RIP Big Four (2004-2007)

I just had to get this in before the Saturday morning matches. I am pro…

Jose Mourinho. There’s really not much that can be said about Chelsea’s decision to let the second-best manager in the Premiership go other then that it’s shocking, it’s a poor decision, and Abramovich will rue the day his desire for more attractive football outweighed his desire to win. Though Jose’s strategies on the pitch lacked flair, they were certainly effective, and the “Special One” made up for the lack of pizzazz with a fiery personality. He injected life into a stale Premier League, and proved a worthy rival to the brilliant intellects of Wenger and Ferguson, who were clearly getting sick of playing mind games with just one another. Oh, and the ladies loved him.

While his departure is good for the soon to be restored "Big Three" of Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool, it’s terribly unfair to Chelsea supporters. It didn’t seem so bad to have their team suddenly become the plaything of a shady oil tycoon when it meant world class players and instant trophies. Now that Abramovich has decided that nobody but him should have the final say in any matter at the club, things aren’t looking so good. Basically firing the best manager the club has ever had after he failed to accommodate two (admittedly great) players in Shevchenko and Ballack that were foisted upon him against his will is pretty low. Despite the reputation Chelski quickly earned for hiring mercenaries, Mourinho was somewhat similar to Wenger in that he wasn’t all about buying established superstars. He turned talented players with good fundamental skills into excellent ones who exceeded most expectations. Selling Gallas and Robben and obtaining Sheva, Ballack, and Cashley Cole didn't fit with his plans and it showed.

My prediction: within two years, Chelsea will be a mid-table team. Terry, Drogba, Lampard, Carvalho, J. Cole, and Essien. Those aren’t just the names on the backs of some potential World XI jerseys; those are the current Chelsea players who absolutely LOVED playing for Mourinho. To them, he was more than a manager. He was a friend who helped them grow as players and win in the process. Two League titles, one FA Cup, and two Carling Cups, to be exact. That’s an absurd track record for a three year stint in the best football league in the world. Oh, and I forgot to mention that Chelsea NEVER LOST A LEAGUE MATCH AT HOME (66) during Mourinho’s tenure. Talk about a fortress. Now, there’s already talk about a club exodus to follow Mourinho or at least escape a team with an unpredictable owner and a tumultuous situation. I don’t think it will be that sudden, but there will certainly be a talent drain which will leave them struggling to keep pace with the heavyweights.

That being said, I still believe Chelsea will pull it together and put United to the sword tomorrow. There’s so much anger and bitterness in that clubhouse right now, I think that it’ll come out on the pitch. Two early goals, and one late consolation from Man U. They’ve been very sluggish this year, even at Old Trafford.

Another prediction: Martin Jol is the next manager out. But that’s too easy.

(PS: There’s a lot of speculation over where Mourinho will end up. Portugal’s National Team seems likely, but I can’t pretend to know where he’ll go. Personally, I’d like to see him at Tottenham in a couple years. God knows they need help. And I’d love to see Wenger exact some revenge for the 2004 League and the 2007 Carling Cup Final.)