RichieS
Well-Known Member
- Dec 23, 2004
- 11,916
- 16,436
I was passing time at work today by thinking about the summer and what it may hold for us.
I would like to begin by saying that if by some miracle we managed to get Mourinho in to replace Harry you can pretty much write off most of this post!
Right, so area of discussion 1: Management.
I think we're pretty much agreed/resigned to the fact that after the events of the last couple of months, Harry is leaving at the end of the season one way or another. This obviously presents us with a massive decision. Regardless of whether we finish in the top 4, there doesn't seem a large choice of managers for us. It seems that we will almost be forced to go for an "up and coming" type, simply because there are no experienced high level managers looking for work at the moment.
To me, this issue then seems to raise a further question - do we return to the continental model i.e. as well as get a new manager, get a new DoF from somewhere too? I think we would all admit that we know less about this role than that of a manager, so would we face a similar problem there? Off the top of my head, I think that Begiristain is still out of a job - maybe he'd be the man. Furthermore, given Rodgers' documented links with Barca, could the pair of them form some kind of Arnesen/Jol type "dream team"?
For me, the choice of managers comes down to three: Lambert, Rodgers and, wait for it... AVB. I know AVB is a controversial suggestion, but the way he had Porto playing was excellent and given all the outside factors at Chelsea, it's hard to judge him on his time there.
Hot on the heels of this is area of discussion 2: Players.
Assuming that we go for a younger manager, presumably with an eye on the longer term, I think we can expect a certain amount of upheaval here. Modric will leave I think and I'm not confident that we'll keep Adebayor. That's two big players who will need replacing. I think we'll be able to keep Bale for at least one more season and I reckon vdV will be happy to stay.
The squad will certainly be freshened up. The main question here is can we expect something similar to Arnesen's first summer? From what I can remember of that year, it felt like every day I checked Teletext to find out we'd signed another three players! Certainly there are many on here who feel that a large number of players need replacing, and a rebuild could be on the cards.
The first team could feature Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, Caulker, Benny, Sandro, Parker, vdV, Lennon and Bale with Naughton, Gallas, Dawson, Huddlestone, Livermore and Townsend and whatever new signings we bring in pushing them all the way. I'd also keep Bassong and Corluka if they wanted to stay.
Would that necessarily be so much worse than what we currently have? With a couple of shrewd striker signings (certainly possible - just look at Newcastle's recent success in that department), a young replacement for Luka (Joe Allen perhaps?) and an appropriate tactical system, I would say not much, if at all.
So, what do you lot reckon awaits us in the summer? I'm hoping for the dawning of a new era, and newfound optimism going into the next season.
I would like to begin by saying that if by some miracle we managed to get Mourinho in to replace Harry you can pretty much write off most of this post!
Right, so area of discussion 1: Management.
I think we're pretty much agreed/resigned to the fact that after the events of the last couple of months, Harry is leaving at the end of the season one way or another. This obviously presents us with a massive decision. Regardless of whether we finish in the top 4, there doesn't seem a large choice of managers for us. It seems that we will almost be forced to go for an "up and coming" type, simply because there are no experienced high level managers looking for work at the moment.
To me, this issue then seems to raise a further question - do we return to the continental model i.e. as well as get a new manager, get a new DoF from somewhere too? I think we would all admit that we know less about this role than that of a manager, so would we face a similar problem there? Off the top of my head, I think that Begiristain is still out of a job - maybe he'd be the man. Furthermore, given Rodgers' documented links with Barca, could the pair of them form some kind of Arnesen/Jol type "dream team"?
For me, the choice of managers comes down to three: Lambert, Rodgers and, wait for it... AVB. I know AVB is a controversial suggestion, but the way he had Porto playing was excellent and given all the outside factors at Chelsea, it's hard to judge him on his time there.
Hot on the heels of this is area of discussion 2: Players.
Assuming that we go for a younger manager, presumably with an eye on the longer term, I think we can expect a certain amount of upheaval here. Modric will leave I think and I'm not confident that we'll keep Adebayor. That's two big players who will need replacing. I think we'll be able to keep Bale for at least one more season and I reckon vdV will be happy to stay.
The squad will certainly be freshened up. The main question here is can we expect something similar to Arnesen's first summer? From what I can remember of that year, it felt like every day I checked Teletext to find out we'd signed another three players! Certainly there are many on here who feel that a large number of players need replacing, and a rebuild could be on the cards.
The first team could feature Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, Caulker, Benny, Sandro, Parker, vdV, Lennon and Bale with Naughton, Gallas, Dawson, Huddlestone, Livermore and Townsend and whatever new signings we bring in pushing them all the way. I'd also keep Bassong and Corluka if they wanted to stay.
Would that necessarily be so much worse than what we currently have? With a couple of shrewd striker signings (certainly possible - just look at Newcastle's recent success in that department), a young replacement for Luka (Joe Allen perhaps?) and an appropriate tactical system, I would say not much, if at all.
So, what do you lot reckon awaits us in the summer? I'm hoping for the dawning of a new era, and newfound optimism going into the next season.
