chappy Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 **** ridiculous decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 That's because there's only 1 I think 'technically' Ray Wilkins was manager for a short period in between managers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbaughan Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Abramovich needs to cut out the middle man and just appoint himself as manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Surprised it took this long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 They should just incorporate p45's into their job application forms, save on paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
privateer Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Surely the 1 year rolling contract was a sign. Was it even a rolling contract? I know he was contracted only until the end of this season, which was a clear indicator to me Abramovich was going to shitcan him when Pep's sabbatical finished. I guess the timing is to do with RA thinking action is needed now to have any chance of CL progression this year and he is also concerned about qualifying for next year. I'd piss myself if it is Benitez who comes in. Come on down Rafa, lead them out of Europe and march them down the league, you know you can do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 How long before Ray Wilkins is on SSN "Robbie will be gutted, but Robbie will be back in the premier league as a top manager before long. He's a smashing fellow is Robbie. John will stabilise the group while the football club make a decision, John and Frank and Ashley will hold the group together. And Petr. Stay on your feet" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted November 21, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted November 21, 2012 Was it even a rolling contract? I know he was contracted only until the end of this season, which was a clear indicator to me Abramovich was going to shitcan him when Pep's sabbatical finished. He signed a 2 year contract in June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djdabush Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 The only way I can see them appointing Benitez is if they think he'll get the best out of Torres. I can't believe any owner would appoint a manager just so he can get the best out of one player. Actually let me rephrase, I can't believe any owner except Abramovich would appoint a manager just so he can the best out of one player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted November 21, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted November 21, 2012 BBC Sport understands Rafa Benitez is flying to London from Abu Dhabi to hold further managerial talks with Chelsea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted November 21, 2012 Moderator Share Posted November 21, 2012 The Fiver gives its own inimitable twist Chelsea and Punxsutawney Phil Punxsutawney Phil prepares to relay news of Chelsea's latest managerial swap shop. Photograph: Jason Cohn/Reuters LIKE A MONKEY WITH A MINIATURE CYMBAL Late last night, Chelsea sacked Roberto Di Matteo. They didn't bother putting up a statement on their internet site. Instead, they relayed the news using an animated gif picturing Punxsutawney Phil scuttling out of his hole and running up a flight of stairs drawn by MC Escher and then along some horizontal stairs and then down some stairs and then back along some horizontal stairs while reading aloud the entire text of Finnegans Wake from "riverrun past Eve and Adam's" to "a way a lone a last a loved a long the" and then scuttling back into his hole and then scuttling out of his hole and running up a flight of stairs drawn by MC Escher and then along some horizontal stairs and then down some stairs and then back along some horizontal stairs while reading aloud the entire text of Finnegans Wake from "riverrun past Eve and Adam's" to "a way a lone a last a loved a long the" and then scuttling back into his hole and then scuttling out of his hole. Anyway, it all happened very early in the morning (or very late in the evening, depending on how developed your problem-drinking is). This explains a lot. Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay and chairman Bruce Buck had been under explicit orders from Roman Abramovich to "sack the manager" after the team were spanked 3-0, or 10-0 in moral terms, by Juventus in Big Cup, a result which leaves the holders unlikely to be holding on for very much longer. But Gourlay and Buck were feeling snoozy, and still had some sleepy dust in their eyes, and instead of firing Plain Old John Terry, the yawning pair accidentally handed the P45 to club mascot Di Matteo instead. The farce was further compounded with news that the security guard required to frogmarch Di Matteo off the premises is, because of the early hour of the dismissal, technically due to be paid double time, but wants to take a day off in lieu next week instead, and Chelsea are thinking about sacking someone else then. They'll probably have to nip down the agency to get a temp to cover for him. That's not the only knock-on effect of Abramovich's diktat, though. Chelsea are now looking for a new mascot to satisfy Abramovich and POJT, and reports suggest former Extremadura supremo Rafa Benitez is the chappie they're going to get. In many ways, that'd be a strange choice. That's partly because the fans don't want him: two La Liga titles and a Big Cup is all good and well, but he's not yet proved he can throw a lasso around the moon, yank it down to ground, and convert it to diamonds, coins and marshmallow yum-yums, so fair play to them for standing their ground over that one. But it's mainly because the impressively belligerent Benitez – who has expressed interest in the role – isn't exactly the type to sit down, shut up, and smile nicely like a good boy while doing his boss's bidding. So if this deal does go through, sit back and wait for the kind of firework display over the Stamford Bridge boardroom that will make the immediate reaction to this appointment on Liverpool messageboards look like a damp squib. The first Catherine wheel will be lit in roughly 100 days' time, 200 tops. By which time the Chelsea website editor will be dusting off that animated gif, with a view to coaxing Punxsutawney Phil out of his hole and sending him up a flight of stairs drawn by MC Escher and then along some horizontal stairs and then down some stairs and then back along some horizontal stairs while reading aloud the entire text of Finnegans Wake from "riverrun past Eve and Adam's" to "a way a lone a last a loved a long the" and then scuttling back into his hole and then scuttling out of his hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I think Benitez is a good manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 +1 for the Hot Chip reference in The Fiver. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mdgLn5BFRQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 Their compo bill must be approaching £100m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Drop in the ocean to Roman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 They never wanted him long term in the first place, he was clearly only meant to be there until the end of last season when they could replace him wih a 'big name'. Just would have been a PR disaster to sack the man who had just waltzed in and won the Champions League and FA Cup. Not that this is much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 I always thought they should've kept Ancelotti (although he might not have won them the CL so that's debatable). I hope the next manager fails dismally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Benitez it is Pep said no again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Telegraph Sport @TelegraphSport Rafa Benitez is the new Chelsea manager Telegraph Sport @TelegraphSport Benitez has signed an 18-month deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted November 21, 2012 Moderator Share Posted November 21, 2012 RAWK is going to be absolutely hilarious - I hope the lying fat sweaty bastard fails miserably - but I'll love watching the Liverpool reaction to the man they think of as a God like genius working at the club that replaced them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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