Spudulike

Spot on. It's that issue: why bother starting an interview if you've only got two minutes? It looked as if JM was in a reflective, talkative mood. The interview could have been a scoop for ITV.

I'm running. Angry Mike not a healthy prospect. The good news is that I'm in South Wales - got a 150 mile head start!

Emmerdale too?! You've got it bad mate. Now, Home and Away, I can watch that: better weather and less depression...

Tough one. ITV's football is shocking but Corrie is s**** (even tho' some of the lasses are quite fit).

Also, why have Southgate as a pundit? Everytime I see him, I mentally replay the Euro '96 penalty miss. It's traumatic and properly upsetting. We were so close - why did it have to be him?

SAF is not faced by the concerns that end managerial careers: he is obviously massively successful; it goes without saying that he personifies United and that the owners / fans are behind him. SAF appears not to be tired of football - he's as excited and involved in matches as he's always been. He also has unfinished business (as he would see it) in Europe. I can't see him going anywhere unless his age or health become factors. 71 isn't ancient, but there's no getting away from the fact that (as TorresBlue said) he's pitching himself against managers who are, in some cases, half his age. His job must be mentally and physically demanding - how long can somone, even SAF, maintain the required level of effort? I don't think he'll go next season but would say that, cos of his age, it'll happen within the next two-three seasons.

The worst ITV sports blunder (though last night is up there, for being cringe-making) was when, during a Scouse derby FA cup game, they showed a car ad, during play, and missed the only goal. The game wasn't a classic and they missed the one exciting moment. Can't make it up.

Almost the most important aspect of a potential JM return will be expectation management. The press and media will make a return to Chelsea a huge story (to be fair, it will be) and, by August, the media will be primed for the return season. The media here are, generally, salivating at the prospect of a JM return (well, apart from ITV) but they'll enjoy bad news as well as good. There'll need to be some cool headedness from the club and fans about what can be achieved in the first season. Even if RM returns, and can buy players he wants, he'll need time to re-shape the team, and patience (as Butch referred to) from all concerned. Btw, amused by the sub thread (above) of who JM and RA will buy. Let JM get here, at least, before selecting his squad. :-)

'I've got to go' Where?! To listen to Southgate and Co?? The sheer lack of courtesy makes you cringe.

Serious? Didn't see that coming, tonight.

I appreciate the comments - thanks vm. I'm conscious, on TheShedEnd, of the need (self imposed) to not become gobby about Chelsea-only concerns and didn't want to p*** an other poster off. I've read the JOM thread and find the level of anger/contempt weird and wanted to comment on that angle. He seems to be hated by some. I'm very unimpressed with Adebayor, but I couldn't devote the time and energy involved in hating him (tho this is mainly cos its too much effort). Obviously, I can make an exception for someone like Suarez.

SFL - I admit to not knowing much about JOM. My comment was just: 1. Stats are not very interesting and, in general terms, can't always be relied upon to prove an argument; 2. In support of another poster who decried the strength of feeling against JOM; I would just add, for myself, try and hold a discussion without pouring c*** over the views of others.

Bad choice of word there - it's a grave insult to anyone who is a moron, to be compared to Carragher...

I didn't know that; I'm going to remember that fact. p.s. I am 100% gullible :-) (I actually believe that Bale isn't going to leave us...)

That was an example of the best sort of stat; the completely made up one. Cool picture, btw.

Also, football is about excitement. It's not about (for me, anyway) spreadsheets of completed passes; 'look, he's had 12.2 completed passes and has played two % of games with one of his laces undone'. Stats can be made to support most arguments; just depends how cunning you are.

I don't know enough about JOM to comment about him, but I have been reading this thread and your comment is spot on mate.

Genius. Particularly his 'wtf' look when he stands, looking into the water.

I agree. That game is, at the moment, too hard to call. Chelsea shade it on paper but we've fewer games to play. That said, it'll be very tense with, for us anyway, our whole season coming down, potentially, to 90 minutes. Defeat doesn't bear thinking about, even if our season so far has been unexpectedly good.

Bump - he still is one...

It was one of those matches that made me think 'if I was playing, even though I'm too old/knackered, I'd be working me socks off'.Neither side could be arsed and that's pretty appalling. QPR will sink like a stone next season. Even without their tons of debt, there's no guarantee that, if you go down, you'll come back up. Well done Mark Hughes (the press/pundits - stop linking him to manager vacancies, please - he isn't going to cut it).

One comment and I'll bail out of this thread as it's a Chelsea concern. Completely agree re Lampard - Rb's approach to him is plain wrong. Lampard deserves the chance of getting the record and should be on the pitch on merit. It's obvious that Rb is thinking of the cups, and of his reputation, more than about being decent.

I don't understand the 'united have won the league - they'll relax and be less of a threat' view. If they are relaxed and playing more freely, that makes them more of a threat, particularly against teams who need to win and will be leaving space while they press for goals. Also, SAF defo won't relax - he'll want the biggest points total possible. I think/hope that Arsenal are going to come unstuck.

Dropped points today for us but we were lucky to get one. We couldn't find any room against Wigan - they must be gutted about the draw as they deserved a win, tbh. No complaints here though. Fourth place is looking too tight to call. The light at the end of the tunnel is that it looks certain that RB is aiming for the cups.

I am properly skint at the moment but will send something your way when I get paid. Sorry to read about your plight.