In defence of Chelsea's Avram Grant

[Sam Slater]

All nicknames start somewhere. Doesn't make it any better because 'Rottenham' is older than 'Chelski'.

I'm not too fussed what you call 'em, I just pointed out the slight hypocrisy - give as much as you take & all that....

[Ace]

Mike_CFC wrote:

> I'm a staunch Chelsea fan,and i want Grant to go.Nothing will
> change my mind on this issue.The man's a charlatan.If he was'nt
> one of Abramovich's cronies,he would'nt of got the job.
>
> This is the badly administered institution that Chelsea FC has
> become.Hated by the whole world(which i could'nt give a monkeys
> tbh),bad PR,the list is endless.
>
> 'hammer4life' made a good point a few weeks ago,stating that
> 85% of genuine Chelsea fans want nothing to do with the
> club,and he is right.Most of my pals father's don't go to
> matches anymore,all because of the poncy,shoddy way the club
> has become.
>
> I would'nt mind in the slightest if Chelsea went trophyless for
> the next couple of years,to get rid of the gloryhunters from
> Stamford Bridge,if anything.
>
> And for the record,i would of still been supporting the Chels
> had of Chelsea went the same way as Leeds,which very nearly and
> could of so easily happened.

I am with Mike on this as well. I have posted several times that the real Chelsea fan is swept aside to make way for the corporate Johnny-cum-lately who know fuck all about the beautiful game, except how to make money from our beloved clubs.
Along with Mike, I will always support Chelsea, even if they were relegated and run by Batesy, who for all his faults, was a fan as opposed to Roman who is a very dangerous person in and out of football.
As for our manager and players? I'd sack most of them if the truth be told...under achieving and more concerned with their wages it seems.

[Mike_CFC]

Agreed Ace.In a way,i miss the times when the Shed end was the Shed end.I stood in the Whitewall back in the 1980's and was quite familiar with the 'faces' of the Shed end.It would need a very strong firm to take the Shed,which i only experienced Millwall and West Ham succeed in doing so,while so many others failed,BIG TIME.

Back to the 'New Age' Chelsea.A massive clearout is needed at Stamford Bridge.Obviously the 'gormless one' has to go,as does Ben Awful,Pizarro,Malouda and Sidwell(for his own good).Lampard and Drogba we're bound to lose,which is a shame,but shit happens.

I saw Avram's wishlist for the summer,and had to piss myself laughing.Kaka,Messi.......dream on!!!!

Kenyon should fuck off too.Does'nt give a monkeys about the club.Only interested in signing players that will sell shirts and fans that will spend big in the Megastore or the poncy Restaruants/Bars around the ground.

[Bob Singleton]

I've been a Chelsea fan since 1968 and agree with much of what Ace and Mike_CFC have said.

Some of the players need a boot up the arse. Many need to be shown the exit door, but the first person that should be discarded is Avram Grant.

I'm not calling for a "superstar" boss to replace him... just someone who has a basic grasp of tactics and can gain the respect of the players. I'd be happier seeing Steve Clarke promoted than a so-called big name from abroad.

I also think the talk of Messi and Kaka is delusional clap trap... it may sit well with all the "Championship Managerl" playing numpties, but in the real world these players are not yet within the reach of Chelsea (and certainly not with Grant at the helm). I'm not even sure they could properly adapt to the style of the Premiership.

If Drogba goes, as seems likely, I think a better replacement would be Huntlaar, and I'd rather see Bentley and Gareth Barry than Kaka and Messi.

[Ace]

Bob Singleton wrote:

> I also think the talk of Messi and Kaka is delusional clap
> trap... it may sit well with all the "Championship Managerl"
> playing numpties, but in the real world these players are not
> yet within the reach of Chelsea (and certainly not with Grant
> at the helm). I'm not even sure they could properly adapt to
> the style of the Premiership.

Thats a good shout Bob, I think these names were highlighted to appease the poncey corporate sponsors that Chelsea can attract the best in the world. I would prefer Chelsea to go for Ronaldo at Man Utd, we all agree he has adapted to the rigours of the Premiership and is more than a bit useful on the ball

>
> If Drogba goes, as seems likely, I think a better replacement
> would be Huntlaar, and I'd rather see Bentley and Gareth Barry
> than Kaka and Messi.

Again, spot on. Losing Gerrard a few years back when he was set to sign wasn't that big a deal, we don't want scousers at this club. Barry is someone I would like to see at The Bridge. A good solid work horse of a player.

[Jonone]

Does Abramovich play 'Champoinship Manager' ? !grin!

[Mike_CFC]

Grant as Chelsea manager is the perfect example of a tramp who gets the oppurtunity to date a pornstar or glamour model.

9 times out of 10,he would'nt be given a second look !laugh!.

Guilbert,you're pn your own fella.Go on the Chelsea message boards such as cfc.net,chelsea chat and talkchelsea.net and you'll see exactly how the genuine fans feel about Grant's management,and how we have felt about Grant since he was appointed manager back in September last year.

I'd rather see Mr Bean in charge at Chelsea than Avram.

Roman should give the job to Steve Clarke,with Zola and Wisey on the coaching staff.

Once Clarkey goes,than all identity of Chelsea FC with the 'old school' fans will be gone forever !sad!

[Ace]

Mike_CFC wrote:

>
> Roman should give the job to Steve Clarke,with Zola and Wisey
> on the coaching staff.

I feel Steve Clarke should have walked when Mourinho left, he'd be respected a lot more from die hards like me. I am sure I read Wise WAS approached when at Leeds and Batsey slammed a MASSIVE fee on him if he went back to Chelsea.

> Once Clarkey goes,than all identity of Chelsea FC with the 'old
> school' fans will be gone forever !sad!

Mike is once again spot on...........I think Clarkey is the sole survivor of the Gullit revolution now

[Mike_CFC]

Kenyon's not interested in fans like us Ace,reason why he has been whoring Chelsea to Asia and America,reason why our pre season is now thousands of miles away,when we should be having our pre season over here.Like that,it brings money to the lower league clubs.

I miss the summer's when we played pre season against the likes of Bristol City,Brentford and of course,our annual excursion to Kingstonian FC......where many Chelsea fans would flock to the world famous Robert Peel Pub for post match pleasures !happy!

[Bob Singleton]

Ah, the Robert Peel... my local strip pub.

Instead of Hiddink or Rjikard or whoever else the NotW/Sun/Mirror etc has us linked to next, I'd like to see someone with Chelsea connections being in the management team, like Zola who seems to be doing a good job with Italy U21s

If Grant stays I can see Steve Clarke going, though the rumours are that many of the senior players will be asking for the removal of both Grant and ten Cate at the end of the season.

It makes me laugh that because Grant has said what a good player Gerrard is, all the gutter rags have us lined up to make a third bid for him! Whatever the boardroom troubles, he'll never leave Liverpool, just as Terry will never leave Chelsea.



In response to Guilbert's post, the reason why so many Chelsea fans want to see the back of Avram Grant, in spite of still having a chance of winning both the Premiership and the Champions League, is that his tactical ineptitude has cost us dearly.

Under Mourinho, or indeed under almost any other manager, we would never have lost the 3-1 lead against Spurs to end up with a 4-4 draw. 2 points needlessly dropped there which would otherwise have seen us currently level on points with the big game to come next week. His tactics against the same opponents in the Carling Cup were similarly bemusing and inept. As for the game against Barnsley...!!!! We're lucky that Brad Friedel is such a brilliant stopper, otherwise the title race would have been over last night.

It is plain for all to see that Grant is clueless. His substitutions make Ranieri's wilder moments look quite sane. His starting selections often defy belief. It is clear from their body language that the players are confused by him and have little or no faith in him. During the break before extra time in the Carling Cup, it was Steve Clarke who was exhorting the players to one final effort whilst Grant wandered along the touchline, hands deep in pockets and obviously thinking of more important things, such as whether his wife would make him some lokshen soup and gifelte fish for supper.

GRANT MUST GO!!!!!