egafd.com

Hi Bob.

I just thought Avram got a bit of a raw deal. Obviously as an outsider I don't know that much, but he held a team together that looked in crisis. I take on board your comment about the senior players in the team, although I am not a JT fan he is a great captain for Chelsea.
Roll on the new season.

Now lets talk about a really great team The Arsenal.

Marino wrote:

> Hi Bob.
>
> I just thought Avram got a bit of a raw deal. Obviously as an
> outsider I don't know that much, but he held a team together
> that looked in crisis.

[SNIP]


I agree he got a raw deal (if walking away with several millions in compensation can ever be considered a raw deal)... he should never have been given a 3 or 4 year contract, but told, you're the caretaker until the end of the season and then we'll see.

As for holding things together... I think that was really down to Steve Clarke. The first few training sessions were actually run by Grant and the stories that kept coming out of Cobham were that the players were less than impressed with sessions that would have embarrassed a school PE teacher. Eventually Steve Clarke took over at the behest of the senior players and he followed the same regime as he'd been doing under Mourinho.

Henk ten Cate was brought in to instil discipline (as Steve Clarke was considered too close to the players) but this backfired when his unnecessary bullying of Mikel ended up with Terry sticking up for his team-mate and having a massive bust-up with ten Cate on the eve of the League Cup Final.

Chelsea were very close runners-up to Man Utd in both the PL and CL IN SPITE OF (not because of) Grant. Add in all the injuries during the season and players missing due to the ACN, we didn't do too badly.

P.S. Is it true Mickey Mouse wears an Avram Grant watch?

My main concern regarding having Scolari as the new manager is all the Portuguese and Brazilian players we're being linked to.

We already have Ferreira, Carvalho, Hillario (all Portuguese), Belletti and Alex (both Brazilians) with Bosingwa (Portuguese) due to join after Euro 2008.

According to the papers we may also have Deco, Quaresma. Kaka and Ronaldinho joining us.

Now Kaka I wouldn't mind (who would?)... but Deco etc????

I'd much rather see van der Vaart and Sneijder targeted in place of Deco and Quaresma.

I see we (along with everyone else) are being linked with David Villa... but we were linked to him last year and the year before that, too. Now he and Eto'o would make a mouth watering combination. !thumbsup!

Of course what we really need is a Portuguese speaking right back... can't have too many of those it seems!

I had to laugh at those sceptical of Scolari's CV as a manager.Fair enough,he has'nt pulled down any trees in Europe,maybe because he has'nt managed in Europe.....yet !sherlock!

But Scolari has won two Copa Libatadores.This is not a 'mickey mouse cup',i kid you not.For those of you who are alien to World football,the Copa Libatadores is South America's version of the Champions League.It regulars include Boca Juniors,Riverplate,Palmerias,Santos.These are teams that would show no fear to the likes of Barcelona,Real Madrid,AC Milan,and yes,Chelsea.

Has'nt Scolari won the World Cup as well?.I might be wrong !whistle!

Unqualified manager indeed !whistle!.

No chance of Sniejder joining us Bob as he has recentley joined Real Madrid,taking over from Beckham.I particuarly don't want Ronaldinho at Chelsea.Van De Vaart is a strong possibility,as is Ribery.

Some papers are linking us with Eto'o,he's another Drogba in terms of attidude,ie:another pain in the arse.For striking options,i'd love Villa at the Bridge,with Robinho and/or Huntelaar joining him.Huntelaar is another strong possibilty as Ajax will soon no longer be able to afford his wages.

It's good to see that Scolari does'nt want to change too many areas of the team.He also wants Lampard to stay,apparantley.That will be decided when Frank returns from his holidays.

Scolari is no 'yes man'.He will call the shots at Chelsea !thumbsup!Bob Singleton wrote:

> My main concern regarding having Scolari as the new manager is
> all the Portuguese and Brazilian players we're being linked to.
>
> We already have Ferreira, Carvalho, Hillario (all Portuguese),
> Belletti and Alex (both Brazilians) with Bosingwa (Portuguese)
> due to join after Euro 2008.
>
> According to the papers we may also have Deco, Quaresma. Kaka
> and Ronaldinho joining us.
>
> Now Kaka I wouldn't mind (who would?)... but Deco etc????
>
> I'd much rather see van der Vaart and Sneijder targeted in
> place of Deco and Quaresma.
>
> I see we (along with everyone else) are being linked with David
> Villa... but we were linked to him last year and the year
> before that, too. Now he and Eto'o would make a mouth watering
> combination. !thumbsup!
>
> Of course what we really need is a Portuguese speaking right
> back... can't have too many of those it seems!
>
>

"I see we (along with everyone else) are being linked with David Villa... but we were linked to him last year and the year before that, too."


I think the difference is that in previous years Valencia didn't want to sell, whereas now they said they are willing to sell. That means that this time Villa is definitely going to go somewhere.

And after Villa's amazing performance against Russia on Tuesday,his transfer fee would of gone up an extra few million,no doubt Villa's transfer value after Euro 2008 could well hit the ?40m mark.If that was the senario,and not to sound big headed,there's only one club that could afford that fee.

Villa was reported a few weeks ago saying that he'd prefer Arsenal,rather than Chelsea.Understanderble,as his mate(Fabregas) is at Arsenal.

Yes Villa was probably "worth" about ?25m before Euro 2008... more recently papers have been "valuing" him at ?32m, so a few more goals and ?40m will be about right.

Still concerned at our lack of having bought a Portuguese speaking right back this week.

Bosingwa's signing shortly after the Champions League final was one of the tell tale signs that Scolari was going to be the new gaffer at the Bridge.No wonder Ladbrokes declined to take my bet on Monday !happy!.This really ended up as the summer's worst kept secret so far.

Scolari could well deliver a double whammy to Fergie and Manchester United

1:Persuading Ronaldo to join Real Madrid ASAP,weakens Man Utd as a team
2:It's rumoured that Ferguson's trusted No2 Carlos Quieroz is being hotly tipped to succeed Scolari at Portugal.Quieroz has never hidden his desire to manage his native Portugal,and he might not get another chance should he turn down the approach.

I do see a pattern emerging,and Ferguson must be a very worried man.

I'm just wondering what shade of puce Ferguson's face is at the moment. He supposedly can't get to talk to Ronaldo, who himself seems more than able to plant stories in the press about wanting to move, liking playing in all white, etc. I think Scolari should bid for Ronaldo, just to wind him up further.

Still no news on a Portuguese speaking right-sided defender joining us, though!