Your next Chelsea manager - take your pick

[loz]

This poll is becoming a bit of a habit!

Vote for who you want, not who you think it will be and feel free to explain why you voted for the person you did.

[Mod]

Jose! 3.5 years worth of proof is my reason why.

[loz]

Lippi for me

I know Jose will probably win by a mile but for for me Lippi though not as defensively sound as Jose - is better from an attacking perspective and I think he finds the balance between the two better than Jose does. I also think bringing back Jose would be a short term thing that would implode.

[loz]

Oops missed Ruud off the list

[g3.7]

mod, ban this guy, duplicate posts, spamming all over the place to up his post count, racist attacks, outlawing swearing etc.

lippi- for my money the best tactician about with little doubt, and also a flexible coach who can get his sides playing in different styles. and he smokes cigars in the dugout, making him 400% cooler than anyone in football (even jose). I mean come on- chewing gum, or smoking expensive cigars?

he doesn't even have to look at the press. oh, and I'd get franco to come along too.

[PraetorianGuard]

In order...

1. Jose Mourinho

2. Marcello Lippi

3. Guus Hiddnik

4. Roberto Mancini

5. Frank Rijkaard

[dreadis]

Sorry, I had to vote for "the Special One"! My next two would be Hughes and Hiddink!

[loz]

Once again G4 plays the race card. What is it with you African Americans?

[coco]

I voted for Jose.

Young, dynamic, knows his way around, already twice won the top club trophy in Europe (The Prem), Probably had time to reflect over the last 8 months, knows Roman better now and understands who the real gaffer is, would be welcomed back by every fan.

I dont think for 1 minute he will come back though.

[ethicalstrategy]

I would like Jose back but it wouldn't ever work.

[Mod]

I can't think of any real reasons why having Jose back wouldn't work or implode?

[loz]

For exactly the same reasons he was removed from post last time. You think the relationship could be re-established again or that they would just learn to live and let live?

[Lofty]

The strangest rumour I've heard tonight? Apparently Jose recently took delivery of £250,000 worth of ferrari. Paid for by .... I'm sure I don't need to tell you

[Mod]

For exactly the same reasons he was removed from post last time. You think the relationship could be re-established again or that they would just learn to live and let live?

Maybe, but I also think that both parties would now know what to expect and how differently to play things with each other. If we are led to believe The Sun (yea, I know but they did have the Avram story first) and that Jose and Roman are talking, could it be that now that they are understanding each other without he pressure of 'being in the job' and that if there was outside chance Jose came back, it would be much more communicative.

I think Jose is more suited than anyone. Without putting Trophies into the equation, he knows the club, it wasn't long ago he has been out of the job so things haven't changed a great deal and above all we all know he can cut it in England.

Okay, so we get another top boss, but like Avram, it will be a gamble. Wasn't Sven a top boss before he came and started mucking around with England and the Premiership, someone else could go that way not coaching in England before.

[abramovich]

1.Hiddink

2.If first option not available, then Lippi.

[just]

My heart says Ruud. The man who invented "sexy football".

My other heart says Jose. The most succesful manager in our history. Took over when we were used to finishing second and quickly made us first. We're in the same situation now. I know he could do it again.

[abramovich]

The strangest rumour I've heard tonight? Apparently Jose recently took delivery of £250,000 worth of ferrari. Paid for by .... I'm sure I don't need to tell you

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... mierleague

The chances of Mourinho returning as Chelsea manager have increased significantly in recent weeks. Mourinho was astounded when Chelsea director

Eugene Tenenbaum called in February to inform him that Abramovich had purchased a rare Ferrari for the man he had removed from Stamford Bridge five months previously.

Customised specially for Mourinho, the 612 Scaglietti was one of just 60 produced to commemorate Ferrari's 60th anniversary. While still at Chelsea, Mourinho had told Abramovich that if he could have his choice of cars, the four-seat Scaglietti would be it. The list price is around £250,000, but such is its rarity the secondary-market value is as much as eight times that amount.

Abramovich's gift was made at a time at which he had begun to consider replacing Grant as manager, with Mourinho's name raised as a potential appointment. While such a move appears more feasible now that Grant has gone, sources close to the Portuguese coach say that he is too close to taking a position in Italy for it to happen this close season, although they do not rule it out in the future.

[Mod]

..but look at the bottom text Abe

Mourinho is likely to take over from Roberto Mancini at Internazionale and may sign a contract with the Serie A club this week. He has already drawn up plans for next season and is likely to take striker Didier Drogba with him to Italy.

Grant has agreed a £5.2m pay-off from Chelsea. Although bookies were offering odds on as many as 10 different managers to be the Israeli's successor, the favourites are former Barçelona coach Frank Rijkaard, Guus Hiddink and Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Chelsea have been involved in secret conversations with Hiddink, whose position as Russia's national coach is not as secure as has been presented. The Dutchman has a provisional contract to coach Russia until the 2010 World Cup, but that will not be ratified until after Euro 2008 and senior figures in the Russian Football Union are unimpressed by the team's qualification campaign. Vitaly Mutko, newly appointed sports minister and head of the Russian Football Union, said: 'We will evaluate his work after the European Championship.' Although his salary is funded by the Chelsea owner, Hiddink has previously resisted invitations to manage the club for personal reasons.

Eriksson, who was approached about the Stamford Bridge post before Mourinho replaced Claudio Ranieri in 2004, is due to meet Chelsea officials next week after he is formally dismissed by Manchester City. The Swede had been linked with a return to his former club Benfica, but the Lisbon side have appointed Quique Sánchez Flores. The Spaniard was sacked by Valencia last October.

Sven ??

[coco]

Sven ??

I'll burn my shirt

[coco]

It's Loz's fault for not putting him in the poll.

[moi]

Doh! Did you not spot the "other" box at the bottom?

[coco]

Doh! Did you not spot the "other" box at the bottom?

"others blue and white army" doesnt work for me.

[abramovich]

Sven ??

Please God, no.

[abramovich]

..but look at the bottom text Abe

Mourinho is likely to take over from Roberto Mancini at Internazionale and may sign a contract with the Serie A club this week. He has already drawn up plans for next season and is likely to take striker Didier Drogba with him to Italy.

Grant has agreed a £5.2m pay-off from Chelsea. Although bookies were offering odds on as many as 10 different managers to be the Israeli's successor, the favourites are former Barçelona coach Frank Rijkaard, Guus Hiddink and Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Chelsea have been involved in secret conversations with Hiddink, whose position as Russia's national coach is not as secure as has been presented. The Dutchman has a provisional contract to coach Russia until the 2010 World Cup, but that will not be ratified until after Euro 2008 and senior figures in the Russian Football Union are unimpressed by the team's qualification campaign. Vitaly Mutko, newly appointed sports minister and head of the Russian Football Union, said: 'We will evaluate his work after the European Championship.' Although his salary is funded by the Chelsea owner, Hiddink has previously resisted invitations to manage the club for personal reasons.

Eriksson, who was approached about the Stamford Bridge post before Mourinho replaced Claudio Ranieri in 2004, is due to meet Chelsea officials next week after he is formally dismissed by Manchester City. The Swede had been linked with a return to his former club Benfica, but the Lisbon side have appointed Quique Sánchez Flores. The Spaniard was sacked by Valencia last October.

Sven ??

Speaking of which, the comedy continues

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 999882.ece

"However, Grant has now emerged as the favourite to succeed Sven-Göran Eriksson, who lost the confidence of City owner Thaksin Shinawatra in the second half of the season. Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian World Cup-winner who coaches Portugal, was first choice but is believed to have priced himself out of the job."

I know it's probably another BS rumor but it's quite funny though.

[Mod]

Hang on, Grant to City?