Romans Chelsea Empire Crumbling With Abramovich In Charge

Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error - Marcus Tullius Cicero


Once more Roman Abramovich has shown a new manager to the door at Stamford Bridge. Slowly but surely all the success he has helped bring to Chlesea is becoming a distant memory due to his incompetence and  misguided dreams.

Undoubtedly Andre Villas-Boas did not set the world alight in his brief stint at Stamford Bridge. Yet how was he ever going to do so with the team he inherited in such a short space of time. Chelsea need major surgery on what was a once a fine but now an ultimately ageing side.

Added to that the old guard which have left have never suitably been replaced. No other centre back complimented John Terry quite like Ricardo Carvalho whilst Chelsea are crying out for the pace and incision of Arjen Robben and Damien Duff. John Obi Mikel has also not quite lived up to standard especially when the standard was set by Claude Makelele.

Some may point out that José Mourinho won two titles in a row in his first two seasons but he had the fortune to have young hungry players entering their prime and could put his own stamp on his team. Villas-Boas was not afforded enough time to put his own mark on proceedings.

How many of this Chelsea team were Villas-Boas signings? Juan Mata was the only significant purchase and he has been one of Chelsea's best players all season. A manager need's time to cultivate and nurture a team. Even Sir Alex Ferguson has traded short term disappointment for bountiful long term successes in the past.

Indeed two of the most successful managers in Premiership history have a fine record for maximising potential and achieving results with young teams. It is without doubt that Ferguson and to a lesser degree Arsene Wenger have created championship winning sides by having patience and belief in younger players.

Yet look at Chelsea and how many young players are coming through snapping at the heels of Frank Lampard,  Didier Drogba or John Terry. The great United team of the late 2000's boasted a fine defensive partnership in Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

However only a few years have passed and Ferguson has already given opportunities to players like Johnny Evans, Chris Smallings and Phil Jones to fill such big shoes. Even the enigmatic Dimitar Berbatov who was bought for £20million is now playing second fiddle to the likes of Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck.

Furthermore Wenger went three seasons without a title before winning two in three years with his sensational "Invincibles" side. This is further indication that team's must go through barren periods every now and again to prosper. How is a team meant to function and create its own personality if there is a new coach every year implementing a different philosophy? It is impossible.

Abramovich must take a look at the bigger picture and refrain from his attempts at playing Football Manager and creating the perfect team from thin air. Otherwise Chelsea will continue their descent  down the table and even to a position where not even "the Special One" will be able to revive them.