Ever since he was appointed manager of Chelsea following the shock parting of ways between the club and Jose Mourinho, Avram has told anyone that cared to listen that he intended to play the «right way».
He means of course that his team would be more expansive in their play with emphasis on attacking play. It was a dig at the efforts of Jose Mourinho possibly from those above like Roma Abramovic and Peter Kenyon to undermine Jose’s achievements.
Despite being no evidence of the so-called attacking play, he kept insisting that they were playing the «right way». He also keeps saying this is «my team» or «I am in charge» like someone with an inferiority complex and that cannot be good for a club of Chelsea’s lofty ambitions.
He has been praised in many quarters for guiding Chelsea to a very praise-worthy 3 losses in 35 games before yesterday’s Carling cup final. He was also praised for ding so without the bulk of his side being present due to injuries and some players going to African cup of nations.
I said previously that I was not convinced about his efforts as the fact that he did not have much of a choice had actually aided him and that he was still riding on Jose’s coat-tails.
He had most of his big players back and he was found wanting in the selection department. I did not think for 1 second that he has enough power to drop Frank Lampard and John Terry as press reports were suggesting before the game and that is how it turned out.
The game itself was all about Tottenham and Juande Ramos totally outplaying Chelsea and also Avram’s utter lack of tactical nous.
He chose the wrong line-up to begin with as Michael Ballack, Claude Makele and Joe Cole should have started whilst Obi Mikel, Frank Lampard and Nicholas Anelka should not have.
After that blunder, he should have addressed the situation by bringing on his substitutes a lot sooner than he did and Michael Essien should not have been 1 of the players substituted as he looked like he had enough energy to continue.
He has now lost 3 games in his time in charge and they were very important big games that Jose Mourinho hardly ever did.
He still has the chance to redeem himself this season but I cannot see Chelsea winning the Premiership or Champions league and the FA cup remains their best bet as long as they avoid meeting Manchester United at any stage.
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