Following a 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Tuesday the pressure is back on the Premier League’s youngest manager. Following three defeats in four games, two against the Reds, his reign at Stamford Bridge looks to be hanging from a thread.
Since Roman Abramovich shelled out an eye-watering £13.2 million to bring the 34-year-old to London this summer, expectations have been sky high and Chelsea’s indifferent start to the campaign has had people suggesting his time may be over already. It is a disastrous statement about the world of football that one of the brightest young managers around may be thrown onto the scrapheap after five months as a Premier League boss because his philosophy of playing sexy football has not taken off.
With every game being scrutinised, particularly at Chelsea where the axe is never far away, defeats against fellow top sides is a cardinal sin but while it is often managers that pay the price for poor results, AVB cannot be held fully responsible for the problems he faces.
Since the departure of Jose Mourinho the team has only been patched up by his successors, papering over the cracks by splashing cash, trying to implement their own playing style into a squad that has been set up a completely different way and the team he has inherited dangerously lacking in youth.
Frank Arnesen legacy at the Cobham Academy is staggeringly small considering his reputation and the money spent on the facilities. Josh McEachran has come through the system and looks to have a bright future despite not being given much of a chance, but after that, who else is there? Patrick Van Aanholt and Jeffrey Bruma are both out on loan as is Gael Kakuta, a player that they spent a lot of money on ‘poaching’ from Lens, and none of them look likely to break into the side any time soon.
Meanwhile, twelve members of his team are over 30 and while that brings experience it means there is a distinct lack of pace throughout the team which has left them struggling with the pass-and-move style of play and high defensive line that is now the norm at the bridge. John Terry has is a world-class defender but pace is not something he has ever had in abundance and with opponents now looking to get the ball in behind them it is making his life a lot more difficult, particularly when he is having to deal with the eccentricities of David Luiz alongside him.
The most frustrating factor for Villas-Boas must be the long-term injury to Michael Essien. The Ghanaian would be included in the midfield without a second thought when available. He can play in defence, in the holding role or pushing forward and does so with the pace and enthusiasm that is lacking from the team at present. When the 28-year-old returns to action he will be able to replace John Obi Mikel who has looked weak in the centre of the park. His ability on the ball is way below par for somebody playing top-level football. He is playing in an important role in the team and isn’t up to the level of other holding midfielders but unfortunately for Chelsea, he is the best available at the minute.
Then there is the trouble of Torres. He has been better this campaign than last season but is still nowhere near justifying his £50 million price tag. His struggle to get on the scoresheet is a big concern and doesn’t look like ending soon. Meanwhile, Didier Drogba has been favoured recently but at 34, he is not a long term fix and has only scored twice himself this term, and while Daniel Sturridge has been in good form AVB is still not confident enough to play him down the middle, a position that will bring the most out of him.
Off the pitch, the club’s failure to sign Luka Modric in the summer took the wind out of the sails. Having secured the unlikely capture of Fernando Torres in January, Abramovich believed anything was possible in the transfer market but came crashing back to Earth after failing to negotiate a deal with Daniel Levy, his main target was out of reach. He was a player that would have fitted in perfectly with AVB’s masterplan but without him he’s relying on people that he would not have bought himself.
Perhaps more worryingly are the off-field events. With the club looking to move home, they have become preoccupied with trying to buy back Stamford Bridge from the Chelsea Pitch Owners, which is alienating fans who want to stay where they are.
Captain John Terry bagged a goal on Saturday but even he will admit that this is not his finest campaign. Since the incident with QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, he has had other things on his mind and that isn’t what is needed by the club’s cornerstone. He has been the best central defender at the Bridge this season but that is predominantly down to Sideshow Bob lookalike David Luiz pressing the self destruction button at every opportunity and Alex being way short of his English counterparts’ skill level.
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At the top of the tree, Abramovich is currently facing a £3 billion lawsuit from his former friend, Boris Berezovsky, who claims that he was intimidated into selling his share of an oil company they co-owned to the Blues owner for a fraction of their actual worth. This case will of course be playing on his mind and when his biggest investment is not reflecting the money he has put in then it will be irritating and cause the new boss to be under added pressure to impress.
However, he isn’t totally blameless. Unlike the Special One, the 34-year-old is trying to please his demanding boss by trying to play attacking football despite it exposing their vulnerability when the ball is played behind them.
The constant squad rotation is also affecting this transition because there is no chance for the team to get used to the new style and develop an understanding with each other.
His aggressive responses to the comments of pundits like Gary Neville also show a sign of nervousness about the current predicament when confidence is needed. Neville’s comment that David Luiz was playing like he was being controlled by a 10-year-old on the Playstation was justifiable but it showed a lack of experience by Villas-Boas when he rose to it.
Chelsea need a complete overhaul and that will take time. Abramovich must back his manager and give him more than one season to turn it round. He is a fantastic young manager and with the signings of Mata and Meireles it is clear he has a plan in his mind but if it is going to bring the success that the Russian craves then he must allow it to blossom.
The owner must take a back seat and allow his big investment to do what he needs.
Villas-Boas obviously must survive the short term and currently he is nowhere near achieving what is required but that is down to the form of the teams near them at the top.
Manchester City are unbeaten and look formidable while United started the season in scintillating fashion and are picking up points despite not playing great. At the same time, Tottenham are playing mercurial football and could be a title contender and start that Newcastle United have made so far is gaining all the plaudits.
The start Chelsea have made has not been terrible but is below par. Give it time and he will succeed. But how much longer before the Russian’s clock stops?
What do you think is Chelsea’s biggest problem? Comment below or follow me on Twitter @jrobbins1991 and talk football.
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