Many would have been left scratching their heads when Roman Abramovich dismissed Carlo Ancelotti this past summer for failing to secure his second league title with Chelsea. More perplexing is the expensive appointment of the inexperienced, but glamorous, Andre Villas-Boas. Wanting both the joy of a title-winning side and the excitement of free-flowing, attacking football, Abramovich is witnessing his side struggle as they adapt to his wishes under the management of the Portuguese boss.
New players, new tactics and the troubles of a £50 million misfiring Spaniard, Chelsea are certainly not looking the dominant side they were under Carlo Ancelotti. With the desire for possession football comes the need for a high defensive line, something which the current group of Chelsea defenders are struggling to adapt to.
Furthermore, there’s the problem of some of the more senior players in the squad who are not putting in the performances that have made Chelsea such a fearsome side in recent years. Didier Drogba, until recently, has found himself starting matches from the bench. Similarly, Nicolas Anelka has had to make room for Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata, both of whom have been regular features in the Chelsea line-up this season.
But despite Chelsea’s troubles both domestically and in Europe, Andre Villas-Boas remains determined that he has the full backing of Roman Abramovich and can steer the club through this period of transition. And rightfully so, it would be further damaging and, quite frankly, a joke if Villas-Boas was shown the door.
The current project at Chelsea is one of a three-year plan. There is certainly a need to move on the ‘deadwood’ in the side, players like Drogba, Solomon Kalou and perhaps even Frank Lampard, who may still have something to offer the club going forward, should be shown the door and players in the mould of Oriol Romeu and Mata introduced.
Their patchy home form, however, will be tested once more when league leaders Manchester City make the trip to Stamford Bridge.
City, who like Chelsea in recent weeks, struggled to get anything from a Liverpool side who have also been in inconsistent form of late. The trip to Anfield for Roberto Mancini’s side proved to be a hugely contrasting affair to that of their 6-1 win at Old Trafford. David Silva struggled to find his way into the game and was not given the time and space to have much influence, while the City forwards also struggled in front of goal; their solitary goal coming from a fortunate bounce off Vincent Kompany’s shoulder.
But unlike Liverpool who were well organised against both sides, will City find it easier to break down the Chelsea back-line? On their trip to the Sports Direct Arena, Chelsea offered Newcastle far too much space to push forward from midfield. There was very little closing down and, due to the poor decision of Mike Dean to keep David Luiz on the pitch, Chelsea got away with a good result. But they, at the moment, look far from a team capable of winning the league.
David Luiz has been one of the primary points of concern for Villas-Boas of late. It appears Gary Neville’s recent comments are not as harsh as some seem to think. The Brazilian often looks disinterested, looking to play sloppy passes and trying to work his own way out of defence rather than clearing the ball away. From what we’ve seen of Luiz so far, it doesn’t look like he’s made much of an improvement in the year he’s been at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea defence look disorganised and John Terry, especially, has not had the same commanding influence of recent seasons. Is the shaky defence attributed to Luiz’s lacklustre approach to the game and will Manchester City’s impressive attack take advantage?
Written by Thomas Hallett for FootballFancast.com.
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Leaving David Luiz was the right decision if the rules of football apply and not the rules of fans wanting certain decisions. Dean had one of his best games in ages as I seen and the only blatant miss he did was not letting the penalty be taken again because several Newcastle players were in the box before the penalty was taken.