In case you haven't heard, and have been absent from football media for the past 18 hours, then you'll be surprised that this edition of our Links post is entirely comprised of the media's reaction to Roman's latest wielding of the axe. There's a lot of words written about the sacking, and these are the better and more interesting pieces. Apologies for the length of this piece, but hopefully it's a useful tool for people to keep up to date on the fallout to everything.
It's the Mail, but still some interesting snippets from the AVB era
Andre Villas-Boas sacked... but Roman Abramovich blames the players | Mail Online
Some started a game among themselves, flying into the car park as the seconds counted down to the scheduled arrival time. They would jump out of their cars with moments to spare, winding up the manager by acknowledging him with a sarcastic wave as they headed in to change.
Where AVB went wrong...
André Villas-Boas's callowness was no match for Chelsea's veterans | Richard Williams | The Guardian
Richard Williams: André Villas-Boas never convinced at Chelsea but the bigger mistakes have been made by an owner who has made the next manager's job even harder
Abramovich had given Villas-Boas an almost impossible task but would not countenance any sense of a period of change and re-organisation even though every great club has to endure that at times.
In his eight-month reign, 'the Group One' had become very much alone, not so much the mini Mourinho as Chelsea's second Scolari.
Life after AVB after the jump...
Where there is a sacking, there is also an opportunity and the irony of West Bromwich Albion’s part in the demise of Andre Villas-Boas is unlikely to be lost on Roberto di Matteo, Chelsea’s new caretaker manager.
As it is, whoever the new man is will face the same problem that has dogged every manager since Mourinho left. And Roman wants his new empire built, if not in a day, then at least in a season.
No Chelsea manager will last under Roman Abramovich's risible ownership - Telegraph
For Abramovich to think the manager is always the problem, he would have to think it normal that the left-back shoots the intern with an air rifle, the captain is charged with racially abusing Anton Ferdinand (an allegation John Terry denies) and a smoke grenade is thrown inside the training ground (as it was on Friday).
Henry Winter: Jose Mourinho is the only man who can rescue Chelsea after sacking of manager Andre Villas-Boas - Telegraph
For those whose lives revolve around events on the Kings Road, all roads lead to the old king, to Mourinho, the Special One.
Reaction of managers...
Scolari reveals Chelsea 'hell' | Sky Sports
"Some things are known, like the relations with the chairman, who has the relationship with some players before the coach."
Fergie saddened by AVB sacking | Sky Sports
When you are young you need time and obviously in this industry you don't get a lot of time unfortunately, so it is sad in a way.
Grant - Results are everything | Sky Sports
"When you come to a club like Chelsea you need to deal not only with football but with other issues and you need to deal with problems in different ways."
'I am really disappointed for the lad, really disappointed. You don't get very much time these days and I genuinely couldn't be more disappointed. I feel for him.'
He (Villas-Boas) was very disappointed, frustrated, saddened, but his thoughts were for the club, the fans and indeed Roberto Di Matteo, wishing him well for the rest of the season.