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Battle for third?

Roberto Di Matteo seems like a decent bloke, and hard done by. He won Roman’s supposed Holy Grail and unlike last season has Chelsea battling it out at the top of the league. What’s he ever done for us?

Now Roman has only gone and approached the fat Spanish waiter, the man who relegated Liverpool from the top 4. The repercussions in full swing as we speak.

With Benitez in charge of Chelsea it means 3rd place is up for grabs. Because all I see now is upheaval in west London, which further north at Spurs has caused more problems than necessary. There’s be even more so should Guardiola sign-up at the Bridge.

I have no idea who will stay the distance in the battle for the CL spots. Who’s to say WBA can’t do that? But battling for two available places is better than one, and I’ll look to Rafa to make sure that happens.
Nick Entwistle, London Posted 21/11/2012 at 10:02:07

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Ian Bennett
583 Posted 21/11/2012 at 21:51:58

Chelsea need to sort out a number of their issues, and firing the coaches every 10 months isn't going to help.

The keeper has never recovered, Torres is a waste of space, Luiz is a liability and Mikel is not good enough. That's 3 to 4 players that aren't up to scratch plus the ageing pensioners of Lampard, Cole and [spit] Terry.

Oscar, Mata and Hazard can't paper over that.

Gerry Quinn
584 Posted 21/11/2012 at 22:11:21

I wonder why "Beneath-us" joined a "small club"?

Matt Traynor
588 Posted 21/11/2012 at 22:12:06

I'm sure everyone has heard the stat the BBC has picked up on. Since Abramovich's take over in 2004, Chelsea has paid out £86M in managers' compensation, more than Everton's entire net spend since the Premier League began in 1992-93.

I think Di Matteo knew he was going to go sooner rather than later. I'd heard the main reason he got the push at WBA was the players didn't take to his arrogance towards them, and his aloof attitude. I wasn't surprised he did alright at Chelsea as he'd fit right in with that dressing room.

Liverpool fans are on the radio now praising Benitez. This has so much potential for side-show entertainment for the remainder of the season.

Brendan McLaughlin
589 Posted 21/11/2012 at 21:58:17

Strange appointment. The story at the time was that Torres to Chelsea was on Roman's insistence; surely he can't be appointing Rafa simply on the basis that Torres's only decent season was under the fat waiter...? Well, I suppose anythings possible with Abramovich. Have to agree with Nick, however, that it does throw a second Champions League place wide open – although I'd rather it was because we were back on a winning streak than hoping Chelsea implode.

Hopefully at least it should mean that Rafa will stop making those fecking annoying "Go compare" insurance ads!

Shane Corcoran
592 Posted 21/11/2012 at 22:28:15

My prediction at the start of the season was the two Manchester clubs would battle it out for the title with United winning out. Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool are in transition and Newcastle had Europe to contend with. That leaves the likes of Everton, Arsenal and Stoke I thought. I never thought of West Brom. I think it's turning out pretty much like that. Hopefully Chelsea qualify for the last 16 in Europe to put a strain on their schedule.

Patrick Murphy
593 Posted 21/11/2012 at 22:38:24

I think the media have missed a possible reason for Di Mateo's dismissal. Namely the supporting of his players in the Clattenberg affair. The FA are supposed to deliver their findings this week and if the referee is supported and has nothing to answer for, it would seem that RDM would have been placed in an untennable position regardless of their failure to progress in the CL.

I don't think the average 'real' Chelsea supporter will welcome the 'Spanish Waiter' with open arms and despite Abramovich's search for exciting football, I wouldn't have thought that Rafa the Gaffer was the one to provide that type of football.

Let's hope the players don't perform for him as that may open up the top 4, but it is down to Everton to take advantage and we know how unreliable we can be when it comes to taking advantage of other teams failures.

As for our phone-in loving friends, they change their minds more often than the British weather! I even notice one of them has convinced himself that they have their best opportunity since the conception of the Premier League to become Champions of England. Laugh? I nearly cried.

David Holroyd
594 Posted 21/11/2012 at 22:29:11

Chelsea are a club with pots of money but a club with no class. Abramovich spent over a billion pounds buying Chelsea and getting players, won the trophy he wanted most then six months later sacked the winning manager.

Benitez will fit in at Chelsea because also has no class... but will be all right with the big heads there.

United and City will be the top two but the other positions I believe are up for grabs the time to get into the Champions League could be this year. COYB

Gavin Ramejkis
605 Posted 22/11/2012 at 00:29:37

It would be the ultimate priceless moment if Manuel was to dip into the Chelski pot of Roubles and spunk a wad on the Buck Toothed Racist Beaver.

Picture if you would the forlorn Norwegians jumping to their deaths like lemmings at the press picture of Beaver Boy on one arm of Manuel with Ladyboy on the other.

RAWK would explode.

Jim Harrison
610 Posted 22/11/2012 at 00:39:56

Gavin, I have no idea what you are talking about but still find it funny.

Gavin Ramejkis
613 Posted 22/11/2012 at 01:37:04

Jim - sorry with the Key

Manuel - Beneath Contemptus
Buck Toothed Racist Beaver - Swearez
Ladyboy - Torres

Ultimate suicide inducer for the RS would be if Chelski bought Swearez and unveiled him pictured alongside Beneath Contemptus and Torres

Anto Byrne
620 Posted 22/11/2012 at 06:16:55

Nice little earner for 8 months work and 2 yrs left on the contract. What was he on? £150k a week. Football is fucked and they bring in the fucking fat waiter when the best manager for fucking miles around is Moyes. They don't have a clue.

Ian Bennett
625 Posted 22/11/2012 at 07:50:06

Apparently Di Matteo got told if he dropped Torres at Juve he would get fired. Unbelievable. Didn't it go pear shaped with the Special One over Shevchenko?

Derek Thomas
628 Posted 22/11/2012 at 07:47:42

To be honest, I would've rather they had Di Matteo, at least until we play them in December. The Football team was a dead man walking and (as I wrote on Marshy's peice) 3rd was there for the best of the rest to grab.

The FSW might get a 'new coach' bounce out of them... and then again, he might make them even worse.

Chris Fisher
649 Posted 22/11/2012 at 10:26:05

If we take at least 10 points from our next four games then I can see us getting in to the Champions League this season 100%. Anything less than 9 points and I think it will be between 5th and 7th, that's my opinion.

Joe Bibb
659 Posted 22/11/2012 at 11:04:35

Oh no... Davy Moyes has been overlooked again for the 20th time, lol.

Maybe Man City will take him when Mancini gets the boot. Maybe now all you Moyes Propagandists will understand only Bill Kenwright wants him.

Oh sorry, I forgot: Man Utd are waiting for Ferguson to retire... lol again.

Sam Higgins
681 Posted 22/11/2012 at 12:34:44

At this juncture, is it worth putting the question out there: Would we be happy if Abramovich or one of his Russian mates purchased Everton tomorrow?

John Crook
683 Posted 22/11/2012 at 12:50:13

Sam (#681),

No Russians, no Americans, no Indians, and no Malaysians who want to change our kit to red (eg, Cardiff). It's a continuous struggle not having a sugar daddy but most of these foreign investors are bringing more harm than good.

Mike Oates
685 Posted 22/11/2012 at 13:02:28

Sam # 681

Depends what we want; if it's pure success on the football field, then a billionaire will ultimately provide it within 2 or 3 years. But — as we have witnessed with Chelsea, Man City, Aston Villa(?), Spurs — if you then fail in subsequent years, then you enter the mad world of continuous change.

If you want to support a club steeped in history, class, well liked around the true footballing community, then being purchased by a billionaire isn't the way forward. Whether you can attain success by building from within is another point...?

Ray Roche
688 Posted 22/11/2012 at 13:30:51

Gavin Ramejkis @605

Gavin, Old Fruit, I believe the Readers Digest would put that in the "Towards More Picturesque Speech" section.

Top marks.

Ray Roche
690 Posted 22/11/2012 at 13:33:08

Sam @681.

A great win against the likes of Man Utd or the Arse is so much more gratifying when you do it without having to "spunk a wad" on Maximus Ronaldinus Castoridae or some other greasy dago... [as Gavin might say].

Frank McGregor
711 Posted 22/11/2012 at 16:15:56

Sam (#681):

To answer your question, I would rather support a football club rather than a REGIME. If I was a player, I would also have my doubts signing and playing for a club like Chelsea. I am surprised none of the players who have played under Di Matteo would not ask for a transfer on principle.

Ian Bennett
740 Posted 22/11/2012 at 20:24:54

Joe — I still see Moyes as favourite with most bookies for Man Utd. If Pep goes to Man City or Chelsea, then it could leave Man Utd in a bit of a pickle.

I think 14/1 on Phil Neville being the next Everton boss isn't a bad one either.

Joe Bibb
799 Posted 23/11/2012 at 16:43:14

Ian

It's only the press that makes gullible people bet on Moyes as Man Utd's next manager. Ask the bookies for a price that Moyes won't get the job.

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