If/When we get rid of Poch it is about more than just that......
We are continuing old habits.....
Good Evening Ladies and Gents,
Today I am taking a look at the biggest repercussion of sacking Poch and the statement it puts out to the football world and more importantly our fanbase.
I am not sure about the rest of you but I am sick of the ‘Hire and Fire’ culture that we have used so successfully over the last 20 odd years, some people might think I am mad but I genuinely hate when we have a connection with a manager and boom suddenly they’re gone, also the culture means managers like Potter, Poch, Sarri etc never build up connections with the fans, because their style take perseverance, understanding and above all patience from everyone involved.
I will never ever moan at the success we have had, but what I am desperate for (maybe greedily) is sustainability in success, look at City for example or Man U under Fergie it was sustained success, constantly being favorites for every competition and going on and living up to that label each season (give or take).
It is greedy and entitled to say it but I don’t think I am out of order for sharing that thought or opinion.
Sacking Poch in my opinion portrays everything of the ‘Hire and Fire’ culture that worked so successfully in the Abramovich era. Without all of the leaders, characters and core of the dressing room that came with it.
I am not saying lets keep Poch to go against that, but what I am saying is that we have no chance whatsoever of having sustained success (or any for that matter) if we keep chopping and changing. Right now our young squad needs leadership, experience and stability in both player and management form.
We need to fine tune this group, cut a few, sign a few experienced heads and then give that group stability to push forwards. I am still firmly on the fence IF Poch is the man that can bring that to the club but until we try we don’t know.
As Chelsea fans we are incredibly entitled and spoilt because of the success we have had over the last 20 odd years, but we need to not turn into Liverpool and live in the past, we need to be in the moment and move forward with this ownership regime and project overall.
Not everyone will agree with me and that’s okay, lets have a sensible and respectable debate in the comments!
Thanks for reading
Luke Rushbrook
Great read Luke and I agree with what you’re saying. I don’t like how the majority of the fan base only have 6/7 months worth of patience and then want a manager changed every year if it’s not perfect. I don’t like to use rivals as an example but look at arsenal. They were screaming arteta out to begin with but he managed to create an atmosphere within the club where they play great football, have been a lot more consistent in terms of getting results and developed a style of play. I can’t remember the last time we allowed a manager time to do that. There was real excitement when poch was named Chelsea coach and a lot of reports and people stating how good he is and can develop players and bring leadership to the team. These things don’t happen overnight. At times we’ve seen this and we’ve seen the players fight for the club but it hasn’t happened enough. I think if the club and fans are serious about building sustainability success, get used to the hard times at the beginning and let’s see if we can improve in the summer with better signings and a fully fit squad.
For me, here was the biggest difference in mind-sets at Wembley. It had nothing to do with the players or managers being "brave". It had everything to do with job security. Klopp has always had it. Even if this were his first full year at Anfield, he had the security of knowing FSG were not going to sack him if he threw a bunch of kids on the pitch in the League Cup Final because of injury and they lost, especially not now in his final season.
Aside from Lampard, no Chelsea manager has ever had that level of security in their job. And Lampard only had a bit of job security because there was a transfer ban and he had to work with all the resources available to him.
You're right in that someone has to be given time and freedom to actually build a squad and a culture around a team. Even though City's team and management structure were basically built for Pep, he still needed a season or two to get everyone on the same page. As it stands, no Chelsea manager has ever had the comfort and the support to do something similar.
Until that changes, we'll continue to struggle, especially without a benevolent owner willing to inject as much money into the club through whatever channels necessary (legally or otherwise) to cover the debts and keep the club compliant with financial rules.