Gus_Mears

The Choice: Despite winning the title, Jose asked for significant investment in the squad over the summer but it didn't really happen. Our net summer spend of £30 million is less than a third of our TV revenue from last season. Transfer policy is clearly not with the manager (he would never have let Cech go to one of our rivals - especially not to the 'specialist in failure'). It seems as if he is being treated as the 'first team coach' rather than 'club manager'. This lack of control has spilled over into his dealings with staff (Eva and Jon Fearn), the transfer committee and, now, some of the players - including JT and Hazard. If we lose to Kiev, the temptation (and natural reaction) will be to pull the trigger, which (based on the past 10 years) I would expect. This will lead to another 'interim manager' until Pep decides next March or April that he wants to take another year off. Then we will either get rid of the interim, hire him based on some 'recovery' or get someone less successful that our current manager (unless Sir Alex can be persuaded to come out of retirement). Whoever the new manager is, they will need a lot of investment in the squad to correct what will have been a disastrous season. There is another choice: Give the most successful manager in the club's history (and one of the most successful in the game) the authority and funds to build the team that he wants (just like SAF at ManU). Don't treat him as 'just a coach'. Get rid of the bureaucracy that CFC has become. If he screws up then, it is easy to get rid of him but at least you will know that there are no excuses. If we get a performance and a draw from the Kiev game, 'The Choice' will be put on hold - at least until the next game. But in the end, it must be made. Which will it be?

Hoping for a win but would take a good performance and a draw right now. Kiev are playing with a lot of confidence. They only have one loss in the last 12 games (to league leaders, Shaktar) - I know the Ukrainian League isn't BPL but they have yet to lose in CL as well. We have lost 7 of last 13, as if anyone needs reminding. Can't do anything about that. Doesn't matter who is to blame either (players, coach, refs, FA, Illuminati, ... take your pick). This game is all that counts. Win - we go first or second in group table with better head-to-head versus Kiev Draw - we remain third in group with two games to play - Maccabi away and Porto home = good chance to qualify for Round of 16 Lose - CL over for this year (not technically) and JM sacked (a loss in game four of CL - away at Juve - was the trigger for RA getting rid of RdM - and he had just won the holy grail of CL and an FA Cup after resurrecting our season following AVB disaster). Most important game of the season. As I said, I would take a good performance and a draw right now.