₦airaland Forum

Nihilist:
I particularly love them for their mobility. They are smallish and tenacious, and can quickly recover to their starting position following a turnover upfield...on like Matic.

That stretcher yarns is just the goddam truth. I mean just look at this Kante's yams
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjtiP2OWUAAG5rw.jpg

WTF!


I think he has the Ability to be the best DM in the world...He is a rubbish CM. he is too slow and too ponderous, and his ball control and passing is naff.

I remember almost crying myself to sleep almost every matchday after Matic believed his own hype and started to think that Nemanja was Serbian for Andrea Pirlo. When the boy sits and breaks up the play, he is world class. It's when he tries to do anything else that he ends up looking like an atilogwu dancer trying to moonwalk.

Win the ball back, pass it to Hazard or Fab, take the odd long shot, and just keep it moving for me.


He can lead from the backroom in some sort of coaching or advisory role. The man's legs are gone. He's almost 40 years old and the natural ageing process has taken it's toll, even before you consider how Terry would brutalise his body for the cause. Let him go jare. Your proposed Bonnuci has leadership qualities in buckets. I mean this guy beat up a dude armed with a gun who tried to rob him. That's gangster.

Bran should take his big nyash out of the club jare...unless he stays as a Centreback. Anytime I remember this thing, I feel like crying.
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/EasygoingSlimFrilledlizard-size_restricted.gif

It's one thing to get beaten at pace by the Monteros of this world...but when they can drimble you like this from a standing position, you might as well just put on an Andrea Bocelli CD, cos it's time to say goodbye.

I can't even reply these, I'm just LMAO over here

Pataki:
From Chambers to Coquelin to Kante? For a club that that will not even feature in CL, heck! Even EUROPA league, no show.

How wonderful it must be, to be a fantastic dreamer.

You're the one dreaming 'cos you're yet to wake up to the fact that money answereth all things.

Coquelin and Kante aren't pocketing up to 100k weekly at their respective clubs. Pataki you should know what a dying Chelsea is capable of achieving.

Nihilist:
That's a tasty looking squad right there.

IMO Ivanovic has to go, as well as JT. I'm not feeling Matic either sef. I would love a Kante- Coquelin Pivot though. Absolutely Looove it.

Roman please make it happen!

Kante - Coquelin or Naingollan - Coquelin. Nihilist you're in my head right now. This is more than steel mehn, an opposition player would definitely get stretched off every game day, that's a phucking guarantee.

Provided with the right motivation and proper tactical instruction, I believe Matic would bounce back. You can see the ability right there, he has what it takes to become the best CM in the world, he just needs a manager.

JT extended his stay with us one more year and equally took a pay cut. Let's just have our leader around. Such figure have a way of motivating the young guns.

Ivanovic? I'm quite undecided on this one hence I dropped him into the second eleven.

According to our chief scout, Roman will be backing Conte with unlimited transfer funds. That's in other words, an open cheque.

If that inference is anything to go by, then I say go re-sign Rudiger from Roma. If it would be difficult to actualize, then I say bring on Bonucci. Make the acquisition of two CMs a priority - a promising one that would serve a need in the future - Ajax's Bazoer or Anderlecht's Tielemann, then an established one that would help save us now - Roma's Naingollan or Leicester's N'kante. Then we'd also need a forward who knows where the goals are - Griezmann or Lukaku. Gentlemen can we swap Rahman for home-grown Cresswell? I wouldn't mind having that transfer.

Transfer In: Rudiger/Bonucci, Naingollan/Kante, Bazoer/Tielemann, Griezmann/Lukaku, Cresswell.

Transfer Out: Cahill, Rahman, Mikel, Oscar, Remy, Pato.

First XI:

Courtois

Azpilicueta Zouma Rudiger/Bonucci Cresswell

Fabregas(c) Naingollan/Kante Matic

Willian Costa/Griezmann/Lukaku Hazard

Second XI:

Begovic

Ivanovic Cristensen JT(c) Ake

Loftus-Cheek Bazoer/Tielemann Baker

Pedro Traore Kennedy

Alternate Formation: 4-2-2-2

Courtois

Ivanovic Zouma Rudiger/Bonucci Azpilicueta

Naingollan/Kante Matic

Willian Hazard

Griezmann/Lukaku Costa

The mentality of our current squad is weak, and can't stay mentally alert for a consistent level. Competition is needed to bring out that drive n' keep them fighting to prove a point every game. That's the only way we can challenge next term.

We wouldn't have any European game to honor, so fixture congestion isn't going to be a worry. A 25-man squad that's well managed can win us the league and the FA Cup.

I'd love to read your views too.

Nihilist:
I can't think of up to 5 world class centre backs in the game today. P.S dont forget that Chambers is a RB that can play at CB and DM. His main competition is really Bellerin at Arsenal. But if he's on the bench for the 2 of the most consistent defenders in the league over the last few years , is that really a bad thing?

That being said, I still think that Chambers can do a job for us. A very good job in fact.

I also think we should sign that Coquelin. With Wheelchair back, Ramsey, Cazorla, and the 2 new swiss imports, I think that we might be able to tempt him to west london....Wenger should better comply too. Shebi we gave them Cech?

Stats certainly lie. Same Arsenal's defence you've been hailing as one of the best in the country is the same backline that would concede bucketload of goals in a single game. Shey no be just last two years we forward six past those ninnies. Mediocrity is intrinsic to that backline's character.

Speaking of world class CBs, ATM's Jose Gimenez can cut it in this league. I've been scouting this ninja for seasons and I tell you, he's one of the best. I heard Zidane is weighing up a bid for him already.

Rudiger is another fella wey sabi but I doubt we can have him now that Roma just made his transfer a permanent deal.

We fit manage Benatia? The nigga needs a home

Nihilist:
I dont understand how you people underate some players sometimes.

Arsenal had the joint second best defence in the league this season. So clearly their back four was faaaar better than ours.
Last year they had the 3rd best defence in the league and Chambers was a major part of that.

Koscielny is in my opinion one of the best defenders in the league. Chambers was actually first choice RB for Arsenal last season. And like I said, it's not a disgrace to be benched by the best right back currently in the league.

This same guy was actually ahead of John stones in England pecking order too. Bellerin just stalled his development. With both Per and Koscielny above 30 now...it's clear that this guy is potentially not far from replacing them.

You need to start seeing the big picture. Robert Huth is an example of a player that was sold in summer 2015 by Stoke because he wasnt being benched by freaking Shawcross and Geoff Cameron.

See the big picture Sam!

No one is under-rating anyone here, this is fact staring at you brah.

Arsenal's backline has Coquelin to thank for the accolades that keep coming their way. Take the ninja away and you get to see the weak tired side of that goddamned defence.

I wonder why mates don't get to give this ninja the credits he deserve. This guy was the best DM in the league last two seasons followed closely by Matic, raking in the highest number of tackles and interceptions. He's the engine room that covers the arse of Arsenal's backine, dealing with the most difficult jobs whilst leaving his backline with little or no worry at all. Take him away from that team and Mertesacker would remind you how much he lacks pace and athleticism, Koscielny would show you clearly the sorta erratic defender he is and Gabriel, need I say anything about this inexperienced fella?

This niggas ain't world class and anyone who's riding the bench for 'em must be uber-crap.

Chambers ahead of Stones? That's akin to celebrating Nigeria being ahead of Afghanistan in FIFA ranking.

Ibime:
Please why are we hearing megamillions being quoted for Alvaro Morata?

That dude is somewhat of a Giroud in his style of play - slow and one-dimensional.

He's yet to hit 10 league goals in any season of his career so I don't understand the numbers being bandied about.

Hype hype hype.

The ninja is yet to prove himself in one full season in a poor league as the Serie A.

Nihilist:
My list was actually quite logical.

Chambers is young and English...and can play across multiple positions. He has too much competition at Arsenal. Thats the reason hes not seein shirt. Per/Kolscieny/Gabriel at CB. Bellerin/Debuchy/Jenkinson at Right Back, and no space at all in midfield. That boy is good enough for a squad place at least in a team like ours where he have only one natural rightback and a plethora of CBs that are in the struggle.

This guy was a starter for Arsenal until Bellerin came along, and I don't think getting displaced by the best Right Back currently in the league is anything to be ashamed about.

I personally like the idea of a Chambers-Zouma pairing very much. That's a good mix of youth, strength, mobility, technical ability and athleticism right there. I also wouldn't mind Jenkinson at all sef come to think about it.

Jesus phucking Christ!

When your competition are Per Mertesacker, Koscielny, Debuchy, Gabriel and Bellerin, yet somehow you're riding the bench, then you're phucking no good. Bar Bellerin, none of these fellas deserve a first team shirt at Chelsea, not to speak of a ninja who rides the bench for them.

Jeez! How can you even consider such figure for Chelsea? When did we become a ground for local rejects? Do you actually have plans for us to relegate next term?

We need leadership in this team and like someone rightly said, this ain't the time to be talking about Reece, Oxford, Calum or some unproven ninja.

Nihilist take time oo.

According to the FA, there'll be no more FA Cup Quarter-final replays. Na straight to extra-time then Pk.

This move is to address the issue of fixture congestion and to add a bit of drama to the competition.

What happened to caring for the civilians?

Nihilist:
The first part of your post is a crude and uninformed representation of how a transfer works

The bit about the forwards being premium and defenders coming it decent prices in contrived BS especially in an era where Mangala reportedly costs the same as Ozil, Luke Shaw reportedly costs around the same as Alexis Sanchez, Hummels reportedly costs more than Fabregas, and Otamendi reportedly costs as much as Lukaku

That alone suggests that you're not entirely sure what you're on about..

In any case that bit is irrelevant, as whatever transfer process is involved in signing a centre-back is the same in signing a striker.

Instead, I will focus on the most important part of your post.

"
If at the end of the day Emenalo ends up recommending twenty Iscos and Marina ends up sealing twenty Iscos deals, would you now blame Marina for Chelsea not having Modric and Kroos?"

Can you prove that Emenalo only recommended twenty Iscos to Marina?

Have YOU seen the shortlist?

Is a copy of the actual shortlist published anywhere?

If yes, then share the contents of said shortlist.

If no, then this is the time to admit that you don't really know what Emenalo gives to Marina to ratify.

Do you enjoy digressing? All things being equal there's no effing way a defender or goalie can be valued higher than a forward or even an attacking midfielder. A footie neophyte knows this. The David Luiz, Mangala, Hummels, Otamendi etc sort of deals are once in a while sort of deals, they don't happen everyday. Nigga please.

Back to topic.

Emenalo gives Marina what he 'thinks' suits the philosophy he's pursuing - the tiki-taka model. I'm convinced of this fact b'cos in the last 5 years we've been able to ship in a titanic load of attacking midfielders whilst ignoring the need to restore steel in the middle of the park.

I'm convinced of this fact b'cos Marina has shown over the years that she is capable of sealing deals, so negotiating a deal for a CM wouldn't be a problem given Emenalo recommends them.

If you think Emenalo has been recommending CMs and Marina has been faltering with sealing the deals, don't you think Emenalo being the TD would raise alarm over a possible imbalance that is being created by Marina?

TBH It would be quite silly to think that Marina gets to seal the deals of the attacking midfielders that are recommended then falters each time a central midfielder is recommended.

Nihilist:
Wait

Who said Marina evaluates players to sign based on their ability, importance and position?

Was that me?

Or is it backtrack time?

These evaluations are geared towards reaching a figure finito.

Due to the current transfer trend in footie and fees continuing to spiral out of control, Chelsea saw the need to have Marina around, not to decide who is good to play for Chelsea but who is good for a particular figure.

Let us assume all Chelsea wanted was a CM. Emenalo ignores that need and moves to recommend Isco an AM for Chelsea. Marina would get a call to come and negotiate.

Amid the negotiation, she'll consider how important Isco is to Madrid i.e squad status. If he's indispensable or not. This determines how much she quotes for the player. She'll consider how old Isco is as this would determine his resell value. She'll consider Isco's position. Attacking midfielders, central and wide areas in the final third of the pitch and forwards are considered premium. Defenders and goalies on the other hand come at decent prices.

She'll consider all these before making an offer or counter-offer to Real Madrid.

She's concerned about the price because she is working with a budget. She doesn't care if Isco is what Chelsea needs on the field of play, she believes Emenalo the technical director knows better. She only cares about the budget.

If at the end of the day Emenalo ends up recommending twenty Iscos and Marina ends up sealing twenty Iscos deals, would you now blame Marina for Chelsea not having Modric and Kroos?

Nihilist:
Good question, but if you said that Marina evaluates players using these criteria:

Why is Emenalo solely to blame for an imbalanced squad?

Remember your words not mine.

The sort of players she evaluates their valuation is the question.

How many CMs have she evaluated for Chelsea in the past 5 years?

How can you be blaming Marina for Emenalo's incompetence.

This is astonishingly absurd!

Nihilist:
Don't contradict yourself.

You have already said that she can choose NOT to sign a player that Emenalo recommends, based on her own evaluation of the player's ability, importance to the team, age etc.

Or have you forgotten?

So how can you now say she has no Veto powers?

Or do you not know what Veto means?

You're dancing around the truth.

Marina is concerned about balancing the books whilst Emenalo is concerned about balancing the squad.

What's difficult to comprehend here?

Nihilist:
At this point Griffon, your only argument left is that the quality of Emenalo's presented shortlist must be poor.

But without knowing the contents of thr shortlist, and with both of us now agreeing that Marina has veto powers over each recommendation, how can we logically blame Emenalo for the decline of the club?

This is the argument I raised several pages ago.

Do I have to keep regurgitating every of my claim?

Marina doesn't give a hoot about what Emenalo recommends, all she has to do is make the deal happen. In events the deal stalls she reports back to the technical director who now profers a viable alternative. She doesn't enjoy any veto power. On the other hand, these alternatives could be anything; splash the cash Marina or let's just look for another talent, just anything.

At the end of the day, the final decision still lies with Emenalo.

But then, don't you think you're digressing with this thinking?

The real questions you have to answer are; why haven't the technical director seen the need to recommend good central midfielders to Marina over the years? Why has he chosen to recommend just attackers? Why has he chosen to create an unbalanced squad?

Nihilist:
You understand that you've just admitted that Marina's has to independently analyse the suggested players before deciding to sign them?

Where are you traveling with this?

Nihilist:
Very good.

So is it safe to assume that Marina has to evaluate all these criteria you mentioned before deciding to pay for a player?

Yes it is safe to assume so. Meanwhile, if you must know, the technical director isn't blind to these evaluations.

He knows what the team needs remember and his views could still influence Marina's.

Nihilist:
LVG did not sue. But the papers were wrong.

Now lets proceed to Marina

LVG didn't sue b'cos those reports were just a hoax and are pardonable in the court of law. Gaffe and defamation are two different 'crimes'.

Nihilist:
Very good.

At least you have the balls to put your neck on the line for this.

Now how does Marina decide what the right price for a player is? What Criteria does she use in evaluating a players financial value?

There are many determinants. Form, importance to team, ability, position, age, contract etc

Nihilist:
Each of those papers has been sued for false reporting.

Afterall, Many papers falsely reported that LVG had been sacked at christmas, leading to the "Enjoy the wine and mince pie rant"

How do you know this is not the case here?

I'm not asking why you chose to believe. I'm asking how you know.

BTW I would love to hear your opinion on the second question I asked you sir.

I know those reports are true b'cos Emenalo hasn't sued any of those organisations for defamation.

It's a report that has been dragging on for years, which lowers Emenalo in the estimate of the right thinking members of the society and which also discredits him in his office. It's an injury to his reputation.

For the fact that he hasn't sued makes it a fact.

I believe i've treated this, shall we now focus on Marina?

Nihilist:
I posed this question to Ibime. I will pose it to you.

Are you suggesting that Marina can decide that a suggested player is too expensive and decide NOT to sign him?

Sure she can. Just like in every other business, if the price isn't right, the talk goes cold.

But then, that doesn't in anyway put Marina in the position to decide whom we sign, it remains the TD. Marina doesn't know who we need, it is the TD.

You cant tell me that Marina's negotiations goes successful each time Emenalo recommends an attacking midfielder but gets to stall each time a CM is recommended, is it?

Nihilist:
The question was "how do you know they are telling the truth?"

Afterall, we've seen that these same papers have been guilty of false reporting in the past.

When you have virtually the whole news organisations across the globe writing on a particular subject at the same time, then such report is sure to be factual.

The consistency in the report is all you need. Independent, Guardian. Telegraph, Dailymail etc can't be drunk at same time. Most organisations are guided by certain rules, believe me their reporters wouldn't want to cross certain lines hence they choose what to report.

timbros:
Ibime I think the reason why you see Nihilist mentioning Forde, Marina etc and even Roman in his debates is because he wants to prove that Emenalo doesn't have the absolute decision making in all those flop signings.

Remember the original debate started with almost everyone blaming Emenalo for everything happening in Chelsea now, starting from 2012 abi '11. Nihilist is trying to prove that there are names higher than Emenalo at some point in decision making during this period hence the names.

@Griffon what do you think, who has more power in decision making as per player signing, Emenalo or Marina? Who of the two has more power to accept or reject a player to be signed?

The technical director of course. He recommends the player that must be signed. Marina is just there to negotiate the deal.

Wheather we're transferring in or out, Marina is the one vested with the power of financial negotiations. How she goes about negotiating the deals is what I don't know, she is a woman and could use that which lies between her legs to our advantage. The mega bucks we recieved for Luiz, Lukaku, KDB et al are her works

Nihilist:
Griffon, you're not based in the UK so you probably don't understand how media operates here.

Where do you think transfer rumours come from?

One of the articles Ibime posted here was from a journalist that has been sued multiple times, most recently by Rafa Benitez, and his paper had to publish an apology.

And that paper is one of the biggest in the UK.

News of the World was one of the biggest in the UK that was forced to close down due to phone hacking. They were sued by many for false reporting including Wayne Rooney.

Even the Daily mail you quoted as a credible site is currently in court getting sued by Drogba for false reporting. Google Daily Mail lawsuits and see how many are pending or have been successful.

Until the court decided otherwise, the articles prompting the lawsuits would have been treated as 'credible' by yourself.

You made an interesting point about how most fans don't know about the internal politicking at Chelsea.

So how does the journalist reporting all this politicking know? Is he invited to the board room? Is he a fly on the wall in the dressing room? Without any direct quotes from the people they are reporting about, how can you be sure that what you read was fact and not fiction?

I would really like you to tackle this question.

News beat is a special interest area or place where reporters are assigned for the purpose of continuous coverage. If Dailymail decides to assign me to cover every development at Chelsea, I'll get my arse there and dig and dig removing the top soil to reach the one beneath.

While at my beat in this case Chelsea, I'll know the right person or group of persons to meet in order to obtain authentic information. Most times, these persons i.e my sources would prefer not to have their names on my report, so I'll simply leave them out of it but still get to report my findings.

So a journalist must not necessarily quote people before his report passes as authentic. I know this 'cos i'm a budding journalist.

Conte is reportedly keen to offload Oscar and damn determined to keep Willian.

Eledumare go bless this man. Na the man wey sabi.

Nihilist:
Myth Number 3....slightly related to number, but suitably different to be it's own thing.

Emenalo's refusal to buy players is what led to our downfall last season.

Let's here Jose on this:


https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/20/jose-mourinho-chelsea-board-new-players-transfer-window

If I remember correctly, this was the statement that pissed airmark off greatly.

This particular statement is very instructive.

At this point, Jose is fairly certain that with the players he has, he should be able to do better than 16th place which was where we were, alliteratively speaking

Here you have a manager that didnt believe that the solution was to buy his way out of trouble. Matic was one of the worst offenders at the time....is it coincindental that Jose is reportedly coming back for him anyway?

Earlier today I informed you that this wasn't Mourinho talking but certainly Emenalo. I also informed you that this isn't the first time our incompetent technical director would be putting a manager in the picture, I supported my claim with Rafa's comments on Lampard and Cole's departure.

Now I'll go further to provide you with Jose's comments after our title winning season:

At the launch of BT Sport’s Champions League coverage in early June Jose Mourinho revealed what he wanted to add to his title-winning Chelsea squad.

“I want a striker, because we lost our legend (Didier Drogba),” he stated. “Also a defender and a midfield player to give a little bit more competitiveness to the squad, bring some new blood in, put some players a little bit under pressure.

“They know they have someone waiting, I need that to support my way of working. Now they’re the champions I need that. But basically the same squad, the same team, the same manager, stability in the club.”

Six weeks later and Chelsea have signed Radamel Falcao – a striker – on loan to replace Drogba and Asmir Begovic – a goalkeeper – as back-up, with Petr Cech having left for Arsenal.

And that has been it.

There have been deals for young players such as the exciting Brazilian teenagers Nathan and Kenedy but they are not expected to go straight into the first team squad.

There is plenty of time left in the window for Chelsea to remedy that even if, traditionally, Mourinho has always wanted his main transfer business done by the time his squad touches down for pre-season training. Indeed, he has insisted upon it.

Given the speed and efficiency Chelsea have shown in the transfer market in the last couple of years – with Mourinho’s key ally, the club director Marina Granovskaia, in charge of deals – it is surprising they have not been more decisive this summer.

Mourinho is not a manager renowned for patience. This time last year Chelsea had signed Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis – a striker, midfielder and defender – at a combined cost of around £80million, had sold David Luiz for £50million and were still to bring in Loic Remy.

The surgery this summer does not need to be so drastic. But some is needed.

• How could Chelsea line up next season?

Chelsea have a far better squad than the one Mourinho inherited and have built it while balancing the books - quite brilliantly, in fact.

But is it enough? Mourinho demands continued improvement and Chelsea have not strengthened this summer. They have not improved. He will be acutely aware of the spending by the Manchester clubs and will be weighing up whether Chelsea are doing enough.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11743279/Chelsea-lack-of-signings-will-worry-Jose-Mourinho.html

The words in red are Jose's comments, how he went from that to we don't have to sign should have you thinking. Emenalo's effect!

pamcode:
Looks like a tug of war to me. First party says Emenalo is to take the lion share of the blame for how we found ourselves with such a weak, thin and spineless squad. The other party says Emenalo isnt to be blamed because he isn't the one that that recruits play or doesn't have a final say in recruiting players.

timbros:
After carefully going through this debate, I humbly submit that Nihilist is on point.

Maybe we have been giving Emenalo way too much blame in this thread.

Roman should take the largest chunk of blame here.

Nihilist:
Forget what Chelsea says on it's own website.

Keep Calm and blame Emenalo

There's no smoke without a fire. Ibime, myself and the gazillion of writers out there can't just be traveling on the same wavelength and you get to dismiss it as coincidence. There are ugly politicking going down at the bridge which the fans aren't aware of. You only swallow the stuffs the chief media puts up on the official site of the club.

Articles upon articles are there to support this claim:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3366251/Michael-Emenalo-Roman-Abramovich-s-guy-Chelsea-technical-director-one-Russian-owner-s-closest-allies-appeared-seal-Jose-Mourinho-s-fate.html

[b]Having been promoted in 2011 by Avram Grant, another Abramovich aide, the 50-year-old has seen his role grow, including offering his opinion on the next manager and potential signings.

For example, during the previous summer transfer window a £21.7million deal for Augsburg left back Baba Rahman was dragging its heels. One of the reasons was a growing belief that Tottenham's Danny Rose was a better option. Emenalo played a key role in ensuring the Rahman deal made it over the line. Rahman got three Premier League starts under Mourinho.

Emenalo also played a key role in the unexpected move for relatively unknown Senegal international Papy Djilobodji from Nantes for £2.7m. The 27-year-old defender played one minute of football under Mourinho.

You don't have to be a detective to work out Rahman and Djilobodji were Emenalo productions.

Likewise, it was Emenalo, in 2013, who decided a move for Edinson Cavani, then at Napoli, didn't meet Chelsea's financial parameters.

Those who know Emenalo describe him as cool and distant.

Dealing with the representatives of current and prospective Chelsea players features prominently on his job specification.

Unless you've got a direct line to Abramovich's influential boardroom confidant Marina Granovskaia or the first-team manager, then Emenalo is the point of contact.

He's guarded, almost poker-faced in his discussions - giving little away in search of the best possible deal for Chelsea - and more pertinently Abramovich.[/b]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mourinho-sacked-how-chelsea-s-technical-director-michael-emenalo-s-power-grew-at-stamford-bridge-a6779371.html

Grant always remembered Emenalo. When, in September 2007, he replaced Mourinho as Chelsea manager the team were preparing to face Valencia in the Champions League and Grant flew Emenalo to Spain to scout them.

Emenalo’s plan helped Chelsea to a 2-1 win at the Mestalla on 3 October. Grant introduced Emenalo to Abramovich afterwards and the deal was done to bring the Nigerian to Stamford Bridge as chief scout. “I am going to a club that has a manager that I have the utmost respect for, and I can learn from,” Emenalo said of Grant. “It is a wonderful soccer education for me, like studying for your PhD at Harvard.”

Had Emenalo not joined Chelsea he would still have ended up in England. Juande Ramos, his coach at Lleida in the Spanish Segunda Division in the late 1990s, had lined him up for a role at Tottenham Hotspur.

Emenalo quickly impressed Abramovich too, with his loyalty, thoughtfulness and football experience, and started his rise through the club. When Ray Wilkins was removed as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant in November 2010, it was Emenalo who officially replaced him, even if Ancelotti made clear that he would not be taking training, and would be doing largely the same job he had done before.

The following year, when Andre Villas-Boas replaced Ancelotti, Emenalo moved into the technical director role he has held ever since. In that job he has overseen transfers and largely built the current Chelsea squad.
[b]
Of course, his record is mixed. Mourinho was less than impressed with this summer’s activity, leading him to feel that it was difficult for him to succeed in the current structure of the club. Chelsea signed Baba Rahman and Papy Djilobodji, but failed to do a deal for John Stones.

This Chelsea squad is largely of Emenalo’s construction, which is why it should be no surprise that he unequivocally sided with the players over Mourinho on Thursday night. He is the only former player in a senior position at the club and that instinctive link with the squad is important.

His main loyalty, though, is to Abramovich. He told The Telegraph last month that he was confident Chelsea have “an owner who has a very good track record when it comes to making decisions”, and that “we have never put ourselves in a position where we second-guess him”. Abramovich and Emenalo – along with the rest of the board – have just made one of the biggest decisions of their Chelsea careers. Emenalo was the man trusted to defend it.[/b]

I can go on and on to provide you all with articles written by reputable news sites on this issue. Then again, there's no smoke without a fire.

Ibime:
Haba bros. Emenalo can't be responsible for such decisions. It must have been Mike Forde. Can't you see his job description on Chelsea website? Those decisions can only be made by board members such as Mike Forde, not Emenalo.

Never mind what Benitez, RDM and Mourinho tell you. They are all liars. Mike Forde is the decision maker. Can't you see on Chelsea website?

Lol. Stop this fight and say something nice about Nihilist