I couldn’t believe it when I read that Chelsea had parted company with manager Andre Villas-Boas. A man that during the summer they paid £13.3m just to secure him from his FC Porto contract, finds himself the scapegoat for Chelsea’s disastrous fortunes.
Taking over from the sacked Carlo Ancelotti, Villas-Boas inherited an aging squad that needed serious overhauling and seemed unwilling to conform to his style of doing things. His all conquering Porto exploits suggested he should of been given more time than what he ended up with.
In my eyes Petr Cech hasn’t looked the same keeper since his injury and a more consistent keeper is needed. In a defence that has only had Ashley Cole as an automatic starter and Ivanovic played out of his best position, Chelsea need at least 3 top defenders in the midst of their 20’s. Jose Bosingwa, John Terry, Paulo Ferreira and David Luiz are all liabilities. The signing of Gary Cahill is looking a shrewd investment but another centre back and a right back are vital if Chelsea are to challenge for anything next season.
In midfield Lampard may score a few goals but doesn’t contribute much else. Like England, Chelsea are losing something trying to accommodate “Fat Frank” in their starting line up. They look a much better outfit with Essien, Meireles, Ramires or Romeu as a three man midfield. Others that need moving on are: Mikel, Malouda and Kalou.
Upfront I wonder how AVB can be blamed for the stuttering form of Fernando Torres. £50m for a player out of sorts and out of form. Surely it would of been better and cheaper to cut their losses and got rid of the misfiring Spaniard instead of a top young manager. The money they would get could have financed a move for Porto’s Hulk.
Roberto di Matteo takes over until the end of the season, but has no transfer window to wheel and deal in. He’s stuck with the same players that ended up forcing out Villas-Boas and it’ll be interesting to see how he copes. The hope will be that he rejuvenates the squad before key FA Cup and Champions League matches.
Whoever is in charge in the summer needs to replace Hilario, Turnball and Cech in goal. Ferreira, Bosingwa, Luiz and an aging Terry in defence. In midfield Lampard, Mikel, Malouda and Kalou can all be relocated. Upfront Torres has to go and a decent replacement for Drogba is required. In my eyes AVB has been unlucky and whoever takes over long term faces exactly the same problems.
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Don’t wish to offend, but only a complete fool & football-ignoramus would deem Mereiles worthy of inclusion in any competitive Chelsea side!
Torres has never once been tried in a role behind the No9, between Mata & Sturridge; why not? Simple – total lack of vision, enterprise & imagination by AVB. Likewise, his myopic, blinkered approach & pure obstinacy has precluded allowing Luiz’s playing on the left of a 2 in a 4-2-3-1.
Equally, he’s consistently denied Chelsea’s talented youngsters any real opportunities to experience 1st team football & grow into their roles @ the club.
There can be NO excuse for not essaying these different configurations @ least once: it’s called ‘best managing your available resources’ – and @ that, I’m afraid, AVB was HOPELESS!!
Apart from these minor discrepancies I agree with much if not most of the above post..
Once again, ‘Hail the New Blue-volution!’
Ridiculous opinions, unfounded and unrealistic