So Chelsea ended months of umming and ahhing last night by appointing Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new manager. The Portugal boss told us that talk of Cristiano Ronaldo’s post-Euro 2008 future could disrupt the team, but he appears to have no qualms over making his own departure public midway through proceedings.
But are Chelsea making a big mistake passing up the opportunity to appoint Roberto Mancini, who won three straight league titles at Inter Milan, or Frank Rijkaard, who won a La Liga/Champions League double while playing utterly sexy football?
Yes, Scolari won the World Cup while managing Brazil, but with the players he had at his disposal and the terrible showings by France, Argentina, Italy and Spain, was that really an amazing feat? After all, it had been done four times before and will be done again many times in the future.
Would Chelsea fans be so welcoming if Otto Rehhagel - the man who took Greece to Euro 2004 glory at Scolari’s expense - was appointed? Probably not, even though his achievement was arguably more impressive than that of the Gene Hackman look-alike.
Avram Grant’s appointment was met with disgust by Chelsea fans but even he had won league titles in Europe (well, Israel, but they play in the Champions League) and achieved reasonable success in international football - going unbeaten with the Israeli national side in a World Cup qualifying group containing France and Switzerland.
After weeks of big names and endless speculation, The Spoiler can’t help but feel Chelsea settled for the wrong man.
Have the Blues made the right call in appointing Scolari? Let us know with a vote and comment below.
An international tournament is very nearly upon us which can only mean one thing: it’s time for Cristiano Ronaldo to piss off England. At the 2006 World Cup, the C-Ron Likeability-ometer took a Big Brother villain-esque plunge following his winking tactics, and after his recent disloyal comments and impending departure, the tricky winger’s popularity will experience a similar fall. Despite the inflated importance of the C-Ron debate, the rumour mills have been turning elsewhere…
James Milner to Liverpool
Really? Until recently it didn’t look like Rafa Benitez had even heard of English players let alone ones nowhere near getting into the national team.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: We can just about believe Barry, but not Milner
Frank Rijkaard or Roberto Mancini to Chelsea
The Blues have decided that it might be a good idea to interview the only two guys that haven’t said no to the Chelsea job before they decide Blackburn might be a better option.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Definitely two of the frontrunners. Maybe.
Joe Lewis to Everton
It’s amazing what being part of the England squad can do to your valuation. Apparently Peterborough’s goalkeeper wasn’t just brought along for a laugh and is actually worth three million.
The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Have Everton even got three million?
Eidur Gudjohnsen to Newcastle or West Ham
Another transfer window opens and again Barcelona
