Chelsea Sack Andre Villas-Boas

[Justin_3d 1,140]

I dislike the fact that even when we have a major lack of creativity in midfield he's ignored Josh.

Well he also send out Yossi on loan.

I still remember to be dumb fucked at that idea.

And now it seems that AVB has got a new Lampard. Meireles, that seems to play every game full 90 mins, just like Lampard used to do....sigh

[manpe 10,861]

I dislike the fact that even when we have a major lack of creativity in midfield he's ignored Josh.

And loaned out Benayoun. Looking at how things are now, the more puzzling that decision seems. We thought we made room for a new signing, but it seems that signing ended up being Meireles.

[Ortiv 42]

All I can see here is that player power, demanding fan base and an inept board are all combining to make "world class" managers look clueless in Chelsea.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Possibly because John Cross is a die-hard Arsenal STH

doesn't make his points any less valid

[Naked Mole Rat 437]

Everything about AVB is hopeless. He hasn't got a plan B, his man management skills are woeful and his media handling skills are even worse.

But he hasn't done any sin; he just made a whole lot of rookie mistakes. At least some of them are. Other mistakes are what even experienced managers (e.g. Carlo) can make.

The biggest sin anyone's committed regarding our current crisis was to sack one of the greatest managers in the world and bring in a newbie to replace him, thinking he'd do any better.

[Henrique 9,133]

And loaned out Benayoun. Looking at how things are now, the more puzzling that decision seems. We thought we made room for a new signing, but it seems that signing ended up being Meireles.

Thats a good point, I dont see how Benayoun could do worse than Meireles.

[Gianfranco_Z 202]

Thats why many people here are behind him, because they are obsessed about Manchester, and want Chelsea to become a blue Manchester.

SAF is an unique case, and we will never have a SAF, and no club in the world will have one, including MU when he retires.

That isn't a fact. And yeah, I wouldn't mind us being a blue MU, look at the success they've had. It's not an obsession it's a blueprint for success. And you're right, we will never have a SAF if we decide to change our managers like we change our underwear at the first sign of trouble.

[MHL 47 378]

doesn't make his points any less valid

I took the time out to listen to this. If we had an idealistic football world and could wait the 10 years that the journo's were talking about (when AVB might return to 'haunt' us) or even the three years that AVB describes as the time he needs to complete his 'project' then he may be fine. No club aspiring to stay at the top-table has 10 years and unfortunately for AVB he will probably have a great deal less than the 3 years especially if minimum expectations of the owner are not met, although not many will factually know what those minimum's are.

They're journo's and will spout off whatever they need to in order to earn their fee.

As an aside take alook at the quote Cross has made here: http://inagist.com/j...47874128007168/ !!

[Blue Armour 4,436]

As an aside take alook at the quote Cross has made here: http://inagist.com/j...47874128007168/ !!

lol

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

I took the time out to listen to this. If we had an idealistic football world and could wait the 10 years that the journo's were talking about (when AVB might return to 'haunt' us) or even the three years that AVB describes as the time he needs to complete his 'project' then he may be fine. No club aspiring to stay at the top-table has 10 years and unfortunately for AVB he will probably have a great deal less than the 3 years especially if minimum expectations of the owner are not met, although not many will factually know what those minimum's are.

They're journo's and will spout off whatever they need to in order to earn their fee.

As an aside take alook at the quote Cross has made here: http://inagist.com/j...47874128007168/ !!

its hardly an idealistic football world to afford a manager 3 years to change an aging side with too much player power into a young,exciting team that will be back challenging at all levels.

[5354 204]

Torres should go back to Madrid on loan until he recaptures his god damn form.

Drogba should go Shanghai to accompany Anelka

Lampard can go to MU if he wants to.

Ashely Cole can fuck off as well.

The only few old players we should keep should be Cech, Essien, Terry(although i feel he should go but heck...) and maybe Mikel

[kiaretta985 131]

guys, I found this one on Tumblr, shame there's no source!

[Justin_3d 1,140]

All I can see here is that player power, demanding fan base and an inept board are all combining to make "world class" managers look clueless in Chelsea.

Interesting take here.

It looks like Paul Parker agrees with you:

Players to blame for Chelsea woes, not AVB

It is said that Andre Villas-Boas has to lead Chelsea to victory over two legs against Napoli to save his job, but the real factor undermining the club's season is not the shortcomings of their inexperienced manager, but the stubbornness of their senior players.

There are certain individuals at Chelsea who have served their time, but are clinging on to their status as best they can. They had success under Jose Mourinho and carried it on under Carlo Ancelotti, but they have become too powerful. I think some of them are trying to take control of a young manager.

Some of the older players know their futures could be in doubt at the end of the season as Villas-Boas could be looking to mount a purge, so will they be motivated to really push themselves and do their best for their manager? I suspect there will be around 50 per cent of the squad who will have purely selfish motivations to be honest, so I don't think the manager is getting the backing he needs.

Some of Chelsea's big names have been underperforming all season. They are resistant to change because they fear their positions will be in jeopardy. They wouldn't be old pros if they weren't thinking that way to be honest, it's human nature, but it doesn't help the manager at all.

It is clear to me that some individuals at Chelsea wield far too much power behind the scenes. You read reports that certain players played a role in Mourinho's departure, while others may have served to undermine Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The system has remained untouched since Mourinho arrived back in 2004 and I think successive managers have been governed in what they do by players who have too much say in the matter. As a result, nothing has changed over the years and Chelsea have grown stagnant.

The club have to move on though, it's a fact. If they carry on like they are and the complexion of their squad is the same next season then they can only regress further.

Villas-Boas has taken steps towards overhauling the squad, most notably when trying to phase out Frank Lampard. They do need to wean themselves off their dependence on him and other senior players.

The way Villas-Boas wants Chelsea to play does not suit Lampard because they are trying to pass the ball more, whereas before the midfielder thrived from picking up pieces from Didier Drogba.

Chelsea brought in Juan Mata in an attempt to change their style and he started like a house on fire. However, he has been dragged back down to Chelsea's level and he needs better and mentally sharper players around him if he is to reach the standards he set at Valencia. At the moment the way Chelsea play is very pedestrian and it means they are not going to get the best out of a player like Mata.

It is a similar situation with Fernando Torres, who has now gone 21 hours without a goal. It is looking hopeless for the striker at present but Chelsea don't play to his strengths: they haven't played football since Mourinho was there and they don't pass it into midfielders or look to play intricate passes inside the centre-backs and full-backs for Torres to run onto.

Chelsea have bought themselves an Armani suit but want to carry it around in a Tesco's bag; you can't spend that kind of money on a striker and then starve him of service.

It is abundantly clear to me that Chelsea need to embrace a new culture and philosophy, but their stubborn core of aging players are preventing them from doing so. Villas-Boas needs to bring in players who actually want to play for him and take the opportunity to usher out some of the old guard in the process. Whether he is given that chance or not remains to be seen.

As for the tie that could make or break his tenure, I think Napoli will be too sharp and fluid for Chelsea and I am backing the Serie A side to progress. Chelsea drew with Birmingham at the weekend and I am sceptical about their chances of getting a result in Italy. If they are to get a draw or snatch a win they will need all the players to work hard for their team and their manager, but they don't seem inclined to do that at present.

[MHL 47 378]

its hardly an idealistic football world to afford a manager 3 years to change an aging side with too much player power into a young,exciting team that will be back challenging at all levels.

I'd agree 3 years isn't too much to ask, that is with a caveat that none of us know if any 'conditions' were attached to AVB's 3-year brief by the Owner/Board.

If he's got carte-blanche to do as he feels he needs to do then in my view he tried to take an easy option by his 'show of strength' with Anelka & Alex and it's backfired on him. Now he seems to me to have a toxic-mix on his hands that will take at least two to three years to sort out and unless he gets the time and the mandate to clear the decks completely of people he doesn't want around then for him it may be a task he can't complete.

Arguably he might not have been the right choice anyway for what was always going to be one hell of a job due to a lack of experience? The answer may have been to hire a hatchet-man to take apart the side (making the task and scope of the job abundantly clear to said person) with a view to replacing him when the dirty work was done. Ensuring players being brought in were to the second managers approval/plan would have been one of the more difficult parts though.

[cujo101 75]

Let's face it - AVB's man management is the main problem. He should used everyone at his disposal until the end of the season and then let the bulk of them go, instead he tried to impose his authority and has failed miserably leading players to dismiss him.