Chelsea Sack Andre Villas-Boas

[zolayes 14,489]

Its worth nothing the bit on just how good AVB made Porto last season. Only 6 points dropped, a treble and numerous records broken. There he had the right players to work with his style, every one toed together as one and the results were near enough a given before kick off.

As soon as the well fed "superstars" are gone and players that suit AVB's style are in what's to say he can't do exactly the same with us? If he took over City in the summer i reckon they would have (as good as) won the league already.

The PL is more competetive now than the Portuguese league . Indeed it is tougher here now than when Jose arrived . I do believe

AVB is the right person to take us over. We were expecting the transition to be painless and easy . That is our fault and some of the players.

[Laylabelle 9,395]

Exactly patience is key...

[Joshyboy 36]

Anyone read that AVB's being very... how do I put this, distant? from the players.

Completely unlike Jose who was an unbelivably good man manager and had the whole team playing as one, obviously some of the old guard ie. JT, Lamps and the Drog are not taking too kindly to this and there's been a fair bit of concern on their part.

Fair play to AVB for coming into the team and having the backbone to put Lampard on the bench, who, while hes still a quality player is really getting on in his years so shouldn't realistically expect to be playing every game.

You don't hear complaints from Mata, Meireles, Ramires no unrest there, they've come into the side and have taken to his regime and have performed well (Christ only knows which side Torres is on) so I think we're going to see a gradual squad overhaul, which in all fairness is exactly what was needed, but I'd like Lamps to play a Scoles/Giggs type role with us.

My question is, do you think the way AVB is managing the squad is going to work? In the long term, its extremely patchy at the moment but I think personally if we stick with our man give him a few seasons to put his mark on the club and we'll get to reap the rewards! :cfc:

[Tomo 21,733]

Anyone read that AVB's being very... how do I put this, distant? from the players.

Completely unlike Jose who was an unbelivably good man manager and had the whole team playing as one, obviously some of the old guard ie. JT, Lamps and the Drog are not taking too kindly to this and there's been a fair bit of concern on their part.

Fair play to AVB for coming into the team and having the backbone to put Lampard on the bench, who, while hes still a quality player is really getting on in his years so shouldn't realistically expect to be playing every game.

You don't hear complaints from Mata, Meireles, Ramires no unrest there, they've come into the side and have taken to his regime and have performed well (Christ only knows which side Torres is on) so I think we're going to see a gradual squad overhaul, which in all fairness is exactly what was needed, but I'd like Lamps to play a Scoles/Giggs type role with us.

My question is, do you think the way AVB is managing the squad is going to work? In the long term, its extremely patchy at the moment but I think personally if we stick with our man give him a few seasons to put his mark on the club and we'll get to reap the rewards! :cfc:

Yes as soon as the well fed "superstars" or atleast most of them are gone and more players that suit his style are in i reckon we will hit new heights i really do.

As you said Ramires, Mata and co (basically our future spine) are on his side and no one is bigger than the club anyone who is not preprared to toe in line with the new era should leave.

[termninja 5,290]

Short recap of his press conference.

Terry and Sturridge fit.

Ivanovic and Mikel out.

Malouda doubtful.

No official approach for Eden Hazard.

Gary Cahill deal should be concluded soon, hopefully this week.

If the deal falls through, there are alternatives.

And he cut his hair.

[Tomo 21,733]

That means Bosingwa at RB again #playpaulopleaseAVB

[strong centreback 157]

Short recap of his press conference.

Terry and Sturridge fit.

Ivanovic and Mikel out.

Malouda doubtful.

No official approach for Eden Hazard.

Gary Cahill deal should be concluded soon, hopefully this week.

If the deal falls through, there are alternatives.

And he cut his hair.

You forgot to mention that he also said that he hopes to keep drogba and kalou until the end of the season, "They will return to this club from the African Nations and hopefully we will hold on to them until the end of the season," added Villas-Boas. "That's our intention, and I think their willingness as well." Which hopefully if read between the lines means although kalou would stay until the summer the club/avb are not looking to keep him longer than that.

[Kojo 4,676]

For the Sunderland match...

Cech

Ferreira-David Luiz-Terry-Bertrand

Ramires-Romeu-McEachran

Sturridge-Torres-Mata

Even though the midfield might struggle, i think it's depserately needed, Ramires-Romeu-Meireles is crap and it's our best midfield what we play... even though it wont happen i would still much rather have McEachran have a go.

I can't even predict what's going to happen to be honest, could go either way so i'm not even saying what's going to be the score.

[termninja 5,290]

You forgot to mention that he also said that he hopes to keep drogba and kalou until the end of the season, "They will return to this club from the African Nations and hopefully we will hold on to them until the end of the season," added Villas-Boas. "That's our intention, and I think their willingness as well." Which hopefully if read between the lines means although kalou would stay until the summer the club/avb are not looking to keep him longer than that.

I actually missed that due to constant tweeting things which AVB said

[Sheva. 5,373]

André Villas-Boas hails 'fantastic' relationship with Frank Lampard

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/12/andre-villas-boas-frank-lampard?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Ffootball%2Frss+%28Football%29

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2085969/Andre-Villas-Boas-kicks-Chelsea-reserves-main-training-centre.html?ITO=1490&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Interesting...

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Hmm..

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I'd belive it if it were not the fail.

The decision has shades of the ban he enforced on Nicolas Anelka and Alex from using first-team facilities in December.

I mean how much clearer could it get that they are writing the article to make the man look evil.

Although I do feel like there is something to the rumored changes, and it's much needed if you ask me.

[zolayes 14,489]

could someone please find ANY positive article Neil Ashton has ever made about Chelsea .It would be a collector's item.

[Peace. 4,352]

So youngsters need to make world-class performances to hope training with the first team ?

[Idiot 71]

So youngsters need to make world-class performances to hope training with the first team ?

No one is talking about worldclass performances but he wants them to be competitive. And most of them will never be that imo

[zolayes 14,489]

I think there is justifiable reason to question the quality of coaching below the first team.

[Peace. 4,352]

No one is talking about worldclass performances but he wants them to be competitive. And most of them will never be that imo

It will be very hard for them because the reserve league isn't competitive at all.

I think there is justifiable reason to question the quality of coaching below the first team.

In my honest opinion, the problem doesn't lie only below the first team, but also in the first team. Against the Wolves, we had a bench full of youth, though there's only McEachran who has been given ten miserable minutes of playing time. Against Portsmouth, no one of our youngsters did manage to start the game, and don't tell me this isn't because they aren't competitive, because Bertrand has at least 150 professional games under his belt, and Lukaku played 98 games in Belgium and scoring 41 goals, he has also already played in UCL (even scored against Ajax) and he is already playing for his National Team. So if he (André) isn't able to play young players who have already played a lots of professional games, I don't know how he could possibly play kids who are rotting in a non-competitive league that the reserve is...