Graham Potter Thread

[ZAPHOD2319 3,873]

I am rather excited about this. Risky, but the upside is huge.

[Bren 41]

Very optimistic. I hope it's the start of something special. Good football and good times to come hopefully!

[ZAPHOD2319 3,873]

 

[milka 3,308]

Graham Potter's impending appointment at #Chelsea suggests Todd Boehly knows this summer’s £250million outlay on signings is not sustainable long-term and is conscious of the need to begin a durable project.

Without Roman Abramovich’s unlimited wealth, a patient cycle under a visionary coach like Potter  is #Chelsea’s best route to success.

Edited September 8, 2022 by milka

[ZAPHOD2319 3,873]

He will be in today and in charge for Fulham

[Clockwork 1,763]

Biggest concern is teams didn’t play against Brighton in a low block, that would be the norm against Chelsea.

[ZAPHOD2319 3,873]

8 minutes ago, Clockwork said:

Biggest concern is teams didn’t play against Brighton in a low block, that would be the norm against Chelsea.

Somehow I have more faith in Graham producing against the low block than Tuchel did. Tuchel really did not have an answer for it either. Unless you count high crosses after high crosses from the wingbacks and corner kicks a sound strategy. We needed more play from the forward positions. the interactions you see from Man City and Liverpool in those situations.

[Special Juan 27,102]

I'm right behind this guy, really hope he succeeds, he will get the full backing from me.

I also think he will produce the goods.

[whats happening 1,440]

good luck, to all of us

[Milan 17,835]

Joining today by the sound of it, meaning only 1 practice session before the Fulham game. Saturday is all about getting all 3 points, no matter what. Be it ugly, boring, stoppage time pen, whatever. Just don't lose more points.

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[Blue Armour 4,164]

Hope all the key players give him a chance.

Don't want another fractured dressing room like the Lampard and AVB days.

It's probably fractured with Tuchel at the moment anyway, so hopefully it can't get worse.

When he starts benching a few big names (which we he will definitely have to at some point), the results also have to be strong if he has to survive.

Edited September 8, 2022 by Blue Armour

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[DDA 9,570]

I'll remain optimistic but its only a matter of time, weeks, months, years before the dressing room throw him under the bus. 

All the best GP, I hope we can learn to play against the low block.

[Pizy 17,860]

1 minute ago, DDA said:

I'll remain optimistic but its only a matter of time, weeks, months, years before the dressing room throw him under the bus. 

All the best GP, I hope we can learn to play against the low block.

Playing against low blocks I’m not as worried about. Playing against teams like Leeds and many others who simply up their intensity and get physical with us is what we need to learn how to deal with. Seeing us get bullied by small teams repeatedly was the most infuriating aspect of Tuchel’s reign.

Perhaps if Potter has us playing more fluid, quicker football teams won’t be able to press us as effectively.

[Vesper 27,310]

Graham Potter: New Chelsea boss makes four player demands of Todd Boehly as agreement is reached

https://www.teamtalk.com/Chelsea/graham-potter-new-Chelsea-boss-makes-four-player-demands-of-todd-boehly-as-agreement-is-reached

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has reportedly agreed to four major Graham Potter demands after a deal to install him as new Blues boss was finalised.

The 47-year-old is the man chosen by Boehly to replace Thomas Tuchel, after his sacking on Wednesday. The new Blues owner has called time on Tuchel’s reign just a matter of months after he bought out Roman Abramovich. The axe fell on Tuchel after a disappointing run of form that culminated in a woeful 1-0 Champions League defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.

However, there were clearly other circumstances surrounding Tuchel’s demise beyond their poor run of form. Indeed, a report on Wednesday suggests a disagreement over the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo was also a lingering issue.

It seems Boehly and Tuchel were regularly at loggerheads on a series of transfer issues.

Despite that, Boehly – who also backed up as a stand-in sporting director – backed Tuchel to the tune of £253m.

But with the axe now falling, the Blues quickly turned to Potter, with agreement over compensation quickly reached.

Potter has since travelled to London to meet with Boehly and his fellow Chelsea directors. And it’s widely reported that an agreement to make him their new manager has now been reached.

In order to facilitate the move, however, Potter reportedly asked Boehly for four conditions to be met.

First up, he reportedly wants guarantees that he will have the final say so on January transfers and beyond. He wants more than an active say in the players that Chelsea sign; something it is claimed his predecessors did not have.

And Potter – once appointed – is expected to have an active role in contract negotiations. The Blues recently extended the stay of Reece James.

Chelsea four set for Graham Potter contract negotiations

However, there are a quartet of other stars currently locked in talks over contract renewals with the club. To that end, Fabrizio Romano claims on his YouTube channel that he also wants an active say in such discussions.

To that end, Mason Mount, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy are among the players currently talking over fresh terms.

Indeed, while Potter does not want to get into the finer details of the negotiations, he does want to have a say over their roles and importance to Chelsea going forwards.

To that end, he will a say in over how long their terms ought to be.

In addition, Potter has also been told he is fine to remain living in his family’s base in Hove. While a longer commute, it’s certainly not an unachievable drive and that is thought to be a big factor in the negotiations.

Furthermore, Potter also sought guarantees on the security of his job at Chelsea. He is currently sat on a relatively safe position with Brighton. Moving to Chelsea brings with it a whole heap of added pressures. It is for that reason why one pundit is advising Potter to avoid the Chelsea ‘snake pit’.

However, he’s reportedly been assured by Boehly that he will be given time to put his mark on the club and run the football side of things as he sees fit.

Length of Potter deal revealed

As such, Potter has reportedly said his goodbyes to the Brighton players on Thursday morning. He took no part in first-team training on Thursday morning at their Lancing training ground complex. He was there for around two hours to gather his things and say his goodbyes.

The Solihull-born manager has now arrived at Cobham where an announcement on his appointment is imminent.

He will reportedly sign a five-year deal at the Blues, tying him down as manager until 2027.

It’s certainly a massive call from Boehly and the Blues board.

Having furnished the club with several expensive signings this summer, questions have already been raised over his regime. The speed of the sacking of Tuchel, as well as the appointment of Potter will raise further eyebrows.

And Boehly’s reputation at Chelsea will very much tie in with the success of Potter. If he becomes a success, that will reflect well on the American. But were Graham Potter fail to match Chelsea’s high standards, fingers will be pointed in the owner’s direction.

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[OneMoSalah 8,614]

45 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Playing against low blocks I’m not as worried about. Playing against teams like Leeds and many others who simply up their intensity and get physical with us is what we need to learn how to deal with. Seeing us get bullied by small teams repeatedly was the most infuriating aspect of Tuchel’s reign.

Perhaps if Potter has us playing more fluid, quicker football teams won’t be able to press us as effectively.

His Brighton teams haven’t necessarily been big scorers during his time there, that is a big concern for me. Or been efficient at keeping clean sheets either. 

If he can have a similar effect to what TT did when he first came in though with the structure of the team improving and the likes of xG, chances created, key passes etc going up then its a good start but I still think that barring Sterling and Aubamayang, our attackers are still too inconsistent in this aspect.

I get he is going to be working with a supposed higher quality of player but these things are telling. Also the likes of United, Arsenal and Spurs are much better now be it due to certain signings or managerial appointments so the room for error with this appointment in both the short and long term is very slim because once you start slipping down that table, it is a very slippery slope.

For me, Boehly is either going to look very good or very foolish by the end of this season because sacking an elite manager and going for someone who, whilst he is promising as a coach, has no experience at an elite level, it is risky.

TB will undoubtedly have had to give GP certain assurances (no way he takes this position in the same way the likes of a Tuchel, Conte, Mourinho or even a Pochettino may have due to their reputation and knowledge that they will likely get a big club again regardless because of what they’ve achieved in the game already) and time will be one of those. 

It remains to be seen if TB isn’t full of shit - he obviously was when he was pumping out the message that Tuchel was his man, the man who would be central to how the club would be under their ownership, how it was his say only on transfers etc although turns out he wasn’t convinced entirely since last season, was annoyed TT basically publicly made it clear he didn’t want CR7 and that a majority of the signings were club led and not coach led … - if he is going to let GP come in and try change the ethos of the club, the footballing style etc, it will take time so he has to let him get some. And has to take a step back from picking the targets.

 

 

Edited September 8, 2022 by OneMoSalah