[Closed] Di Matteo Sacked

This was always going to happen as soon as Chelsea had a wobble, He wasn't Abramovich's preferred option, all the more obvious by the time it took for him to be appointed as full time manager.

Recent results haven't been great but starting line up's at WBA & Juventus were questionable to say the least, Start Mata in Carling cup but rest him in the league? Hazard up front away from home to Juventus with Torres on the bench? Odd decisions

You can't take away from his achievements last season, brilliantly done, Chelsea were at a real low, he galvanised the squad, got them playing as a unit, determination, resilience etc! But look at the way the won against Barcelona & Munich, your unlikely to win another champions league from start to finish playing the way they did, so when your have to start playing expansive football, your set up & tactics become more prevelent, suddenly a massive question mark over Di Matteo then...

Hazard up front away from home to Juventus with Torres on the bench? Odd decisions

Didn't think that was that odd a decision as Torres is a complete shadow of who he was in the past. They miss Drogba so badly right now.

Think we need some mods to move, delete or indeed ban some folk.

Bike forum - go play kickball somewhere else where people perhaps understand / care about this very iffy subject.

[i]Think we need some mods to move, delete or indeed ban some folk.

Bike forum - go play kickball somewhere else where people perhaps understand / care about this very iffy subject.
[/i]

Get over yourself. It's a thread that's accidentally started in the wrong forum. If you're that concerned, use the Report Post function and ask for it to be moved.

Ban folk for a thread accidentally in the wrong forum? Get a grip.

go play kickball somewhere else where people perhaps understand / care about this very iffy subject.

Alright love. Don't wet yourself in horror about a few people discussing something you don't want to talk about. Seriously... WTF do people open threads on subjects they have no interest in, specifically to say they have no interest in them?

Do you often find yourself watching telly programmes all the way through, while loudly complaining how terrible it is, before maybe writing to Points of View? 🙄

Does this happen on other sports threads?
I dont open rugby or skiing or F1 ones as a rule nor threads on Top gear. is it a footy thing or a STW thing?

RDM wasn't good enough for West Brom, he was never good enough for Chelsea, winning the FA Cup & Champions League bought him time. However the results have been a bit sloppy in the last four weeks so he had to go...

I would love it for PG or any manager to actually come out in the media & I'd never work for someone like that.

Didnt surprise me in the slightest that this thread would be full of wendyball references from the usual sad suspects.

Didnt surprise me in the slightest that this thread would be full of wendyball references from the usual sad suspects.

& it was mostly ignored. Which is the best way to treat people like that. You're allowed to ride bikes & like football, or rugby. But I draw the line at snooker... bunch of ninnies playing a 'sport' indoors...

You know the thread about female bishops? You'll be amazed to hear that people are discussing religion on there!

I know! I know! Truly gobsmacking. I was on it looking for the best recipe for scones, and these saddo's are discussing bloody religion!

Junkyard - Member
.....is it a footy thing or a STW thing?

It's "cool" to pretend you haven't heard of football round these parts apparently.........

......talk about rich boy/posh boy sports only here, whilst sipping a vintage bean espresso brewed on your wood burning stove whilst posting from a tablet about your pathetic domestic failures 😆

coogan - Member
Didn't think that was that odd a decision as Torres is a complete shadow of who he was in the past. They miss Drogba so badly right now.

The lone Striker is a specialist Role, proven last night as for large sections of the game Hazard was ineffective & wasted upfront, Madness is he then brings Torres on with 20 mins to go & 0-2 down?

Whilst he may not be as good as he was, Torres showed his physical presence & threat in behind & gave the Juventus defenders something to deal with straigh away, something Hazard could'nt do

RMD got it completely wrong

Ban those who call it wendyball *yawn*

IMHO, it'll be Avram Grant or Benitez until the end of the season, I have a feeling Pep will go for either Citeh or United - he doesn't want/need to be in a job for 6 months and then take a massive severance package

I have a feeling Pep will go for either Citeh or United

Indeed. There's no way he'd go to Chelsea. Chelsea are only going to attract managers looking for the inevitable big payday. Abromovic doesn't seem to grasp the concept of stability whatsoever. Or leaving a manager alone to get on with what you're paying them to do... manage

He'll get bored soon, take his ball home, call in his loans (because all the money plowed into the club is in the form of loans), and Chelski will do a Leeds. Hopefully 😉

So Benitez is refusing to answer questions about whether or not he's taking the job. He's flown back from Abu Dhabi to London today. And he's only interested in going to a club that can win.

Are the bookies still taking bets?

Benitez will go down like lead balloon at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are only going to attract managers looking for the inevitable big payday.

Playing devil's advocate, you could say that hiring and firing managers has worked for Chelsea, given their trophy cabinet in the last few years. But I think that in the long term you're right - no manager is going to come in wanting to build a team to compete for the next 5 years.

I'm hearing rumours that Benitez has been sacked by Chelsea

I'm hearing rumours that Benitez has been sacked by Chelsea

Liking that.

Playing devil's advocate, you could say that hiring and firing managers has worked for Chelsea, given their trophy cabinet in the last few years

Given the money they've spanked, I reckon I'd have been in with a chance of the odd FA Cup win 😉

I'm hearing rumours that Benitez has been sacked by Chelsea

😆

Playing devil's advocate, you could say that hiring and firing managers has worked for Chelsea, given their trophy cabinet in the last few years.

On another note I heard David Badeal on 5 Live describe the madness of leaving a 50m striker on the bench, the fact is Torres is a 10m striker it's just Abramovich paid 50m for him.

FA - fit for purpose!!!

If Benitez is appointed than Chelsea cease to become a laughing stock - that are below that.

The only guy smiling today is probably Mancini, if Pepe goes off the market.

What a bloody stupid set up wendyball is!!!

Jambalaya +1

Chelsea have appointed former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez as interim manager until the end of the season.
Previous manager Roberto Di Matteo was sacked on Wednesday following the 3-0 Champions League defeat by Juventus.
Benitez's short-term appointment could pave the way for owner Roman Abramovich to make a summer approach for ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
Benitez, 52, becomes the Blues' ninth manager since Abramovich took over in 2003.

Oh my word!

Su-poib!

Do not be surprised if Chelsea win the league now...

or fail to qualify for Europe as he tinkers

As a lifelong Chelsea fan, as was my dad, this is all part of the roller coaster ride of supporting this team. not sure if it was more fun watching them in the old second division or watching the mess that is unravelling now.
Still this is the worse management appt ever.

As a Liverpool fan (and quite pro-Benitez), i'm a little bit gutted about this.

I don't think most of the Chelski fans are particular fans of Rafa...

weeksy - Member
Benitez will NOT take the Chelsea job.

Fair point mate, not a lot i can say....

Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen Editor of Sports Talk, former Middle East Golfer editor, BBC 5 Live reporter and shamefully poor hacker (in the golfing not News of the World sense of the word) Dubai) has been talking to Rafa...

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
is off to grab a late night chat with Rafa Benitez... no seriously!!!

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Spent the evening with new Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez! http://twitpic.com/bf8pk1

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Rafa has signed an 18th month deal with an opt out at the end of the season, but he could continue for longer

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Rafa was offered the job eight days ago, so the midweek Champions League defeat had nothing to do with Di Matteo's dismissal #Chelsea

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Rafa was actually approached before Di Matteo was hired,but Abramovic decided not to go with him. There was interest though eight months ago

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
The deal is worth around 3m per year #Chelsea @ChelseaFC

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Finally, Benitez is looking forward to linking up with Fernando Torres again, but revealed he has a knee injury which is affecting his form

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Rafa also told me Torres is nursing a knee injury and, although still playing, it is affecting his form/confidence #Chelsea

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Here's Rafa signing first Chelsea shirt at The Stables, Dubai, just mins after taking the job! #Chelsea @Chelseafc http://twitpic.com/bf8sqg

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
In addition, #Chelsea fans, can reveal Benitez was offered Manchester City job last year but turned it down. Also claims Spurs wanted him

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Amusingly too Benitez wasn't able to tell his wife he had taken #Chelsea job before it was announced...

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
Abramovic kept him on the phone for 30 mins tonight, then his wife didn't pick up and eventually Rafa learnt job was official on TV!

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
He was watching Man City v Real Madrid when confirmation came up on TV. It was only then it hit him he was the new #Chelsea boss!

CarefreeYouth ?@CarefreeYouth
@JacobsBen did you ask him about if he knew most of the Chelsea fans didn't want him cause of our past and what he thought about that?

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
@CarefreeYouth yes and he admitted it was a tough job given his Liverpool association

Some interesting stuff there. Particularly about being offered the City and Spurs jobs

More on Torres

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
I understand the issue has been apparent since BEFORE he moved from Liverpool, making that deal a fab bit of business

Ben Jacobs ?@JacobsBen
How on earth #Chelsea's medical staff didn't spot it then - or precisely what it is - remain unclear, but it's affecting his pace/confidence

I feel sorry for RDM but he was never going to win over the dressing room. He lost it at WBA so it was almost inevitable the same was going to happen at Chelsea.

I remember looking at Terry's body language after the CL final win, he didn't want to be near RDM.

So RDM was apaprently sacked for dropping Torres, against the express instructions of the boss. That's a pretty unambiguous message to anyone coming in. I pick the team, not you!

Rafa will be gone before the seasons out. Like everyone before him. Has Fergie started baiting him yet? Something to look forward to, at least 😆

I feel sorry for RDM but he was never going to win over the dressing room.

Says a lot about a club, when whether the manager keeps his job, or not, seems to depend on keeping John Terry happy. Pathetic!

What binners said. Poor show when one (past it) player holds so much sway.

I don't think most of the Chelski fans are particular fans of Rafa...

I texted several yesterday and am unable to pass on the responses as the extent of expletives would see me banned & deleting them would leave very little, incoherent text.

It went up to a whole new level when I suggested there was a rumour Rafa had been told to sign Steven Gerrard at any cost in fact, I believe some new words were invented. 🙂

Rafa is an average manager and will, IMO, leave Chelsea in an average upper mid table position... which is good news to fans of all the other clubs! result. ;o)

After seeing Rafa at Liverpool, at least we know Torres will be starting more games, not before time when he cost 50 mill!

The bang-em-in-for-fun Torres of Liverpool days is but a distant memory though. Replaced, as he has been, by the worlds most expensive donkey, who looks so lacking in confidence, he's actually scared to shoot. He looks slightly better than last season, but that's hardly saying much

Rafa had been told to sign Steven Gerrard at any cost in fact

He's hardly an illustrious track record for buys, has he? He'll spend a fortune, and end up saddling Chelsea with a similar bunch of third-raters he left Liverpool saddled with. Actually... this has the potential to be the gift that keeps on giving 😀

x2 La Liga Titles, x1 Champions League, x1 Uefa Cup, x1 Fa cup not bad for an average manager i guess.