Cronky

I know we only got half a season from him, but I voted for Diame. He's solved our long-standing DM position, and it's raised the team's effectiveness to a new level.

I gather that, on Rafa's recommendation, he started using a personal trainer to improve his fitness.

Great to finish on a high note, and nice to see the team playing with confidence. Hard to know what to make of it from the point of view of the development of the team, because that just had to be the worst Chelsea performance I've seen since the Abramovich era. They didn't press in midfield at all, and we were just able to look up and pick our passes. Conte seemed to lose interest in his Chelsea future half way through the season, and it really showed.

Correct. Yes, somehow that would be strange. He's a unique spirit, and I hope he has a complete recovery.

With the pressure off, it would be a good game to play Murphy. I'm disappointed not to have seen more of Merino. Whether he's still being troubled by his back injury, I don't know.

It all felt a bit sad. Arsenal looked tired and although they managed to put in a few crosses, they lack a striker with the physical presence to take advantage. Giroud would have been brought on had they kept him. Lacazette hasn't given them what they needed.

I think their problem is that they tend to play at maximum pace from the start - that seems to be the way of Klopp's sides. They're then prone to running out of steam in the last 15 minutes. That was very noticeable in both Roma games, and the league game against Man City. I suspect Real will be too canny to over-commit at the start and get hit on the break.

Ross Barkley doesn't seem to be getting anywhere at Chelsea. It felt like the wrong move for him at the time. A season-long loan move might be possible. He's a talent that's surely going to come good at some stage.

Run

He's made a slow but noticeable improvement. I don't think he's a major natural talent, but he looks determined and ambitious. He may yet nail down a place.

The consortium will have their eyes on the Premiership riches, and may consider that worth the investment over the next two or three seasons. But if they get there, then what. It'll still be a struggle to stay there. And if they get in trouble, a consortium is more likely to put them into administration than wipe out the debt.

I dare say he's fed up of that old game and just wants out. Incidentally, the money is coming from a 'group of international football investors'. It'll be interesting to see how that pans out.

Yeah, I'm hoping for Southampton to go. There's some decent players there, and we might have a chance of snapping up one or two.

I think some Americans have got involved, without digesting the implications of relegation. It's absent from their top leagues.

I think both Rafa and Ashley will stay. Despite all the money coming in, buying a Premiership club is still a risky investment. We've seen the way that salaries and transfer fees eat up so much of a club's income, because of the necessity of staying up, or reaching the Champions League. Unless there's a way of reducing the financial gap between Premiership and Championship, and Champions League and Premiership, clubs will still be under a lot of pressure to take risks. At one stage, Americans were keen to get involved, but they'll be looking at the likes of Lerner and Short, who poured millions into their clubs and ended up relegated and on the end of harsh criticism.

Looks like a very happy bunny. Like he knows something.

A lot of clubs seem to have tried their luck with Hernandez, and then moved him on. Decent finisher, but he doesn't offer much else. Let's stick with Gayle.

Losing in the way they did was Roy of the Rovers stuff in reverse. Amazing.

He might get into the squad if there are a few injuries, but otherwise I think there are better all-round candidates. He's very one paced, and at World Cup level you can't bank on unlocking a defence with one long pass.

Do you not think it's time for a refresh though? Well as I said, I think a situation had developed around the club that meant that it was best that he went. But as far as I can see, Wenger's appetite and passion for success was still very much intact. However, it can't be easy to motivate the players when the relentless message from the stands and the media is that the Manager has lost it. He's being measured against his early successes, but since then Man City and Chelsea have been able to outmuscle Arsenal financially, and only Man U (barely) have been able to keep pace. In the current climate, he wouldn't have been able to keep hold of the likes of Henry and Vieira. It's also been difficult for him to secure a really top class striker - an Aguero or a Suarez - and that separates Arsenal from the very best. Lacazette doesn't look like the solution. But what has always struck me with Wenger is the number of players who have their best days under him, and never hit the same standard after they leave eg Fabregas, Toure, Adebayor, Nasri. I think Arsenal fans are about to discover just how good / bad their squad is now.

I think a similar situation developed with us and Sir Bob. Despite his ability, the level of antagonism from supporters and media was beginning to affect the players and possibly the manager as well. Like us, they will regret it.

He does have a track record of being a bit of an expert in what other people should be doing, without applying the same standards to himself. Of necessity, he's had to try and re-invent himself, so I hope he succeeds. But he'll now be handling a position of authority and responsibility, and that's a different challenge from criticising from the sidelines.

Good managers have a range of people skills, and I'm not sure he's got that. In the past, his ego has got in the way so many times. I wouldn't take the risk myself.

I think Arsenal would be after an up and coming, younger manager. They'd be looking to the long-term. If he is offered the job, he'd probably take it. I can't see Ashley or any likely new owner being able to give him the kind of opportunities that Arsenal would present.

There are weaknesses all over the team, but the guy is able to get winning performances out of them. Give him some better players and maybe he can end our long wait for a trophy. I think that's what Rafa has bought into - the idea that he can the one who finally breaks the duck.