Football

[valenta]

What a joke of a club Chelsea are.

Even when Manchester United come second they don't sack their manager. Coming second is surely a sign that things are going right? I could understand if they didn't make champions league but second? They can never hope to gain regular and sustainable levels of success by ditching the manager when a season doesn't quite match expectations.

This happens so much in football. The manager always gets it. If clubs didn't keep sacking the manager every time things don't quite work out they may actually get somewhere. Success not only requires the right manager but also stability within the team. They should never have sacked Mourinho. With him I felt they had the right manager.

Anyone would be mad to take the Chelsea job (unless your sole aim is to make a quick buck)!

Totally agree. What it boils down to is a lack of patience from the Chelsea board, football is a game where it is almost impossible to claim every domestic trophy in one season, and I think Roman Abramovich and co need to learn that. It's unbelievable that finishing second to the Champions league finalists (Man U) in this season and claiming the league in the previous season is not enough. I really don't know what more Carlo Ancelloti could have done to keep his job, I think that Man United have a stronger and younger squad that Chelsea at the moment, so I believe that Man United are desserved winners. Of course they should have come second to Newcastle (in my dreams!!!)

 

[strange6]

I bet Liverpool are quite happy they are not playing in the Europa next season. I think the Europa league could be made more interesting by giving the winner of it an automatic entry in to the following seasons Champions league. That would make it much more attractive to compete in

 

[SS4]

MOTD is just starting on BBC1/BBC1 HD

 

[Minilad]

Just got in after work....oooohhhhhhhh happy happy days !!!!!

 

[SS4]

Just got in after work....oooohhhhhhhh happy happy days !!!!!

Excellent news, the atmosphere here was excellent when Wolves got their second goal

 

[HST Power]

I'm dissapointed Blackpool didn't stay up, I'm shocked about Ancelotti and I'm bloody furious that Arsenal have to play extra games if they want to qualify for the Champions League, having drew 2-2 with Fulham (pardon my language). Our season has been pretty awful, and even though I don't pay that much attention to football, I can still see that something is going wrong, big time.

 

[Barton Keyes]

Wolves survive another year in the Premier League, they were my Late Dad's team...means a lot to me and the Family

Being a Wolves fan is never easy. We all love Mick but he may be out if we spend another season in the relegation zone. The Ancelotti sacking is ridiculous though.

 

[HST Power]

Any hints yet as to who might get the next five minute slot at Stamford Bridge?

 

[ACE1888]

Any hints yet as to who might get the next five minute slot at Stamford Bridge?

Marco Van Basten leading the betting as we speak (Sky Sports News)

 

[HST Power]

Marco Van Basten leading the betting as we speak (Sky Sports News)

Van Basten?! Good luck to him. It's probably only worth packing for a few months!

 

[Anon Mouse]

typical nufc - 3-0 ht, 3-3 ft
so now sunderland finish above us

...but that's just fine

..............NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its more than fine, its fantastic!

FTM

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I bet Liverpool are quite happy they are not playing in the Europa next season. I think the Europa league could be made more interesting by giving the winner of it an automatic entry in to the following seasons Champions league. That would make it much more attractive to compete in

It should be abolished altogether.

IIRC, if you start at the very fiirst qualifying stage, in order to qualify, you must either:

Win three qualifying rounds, two legs each;
Lose in the CL play-off round (two legs);
Qualify through the standard league position (5th in the EPL);
Be the cleanest team in your league (some leagues only).

After that, you then play six league games, then:
Round of 32, two legs - 16 3rd placed CL teams join;
Last 16, two legs;
Quarter finals, two legs;
Semi finals, two legs;
Final.

That's fifteen games as a minimum to win. Stupid. Fulham qualified for it a couple of years ago, and almost got relegated the season before the one just eneded as a result. Giving a by into the CL for the winner would mean more unneccesary restructuring from football's biggest threat, UEFA, and their overlord dictators, FIFA.

 

[HST Power]

Its more than fine, its fantastic!

FTM

I never knew you supported Sunderland!

 

[Rudess]

It's really a shame Chelsea fired their manager who just brought them a double last season.

 

[HST Power]

It's really a shame Chelsea fired their manager who just brought them a double last season.

You can win everything, it's still not good enough for Chelsea!

 

[313103]

It's really a shame Chelsea fired their manager who just brought them a double last season.

Actually i have no sympathy what so ever with either Chelsea or their Manager/s. You see a small minded club has a small minded attitude. Look at the succesful teams you have seen over the years, it is because they havent chopped and changed when the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. The team i follow ha sust gone through a bit of a traumatic couple of months. The Carling Cup is something that neither Birmingham or Arsenal could for see as to what was going to happen to them. It seemed that both have payed the ultemate price. Arsenal whoose season imploded 3 wins since that game in competions is relegation fodder, finish a lowly 4th when it looked like they could win at least one or even two trophies this season. Birmingham well they got relegated.

Yet neither of these clubs have sacked there Manager and for Arsenal having gone 6 years without a trophy, a small minded club would have been on there third Manager already >>> Chelsea.

 

[Zoe]

And I wouldn't exactly say all the Chelsea managers were failures when they were sacked.

Ranieri got second place in the Premier League (at the time where Arsenal went through an entire season unbeaten) and semi-finals of the Champions League (beating Arsenal on the way) but that wasn't good enough.

Grant got Chelsea to the Champions League final and one penalty away from the trophy but ended up out of a job.

 

[HST Power]

The moral of the story.....never go near Chelsea!

 

[FGW_Lad]

Hope we (Reading) go up this year for my dad, who has had a terrible few months, my tickets came through yesterday so can't wait for the day!

If we don't win, then good luck to Swansea as I have never met any nicer fans than them!

 

[Mintona]

So is everyone loving Brian now? I heard he was getting a bit of a rough time a while back.

Everyone has loved Brian since he started managing I think? As soon as we beat Liverpool in the cup that was that. And he has worked miracles with a shoestring budget to get us into the playoff final this year. One welsh team down, one to go! URZ!!!

 

[HST Power]

Hope we (Reading) go up this year for my dad, who has had a terrible few months, my tickets came through yesterday so can't wait for the day!

One of my friends is going along to support Swansea, but Reading were awesome when they were first in the Premiership so I'll be hoping that they can win!

All the best to your Dad.

 

[Greenback]

The local rag is whipping Swansea fans up into a frenzy with recollections of the promotion in 1981. Even Toshack has doen an interview, and he rarely speaks about his time as manager since it all ended in tears!

It is also the centenary of the club next year, it would be very nice to celebrate that while in the Premier League!

But as I said, I like Reading too, having spent several years there. I just hope that the best tema on the dya wins, and no one feels they have been cheated out of it by a diodgy decision. Or, even worse, losing on penalties!

 

[HST Power]

But as I said, I like Reading too, having spent several years there. I just hope that the best tema on the dya wins, and no one feels they have been cheated out of it by a diodgy decision. Or, even worse, losing on penalties!

I turn it right off if it goes to penalties!

 

[EM2]

Everyone has loved Brian since he started managing I think? As soon as we beat Liverpool in the cup that was that. And he has worked miracles with a shoestring budget to get us into the playoff final this year. One welsh team down, one to go! URZ!!!

Ah, seems my info was off-beam then. I'd heard that there were rumbles of discontent when there'd been a bit of a rough patch earlier on, and you were 12th.
I knew Brian years back, when he was the Football In The Community officer at Slough Town, and I did some kids coaching with him. Really chuffed to see him get a crack, and doing well with it.

 

[valenta]

So it looks like Sam Allardyce is to get the West Ham job, though Allardyce is a good manager, I think Chris Hughton was the man for them. A local boy, and did brilliantly in Newcastle's spell in the championship.

 

[ACE1888]

Allardyce the man who loves his own voice 'I'm Sam, I'm wonderful, even if I say so myself' On the subject of Chris Hughton, surprised he hasn't landed a half decent job yet, did a good job at NUFC, only to get s*** on from a great height!

 

[valenta]

On the subject of Chris Hughton, surprised he hasn't landed a half decent job yet, did a good job at NUFC, only to get s*** on from a great height!

Yes, after Kevin Keegan.

 

[CarterUSM]

Could Swansea, or indeed any of the Welsh teams in the English leagues, play in Europe if qualification was attained? Sorry to ask, i'm actually disappointed I don't know!

 

[EM2]

I wanted Academy director Tony Carr for the manager's job at West Ham, this was a perfect opportunity to get us back to our roots, playing proper football. If not him, then Hughton was my second choice.
Allardyce is completely wrong for us. He's been brought in to do a job, and that's get back to the Prem ASAP, because the Daves are panicking about a half-empty Olympic Stadium.
Unfortunately, this seems to be by bringing in a 'win-at-all-costs-and-screw-your heritage-and-tradition' mentality. Now, he has said:

"I know there will be West Ham fans asking whether I'm going to abandon the style of play that's been the club's heritage over the years. All I'll say is it will be a tale of home and away.
"At Upton Park we'll attempt to play the kind of passing game the fans want. We will aim to continue in the same way on our travels but we'll also be tough, hard to beat and utterly resilient."

But I'm not holding my breath.

 

[SS4]

I wonder who'll be coming to the Villa next season. Hoping for Moyes or Hughes