Here’s a piece of speculation for you: will January decide Carlo Ancelotti’s future at the Chelsea?

Oh sure, the thing could be decided for him if Chelsea continue to drop points. If the skid continues, Abramovich will boot him and the question will be moot.

But let’s say Carlo steadies the ship and Chelsea are in the thick of it when the January transfer window opens.

Could those 33 days determine who wins a power struggle behind the scenes at the Bridge?

We know that Ancelotti hasn’t been running things so far. He’s been dealt an unbalanced squad too reliant on unproven kids. He didn’t get to buy the players he wanted. He didn’t get to keep the players he wanted. He didn’t even get to keep the assistant manager he wanted.

We know that hewing to FIFA’s Fair Play regulations is forcing Chelsea to cut costs. Money is behind most of the recent personnel decisions. But the suspicion is that Frank Arnesen had a strong say in who stayed, who went and is at least somewhat responsible for a squad that depends upon “his” kids.

Well, it hasn’t worked. And in the midst of the failures, Arnesen conveniently “resigned.”

Has Arnesen’s resignation opened a door for Ancelotti to have more power? Ancelotti says Abramovich has been supportive… and has promised him funds for buying a player or players in January.

And as the Americans say, that’s where the rubber meets the road. Will Ancelotti be allowed to choose whom Chelsea buy in January? Or will the same mysterious back room boys do it for him again?

I wonder if this is the litmus test for Ancelotti? If he’s allowed control over the January purchase(s), maybe he’s won a power struggle and he stays. If he’s not allowed to choose the player(s) then, even though he’s a company man, perhaps he’ll leave.

So it’s not just the famously tough Christmas schedule that could determine Chelsea’s future. It might also be the quieter but equally intense New Year game played in the boardroom.