Well balanced thoughts here, its been obvious from the start that the board need a face for the club that is world renowned, would love Frank not sure he would take it but you never know.
Ashworth is a great shout as well
You are 100% correct if you want to be an elite club you need to act like one and put the best people you can in place
Lampards strength lies in his talent ID and pull power. Perfect for the Sporting Director role, with someone more technical above him.
Dan Ashworth would also be perfect and exactly what we need. We've all been saying Winstanley & Stewart need someone more experienced to oversee the whole operation and Michael Edwards has been the most obvious name, but given Ashworth is potentially available now, then he would be an even better choice IMO.
Something needs to change, quickly....because the two currently at the helm clearly don't have a scooby what they are doing!
I agree with the article. Lampard makes total sense - both in terms of talent spotting and commanding respect in negotiations especially with players.
One other positive about Sporting Directors is that Ego buys got reduced. For instance both Mudryk and Cucu were ego buys as they were courted by Arsenal and Man City respectively. This is imo.
With Mason Mount - I am on fence coz we might never know the full story of who did what apart from narratives briefed to media from both sides.
Also I would love to know what went on with Caicedo negotiation coz we definitely overpaid by around 25 mil imo. Especially when Brighton guy later boasted that they always knew Liverpool would come in. I believe it’s a negative from our Sporting Directors.
PS: This is entirely my personal opinion- I still am mad at these guys for the fact that we don’t have a proven goal scorer since last 2 windows. We should have got a proven striker last summer. For all the data and progress - Goal scoring is definitely an issue from past 2 and half seasons.
Thanks for the insight from The Score. Really interesting Reed and a good one to take a step back and think about. I believe the jury is out on the present structure and participants in that group. It will take time to see if the work of the last 18 months will come to fruition. I think some of the comments made are a little bit over the top, but everyone has their own individual view. I do think that Franc would be a great sporting director, and adding to the present Alongside a director of football would make our structure complete. Although the director of football may not necessarily be required with existing people we have.
I am not sure that there is “Lack of leadership and authority” it’s just different to what we’ve been used to and that was far from perfect. Does it matter that neither have been the sporting director of a big football club. They have more experience, definitely a lot more than us as supporters and have knowledge that we don’t have. Everyone that we think is so fantastic at other clubs had to grow from somewhere and perhaps these two will from the current positions. Furthermore it’s not their responsibility to communicate with us as fans, that’s not their Roland. It should come from the ownership if anywhere at all. Personally I think we are deluded and expecting communication direct from the football club. It’s not happened in the last 30 years and doesn’t happen in most other top Premier League clubs either.
Poor communication: we’ve had one interview with them back in September, but there’s still no clear communication on the clubs vision, their plan and strategy. As you say the “Perception” is that they are perceived as poor. That does not mean they are. It’s just a perception. There is actually at this stage, no proof one way or the other. I’m not going to comment on the incompetence aspect as none of us really know, most of it is rumours, subterfuge and third-party comment, mostly with an individual angle. Some of these situations we will never know about fully and they are best left. The one thing I would say is that the negative comments about Hall need to be balanced. Let’s not forget, Manchester City made the same decision for the same reasons about Palmer and we benefited from that. There has to be balance.
Don’t get me wrong with my comments I am sure mistakes have been made. You’re right that lessons need to be learned from those mistakes and we’ve already seen that to be the case. All of this takes time, the situation at the takeover was complex because of the reason for the takeover. We had no real leadership within the club beforehand, just two or three people. We now have a much better infrastructure. Will it work, I have no idea but I’ve been supporting the club for over 40 years and I’m willing to wait 2 to 3 years to see the outcome before I make real judgements.
I don't really get the poor communication element either. Chelsea are a global, multi-milliion/billion pound business and you don't come out and tell the world all your plans, how you plan to do it etc etc - imagine Coca-Cola doing that.
And even if the sporting directors did that, they'd only annoy the fans - lets be realistic most football fans are clueless on how to run a huge business successfully.
For me this article does what it sets out to achieve which is a little bit of fantasy that plays well to the fans. Recommending Frank Lampard as Sporting Director, who has no experience with such a role, 4 sentences after condemning the current ones for not having the experience of doing it at a bigger club - i mean cummon
i think there are some other issues at play too which is the meddling from Eghbali. He was the reason we sold Hall and he was the reason why Lavia was bought as the Liverpool bid for Caicedo hurt his ego so wanted to get one over them... any footballing person should have knocked some sense into him that signing a 19 yr old after his first senior season from a relegated team is not what smart recruitment teams do. Plus he will not start ahead of the two 100m midfielders and adding him as a 3rd midfielder would unbalance the team and push Nkunku out to the wings.
Another thing is that when you want to improve a club you go for elite operators who have a track record. Signing 2 SDs from mid table clubs for a European giant that wants to compete for trophies was down right stupid. If Edwards was not available then go for someone else. There are a few good SDs available within Europe. Same goes for CEO. Roman got Kenyon. These guys got Gilick who was useless and had to be replaced within a year and then replaced him with their own guy who had to be imported from US and had no idea of what a football club is.
Another point i dont know how long Neil Bath will stay with us. Giving him a wishy washy designation without any authority is not smart. He loves Chelsea so hope he stays long enough but if they really value him then involve in the overall squad / football planning. Does he have the authority to lay down the plan on how to integrate top academy talents into the first squad? does he have the authority to challenge the SDs on clogging up the spots by signing one player after another without any reason? Look at the number of wingers and midfielders we have! Does he have any authority to challenge the signings that don't move the needle when the same spot can be filled by an academy player?
Great shout with Lampard as Sporting Director. The owners clearly respect him as he was back in the directors box recently. Get him in at directors level and JT involved with the first team and I don’t see things don’t improve very quickly.
Well balanced thoughts here, its been obvious from the start that the board need a face for the club that is world renowned, would love Frank not sure he would take it but you never know.
Ashworth is a great shout as well
You are 100% correct if you want to be an elite club you need to act like one and put the best people you can in place
Really great article this. Couldn’t agree more
Couldn't agree more, both with the review of the current structure and the suggested Ashworth/Lampard partnership.
Great article. Very good logical points throughout
Why is there no more talk of Michael Edwards?
Fantastic.. Would love Frank as sporting director.. Think that's where his talent really lies
Great shout on both fronts.
Lampards strength lies in his talent ID and pull power. Perfect for the Sporting Director role, with someone more technical above him.
Dan Ashworth would also be perfect and exactly what we need. We've all been saying Winstanley & Stewart need someone more experienced to oversee the whole operation and Michael Edwards has been the most obvious name, but given Ashworth is potentially available now, then he would be an even better choice IMO.
Something needs to change, quickly....because the two currently at the helm clearly don't have a scooby what they are doing!
I agree with the article. Lampard makes total sense - both in terms of talent spotting and commanding respect in negotiations especially with players.
One other positive about Sporting Directors is that Ego buys got reduced. For instance both Mudryk and Cucu were ego buys as they were courted by Arsenal and Man City respectively. This is imo.
With Mason Mount - I am on fence coz we might never know the full story of who did what apart from narratives briefed to media from both sides.
Also I would love to know what went on with Caicedo negotiation coz we definitely overpaid by around 25 mil imo. Especially when Brighton guy later boasted that they always knew Liverpool would come in. I believe it’s a negative from our Sporting Directors.
PS: This is entirely my personal opinion- I still am mad at these guys for the fact that we don’t have a proven goal scorer since last 2 windows. We should have got a proven striker last summer. For all the data and progress - Goal scoring is definitely an issue from past 2 and half seasons.
Thanks for the insight from The Score. Really interesting Reed and a good one to take a step back and think about. I believe the jury is out on the present structure and participants in that group. It will take time to see if the work of the last 18 months will come to fruition. I think some of the comments made are a little bit over the top, but everyone has their own individual view. I do think that Franc would be a great sporting director, and adding to the present Alongside a director of football would make our structure complete. Although the director of football may not necessarily be required with existing people we have.
I am not sure that there is “Lack of leadership and authority” it’s just different to what we’ve been used to and that was far from perfect. Does it matter that neither have been the sporting director of a big football club. They have more experience, definitely a lot more than us as supporters and have knowledge that we don’t have. Everyone that we think is so fantastic at other clubs had to grow from somewhere and perhaps these two will from the current positions. Furthermore it’s not their responsibility to communicate with us as fans, that’s not their Roland. It should come from the ownership if anywhere at all. Personally I think we are deluded and expecting communication direct from the football club. It’s not happened in the last 30 years and doesn’t happen in most other top Premier League clubs either.
Poor communication: we’ve had one interview with them back in September, but there’s still no clear communication on the clubs vision, their plan and strategy. As you say the “Perception” is that they are perceived as poor. That does not mean they are. It’s just a perception. There is actually at this stage, no proof one way or the other. I’m not going to comment on the incompetence aspect as none of us really know, most of it is rumours, subterfuge and third-party comment, mostly with an individual angle. Some of these situations we will never know about fully and they are best left. The one thing I would say is that the negative comments about Hall need to be balanced. Let’s not forget, Manchester City made the same decision for the same reasons about Palmer and we benefited from that. There has to be balance.
Don’t get me wrong with my comments I am sure mistakes have been made. You’re right that lessons need to be learned from those mistakes and we’ve already seen that to be the case. All of this takes time, the situation at the takeover was complex because of the reason for the takeover. We had no real leadership within the club beforehand, just two or three people. We now have a much better infrastructure. Will it work, I have no idea but I’ve been supporting the club for over 40 years and I’m willing to wait 2 to 3 years to see the outcome before I make real judgements.
I don't really get the poor communication element either. Chelsea are a global, multi-milliion/billion pound business and you don't come out and tell the world all your plans, how you plan to do it etc etc - imagine Coca-Cola doing that.
And even if the sporting directors did that, they'd only annoy the fans - lets be realistic most football fans are clueless on how to run a huge business successfully.
For me this article does what it sets out to achieve which is a little bit of fantasy that plays well to the fans. Recommending Frank Lampard as Sporting Director, who has no experience with such a role, 4 sentences after condemning the current ones for not having the experience of doing it at a bigger club - i mean cummon
Good article from TheScore 🍾
I would also hire Lampard as sporting director a long time ago and someone with longer experience like Ashworth Campos Edwards or Mitchell
AC Mailand also got back to the top thanks to the duo Massara and Maldini.
That's the perfect recipe for Chelsea!!!
i think there are some other issues at play too which is the meddling from Eghbali. He was the reason we sold Hall and he was the reason why Lavia was bought as the Liverpool bid for Caicedo hurt his ego so wanted to get one over them... any footballing person should have knocked some sense into him that signing a 19 yr old after his first senior season from a relegated team is not what smart recruitment teams do. Plus he will not start ahead of the two 100m midfielders and adding him as a 3rd midfielder would unbalance the team and push Nkunku out to the wings.
Another thing is that when you want to improve a club you go for elite operators who have a track record. Signing 2 SDs from mid table clubs for a European giant that wants to compete for trophies was down right stupid. If Edwards was not available then go for someone else. There are a few good SDs available within Europe. Same goes for CEO. Roman got Kenyon. These guys got Gilick who was useless and had to be replaced within a year and then replaced him with their own guy who had to be imported from US and had no idea of what a football club is.
Another point i dont know how long Neil Bath will stay with us. Giving him a wishy washy designation without any authority is not smart. He loves Chelsea so hope he stays long enough but if they really value him then involve in the overall squad / football planning. Does he have the authority to lay down the plan on how to integrate top academy talents into the first squad? does he have the authority to challenge the SDs on clogging up the spots by signing one player after another without any reason? Look at the number of wingers and midfielders we have! Does he have any authority to challenge the signings that don't move the needle when the same spot can be filled by an academy player?
Great shout with Lampard as Sporting Director. The owners clearly respect him as he was back in the directors box recently. Get him in at directors level and JT involved with the first team and I don’t see things don’t improve very quickly.
I’m not convinced from what he says that JT wants any further involvement beyond what he’s got currently
100% with you on this.