I've been following the fortunes of AVB and Chelsea this season with intrigue and things just seem to be going from bad to worse. He looks like a decent young manager though who's inherited a first team that's in need of an overhaul. I was wondering what Chelsea fans would think if AVB decided to bed the youngsters in for the rest of the Premier League season and write off the title challenge (cos lets face it City look like running away with it) and continue to use the senior players in the rest of the European games (however many that may be) Bertrand has always impressed me when he's been out on loan, but he's not going to improve by sitting on the bench the same with McEachran and I know he's been using Sturridge in some games, but featuring him and Lukaku more and building the attack around them will help prepare the team for next season when they are going to be needed more. The 15 - 20 minutes here and there that these players sometimes get will only take them so far they need a run of games. The likes of Drogba, Lampard, Cole and Anelka have won it all and their better years are behind them and surely AVB needs to seriously think about moving them on sooner rather than later and give these youngsters a chance to prove themselves.
As you say AVB has a gargantuan task in overhauling this Chelsea side who I believe had their swan-song winning the clubs first double in 2009/10. Whats making the job harder is the expectation of fans (not I) which seems to be impatient and this impatience seems to be being picked up by the team. We can only guess as to what Roman's brief was to AVB at the start of the job so its hard to put an exact finger on it. As you say Bertrand, McEachran and Lukaku should be playing more often than they do especially the first two. Since Mourinho Chelsea have always been a big strong side with flair and the transition to play the pressing game and the stage of some of the players ages as they are seems to be a bridge too far. The trick for AVB as I see it is to keep Chelsea competitive whilst the rebuilding goes on. Its going to be a painful process for some of the fans but I have been there since the late 50's and have seen many teams, some good and some not but still my Chelsea. I believe given the support by Roman and the board AVB will deliver a team. Just how successful we have been is testament to all the wum's queueing up to have a cheap laugh at a few loses. Hopefully the changes will when they come take Chelsea to further successes.
I think ABV may well have to sacrifice trophies this year if is to create a style and a squad to lead the way in the future! Rome wasn't built in a day, but the pressures on him are judging him by the game! I'm sure this has all been laid out in front of Roman, who will have to decide on "I want it all now" or " I'll give you 12 months!"
Very good post. I still think Cole is the best left back around but certainly agree that the likes of Drogba, Malouda, Anelka, Lampard and dare I say even Terry may have had their best years. That's not to say I advocate changing the whole team overnight but it's clear at some point major decisions are going to have to be made. Problem is that a couple of years ago we were assured of top 4 so we could have undertaken a transition and still got CL footie, this year we don't have that luxury with 6-7 teams capable of mounting a top 4 challenge as opposed to 4-5 in years gone by. AVB has a massive task to get us in the top 4 spaces and revamp the first team in a matter of months rather than years. Sturridge aside though, been very disappointed in the lack of faith in some of the youngsters this year. How has Josh not got more minutes for a start??
