Todd Boehly Thread

[robsblubot 3,595]

We agree to disagree on whether Potter deserves the shot he's been given, which is absolutely fine. I hope to be 100% wrong here and that he turns things around.

I have a harder time with discussing club's sizes, because that's measurable and fairly obvious. You can take wages, club estimated (or factual in our case) value, which include facilities, brand value, revenue, etc... lots of information on this subject.

The same, to a lesser degree, applies to players. It gets a little more difficult because we get age and resale value, which may or may not be important. It's easier to measure market demand though: like if our player would've been given free agency, where would he go and for how much money. It's a different discussion tho... the point was about club size.

[MoroccanBlue 5,383]

If Potter goes into January and tells his recruitment team to make CM an utmost priority, then he's already got one up on Tuchel in his ability to build a side. 

 

[Reddish-Blue 2,509]

13 hours ago, MoroccanBlue said:

If Potter goes into January and tells his recruitment team to make CM an utmost priority, then he's already got one up on Tuchel in his ability to build a side. 

 

He could do that but not sure which top class CM would leave their current club in January...

Feel like the only signings possible in the January window are top up players like a backup RB, backup winger as a replacement for Ziyech. 

[Superblue 6,372]

3 hours ago, Reddish-Blue said:

He could do that but not sure which top class CM would leave their current club in January...

Feel like the only signings possible in the January window are top up players like a backup RB, backup winger as a replacement for Ziyech. 

Not just centre mid, but this applies to pretty much any position.

I suppose the World Cup break gives the club more time to try and sort deals out if there are some to be sorted but January has historically been a bit of a nightmare window where teams usually buy in panic more than anything else. You get the odd success and from our perspective, we could really do with a signing that gives the club a shot in the arm in a similar way to how Fernandes did when United bought him a few years back.

What I don't want to see happen is the club make signings in January to chase top 4, only to be left with a bigger mess to deal with next summer. If the deals aren't there, then they shouldn't be made. There will be plenty of opportunities in the summer irrespective of finishing in the top 4. 

One that does appear to have started being mentioned again is Zakharyan - for the price being mentioned and from the clips I've seen of him he definitely looks to be a talent worth taking a chance on. Whether he could come in and hit the ground running immediately I'm not too sure, but if a deal could be done in January it would give him the second half of this season to bed in to the club and England in general. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,509]

19 hours ago, Superblue said:

Not just centre mid, but this applies to pretty much any position.

I suppose the World Cup break gives the club more time to try and sort deals out if there are some to be sorted but January has historically been a bit of a nightmare window where teams usually buy in panic more than anything else. You get the odd success and from our perspective, we could really do with a signing that gives the club a shot in the arm in a similar way to how Fernandes did when United bought him a few years back.

What I don't want to see happen is the club make signings in January to chase top 4, only to be left with a bigger mess to deal with next summer. If the deals aren't there, then they shouldn't be made. There will be plenty of opportunities in the summer irrespective of finishing in the top 4. 

One that does appear to have started being mentioned again is Zakharyan - for the price being mentioned and from the clips I've seen of him he definitely looks to be a talent worth taking a chance on. Whether he could come in and hit the ground running immediately I'm not too sure, but if a deal could be done in January it would give him the second half of this season to bed in to the club and England in general. 

Definitely looks a raw talent but I get the feeling it may be a signing similar to Carney (the young mid we got from Villa). 

If we can get him across in January, it gives him 6 months to be eased into the side as a possible rotation option. 

Would love to see us get someone ready made (in that 23-25 age group) who can come in and have an impact, shame we didn't go after that Portuguese fella who ended up at Wolves, he looked like he had the raw tools to be that progressive midfielder in our tactical setup...

[robsblubot 3,595]

With the possible exception of Madrid and then only because of modric, really don’t see us lacking that much in that specific position.

Other top sides play and win with equal or even lesser CMs.

However, I do agree with lack in strength in depth esp with kante clearly past his prime and RLC never been the same since the horrific injury.

honestly, unless we are talking about ppl like casemiro or Bruno I go aren’t avail, just don’t see a cm signing helping that much atm.

[Superblue 6,372]

7 hours ago, robsblubot said:

With the possible exception of Madrid and then only because of modric, really don’t see us lacking that much in that specific position.

Other top sides play and win with equal or even lesser CMs.

However, I do agree with lack in strength in depth esp with kante clearly past his prime and RLC never been the same since the horrific injury.

honestly, unless we are talking about ppl like casemiro or Bruno I go aren’t avail, just don’t see a cm signing helping that much atm.

We lack physicality and mobility in midfield. Think back to the sides we had that were winning league titles and we had the likes of Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Mikel, and in later years Matic and Kante. We would regularly be capable of running over sides and particularly in the case of the former players we'd just bully teams. 

When we lose Kante from our midfield, which has been an increasing regularity in recent times, I do think teams look at our midfield as an area of our team they can get out. Unlike some, I'm actually a fan of Jorginho with regards to the technical aspect to his game and unlike a number of players in recent times, I think he leaves it out on the pitch and is a strong leader and character within what we currently have. But there's no ignoring that his physical limitations expose the team and defence behind him. 

A strong defensive minded midfielder that can physically impose themselves on the game and prevent us from being overrun is an absolute must. If the right profile isn't there in January, then something needs to be done next summer. 

[robsblubot 3,595]

1 hour ago, Superblue said:

We lack physicality and mobility in midfield. Think back to the sides we had that were winning league titles and we had the likes of Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Mikel, and in later years Matic and Kante. We would regularly be capable of running over sides and particularly in the case of the former players we'd just bully teams. 

When we lose Kante from our midfield, which has been an increasing regularity in recent times, I do think teams look at our midfield as an area of our team they can get out. Unlike some, I'm actually a fan of Jorginho with regards to the technical aspect to his game and unlike a number of players in recent times, I think he leaves it out on the pitch and is a strong leader and character within what we currently have. But there's no ignoring that his physical limitations expose the team and defence behind him. 

A strong defensive minded midfielder that can physically impose themselves on the game and prevent us from being overrun is an absolute must. If the right profile isn't there in January, then something needs to be done next summer. 

I can agree with that esp regarding the hole that Kante leaves when he's out. While a skillful player, Kovacic's game can be a bit... unclean.

It's all relative though. City plays with lots of midgets, skillful (and not particularly physical) players in midfield and dominate the league. Liverpool's CMs are only good players at best, but they do strength.

So, while I agree, it really depends on what type of football we are planning to play.

Edited November 16, 2022 by robsblubot

[Trueblue9877 6]

I think the Nkunku signing (if it happens) will add a much needed dynamic to our squad, meaning someone who can run with the ball and be a goal threat so I can see why Todd is in for him, unfortunately I also though that Sterling could bring those qualities but it doesn't seem like that role fits him the best.

[Henrique 9,133]

United is for sale. Glazers finally realized they don't know how to run a football club. Lets hope it won't take that long before Todd Boehly realizes the same. 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,819]

It is good to see owners that would show up for a friendly.

 

[milka 3,393]

 

[Vesper 30,219]

4 minutes ago, milka said:

 

 

we still need to appoint a Sporting Director

 

Christopher Vivell, his role at Chelsea and what his appointment means for their sporting director search

https://theathletic.com/3671543/2022/10/11/christopher-vivell-Chelsea-sporting-director-search/

It’s been almost five years, but Chelsea have finally found their successor to former technical director Michael Emenalo in Christopher Vivell.

Well, that’s one way of looking at it.

Vivell will be the first person to be employed in the role of technical director since Emenalo’s shock resignation in November 2017; Petr Cech’s rather woolier job title of ‘technical and performance advisor’ always suggested he had less influence, and in the messy final months of the Roman Abramovich era it appeared the only significant duty the club’s long-time goalkeeper had directly inherited from Emenalo was fielding the awkward media questions that those above him in the hierarchy would rather avoid.

Vivell, a 35-year-old who had been technical director at German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig for the past two years, will be working in a very different context to Emenalo and Cech, having been hired by new owners with very different ideas of best-practice in terms of running an elite football club.

It has been suggested he will lead Chelsea’s data and scouting operations, effectively making him something more akin to a replacement for departed head of international scouting Scott McLachlan — but, in truth, his role is not yet 100 per cent defined.

That is primarily because Chelsea’s new co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are not done hiring.

They still plan to appoint a sporting director, ideally before the January transfer window opens, and have not been deterred by both former Liverpool recruitment chief Michael Edwards and Red Bull Salzburg sporting director Christophe Freund turning the job down. There could even be room for a new sporting-minded chief executive or general manager to sit above this new football structure, acting as a bridge to ownership.

It’s easy to see why clarity over the division of responsibilities between the people in these various new positions could take time, particularly since some of them are yet to be filled.

Boehly and Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali are adamant that Chelsea need a world-class executive team to bolster their expensive array of talent on the pitch, and believe that building one will enable them to avoid a repeat of this year’s chaotic, makeshift first summer of their ownership.

snip

 

 

[Hashishi 148]

I cannot get over the fact that he looks like a pig.

[Vesper 30,219]

4 hours ago, Hashishi said:

I cannot get over the fact that he looks like a pig.

What is your fixation with slagging off Boehly?

The bloke is putting his money where his mouth is, and is putting together  a world class team to run the club (and he is also going to do a multi club model, which is brilliant)

[milka 3,393]

 

Edited December 24, 2022 by milka

[Vesper 30,219]

2 hours ago, milka said:

 

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1606671296347226116.html

Behdad Eghbali tells @Sportico Chelsea was "not terribly well managed on the football, sporting or promotional side" under Roman Abramovich. As previously reported, new owners were surprised by the lack of data they inherited and the 'disconnected' internal structure of the club.

Eghbali was always going to be hands on and will be key in January. Although not carrying a defined football title like Todd Boehly, he's firmly across budget, negotiations and partnerships and is leading on multi-model decisions from an investment perspective. 

 

#CFC always thinking global. They want a multi-club model with Eghbali confirming France, as reported, is a priority region. "French market is interesting given the quality of the league... [&] French speakers in Africa. Africa is also a big, big market."

 

 

Eghbali also confirms Chelsea's first step into the multi-club market may be minority investment. "We could partner and be a minority holder on a team and still get the benefit of some of the knowhow and really firewall off the scouting and decision-making." 

 

Away from the football side, Chelsea also want to expand the brand. The belief is the £2.3bn purchase price is a 'bargain' and thus if the club globalises and modernises, plus naturally succeeds on field, profit will come quite fast. 

 

Expansion of the brand, and optimising partnerships or things like digital content, is a clear strategic goal alongside (not at the expense of) football success. This remains the priority. "You've got to put a good product on the field. You've got to win... 

 

"Your content, your asset is that play and the opportunity to make it a platform is there. These things are generally not well-managed. Some US ownership, like FSG or the Abu Dhabi model with #MCFC, have done it well. But for the most part, these things haven't been optimised." 

Chelsea are not only looking at football models.

 

They'll take inspiration from the US sports market, which is unsurprising given the ownership's knowledge of it. "We think European sports is probably 20 years behind US sports in terms of sophistication on the commercial side... 

 

"And sophistication on the data side. I had one super high-level sporting director at one of the world's biggest, top-three clubs tell me, when I asked about their approach to data, 'The data is my eyes'. He has six scouts and no data." 

 

Data is not just used to scout. It's vital to predict value, development and prevent injuries. And it ultimately forms part of tactical insight. How it's 'connected' at a club, and how much feeds up to the top, differs from team to team. But #CFC want to be heavily data-led. 

 

Chelsea will undoubtedly be innovative. This will come via some predictable moves, like a modern (likely phased) stadium redevelopment, which opens the door to non-football income, too. Spurs have been able to profit from this since their new stadium opened. 

 

And, as reported, #CFC will try more novel ideas to bring fans closer to the club and attract new audiences/sponsors. This will include more academy-led content, so supporters feel they know players before they break through. Chelsea Women content will be expanded as well. 

 

Amazon also believe Chelsea are open to an 'All or Nothing' documentary, an idea that was flatly dismissed under Abramovich. Eghabli basically wants to monetise content at all levels: "We think there's a lot to do around games, media and live content stories..." 

 

#CFC still against the ESL. They don't want to be part of a breakaway. But Eghbali admits, "I think the sport needs more high-quality premium matches and content. But it doesn't have to be a Super League."

 

Boehly may also consider standing for ECA election to input across Europe. 

 

Eghbali: "Could you see a EPL vs. Serie A All-Star Game? Or we could do a pre-season match that puts more premium content on the pitch?" #CFC already want in on an EPL endorsed pre-season tournament in America and see big earning potential in America ahead of the 2026 World Cup. 

 

The other major aim is to save money rather than only just bringing it in. This will be done via lowering the overall club salary and trying to offer long-term deals with heavy earning incentives. 

 

This is also why it's been tough negotiating with N'Golo Kante. #CFC don't want to set a precedent for long-term lucrative contacts for senior players approaching mid-thirties. If they cave to Kante, Jorginho (who is set to start meaningful talks) has leverage to some degree. 

 

This extends to signings, too. #CFC know they need some short-term fixes to try and qualify for #UCL. But once the full recruitment team is in place, and the multi-club model built, the hope is for smaller transfer-window spends and high priority placed on younger players. 

 

Eghbali: "How do you control salary cost? I think if there's a global pool of talent, the multi club model comes into play. You can have clubs that can be development pathways for players [so] you're not signing the 30-year-old free agent... 

 

"There's a path to controlling labour costs and still producing a winning product using data and the multi-club model, an interesting tool for trading. Red Bull, which does it well, has a £40m payroll for their largest club and generate £50-100m yearly in profit in trading." 

 

When Eghbali talks of not signing the '30-year-old free agent' he's not referencing Cristiano Ronaldo. Nonetheless, #CFC won't move for Ronaldo because Graham Potter is against the move. But the intrigue (especially to Boehly) was due to his commercial/brand benefit to Chelsea. 

 

Appeal of multi-club model to #CFC comes from not only how it creates pathways, but also should a player signed not succeed they can still be sold for a profit. That money can be used to invest in more established targets and/or players who fall outside of the model's strategy. 

 

Eghbali also gives insight into why Chelsea are so impressed by Brighton. "We hired a coach from Brighton and we think they are one of the best-run teams in the Premier League. The owner is from a sport-gaming, data background... 

 

"He [Tony Bloom] spends 10% of the payroll, wins almost as much [as those who spend far more] and has a very stable, mid-market, mid-table, very profitable club." 

 

Eghbali also asked if Clearlake have an exit strategy. Says there are "certainly businesses you want to own for a long time". Clearlake gave a minimum 10-year commitment to #CFC. Eghbali's hands-on approach suggests a long-term vision. Level of ambition is sky-high and exciting. 

• • •

Edited December 25, 2022 by Vesper

[Vesper 30,219]

The addition Todd Boehly and Chelsea still want to make following Christopher Vivell appointment

Christopher Vivell was appointed as Chelsea's technical director on Wednesday morning, filling the role that was vacated in the summer by Petr Cech, as Todd Boehly continues to form the club's recruitment team

https://www.football.london/Chelsea-fc/news/Chelsea-todd-boehly-christopher-vivell-25810016

 

Christopher Vivell has been confirmed as the next part of Todd Boehly's recruitment jigsaw after Chelsea confirmed the appointment of the former Red Bull Leipzig technical director on Wednesday morning. The German native takes the same role with the Blues having been appointed after parting ways with the Bundesliga side in early October.

He joins a team that includes Paul Winstanley as director of global talent and transfers and the pending incoming figures of Joe Shields as co-director of recruitment and talent, as well as Laurence Stewart as a technical director to focus on football globally. The latter two figures and Vivell all have experience in multi-club models, a notion that is pivotal to how Boely and his fellow owners see Chelsea moving forwards.

Boehly has spoken highly of both City group and the Red Bull group and is now set to draw upon their experience, with the US owner and Behdad Eghbali noting that Vivell 'will provide important support to Graham and the ownership group and play a vital part in advancing our overall vision for the club'.

Boehly has spoken highly of both City group and the Red Bull group and is now set to draw upon their experience, with the US owner and Behdad Eghbali noting that Vivell 'will provide important support to Graham and the ownership group and play a vital part in advancing our overall vision for the club'.

The burden has started to be taken off Boehly and Eghbali, but with only part of that group ready to work with Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay in time for the January transfer window, Boehly remains in place as interim-sporting director for the moment. The Blues have been linked to the likes of Paul Mitchel and Michael Edwards since Marina Granovskaia left but have yet to find the fit they require.

Chelsea's ownership duo endured a busy summer as they travelled across Europe to meet important figures in club football and to complete deals as they brought in Raheem Sterling, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly, among others. The pair were pictured together on Chelsea's trip to Abu Dhabi in conversation with Potter, with the World Cup break allowing for a number of opportunities for meetings in the Middle East.

It is perhaps likely that they will retain an important role in conversations even with a lessened burden, but the number of incoming figures only serves to reinforce the ambition to produce a collaborative approach. A new sporting director will still fit in that system, and likely bring together the roles that are currently in place.

However, the current combination relinquishes the rush to make that appointment and ensure the correct one, with Boehly and Eghbali seemingly happy to play their part for the moment. Perhaps significant when timing can prove pivotal to any appointment.

Boehly has drawn much criticsim for becoming sporting director following Granovskaia's departure ahead of the summer transfer window, but the Blues have nevertheless moved to establish a team in their own form and own time. That will continue, though Boehly's continued involvement and emphasis on planning ahead will ensure the owner's vision is imprinted on the new executive team.

[ZAPHOD2319 4,819]

 

[Vesper 30,219]

On 14/11/2022 at 20:06, MoroccanBlue said:

If Potter goes into January and tells his recruitment team to make CM an utmost priority, then he's already got one up on Tuchel in his ability to build a side. 

 

this has worked out wonderfully so far!

🤬