On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[jaybee82]

I'm just gutted that presumably now they've sacked Big Phil his little mexican bandit sidekick is sure to get the boot too.

Dont know his name, but he really does have a magnificent moustache.

[david_carnell]

Flavio Teixeira...and indeed he does have a very fine 'tache

http://d.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/empics/20080824/19/3595647602-soccer-barclays-premier-league-wigan-athletic-v-chelsea-jjb-stadium.jpg

[matthew123]

I think on this occasion Chelsea are right to yield the axe but they have a pretty poor track record with managers...

David Webb's reward for coming in mid-season and saving Chelsea from relegation in the early 90s was the sack by Ken Bates. Few years later Ruud Gullit got the push with Bates using the infamous "netto" wages demands as the reason. Then Abramovich & Kenyon came in and treated Ranieri like a dog... but the worst treatment of all was reserved for Avram Grant who in any other season (with a slice less of bad luck) would have claimed the League and European Champions League double.

[mockney piers]

To be honest Sean I've a few friends on both sides of the Sheffield divide and have had a soft spot for both teams due to that, and can't bring myself to wish the Blades ill, I just wish they'd fuck off and leave us alone.

And cheers Sandperson, it was a good reflection on us that it took a moment of brilliance like that to break us down, pity we couldn't get the ball in the net as a draw would have been a fair reflection. Cole's improving many areas of his game but that poacher's instinct is still a little, mmm ragged shall we say.

[jaybee82]

He looks like Inspector Gadget minus the trenchcoat and hat

[Keef]

I disagree that chelsea have done the right thing, he's a quality manager and he needed the sort of backing that Jose got. And if they approach Grant, I hope he tells them to feck off!

[Jah Lush]

Exactly right. You don't become a bad manager overnight and Scolari's record is very impressive. It's an ageing side, he's not had the funds that Mourinho had and essentially they are all his players, plus there have been plenty of injuries there, Drogba, Essien, Terry, Carvalho, Joe Cole etc and an owner who appears to have lost interest.

[????]

They better keep their noveau hands off Zola......:-S

[matthew123]

Putting aside the belief that because Scolari looks like a mafia boss he must be a terrific manager, let us examine some key facts: -

1) Did Scolari over achieve by winning World Cup when he had Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo? As all I remember was them struggling past England, then squeezing a 1-0 win against Turkey in semi finals, and then beating worst ever German team (according to pundits) in final with 2 late goals.

2) What did he do with Portugal, described as the golden generation apart from just about beating England twice? When it came down to it with Portugal they had no tactics, no plan B, nothing with those great players to beat Greece in the final in their own backyard.

3) Scolari had a huge reputation, but I don't ever remember any other European giants beating a path to his door ... I know England were after him but when you consider who the alternative was, i.e. Steve McClaren, that is hardly surprising.

4) Chelsea have a formidable squad of players and the results were very poor - Avram Grant did a better job with a slightly weaker squad and that in an environment where he had neither support on the terraces or team bus.

In the Premiership it is a weekly battle of tactics - teams will quickly adapt to try and nullify your strengths and that is what has happened over the last few months to Chelsea. Scolari has not been able to find a solution, not because there is not a solution, but because he is not good enough to find the answers to take Chelsea forward.

[????]

Yup...I think you're probably not far off the truth Matthew

[Sandperson]

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> And cheers Sandperson, it was a good reflection on

> us that it took a moment of brilliance like that

> to break us down, pity we couldn't get the ball in

> the net as a draw would have been a fair

> reflection. Cole's improving many areas of his

> game but that poacher's instinct is still a

> little, mmm ragged shall we say.

I fogot to mention Cole, when did he get so good? He made our defence nervous every time he got on the ball. I hope he fulfills his obvious potential before the end of the season. If Arsenal (sorry LG and Atila) keep going the way they are would you think you could make Europe? It would take Everton to go through a bad patch I suppose.

Fergie sees off another premiership manager. Now for Benitez. :))

[david_carnell]

Get in!!

Leeds 2-0 Millwall

Result. Beckford double.

Play-offs here we come.

[red devil]

matthew123 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Putting aside the belief that because Scolari

> looks like a mafia boss he must be a terrific

> manager, let us examine some key facts: -

>

> 1) Did Scolari over achieve by winning World Cup

> when he had Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo? As

> all I remember was them struggling past England,

> then squeezing a 1-0 win against Turkey in semi

> finals, and then beating worst ever German team

> (according to pundits) in final with 2 late

> goals.

>

> 2) What did he do with Portugal, described as the

> golden generation apart from just about beating

> England twice? When it came down to it with

> Portugal they had no tactics, no plan B, nothing

> with those great players to beat Greece in the

> final in their own backyard.

>

> 3) Scolari had a huge reputation, but I don't ever

> remember any other European giants beating a path

> to his door ... I know England were after him but

> when you consider who the alternative was, i.e.

> Steve McClaren, that is hardly surprising.

>

> 4) Chelsea have a formidable squad of players and

> the results were very poor - Avram Grant did a

> better job with a slightly weaker squad and that

> in an environment where he had neither support on

> the terraces or team bus.

>

> In the Premiership it is a weekly battle of

> tactics - teams will quickly adapt to try and

> nullify your strengths and that is what has

> happened over the last few months to Chelsea.

> Scolari has not been able to find a solution, not

> because there is not a solution, but because he is

> not good enough to find the answers to take

> Chelsea forward.

Thanks for taking Peter Kenyon of our hands, not even Cantona at a million squid was better value...you sacked the wrong guy... again!

[mockney piers]

Peter Kenyon went to Liverpool? Weird.

[SimonM]

Gracefully, through clenched teeth,

Yeah well done Leeds!

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Scolari ?7.5 mio payoff.. Guess that makes it all OK then.

[SeanMacGabhann]

All of matthews points are bang on, but were just as true 7 months ago as now - so who made the mistakes in this. I'm looking at Kenyon and RA

Regardless of who over-achieveing and/or lucky Scolari has been so far you can not give someone a job with an ageing squad, freeze most spending, cut your scouting setup and then not even allow him to finish a season where he can be judged on what trophies have been acquired or not

You can make a good case for stopping the rot early but all that wil lbe achieved now is a rushed appointment, a slight period of readjustment and then more instability as summer approaches

It's all good from an Arsenal perspective - we need that fourth spot so Chelsea messing up suits us. But the sacking sits badly with me

[Atila Reincarnate]

Typical Chelsea!! I said at the time and I'll say it again. Chelsea bought the back to back to back titles and have done sod all since. The way they dispatch managers, regardless of the performance put in by them, is a disgrace but in keeping with the traits of a Russian Mafioso, sorry Oligarch. All I can say is it couldn't happen to a nicer team. If it is true thatDrogba was one of 3 players responsible for getting him the boot, then you've gor to laugh. Wasn't this the same bloke who couldn't wait to get out of Chelsea a little while ago and has shown little by way of commitment to the club and his performances have been less than convincing. People like Abramovich deserve to have the likes of Drogba, Lampard et al, whose only loyalty is to the pound note.

[red devil]

Next manager will be Hiddink or Grant, i.e Roman's mates, a quick fix stop gap solution until someone bigger in the summer

[matthew123]

I expect Avram Grant to be made Chelsea Manager for rest of season - and I expect it to happen within the next 48 hours.

He parted on good terms with Abramovich, and the Russian knows it's the least risky option to secure a top 4 finish for Champions League qualification. I'd think Chelsea will make Grant an offer he cannot refuse even if it's for just 4 months.

Then in the summer they'll try and bring in Frank Rikjaard as new Manager.

EDIT: Woho! I've just put ?2 at 6/1 on Grant becoming new Chelsea Manager.

[Sandperson]

And they are in talks with Hiddink...:-$

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

I recon Man City sack Sparky big Phil goes there and settles Robinhooo and they get Kaka in summer

end up 2nd

Chelsea get Gus on short term till end of the season finish 2nd

Sparky goes to Pompey and gets Keane as Assistant manager finish 18th

[Sandperson]

I have to say, if you can pick holes in Scolari's previous career to the point where you (rightly Matthew) show what little he really acheived then you can have a field day with Hiddink. What has he done?

[Atila Reincarnate]

In the premiership, there are only 3 clubs I can think of that have had any real continuity in the shape of the same manager over a period of years and they are Everton (Moyes), Man U (Fergie), and Arsenal (Wenger) all of these clubs have stability as a result and varying degrees of success. I think these 2 factors are inextricably linked. Chelsea believe that money buys success, for two successive seasons it worked for them. Man U and Arsenals success in the prem and elsewhere wasn't gained by throwing money around in the manner that Chelsea have, they both got the success and financial gain followed on. Which is why I always sneer at Chelsea. No matter what I think of Man U as an Arsenal supporter, I always admire the succes and the way they play.

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Russian Fa making statement

Gus Can join Chelsea

He has just bought a villa in the Maldives ( with signing on fee ) and is looking forward to getting the sack in June