Rafa Watch

[Sarb]

Great decision to keep him... gutted to be honest would have been a big blow if they had of lost him.

Not quite sure why Lampard gets so much stick.. he is a great player. Good professional, gives everything to his club, rarely injured and is a banker to get into double figures every season.

Might be something to do with people thinking he is a key player in undermining the past few managers they've had. Certainly AVB.

[danperkins]

Might be something to do with people thinking he is a key player in undermining the past few managers they've had. Certainly AVB.

I disagree mate. AVB screwed himself by making such massive changes too quickly. He underestimated how important the old guard was to Chelsea... and the ironic thing is that when AVB got the sack and the old guard came back in.. they were the reason why Chelsea won the treble.

AVB got himself the sack.

[Daniel 7]

Lampard has been tremendous this season and is a great squad player. If he was at Liverpool, there's no way we'd be wanting him to leave.

[Shaggy]

I disagree mate. AVB screwed himself by making such massive changes too quickly. He underestimated how important the old guard was to Chelsea... and the ironic thing is that when AVB got the sack and the old guard came back in.. they were the reason why Chelsea won the treble.

AVB got himself the sack.

Not sure about that - supposedly the remit given to him by Abramovich was to start afresh, to clear out the old guard. Kudos for AVB for having the bollocks to try it but obviously it went pear shaped.

[Sarb]

I disagree mate. AVB screwed himself by making such massive changes too quickly. He underestimated how important the old guard was to Chelsea... and the ironic thing is that when AVB got the sack and the old guard came back in.. they were the reason why Chelsea won the treble.

AVB got himself the sack.

Pretty sure Roman told AVB that he wanted the old guard gone. Speculation is that Roman is pretty annoyed at how well AVB is now doing at Spurs. Apparently, he was very reluctant to sack AVB but told the old guard that he had no choice because of their antics, but now thinks he made the wrong choice and the likes of Lampard, Terry were at fault.

Personally, they played with minimal effort under AVB. Soon as he went they started playing well. Can be looked on in a couple of ways. Either AVB is crap, which I don't think he is. Or, these guys just turn it on when they feel like it. AVB is just one. They have a reputation of getting managers sacked.

[Sarb]

Not sure about that - supposedly the remit given to him by Abramovich was to start afresh, to clear out the old guard. Kudos for AVB for having the bollocks to try it but obviously it went pear shaped.

[danperkins]

Not sure about that - supposedly the remit given to him by Abramovich was to start afresh, to clear out the old guard. Kudos for AVB for having the bollocks to try it but obviously it went pear shaped.

AVB came in and to be fair was trying to do his own thing and implement his own game. All speculation what goes on behind the scenes, but AVB doesn't strike me as the type of guy to be taking orders, especially about what team he should field.

Unfortunately for him it didn't work and was proven to be a mistake to drop the likes of Lampard etc

[danperkins]

Pretty sure Roman told AVB that he wanted the old guard gone. Speculation is that Roman is pretty annoyed at how well AVB is now doing at Spurs. Apparently, he was very reluctant to sack AVB but told the old guard that he had no choice because of their antics, but now thinks he made the wrong choice and the likes of Lampard, Terry were at fault.

Personally, they played with minimal effort under AVB. Soon as he went they started playing well. Can be looked on in a couple of ways. Either AVB is crap, which I don't think he is. Or, these guys just turn it on when they feel like it. AVB is just one. They have a reputation of getting managers sacked.

You use the words apparently and speculation, when really we have no idea what actually happened.

My point was that when the old guard where out of the team Chelsea weren't as good. IMO AVB isn't a crap manager far from it & as much as i don't like Terry or Cole... i very much doubt they turn it on whenever they feel like it. Very committed players regardless of how i feel about them as people.

[red g]

Pretty sure Roman told AVB that he wanted the old guard gone. Speculation is that Roman is pretty annoyed at how well AVB is now doing at Spurs. Apparently, he was very reluctant to sack AVB but told the old guard that he had no choice because of their antics, but now thinks he made the wrong choice and the likes of Lampard, Terry were at fault.

Personally, they played with minimal effort under AVB. Soon as he went they started playing well. Can be looked on in a couple of ways. Either AVB is crap, which I don't think he is. Or, these guys just turn it on when they feel like it. AVB is just one. They have a reputation of getting managers sacked.

is he doing that well? only won half there home games. lost 6 allready this season, I think he is doing ok but no better than Arry.

[danperkins]

Lampard has been tremendous this season and is a great squad player. If he was at Liverpool, there's no way we'd be wanting him to leave.

[spud_gun]

Pretty sure Roman told AVB that he wanted the old guard gone. Speculation is that Roman is pretty annoyed at how well AVB is now doing at Spurs. Apparently, he was very reluctant to sack AVB but told the old guard that he had no choice because of their antics, but now thinks he made the wrong choice and the likes of Lampard, Terry were at fault.

Personally, they played with minimal effort under AVB. Soon as he went they started playing well. Can be looked on in a couple of ways. Either AVB is crap, which I don't think he is. Or, these guys just turn it on when they feel like it. AVB is just one. They have a reputation of getting managers sacked.

Offering Lampard a new 1 year contract is a sure fire way for Roman to show just how unhappy he was with Lampard during AVB's reign.

[danperkins]

Offering Lampard a new 1 year contract is a sure fire way for Roman to show just how unhappy he was with Lampard during AVB's reign.

[Sarb]

Offering Lampard a new 1 year contract is a sure fire way for Roman to show just how unhappy he was with Lampard during AVB's reign.

He had no intention of offering him anything though, so that tells you what he really thought of Lampard. The fact that he is scoring for fun, that the fans are constantly slating Rafa and chanting for a new deal for Lampard are all playing a part in them going back to the table. That club has huge issues at the moment and letting Lampard go would just increase the public slating they are getting

[Shaggy]

Offering Lampard a new 1 year contract is a sure fire way for Roman to show just how unhappy he was with Lampard during AVB's reign.

Ha. He's wanted him out for a while but has essentially been coerced into it by weight of public pressure and Lampard's goals. I doubt Lampard is going to feel especially wanted by the owner

[Sarb]

Ha. He's wanted him out for a while but has essentially been coerced into it by weight of public pressure and Lampard's goals. I doubt Lampard is going to feel especially wanted by the owner

He wanted him so much that he has been telling for the last year that he won't be getting a new deal and he's free to go and even refused to discuss any extension with him