When Andre Villas-Boas (AVB) took the reins at Chelsea Football Club on the 22nd of June 2011 there was much optimism amongst Chelsea fans that this man, finally, could be the long-term solution to provide the sustainability of success in a long-term project that the club have clearly needed for some time.
Signing up in West London off the back of his first season managing Porto with an undefeated domestic season, winning the league, Portuguese cup and Europa league (not to mention being part of the successful Mourinho group at Chelsea) this seemed like a dream come true.
But, as I write this, according to a large number of fans, the media and so-called experts, Chelsea are in turmoil. Currently 5th in the league, awaiting a replay in the FA Cup and 3-1 down to Napoli at the half way stage in the Champions League of the last 16. Not to mention the awful standard of football being played and the revolt of players against the manager, the dream at the beginning of the season has developed into a nightmare; one we can’t wake up from until the season ends it would appear at the moment.
So why has it all gone wrong for AVB? Will he or should he still be the manager come next season? What needs to be done? And finally, can he turn it around?
It seems strange to me that Chelsea is in this position and predicament. AVB clearly isn’t a stupid person with his credentials as a manager and it’s not like the spine of the squad are alien to him having worked with these players in the Mourinho era.
Looking back to pre-season, it took six games until we finally conceded a goal; winning every game we played. It was quite clear that during pre-season, the AVB effect was in motion. Unlike Ancellotti’s last season in charge, Chelsea was moving the ball around with a purpose, speed and accuracy. We were clinical in on goal and were creating chances at every attack. This carried on into the opening games in the season and up until the QPR (hahaha) game this was still evident. Chelsea had changed, AVB had changed Chelsea and although defensively we weren’t as solid as previously it was nevertheless refreshing to see us play open, expansive and exciting football. Fans, despite the odd defensive mistake, were happy and could see the progression was being made.
So, what in the hell as happened post QPR?
AVB seems to have changed his approach after the Arsenal game. Pre-Arsenal, we saw the high line being used defensively. Genius in my opinion as it causes the midfielders and forwards to play further up the pitch and closer together (which is why we looked more expansive as an attacking team). We did concede goals (only 1 a game though, baring Arsenal and United with a stroke of misfortune) and to be fair, these goals were not down to a high line. Individual errors (mainly a Bosingwa error) on every goal and replays of those goals will prove it. And it’s quite clear that this Chelsea team, even now, are a very good team in terms of possession, but I feel since the players themselves took it upon themselves to drop a little deeper this has caused us to take a step back in time to last season. We don’t create any real chances or look like scoring because the midfield is basically playing alongside the back four to try and collect the ball. Obviously then, the strikers, like Torres for example, are left isolated and have to do a lot of work themselves to create anything…a tough job with a strike partner let alone by yourself. Post Arsenal game, we have looked like the team that saw us come up short last season…it’s just this season has taken a particularly nasty twist in what seems a bitter rivalry between certain players and the manager.
The obvious change in play from pre October to post Arsenal game has caused this ever-continuing inconsistent slump Chelsea is in. Is it AVB’s fault? I’m not going to say he is innocent in this by any means but look at the facts. Players wanted to drop deeper defensively because they feel more comfortable…AVB lets them. With AVB’s high line we conceded 17 goals. With the deeper line we have conceded 25 goals. By no means at all is 17 goals a decent number to concede but in the spirit of winning games of football, playing exciting football and at the very least looking like scoring it is much better than losing games, frustrating fans and conceding more goals.
Players wanted to stay in the 4-3-3 formation where AVB pre Arsenal was using various formations in different scenarios, like the 4-2-3-1, which was extremely effective and got the better out of the team overall where 4-3-3 gets the best out of particular players.
So is AVB at fault here? To a degree yes, he lets the players make the decisions in what they felt comfortable with tactically and its caused our play to suffer, results to suffer and of course confidence to drop to an all-time low. At the same time, these same players that are reportedly challenging the manager on his decisions are the ones highly responsible for it. It’s extremely hypocritical from these guys and if AVB had stuck to his guns maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess. But who really knows. It would appear to me that certain players unwilling to want to adapt to a new style have started all of this off and now the fire is really burning.
Unfortunately AVB, giving these players that certain level of ‘power’ was a big mistake as his stubbornness to try and take this power back and play big boss man has turned the fire into an inferno. Snubbing certain players, leaving players on the bench in the most critical game of the season for players like Meireles (who frankly aren’t fit to wash the youth team’s boots) all to make a point could effectively cost us our season. You’re the boss AVB, but your timing has been bloody awful. The time and the place to rightly put these players back in their place was not the Sao Paulo stadium, nor any other ground for that matter.
AVB still has a lot to learn in dealing with players with greater playing credentials than himself (which to be fair, anyone that has played football at semi-professional level probably pips AVB) but he tried it the players way when he should of stuck to his guns and now trying to take that back is turning into a very public affair and destroying Chelsea. Bad decision making by the manager, really caused by the players is what has put us in Shit Street. The manager can moan at the players and vice versa.
We can argue all day long about AVB’s team selection and substitutions but at the end of the day he has to choose the players that want to play for him and his way. If he makes poor substitutions it’s probably because on the bench we don’t have anything to replace them with or change a game in our favor and that has been obvious this season. If Torres comes off, we replace him with Lukaku, a raw talented kid. If Lampard comes off, we replace him with someone like Meireles or Mikel. If Mata comes off, we replace him with Malouda. The quality just isn’t there. Is that AVB’s fault? Not really. Yes you can make the argument about January investment…but do the club risk another inflated flop (no offence Fernando) or just ride it out?
I’m not defending AVB here; I’m looking at the facts based on evidence throughout the season. His decision to constantly start a shit right back in Bosingwa and arguably the worst midfielder Chelsea have had in Meireles is all him. His decision to panic into silly substitutions when they’re not needed is all him. Inexperience is clearly apparent in AVB in the big time.
AVB took the power back from the players against Napoli. It did cost us the game, no question. But now it’s the managers way (again) we can now hopefully see the transformation of Chelsea under AVB, just like the pre-season and the first few months of this campaign. Some of these key players clearly don’t like AVB but they still are going to have to perform. Some need contract renewal and if they are going to part ways, performing well won’t do their bank account any harm when they go to another club. Asking for huge wages after playing poorly is a piss take.
Anything that happens now is going to be down to AVB, unlike most, I have faith he can turn this around. We’ve seen under his methods when the players are getting on with the job that we actually look good. We weren’t poor against Napoli, far from it, but it was clear that confidence in the squad has to be rebuilt now. A confident Chelsea would have destroyed the slow leggy back three of Napoli for sure.
Should he go? What is the point of going around in a circle yet again? Give him the 3 years with his methods, squad and authority and see where we are. Let’s be honest, who will replace him? Benitez? Don’t make me laugh.
Getting through this season with Champions League football will be the key to rebuilding the squad next season and attracting those players desperately needed.
It’s now up to AVB to turn this around now. He is clearly in charge now, its being run his way and it’s his head on the chopping block. No more players hating him excuse. He is now in control. From here on in, it’s his tactics, team selection and changes that will define our season. The big question is, will he turn it around? We shall wait and see.
It’s not all doom and gloom. We still have the FA Cup as a real possibility of silver wear and turning over Napoli at home is not out of the question. Turn that around, with 4th spot, AVB looks like a hero and the start of something special looks good and the optimism is back for next season. The so-called transition on paper looks smooth again and these fans, pundits and newspapers calling for his head are now back on board with him again.
Whether you like him or not, he is still in the job despite having a worse record than Scolari and Grant. This suggests that Roman is giving this man a chance and we may as well accept it and judge him when the result of this season is finalized in May.
The end could well be near for Chelsea this season, by March 14th realistically…but also us being on the verge of something special is not out of the question or over the rainbow either.
UTC
By Liam Hawkes
Great article Liam,
my problem with AVB is his inability to get the senior pros onside. A few conciliatory words before the season began would probably have quelled the firestorm we now find ourselves in. After all, those players are wholly or partially responsible for most of our recent successes and should have been given a lot more respect.
This my way or the highway style of AVB’s, may be just what the club needs, but the transition period would surely have been made easier if he just asked for some input from the players that have been here for many years.
Hopefully, Roman will keep his powder dry and give this guy a chance to fashion his own side over the next 3 years, but recent history shows that his lack of patience may see AVB out of a job sooner rather than later.
cheers Kev