Don and Bales, I think Chelseas problem has come solely through the managerial changes that have happened, everyone looking for instant success just haven't brought the club along any futher. Time has caught up with them.

Modric would not have suited the current chel ski side at all he is a close working give and go player which is reflected be the way him and Parker play.

Chelsea go longer and rely on Drogba to hold it up while the 2nd wave get close to him.

Drogba missing the last few weeks has made them look worse than they are we ,may mock but they are still a dangerous side far more resilient and difficult to beat than woolwich

Squid

Are you serious on Bond ?

Please tell me you are joking

With regards to Tim, I would much rather he managed another club for a while before us (though at the same time wouldn't want to see him leave).

Im suprised the 'loaning' of managers hasn't ever been looked into, be good ways to test them out.

Harry staying/going, and if he as seems most likely does take the England job, and who would then replace him is probably the single most important factor that will determine our future prospects.

Added to that the new stadium project, a possible takeover and squad retention/additions and offloading fringe players, Daniel Levy is going to be a busy bunny in the next six months. I have faith in DL to deliver but it's all seemingly so precarious.

As for Sherwood I would not trust him to manage my local newsagents

31

I'm only half full because I've sat through so much trash over the years........This season has been like a breath of fresh air to me

Re Chelsea .......They have an aging team and squad which has FAR too much power which allowed them to get new deals when they should have been moved on ......For me Chelsea built their team on sand with no foundations

Squid - I missed your comment about Bond. I understand your reasoning but apart from anything we've got to think about attracting players, and keeping our top names happy.

Maybe we can get Mourinho to manage us part-time in the CL

@ grandspurs. you're right that you shouldn't rule Chelsea out, they can still be very dangerous, especially now when we can easily rule them out, but its like a wounded animal there, we all know they can still lash out. I would love to know what the atmosphere at the club is really like, if there really is a huge player revolt/ Im kinda looking forward to the CL next week to see if they really still have the passion to go out and play, or whether they are more interested in getting rid of AVB over playing football.

I don't see Chelsea as a danger at all. Maybe if they had an inspiring manager like SAF or O'Neill. Maybe if they had players that can turn it on and win games in spite of everything like RVP or Bale.

They have neither, it's a long road back for them

Cast your minds back to that Liverpool side of the 70 / 80's .....I bet the same remarks were made about each one of the new managers that came through the ranks

GSF.........Why not , change can be a good thing but sometimes if you have a plan that works why dismantle it

As for our new manager IMO we dont have anybody at the club suitable.

Its not something you can learn to do you either have a natural flair for it or you dont. Yes you improve with experience but you need that natural talent in the first place.

Thats why so many great player fail totally when it comes to management. Its a job of many facets and organisation and tactical nuance are just a small part of it. Man management is obviously a part but self belief is just as important.

Look at history and you will see what I mean.

@ Park Lane, Levy is indeed going to be busy, but of all the chairmans in the league Im glad he's the one in charge of us, I too have good faith in Levy, he seems to have been learning on the way. He has done well for us, so he has my trust and respect as well.

@ Squid, its been a fantastic season (well past few) and it is looking very good. You said that Chelsea built on sand without foundations. Im worried that our foundations are securely laid but the England Job will be like a neighbour complaining against the planning permission and it will knock us back a few years.

squid

They got it right once when Paisley took over from , Evans was next I believe and they sacked him. Paisley was an exceptional candidate that just happened to be at pool at them time.

For that one example that worked out I can give you 20 examples where it has failed. Take pool out and give me another success.

@ Squid, sorry mate, but your showing your age there with the Liverpool comment. A little bit before my time (I was late into football, been a Spurs since 94)

However, what I can guess/know about football back then is that there were a lot more English managers, and players in the teams, as such promoting from within would have shown a continuation of what was already on going and fine. In todays game which is much more truely international, would promoting someone from within really going to appeal to players coming in, and indeed players with aspirations such as Modric?

I would like to say it wouldn't but I fear I would by lying.

that should read over from Shankly sorry

NB: I just thought I'd say Squid, that Im not on here a huge amount of time, but I do enjoy the chats with you.

GSF

Do you know for a certainty who actually is the driving force behind our team ?????

We don't know what goes on behind closed doors . Harry is the boss but how much do the players see of him and how much do they rely on hos lieutenants ????

As for attracting players ...CL , Money and the recommendations of their mates will do the trick

Oh and before you call me an idiot ...how many fans were happy when Harry first got the job?????

GSF

EVERY MANAGER THAT LIVED WS ONCE A NUMBER TWO ....WELL NEARLY EVERY ONE ANYWAY <LAUGH>

OOPS typed it out in caps ...cannot be bothered to redo it

31.....Cheers mate ...thought your posts on here have been excellent

I don't think anyone's calling you an idiot Squid, it's interesting to hear your opinion. Certainly we could do a lot worse.

I'd much rather the backroom staff took over than a big name for the sake of it - Benitez for one is a scary proposition!

Wel we can never tell just how much of an influence Harry really is, but from what the players seem to say about him I guess its at least reasonable to assume so. Though I would love to be proved wrong on that. With the players we have we should be doing as well as we are. It would be an interesting thought if we had SAF as manager, would we be closer to winning the league. Personally I think we might, so man management is onlygood so far, sometimes tactical decisions are more important so Harry is not irreplacable.

Attracting players, yes CL helps, but I think for teams that have flitted between CL and not for a couple of seasons won't have the same pull as a team in it each season. Again I would love to think players would come to us because of the club itself, the fans, the style of play. But then I do worry about the thought process of most players.

Finally as for Harry, I was in two minds when he came in, there was a part of me that still felt Ramos would sort it out, but then that could have just been denial. With Harry though I thought it was a good move for the season, to make sure we didnt do the unthinkable and go down, but I will conceed I thought it was a short term measure and that Harry couldn't take us any futher than Jol did.

Baies I know that

GSF is a very good mate of mine so I'd thump him if he did

ps - would never call you an idiot either. We all have a difference of opinion and its always good to share. Your views are backed up, your not just sprouting rubbish, you come across miles from an idiot.

31

I really didn't think anybody would or will call me silly ...just a turn of phrase

Squid

I was reflect back to FB two weeks before we sacked Ramos and the question was put forward should we sack ramos and who should we get in his place.

Hitman asked the question and I answered yes sack Ramos and get Harry Rednapp in. Obviously I have never let Hitman forget .

Trust me on this how long has Bond been with Harry. What position and style of player was he. He has been with Harry years and if he were the driving force trust me he would have broken away and managed on his own.

Top managers are arrogant they need to be and they may be prepared to live in somebodies shadows while they find theri way but they wont stay for the amount of time Bond has.

He was assistant manager at newcastle under Roeder was he the driving force there ? They sacked him. He was manager at Bournemouth for a little while, they sacked him as well shall I go on ?

Look at Mercer and Allison, good coach Allison what did he do as a manager considering how good a coach he was meant to be ?