Look, I like Andre Villas Boas. I thought and still think that he can do a long term job for us. In Chelsea FC though, there’s something called a minimum requirement. No manager has continued after not winning the league title. Jose Mourinho lost the league title in 06-07 and he was sacked as soon as 07-08 started. Avram Grant didn’t win the league and was a whisker away from winning the champions league and still lost his job. Scolari barely lasted half a season and he had to go. Ancelotti won the league and held his job. The next season he lost the league title and got dismissed.
AVB’s season started and progressed like Ancelotti’s second season with us and is now going worse than Scolari’s half season stint. In other words, in true Chelsea FC standards, he’s in ripe sackable form. We are struggling for the champions league spot, leave alone winning the title. Champions league will continue to be a dream this season too. I don’t think we can beat Napoli at home. And even if we do, I’m sure we’ll get knocked out next round.
Calling for the manager’s head is not unheard of in the Chelsea circles. That too when AVB’s season going this bad, you should only be suprised if we’re are not talking about it. There’s this familiar pattern – the media starts talking about it, the manager gets asked and he ignores it and talks about stability and consistency, the manager gets asked and he says it’s the owner’s decision and finally the manager gets asked and he says he doesn’t care and that he can get a job next day. AVB is now at the stage where he says that it’s the decision of the owner and that everyone agreed on the strategy, vision and plan for the club.
What they may not have agreed is that while we are trying to achieve the strategy we might not be playing in the champions league. For
a club of Chelsea’s current stature, champions league spot is a must and a minimum. With van Persie not getting injured and our team morale going from bad to worse, the chances of our champions league spot are going thin.
Historically, we have shown a lot of energy and enthusiasm and have picked up form in March and April. We can still do that. But when that used to happen, the senior players were the ones who took the bull by its horns and turned things around. This time though, it’s the senior players that seem to have a problem. AVB and Lampard have gone to the media on each other. Though they were gracious in how they dealt with the media, the fact that this issue had to come to the media says that there’s certainly fire, the smoke of which we see.
The big change between last season and this season is the status of the senior players. Under Carlo, they were untouchables. Under AVB, that’s not the case. Last season, Carlo was firmly behind the senior players and that feeling was mutual. Senior players wanted Carlo to stay. Not surprising given that he gave them too much time on the pitch than they deserved and got his loyalty back. AVB talks business. He’t not afraid to say he will pick his best eleven and drop senior players. So when he says that and drops Lampard to the bench, the message is clear – ‘you’re not in my best eleven today’. That can be hard message for our seniors. I don’t fault AVB’s intentions. Like him, I feel senior players should be phased out. But what I don’t know or see is how AVB communicates this to his players. You can make or break a concept through poor communication. Probably, as fans, we’d never know how these managers commuicate to the players on a personal level.
Sometimes, it feels like some players want to make a statement that’s in contradiction with AVB’s plans. They seem to want to say AVB made a mistake with his approach. When players want to tell their manager ‘we told you so’, it always terrible for the club’s success in the success.
In the game against West Brom, Chelsea’s attitude was fine. It was as much as you’d need to beat West Brom away. But what was missing was that killer instinct. This thing called ‘killer instinct’ is a higher degree of attitude we currently possess. We need this ‘we gotta win this match or we’re dead’ mentality. And I’m super-certain that players won’t play with this mentality when things are not going well with their manager. It’s in fact impossible. Our attitude now is all about the efforts. The killer instinct is about the burning desire to convert those efforts into results.
Now some players are showing their passion on the pitch in such a way that you can’t doubt their commitment. But I’d say ‘thank you for the efforts, but until I see the results, your passion doesn’t mean much to me’. And that’s why I keep saying if I were to take sides between the rifting senior players and the manager – I’d go with the manager. This is no disrespect for the senior players. They are legends and their part to play in Chelsea’s history is probably over and they must realise that and move on. AVB is the future.
Sometimes players get too comfortable with the thought that the ‘buck stops with the manager’. It’s time that we start identifying where exactly is the problem. I still don’t think it’s a problem of abilities. Like I mentioned last season, this Chelsea team should be able to finish top four. Last season, the players had the full backing of Carlo, hence I was questioning Carlo more than the players. This season though, there seems to be a conflict between the players and the manager and hence I’m not going to go too strong on the ‘buck stops with the manager’. Is every servant of the club – players or assistants or managers – doing their best with the interests of the club? In the case of the manager, it’s easy. If the team doesn’t do well, it impacts him directly. But the same equation is not for the players. And some players can take full advantage of it. That’s why I don’t want to pile everything on the manager this season.
This could be the worst season ever under Roman’s ownership. I’d like Roman to stick with AVB. No matter where we finish on the table, I hope he backs his man. Like Real Madrid did with Jose Mourinho, give AVB the free reign on the players and the team. Jose had the pedigree but also Chelsea is not as big an institution as Real Madrid. If Real Madrid can do with Jose, we should be able to do with AVB. Allow AVB to restructure the team, identify clearly who are out past, present and future. Allow AVB to get the players he wants and let go the ones he doesn’t want. In short, let him manage.
Media would continue to make it painful for AVB. They will ask him after every match if he’s gonna stay, when was the last time he spoke to the owner, how’s his relationship with the players etc. I must say that AVB has dealt with pressure very well. There are times where he’s been a bit naive but on the whole, for the kind of pressure he’s dealt with so far, he could have broken down easily if he was not the man of character. He’s still maintained the dignity of himself and the people around him. He’s hungry for success. He doesn’t see Chelsea as a retirement plan. Roman paid fortunes to remove Carlo and hire AVB. And that’s not for him to deliver one trophyless season. AVB is meant for the long term. AVB is the future. I hope he is.
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If the owner really supports the managers project, it is his responsibility to show it in front of the players. Let the players realize that they are the ones going out if they under perform. The senior players were obviously going to have a problem supporting and embarking on a project that is aimed at phasing out them.
We didn’t look terrible against West Brom but still the whole team just seems to have stagnated, but I’m sceptical how much that’s down to Andre. When you’ve got a team with players who are expecting to leave in a few months or be replaced by a new signing, or if like Torres & Luiz you’re under constant criticism or if you’re just part if the contented minority that has to work in this disinterested environment.How as a manager are you supposed to motivated a team of men with these issues when they get paid regardless. Surely it doesn’t matter if you’re a 34 year old or a 70 year old veteran.
@BlueFanBLue: That’s a very good point! Only AVB has had a plan that meant phasing out the seniors and hence he faces more problems than his predecessors.
I still support him however I don’t think RA does anymore. The only way the Arse will lose Top 4 now is if they collapse considering their fixture list is alot more favorable than ours, I do not see that happening. If we sack AVB in the Summer hopefully it is for someone like Mou not someone like Benitez. The only problem is now that there are not many players that will want to come to us. Cavani, Lavezzi, Hazard etc. forget about it. But there is still some talent we can still get. This could be a blessing in disguise even though it may be considered a disaster. I say use this chance to blood in the likes of Ramires and Bertrand and buy some quality like Soldado and Jovetic who are player not necessarily looking for CL football, Soldado’s release clause is around £27m and Jovetic would leave for around £22m. If the oldado deal does not work out then why not temt City into loaning us Tevez?
Our team could look a little like this:
Cech
Ivanovic – Cahill – Terry – Bertrand
Essien – McEachran
Ramires – Mata – Jovetic
Sturridge/Soldado
4th spot fight is not over yet and we can still win the FA cup.
KTBFFH!
i like avb..but he must deliver their own team..he need to get moutinho,hulk,hazard..sold senior player at chelsea..avb need to use tactic like he use at porto..possecion ball..chelsea need to play more one two ball..chelsea very2 need to have creative midfielder..give avb chance to build their own team..give young player chance.trust them..
I think its not about the players , its about the manager and his poor relationship with his players. Look at how Scholes is playing for Man Utd at his top level.
So i think its not even about age , the manager should be friend with his players just like Guardiola who his players will give everything for him,
Please not Benitez,we need to stick with AVB.
If they put Benitez in,me as a supporter from
The Dave Sexton days will be out
AvB Sacked …..a sad day ..
AVB Sacked!!! http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2633044,00.html
Season in season out we are hiring and firing managers. But the players are not getting the stick at all. AVB was bold enough to bench the seniors and they conspired against him and booted him out. Guess Lampard might be celebrating now with a Champagne. If RA was indeed planning for Chelsea’s future, then he should ve kicked the oldies out and retained AVB. Another rash move from RA. AVB’s mistake is not having bought players in the Jan window. Players who could ve given the seniors a run for their money. It would ve been productive too with positive results. But its all over now for AVB. Very bad and sad day really.
Benitez in the wings i guess, this is just pathetic!!!
Absolutely childish. No words to say
I think our problems just started with this sad news. The board must have priortized where we end up in the league table than keeping the manager and bad performances continue. What just happened shows player power at chelsea but finger crossed now and I am waiting patiently how we’ll make the first four with these players, if we dont get to first four then sacking AVB is meaningless.
Power of players. With the existing players, no use even Chelsea appoint world no.1 coach. All other clubs are firing players to make their club more better but in Chelsea, they are keeping all stupid players and firing world class coaches. What Chelsea owners really want? A good football team or bad players?
It is a sad day for me however it was a necessary decision , AVB made some good and bad choices and unfortunately the team has failed to make an impact in the league. As chelsea fans we have gone from ” we can beat tottenham ” to ” i pray for a draw” , that’s how much we have spiralled down the ladder. I feel embarrased especially amonst my colleges i was certain of AVB’s abilities but when he did not bring in any new players in the transfer window i knew it was going to be one long season for us.
The battle with players was only half the story , the other and more significant was the results – and in any league you go: results tell the story. Insistence on non performing players over youth did a lot to raise doubts about the direction of his project. I would have certainly understood if we had the same results playing youngsters such as McEachran , Lukaku ,Piazon , Aanholt and host of other young talent.
Maybe he was restricted on the amount he had to spend ,in that instance we would have a greater understanding as to why he did not bring in any new players. In as much as i liked AVB i was disappointed when he came out and disassociated himself with the de bruyne purchase.
I have read that Benitez is an option for Chelsea, as for me i would prefer David Moyes -why – because he has managed to keep the club afloat and noone takes games against Everton for granted. He has a healthy survival policy and makes a lot of good decisions.. For me Benitez is a wonderful tactician however he has proven costly in his use of players and not forgetting his history of purchasing non performing players is no real sign of assurance. Chelsea has gone to appoint all the high profile coaches and most have failed.
I sure hope that Lukaku gets more first team opportunities as he has some great runs and has a solid impact in the team.
I dont find Di matteo any better than AVB.I wanted him out because seniour players were against him and were not playing their best.The transfer window is no more for now what could RA decide?Of course sack him to keep pathetic,disrespectful,proud,disgrace and old players on track for us to finnish fourth if we are lucky enough.Its a shame and sad to see us fifth and tougher games ahead…Arsenal are good and their job is done against tottenham and Liverpool.Aslong as RVP is fit I am sad to say Arsenal have better opportunity to finnish fourth.Defeat to Westbrom was a killer.And the scrappy win against ten men stoke was hopeless.Only by Allah’s mercy we can finnish fourth.All the best blues.Good luck AVB.Shame on Lamps and Cole,oldies with no brain.
good game even if with lesser oonenppt. Heck.. this time last month, we would have struggled.Shoddy defending still persists. I am missing Alex. Was reading his interview and can’t believe that he does not bitch about AVB. I would have if it was me
Great game by Torres and the team. Would he get this type of crosses if Lampard was playing? Just a point to ponder.I don’t fancy attacking mid’s who are more eager to score(hint hint) and right back who are better at dribbling(sadly no crossing) rather than defending.Go get some wingers and Torres/Drogba would really thrive.And kick some sense into that Danny boy. He is good but he is ain’t Christiano Ronaldo or Messi to run into 5 players and scores all by himself. Most selfish player i have seen on pitch in football.We have to let go of Malouda, Mikel and Bosingwa for sure. And is this the first time i saw Kalou scored after starting?Good game by Bertrand. Wish McEachran was playing rather than on loan and where is the spanish kid? He is more talented than Mikel or Meireless 23