My only hope is that announcing this news so early doesn't derail our season Lol.

Good point.

How do you think Conte will cope with a ready-made platform of money, prestige and influence to build on at this club which is an underperforming giant with a huge wage budget that had finished 1st before this anomalous season?

Its like he was asking for that reply

My only hope is that announcing this news so early doesn't derail our season Lol.

Ha ha. Proper laughed out loud at that.

I'm just wondering what sort of football he encourages, what formation he plays and if he's a believer in youth. So yeah, if you could let us know now Antonio that would be great. Cheers, thanks, ta.

what will the Glasgow Rangers contingent think of another Roman Catholic in the hot seat? maybe the flag of Vatican City should be hung from the Shed End

Why is the religion of our manager at all relevant to the club. A ridiculously stupid statement, to be perfectly honest with you. 

Why is the religion of our manager at all relevant to the club. A ridiculously stupid statement, to be perfectly honest with you.

Just trying to offend and argue with people.

Best to ignore these foul trolls.

Chelsea's appointment of Antonio Conte as manager "does not make any sense", says ex-Blues striker Chris Sutton.

He thinks the Italy boss is too similar to Jose Mourinho, who was sacked in December amid suggestions he had fallen out with several senior players.

"If the players have downed tools before there is every suggestion that, with Conte being a similar type to Mourinho, they will down tools again," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 live.

Conte, 46, takes over after Euro 2016.

"If he comes in and starts hitting the players with a whip, are they going to respond?" asked Sutton.

"Bringing in a similar type of manager to Mourinho in Conte doesn't make any sense to me."

Podcast: 'Drill sergeant Conte similar to Mourinho'

Two other former Chelsea players, Andy Townsend and Pat Nevin, think the Premier League champions, who were 16th in the table when Mourinho was dismissed, have made a "good appointment" in ex-Juventus boss Conte.

"I don't think Conte will be far removed from what Jose was like at his very best," said former Republic of Ireland midfielder Townsend.

"Jose captured the attention of the players when he arrived. There was an intensity about what he did, the players responded and enjoyed working under that sort of regime. I feel Conte will do the same."

Ex-Scotland winger Nevin added: "People think of him as a one-system manager. He's not. He's always been very adaptable."

After Mourinho's sacking, Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo said there had been a "palpable discord between manager and players".

As a temporary measure and to restore some stability, the Blues appointed Guus Hiddink as interim manager for a second time.

The Dutchman has not lost any of his 15 league games in charge and has guided them to 10th in the table.

Sutton said keeping the former Netherlands boss would have been a "good option".

"It is working under him - the team have improved beyond all recognition," said Sutton, signed by Chelsea for £10m in 1999.

Under Mourinho, the Blues won the Premier League title by eight points last season and also lifted the League Cup.

But they lost nine of their opening 16 league games this term and were one point above the relegation places when he was sacked.

One of Conte's first jobs at Stamford Bridge could be to decide the Chelsea future of John Terry, who is out of contract in the summer.

"If Conte turns up and wants to play three centre-backs, then I don't see why John couldn't play for another 12 months in that system," said Townsend.

Sutton added: "They have got to keep John Terry at the club in some capacity. I think Conte will keep him purely on his playing ability."

Sutton thinks the Blues will struggle to attract top-class players without the lure of European football.

Chelsea, who won the 2012 Champions League and 2013 Europa League, are 10th in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of the top four.

"If you want to play Champions League football you go to best teams," said Sutton. "Chelsea are going to find signing top players tough."

Sutton has always been a bit of a moron.

that's more like it. I'll save everyone some time by saying- in general we'll agree to disagree. I don't think you've understood quite what I'm saying, especially re forde. I'll pm you if you want. don't think there are many remaining links about emenalo's appointment but a one word summary is "suspicious".

 

what I will say is that ultimately it all comes down to abramovich. I think there are some small things to suggest he maybe has started to change over the past few years but I won't hold my breath. 

 

I've understood where you're coming from and I've read similar arguments before. The Forde point is a new one and I'll be quite frank, it comes across as if you have no real knowledge of what the man does or his reputation in the game. If that's incorrect then I apologise.

 

I'd love you to post or PM me the links to your summary of Emenalo's past and I'll happily do the same and see how they mesh. 

 

Like I said I appreciate the time and effort you put into your posts and clearly they've struck a chord with a few posters who clearly want to believe that Emenalo is competent but you never really addressed my original question so I'm hoping those links do. 

 

Cheers mate.

My only hope is that announcing this news so early doesn't derail our season Lol.

 

Worse is impossible

Hello

 

I am an italian Antony 'fakehair' Conte  fan, enjoy your new coach/manager, there is no one like him today in Europe.

Antonio Conte wants John Terry to stay, despite announcement over new deal. #CFC (Mail)

Good news..

Antonio Conte wants John Terry to stay, despite announcement over new deal. #CFC (Mail)

Good news..

 

Makes sense. Conte has shown in the past that he doesn't think age is as big a factor as the level of which a player is capable. The guy's a football man, he knows what's important a bit like Guus. 

 

The only people who didn't seem to understand that was the people running the club.

I think Conte's got some really hard decisions to make regarding the current squad.

I think Conte's got some really hard decisions to make regarding the current squad.

 

I think there's a few characters who he'll either make stronger, or simply sack-off. Hazard is the primary one for me because he'll either buy into what Conte asks of his players and become a world-beater or he'll sulk. Under Jose you could argue he did both.

 

If he can get Costa to stay then I think he'll be absolutely brilliant because (like Simeone and Jose) he'll have someone who will replicate that same passion and make sure the other players support him too.

 

Talking to some Juve fans, he changed his tactics there because of the constraints on what he could realistically bring in. Here that's less of an issue so he might have the freedom to build something closer to his 'dream squad'. That's one of the reasons it's a little tough to predict exactly what he'll do but he needs the freedom and support to do that. 

 

That's why there's cause to be cautious but also excited. It could be the biggest shake-up in terms of playing style and personnel since Jose first came in 12 years ago. 

That's why there's cause to be cautious but also excited. It could be the biggest shake-up in terms of playing style and personnel since Jose first came in 12 years ago.

Every time a new manager comes in I think the above. It just never seems to materialise.

Every time a new manager comes in I think the above. It just never seems to materialise.

 

Yeah but we do it anyway, because what else can you do?

 

I did this under AVB, Carlo and Jose (twice!) because they are exciting prospects. Truth is last time we tried to make somewhat radical changes to our playing style we ended up sacking the guy but winning the Champions League.

 

Being very optimistic, Conte seems to combine the exciting, pressing football of AVB with the solid defence and discipline of Jose. The whole thing might fall flat on it's face and the fact that nothing else might change beyond the coaches means this is simply another coach doomed to fail but that first day of the season is too beautiful a thing to let negativity/crushing reality get in the way.

People worried about players staying, we are Chelsea. We have players who have signed contracts. We don't need to sell unless we get an offer we can't refuse. The players can cry all they want but they have to step up if they want their next contract, here or elsewhere.

http://www.football-italia.net/82361/conte-risks-six-months

Really can't afford another sideshow

I'm quietly confident about Conte, I like the sound of him in many ways. But I'm also worried about how this group of players will react to another disciplinarian's methods.

The Gazzetta dello Sport has some articles today about Conte and his arrival to Chelsea. They say he wants to keep Costa, if not possible to retain him, they suggest he wants Lukaku, as some of you have already mentioned. They have another article where they say Conte is already after Bonucci, Higuaín and Pogba, with also interest in Nainggolan and Rüdiger. They have a video with a possible lineup next year:

 

http://video.gazzetta.it/da-pogba-higuain-cosi-potrebbe-giocare-chelsea-conte/a5967de8-fb0c-11e5-98a8-aaf6a6afd8b5

 

(I don't know how to embed the video in here)

I'm quietly confident about Conte, I like the sound of him in many ways. But I'm also worried about how this group of players will react to another disciplinarian's methods.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35965091

 

Chris Sutton thinks the same thing - that he's too similar to Jose Mourinho and could fall out with the players.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35965091

 

Chris Sutton thinks the same thing - that he's too similar to Jose Mourinho and could fall out with the players.

 

Then we get rid of the players. I'm all for giving them a fresh start but Conte needs the backing of the board to get rid of any bad apples, no matter how many shirts they sell. 

Then we get rid of the players. I'm all for giving them a fresh start but Conte needs the backing of the board to get rid of any bad apples, no matter how many shirts they sell. 

 

Completely agree. I'd have preferred that over getting rid of Jose.

Sutton shouting the loudest to get a bit of the spotlight. Must want a job