The Round Ball Game

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

.... but it would be highly entertaining for the rest of us if he succeeded in dragging Man U down to where he has recently taken Chelsea.

Well let's look at his achievements in a new light:

Porto - 2 La Liga titles & Champions' League - a great achievement by any standard, but Porto were already a great team
Chelsea - Back to back Premier League Titles, but it could be argued that he had inherited a great team from Ranieri, and merely put the icing on the cake. After that Chelsea began to slip.
Internazionale - Very successful here, but again inherited a great team from Mancini
Real Madrid - Not particular "special" here, with one of the top world teams.
Chelsea - Rather mixed, despite the great list of players, and Abramovich's billions/

My point is that to be "special", you need to have success with a club that isn't great already, like Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in the 1980s.

[Beef Oven!]

Pep Gwerdihoopla is leaving Bayern. Shame, I wanted Jose at United and I suspect Pep will get the nod.

We are very lucky that there are two the amazing managers available at the moment that we are sacking our one.

[johncorrigan]

Two tricky looking games over Christmas,Liverpool and city.
I'll go for 5th.

I thought Watford were finishing 5th, Rob. I'll go 3rd for the Foxes.

[Alison]

I thought Watford were finishing 5th, Rob. I'll go 3rd for the Foxes.

Cheers John. I'm staying out of this one and happy 'to take each game as it comes'. It's the apparent fallibility of the other teams at the top that gives me grounds for optimism.

[EdgeleyRob]

I thought Watford were finishing 5th, Rob. I'll go 3rd for the Foxes.

Hmmm what a crazy season,Watford and Palace now doing a Leicester

[EdgeleyRob]

Pep Gwerdihoopla is leaving Bayern. Shame, I wanted Jose at United and I suspect Pep will get the nod.

We are very lucky that there are two the amazing managers available at the moment that we are sacking our one.

Would Man United be prepared to wait until the summer if Van Gaal were to leave?
If they brought a new man in (Mourinho ?) before the transfer window maybe they could still have a tilt at this season's title.
Guardiola may have already been tapped up by the other Manchester team too.
Thinking about the exciting sides that Ryan Giggs played in,I do wonder what goes through his mind as he sits in the dugout watching the uninspiring football currently on offer at Old Trafford

[EdgeleyRob]

And finally

Watford 3 Liverpool 0 Never recovered form a calamitous opening 15 mins despite more possession and chances
Sheffield Wednesday 4 Wolves 1 Came from behind to lead 2-1 at the break,just 1 point away from the play off places

[Demetrius]

Would Man United be prepared to wait until the summer if Van Gaal were to leave?
If they brought a new man in (Mourinho ?) before the transfer window maybe they could still have a tilt at this season's title.
Guardiola may have already been tapped up by the other Manchester team too.
Thinking about the exciting sides that Ryan Giggs played in,I do wonder what goes through his mind as he sits in the dugout watching the uninspiring football currently on offer at Old Trafford

Guardiola might also take another one year vacation and would then be ready for Chelsea and both Manchesters after they fired their incoming new managers ...

[EdgeleyRob]

Guardiola might also take another one year vacation and would then be ready for Chelsea and both Manchesters after they fired their incoming new managers ...

All 3,he's not that good is he ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

All 3,he's not that good is he ?

He doesn't remain at any one club for very long, so he should have plenty of time to manage all three in turn.

[cloughie]

And finally
Sheffield Wednesday 4 Wolves 1 Came from behind to lead 2-1 at the break,just 1 point away from the play off places

Good to see a Portuguese manager whose team turn up!

[BBMmk2]

Hi folks, my break from the footie is now over, due to me being angry at the England's team's disastrous performance at the last World Cup. Even that looks rather Seppid(!:) ) The Seagull's run, unfortunately is over but at least it was against a good team! Newcastle has a lot of woes in their camp at the moment, ffrom the chairman downwards, imo.

[EdgeleyRob]

I know Alison would have preferred the draw but I can't wait to see all the glum faces at work tomorrow,tee hee

With apologies to BeefO,great quote on TalkSport today

If there's any Man Utd fans out there who fancy a winter break, I've heard you cant beat the Canaries this time of year

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If there's any Man Utd fans out there who fancy a winter break, I've heard you can't beat the Canaries this time of year

[Alison]

True enough Edge about the draw.

Will be interesting to see if we can beat Man C next Monday. Strange that they don't pose much of a goal scoring threat away from home with all that supposed talent on offer.

Fascinating match v Liverpool on Boxing Day.