Posts Tagged ‘playmaker’

Scolari SACKED by Chelsea

CHELSEA have sensationally sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The Blues slipped to fourth in the Premier League on Saturday after a goalless home draw with Hull.

And the club have moved swiftly to stop the rot by axing the Brazilian and placing Ray Wilkins in temporary charge.

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Scolari’s highs and lows as Chelsea boss

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A statement on Chelsea’s official website said: “Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea with immediate effect.

“The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager.

“Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon.

“Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.

“In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now.

“The search for a new manager has already started and we hope to have someone in place as soon as possible.

“While that continues assistant coach Ray Wilkins will take charge of the team on a temporary basis.”

The timing of Scolari’s dismissal is likely to stun most Chelsea fans.

A minority had run out of patience with the World Cup-winning coach but a new manager will be unable to add to the current squad until the transfer window reopens in the summer.

His departure could also leave question marks over the future of midfielder Deco.

Chelsea signed the playmaker from Barcelona for £8million last June.

He was Scolari’s only major summer signing but has struggled to make any impact at Stamford Bridge.

Many Chelsea fans will be hoping past Hero’s  Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke will be next inline for the job at Stamford bridge, but Zola has made it very clear he intends to stay with the Hammers for the foreseeable future, Clarke assistant manager to Zola has yet to make such a statement. Should Hammers fans be worried?

Maybe West Ham should have sent this miserable little Argentinian back to Brazil 2 years ago when Pardew could not find a role for him in his top 11 players.

Javier Mascherano had an awful game on Wednesday against Marseille and now is eager for his team mates at Liverpool to Dazzle West Ham into losing, is this the Liverpool that drew with Fulham last week?

Mascherano said:

“I’m pleased that West Ham brought me to England and gave me the chance to play in this country — it helped me earn a move to Liverpool, but that’s all. All that matters to me now is Liverpool,”

the 24-year-old Mascherano said.

“I don’t feel anything for West Ham. It’s nothing in my life because I couldn’t play when I was there. They are just another team in the Premier League.

“The fans at Upton Park were very good for me when I was there but I couldn’t play. It’s not like River (Plate) or Corinthians where I played and won titles and I have an affection.”

“It was not the best performance but sometimes it’s important to win when not playing well,”

Mascherano said.

“It’s the way to win trophies. We did the job and now maybe we can focus on the Premier League because we know we are qualified.

“If we hadn’t won the confidence would be a little bit down, but we need to improve.”

I have to admit the Playmaker is right West Ham fans are good to players who perform 100% and thats why Tevez will always be close to our hearts, but as for Mascherano I seriously cannot think of anything good that he did for the Mighty Hammers.

West Ham still stock quite of few players that are due to be shown the back door, the likes of Danny Gabbidon, Anton Ferdinand, John Pantsil and Luis Boa Morte and now looks like Lucas Neill could be leaving the club giving Curbs around £12-15m to play with, Money that the Hammers boss would like to spend on Real Madrids Ruben de la Red after enquiring about his future.

Ruben was nurtured in the Santiago Bernabeu Academy from the age of 14 and went on to play Spains under 21′s and now the Spanish national team, he plays central midfield and is a perfect playmaker with the same qualities as Mascherano which is something West Ham need desperatley at the club.

Could West Ham go 1 better than their rival Spurs and sign Ruben de la Red? they will have to fight of the competition with the likes of Arsenal.

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