Djimi Traore was first choice left back... Heskey and Owen (who will never be forgiven for leaving us in the shoot, much like Torres did) had left and Cisse and Baros were the front line. When you think of Champions league Baros, Cisse and particulary Traore & Biscan are not players you think of as European Cup winners, unless in the latter 2's case your thinking of the worst players ever to win it.
The Football.....
- Thread starter Spartak
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Name a manger who hasn't.
Inertia
I feel like I could... TAKE ON THE WORLD!!
Inertia
I feel like I could... TAKE ON THE WORLD!!
He did good, but I think outstanding genius is too much, I dont think we will agree on that one. Even in the final we were poor till a forced substitution, and we rode our luck but thats how some of the great moments come about and it doesn't demean the achievement. There are a lot of of myths about Benitez, I don't see how the ownership debacle seriously affected him, a genius should be able to navigate such problems. He has to take some responsibility for poor signing and mismanagement at times.
U
User482
Guest
They also had Hamann, Alonso & Gerrard, some luck and a meltdown from Milan.
I take your point that they were one of the weaker teams to win it, but they did have some quality players.
And what's the figure when you add the players sold after he left that he brought in? £50 million for Torres, £20 million for Mascherano.
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User482
Guest
Presumably you'll deduct £35 million from the Torres sale, seeing as Carroll was a direct replacement.
If Benitez had been manager I don't think theres much chance that he would have signed Carroll. I don't think it much of a coincidence that those two left in the 2 windows after the sacking of Benitez.
Andrew_P
In between here and there
I do think it is quite funny with Chelsea, he seems to have given up trying to compete with Man City on buying players and has instead tried to buy the title with rotating managers.
If he had any sense he should have got RDM to get shot of the old guard and then sacked him, AVB wasn't up to that job either. I really think part of their problem is the dressing room making managerial decisions
If he had any sense he should have got RDM to get shot of the old guard and then sacked him, AVB wasn't up to that job either. I really think part of their problem is the dressing room making managerial decisions
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User482
Guest
The point is that the Torres sale netted £15 million, not £50 million.
And my point is the club bought him for 20 odd and sold him for 50, but in 80 million net spend total only the 20 odd million is counted.
Inertia
I feel like I could... TAKE ON THE WORLD!!
Well as we don't know who he would bought to replace Torres we have no idea what his net spend would have been for that year.
Were Mancini working for Abramovich he'd be toast by now. But, then again, he might have been toast before City won the League.
Abramovich is after the One Big Thing. He thinks that somewhere out there is a manager who will fix everything. He had that with Mourinho and the thinks he can have it again with the man one Chelsea fan calls Peppy O'Guardioli. There is, however, a small catch, which is that Abramovich thinks he can pick a better side than any manager, and that includes Mourinho, and that he, Abramovich, has second sight when it comes to transfers despite fifty million reasons for him to think otherwise.
Benitez was looking for a job and Guardiola is not. If Guardiola returns to management he can pick and choose - the top Italian or German clubs might sign him, or, more pertinently, Manchester City, (who take a longer term view), might offer him The Contract Of All Contracts. Guardiola is in the perfect position to say to Chelsea 'fine, pay me zillions, and, by the way, Torres goes'. Which leaves Benitez in post, saddled with an owner picking the team. And, given Benitez' level of (justified) pride that's going to be interesting to watch.
There is only one way out of this for Abramovich. Re-hire Mourinho and shut up.
Abramovich is after the One Big Thing. He thinks that somewhere out there is a manager who will fix everything. He had that with Mourinho and the thinks he can have it again with the man one Chelsea fan calls Peppy O'Guardioli. There is, however, a small catch, which is that Abramovich thinks he can pick a better side than any manager, and that includes Mourinho, and that he, Abramovich, has second sight when it comes to transfers despite fifty million reasons for him to think otherwise.
Benitez was looking for a job and Guardiola is not. If Guardiola returns to management he can pick and choose - the top Italian or German clubs might sign him, or, more pertinently, Manchester City, (who take a longer term view), might offer him The Contract Of All Contracts. Guardiola is in the perfect position to say to Chelsea 'fine, pay me zillions, and, by the way, Torres goes'. Which leaves Benitez in post, saddled with an owner picking the team. And, given Benitez' level of (justified) pride that's going to be interesting to watch.
There is only one way out of this for Abramovich. Re-hire Mourinho and shut up.
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User482
Guest
Which is correct, because that is what Benitez spent.
A good summation, and what my money is on happening. I can't see what the attraction would be for Guardiola @ Chelsea. I reckon it's far more likely that he'll end up at City or even Arsenal than Chelsea. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if Maureen is back at Chealsea in the summer.
