Who next for Chelsea?

It has of course become common knowledge that The ‘Interim’ Rafa Benitez will be leaving his temporary post at the end of the season irrespective of the clubs final position in the EPL. He could of course guide the club to their second European trophy in two years, but as history shows even winning the big one didn’t save fan favourite Roberto Di Mateo. It is perhaps only fair to reflect on a very hostile period at in SW6 with fans anger being directed at the former arch rival Rafa. As if managing Liverpool was bad enough, he had to follow RDM whose popularity as a player was only passed when he became the first manager to guide the aging squad to the Holy Grail that is winning the champions league.

Under Benitez there has been some highs along with the obvious lows the team reached the semi-final of the FA cup and had the draw been kinder would have probably made the final, they are about to play the semi-final of the Europa League (he can only win the competitions he is in) and look fairly certain to get a top 4 place in the EPL. He is clearly working in a situation where he doesn’t have complete control over squad selection and had seemingly managed the squad, who are set to play almost 70 games this season, well. For all these positives the Rafa Reign will forever be remembered as one of the darker periods within the club, fan protests, the end of the amazing Frank Lampard (albeit out of Benitez’s control) and a sense of change as to the power and lure Chelsea holds to managers.

Not all of these ‘negatives’ are directly to do with Benitez; he simply became a figure head of hate. There has just become a realisation that Chelsea perhaps doesn’t appeal to big big mangers like it once did. Since the untimely sacking of Carlo Ancelotti it can be argued that Chelsea have failed to attract a ‘World Class’ manager. AVB was a young man who had a magnificent year with Porto, but at the time could certainly not be considered one of the best managers in the world. He was a prospect, like signing a 20 year old (Oscar) you hope that with time and patients they will fulfil their potential, no only difference is managers don’t get time and patients at Chelsea and AVB went. In came fans favourite and former player RDM, but without sounding insulting to WBA his time there and MK Dons can hardly suggest he was in the top echelons of the management pyramid. Once the axe fell on his head it was already clear Chelsea had lined up Rafa Benitez who, since leaving Liverpool had only managed Inter Milan (post Mourinho) and those 6 months became a nightmare. At the time of his appointment Chelsea fans dreamed that it was a stop gap till they got the chosen one Pep Guardiola. He quickly distanced himself from the job and signed for Bayern, since then there has been an awkward feeling within the fan base of who next? Who is good enough for the job and is willing to risk their reputation (and the sack) by taking over at Chelsea.

Chelsea need a manger who is given time, that’s obvious, to implement changes to the way the club is run. The manager needs to be given complete control from top to bottom, there are obvious young talented players coming through the ranks at Chelsea (most out on loan this season) but for them to be given a fair crack at the first team is to have a manager who believes their job is secure. Without this security no manager can take the risk of playing these talented young players as they fear that a few bad results will quickly see them moved on, which has seen good talented players leave Chelsea in the past (Matic to Benfica as an example). There are a number of players in the twilight of their career but change can’t be sudden it needs to be gradual and again the only way to do this is to give a manager time and backing. These are all things very few managers have been gifted at Chelsea but now sees a watershed moment in the clubs history now is the time for Abramovich and his leading men to make the correct choice and give them time!

So who is in the running for the job then?

Jose Mourinho, the fans number one choice without a shadow of doubt, nothing would boost Abramovich’s popularity more than bringing back the ‘Special One’. Now more than ever the timing seems right, Chelsea need a boost and it seems clear that Mourinho will be leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season. There is clearly unfinished business at Chelsea as he never managed to win the Champion League there.

Pros: There can be not denying that what you get with Mourinho is a proven winner on the world stage, he has one leagues at every club he has managed and won the Champions League with 2 different clubs (could be 3 by June) and he would bring hope and knowledge to a youthful squad. The second and most obvious positive is he had such a successful time at Chelsea and is a hero in the eyes of the fans, this could be the boost that the club needs.

Cons: Can it work a second time round or will it be a case of you should never go back? Mourinho doesn’t traditionally play the sort of football that it seems Abramovich is so desperate to see and of course it would need the owner to eat a lot of humble pie to invite the man he sacked back and give him complete control of the club. From Mourinho’s perspective he would be joining the club in a very different state to the previous time he took over expectations are a lot higher, mainly because of his success, and the club isn’t at the stage where they spend hundreds of millions each summer and he would have to believe the current squad is good enough to win him titles.

Manuel Pellegrini is the current Malaga manager and is having to battle with a crippling financial crisis. His team have begun to struggle in La Liga recently but their performance, in getting to the Champions League quarter finals and just minutes away from the semis, was very admirable. He may feel therefore that he has taken the club as far as he can and with more cut backs on the horizon may see this performance as good for his reputation and look to move on in the summer.

Pros: What makes him a candidate is the way in which he tries to get his teams to play football, it is the style in which Abramovich strives for Chelsea to play, fluent passing with high pressing. This style would suit the squad that has been assembled in recent years with the three attacking midfielders suiting a more patient, passing build up. Let us not forget either that he built his reputation in Europe with a very successful period at Villarreal which lead to him getting the opportunity to manager Real Madrid. He has vast experience and could attracted new exciting players.

Cons: He has no experience of Premier League football and although this does not always matter there may be a period of settling in and getting accustomed to the way football is played in this country. The style of football that seems to be the dream for every top European club is, when it works, beautiful to watch but can it really work in the EPL on a cold Wednesday night away to Stoke?

I have chosen to look at the two candidates that the media seem to portray as the likely managers, what worries me is beyond these two where next? Kloop (Dortmund) seems set on staying and challenging Pep, David Moyes has been muted as a possible but would he be able to make the step up or is he a big enough name to satisfy Abramovich. After this the ideas run a little dry, where could they turn? Untested fans favourites like Zola or Poyet whatever the answer the Chelsea fans will watch with a keen interest and probably celebrate seeing the back of Benitez (hopefully).

Formula 1 2012 Quick Preview

When The formula one season gets underway in Melbourne this weekend, 6 world champions will line up on the grid for the first time, will they make it an unmissable exciting year, full of drama on and off the track, or will Sebastien Vettel run away with it again leaving the others to battle for the title best of the rest?

The return of Kimi Raikkonen is great for the sport, he only left because Ferrari wanted Alonso and couldn't find a competitive drive elsewhere. After 2 years failing as a rally driver, at 31 he is still young enough to make an impression on the sport.

Pre season testing is notorious for showing very little about who is on top and who is struggling for form, although listening to the drivers and teams throughout testing gives us an idea of what is to come. What many believe is that the teams are much closer than previous seasons.

Red Bull are still the team to beat, they have had the fastest car since 2009 and have simply evolved the car rather than have to start afresh.

Mclaren are hot on their toes, and with arguably the best driver pairing, along with the ability to update their car dramatically through the season they are sure to be in the hunt.


Mercedes have taken great steps forward in the winter, and if they can produce a race winning car the battle between Schumi and Rosberg will be worth watching.

Ferrari though have struggled to understand their radicle new car, so may be playing catch up throughout the season. Behind the scenes they will be working hard to put it right, with changes in management at Ferrari they will not accept another unsuccessful year.

The best of the rest seems to be team lotus (formally Renault), but with headline signing Kimi Raikonnen, have they just been trying to make headlines with quick times, without testing reliability and other aspects, only time will tell. After all they lost time in testing because of problems with the chassis.

Williams will be hoping to bounce back from a disastrous 2011, and caterham (formally lotus) will be looking at moving up the grid. Unfortunately for HRT and Marussia (formally Virgin) though, nothing they have said or done suggests they will be any closer to rest of the pack this season.

So with 20 races from Australia to Brazil on 25 November, and 500 points up for grabs, the chase is on to become the best driver in the world.

F1 on sky, Ridiculous or Genius

For the first time ever formula 1 won't be available to watch every race live on free to air television. The decision to sell the rights to sky has been largely criticised and met with anger aimed at the BBC, but how will it actually affect the sport?

In Formula 1 there are two types of fan, the hardcore fan and the casual fan. Every hardcore fan that doesn't have access to Sky is extremely annoyed to say the least. Knowing the result only tells part of the story of the race, a story that can only be told properly live and uninterrupted.

Using football as a comparable, audiences on sky could be less than a third of what the BBC attracts, audiences were at a ten year high last season so teams and sponsors will be watching viewing figures closely. If only 2 million rather than 7million people will see their brand across the cars, will sponsorship deals be slashed, resulting in less money for designing the cars etc?

The problem is if you haven't got sky but want to watch the big football match of the week, it will be shown in pubs everywhere, but with race times varying so much, who wants to get up and go to the pub at 7am?

If hardcore fans and teams worst fears become reality, could this be the beginning of the end of formula 1?

But on the other side of the coin, could this be a genius idea to make it more appealing to new fans and more enjoyable for the casual fan? Critics and people that don't really understand f1 will say things like 'the only good bits are the start and the pit stops, with minimal track excitement.' They could have a point. Would they be more willing to watch a highlights show, on a couple of hours after the race? Would missing a few laps behind a safety car, or a couple where drivers are waiting for their next pit stop really effect the spectacle? The casual market could prosper with the new BBC setup, get more fans tuning in and understanding what F1 is about.

Whether it loses any fans or gains others, if money drops out the sport or more comes in, or if this really is the beginning of the end of formula 1 as we know it, Only time (and viewing figures) will tell.

BBC F1 homepage
Sky Sports F1 homepage

The Tail of Two Short Lists

The defining moments of the remaining months of this season could be affected by two managerial short lists. Who do the FA want and who does Abramovich want for Chelsea? Can the managers who's names are being branded around by the media continue to focus on their current jobs and see through their aims.

Let's start with the fans favourites for both jobs. There is continuous cries for a return of Mourinho to the helm at Chelsea. It's unlikely he will take the job unless he gets full control of the whole club something Roman is highly unlikely to grant anyone, least of all a man he once sacked. Mourinho has been spotted in London recently but this could be him playing his famous mind games again.

It seems unanimous that Redknapp is the fans, media and players choice to take over as the national team manager. We are all just waiting for the FA to ask him, however when Harry sits down and seriously considers it will he risk his reputation? What he has built at Spurs can not be understated at just how impressive it is and he would be a brave man to walk away and allow someone else take the plaudits if they win trophies.

What about the men currently in position, both in experienced, both at the beginning of their managerial careers, if we are honest both jobs are probably to big and to early for both men.

So who else for Chelsea? Benitez, Pep Guardiola or even Harry himself (although very unlikely). And England? Hodgson, O'Niell or even Mourinho? Both jobs have be called poisoned by many different people, suggesting your never be able to win! So who in their right mind would risk it all and take the plunge?

These questions will surly dominate the pages of the papers over the next few month, sagas that drag on as long as Fabregas to Barca! One thing is for sure no-one can really predict either, Abramovich is hard to work out, Redknapp may wish to stay put and a final twist would Mourinho prefer to take over at Spurs if Redknapp decided to leave. Who knows it could be anyone!