under-rated? he was bloody clueless. it wasn't Avram steering us that season, it was the combination of Terry and Clarke kept us going. so many missed opportunities that season, if we'd been able to hold on at WHL, against Villa, against Wigan...

to me, what said it all about Avram was the botched Carling Cup final, the injury time interval we had JT and Clarke trying to rally the team while Avram wandered around looking for some cones to put away

when it went to penalties in Moscow Avram apparently just turned hopelessly to Clarke and said, well what do we do now?

we did get 2nd but to be fair Arsenal were the only other real challengers that season and they fell apart in February

Frad manager

Clarke held it together and did everything. Grant was a stoodge.

I want clarke

Worst manager in pl history. With the best club in the country in a position to win everythkng he didn't win a thing

Agree with above comment.

Grant had little to do with our "success" if you can call it that during that season.

Steve Clarke played a huge part and I think that Clarke was manager all but in name that season with Terry controlling things on the pitch as captain.

For that reason Grant would be probably a poor choice to replace Rafa as interim should he sacked this weekend.

Quite honestly I´d be tempted to just leave it to Steve Holland and Terry to guide us through until the end of the season if Rafa gets sacked.

Bringing back Grant would possibly be an even bigger mistake than Rafa.

We actually played some apalling football under Grant. Not his fault - he was dropped in a job he wasn't up to!

He'd fail miserably with this squad .........cant compare what he did in 2007 to now

Can´t we bring back Robbie until the end of the season ?

He´s still under contract until the end of the season right ?

I actually think that Robbie would do it such is his love for the club.

Would love that Superb - but it's never going to happen. Someone in the board room was just after an excuse to pull the trigger on him in the first place!

Strange that you give Avram so little credit but give Di Matteo so much credit.

Grant had one of our strongest squads.........Robbie didn't

Grant desrves as much credit for what he achieved as any manager has had or has got for their reigns. That covers then, the now doesn't concern me he is not at the club.

Also just read you got 2nd with your top scorer as Anelka with only 11! That's pretty odd for me.
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Not really, bar one season where Drogba got the golden boot we have tended to spread our goals about the team.

Strange that you give Avram so little credit but give Di Matteo so much credit.

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Why strange ?

Read the above comments. It´s pretty clear that Steve Clarke was the real driving force during Grant´s reign.

Di Matteo on the other hand was most definitely the main man at Chelsea during his tenure.

Also Di Matteo actually won things whereas Grant didn´t.

Not just that but Di Matteo did it with a significantly weaker squad in which our key players were no longer at their peak.

Robbie is still on the payroll until he gets another job.

Superb, you can make those claims but you cannot prove them.

I don't want to get into a discussion on this because it is not that important, it's history they both are but I know the viws that Clarke was the driving force during Grants reign, I don't and never have bought it. Grant is not likeable, Rafa is not likeable. When we do not like a manager success is down to the players or ome other factor and failure down to the manager.

When we like a manager, the success in down to the manager and failure down to the players who aren't working or trying hard enough for them.

JFDI

Thank god there is a football fan who looks at things objectively. I was starting to give up hope.

I don't like Rafa, but that is not important, the team is important and he is currently in charge of the team so I accept that I support the team and leave Rafa to get on with his job.

I have a growing sympathy for him due to the way he is being trated by some fans, that includes some of my oldest friendsm and I agree with EVERY word he said the other night.

Why strange ?

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Because when others say that it was the likes of Drogba, Terry and Lampard that lead that Di Matteo team you tell us its nonsense. But for Avram you admit yourself that Terry lead it on the pitch.

And also it is actually true that Steve Clarke lead the team or is that your opinion?

Avram was a goal post away from winning you the Champions League.

JFDI >

My opinion has nothing to do with whether I liked Grant or not.

If you want to know my opinion about Grant as a person I´ve always found him a very likeable man. He comes across well in interviews as a very grounded person.

I just don´t think that he was particularly influential during his time at Chelsea. Clarke and Ten Cate did most of the actual coaching on a day to day basis from what I understand.

It just seemed like much more of a team effort when Grant was manager as opposed to Grant being the main man and making all the decisions.

My opinion could be wrong but it has nothing to do with me not being objective or due to any dislike of Avram Grant.

Because when others say that it was the likes of Drogba, Terry and Lampard that lead that Di Matteo team you tell us its nonsense.

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When have I ever denied that Drogba, Lampard and Terry were a really important reason for us winning the Champions League.

You need great players to win the Champions League, that´s a given surely.

My point is that it was clear that Di Matteo was making the key decisions during his time at Chelsea.

During Grant´s reign it is very unclear as to how much influence Grant had because both Steve Clarke and Ten Cate were part of the managerial team.

As I said above it seemed like more of a managerial team during the Grant/Clarke/Ten Cate era where responsibilites were split up between the three of them.

My point is that it was clear that Di Matteo was making the key decisions during his time at Chelsea.

During Grant´s reign it is very unclear as to how much influence Grant had because both Steve Clarke and Ten Cate were part of the managerial team.


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There are some who are close to Chelsea, who say that Terry had charge of the dressing room when Di Matteo was there.

One thing that lead me to think that the players were taking charge was your Champion League performances. Those performances against were a throwback to the Mourinho days. The way you were set up, the tactics, the way your team played, it could have been the mid 2000s again. That wasn't Di Matteo's influence, that was Drogba, Terry, Lampard influencing the team and going back to what they knew best and what was most effective.

No slight intended Superb, when I mentioned how people feel about osmeone I was genralising not aiming at anyone in particular and as I said whilst I do not like him I do not fall into that niche either.

There are some who are close to Chelsea, who say that Terry had charge of the dressing room when Di Matteo was there.

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That was a load of BS media hype simply because Terry waved his arms a couple of time when he was sitting on the bench in one particular game.

Robbie was the leader when he was at Chelsea. No doubt.

You only had to look at Robbie´s inspirational team talk before extra time in the CL Final in Munich when he was rallying his players.

By contrast before extra time in the CL Final in Moscow it was Terry giving the inspirational team talk while Avram Grant was seen standing away from the players.

Also have you noticed how disinterested Terry has looked since Di Matteo was sacked ? He honestly looks like he doesn´t want to be there right now.

JFDI >

Fair enough. As I said as a person I find Avram a very likeable human being and the sort of person you could have a good conversation with, especially about football.