5 Things Chelsea must do to beat United next season
Editor’s Note: Avram Grant was fired by Chelsea today as a torturous period for the manager came to an end. He’s put on a brave face, carried himself with grace and dignity and performed better than anyone expected him to. He’s managed to hold Chelsea together – no matter how good the players and the support staff are, some credit is due to the manager as well – in a time of turmoil and in the process has borne the brunt of criticism sent Chelsea’s way.
With his dismissal Chelsea have signaled their intent to win trophies next season, and are on their way to carrying out Max’s 5-step plan (having already completed the first step today).
The Chelsea front office cannot pretend to be happy. They lost the league. They lost the Carling Cup. They lost the Champions League. Talk about a tumultuous season. Chelsea is always the first team to change course (Mourinho gone after less than two months of the season), and they need a major change of direction right now. Peter Kenyon needs to read this article, because this is the plan that will make my beloved Chelsea better than United:
Avram Grant out (Done)
Whatever you think of Avram Grant, he has failed to win trophies, and the players will not rally around him. His Carling Cup final fiasco was a harbinger of things to come. Grant looked like the village idiot for leaving Michael Ballack and Joe Cole on the bench; two of his most consistent players all year. His only signing, Nicolas Anelka, has criticized him for his tactical mistakes in the Champions league final. I knew that Grant was in trouble the moment Didier Drogba was seen listening to his Ipod on the sidelines during a game. I have great respect for Grant for the efforts he has made, and he did it with intense scrutiny in the wake of Mourinho leaving, but it is time for a new manager.
Editor’s note – this article was written before Grant was fired by Chelsea. Maybe Kenyon on the same wavelength?
Frank Rijkaard in
Chelsea desperately need a manager with the ability to attract players, as well as the experience to attain the Champions League title. Rijkaard can do both of those things. He won the Champions League with Barcelona, and can bring big names to Chelsea. Rijkaard is also a man around whom the Chelsea squad can rally around. Rijkaard was able to successfully phase out the old guard at Barcelona, basing the team around new players like Ronaldinho, Deco, Edmilson, and Eto’o. If he comes to Chelsea, he will need to clear out some players, and bring in some new stars. Rijkaard has the experience Chelsea is looking for, and he is a manager that garners respect where ever he goes.
Didier Drogba out
Let’s face it, Drogba is a terrific player, but he does not fit in at Chelsea. Drogba has been in a sour mood ever since Mourinho left, and this has manifested itself in the Ipod incident, and the red card in the Champions League final. Drogba is one of the best strikers in the world when on form, but he has caused too many problems at Chelsea to stay. He will do great things wherever he goes but he is no longer welcome at Chelsea. AC Milan can have him. I want to thank him for his major contributions to Chelsea, and wish him well at his next destination.
Keep Frank Lampard
After watching the Champions League final, it is evident that we absolutely must keep Frank Lampard. After the death of his mother, Pat Lampard, he has become a new person. The passion and emotion he shows on the field has been incredible. Lampard and Ballack worked magic together in the final month of the season and it would be a huge mistake to let Frank go. As long as Frank plays with the same intensity in the future, he deserves a place on the team for as long as he likes. When I watch Chelsea, it is clear that John Terry is the captain, and Frank Lampard is the heart and soul of the club. The first priority this summer must be keeping Frank Lampard.
Three Fresh Faces
Chelsea needs a few new faces. Their immediate needs are a new left winger, and a new forward. With Drogba out, and no dominant left winger, Chelsea will need to spend money to take care of these problems. Chelsea should court Robinho to play on the left wing. Robinho is someone who plays with incredible flair, something Chelsea has been lacking. Madrid might be willing to listen to offers for the Brazilian, and Chelsea would be the perfect place for him. There are two players Chelsea should sign in order to beef up the forward position next year. The first is David Villa. Villa is a proven scorer, who can fill the void lefty by the departure of Didier Drogba Villa will be available from Valencia, because the club need to raise funds. The final player Chelsea should sign is Sergio Aguero. The nineteen year old is a young star, and he would be a great addition to Chelsea. He would be the backup to Villa, or he could play alongside him. Aguero scored 19 goals in La Liga this year, and would be a great addition to Chelsea.
If Chelsea can do all of these things, then they will be able to push for all four of the possible trophies. The new signings will fit in nicely to a very skilled squad. Chelsea need to move forward, and stake its claim as the best team in England, Europe, and the world.
Topics: Chelsea, English Premier League, Features, Manchester United
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I was thinking that Chelsea might go for a past footballer (and a successful one at that) instead of the non-superstar variety. That possibly eliminates some of the popular contenders mentioned (Eriksson – hah) and I’m pretty sure Mourinho won’t be back.
Other things Chelsea have said they’ll do is trim the squad (possibly with a view to trim the wage bill and that could mean some big names (Makelele for starters) could be out of Chelsea this summer.
They also want to keep both Drogba and Lampard but with Drogba it’s about playing for the right manager and for Lampard it’s about being given what he feels is his due. For his stellar composure this season and how he’s handled himself, the man at the very least deserves similar wages to JT and Ballack (I’m guessing he’s behind both).
May 24th, 2008 @ 19:59Aguero is not going to change clubs to be backup to anybody. Villa is a good player but aguero has far greater potential.
May 24th, 2008 @ 20:04So all Chelsea has to do to beat United is to sign: Aguero, Silva and Robinho? Sounds easy enough I’m sure they will be cheap as they’re not all top talents and their teams certainly wouldn’t want players of their low class sticking around…lol.
May 24th, 2008 @ 20:08Bayern: Aguero might switch because he’ll be drawn by the aura of a Chelsea size club, and the wages they’re going to offer him could be beyond anyones wildest dreams. They will start out with him as a backup off the bench and if he’s impressive they will change to a new formation to get both Villa and Aguero on the pitch. He’s nineteen, there’s no need to rush him into every game. Chelsea played in i believe, 64 games and no human is fit enough to play in all of them. Aguero and Villa could each play in 40-50 and that would be enough. He’s young, and you should start him out slow.
May 24th, 2008 @ 20:14ryan: Peter Kenyon even said they’re going to spend big, but not buy many players. Villa is available for about 20 mil, Aguero will be 30, and Robinho will be 25. 75 mil in total. As ahmed said, Chelsea will be trimming the squad down getting rid of the Steve Sidwell’s of the team. Here’s a link to Kenyon’s comments on the matter
May 24th, 2008 @ 20:18http://goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=707314
Max, I hear what you are saying but at 19 years old money is the last thing on his mind because he knows that will come where ever he decides to go. Clearly no one can pay as much as chelsea but at his age he need to be playing to continue his development. He would not leave to be second string to anybody… he has way too many admirers and talent for that. I’m not sure if you’re the one who wrote the piece about ronaldihno going to man city but as i said then, money is not all these players are interesting in. Money is vital and anywhere they decide to go they will get it but they also need to be playing and winning. Thats the only way their stature wiil grow.
May 24th, 2008 @ 20:22Wow, immediately after Max Zeger wrote this, step 1 of his strategy was implemented. Perhaps Chelsea should sign Max Zeger as their new manager?
May 24th, 2008 @ 20:25Nice article. I think that Chelsea will never beat Man U and that Kenyon should regret firing Grant for doing a good job.
May 24th, 2008 @ 20:34Keeping Lampard?! This would be a costly mistake. Lampard is the reason that Chelsea’s game is unimaginative and predictable. Chelsea needs to replace Lampard with a creative midfielder: only then will Chelsea make significant improvements. Besides, without Lampard, Chelsea has looked its best all season. Indeed, with Ballack pulling the strings the team looks more dynamic. Ballack plays better without Lampard and so does Chelsea! As to Frank Rijkaard, I hope that he is not hired. Chances are that he will never win another Champions league in his lifetime. It took and experienced Ferguson 10 years and lots of luck to win a second one. Let’s hire someone who has not won one.
May 24th, 2008 @ 21:02max kudos 4 writing objectively even if we don’t all gree with u but this is the kind of article i hope to read when ever i come this blog thanks
May 24th, 2008 @ 22:28Check out JT martyring himself in a letter of apology- apparently he is of the opinion that the Road to Rome 2009 begins there. How inspirational.
May 25th, 2008 @ 00:14Don’t talk stupid, please remember that Man U and the rest of the teams will also spend big and improve.
May 25th, 2008 @ 01:26Chelsea need major surgery. I hope you employ Rijkard, he looks burned out and certainly doesn’t know how to maintain a stable dressing room. Robinho, can’t see him fancying Hull City on a Tuesday night in December, he is just not physical enough. Vila certainly made his mark in driving Valencia to the top of La Liga – oops sorry they were almost relegated. Aguero does look a good prospect, but that is what he is. Kaka – poor season and looks lost at the moment.
If Chelsea were a ‘big’ club, they would be competing for Ronaldo or Messi. But the main problem is that true world class players at the top of their game would not go to Stamford Bridge because money is not their priority and Chelsea at best are second best.
@ steve: You’ve got to be kidding me. “If Chelsea were a ‘big’ club”, “Chelsea at best are second best”. They made it to the league final and ended up losing 6-5 in penalty kicks. If John Terry doesn’t slip, it is probable that they win the league. Chelsea is second place at the absolute worst, arguably first place. I am pretty sure finishing 2nd place in B.P.L. ranks you as a ‘big’ club’.
May 25th, 2008 @ 01:33Chelsea is arguably the best club team in the world and are going to be able to spend a lot of money in the offseason, but you are right. The big-name players are not going to want to go there. They want to come in last place and make little money.
I take it from the contents of your message that you are a chav by heart…
May 25th, 2008 @ 04:14The thing is Robinho is a right winger..and shifting a flair player is not that good an idea IMO
plus Villa would be more interested by real madrid who i believe have been courting him for quite some time..
and sadly Aguero is quite lightly framed for the EPL..and lastly coming to the Big Team comment Chelsea though a big team they are not,sadly,in the league of the Man Utd or a Real or a Barca because History does’nt start from 2003 and Money isnt everything
I think Chelsea needs a creative midfielder like Diego as Dr.Clayton said Chelsea would be far better off with diego than lampard and the other plus is that he is just 23
May 25th, 2008 @ 04:18I’m certaintly not a chav, and don’t support a chavs behavior. If you read my bio, I live in America, we have thugs and g’s. Chav’s are an imitation of our thugs.
Robinho frequently plays on the left for Real, and Villa might well go to Real. I’m not saying any of these players will come, I’m just mapping out a successful plan for Chelsea to win trophies next year. Carlos Tevez is in the same mold as Aguero and he has done pretty well for himself.
As for Chelsea not being a big club, Is Liverpool a big club? the last time they won a league title was 1990. And chelsea won it in 2006 and 2005. I agree Chelsea recently came into promenence but they have attracted world class players and they spend the money to be considered a big club.
May 25th, 2008 @ 04:30Jack: Diego would be great for Chelsea because he is a world class player, but the midfield is so jammed right now. Diego would only come if we got rid of Lampard, Essien, or Ballack, because at the moment he is not getting any playing time over those three. Lampard needs to stay because he has some real passion and soul in his play. Before his mother died, he was not as good but he is playing great football since.
May 25th, 2008 @ 04:33My gut feeling is Lamps will go to the club where the Special One will go ,mostly inter.So that leaves Essien and Ballack in midfield so Diego will be excellent replacement for Lamps as he has more flair than Lamps well imho lamps is more a box to box with precision passing but Diego can provide that magic pass .i think we need a prolific finisher up front if Drogaba leaves.Also the new coach whoever he may be needs to stop playing essien at back not that he is bad but he is more wonderful going forward.Also on the Coach front Michael Laudrup would be excellent than others but his capability to manage superstars is not known
May 25th, 2008 @ 04:48Just hope Chelsea gets back on track
We have different opinions then
…and NO aguero is not as stocky as tevez….aguero of what little i’ve seen of him is bulit more like messi.
you see i have’nt included the scousers in my list..being a Manc including Liverpool as a big club would be a disgrace..them and their 18-5 chants.
May 25th, 2008 @ 06:23Ah the scousers
and i apologise if the word chav meant anything other than a chelsea follower in your land.
but i do tend to agree with some of your ideas…basically drogba to your team has the same effect as RVN did to ours….wonderful strikers both..definitely but still playing them means playing a 4-5-1 which would be deterimental to free-flowing football which roman craves for…however i still dont agree with thr robinho matter because Malouda if im correct was much sought after and is a very good left player….a out and out wide player while robinho is a player who even if played out wide tends to cut in…and after seeing your matches with anelka doing the same…or even joe cole trying to do the same is not the ideal thing for your team to do…..And i am having this conversation only because..more teams playing free football is both a treat for the players and the spectators
Does anyone know why Chelsea fails to play the attractive football that Roman so much dersires?
Its simple. They are a miss-match of superstars forced to play together in the football field. Bringing in Robhino will not make Chelsea play attractive football. Bringing in Messi will not make Chelsea play attractive football. Bringing in Kaka will not make Chelsea play attractive football.
Why? Its simple. When you force a superstar to play in a system he is not used to he will fail to achieve his max potential.
I’m not saying they won’t play football at all, they will play and they will win but the lacking of team chemistry is the reason why Chelsea’s football is so boring.
To make Chelsea play attractive football, they must bring in footballers that will compliment each other instead of their egos clashing. One good eg. of this is the Chelsea vs ManU game at the Bridge with Ballack and Drogba fighting over the freekicks.
Superstar signings will not help if they don’t fit into the team.
May 25th, 2008 @ 09:37are you stupid?
frank lampard is shit.. he did nothing in the champions league final.. yeah he was in the right place after 2 deflections but that doesn’t make him a great player. the reason you lose is because he plays. one of the best engine rooms in the world is being forced to play right back becuase of fat lampard in the way. imagine makelele essien and ballack.. i’d be more scared if i saw that..
next david villa is awful.. what kind of striker is unheard of throughout his whole life up until he is 25.. 2 years ago no one had heard of him. if he is so good why did valencia nearly get relegated?
lastly you will NEVER buy aguero.. he is easily the best youngster in la liga bar messi..
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May 25th, 2008 @ 10:49the players signed is ridiculous im sorry. youve just mouthed off 3 world class stars anyone would want…
May 25th, 2008 @ 11:57haha this article is so stupid. it sounded quite credible until you said that u thought chelsea would sign aguero, easily one of the top 5 in europe, as a backup? LOOOOOLLL
and tbh your just a typical chelsea fan…always want more more more. chelsea will never be great again until they find the stability that they had when mourinho was there. avran grant managed to overcome a shite start to the season to get you to 2nd and only lose it on the last day. he got you to the final of the CL to lose by an unfortunate penalty miss by john terry. that is not his fault
and you want to bring riijkard in? the man who got barcelona, the team with the best players in the world, to 3rd spot?
sounds like a great plan…
May 25th, 2008 @ 12:00@oli: Say what you want about this article being stupid, but it has been less than 1 day since this article has been written and 20% of it has come true. Obviously this published author knows more about soccer than you do.
May 25th, 2008 @ 16:27@ Michael John – Everybody knew the Grant would get the sack after they lost the CL Final. It is coincidence that the article was written at the time of the sack.
May 25th, 2008 @ 16:48Woo Woo Woo everyone, Let’s make one thing absolutely clear first:-David Villa is world class.You’d be hardpressed to find a Valencia match where Villa doesnt score.He has pace,he scores from free kicks,he has an outstanding finish. I expect him to shut you all up this summer in the Euros.
May 25th, 2008 @ 21:53Grant was a good manager from what I think,what he lacks was confidence.He couldn’t control the players. he might have done great in another era,but his fault was that he was the replacement to mourinho.Had he been the manager some time else, he might have succeeded.
Rijkaard would be the ideal person.He might get Chelsea to play the attractive football.However, it might take some time.
Good article, Max. But everyone who says Aguero isn’t coming is right. There’s no way such an immense talent would leave first team football behind to play second fiddle. Plus, he’s said publicly that the only clubs he’s interested in moving to are Barcelona, Inter, AC and United and that would only be after next season. I still think he’d go to Chelsea, but not yet and certainly not as backup. If Athletico decide to sell there are plenty of teams that would start him.
Chelsea should let Lampard go if they get a decent price. He looks like he needs a new start, a new challenge. And Clayton’s right when he says that Chelsea have played their best football without him this season. That said, Ballack is old so they’ll probably need 2 new midfielders if Lampard leaves.
I reckon it’ll be Lippi as manager, although I think he’s overrated. He’d have the respect of the players and he wouldn’t fuck about pandering to superstars. My guess is that Chelsea will do an enormous rebuilding job this summer. 10 or so out and7 or 8 in, at a net cost of about 80million. I wonder if they’ll wait til they have a new manager to start buying players?
May 26th, 2008 @ 02:56im not being biast but lets be honest ur right cech mistake aganst the spuds in the carling cup final was grants fault getting the draw aganst wigan was his fault the ball bouncing off carvalho’s back and keane driving that in was grants fault agantst spuds at stamford bridge anelka refusing to take the penalty his fault running a 4-3-3 was his decision oh no wait it was romans robinho wait isnt kalou and and shaun wright the same player as robinho? kaka? center attack midfielder not a winger hello?,barca are rebuilding selling messi would be smart after he 1 the best young players in the world chelsea need defense a back get benzema,alves and ronaldinho, who has exp and plays 4-3-3
May 26th, 2008 @ 04:11I agree on ur views but Rjikaard seems like a bad choice, he has proven is limited tactics changes and it make him predictable, so if he come he may not do better than Eriksson’s City, on my personal’s i think Laudrup will be a good choice, he’s not top-manager like some would like, but he seems close to the players, and he got Chelsea past.
I think the immediate things to be done are to keep Lamps and Drogba, and Clarke as well.
We need new face but dont need to buy costly high-profiles as in the last 2 years our signings have been expensive and bad.
May 26th, 2008 @ 05:09This is an interesting article. Personally, pertaining to Chelsea’s ego crashes, I think that humility should start from the top and then onto the players.
By top and then onto the players, I mean that Roman Ibramovich need to find in himself the time to appease Jose Mourinho on all that he did.
The right manager for Chelsea is Jose Mourinho and I think that Roman Ibramovich needs to do whatever it takes to get him back – even when it means that he has to “kneel down” to Mourinho.
Jose Mourinho loved Chelsea with a great passion and this is why he was hurt a lot when the owner hardly gave him the credit that he deserved.
All the silverware, plus many more, will return when Mourinho regins…
May 26th, 2008 @ 05:36ok i agree with nearly all those comments.
May 26th, 2008 @ 12:04Keep lampard because he is easily chelsea’s star player. Maybe not the best but when he plays chelsea fans are more drawn, that said would i prefer diego or kaka to lampard? Chelseas main weakness has been a creative mid that controls the game. Lampard doesnt do this he makes a killer pass or comes in for a goal, in some ways he plays more like player in the wings then a true CM. He will always have a place in chelsea though.
Now i disagree about villa. I dont think villa will do quite as well in the PL as he did in the liga. Personally i think gomez would do great. Aguero is my most wanted player but i doubt he is coming because he really likes athletico and he will want to try CL with them. Also robinho is great but i think kalou is getting better each year and malouda should be given at least another year.
Chelsea’s “To Do List”:
May 26th, 2008 @ 12:061- Get a real manager (half is done)
2- Drop Makelele, Malouda and some other players
3- Keep Dogba and Lampard
4- Get a good young defensive midfielder
Wait, so spending ridiculous amounts of money on great players is the key to Chelsea winning? Well that’s just crazy talk.
May 26th, 2008 @ 12:27Have any of you actually seen aguero play or are you all jus assuming EA got it right with his rating in FIFA 08? Because they have been wrong before you know…
May 27th, 2008 @ 00:28Lloyd: I watch a lot of spanish soccer, and believe me, Aguero is the real deal. Chelsea would benefit immensely from a player of his caliber and I can only hope they can lure him away from the Estadio vincente calderon
May 27th, 2008 @ 00:36I disagree I think that Aguero is not that great at this moment in time is not that great. But he is still young and has a lot of potential.
May 27th, 2008 @ 23:58Michael John: “Chelsea is arguably the best club team in the world.”
And what planet are from buddy???
May 28th, 2008 @ 02:56BD Condell: Chelsea is arguably the best team in the world because they were one less slip away from being the best team in Europe with Europe being the best confederation in the world. If you consider them not as good as Manchester United, then they are the second best in the world.
May 28th, 2008 @ 03:09Max, my friend, the quote was ‘the best club in the world’. Now please define your criteria for what constitutes the best CLUB in the world and get back to me.
Hint! We’re not interested in noveau riche no marks with no history and no class…..but still interested to hear your criteria.
May 29th, 2008 @ 17:15i like chelsea FC club.i lived in pakistan my wish that i m playing in chelsea fc club i ma big footbaler i like foot ball.
June 6th, 2008 @ 07:30