Star

At last a bit of good news on the Chelsea front, will be there.

I'd like a shortlist of five and would expect an interview panel of Terry, Drogba, Lampard and Roman, of course this is tonque firmly in cheek, but it's what our beloved club is coming to. Jose went through no help from the appointment of Avram Grant above his head. Carlo went after having no input into his coaches or the sacking of Wilkins. We are Billy Smarts Circus in disquise, but then again is it right to have continuity a la Wenger and win nothing or to sack a manager every two seasons or so and win titles and FA Cups ? Arneson and Ancellotti had little in common and how Clement and his non coaching badge sidekick survived after the Everton game when Wilkins went mid season in a purple patch is beyond me! What we have is the chance to replace Arneson and replace him with a man on the same wavelength as the Manager for once. Steve Clarke, Brendon Rodgers and Ray Wilkins are great coaches who talk common sense as well have records here at Chelsea far more superior to the monkeys Carlo was left with. Everyone has missed the fact that VILLAS BOAS was here at Chelsea under Jose and masterminded behind the scenes Inter Milan's CL success ( he was on Jose's bench thatt year here at the Bridge before going on to last years record breaking season with Porto ) We have let some quality coaches go in our quest for the champions league and I'm talking the backroom boys here not the main man. Hiddink is too old and should only be considered for the Director of Football/ Arneson's role. I'd have a shortlist of five ... Villas Boas Zola Petrescu Deschamps And the master Mourinho ,,,

We can all hope for managerial stability, someone who can bring the kids through from the academy and give us a Ferguson style dynasty for years to come. But let's face it, this is Chelsea, be it Roman or Ken Bates for that matter, Managers come and go, because the bar has been raised and we are results orientated Club. On 'Romans previous' Carlo was certain to go and in this fashion, I am not surprised and if everyone is honest nobody should. Only one man can get this team back in order instantly and that man is Jose Mourinho. However, I cannot see Roman looking back to look forward and for that reason I would rule him out along with Hiddink, although I could see Guss taking over from Arneson. Carlo acted with dignity throughout, but nobody can say for sure how much a part Ray Wilkins made in a coaching capacity last season and before he was shown the door. My heart says he was hard done by, my head tells me Barak was right all along. The tactical nous against Inter and Man Utd missing, the Avram Grant and Guss Hiddink style charges from March onward when all seemed lost. Maybe we just got lucky last season, I just cannot make my mind up. I am a million per cent convinced Roman wants Guardiola. Whether he gets hiim is another thing. Oh well getting married on Sunday, it's eased my train of thought anyway!

Kaka is a Shevchenko type of transfer. I cannot believe Roman will make the same mistake for a second. Wesley Sneijder at 26 is a far better option for the same type of player.

All I can say is there is a great deal of respect and combined hatred of Celtic and Tottenham between Chelsea/Rangers fans of late and as far as I am concerned going back to the early 80's no connection between religion. When I was young most English sides supporters took Celtic or Rangers it terms of a woolie hat stiched half and half in your your club and theirs, much like the split scarves found at big European Games these days. The Kop and Stretford End always had split Celtic, but for me it could have been for their Irish links rather than religion. Chelsea always had Rangers always! A lot was said in the early days when Rangers were more successful than ourselves in Europe, apparently hard core hooligans from Chelsea caused trouble abroad travelling alongside their Rangers counterparts. Recently this season, I witnessed a coachload of Rangers fans at our away game at Blackburn, they sang like Chelsea fans and were treated as heroes by many a Chelsea fan when the unearthed the flag at half time. At the end of last season in a pub opposite Earls Court station, the night we won the double, that pub is the Blackbird, it was packed with Chelsea and Rangers fans singing into the late hours. I can vouch there was more brotherley emotion in that pub than ANY pub in Chelsea/Fulham that night. Every other pubs in and around the ground were nowhere near as full. Also when Chelsea went up there for that friendly the other year - anyone could see the respect. It goes back years, especially to those who supported us through the bad old days , it is ridiculous to mention religion in the same breath as Chelsea and Rangers. We ARE the blues brothers!

Long term I am not sure that Centre Back will be Luiz's position. He offers so much going forward and if Ivanovic can play right back there is no doubt Luiz can. Carlo in has last two games would do well to try Luiz at right back or holding midfielder. I'd also reat JT against Newcastle and pair Alex with Ivanovic.

On reflection every single one of us would have taken second place two or so months ago. Carlo and the lads have to be commended for that, but if we are totally honest, given the changes made in the summer and our trimmed squad in terms of quality and depth did we really expect to win anything? Carlo inherited an ageing team, won a double that none of us could have expected given our defeat to Inter, Personally I feel when it matters however, when things go wrong in games he has no tactical awareness or plan B to turn things to our advantage. He has missed Ray Wilkins let us not kid ourselves, turning to two blokes with no credentials at this level is nothing but suicidal and the board or whoever made that decision have to share any blame. I think the decision has already been made, it has been for a while, Carlo is off in the summer. For me he has done brilliantly given the circumstances and acted with dignity throughout a bit like Claudio Ranieri when he knew his fate. He has failed tactically in three key games this season against Man Utd and against lnter Milan last season, given that nobody can argue Roman swinging the axe. We need players in key positions - we are crying out for width, Valencia tore us apart at the Weekend , we need someone like that - Sanchez remains my choice bur we need two. We still need that number 10, a player that can pick as pass a Wesley Sneider type, otherwise Torres will be the most expensive failure in history - our second alongside Shevchenko. We maybe need Van der Weil a modern day full back if there ever was one. However Man City are in the Champions League or are likely to be !

What everyone seems to forget is the fact Ferguson in all the seasons as a manager has had EIGHT trophy- less seasons. Under Roman he wouldn't have lasted five minutes, so nobody really should be surprised Carlo is going to be sacked. We are run like a team in Italy or Spain where change is apparent every two seasons or so. The difference maybe is the fact Carlo has won trophies with an ageing team and Roman should take stock and let him finish the re-building job he started with the releasing of players in the summer and purchases of players in January. Until Terry, Lampard and Drogba retire or leave Chelsea we will be chopping and changing looking for success. Personally I think things will settle down once JT takes his coaching badges and becomes our manager in the future. That in my opinion is certain to happen and will force Roman to look long term for he knows JT will take no sh*te from anyone. Quite who replaces Carlo is anyone's guess but I'd say it's 90% certain he will be manager of Roma next season. I'd take Jose back in a heartbeat, Deschamps is a lively outsider, Hiddink for me will be sporting director which could also open the door for a dutch coach. The summer will be very very interesting - it wouldn't be Chelsea without it would it? Sparks will fly early doors this time, expect the rest of the old guard to depart, Anelka, Ferreira, Malouda a new manager and fresh blood to ensure we don't go out of the Champions League like a damp squib as we did against Inter and Man Utd in the past two years.

Latest Betting is 1/3 Carlo to go 5/2 Hiddink 11/4 Mourinho 8/1 Bar Carlo is available with Hills at 9/4 to be in charge at the start of next season ?

ANELKA once again last night proved he cannot perform in a big match atmosphere, he is ok knocking goals in against the likes of Bolton, Sunderland,Blackburn and relatively easy Champions League games but when it's a battle or pressure on he bottles it or goes missing where it matters. Replacement STURRIDGE ....................................................................................................................................................................... KALOU is simply not good enough, he cannot hold a candle as cover for Drogba ( and with Torres, Drogba and Sturridge is not required anyway ) Hasn't the quality to play wide in a 4-3-3 at all. Replacement SANCHEZ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MALOUDA played well last season, but when he needed to step up to the plate when we were struggling with injuries he never looked like taking responsibility, we need width and he has had his chances and time here. Replacement AQUERO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSINGWA Cannot defend for toffee, always targeted by quality opposition. Replacement GREGORY VAN DER WEIL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FERREIRA - Done nothing wrong, great servant deserves a free. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HILARIO and TURNBILL if Cech is injured these guys are not good enough end of story. Replacement JULIAN SPERONI and promotion from the youth scene. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carlo needs a NO2 - Gianfranco Zola or Robbie Di Matteo please ! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just think of a basic principle of football and you will get the same answer to play a big man up front with a striker capable of making runs across the back line. The Centre Forward should always stay in the zone, the space is created by his partner in crime. Last night was Liverpool at their best granted, with passion from all over the pitch only seen when they play us in important fixtures. But Carroll and Suarez played for 90 mins in the exact way Drogba and Torres should, Kuyt gave an all over the pitch performance that Essien once gave and Ramirez is almost capable of. Tonight we are going in to our biggest game of the season without what would have been unthinkable last season - Didier Drogba. My mind goes back to Kerry Dixon, when he was in the zone it was goals goals goals, classic centre forward play - Drogba drifts wide far too often and it's the reason why he and Torres have failed to gel. Kerry was never the same once Speedo left and often was seen marauding down the wing. It's time Drogba got back to playing his natural game, my guess is he will come on after 60 mins tonight.

In addition I guess my 'Pissed state of mind' last night was influenced by my knowledge that 'The Magic Sign' laid their largest football bet for some time on Jose returning to Chelsea 4 weeks or so back and I ain't had much of a drink since my ilness !!!

My reasons behind picking Essien over Ramires have to be explained. I just feel the African connection and experience of losing together in many a champions league campaign might just be the incentive to drive us to victory. Ramires has been brilliant recently, but I feel Essien has one last immense game in him, dare I say it before injury comes again and he loses his place in our side for good. Quite why Michael has under performed this season has to do with injuries catching up on him, he is one of the few who had a interrupted pre-season yet has been poor virtually in every game to his high standards of the past. Not being involved with Ghana is a sign all is not well in his mind, yet I still feel he deserves one final shot of the big time. Ramires and Kalou provide great bench cover as well as both being able to take penalties. Ramires will be our main man in midfield next season that I am certain, as for Essien's future the jury remains out - quite how he has been preferred to Mikel recently is puzzling if not insane.

For us to move onward and upward, like Man Utd have done with Giggs and Scholes, the only players in the ageing bracket that should be retained next season are Terry, Lampard and Drogba. Danny Sturridge can replace Anelka and we need to sell Malouda while he has sell on value. Ferreira deserves a free. We need width and a right back and that should be our summer transfers done and dusted.

This so Claudio Ranieri like it's unreal. Something tells me if Ashley Cole does a Bridgey and wheels away to our corner to put us 2-1 up at Old Trafford there will be tears in Carlo's eyes. His tactics and substitutions have been flawed from the moment he came under pressure earlier in the season. Essien was woeful last night and as you rightly say Bosingwa was awful defensively as usual. Mikel should have started, the name of the game in Europe is ball retention and not conceding an away goal. Whilst he has not had the best of times this season, he was pivitol in our double winning side and Carlo has chosen to forget that. We gave the ball away so much last night it seemed like we had red shirts in midfield. For all his lapses Mikel does distribute the ball quickly and clinically. Ferguson is an old hand in Europe against English teams, just like when Jose mastered Carlo with Inter he outwitted him last night. Mikel would have had that protection feeling, crucial for European counter attacking. Thankfully we have a return leg to put things right and with a clear head this is my team. CECH IVANOVIC TERRY ALEX COLE MIKEL ESSIEN LAMPARD ANELKA TORRES DROGBA

I was Coco, I was up the pub at 5pm. However, take it from me in a pub with about 200 United fans compared to 10 Chelsea, After Drogba's overhead kick their lot were getting edgy in the boozer, the sigh of relief when he was withdrawn was for all to hear. Drogba for me and every United fan in that pub was clearly our best player on the night, Essien was woeful, Torres ineffective for large parts, Zhircov living on a tightrope, Bosiningwa murdered by an old man throughout, Lampard and Ramires not in the game at all. The way we gave the ball away in midfield all night was suicidal, forget the blatant penalty, United could and should have won this at a canter. Drogba was up for it for certain.

I just want to clarify the point of my post now I am sober ! I strongly believe Roman will sack Carlo, whatever happens at Old Trafford Barcelona are a class apart and will go on win the Champions League. Whilst I have always backed Carlo, I have also questioned the impact Ray Wilkins made and how much he contributed to us winning the double last season. I've watched Roman in the stands, his amazement when Torres was withdrawn in one match sticks firmly in my mind. I also believe Jose is the man Roman wants to be manager, I also believe Jose wants to come back, I also believe every Chelsea fan in the world despite what some preach would welcome him back with open arms. Roman to his credit shelled out 50 million on Torres and 20 million plus on Luiz. He thought it would guarantee 4th place and give us the spark in Torres's case to win the Champions League. Much like when Claudio was a 'dead man walking' Carlo without a new contract on the table is making dodgy substitutions and strange tactics have appeared since the pressure was put on during the run that threatened our campaign and financial future. Playing Torres against Liverpool maybe was the most crucial mistake of his reign here. He has not scored for 9 games and Carlo has to take a lot of stick in anyone's eyes for that, his job is to integrate him into our play and he has clearly failed to do that. Malouda and Essien have been in poor form for a long long time, quite why is a mystery to me. My post in reality should have read ... "Roman will sack Ancellotti and I can see why"

Chippy in theory I agree as well, believe me

Mate I hate moaning about Carlo, I'm well against change but Jose IS the answer and something of the same ... he is Chelsea and nobody would complain if he returned, you included if the truth was to be known. I agree Essien all season, Lamps tonight have been bad. But I urge all Chelsea fans to think INTER last season, out thought, out subbed out classed and the way we have gone since winning the double and losing butch wilkins it has to be of debate

My team tonight would have been Mikel holding, Lampard, Ramires and Essien behind Drogba and Torres. Fergie liike when Jose out thought Carlo with Inter picked a side to combat a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 pure genius ! We needed to keep an italian clean sheet and nick it ! WE HAVE TO GO 4-3-3 AT MAN U# ANELKA DROGBA TORRES LAMPARD MIKEL ESSIEN I KIN' THANK YOU ! PISSED !!!

Firstly let me say this, it's not a knee jerk reaction to tonight's performance or result, it is just what Roman is entitled to do and to be honest has the power and respect of Chelsea fans to do in what way he desires after funding the purchase of Torres and Luiz. What manager would faiil and to the point not accept responsibility for Torres nor scoring in so many games ? He is no Chris Sutton take it from me! Drogba and Torres to any manager would be mouthwatering, whilst I cannot believe our best player on the night in Drogba was withdrawn to wait until such as stage when Zhircov was on a red card and Nani and Valencia were on the right were simply there to ensure this would our left flank would be under threat without Malouda coming on 20 minutes after he should have speaks Liverpool 0 Milan 3 and no European Cup, sorry but it was Ranieri like and Roman is no fool! I'm pissed but speaking from head and heart, We are well capable of wiinning 2-1 at Old Trafford and fiinishing 4th in the premier league with our current squad, Josh can't even get on the bench that is how strong we are! Roman has to think Jose here, he will that is for certain. We got lucky last season, I have stood and stood by Carlo but the Ray Wilkins influence HAS to be taken into consideration. Many people . Barak springs to mind have questioned Carlo's credential's in the past, I have stood firm in support of him, but his decisions, particularly in substituations this season have been clueless and like against Monaco in Claudio's days have been cruelly exposed ! Jose wants to come home, Barca will beat real and go on to champions league glory, roman will axe Carlo and re appoint the special one it is gonna happen. It's been a long time gonna happen and investment is the key. No contract is on the table and it will never be If not Jose who will it be ? No way should Manure be ahead in the PL and 1-0 up in the first leg, player for player we are miles better than that red scum !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the rest of the premiership !!!!!!!!!!! Though we should have bought Torres and Luiz in the summer to replace the limited squad in the summer sales, Roman is clued up and Carlo is taking us for a ride !

All I would say is ..... Please Carlo save your job and spearhead our attack with Drogba and Torres, at the moment United are shocking at the back, if JT and Ivan stand solid, Big Pete commands his box and Essien plays at his absolute best, this first leg is for the taking. Whilst I'd take a 1-0 victory now, we are well capable of a 2-0 that I strongly believe will be enough.

As I said a while back with help from my mate in Portugal granted ! The key to all Carlo's plans was the signing of David Luiz. He was the one who got the best out of Kaka and signed Pato. To attract Brazilian talent he knew he had to get a core of Samba Stars heading to the Bridge to aid the purchase of the likes of Piazon and hopefully Neymar. Ramires has improved even more since his mate Luiz signed and that Brazilian Restaurant opposite the ground on the Fulham Road has never been busier ! Anyone in their right mind can see football in Italy is in decline, only Spain and Barcelona or Real Madrid can be seen as a viable option to progress a career and win trophies. We are now in a fantastic position, unlike Manchester City we have a proven pedigree and in Roman a person with the vision and money to attract players for the right reasons and with long term ambition. I was critical of Roman pre-season, all I wanted was for him to realise we had an ageing squad and we needed an injection of cash to compliment the great strides we have made in developing young talent. He done just that in the January transfer window, with the capture of Luiz the catalyst for everything to follow. No Kaka, No Pato, the likes of Ganso and Neymar are on the radar. I felt Ganso was our target but the pending arrival of Piazon has made me think otherwise. Neymar reminds me of a young Tevez in the way he drifts in from wide, I am sure that Carlo see's him as a perfect replacement for Anelka. I also feel that Roman might be ruthless once the signings are complete, I've got a mighty feeling that the Special One will return to bring Chelsea Mark 2 to glory.

It seems like an age since Man City made the bold statement that they have arrived on the big stage and flexed their financial muscles to snare Robinho under our noses. Since then to be fair Man Utd and Chelsea remained relatively calm about the situation, Spurs refused to believe their quality was inferior and Arsenal aided by Wengers overwhelming disregard for not adding quality experience in vital positions have stagnated. Ok City have splashed the cash but the lack of real quality and passion hasn't turned them into the overnight force as when Roman put Jose in charge. Tevez and Johnson apart, there's nobody else at City who would get a squeak of a chance of getting in our first 11 and only Joe Hart would get on our bench. With Roman 'ready to go again' and the capture of Luiz better than any City purchase, with the Torres £50 million statement bigger than any City buy. one wonders if City will ever attract a really top player in this bracket? Manchester United continue to be the top side in Manchester, City still cannot even beat them ! It again is panning out a CL dogfight between them and Spurs over a top 4 finish, whilst Spurs have gained European recognition for their exploits in the Champions League, City like Liverpool limped out of a weak Europa League. My view is, the only thing that can save City from a financial disaster is Jose Mourinho, yet we could be about to reverse the Robinho scenerio, if as rumours suggest Carlo will leave in the summer are correct, only one man can replace him .... the Special One.

I have a strong feeling if Spuds fail to qualify for the Champions League we will move for Bale. When push came to shove they couldn't hold on to Berbatov, with the outlay on players in recent seasons money inward could be again a priority. We need width, Bale can play left or right, is in the Luiz feel of things both age and ability wise and has proved himself more than capable in the Premiership and Champions League. He is British and would command a sell on fee if he progressed to World status. Roman and Carlo might just think it could be 50 million well spent.