First off in the 10 or so managers we've had while I've supported Chelsea apart from Grant (who I thought the timing of his sacking was more than harsh) I have never called for any manager to be removed. I don't like seeing managers sacked and I think a lot of the time the players are to blame (in fact 90%). I'm really torn on this because I don't believe AVB is the man for the job but equally I don't want us to sack another manager and let this Merry Go Round continue, also unless we have a squad overhaul it sends out the message that the players rule. I'm of the opinion (however unrealistic) that AVB and the club should part ways (but not till the summer) and we should look to Jose or someone else that build his own squad and take us through this transition. Even with this crop of players we should be getting top 4 quite easily IMO and I think AVB's comments to the media and his man management skills have left his position untenable at the club. Happy for fans of other clubs to contribute as well and share their views but would prefer it if they don't actually vote on the poll please
I, as all Blues, am not a happy bunny this season! Our performances are very poor! I know there is only one person as a rule who pays the price in these scenarios and thats the manager! However there are far too many "senior " players who are failing to deliver and should be thinking of hanging up their boots! Given breathing space and a chance to buy wisely in the summer and to blood some of the quality youngsters , I think AVB could turn things round and put us back up there! AVB to stay!
I have said yes.... I was a little harsh on him after the Everton game but still stand by what I said about his tactical errors and subs but I say fair play to him that he came out and took the blame. We have to start looking at our players and looking past their legendary status, AVB has made some top class signings thus far and without these muppets (who seem to think they're bigger than the club) he could replace them with some real raw talent. Just look what he did at Porto with the right squad, an undefeated treble. (I know the Portugese league isn't the best but a treble is still hard ). I don't mind losing if our players show heart, desire and actually fight for a win. Our players don't seem to be doing that. Looked over at the bench yesterday when we were losing and some of them were laughing! We can still make 4th, Arsenal are dire and we are more than capable of beating them at their's, we can certainly beat Spurs if the bridge is made as hostile as possible and our players turn up ready and up for it. We're still in our CL tie and Napoli are without their manager for both games! We're still in the FA cup (I think we'll beat Birmingham at St Andy's). It's clear we're struggling without JT on the field, he keeps everything in check and does a mighty fine job of it. I believe him playing could be the difference between 4th and 5th, despite people saying he's crap and lost it. Spurs and Arsenal have some tough games now, in the space of a month Spurs have; Arsenal, United, Everton away, Stoke then us. Arsenal have; Spurs, Liverpool, Newcastle and Everton away. We most certainly have the easiest run of PL games with; Bolton, West Brom and Stoke with Man City away afterwards. We take 9 points from those 4 and we can save our season
QPR fans view - (and not meant to antaganise). Whoever is in charge has a rebuilding job, and this transitional period is going to mean that some performances and results don't go your way. Arsenal are in a similar position where both teams need to get rid of underperforming players, and players that are past their best. Rimeries and Mata are players chelsea should hang onto along with Torres. JT (whatever my own personal views I will keep this purely football) - he is someone that Chelsea will need to replace at some point - not just as a centre half but as a leader - but as a centrehalf I would imagine he still has a couple of years left. Arsenal had Tony Adams and their back 4 has lacked a leader since he left, but who is available to join either club? CFC will also need to replace lampard at some point, and replacing a goalscoring midfielder that grabs the game by the scruff of the neck is also going to be difficult. Will Sturridge stay or look to leave - he got a cracking header yesterday and if he could develope a partnership with Torres then the front line would look good. Also, what is the best position for Luiz? he appears good going forward but his defensive frailities always seem to cost a goal - is he someone that should be in midfield? should avb stay or go......to honest it doesn't bother me. All I will say is that I cfc need to rebuild a new team and whoever sits in that managers chair has that job to do.
I voted yes. AVB is clearly a class manager. Give him a chance to clear the squad of old, mediocre players and bring in some quality.
I voted "yes " as well. At some point we have to stop the merry go round. Might as well be now rather than same time next year. Agree with Drogs on one particular point. I'm no fan of JT the man, and I am certain he's one of the leading anti AVB rebels. However , as the only one still playing well, if the others go and he stays, his power will be lost and he may turn out to be the leader we need. To be fair to him, we have missed his on field leadership. Next year, with a (hopefully ) new and fired up young team, he could be gold.
I'm on the fence, because I can't say I do have faith in him. I don't go into games thinking we will win anymore. I want him to come good and have a chance, but I can't say i have faith in him.
You mean the lottery win when you scored with you only shot on goal whilst we battered you and hit the woodwork. Chelsea vs Ben Foster and the year before it was Chelsea vs Joe Hart.
i think the only thing keeping villas boas in the job is the fact that the club shelled out so much on bringing him in, the club would be a laughing stock if he was sacked after paying a world record release fee. it has clearly been a mistake to drop players like lampard without telling them why, and its also clear that players who were untouchable and guaranteed a starting position under every previous manager have finally come up against someone who will drop them and not pander to their needs like has happened in the past. if boas has been given the brief of overhaulling an ageing squad, then he's doing that, the only problem is that chelsea are 5th, and you would have thought the bare minimum for any manager of chelsea would be top 4, but he's not even managed to deliver that. 43 points from 25 is a diabolically bad return, and that statistic alone would suggest that he is very lucky to still be in a job. a manager with 20 years top level experience would find the job of keeping up with man city whilst overhaulling the squad difficult, so to give the job to a guy with a couple of years experience in the portuguese league certainly wouldnt have been my choice, people say 'he isnt the finished article give him a chance to grow into the job' but frankly thats garbage. chelsea have always been a club without a long term vision, they dont give managers long enough to grow into the job, its all about current results, a hire and fire mentality, even when a good manager is found (ancelotti, mourinho) they are sacked inexplicably, then they appoint a dud (AVB, scolari) then sack them and start again. whats the point of AVB using youth like romeu, sturridge etc if he isnt sure of being in a job? the answer? he knows he will keep his job as long as they make the champions league, drop out of that and roman will panick again.
Have to be honest I have been exasperated by some of his decisions this season (high line v Arsenal being one). If he feels he's being undermined by the oldies why doesn't he have the gumption to start fielding players who "want" to play instead of those who are counting the days to May. Roman only has himself to blame for this sad state of affairs - appointing a manager or a striker on impulse is never a wise choice; you think he'd learn from Scolari & Sheva after wasting a chunk of change on them instead he pays over the odds for a greenhorn from Porto and a hasbeen striker. He's going to have grin & bear the rest of the season with AVB because if the truth should be known.....there ain't too many takers out there.
And the winner is ????????????? AVB. most think he stays and the old guard goes. Now if only we lived in a democracy !!
There was an interesting observation in todays Times viz-"Ordinarily, when a manager goes into a club, it's up to the players to prove to the new man that they are up to the task.At Chelsea, the opposite is true. AVB has to prove to the squad he is worthy of his position". Wierd , eh?
As an outsider looking in, IMO he has to go. I think you will agree you are in a transitional period at the moment and you have alot of players that have bought you success are now the wrong side of 30. The problem for Chelsea(and all the top teams) is that while you rebuild you have to maintain CL football to attract the best talent. If you were able to give AVB 2-3 years to fully build his own team then I think he would eventually bring success but i think he doesnt have what it takes to do that while keeping you in the top 4. For this reason I dont think RA will give him time to adapt/build his own team, I think you need an older, wiser head there to get the best from your current players while bringing through the next crop of talent.
I think if we replaced these ageing players with our current youth in the squad we would be comfortable in 4th position at least. Not a rebuild needed as its well on its way. Its a freaking sacking and shooting of certain players.
