7/1/16 - 7/12/18 Antonio Conte 136 matches in charge
7/14/18 - 6/16/19 Maurizio Sarri 63 matches in charge
7/4/19 - 1/25/21 Frank Lampard 84 matches in charge
1/26/21 - 9/7/22 Thomas Tuchel 100 matches in charge
9/8/22 - Present Graham Potter 1 match in charge
5 managers over the last 8 1/4 years is less than ideal. Not quite Watford level but for a top flight team, it causes more headache and doubt, than good for the squad. It also causes too much banter from rival fans for my liking.
As a Chelsea fan though, its really tough to complain. Over the last 8 years, we've been to 14 finals and lifted 6 trophies in the process. Those are accolades many clubs only dream about, and few achieve. Yet, those trophies only papered over the cracks of a poorly built squad. A squad that had no clear plan or vision and when a vision was starting to shape up, a new manager came through the doors.
When chopping and changing managers, it's not just a few new faces of the staff that shift; its the ideology, the tactics, formation, roles for individuals, relationships that need to start over, and academy players needing to make their mark yet again. It's a tumultuous time for the entire club. Something that was ignored by the old regime.
It probably seems like I'm an ungrateful asshole for what Roman Abramovich and co. have done for Chelsea but I'm far from that. Frankly, if he never bought the club, I probably wouldn't have become a fan. 21 trophies in his 19 years as an owner is something I can't be more grateful for. It was the disregard for squad planning and stability over the last 8 years that needed to change.
Todd Boehly has his haters, he has his doubters and he surely has his supporters. From his supposed 4-4-3 formation, to suggestions of an "All-Star" type of match, and spending £272 million this summer, he's all over the place. He thrust himself elbow deep into the world that is the transfer market this summer, by naming himself as interim sporting director.
Some will say Boehly got chewed up and spit out, if you look at the missed targets of Raphinha, Kounde and de Ligt, but its significantly deeper than that. He learned not to agree to a fee before you get the players approval (Raphinha), he learned how important it is to start transfer talks before the window opens (impossible since he bought the club the day before it opened) ((de Ligt)) and to make sure your manager communicates with the player and 'sells' him on the project and club (Kounde). These are the stumbling blocks and learning curves that were bound to happen to new owners. I'm just happy we got them out of the way now and for a manger who, unfortunately, wasn't going to be here long term.
I believe in Boehly and what he's trying to build. He's not just dipping his toes in the water to get a feel for the most intense and passionate sport in the world, he dove head first and you have to respect him for it. The pieces are starting to be put into place for this club to run efficiently during his tenure, and patience needs to be had with him and the club. He wants to build a foundation for a manager to thrive, and have one common goal and ideology throughout the club, similar to Liverpool. I find it funny, however, that one club was in their golden generation (Liverpool) and the other was in a rather wayward time, but both have won the same amount of trophies since Klopp took charge. It puts the standards of some clubs into perspective, but I digress.
To Chelsea fans, back Boehly and his appointments. They've all been analytically driven which is what we've been crying out for for years. These decisions aren't being made whimsically but rather methodical. With that, it takes time.
To non Chelsea fans, keep celebrating "Daddy Abramovich" selling the club and thinking our winning ways are done for. I'm excited to have Boehly prove you wrong. Want a proof of concept? Look at the LA Dodgers over the last 10 seasons.
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