Bloody Football!

[Stavros]

According to todays papers Fabio is in the frame for the Chelsea job.

Any thoughts/predictions for tomorrow night? Bayern Munich 1 Chelsea 2?

[SammiValentine]

Shankly did not play for Liverpool, he played for Carlisle and Preston North End. If we follow your argument, that makes Steve 'fisticuffs' Gerrard a contender, along with Kevin Keegan, Ian Rush, Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen, to name a few. But not John Barnes. Perhaps that is why they are looking for men with managerial ability instead of housewives favourites.

Thats rubbish sorry, none of the named was part of the bootroom.

[Stavros]

So what is meant by 'bootroom'? I have assumed it referred to players and coaching staff.

[robertlouis]

Shankly did not play for Liverpool, he played for Carlisle and Preston North End. If we follow your argument, that makes Steve 'fisticuffs' Gerrard a contender, along with Kevin Keegan, Ian Rush, Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen, to name a few. But not John Barnes. Perhaps that is why they are looking for men with managerial ability instead of housewives favourites.

With respect, Stavros, that wasn't my argument in the first place.

When Bill Shankly took over as Liverpool manager, he created a culture within the bootroom beneath Anfield, of coaches, trainers and others associated directly with the football side of the club and turned it into a collective where all issues of selection, transfers, tactics and training were hammered out by the people who knew the club from the inside and from the ground up, and shared Shanks's values and visions. It was that unique tradition that produced Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Roy Evans and others and which played the major role in ensuring Liverpool's dominance in the 70's and 80's. It also gave the club an unparalleled continuity and stability - they used to go through a whole season, winning trophies galore, with a squad of just fourteen or fifteen, unthinkable now.

My uncle Billy played for the club in the mid-60s and has always spoken in awe of the simple wisdom that the likes of Shanks and Paisley could spread around the dressing room so effectively. Everyone nowadays (rightly) raves about Barcelona's philosophy and their tiki-taka play, but it began at Liverpool under Shankly - one-touch passing in mobile triangles, creating the space and making the ball do the work, and it gave us the finest football, under Shanks, Paisley and during Kenny's first reign, that England has ever seen.

The rot set in when Graeme Sounness followed Kenny, dispensing with the bootroom both physically and philosophically. Wonderful player, piss-poor manager. It's never been replaced and the club, and dare I say it, football as a whole, is poorer for its loss.

[Stavros]

All fair points, RobertLouis. I know its the season of ridicule for LFC right now but I have enjoyed their successes as much as I have enjoyed those of United, and also expect to head off to a packed pub this evening to watch Chelsea win, although I don't like pubs. I am not, however, a fan of Dalgleish as a manager, he was an outstanding player, but should never have returned and not just because of the way he walked out the first time. I don't think Souness was a great player, he was made to look good by the men around him, but otherwise I don't know enough about the club to make anything other than superfiicial comments. But it is going to be some time before they return to the top quartile of the Premier League.

[robertlouis]

Well done Chelsea. Bet Di Matteo doesn't get the job though....

[robertlouis]

And for all the idiots posting Nazi crap about Bayern (not on HA, it's just pissing me off), did you know that Bayern have a proud history of opposing the Nazis and supporting their own Jewish players and officials even under the worst of times?

Oh, and not a moment's trouble in Munich last night. Well done both sets of fans.

When will the English ever grow up?

[Stavros]

Chelsea put in a fierce defensive effort and it almost worked to perfection -interesting that the one major error, was stiker Drogba's foul on Ribery in the penalty area. As good a defensive performance as they put in against Bercelona. Robben, predictable as always, has never been as good as some think he is -or as he thinks he is himself. That said, Cech over the years has been one of the finest goalkeepers I have ever seen, and Drogba managed to score a penalty having missed crucial ones in his career before. I am not a fan but I think overall Chelsea deserved the win. And it means Tottenham won't be playing in the Champions League -does this mean Bale goes to United after all?

Does di Matteo now become Chelsea manager, or will the job go to someone else?

[jimbo1974]

Bale wont go to MUFC. Barca maybe....

Chelsea are (to be honest) a bit shite. Well done for winning the CL, but it wasnt a victory for enthralling footnall was it. Boring as fuck.

Torres is now whinging that he didnt start the game - tosser - what does he expect ? He has tripped over his dick most games since they spent 50 MILLION on him. He scores one goal agaisnt Barca, and throws his toys out of the pram. The cock.

SAFC - Ha'way the lads.

[Stavros]

Didn't Torres repay his transfer fee with that one goal against Barcelona? Now Chelsea have won the cup the profits are even bigger, but I think he really wants to go back to Spain. Chelsea performed the way many Italian teams in the past played when they locked-up their defence; from that perspective it was a brilliant performance, but like defensive play in cricket, not exciting to watch.

Now the Euros---anyone expecting a Spain -vs- Germany final?