Official Premier League 2010/11 thread

[IAceI]

See this is my stance also on Chelsea and Ancelotti. Any rational thinking person will know fine well that Ancelotti is in the top echelon of managers in the world, and sacking him isn't really going to fix anything.

I think pretty much any manager Chelsea would replace him with have a chance of coming in and winning the league, at the end of the day it's more-or-less becoming a 2 horse race with Utd and Chelsea (will see how Liverpool continue into next season but by-God I reguse to say "it's their year") so any good manager with knowledge will come in and stand a chance of winning it.

Europe on the other hand, and lets face it - it's becoming an obsession for Chelsea to the point where I think 3rd/4th place would be accepted if it was offset by a CL trophy, is a different beast and chopping and changing managers in Chelsea's position isn't wise. A manager comes in knowing he can sign pretty much who he likes and can cut whoever from the previous regime. So say in comes the next manager (can't really think of who it could be off the top of my head) and he deems Ramires to be a waste of skin, Drogba to be passed his best and Luiz a pointless signing. Then what? He sells them off immediately and brings in his own ideal players - not going to work if you ask me.

Ancelotti has it in him, in my opinion, to fashion a CL winning capable team from what he currently has. Hell, had Torres shown a glimour of what he showed us when he first signed for Liverpool we could be hailing it a quality signing, but he didn't. Can Ancelotti put together a CL winning team from what he has? Probably. Can he sort out the problems (3 wannabe first team strikers in a 2 striker formation, Torres not scoring etc.) and tactically outclass a Barcelona? I'd imagine he probably could given a few chances, but sacking a manager because he hasn't delivered the most coveted trophy in European football in a couple of seasons could be disasterous.

I'd say the days of getting a long term Fergie or Wenger are pretty much long gone, decades of management seem almost an impossibility. Next season we'll have 6 teams fighting for 4 CL places, could see a sacking/resignation happening when a team doesn't make it.

Give Ancelotti a year, maybe more, let him continue to evolve the team. He had a disasterous start this season and still took the Premier League into the final couple of weeks and managed to knock Arsenal into 3rd when it was seemingly a 2 horse race. So I'd personally like to see Ancelotti stay.

That said there'll be tonnes of fans, I'm sure, who just want a CL trophy and should he not deliver - should be sacked. Would think they're a minority though.

As an aside, with Avram, surely he must be one of the few managers with the distinction of having managed a CL finalist in Chelsea, then at his next job suffering the indignity of then being replaced by a L1 (or was it L2) manager at Pompey when Cotterill left Notts County to take over?

[stokeriño]

So say in comes the next manager (can't really think of who it could be off the top of my head)

This is something even the Carlo-haters can't provide a decent answer to. They initially wanted either Guus or Jose back - which, aside from basically exposing them as a bunch of rose-tinted nostalgics, are obvious no-goes because Guus is never going to manage a club again and Jose simply isn't coming back for all sorts of reasons. Wouldn't necessarily be a good thing if he did, either.

Following this, they have now selected Villas-Boas of Porto as the potential saviour who will solve everything and turn Chelsea into the new Barcelona and so on and so forth. Suffice to say, they are living in a dream world.

Ancelotti has a year remaining on his current contract. To not even give him that would be pathetic. The question of whether to give him another contract can be decided thereafter.

[Lineker]

SSN are reporting breaking news that Chelsea are lining up a swoop for Gianfranco Zola next year as a coach.

Not as a replacement for Ancelotti.

[Lineker]

An MR scan today (Monday) has revealed that Gareth Bale has suffered a ruptured ankle ligament.

The Wales international was forced off with the injury in the second half of our weekend fixture against Blackpool.

Following consultations with an ankle specialist, Gareth will remain in a protective boot for up to 12 days before beginning rehabilitation with the player expected to be fit for the start of pre-season.

Least he'll be back for pre-season. It's imperative that he is.

[IAceI]

Bale's had a good season so hopefully he come's back fit and well and puts in another good season for Spurs next year. One of the finest left sided players we get to regularly watch at the minute.

And if one good thing has come from Man Utd about to take the overall lead of most titles won, it's getting to see this image on Sky Sports (yes, Sky admitting football didn't begin in 1992 shocker!.. I know!)

Sixth greatest team ever. Fact. ¬_¬

Edited May 9, 2011 by IAceI

[Gazz]

You'd think Fergie could smile a bit...

[stokeriño]

SSN are reporting breaking news that Chelsea are lining up a swoop for Gianfranco Zola next year as a coach.

Not as a replacement for Ancelotti.

Heard that a week ago.

He was touted as assistant manager, as a proper replacement for Wilkins rather than the current temporary setup.

But whether as assistant, coach, or in any other capacity, having Gianfranco Zola back at the Bridge would be a wonderful thing.

[Pesci]

Bale's had a good season so hopefully he come's back fit and well and puts in another good season for Spurs next year. One of the finest left sided players we get to regularly watch at the minute.

And if one good thing has come from Man Utd about to take the overall lead of most titles won, it's getting to see this image on Sky Sports (yes, Sky admitting football didn't begin in 1992 shocker!.. I know!)

Sixth greatest team ever. Fact. ¬_¬

Oh come on, Liverpool should be top by alphabetical order

Crazy to think that Ferguson took over when Man Utd had seven titles. I'm only 20 but the thought of them having anything less than double figures feels weird.

Edited May 9, 2011 by Pesci

[Hobo]

I was about to say that, Liverpool should be on top alphabetically.

Liverpool one up after 30 seconds thanks to Maxi!

[therockbox]

MAXI AGAIN!

6 in 3.

[Starvinho]

When did Maxi decide he was gonna be a good player?

[therockbox]

You can only be a good player when you're scoring goals.

[Starvinho]

Be about 10-0 this if they carry on

[Meacon Keaton]

I'd be ok with like 7-0, but ten would be a neat feat.

[DavidMarrio]

Fulham are playing awful, crumbled after those first two goals. Really should turn into a rout if it keeps up like this.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Liverpool and their 'average' squad are on fire right now, clearly not as good as the Leeds side that went down

[Meacon Keaton]

Such a shame too. Cuz I love me some Dempsey. Oh well, it's good to see us dominate.

[IAceI]

And they beat us 3-0 at the SoL

[Pesci]

I pessimistically had this down as a 0-0 draw so obviously delighted to be winning so convincingly. We're scoring so many scrappy goals at the minute, it's fucking awesome. Arsenal take note - this is how you play football.

[Starvinho]

So what are you Liverpool fans hoping for after this, are you still eyeing fourth or have you given that up for City? And then would you rather finish 5th for the Europa League and 6th so you have no European commitments and can try get back in the CL next season?

Also 3-1 now.