So are we all assuming tomorrow or Monday AVB will be the new manager?
I'm actually quite excited by it, AVB didn't work at Chelsea but I just have a feeling if we get him this could be the one that could take us to higher places.
Chelsea obviously saw something in him when they got him, he had some credentials. Unfortunately someone's reputation in football can be ruined in a heartbeat so it will be a tough time for him if he does get the job but I just think he could be special.
Any manager no matter how talented needs the full backing and support of the club. It seems to be he just did not get that at Chelsea. The powers-that-be there did not back him against the senior players, which underminded him. Drogba and Lampard were reduced to minor roles and the system was being changed. They attacked more and pushed higher up the pitch. Traditionally they had played quite a dour, defensive game.
Interestingly, it was some of their younger players that were the most successful in the new system, such as Sturridge, Mata and Romeu.
Terry and Cole and the old guard struggled to adapt to the new tactics (not surprising given they had been playing the same way for almost a decade.
The players complained and the club strangely (considering they seemed to bring AVB in specifically to manage the transition to a younger more attack minded set-up) backed them over the manager.
At the end of the day I think the club thought they'd be able to take some difficult performances and a lower league placing during the transition, but Abramovich appeared in the end not to be able to stand seeing Chelsea not being as competitive that season and got rid before the project even really had begun.
As long as Levy gives him his whole backing, accepts there may be a season of bedding-in of new tactics and playing style as well as approach and gets him the players he needs to make his system work (whether that is with the input of a DOF or not) then I don't see why he can't be a success.
Everyone who has worked with him prior to Chelsea has the utmost respect for him. Apparently he lives and breaths the game and is respectful and professional. Bobby Robson and Jose Mourinho saw potential greatness in him and both took him under their wnig. There is obviously something there, but he does need the support of the club management to succeed, just like anyone does in any line of work.
If your manager said to you: "i want you to come in, shake up the team, manage out some of the older underperformers who are set in their ways and bring in some young graduate trainees to freshen things up and introduce our new company values", but then when the older employees started complaining about the new processes and the way they felt they were being marginalised and pushed out and when their productivity dropped as a result, performances suffer because the graduates aren't up to speed either - how do you think you would feel and be able to cope if your manager and the board then turned round and backed the older players, asking why they were being marginalised and started giving you unrealistic targets given the current situation before finalling showing you the door?
If the board, Levy and any DOF plsu coaching staff pull in the same direction as AVB i can see something special happening. If we don't back him it will be Chelsea all over.
