Part II of The Roman Abramovich Era

[Superblue 6,370]

I don't think anyone can argue that big changes are required next season on and off the pitch, but I don't think many could have predicted the free fall of our beloved club this season. This may however be a blessing in disguise...

Changes were required as long ago as 2009/10, but a double winning season seemingly justified the lack of changes in the club when merely it was papering over the cracks. Ancelotti apparently told Roman before joining the club that the club needed two players - Xabi Alonso and Franck Ribery as early as 2008/09. Basically a deep lying creative playmaker and a winger with pace and ability to take players on. Over 3 years later and we still have neither type of player in our squad.

A champions league spot for next season may have encouraged the board to make only a couple of changes in the summer, but no champions league football will hopefully do the opposite and scare the board and Roman into making much more radical changes for the long term of the club.

There will naturally be worries about spending too much money under the new FFP rules (even more so without the Champions League money train) but in all fairness, if the club doesn't have the calibre of players to break back into the top 4 then the FFP rules mean nothing anyway!

But again this may be another blessing in disguise. The likes of Hazard, Cavani, etc may prove to be too expensive and less prepared to move to us without Champions League football. It will force the club to rethink their transfer policy of buying proven, established stars which has been more the case over the last few years than that of the policy when Abramovich first joined the club. In the beginning we looked to buy young talent, not yet established or proven at the top level, but having the potential to reach that level. Players who had not won trophies and had a hunger and desire to make things happen. Players like Duff, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, Parker, SWP, Cech. We coupled that with buying players who had more experience, but were not proven at the very top level in one of the 'big 3' leagues. Players like Drogba, Essien and Kezman. And these players were added to those already at the club who were established at Chelsea but had not won trophies like Lampard, Terry and Gudjohnson. Some didn't work, but this policy as a whole was successful.

This is the policy we should be looking to get working again. We already have a decent core of players at the club who will have a real desire to win trophies that they've yet to win in their Chelsea careers such as Mata, Cahill, David Luiz, Ramires, Romeu and Torres. We should now be looking to add to that with more players of this ilk. Let's take a punt on Junior Hoilett and Jordan Rhodes. Let's look at Tiote, Cabaye and Ba as opposed to Modric and Cavani for half or even a third of the price and lower wages.

And if we are going to spend big money on some players let's spend it on young up and coming stars still to prove themselves not established ones for a quick fix and last pay day.

There are players out there with good market value, and it's about time the club took a punt on a couple of these as opposed to thinking straight away at the £30-40m transfers. Also if we sell some of our players this summer then we'll still recoup decent money on some before it's too late and save on large wages. The likes of Essien and Ashley Cole are past their best but still hold good market value due to their reputations. Hopefully selling the likes of these players will raise £20-30m in income to offset against some of our purchases and the reductions in wages will serve well for the future of the club under the FFP.

It's a big summer, the biggest in the last decade for this football club. And for the long term future it is imperative we get it right! :cfc:

[Justin_3d 1,140]

Good post, but you are asking too much from our board.

If we first can't get the manager situation straight, asking to do a better plan with players will be an impossible task for these lots.

I thought they learn from the Sheva fiasco, and then they go and spend 50 mill on Torres.

I am sorry but for the Part II of Roman era to work he must first fix the planners at Chelsea. Those that plan for short term, and long term goals.

I see that as the most vital part.

Because throwing money at the problem will only delay the inevitable.

[capriccioso 2,545]

No more marquee signings please Roman! 9 times out of ten they fail for us. We should only sign unproven youngsters, that come with a desire to better themselves and win some trophies; rather than the marquee's who have usually been there and won trophies and are more interested in money than bettering themselves.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

No more marquee signings please Roman! 9 times out of ten they fail for us. We should only sign unproven youngsters, that come with a desire to better themselves and win some trophies; rather than the marquee's who have usually been there and won trophies and are more interested in money than bettering themselves.

that's not exactly worked for le arse.

[zolayes 14,489]

why does Roman trust whoever advises him ....or is everything his whim ...

I am becoming increasingly dejected at the way he is treating the club I love.

change dejected for seriously pissed off

[communicate 2,703]

I don't think anyone can argue that big changes are required next season on and off the pitch, but I don't think many could have predicted the free fall of our beloved club this season. This may however be a blessing in disguise...

Changes were required as long ago as 2009/10, but a double winning season seemingly justified the lack of changes in the club when merely it was papering over the cracks. Ancelotti apparently told Roman before joining the club that the club needed two players - Xabi Alonso and Franck Ribery as early as 2008/09. Basically a deep lying creative playmaker and a winger with pace and ability to take players on. Over 3 years later and we still have neither type of player in our squad.

A champions league spot for next season may have encouraged the board to make only a couple of changes in the summer, but no champions league football will hopefully do the opposite and scare the board and Roman into making much more radical changes for the long term of the club.

There will naturally be worries about spending too much money under the new FFP rules (even more so without the Champions League money train) but in all fairness, if the club doesn't have the calibre of players to break back into the top 4 then the FFP rules mean nothing anyway!

But again this may be another blessing in disguise. The likes of Hazard, Cavani, etc may prove to be too expensive and less prepared to move to us without Champions League football. It will force the club to rethink their transfer policy of buying proven, established stars which has been more the case over the last few years than that of the policy when Abramovich first joined the club. In the beginning we looked to buy young talent, not yet established or proven at the top level, but having the potential to reach that level. Players who had not won trophies and had a hunger and desire to make things happen. Players like Duff, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, Parker, SWP, Cech. We coupled that with buying players who had more experience, but were not proven at the very top level in one of the 'big 3' leagues. Players like Drogba, Essien and Kezman. And these players were added to those already at the club who were established at Chelsea but had not won trophies like Lampard, Terry and Gudjohnson. Some didn't work, but this policy as a whole was successful.

This is the policy we should be looking to get working again. We already have a decent core of players at the club who will have a real desire to win trophies that they've yet to win in their Chelsea careers such as Mata, Cahill, David Luiz, Ramires, Romeu and Torres. We should now be looking to add to that with more players of this ilk. Let's take a punt on Junior Hoilett and Jordan Rhodes. Let's look at Tiote, Cabaye and Ba as opposed to Modric and Cavani for half or even a third of the price and lower wages.

And if we are going to spend big money on some players let's spend it on young up and coming stars still to prove themselves not established ones for a quick fix and last pay day.

There are players out there with good market value, and it's about time the club took a punt on a couple of these as opposed to thinking straight away at the £30-40m transfers. Also if we sell some of our players this summer then we'll still recoup decent money on some before it's too late and save on large wages. The likes of Essien and Ashley Cole are past their best but still hold good market value due to their reputations. Hopefully selling the likes of these players will raise £20-30m in income to offset against some of our purchases and the reductions in wages will serve well for the future of the club under the FFP.

It's a big summer, the biggest in the last decade for this football club. And for the long term future it is imperative we get it right! :cfc:

Actually I don't mind Chelsea singing marquee players, but for some reason we are just suck at it. Currently we are really lack of super players,arguably our best player is mata and as much as like mata, I am not sure I want him as my best player.

IMO the key for this summer is to find a good manager that know what he want to do and get players that fit in his system. If there is any positive that we can take from this season is that it show flaws (lots of them) of our players which will help our future manager in term of assessing who should stay and who should go.