The Alan Parsons Project was a pretty dull up-their-own-arse British Prog Rock band formed during the 1970’s, and in my view, one of the many reasons why Punk turned up in the late ‘70’s to save mine and many other souls!! In 2012, Chelsea supporters are ruminating on the efficacy of the ‘Andre Villas-Boas Project’. In some respects, this project appears to be similarly up-its-own-arse!
Many of us were and still are desperate to see AVB’s tenure as manager of our beloved club to be a long, stable and successful one. We are fed up with the constant hiring and firing of Managers over the last 5 years, and indeed feel this is the root cause of the Club’s inability to ease through the much needed transition from a great Double winning side to a new, younger side that can compete at an even higher level (we dare to dream!) with expansive football. Added to this is our desire to see the most talented crop of youngsters seen at the Bridge since the ‘60’s breakthrough to the first team, after all, they are good and our munificent benefactor has spent a fortune cultivating them.
However, over the last few months, the ‘Project’ seems to be broken in the midst of an unseemly mess of tantrums, egos, arrogance and incompetence. Can the ‘Project’ be fixed? Will AVB self-combust in the complexity and miasma of his vision (and gobbledygook of his post-match press conferences)? Will Mr Abramovich twist or bust as his patience wears thin with poor performances, dressing room internecine warfare, and the very real chance of a) winning nothing this year, and worse b) not making it to the Champions League next season?
One way or another I suspect that these questions will be answered sooner rather than later, by which I mean before the end of this season. Either way, something has to give. Whilst many Chelsea supporters with long memories will have a sense of perspective when it comes to success on the pitch, the Club is faced with a very real problem if we don’t finish in the top four. Whether Mr Abramovich is prepared to bank roll the club or not, the budget and huge overheads carried by Chelsea dictate that TV and Match Day revenue from a relatively successful Champions League run is vital to the finances of the club. Furthermore, you need to consider the profile the Club receives from success in the Champions League as it strives to be one of the biggest and most successful clubs in Europe (and its ability to sell ever more shirts in America, Africa and Asia!).
Equally important in my view, especially when attempting to re-build the team and bring in world class players in order to perpetuate future success, not qualifying for the Champions League next season will make it very difficult to attract the type of players we need. The best players want to play in the Champions League and have a crack at European success. If they don’t have this then why will they move to a team where this is not possible?
Right now there seems to be a dangerous impasse and power struggle, a good old Mexican stand-off between some of the greatest players to wear a Chelsea shirt; those who run the Club and AVB himself. This is not helpful to say the least, and by the looks of it, to us mere mortal supporters, it is affecting both results and performances on the pitch. So, as the Stranglers once said “Something Better Change…Right Now!”
Whilst AVB came highly recommended (and priced), and may well develop in to one of the World’s best coaches, he still has a lot to learn and prove in the English game and Chelsea in particular. In my view he is exhibiting classic signs of a talented but young and inexperienced Manager (and I mean Manager in any walk of life, not just football). Self-belief and confidence is one thing, but a stubborn refusal to see when things are going the way of the pear, and an inability to act with some humility are another. Right now he is more “Crouching Ginger, Hidden Flaws” than the Ginger Mourinho.
I believe that he needs to change his approach, and if he does he could well rescue this season. This is not the impossible job that many would have you believe, it just requires good management.
There is probably a very good reason why experienced players like Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Michael Essien have been forthright and vocal in their disagreement with AVB. They are winners. They like winning. They’ve been winning consistently for nearly 10 years and know what is required to do so again.
Would it not have been wiser to have sought the opinion and input of the experience within the side, albeit in the mutual knowledge that they are approaching the end of their careers? A wiser Manager would have been quick to get the Old Guard on side from day-one. This would not have been a sign of weakness or vulnerability, quite the contrary. If this had been handled in conjunction with a frank and honest appraisal of where these players future lay, that honesty would have been respected. And from a team perspective, who better to help a young Manager through a transition period than the players who are most respected by the squad, club and supporters. Surely a conversation along the lines of “Give us another year or two of 100% commitment, help me ease the new players in to the winning ways of Chelsea and the culture and the history of the club” would have been more productive.
Instead we see player’s like Meireles and Boswinga played week in week out, when even supporters with no UEFA coaching badges can see that they are simply not good enough (or at best no worse than those they keep out of the team). In addition, the management of Alex and Anelka’s removal from the club smacks of arrogance and inexperience. To alienate and isolate two good servants to the club was vindictive and plainly short sighted, especially as there were no obvious or better replacements brought in. What difference could Alex have made in Napoli this week to a kamikaze defence? How many goals might Fernando Torres have scored this season had a different option been provided by Anelka?
Good Managers admit when they are wrong, and seek advice from those who have better or wider knowledge than their own. If AVB is to save his Chelsea career and rescue this season for us he needs to change his approach. Here’s some free management consultancy wisdom for him, written by a leadership coach mate of mine. It might help:
“Inspiring leaders deal in the truth and consequently engender high levels of trustworthiness. They find time to listen. They have an ability to enlighten, energise and inspire their team. They are comfortable themselves; knowing their own strengths and limitations. They do not need to “act big”, or pretend to be important. Humanity and humility are their foundations. They know that people do their best, when they feel that they are in an environment of appreciation. Such leaders know and value their colleagues’ real strengths and talents…Good leaders combine a positive state of mind with the ability to learn lessons. They have the power to forgive and the ability to move on from setbacks, grievances and disappointment. Inspiring leadership sits well with humility, for as Ogden Nash once said: “Whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up”.” (Jonathan Perks MBE – “Inspiring Leadership”)
AVB please take note, as we the supporters both want and need you to succeed at this club, not least because if you are replaced by the “Fat Spanish Waiter” Rafa Benitez, then the financial repercussions for this club in terms of seasons tickets not being renewed will be far more grievous than failure to qualify for the Champions League!!!
