I would not have Ranieri back, he had his time here and that's that.

I like his quote about that a good manager is someone who adapts with what he has and not the other way around.. .. 

Chelsea owner Abramovich gathered his players at their Cobham training ground last weekend and told them: “I’ve signed Conte. (Standard)

Conte has yet to meet Abramovich with Chelsea's negotiating team being led by Marina Granovskaia, the club director. #CFC (Times)

Abramovich will hold a final face-to-face meeting with Conte before signing off his appointment as #CFC’s next permanent manager (Telegraph)

I know absolutely nothing about him. Disrespectful to announce, publicly anyway, a new manager when one is still in place but I kinda want to know. Now!

I know absolutely nothing about him. Disrespectful to announce, publicly anyway, a new manager when one is still in place but I kinda want to know. Now!

Its a bit different when the one we have is only interim and has nade it clear he doesnt want to be here long term. I dont think Guus would mind much

looks like it's done. waiting for something concrete, so announcement should be soon i would have thought. 

 

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2016/3/3/11151102/antonio-conte-chelsea-abramovich-done

Its a bit different when the one we have is only interim and has nade it clear he doesnt want to be here long term. I dont think Guus would mind much

Maybe, just want the players to play for Guus & for now, not concentrating what will happen beyond Stoke.

I know absolutely nothing about him. Disrespectful to announce, publicly anyway, a new manager when one is still in place but I kinda want to know. Now!

Guus said that he prefers a sooner decision and announcement.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/guus-hiddink-urges-chelsea-be-transparent-about-new-manager-amid-antonio-conte-links-1546257

It's different from the Man City situation because Guus will not and does not want to stay on as manager.

Maybe, just want the players to play for Guus & for now, not concentrating what will happen beyond Stoke.

The players have worked hard for him all along knowing that he's not the one who will be choosing the lineups next season, so hopefully they won't stop now. In addition Roman reportedly plans to keep Guus on in an advisory role, so players still have an incentive to impress him.

It's a good decision to let the squad know early, if one or two were thinking about jumping ship, then maybe the announcement of conte would give them incentive to nuckle down.

He seems very respected in the football world. I don't think it will di any harm to announce it while gus is still here. Both conte and gus are free agents in the summer.

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/10/antonio-conte-told-to-give-chelsea-squad-core-identity---not-bui/

Interesting Article.

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/10/antonio-conte-told-to-give-chelsea-squad-core-identity---not-bui/

Interesting Article.

 

So Conte is expected to be a magician? Interesting indeed. Who do we have in line after Conte?

Lol. Easy there tiger. There will be spending come summer. A new core/spine is what is rumored to be required from Conte. Those dreaming of a massive overhaul with maybe just two players left from the present squad are to be disappointed. Not in this category are you?

We don't need an overhaul. In 2012 we did as the side was on its last legs, a bit like Man U in Fergie's last year. Right now we need changes but there are talented players there and a decent age range. We just need to be a team again and better than the sum of our parts. Under Jose we went backwards in that respect. The only time we looked like a team with vision and balance was the first season. To only be 4 points from the top with Torres was being better than we were, where as last season we seemed to drag out a league title which should have been much better to watch. Then this season.... disaster after disaster. I think football moved on from Jose unfortunately. 

We don't need an overhaul. In 2012 we did as the side was on its last legs, a bit like Man U in Fergie's last year. Right now we need changes but there are talented players there and a decent age range. We just need to be a team again and better than the sum of our parts. Under Jose we went backwards in that respect. The only time we looked like a team with vision and balance was the first season. To only be 4 points from the top with Torres was being better than we were, where as last season we seemed to drag out a league title which should have been much better to watch. Then this season.... disaster after disaster. I think football moved on from Jose unfortunately.

How long are we going to keep going from season to season papering over the holes in our team? CB here, CM and a winger there. How did United do the sesson after Fergie left? A bit like Jose last season, he didnt need the best squad to win.

Integrating the youth would certainly help us build a team that will last. Im hoping Conte brings in 3-4 players who stay in the team for a while and we can build around a coherent set of players. That would help with playing philosophy as well to have constant quality and the right kind of players for how we want to play.

Jose left us with a team capable of playing a certain way and if we want to change that we'll need a handful of new players to change that, square pegs in a round hole and all that. Look how the Liverpool squad have struggled to adopt Klopps style barring Firmino

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/10/antonio-conte-told-to-give-chelsea-squad-core-identity---not-bui/

Interesting Article.

Link doesn't work

Link doesn't work

Lol. You're kidding right?

If we want an 'identity', then yes we need an overhaul. Cant have one without the other. Our squad does not suit one particular style of play. We can either build around Zouma, Matic, Costa and have a powerful team who physically dominate opponents, or we can choose to build around fabregas willian oscar hazard and go for a more technical possession based style. But i dont think we can have one strong identity with this squad

Lol. You're kidding right?

Nah mate, your link doesn't work.

 

It's fine if I copy and paste it, but for some reason I just can't click on it.

 

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/10/antonio-conte-told-to-give-chelsea-squad-core-identity---not-bui/

Try this

Try this

 

Identity

Recognisable Style of Play

Philosophy

No Core Identity

 

If he'd used the word soul I'd have been inclined to instruct my solicitor to begin plagiarism proceedings.

 

But if this is true then it's heartening to see the club might recognise the issues we have. I've said many times that we don't have 'The Chelsea Way' and that we need to rediscover who we are as a club.

 

If it's Conte who will do this then that's equally encouraging because he isn't someone overly enamoured with tika-taka or possession-based football for it's own sake. He's a pragmatist, he's someone who believes in hard-work and having a physical edge as well as something of an attacking streak.

 

It was the lack of this which I think many people who supported Jose were concerned about. It's one thing to move on from Jose, but you have to have a willingness to do so, and an idea of what it is you want to move towards. We tried it a couple of times before and failed because the club either didn't choose well or failed to commit.

 

Conte is hopefully a good choice. That's half the job of the board. The other half is to write cheques and that's it. Stay out of the man's way after that. If he's the guy you've identified as being the man to lead us, let him lead. Give him the freedom to make the changes he sees fit, give him the resources to do what he needs and then do nothing else. Sit back, find a new hobby to busy your hands with so you don't feel inclined to get involved with team matters and in a few years enjoy your new club.

Chelsea news: Italy coach Antonio Conte agrees three-year contract with Blues, claim reports in Italy  

image: http://talksport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/201603/a_conte.jpg?itok=KD9KTFSD

Antonio Conte, the Italy manager

By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT

Friday, March 11, 2016

   

Antonio Conte has agreed a three-year contract with Chelsea, according to reports in Italy.

The 46-year-old has been heavily linked with taking over at Stamford Bridge in the summer as the permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho.

Conte's contract with the Italian national team expires at the end of Euro 2016, meaning he can leave without any club having to pay compensation.

?And, according to Corriere della Sera, the former Juventus boss has now agreed to join Chelsea from the start of next season.

Conte is said to have agreed a deal until 2019 which will be worth around £4.5m-a-year.

The Italian is expected to bring a number of his staff with him to Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea's current assistant first-team coach Steve Holland is likely to remain part of the set-up.

Read more at http://talksport.com/football/chelsea-news-italy-coach-antonio-conte-agrees-three-year-contract-blues-claim-reports-italy#53R2t4CM2oovTjBG.99

With us set to hire a coach involved in the Euros what does it mean for our pre season preparation and more importantly our transfer strategy?

I assume we've consulted with Conte on his vision for the team but at a time when our transfers have been more vital than ever I'm just a little concerned about how it pans out.

With us set to hire a coach involved in the Euros what does it mean for our pre season preparation and more importantly our transfer strategy?

I assume we've consulted with Conte on his vision for the team but at a time when our transfers have been more vital than ever I'm just a little concerned about how it pans out.

Good point, hadnt thought about this. Presumably the transfer situation would be easy enough to sort out with a shortlist in place before the Euros. Pre-season preparations in general may be difficult. Hopefully Conte will keep at least 1 coach at the club who can help ease the transition between the managers. If he chooses to bring in a whole new coaching staff then that could be very difficult to bring the players into his way of thinking quickly