The Chairmen know best

[BLUENUT]

It seems there is a new breed, or new line of thought sweeping through the premiership this season with little regard for professional pedigree, experience or in-depth knowledge of the game. The 'Chairman knows best' attitude has spelt the mis-fortune for several clubs this season.

Firstly let's have a look at Bolton. Letting Allardyce leave wasn't a decision really of their making, but once it was decided he was heading for pastures North, they didn't scout around for an ideal replacement, they handed it in-house to Sammy Lee. He performed well as assistant to Big Sam, but when it was time for him to become Big Sammy, he was found wanting with his lack of premiership experience as a head-honcho. They turned to Gary Megson who previous experience was getting clubs relegated from the league, the men at the top just brought in an 'average Joe' because they thought that's all they'd lost in Allerdyce.

Onto Big Sam's new club Newcastle. He'd started relatively slowly and was hampered by injuries to some of his bigger names. He stipulated a 5 year plan and said for his ideas to gather momentum he needed time. The one thing he wasn't given by the chairman, who thought it wise to sack him without a ready made replacement lined up. Mike Ashley had bigger, better but less brighter idea's a few months after handing the reigns to Big Sam, and fulfilled a dream that saw the return of King Kev to Tyneside. Keegan seemed to forget that football had carried on in his absence and the team talk against Arsenal 'Pass it better than they do'' went someway to show he'd been left in the dark ages. Did either chairman really know what they were losing, as both clubs spun into a familiar pattern of poor results in Big Sam's absence.

Our neighbours Fulham who parted company with Chris Coleman, a manager they failed to back with ANY transfer funding, expected the new man to take them to a new level. Laurie Sanchez, another man with no premiership experience certainly went some way to do that, almost into another division infact. He was replaced by Hodgson, but the rot had already set in, with no funding from the chairman whatsoever. Did the chairman or board really know best, or are they holding back funds for a new stadium venture, either way it'll be easier to sell tickets for games in the top league than in the one below. Losing Coleman was the start of the end for Fulham, they really didn't realise how well he'd done, (similar to Allardyce at Bolton) with such a tight budget, or no budget at all. Both look to be heading out of the division, with hindsight, did their chairman really do what was best ? They now realise what they had, and what they've lost!

Now the strangest situation of all is what unfolded in SW6, where the most successful manager in the history of Chelsea football club was shown the door by his employer because a clash of personalities!?! This apparent feud dated back to the beginning of January the previous year, when Chelsea ironically played Wigan at home and thrashed them 4-1. The Chelsea supporters had heard whispers that there were tensions and showed support for the manager, by singing 'Stand up for the special one' and sung his name throughout the game. Had the owner sulked because his name wasn't being sung at games anymore? Well sulk he did because he refused to back his manager in the ensuing transfer window, which ultimately cost Chelsea vital points in the premier league run-in. The only man introduced, Avram Grant, came in from Pompey as director of football, a post Chelsea had never felt the need to fill before.

Grant' did not only have no premiership managerial experience, but he also did not have the required qualifications to carry out his role as manager. Chelsea threw caution to the wind and signed him on a 4 years deal after a handful of decent results, paying him the same as Wenger and Ferguson. Currently, Chelsea's only realistic hope of silverware this season is left in the Champions league which is no mean feat itself, but the summer ahead looks a worrying time for those connected with Chelsea. Will there be a mass exodus, who will be their manager next season, will they stick with Grant? Are just a few of the questions.

With each dire performance, the unrealised promise of exciting football ebbs further from the truth, fans have begun to realise that owners, chairmen and their ego's don't necessarily know what's best for a football club, or they don't know when they're having it so good. With Roman's ego, and without his money that bought the current squad we could be looking at the same fate as other's mentioned. It's a good job he has more money than sense when it comes to football related matters.

[TheWestwayWonder]

It seems there is a new breed, or new line of thought sweeping through the premiership this season with little regard for professional pedigree, experience or in-depth knowledge of the game. The 'Chairman knows best' attitude has spelt the mis-fortune for several clubs this season.

Firstly let's have a look at Bolton. Letting Allardyce leave wasn't a decision really of their making, but once it was decided he was heading for pastures North, they didn't scout around for an ideal replacement, they handed it in-house to Sammy Lee. He performed well as assistant to Big Sam, but when it was time for him to become Big Sammy, he was found wanting with his lack of premiership experience as a head-honcho. They turned to Gary Megson who previous experience was getting clubs relegated from the league, the men at the top just brought in an 'average Joe' because they thought that's all they'd lost in Allerdyce.

Onto Big Sam's new club Newcastle. He'd started relatively slowly and was hampered by injuries to some of his bigger names. He stipulated a 5 year plan and said for his ideas to gather momentum he needed time. The one thing he wasn't given by the chairman, who thought it wise to sack him without a ready made replacement lined up. Mike Ashley had bigger, better but less brighter idea's a few months after handing the reigns to Big Sam, and fulfilled a dream that saw the return of King Kev to Tyneside. Keegan seemed to forget that football had carried on in his absence and the team talk against Arsenal 'Pass it better than they do'' went someway to show he'd been left in the dark ages. Did either chairman really know what they were losing, as both clubs spun into a familiar pattern of poor results in Big Sam's absence.

Our neighbours Fulham who parted company with Chris Coleman, a manager they failed to back with ANY transfer funding, expected the new man to take them to a new level. Laurie Sanchez, another man with no premiership experience certainly went some way to do that, almost into another division infact. He was replaced by Hodgson, but the rot had already set in, with no funding from the chairman whatsoever. Did the chairman or board really know best, or are they holding back funds for a new stadium venture, either way it'll be easier to sell tickets for games in the top league than in the one below. Losing Coleman was the start of the end for Fulham, they really didn't realise how well he'd done, (similar to Allardyce at Bolton) with such a tight budget, or no budget at all. Both look to be heading out of the division, with hindsight, did their chairman really do what was best ? They now realise what they had, and what they've lost!

Now the strangest situation of all is what unfolded in SW6, where the most successful manager in the history of Chelsea football club was shown the door by his employer because a clash of personalities!?! This apparent feud dated back to the beginning of January the previous year, when Chelsea ironically played Wigan at home and thrashed them 4-1. The Chelsea supporters had heard whispers that there were tensions and showed support for the manager, by singing 'Stand up for the special one' and sung his name throughout the game. Had the owner sulked because his name wasn't being sung at games anymore? Well sulk he did because he refused to back his manager in the ensuing transfer window, which ultimately cost Chelsea vital points in the premier league run-in. The only man introduced, Avram Grant, came in from Pompey as director of football, a post Chelsea had never felt the need to fill before.

Grant' did not only have no premiership managerial experience, but he also did not have the required qualifications to carry out his role as manager. Chelsea threw caution to the wind and signed him on a 4 years deal after a handful of decent results, paying him the same as Wenger and Ferguson. Currently, Chelsea's only realistic hope of silverware this season is left in the Champions league which is no mean feat itself, but the summer ahead looks a worrying time for those connected with Chelsea. Will there be a mass exodus, who will be their manager next season, will they stick with Grant? Are just a few of the questions.

With each dire performance, the unrealised promise of exciting football ebbs further from the truth, fans have begun to realise that owners, chairmen and their ego's don't necessarily know what's best for a football club, or they don't know when they're having it so good. With Roman's ego, and without his money that bought the current squad we could be looking at the same fate as other's mentioned. It's a good job he has more money than sense when it comes to football related matters.

Great post, bluenut. Very thoughtful

I had never considered to liken the situations at those clubs to ours, gives you a new perspective

[glory55]

Well said bluenut.

We took Roman's money and we took on what came with it.

On the whole its been fantastic,obviousley there are pros and cons to our over all situation.

Sometimes I do long for the old days,but maybe in general we always tend to look on the past favorabily 'the good old days'.

Who knows what will happen in the summer...???

.....Who knew that we would be taken over by a Russian billionaire???

Bring on the scousers by the score!!!