How would Rafa have fared as Chelsea manager (circa 2004)?

[SB]

Does anyone really care?

Who knows what would have happened.

[Darkon]

Another fruitless "what if" discussion...

Nobody can tell what would have happened if something in the past where different...

[red g]

ranieri had built a very good squad. mourinho inherited a far far better team. i think rafa would have been at least as successful there.

almost pro-rafa

[magicalbarnes]

Well Jose took over a team that under Ranieri had just finished 2nd )and were in the race until the last few weeks), then went on the biggest ever sprending spree in British football (possibly even world football, but im not sure) history.

He then took the team to 1 position better. Could Rafa have done this? OF COURSE HE COULD!

[MrMichael]

Its complete guesswork obviously, but I'd say Rafa would probably have done a very similar job to Mourinho (and not helped make them everyone's favourite team to hate into the bargain).

They have a very similar way of setting up a team, and similar tactical ideas. Both arrived in England having had unexpected levels of success with "smaller" sides.

Maureen also brought in "up and coming" players like Drogba and Essien who still had the desire to succeed at the highest level, rather than signing traditional galacticos who had already been there and done it. I think Rafa would have had a similar acquisition philosophy.

Barring obvious differences in their ways of dealing with the press and publicity, I don't think there would have been a great deal of difference under Sarb's scenario. Although Rafa would probably have won Abrahmovic the Champions League......

[Sarb]

I'd just like to point out that this thread was started by a Mod copying and pasting my post from the sack Scolari, Wenger, Mourinho thread and not started as a Rafa bashing thread as there was a discussion going on in there about potential replacements for Rafa and Mourinho came up as a name and the question was asked if Mourinho is better than Rafa

Some people on here need to chill out. So defensive it's untrue.

[magicalbarnes]

[QUOTE=magicalbarnes;1234037]

Maureen also brought in "up and coming" players like Drogba and Essien who still had the desire to succeed at the highest level, rather than signing traditional galacticos who had already been there and done it. I think Rafa would have had a similar acquisition philosophy.

Spending nearly £60m on the pair cannot be classed as 'up and coming'

[Neil Young]

I'd just like to point out that this thread was started by a Mod copying and pasting my post from the sack Scolari, Wenger, Mourinho thread and not started as a Rafa bashing thread as there was a discussion going on in there about potential replacements for Rafa and Mourinho came up as a name and the question was asked if Mourinho is better than Rafa

Some people on here need to chill out. So defensive it's untrue.

Defensive? Or just bored to tears of all this **** you're pumping our way?

[dww]

Spending nearly £60m on the pair cannot be classed as 'up and coming'

I think they can in the sense that MrM applies it - they had achieved relatively little in their careers when they were bought. Chelsea were forced into paying extortionate fees because they were known to have had the money - that doesn't alter the fact that neither Drogba or Essien were established world stars when they were bought.

[Sarb]

Don't read the threads then Neil. Simple solution.

[Sarb]

Or even put me on ignore mate. There's a radical solution for ya!

Maybe I should toe the party line and become pro-Rafa and so everyone would love my pro-Rafa posts.........................














Nah. He won't win the Prem. You can quote me on that.

[Neil Young]

I don't mind that all your speculation is drivel - what's really tedious is that it's everywhere.

Perhaps a kindly mod can put all your crap into a single thread where you can rant your opinion of Rafa and no-one need ever read it.

Weren't you the poster who was so anti-Rafa at some point last season and then started backtracking, accompanied by some embarrassing apologies?

[Woobus]

Don't read the threads then Neil. Simple solution.

Dont read any of the threads? Due to certain people every thread is going back the way it was at the start of the season. Same discussions just going round and round in circles. They start of well but then a negative/ anti Rafa comment is added then it blows up.
Dont know how some of you have the energy to fight about the same things in 10 different threads.

[MrMichael]

[QUOTE=magicalbarnes;1234038]

Spending nearly £60m on the pair cannot be classed as 'up and coming'

[QUOTE=dww;1234051]

I think they can in the sense that MrM applies it - they had achieved relatively little in their careers when they were bought. Chelsea were forced into paying extortionate fees because they were known to have had the money - that doesn't alter the fact that neither Drogba or Essien were established world stars when they were bought.

That's exactly it. Although put, as ever, far better than I would Dave

They were well on their way to becoming "stars", and certainly commanded enormous fees, but neither had played in the real big leagues before. Mourinho was much more comfortable with players who were "stepping up" somewhat rather than the likes of Shevchenko who had been there and done it already.

Personally I think Rafa, with that budget, would have done similar deals.

[Sarb]

PUT ME ON IGNORE

The only fighting/insults in here are started by the pro-Rafa brigade because they can't accept a differing viewpoint on the boss.

Reggie,Dww, MrM, please cancel my est account. I can't be bothered with this internet war crap. Life is too short to be falling out with people on an internet forum. I'm not posting anymore

Cheerio