This post could relate to any profession in the world but in this instance we're talking about football and more importantly about Chelsea. There are two main threads that have led to this post one concerns a potential world beater of a centre forward and the other relates to a potential CL winning manager.

Firstly how do you decide where to put your trust? Should we bring Studge back and play him up front ahead of Anelka/Kalou/Drogba(???) for a decent length of time in the hope that he proves his potential and forms a record breaking partnership with Torres that leads us to glory for years to come. Even if you do and it doesn't work, would it necessarily be Studge's fault? Might there come a time when you say okay Nando you can't play alongside Danny and he's doing better than you so you're dropped?

Similarly with the manager, supposing we got Hughes in (or Zola, or Di Matteo, etc. etc.or just for the record I don't understand why Wise never get’s a mention, he done really really well as a manager) how long and how much backing do you give that man before you blame him for not getting it right? Do we just want a manager that takes the current crop of players and makes them gel well as a team or could a young manager come in and say, "There’s only 6 of the current 1st team squad that I like the look of, we need to get rid of the rest and replace them with my players"?

It seems that Roman wants instant success, but I think our chance for that has gone with the current crop of players, In my opinion we need a manager that get's complete backing an time to rebuild the squad in his own mould - yes that manager has to show progression in certain areas on a year by year basis but that shouldn't be dependent on cups won. On top of that the board need to be confident that the person they're entrusting is someone that they can trust - how to be confident in that without the results to back it up is a difficult one. That's why for me it would make sense to have a manager/Director of Football that the board are willing to trust working alongside and manager/first team coach that the director of football is willing to trust. Hughes and Hiddink? Possibly but both would have to want to work alongside each other and would want to do the role that's set out for them rather than having an eye at taking the other's role.

So what about the playing side? If you're willing to give a manager time its then up to him to give the players time to shine. Sturridge can do no more than he has so far; excelled at youth level (Man City and England), excelled at reserve level (Chelsea), excelled whilst on loan (my opinion but he done more than other strikers at that level of club).

The possible down side of this is that you get the wrong person in charge and over time he proves that he's not capable of getting us to where we want to be (that can only be proved with the explicit backing of the board), we end up 5 (?) years down the line and in a position similar to where we are now.

If we carry on with the current model, we've got a team of players that will continue to get older/slower/more injury prone, it's possible they might win the champions league next year but I honestly believe that's the last chance for the current crop. If they don't then the manager for next season gets sacked and a new man is bought in and expected to deliver with pretty much the same squad.......repeat.............repeat.............repeat.........

Let's take the risk, try someone knew and give them a proper go. If it works we get what we all want, if it doesn't we try someone else. The board keep getting it wrong anyway, might as well get it wrong with potential????

Good post Barn. The only bit I slightly disagree on is Wisey. I know he was a legend for us as a player but I don't thinks he's done that great as a manager to be honest and after the debacle at Newcastle he's been cast in the wilderness a bit. The good spell he had with Leeds started going sour as soon as Poyet left. Now Poyet IS someone who is looking as though he is going to be a very decent coach.

Milwall and Leeds for Wisey, the only blot is Newcastle and that was Director of football. Not really important it just always suprises me that when we're talking about former players to come back and coach he doesn't get a mention. I'd have him back here in a shot.

wisey not proven - poyet yes he is at Div1 level - but too early

our club needs a proven PL manager (like hughesy) or a proven european/international/CL manager like Guus

we are not a feeder club mate

I wasn't for one minute suggesting Wisey should be given the job just wondered why he never gets a mention as a possible coach when we're talking about ex-players

I wasn't for one minute suggesting Wisey should be given the job just wondered why he never gets a mention as a possible coach when we're talking about ex-players

I hope the club this time put a succession plan in place, and I wouldnt be too upset should Wise be brought back into the club in some way. Its something we are missing at the moment, a link with the past. Bringing in Zola, Wise and maybe even Di Matteo would give us a backbone of staff with the club at heart, and also a possible successor to whoever is brought in as manager.

Good post Barn, but it's only half the picture, you have to factor in money. And in football money only comes with success, sadly.