The "Sacked One"

You might have noticed that I tend not to discuss matters that are currently in the news, but I can't let today's news from Chelsea pass without saying "Ha ha ha, ner ner ner ner ner"

There's no doubt that Mourhino is an amazing manager (2 Portuguese league titles, 3 English league titles, 2 Serie A titles, 1 La Liga, 2 Champions League titles and a bagful of cups) and when he first arrived in this country was a lot of fun.

However, I can't be alone in becoming a little bored with his public persona - I'm sure he's a very pleasant man in private - and for me he finally lost it for me when he failed to apologise to his medical staff early in the season when they went on the pitch to attend to an injured player, having been invited on the pitch by the referee.

I can see why he might have been angry at being down to 8 outfield players, for a very short time, at the end of a game, but looking back he must have seen that it wasn't the fault of the medical staff. He should have fairly quickly discussed the situation with the press, explained why he was so vexed, and made it clear that he didn't think the medics were at fault (even if he thought they were). That would have drawn a line under the whole affair.

Picking on staff who are on daily, intimate, terms with the players, and who the players must come to trust and like, is a grave misjudgement. Things seem to have got significantly worse - they weren't great to start with - ever since this incident.

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This morning I went for one of my regular rides, and then went off for a coffee and a cake with a good buddy, D. We always seem to be able to pick and and chat where we left off last time. I won't tell you D's name, but I will embarrass him by putting his picture up.

D was very patient as I snapped him, even though he, like most of us, is uncomfortable having his picture taken.