The Manager Thread...

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Martin Samuel:

Despite a fine track record in Russian football with CSKA Moscow, we all know the great attraction in Leonid Slutsky for Hull City. Loan signings.

As a friend of Roman Abramovich, Hull think Slutsky may be able to bring in some talented youngsters from Chelsea on the cheap. It is another of the loan system's flaws — it lends itself to the old pal's act. A young coach with a direct line to Sir Alex Ferguson was once considered a catch for the same reason Slutsky is now.

'Of course it is possible that some of Chelsea's players can be loaned,' Slutsky teased, and Hull took the bait. Tomas Kalas, Lucas Piazon, Kasey Palmer and Izzy Brown have all been mentioned as possible temporary acquisitions. The same logic got Avram Grant through the door at Portsmouth and later West Ham.

Harry Redknapp recalls being sold Grant as technical director at Fratton Park because he would help get players from Chelsea. Later, he returned as manager, failed to secure any advantageous loans and took Portsmouth down.

This did not stop West Ham acquiring his services the following season with identical results: no Chelsea loan players, and the drop. One cannot help wondering why, if Abramovich holds Slutsky in such high regard, he is not now managing Chelsea.

He was available after the 2016 European Championship, just the same as Antonio Conte.
 
Martin Samuel:

Despite a fine track record in Russian football with CSKA Moscow, we all know the great attraction in Leonid Slutsky for Hull City. Loan signings.

As a friend of Roman Abramovich, Hull think Slutsky may be able to bring in some talented youngsters from Chelsea on the cheap. It is another of the loan system's flaws — it lends itself to the old pal's act. A young coach with a direct line to Sir Alex Ferguson was once considered a catch for the same reason Slutsky is now.

'Of course it is possible that some of Chelsea's players can be loaned,' Slutsky teased, and Hull took the bait. Tomas Kalas, Lucas Piazon, Kasey Palmer and Izzy Brown have all been mentioned as possible temporary acquisitions. The same logic got Avram Grant through the door at Portsmouth and later West Ham.

Harry Redknapp recalls being sold Grant as technical director at Fratton Park because he would help get players from Chelsea. Later, he returned as manager, failed to secure any advantageous loans and took Portsmouth down.

This did not stop West Ham acquiring his services the following season with identical results: no Chelsea loan players, and the drop. One cannot help wondering why, if Abramovich holds Slutsky in such high regard, he is not now managing Chelsea.

He was available after the 2016 European Championship, just the same as Antonio Conte.

What a **** article.