It is fair to say that since coming to Chelsea in June opinions of Andre Villas-Boas has been rather mixed. His high defensive line and love of attractive football have had a lukewarm response with some seeing it as a timely shift away from the days of the Special One and pundits slamming it as kamikaze. At the same time his comments about ‘continuous persecution’ from the media and his angry reactions to Alan Hansen and Gary Neville have bought into question his attitude and whether he will succeed at Chelsea, despite them sitting in the top four.
But one thing that has caught the eye of most is his decision to take the pressure away from experience in favour of youth. No longer are Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba automatic selections for the starting XI, instead Daniel Sturridge, Ramires and Oriol Romeu are taking centre stage. Not everybody is in favour of this move because the ‘old guard’ have been pivotal to the most successful period in the club’s history and now they are becoming bit-part players. But this bold statement of intent from the 34-year-old boss is something that a certain Mr Capello should be taking note of.
When the Italian took over the national team following the Wally with the Brolly, it was hoped that there would be a change in emphasis for the side and that the so-called ‘golden generation’ would find it harder to keep their place in the side. And to some extent Capello will claim that he has done so. Beckham is no longer involved, we have Joe Hart in goal, Kyle Walker at right-back, Phil Jones plays and Jack Wilshere is a linchpin in the centre of the park. However, when it comes to the big tournaments and important games then the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and Terry come strolling back into the side. Like at the ill-fated 2010 World Cup. David James was in the squad, Gerrard and Lampard were picked to play together despite being unable to play alongside each other for the past decade and he sent Paul Scholes an S.O.S to join the team.
There is a belief that these players were part of a golden generation for English football but when the success of the team is looked at, it’s not even bronze. Quarter-final finishes at two World Cups and a European Championships, failing to qualify for Euro 2008 and second-round shortcomings in 1998 and 2010. The success the players had domestically is impressive but they are playing against each other and helped by foreign stars so it is laughable to rely on them at international level. And with six months to go before another international tournament where delusions of grandeur are growing already, it is time for the old Italian to take a leaf out of AVB’s book.