to be able to fashion a functional 11-man team out of such a squad.
To an extent. Functional is not the same as successful, and Abramovich is obviously demanding success. If Mourinho doesn't bring back the European Cup this season I think he'll be out (assuming something else hasn't resulted in a bust-up before this point). You've also highlighted yourself the problem of keeping seven hundred superstars happy. Real Madrid have fabulously demonstrated that it's quite possible to make terrible signings and do nothing in the league, despite the ability to buy just about anyone. They've also left an entire bench of managers in their wake.
Surely an easier job is somewhere like Villa - all you have to do this year is be better than O'Leary. You don't even need to win anything (say, finish 12th and have a reasonable cup run - or even just show an improvement in tactics/general play) and the fans/chairman should still be fairly satisfied.
Has Roberto Carlos really joined Chelsea by the way? I'd heard speculation but didn't know it had gone through. That's pretty damn funny. Since that CLEARLY isn't a Mourinho transfer, doesn't this further complicate his job?
And with the stats - it wouldn't change them massively; but don't you have to factor in that Chelsea stopped giving a shit about three/four games before the end of the season?
D'Arcy on 20/7/2006 at 23:07
Quote Posted by Strontium Dog
This means that Liverpool accumulated more points (78) against the 16 smaller teams than Chelsea (76) did. It's not consistency Liverpool struggled for - just points off their title rivals.
Yes, but if I remember correctly, most of those points were dropped by Chelsea in the final stages of the league, and many of them after they were already virtual winners, and were fielding less used players. The fact is that by January it was pretty clear that Chelsea was going to win the Premiership, and perhaps that allowed them to relax a bit and try to focus more on Europe instead.
I'm just saying that I think Chelsea will win the league, I'm not saying that I wish for that to happen. One of the things I like in the Premier League is its competitiveness, and that's a bit hard to achieve when Chelsea reaches the new year with such a big lead on the other competitors... Besides, I like to watch a competition where I have no favourite team to root for. My favourite english team is still Notts Forest, and they've been away from the top flight for quite a while :)
Brian The Dog on 21/7/2006 at 13:30
I'm in for this season. Hooray for mid-table mediocraty!
Picking the Reading goalkeeper might be a foolhardy thing though...
Myoldnamebroke on 21/7/2006 at 14:03
USA! USA! USA!
He's a good keeper and our defense is pretty solid. We'll be 2nd at Christmas, I'm telling you.
Ajare on 21/7/2006 at 16:55
It would appear that I'm in as well.
Paz on 21/7/2006 at 19:31
"Shevers has exceeded their stored private messages quota and can not accept further messages until they clear some space."
I can't send you the league code until you delete some of your rampant cybersex encounters.
Shevers on 21/7/2006 at 19:49
:mad: Fine, but it's your encounters I'm deleting.
I mean, done :)
Paz on 21/7/2006 at 20:05
You said I was your special only one D:
