Avram Grant

By Since66
May 25 2008

At 1.45pm yesterday Avram Grant arrived at the London home of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich through the front door. Some three hours later Grant left via the back door, no longer manager of Chelsea Football Club. I am glad he has gone, but you cannot fault the man's record during his short time at the helm.

Premiership runners-up, Champions League runners-up and Carling Cup finalists. Grant was in charge for 54 matches of which 36 were won, 13 were draws and there were only 5 defeats.

Chelsea's problems were more at the start of the season under Mourinho than they were at the end under Grant. Under Mourinho Chelsea started off well and then in Mourinho's final four league games we only won one, drew two and lost one losing SEVEN points in the process, which become insuperable at the final reckoning at the end of the season.

Grant says, "I have been completely betrayed. Ruthless Chelsea have pulled the plug on me. I feel hurt and angry."

Grant was offered his old job back (with a pay cut) as Director of Football role which he turned down completely.

Grant was TOLD to resign which he refused to do and a close friend of Grant said, "Abramovich offered Avram the opportunity to resign but he was having none of it."

Avram said, "You will have to sack me because I am not quitting."

It is also reported that Grant had told close friends that he wasn't ready to take on the manager's job in the first place.

Grant said, "I am not ready to be Chelsea manager even if Roman wanted me."

There are also rumblings that against all the advice offered to Mr A on the appointment of Grant, Mr A had already made his mind up to appoint Grant, his friend, into the job and now he has had the dissatisfaction of dispensing with his 'friend's' services.

Let's hope now Mr A stays well clear of any appointment issues and the right people, in there are any 'right' people within the Chelsea hierachry, do their job and get the right man this time, because the last thing I want for Chelsea Football is unstability.

Chelsea cannot afford any more turmoil during the three month break ahead of us. A new manager needs to be appointed quickly so he can buy his own 'caviar' of players and get rid of the 'chaff' currently on extremely good money and we need to get Frank Lampard tied to a contract that will see him end his playing days at Stamford Bridge.

Be prepared for a 'shaky' Summer.

OH THE GLORIOUS UNPREDICTABILITY.

The Reverberations Have Started

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 25/05/2008 11:14

50 Years Over 100 Years
25/05/2008 11:14

The Reverberations Have Started

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dixon9
25/05/2008 12:34

Instability and bad injuries have cost us the last two PL titles probably - we need to be sorted once and for all.

The next manager should be appointed for the long term view - either Mourinho BACK or someone young but respected (Laudrup, Spaleti...).

I don´t think there will too many reverberations re coming from Grant - the media won´t be that much interested after a while - and they´ll be far too preocupied with who our next manager is (plenty of reverberations there!).




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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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dixon9
25/05/2008 12:51

Eyal Berkovic said on Saturday:

"I have already said that Avram made a number of serious mistakes: His inability to communicate with the English media ... his failure to befriend the fans and the undermining of Jose Mourinho," Berkovic said.

"All these led Roman Abramovich to understand that despite his affection and friendship with Avram, it would not be enough to improve Chelsea's fortunes,"

Berkovic and Grant fell out in 2004 after the coach dropped his outspoken captain from the Israel team, a move which ended Berkovic's international career.

"I have no doubt that the day after he receives his severance pay cheque he will sit back at home and consider all the mistakes he made. He has been a consummate media operator, knows how to deal with players, but he failed badly at Chelsea in both these tasks," Berkovic said.

"Nevertheless, he will take with him a life-long souvenir -- I don't see any Israeli coach coaching a club the size of Chelsea in the next 20 or 30 years."

"A coach, just like a player, must advance step by step. Avram passed over many stages on his way (to the top), he got to the top because of friendships and machinations and it was a mistake on his part," Berkovic said.

The former midfielder who played at nine clubs in England and Scotland said he did not think any other English club would consider hiring Grant "not because he is not a good coach, but because he made huge errors."

Former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur striker Ronnie Rosenthal also said he was not surprised by the dismissal.
"Any Chelsea coach -- not only Avram -- who does not win titles will be replaced," Rosenthal told Israel Radio.

"Had he coached another English club which was not expecting to win titles, it might have been different, but they were playing in four competitions and they didn't win any of them."

LINK




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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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Since 66
26/05/2008 09:00

There is a phone-in special on Chelsea TV tonight at 6.30pm.

I will be watching with interest.

Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free

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dixon9
27/05/2008 20:27

Kerry Dison had some interesting things to say I understand?!



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

Reply Quote Report

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