[Action Jackson]

I've said why I don't like or respect Chelsea. Think they're a big club but they are wannabes when it comes down to it. No, there is no more pressure there than proper clubs.

Got to give managers time, some fans get this and others don't.

[Jimnik]

Yes I would love to bring in a young manager, give him two or three interim seasons to settle in and establish his team, then keep him until he retires. But Sir Alex is the exception, not the rule and even he was hanging by a thread two years into the job.

Times have changed since the 80s. The difference between finishing 4th and 5th is about $20million, not including the loss of players to better teams. You have to pay them even more to keep them at a club playing Europa League football. Maintaining ECL status is expensive but long term cheaper and lower risk than accepting one or two interim years and then trying to challenge the top clubs.

[GOAT = Fed]

Cannot believe Di Matteo sacked. Hope Chelsea finish 7th or something.

[Lopez]

Jimnik: As another Chelski fan, I think you're never going to get a good coach if you don't give them time to establish their own way of playing the team. The problem becomes that the players will get power over the coach. By performing poorly, they can get a coach sacked. That's no way to run a team. A team must learn a way of playing. You're not going to learn that short-term.

Not that RDM was any good in my opinion but he deserved better.

[Action Jackson]

Sacking a coach every season and thinking they're a big time club, that's just small time. Brendan Rodgers summed it up perfectly when asked about the Chelsea job. I want to extend to my coaching career not end it.

Got a bunch of old guys that need to get rid of it and regenerate the team. The cycle will continue and all the best sides are built over time, not just in one week.

[RagaZ]

Man City - Real Madrid tonight.

Ronaldo returns to Manchester for the first time since the record breaking transfer.

Predictions?

[Action Jackson]

Real Madrid will do the business tonight.

[Mjau!]

Luiz Adriano deserves the Lance Armstrong Award for Terrible Sportsmanship if there is one.

Chelsea & City out after the group stage would be

[IncrediBale]

Even if Arsenal screw up it would be golden

[J99]

Originally Posted by Action Jackson

Di Matteo sacked, never in doubt this would happen. Abramovich loves sacking managers more than he does money.

Roman never learns, however in this case I think there are better managers out there for Chelsea than Di Matteo, giving him a 2 year contract extension is looking like a facepalm right now though, could be the wrong time too as Pep may not be ready just yet to come back, so will he sack another one just to get Pep, the Roman circus show continues.

[J99]

WTF, Zenit is down 2-0 early to Malaga. etc.

[The Bulldog]

Jimnik, I completely agree that everyone was behind Roberto. He's genuinely loved around Chelsea, and I'm sure even Roman wanted him to succeed (despite courting Pep). However, this dramatic loss of form is not welcome, especially considering Chelsea started the season very well. I agree that it's part of the deal when managing Chelsea that there's very little margin for error, even in a rebuilding process like this. So I don't think one should feel too much sympathy for Di Matteo.

I'm hearing Benitez is the strong candidate to take over on a temporary basis. What's it for? Just for Torres?

Rafa does his best work in the Champions League, and Chelsea don't look like going through right now.

I think 'Arry would be a better choice, but it won't happen, I don't think.

[J99]

Originally Posted by The Bulldog

Jimnik, I completely agree that everyone was behind Roberto. He's genuinely loved around Chelsea, and I'm sure even Roman wanted him to succeed (despite courting Pep). However, this dramatic loss of form is not welcome, especially considering Chelsea started the season very well. I agree that it's part of the deal when managing Chelsea that there's very little margin for error, even in a rebuilding process like this. So I don't think one should feel too much sympathy for Di Matteo.

I'm hearing Benitez is the strong candidate to take over on a temporary basis. What's it for? Just for Torres?

Rafa does his best work in the Champions League, and Chelsea don't look like going through right now.

I think 'Arry would be a better choice, but it won't happen, I don't think.

Nah, you don't want him.

[Jelena]

Originally Posted by J99

Nah, you don't want him.

I'm happy I don't see and hear that drinker every week

[J99]

Zenit managed to draw in the end, still probably won't be enough for the next round though.