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Why Chelsea should keep Andre Villas-Boas
Three Premier League defeats in four games and Champions League last 16 qualification compromised. The last few weeks have been very tough for Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas.
Previous managers Jose Mourinho, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Avram Grant and Carlo Ancelotti were dismissed seemingly for less by ruthless owner Roman Abramovich.
Ancelotti won a league and cup double but was axed after the following season while Grant moved on despite being a John Terry penalty slip away from winning the Champions League.
However, there are several reasons to believe Villas-Boas may stay in his post long-term despite Wednesday’s 2-1 loss at Bayer Leverkusen.
The first is the 13 million pounds Abramovich shelled out to Porto so the Portuguese could move back to Stamford Bridge in the close season. It may seem like peanuts to the Russian billionaire but he also has business sense. Then again, Villas-Boas mentioning this as a reason to be kept on probably isn’t so wise.
Another factor is the merry-go-round of managers at Chelsea has to stop at some point. Alex Ferguson’s success at Manchester United and Arsene Wenger’s achievements at Arsenal, including pulling them out of their recent rut, demonstrate the pluses of longevity.
Chelsea invested in AVB for a reason and that reason can not have been completely destroyed by a bad patch of form less than halfway through the season.
Have City knocked United off their perch?
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was quick to say that his team’s 6-1 mauling of arch-rivals United meant little more than another three points in the bag, but the Italian must surely be hoping it could signal a shift in the balance of power.
Having knocked Liverpool off their perch when they won a record 19th league title last season, United now face the prospect of playing second fiddle to City in England and Manchester, should their heaviest defeat to their neighbours in 56 years prove to be more than just a temporary setback.
Ferguson and several pundits wasted no time in pointing out United were undone after central defender Jonny Evans was sent off for a professional foul early in the second half.
But City were already on top at that point and earned their extra man on the pitch by carving United open with a defence-splitting pass — which left Evans only with the alternative of letting Mario Balotelli run through on goal.
Fielding his unpredictable compatriot Balotelli instead of Edin Dzeko up front turned out to be a masterstroke by Mancini, much like his entire strategy which worked to devastating effect.
Any hopes of a trademark United comeback when Darren Fletcher made it 3-1 vanished after late substitute Dzeko scored a brace to throw the blue half of Manchester into raptures, prompting Ferguson to adopt an unfamiliar line in his post-match reactions.
“We just kept attacking. It’s alright playing with the history books but common sense has to come in at times. With the experience we had at the back, we should have realised that and settled for what we had when it went to 4-1,” Ferguson told the club’s official website (www.manutd.com).
This was definitely as surprise as to the actual score line of the game. However, we have all seen the class of City before and they have obviously showed that they have it with this game. Granted United went down a man very early in the second half, this was a game that will change the opinions/confidence of both teams. Man City on the way up, Man U on the way down!
Chelsea can still feel positive despite Torres miss
Fernando Torres woke up to mocking headlines on Monday after his open goal howler against Manchester United but there were signs at Old Trafford that the Spaniard is beginning to rediscover the form that prompted Chelsea to sign him from Liverpool for 50 million pounds.
Since joining in January he has been barely recognisable to the player who scored goals for fun while playing for Atletico Madrid and then Liverpool, managing just one goal in Chelsea blue before doubling his output with his side’s reply in the 3-1 defeat at United.
That finish, a delicate flick with the outside of his right foot after an instinctive burst into the area, was the highlight of a display that, apart from his inexplicable late miss, would have offered plenty of encouragement to coach Andre Villas-Boas and Chelsea’s fans.
He made some telling runs between United’s defence, one of which led to his goal, and his body language looked far more positive throughout the contest.
Whether or not his fragile confidence will have been dented by his failure to find an empty net from 8 metres is another matter and it will be interesting to see if he plays in the League Cup clash with local rivals Fulham on Wednesday.
While most of the attention was on the newly-highlighted Torres, Chelsea’s vibrant display despite defeat was easy to overlook.
With Juan Mata’s clever range of passing offering Chelsea more midfield variety they had no trouble opening up United’s defence, as the statistic of 21 goal attempts testified.
What is Arsenal’s future?
By Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade
It is a bit early to single out Manchester rivals United and City as the only title contenders this season, but it appears highly likely that Arsenal will not be among the chasing pack now headed by the new-look Liverpool and Chelsea.
What is more, the 8-2 hammering the Gunners suffered at Old Trafford suggests that Arsene Wenger’s side might even struggle to finish in the top six, unless the Frenchman can swiftly turn around their fortunes.
Crippled by early injuries to some regular starters and even more so by the departure of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, Arsenal were so off the pace for most of the match that their fans will want to forget as soon as possible.
With the team’s vertebrae boiling down to inconsistent and injury-prone Dutch striker Robin Van Persie, Wenger faces a mammoth task of rebuilding his side which is now a far cry from the 2003-4 Invincibles who won the league title without losing a match and stretched their unbeaten record to 49 games the following season.
Ironically, that remarkable run ended in a 2-0 defeat by United at Old Trafford and signaled a decline which seems to have culminated in Sunday’s humiliation.
The 2005 FA Cup is the only silverware Arsenal have managed since and adding a fourth league title to his trophy cabinet always looked unlikely for Wenger after the Gunners swapped the intimidating atmosphere of dilapidated Highbury for their glittering new palace, the Emirates Stadium, in 2006.
Who can Arsenal actually buy?
With Cesc Fabregas gone and Samir Nasri possibly on the move too, there is a lot of gloom around Arsenal at the moment and Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Liverpool did nothing to help the mood.
Arsenal fans are for the first time questioning the stewardship of Arsene Wenger and have demanded some top signings to prevent yet another trophyless season.
But who could Arsenal actually bring in? Would a really top player want to go to a club resembling a sinking ship? The Gunners also don’t have the same financial clout as Manchester City, United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and even Liverpool nowadays. (The Italian clubs are worse off though).
Valencia winger Juan Mata seems destined for Chelsea after Arsenal’s initial interest but even he is not the wow signing Arsenal fans want to ease the pain of Fabregas going back to Barca.
But Wenger’s great strength has been buying near unknowns and making them great. Vieira, Henry and of course Fabregas.
There is no value in the market right now and really top players are not available. Trying to develop Jack Wilshere and Co into the new Fabregases looks like Wenger’s only option.
Fans will give him the season to prove he can work miracles again but come this time next year, the rumblings of discontent in north London could be full-blown protests.
So much has been written and said about Arsenal ad its Manager Arsene Wenger in the last few days. To Wenger, this week especially must rank as one of his worst in his career as a Manager.Two of his best players had just departed and his club was facing imminent exit from the champions league for teh first time at qualifying stage. Add to that the spate of injuries to what remains of his first team and you will understand his predicament.
We have all blamed Wenger for what Arsenal is passing through now pricipally because he has refused to buy big and more importantly because he had stuck to a policy that has failed in mordern football. But the cry over the departure of Captain Fabregas and midfielder Nasiri seemed over blown to me.No doubt the two are great players who will be badly missed in Arsenal but that is as far as that goes. The difference between Arsenal and most clubs is that Arsenal makes players not the other way round. Players who were nobodies come to Arsenal nad become over night stars. And when they leave Arsenal, you hardly will hear about them again. Some examples; Hleb, Flamini, Reyes, Adebayor,Thiery?, etc. I hope Fabregas does not become a bench warmer at Barcelona, that will be bad for global footballer. For Nasiri,I think Barcelona could have been the place for his game.But money speaks and b…….Arsenal will do well with some sensible signing by the Manager. But should Wenger think that because the team qualified for the group stage of champions league, all is now well, then certainly, he has past his prime.
elu alaekwe
Soccer Break Tuesday – Blatter unbeatable?
Short and sweet today. Is Sepp Blatter really “unbeatable” ahead of the June 1 election for the FIFA presidency?
It would appear so, though under his leadership the sport’s governing body has come under fire for alleged corruption.
That said, you have to admire his workrate. He is no ordinary 75-year-old.
Some transfer speculation now, and with Ligue 1 leaders Lille set to all but clinch the title on Wednesday will they be agitated by rumours that star man Eden Hazard could leave?
And how about Everton’s Leighton Baines to Manchester City for 25 million pounds? Money is no obstacle for the Manchester side as they prepare to sail into uncharted waters in the Champions League next season.
This article says City need to focus on actually winning trophies, not annoying fierce city rivals United and trying solely to beat them.
Finally, a piece on what relegation means to teams leaving the top flight. West Ham United went down last Sunday, and two more clubs will follow suit next Sunday. Who are you backing to stay up?
Soccer Break Thursday – How to stop Barca?
Just another night of footballing action and another trophy for the all-conquering Barcelona, who on Wednesday clinched their third successive La Liga title despite a laboured 1-1 draw away to Levante.
Manchester United will be hoping a similarly weary Barcelona turn up at Wembley for the Champions League final on May 28, hopefully having themselves recently won their top domestic honour, the Premier League.
Now, onto Manchester City, who are in the news for two reasons on Thursday. One, they play Stoke City in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Click on this link for facts and figures about the game. Two, newspaper reports say they are lining up a move for Barca’s Xavi. But then again, it was Cesc Fabregas on Wednesday.
Realistically who do you think they might poach for the new season?
Sadly the news dominating the sport this week has been the FIFA corruption allegations, where president Sepp Blatter is promising a swift enquiry into the accusations. Brazil 2014 World Cup chief organiser Ricardo Teixeira is coming under fire in his home country but he is defiant and says former FA chief David Triesman should prepare for legal action.
This blog says Triesman’s accusations have further harmed English football’s reputation.
Another sour note for the game and another damaged reputation is in Scotland, where the attack on Celtic boss Neil Lennon on Wednesday was the latest blow to Scottish football.
Soccer Break Monday – season already over?
Anyone else feel as though all the excitement and potential late drama for this season has disappeared?
Manchester United took less than 40 seconds to score against title rivals Chelsea, all but killing the game and the Londoners’ hopes of retaining their Premier League crown, while in Italy AC Milan made it 18 Serie A trophies with a 0-0 draw at AS Roma. Barcelona took a giant stride towards a third straight La Liga title with a 2-0 win over Espanyol. Click on this link for our European roundup.
Champions League finalists United and Barca both need a point to clinch their respective league titles, though for the Catalans three wins will be their priority. Why? Nine points plus 91 equals 100, which would set a new record for points scored in a La Liga season.
Read here for a look back at the Premier League season and five key moments for United. The first was the signing of Javier Hernandez, who darted through Chelsea’s defence on Sunday to give the home team their explosive start. Another key performer, seemingly in big games, is South Korean Park Ji-sung.
AC Milan’s latest scudetto will come as a relief to their fans but the Italian giants face tough times ahead. Read our analysis on the future for the Rossoneri.
The only league that looks like serving up any kind of late season drama is Ligue 1, where serial past champions Olympique Lyon are making a late title surge. They have the referee to thank mind you. But bring on the drama in France. And the Netherlands, where the Eredivisie will be decided this weekend.
Back to France, and the latest on the racism row. Should coach Laurent Blanc stay or go?
Soccer Break Friday – titles at stake
The week is ending but the drama is just cranking up. Yes, the weekend is almost upon us, and that means loads more football action around Europe where there is still plenty at stake.
European competition is almost over for another season after Braga and Porto booked their places in the Europa League final in Dublin.
Borussia Dortmund became the Bundesliga champions last weekend, and AC Milan need just a point against AS Roma to lift the Serie A title on Saturday.
In Spain, should Real Madrid lose at Sevilla on Saturday and Barcelona grab a point at home to Espanyol on Sunday, the Catalans will be La Liga champions.
Things are a little tighter in the Premier League and Ligue 1, where two or three clubs in each league have a decent shot at glory.
All eyes will be on Old Trafford come Sunday, where leaders Manchester United host Chelsea. A United win, and they would need a mere point from their two remaining fixtures.
A Chelsea win, and both sides will be level on points though the Londoners would hit the top of the table due to a better goal difference. Who would have thought it after Chelsea’s woeful run of form in the middle of the season?
hot tip. Lyon to win French league in shock finish
Soccer Break Thursday – United roll on
Manchester United just keep on winning despite a sluggish season by their usually high standards and will now face Barcelona in the Champions League final on May 28.
Predictions? Hard to see even a full strength United keeping Messi and co at bay, especially as Barca coach Pep Guardiola will be seeking to continue his love affair with Wembley.
Next up for Alex Ferguson’s men is the visit of title rivals Chelsea on Sunday, certain to be a much stiffer test than a disappointingly lacklustre Schalke 04 on Wednesday. Will United’s formidable home record count in their favour?
Staying in Europe, and Thursday is Europa League day. Porto take a 5-1 lead into the second semi-final leg against Villarreal, while compatriots Benfica beat fellow Portuguese club Braga 2-1 at home.
Braga, less fashionable than their illustrious rivals, play their home games at the Quarry. Could be an explosive match.
Taking a look at a wider football issue, are tickets too expensive? Read here for what Arsenal are doing to combat the rise in prices.
And finally, referees have a hard time, especially with the stakes so high in Europe, but read here to find out about a New Zealand official’s ‘empty net’ penalty decision.
he isn’t good enough for Chelsea, and Abramovich too.