Samba 9 - In your opinion do you see Avram Grant delivering this so-called "attractive football"? Will he stand the test of time? As far as I'm concerned, this man has no pedigree and to compare himself to Arsene Wenger, when he took over at Arsenal, is laughable at the very least: they certainly are not birds of the same feather. Attractive football is in the eyes of the beholder, and I'd rather we just win whether its 1:0 or 5:0 "winning isn't everything; it's the only thing".

Secondly, which players do you see leaving Chelsea because of Mourinho's sudden departure? We know how much of a father figure Mourinho was to his players. His passion for the game and the genuine chemistry he had with most of his team translated into getting the very best out of them even under insurmountable circumstances. That is what Chelsea will miss most and that will severely affect results on the pitch unless they get another uniter. Who fits this bill; I just don't know. Finally, do you want to change you're season's predictions? I think you had Chelsea finishing first. If players do leave in January, even a Champions League spot will be huge task to ask.

Bobby –1. There is nothing in Grant’s background to indicate that he is up to the job. 2. I don’t see many players leaving Chelsea just because Mourinho has left. That kind of talk is generally knee jerk reaction from the media and there are very few examples of top-class players leaving a club on mass because the boss has been fired. 3. A prediction has to stay at prediction and isn’t something to change just because something unexpected happens. I think the doom and gloom around Chelsea is being overdone and people are forgetting that Claudio Ranieri made it into the Champions League with a team that was not as good as this Chelsea squad. The difference between Chelsea and the five placed team in the Premiership is far more than Jose Mourinho.

SynCrew - 1. Did you watch Juve-Roma; if so what did you think of the match? And how well do you think this Juve team will do both short and long term?
2 I missed the Friday's FSR and was told you mentioned Jose coaching Man Utd. Can you elaborate for me please? 3 What's your favorite Mourinho quote?

Bobby – 1. I watched the game on Sunday and enjoyed it.  In the short term, Juventus can certainly finish in the top four particularly given they do not have to worry about Europe this season. Beyond this season, they will have to spend some money if they want to be a force in Italy and Europe. 2. I said on Friday that I could see Jose Mourinho, taking charge at Old Trafford, one-day. 3. “There is no pressure at the top. The pressure's being second or third.”

Gabemar - A couple of years ago there was a club owner in Spain a Mr. Piterman coincidentally of Russian descent who bought Alaves. And announced that he had big dreams for the small club. He hired a manager and bought some players. The manager managed to put together a decent team who were competitive enough to avoid relegation from La Liga. But obviously to do so they played a cautious and tactically organized type of football.

Unfortunately Mr. Mr. Piterman did not like this, he wanted his team to play attacking and exciting brand of football. A tug of war for the control of the team ensued and just like in Chelsea the owner won. The manager left and another manager was brought in who was more receptive to the owner ideas.

Obviously the team started to lose more games with this new approach. The owner blamed the new manager because in his mind the manager was not doing enough to win while playing attacking football.

So Mr. Mr. Piterman decided to hire himself to the staff of his club so he could sit on the bench and tell the manager what he wanted done during the game.

I still remember a game against Real when Alaves fielded an ultra attacking 4-3-3 formation. The Owner in one end of the bench and the manager at the other end. Obviously Real routed them. Alaves went down, the fans rebelled against the owner forcing him to disengage from the ownership of the club. I wonder if we'll see Mr. Abramovich on the Chelsea bench sometime before the end of the season.

Bobby – Piterman was involved with Racing Santander before Alaves. I remember writing a story about his involvement. The Spanish Football Association would not grant him a license to be on the bench so he self accredited himself as a photographer and positioned himself next to the dugout so he could shout instructions to the official coach. Unless Abramovich starts taking his coaching qualifications unbelievably quickly he will not get any place near the Chelsea bench. I wonder if he can handle a camera?

Henry14 - q1. Can people blame Benitez for not playing Torres, if they fail to beat Birmingham with Gerrard, Mascherano, Pennant and other quality players, do you think Benitez is to blame?
q2. What do you make of Roman, being a tactical guru?
q3. What did you make of Tevez and Rooney on their first outing together?

Bobby – 1. Fans find it difficult to understand how you can spend so much money on a player and then not start him two straight weeks against teams that Liverpool should be beating comfortably. Benitez didn’t help his case by claiming that Torres would not have helped the Liverpool cause. As for who is to blame – if it is not Benitez who is it? 2. About the same as me being a billionaire. 3. That’s like asking a couple if they are going to get married when they’ve just gone out for their first cup of coffee.

Ringo - You used to mention on the report which teams had the highest average attendances in Europe. Could you give us an update?

Bobby – Some of the websites I used to get the information from either have stopped quoting attendance or the information is a bit suspect. The best information I  could find was from wikipedia and it lists the average attendances from last season.

CIAO - 1. Regarding Arsenal's profits from each game... Are they selling out each game?
2. What do you think of Mourinho taking over at Inter considering the dive in performance in Milan? I think Moratti’s could jump the gun knowing Mourinho is available now. If not, do you think Mourinho might take the post at Spurs?
3. Knowing Arsenal have a large sum for transfers, and Wenger's tight purse, do you think he may consider splurging for a top or up and coming keeper [i.e. Marco Amelia (age 25, Livorno), Igor Akinfeev (age 21, CSKA Moscow) or Veniamin Madrykin (age 26, CSKA Moscow)]? Can you think of any other goalkeepers that might be interesting choices? I think the two keepers from CSKA should be considered by most every top side as they are doing very good in European competitions.
4. Who do you think should be the next manager at Chelsea? I think Hiddink would be able to make out the mess and put RA in his place.
5. There is a lot of talk regarding United bringing in another striker. I think this would be wrong without giving Tevez the opportunity to build on a partnership with Saha and Rooney. What do you think?
6. Today Hierro was made the Sporting Director for the RFEF. Essentially does he now oversee the direction that the national side is headed and if the current manager is fired would he be the interim caretaker?
7. I watched some highlights of Giuseppe Rossi. He seems to be very skilled and creative player. I have never watched one of his games. How do you rate him? Why didn't other big clubs didn't make a move for him?

Bobby – 1. Pretty much. 2. It is almost inconceivable that Chelsea would pay Mourinho off and then allow him to take over at Spurs. Inter Milan is a viable and very possible destination – particularly if results don’t go Inter’s way in the next few weeks. 3. Wenger will give all three keepers a chance before he dips into the transfer market. Don’t be surprised if Lehmann is back as #1 within a month. 4. Hiddink should be considered the favourite and the odds will shorten if Russia fails to make it to Euro 08. 5. I think you have been hearing talk that I haven’t been hearing. They can’t do anything until January anyway so it is a mute discussion. 6. From what I understand his position is a new one and he will take over from Aragones after Euro 08 as Spanish coach. 7. I was surprised that Fergie did not give him a look at Old Trafford this season. He is a bit on the small side but he looks to be a good player to me. 

Ummufan - SAF seems to have annointed Queiroz as his successor. Is this likely to happen? Why JM as a replacement?

Bobby – I think Fergie is saying what he has to say. I don’t think it would be wise to undermine your assistant if that is his goal. Personally, I don’t see Queiroz taking over from Fergie when the Scotsman retires. Mourinho and Old Trafford seems to be a fit to me.

Craigyf - I’ve looked at the FIFA rules and still can’t see why the ref gave Juve the throw in; that was originally a Roma throw in; if Cicinho was time wasting he should have got a yellow, but he got no card. I think the ref made a monumental blunder but I’m not sure can you clarify?

Bobby – Referee’s rarely give a foul throw for stealing yards and a yellow card. A yellow card might appear if the player maintains one position and delays but rarely for creeping.

RINGO - One question about the Gabriele Marcotti piece, who is Dave Worthington? Never heard of him.

Bobby – Former Bolton scout.

Danielgregg - Let's say no internal problems existed inside Chelsea, that Mourinho and Abramovich were the best of pals and Mourinho had the freedom and authority Wenger enjoys. How long do you think Mourinho would've stayed at Chelsea even under the best of circumstances? Certainly he would've stayed longer than he did, but how much longer? I ask this because everyone assumes he would've stayed on permanently for many years had it not been for Abramovich's and Kenyon's meddling. Mourinho has always struck me as a brilliant manager who burns brightly for a short while, gets bored and frustrated and leaves. It's interesting that in the tunnel of Porto's Dragao stadium--where there are photos and tributes all over the walls of the 2004 CL-winning team--there are no photos and tributes of Mourinho. Mourinho to me does not seem to be a builder of anything that lasts.

Bobby – It’s not something we are going to find out anytime soon but there is a definitely a view that Mourinho might be more effective in the short term rather than a decade plus manager like Ferguson or Wenger. There again when you look at the length of time that Prem managers have been in their jobs then it is clear that Ferguson and Wenger are exceptions. If I am not mistaken Steve Bruce is now the third longest serving Premiership manager with 5 years services.

RINGO - On last night’s report you mentioned all the intelligent discussion on the blog, I assume that was not including Verbal....or myself.

Bobby – It is all relative!

LosAngelesChelseaFan - I can see why seeding wouldn't work. For logistics reasons alone the draw has to be made before the replays are resolved. I can remember when second replays occurred just days before the next round.

Bobby – And as someone else pointed out there is a form of seeding that goes on given that the Championship and Premiership teams don’t enter the competition until the 3rd round. It should also be remembered that the Manchester United – Liverpool final of 1996 and the Arsenal – United final in 2005 were awful matches to watch. 

Bigdavedisaster - Do you think we will begin to see lower level teams like a Leeds being bought by foreign investors? It seems almost a better investment to buy a team for 25 mil as opposed to 100 mil and use the 75 you saved to bring the club up.

Bobby – I don’t think “foreign” investors are sophisticated enough to understand that the bargains may lie with teams like Leeds and Sunderland. When I say foreign I am referring to buyers who have not been involved in the game previously or don’t come from a football culture.

But you notice that with Mandaric’s move to Leicester (new stadium, decent base of support) and to an extent Bates’ purchase of Leeds that some people are searching for bargains. The problem with Leeds is that they have nearly really escaped the financial mess that Risdale and his living the dream era got them into to.

When you consider that the bottom club next season in the Premiership is going to pocket close to $60M there is a definite incentive to do what you are suggesting.

Henry14- Q1. l have had my reservation on Walcott, because l feel that for all his pace and glorified talent l feel that he is very poor technically. when l look at the type of player he will compete with next season like Carlos Vela and Bendtner who have decent pace but are right up there technically l do not see him making the grade. How do you rate him regarding that he is called the biggest thing since Wayne Rooney?

Q2 Do you think Bellamy and Pennant really have a future at Liverpool given that they have both been linked with booze this week?

Q3.What is your opinion on negative support for football in the UK like the glorification of having 10 men behind the ball. l have seen that a draw is glorified. l was just looking at how pundits glorify such performances do you feel it is these kinds of performances that cause the gulf between big and small clubs increase. Do you think negative tactics are good for the game?

Q4. How do you rate managers and what do you think are the components required to be the best coach in the world? Who do you rate as the best?

Bobby – A1 - Consider the following - Walcott is 17; Arsene Wenger thought highly enough of him to pay Southampton a lot of money; Wenger is giving him a decent amount of time; Wenger has a “fairly good” nose for talent. Based on that I don’t see how you could write him off. I have seen very little of Carlos Vela so I not sure I can comment intelligently except to point out that his playing in the Spanish Second Division not the Premiership.

Bendtner is two years older and also playing at a level below the Premiership. When Walcott played in the Championship he had a strike rate of something like 5 goals in 12 games and Harry Rednapp was playing him through the middle. So with all that said I think when you compare Walcott to Vela and Bendtner you are not comparing like to like so it is an unfair comparison.

I’m not sure who has said he is the next biggest thing to Wayne Rooney – labels like that are hung on lots of players – but I don’t see how that impacts how good Walcott is or will be. When you use that label you are pre-judging a player based on whether or not he is as good as Wayne Rooney as opposed posing the question to is he a good player which is different matter.

Walcott’s style reminds me of Marc Overmars so it will be interesting if Wenger continues to play him wide or moves him to a more central position.

A2 – If every player in England who was linked with booze and misbehavior was dumped there would be even fewer English players in the Premiership than there is now. At the end of the day players can get away with a significant level of repeated bad behavior as long as they are doing the job on the park.

Only occasionally do you see managers move players because of discipline problems – far more players are moved because of poor performances. People remember that Ferguson and Wenger moved McGrath and Merson but they sometimes forget that they held on to Robson and Adams.

A3 – I don’t think draws are glorified (in the UK) but when a team with less skill and talent finds a way to get a point or three of a better team I think they deserve credit for it – no matter how it achieved. The alternative is to go and attack with abandon and get stuffed – that is not going to keep the team’s fans very happy. The job of a coach is to provide his team with the best possible chance to win the game. You have a much better chance of winning the game if the game is scoreless or you are only down by a goal than if you 3-0 down after 20 minutes because you started four up front at Old Trafford. The manager’s obligation to his team and its fans – he is not obliged to send out a sacrificial lamb that provides highlight reel goals for the opposition.

A4 – Rating a manager – 1. Player development  2. Winning trophies  3. Success in the transfer market 4. The team being greater than the sum of the pieces 5. Tactically astute and flexible. 6. Lucky.

For the last few years I have considered Capello to be one of the best if not the best but Real Madrid looks to have proved to be too much for even him.

Luiz Felipe Scolari would certainly be close to the top. Lippi and Ferguson are there as well. 

Blueblades - Having witnessed Ronaldo score two goals and provide an assist for Milan in their thrilling 4-3 victory over Siena at the weekend I couldn’t help but wonder why Real Madrid were so eager to sell him, especially considering their lack o####oal threat in recent games.

Do you think that Ronaldo's sale could result in Real finishing 3rd or 4th rather than 1st or even 2nd since the rest of the challenging teams all seem to have consistent goal scorers?

Also which sale of a player in recent years do you think proved most detrimental to the success of the selling side's post sale success?

Bobby – I think it might be one of those situations that Ronaldo will make a big difference to Milan but if he had stayed at Real Madrid he wouldn’t have.

As for a player that moved on – good question. I might go for Fernando Hierro when he left Real Madrid. He may have been nearing the end of his career but he represented something that was very different than the Galacaticos syndrome that was fully embraced post-Fernando.