That was one game.

He got a team that was days away from winding up in to the Champions League. A team that was far from fantastic, but played some fantastic football Went to West Ham with a hugh amount of money in those days (how he convinced old Father Christmas to part with that sort of money ranks along side how Winston Bogarde got him to agree to his contract as one of the biggest questons in Chelseas history) and did not come away with Englands and the leagues hottest prospect the man every club wanted Joey Cole but some random callled Frank Lampard, A player who according to most fans was picked because he was the managers family.

I dont think anyone can give this guy "too much" credit. If it was not for him 100% there would be no titles,No Champions League in fact there would be no Chelsea as I dont think anyone could have got us into the Champions League that year.

Sadly for him he has the most dreaded tag to have as a manager a "nice guy", Its like when you get set up on a blind date and hear "they got a great personality".

One game in a season maybe but it was totally embarrassing.

As I said, nice bloke, decent manager but nowhere near Jose.
He's the one who changed the players and why we are still winning things with the same group.

Whereas we all know United's weaklink and I wouldn't swop for anything

Different then Jose but just as good.

A more long term manager and stable manager then Jose will ever be.

Ranieri always struck me as someone who desperately wanted to keep everyone happy. That's admirable in a way, but doesn't generally work with a squad of professional players with big egos. Let's face it, he wasn't called "the tinker man" for nothing. Bending over backwards to give everyone a game is great if you're running a local junior team, but we wanted to see our strongest team out there challenging for honours. Some of his team selections were baffling to say the least.

Send us Mata and you can have Big Baby with our compliments.

^ Ranieri's obsession with keeping everyone happy would have held us back from becoming the team we were under Mourinho. I appreciate what Ranieri did with us, but Mourinho is a far superior manager IMO.

It was not long ago that the UK media were reporting Mata + £20m for Rooney!

Apparently Falcao is on the transfer list from Monaco!

Surely you cannot be transferred twice in one window?

I can't disagree with this more but its all about opinions.

Jose is someone who will come in and get the job done today. He perfect for today's must have it now football.

Ranieri will deliver it but in a long amount of time BUT will be there for the 4/5 years and ensure the next manager has no problems.

Jose will stay 2 or 3 years and sucessful years they will be but when things dont go his way he will throw a strop and walk away and leave the next manager with a headace with reagrds to player power etc.

I love Jose and think he the best manager around today but comes with as many problems as he solves. He is Jose, Its going to be one hell of a ride. But sometimes you need to go on the kids ride for a more relaxing time

I think this season is a big one in the career of Jose.

At Madrid, he did just about the bare minimum of what they expected from him, and his final season was a pretty poor one.
He's come to a team that's been way off the pace for the least two seasons. A team with very obvious flaws that have not been adressed, and no significant improvement in quality with the new signings.
He needs to finish at least 3rd, and win a trophy just to match the much derided Rafa.
He has a tough task on his hands if you ask me.

With the players he has and the teams around him 3rd (trophy i can take or leave) should be easy for someone of Jose's abilty.

As much as Chelsea have shortcomings the other teams that can finish in the top 3 have just as many. Thats why we had to go to Jose for the job. He can just give us that 2/3% that will just put us in front of the others

I don't think there's any rule against it. But so far it's only speculation, I would be surprised if Monaco are unable to sort out some kind of deal with the French tax authorities.
It's all a bit messy though, do Monaco currently own his contract completely or are there still other "interested parties" involved ?

jose has yet to make a marque signing. i don't think chelsea win the league this season.

Man Utd and Man City are still favourites for me, everyone is bumping us up to favourites due to the Jose factor but i still think on paper they have better squads than us. To be honest its wide open this year.

City maybe, but I'm not convinced United even had a better squad that us last season. van Persie was the main difference on the pitch, that's why a striker was so necessary for us. A lot of pressure on Lukaku now that we've missed out on 3, but if he can click with the rest we should be fine at that end of the pitch.

Depending on what you read. Reports are suggesting we are after either Eto'o, Falcao or Jackson Martinez.

This Falcao development is interesting. If Monaco do have to sell him a lot of clubs would surely take the opportunity to get him again. Not sure we'd be one as we don't seem to want to spend big money on players.

Jackson Martinez would be a good signing from Porto. Been great for them and has great goal scoring ability. Porto would want a big fee though but think it's one that should be looked at by the club.

Yep, i've said the same a few times on here in the past. Personally i think he's a much better bet than Rooney.

We are "allegedly" preparing a £25m bid for Martinez. What's gone wrong with us in this transfer window ? He has a release clause of £35m in his contract, Porto are not going to sell him for £25m, why should they ? He scored 34 goals in 43 games for them last season, we would be looking for more if he was our striker with that kind of record.
It's been the same with Rooney, did we ever really think United would sell him for £25m, or even the "improved" offer of £30m ?..we appear to have turned into Arsenal during this summer's transfer window.

Cant wait for the match tommorow, im very intriguied with that lineup Jose will go far, will he go for the expected 3 amigos / torres up top or will he start Lukaku, Schrulle, De Bruyne etc?

Wish the match was today, but oh well not long to go now!

I wasn't into reading or posting on forums during Ranieri's time, but going by my 'non Chelsea mates' we were much more liked under him than we were under Jose.
Some were looking forward to seeing if we could break up the Utd/Arsenal domination, but we've been pretty much hated since Ranieri left.

I'd like to see us start with Lukaku up front. In behind him we are blessed with talent but for me i'd like to see De Bruyne, Hazard and Mata.

Successful teams aren't supposed to be liked.


de Bruyne gets the nod ahead of Oscar for me as well.

Yes, I'd like to take a look at that line up as well.
Azpiliqueta and Luiz are not available, so the back four more or less picks itself.
The central/defensive midfield positions are not so easy though, Ramires/Essien ?..or does Mourinho still have faith in Mikel. Then there's Lampard, or give Van Ginkel an early start ? Plenty of alternatives but sill a weakness in that area I'm afraid.