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Goodbye, Avram Grant

May 24th, 2008 By Michael --> Comments

avram_grant Goodbye, Avram Grant

This was a long time coming, and definitely the right move by chief executive Peter Kenyon. Grant was sacked today as manager, not even a year into his four-year contract. Kenyon and Bruce Buck, the club’s chairman, said that Chelsea’s performance this season was “simply not good enough”, and they’re right. As a big club in England, you basically have a one-in-four chance to win a trophy, and Chelsea won none of the four competitions they entered (FA Cup, Carling Cup, Champions League, and Premiership).

The Israeli manager did a decent job after replacing The Special One at Stamford Bridge. His managerial record (26-8-3) was statistically fantastic, there’s no doubt.

But let’s get something straight. He didn’t get it done in the big games, when it matters the most. I could pick a starting XI from Chelsea’s roster to beat the Sunderlands, the West Hams, and the Middlesbroughs of the world. That’s not difficult. He inherited the squad that Mourinho had built — one that won back-to-back league titles — and as Ty, my fellow blogger here and at his own site, said, had the added benefit of a healthy Michael Ballack.

His team didn’t even show up to play in the Carling Cup final against Tottenham. They were knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley — BARNSLEY. Grant was outcoached in the Champions League final earlier this week, which I firmly believe now upon further reflection although I didn’t think that was the case immediately after the game. He always allowed the opposing manager to make the first move in a game and then tried to counter it, even though the best managers have proven that they are the ones who dictate how the game will be played. He repeatedly took off his best player/s in games, whether it was Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou, or whoever. His one major purchase in the January transfer window, Nicholas Anelka, barely had a role in Chelsea’s first team despite scoring goals left and right at Bolton with very little talent around him.

Grant has no qualifications on his résumé that would indicate he had the experience and ability to lead one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Sorry, managing Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa isn’t even close. Managing Israel’s national team isn’t even close. Israel didn’t qualify for either of the two major tournaments (Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006) they wanted to enter during Grant’s tenure. Being the technical director or director of football, whatever you want to call it, at Portsmouth for one season isn’t even close.

Let’s be clear. The only reason Grant got this job in the first place was because of his close friendship with Roman Abramovich, the club’s owner.

As soon as Chelsea lost the final on Wednesday to Manchester United, who has, without exaggeration, the best manager in the world in Sir Alex Ferguson, you always knew Grant was going to get his walking papers. It was just a question of when, and we got the answer today.

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Tags: Avram Grant · Chelsea

Viewing 25 Comments

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    I agree with your assessment Michael. He got Jose Mourinho's squad and a healthy, resurgent Michael Ballack. It would have been hard for him to do badly.
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    Terrible assessment .
    You inherit a squad that WAS DOING BADLY from a manager that played DIRE FOOTBALL.
    You take them to an inch of winning the Champions League, against all odds of nearly winning the Premiership and then are sacked.

    Remember - he was managing muppets like Drogba, Terry and Lampard who all think they are bigger than the club and have a right as to how they think it should be run. Good luck to him, he has taken horrible abuse from media and supporters alike. We'll see what replaces him , probably Hiddink - perhaps Rijkaard. No-one else in my opinion.

    terribly treated by a classless club that sends up its parasite, Peter Kenyon to collect a medal from Platini. Dreadful dreadful club. Chelsea fans , no offense but would you have sacked him ?? I think he won a lot of you over in the last few weeks - and Chelsea fans, werent you embarrassed to see Kenyon collect a medal. I am a gooner and had someone horrible like that Russian Ushmanov gone up and collected a medal ahead of Cesc and co, i would be mortified.
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    PS) He beat Arsenal and United and Liverpool Michael - the big games - one CL semi, the other 2 in the league. They are big games , he won them. He lost other big games, so did Wenger and Fergie.
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    One thing that gets on my tits are people who blame Grant for failures yet give credit to the players, to his assistant Clarke who can't even get a job in the championship or Cate who is hated by the players. I'd agree it's the correct move for Chelsea to go forward. I think tactically (viewing from the surface) Grant is fine. The thing he lacks is the charisma, the motivational skills and the ability to win over armchair journalists. He didn't get "outcoached" in the UCL final. That is rubbish spouted by people from WSD. How so? They dominated the second half, hit the wood work a couple of times and not for Terry's miss penalty who knows? He won nothing. Ferguson's team were exceptional in the first half BUT grant rectified the problem in the second half. He didn't make subs immediately but made the instructional move telling Essien to push UP the field.

    On to Anelka, let's be honest here Anelka was bought for a direct replacement for Drogba (in ANC i presume) because Sheva and Pizarro weren't up for it. He wasn't bought to pair Drogba upfront THIS SEASON. This team has played 4-3-3 for the last few seasons and only under the Sheva experiment when they had a whole preseason converted to a 4-4-2. And in any case if you play Anelka who do you exactly drop? Those most critical of Grant's tactically analysis don't even attempt to understand his decisions. Whether they turn out to be right or wrong especially when they turn out to be wrong then people jump up and down twice as much as when they turn out to be right.

    Grant might not be a great manager (like Gerard Houlier perhaps who as the technical director of France was phenomenal but his career as a manager put people have questioned), i'm not arguing that but those who think his some sort of idiot are deeply mistaken. The bloke has been in football since he was 18 at lower levels and the highest levels (the Israel job isn't lower level, in a difficult group he remained unbeaten if remembered correctly and as TD your responsibilities are as important as the manager LOOK at Italy and Spain where this position has been employed for years and years and now the PL is beginning to do the same (West Ham hired Italian Nani as TD).
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    I for one am sad to see him go..I liked the guy and I wish the club would've given him another season before getting rid of him...I hope he gets a staff job or something of that nature...
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    First Simon, than Ivan:

    Simon, it doesn't matter the style that Mourinho played. Sure it was boring, but the fact of the matter is he won at least one trophy each year he was at Chelsea and won back-to-back league titles. They didn't get off to a good start this year, but neither did Manchester United, if you'll remember. Mourinho's assessment was spot-on. According to you, Grant almost won the league. He almost won the Champions League. Newsflash: Almost doesn't count for anything!!! Almost isn't actually winning. Not only that, but Chelsea's style of play under Grant was no more attractive and no more free-flowing than under Mourinho, so give me a break.

    The same "muppets" Mourinho managed were the cornerstones of the Chelsea teams that won all those trophies, so don't give me that. Drogba was the best center forward in England after Thierry Henry under Mourinho, Terry has always been one of the top two or three center backs in the league, and Lampard is good for 20 goals a season.

    Terry, as the captain of the club and having far more tenure there than Grant, should and does have a say in how the team should be run.

    Ivan, I never once gave Steve Clarke or Henk tan Cate any credit whatsoever in my article. I do think he did get outcoached in the final though. Ferguson brought on Nani (scored), Anderson (scored), and Giggs (scored) (all in the penalty shootout), while Grant opted to bring Anelka on without him even warming up by his own admission. Anelka was also used 7th in the shootout, behind a center back??

    You talk about how he told Essien to move up and push forward in the second half. Fine, but Essien was burnt badly by Ronaldo on the first goal. Essien isn't a right back and was badly positioned, yet Grant could've used more experienced guys like Ferreira and Belletti at that position and Essien instead of the ancient Makelele.

    I see your point about Anelka, but let's face facts. You don't spend that much money on a player to sit him on the bench for 85 minutes in any given game and then play him wide left when you do bring him up. If you're going to bring in a guy of his caliber, you play a straight 4-4-2 with him and Drogba up front, or play the 4-3-3 and sit Drogba, who showed he didn't even want to play for Chelsea towards the end of the year. You can't not play Anelka after spending that much money on him, it doesn't make any sense. Tactically, the squad could've been altered to accommodate Anelka, but Grant continued to be stubborn and play his cautious style.

    Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Grant is an idiot by any means. I'm just saying he doesn't have the CV to manage a club as big as Chelsea, not at this stage of his managerial career. He hadn't even managed in England, much less in the Premiership, much less a "Big Four" club, before being appointed by Abromavich. He's a smart guy, one better suited to going upstairs like he did at Pompey.
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    One correction: In the second paragraph of my last comment, change "Mourinho managed" to "Grant managed".
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    Avram Grant was very successful at Chelsea. They were tied on points with ManUtd when he took over (iirc) and would have ended tied at the end of the season but for the late Bolton goal that came after it was clear United had clinched. He was 5 points behind Arsenal (and they had a GIH) and he ended 2 points in front of them.

    ...the problem was not results. Trophies would have saved his job, but without them, Chelsea need to decide who has the charisma to retain their star players and draw new ones to play for the club. Avram Grant simply is not that man. He does not inspire that kind of excitement.

    I think it's a harsh result for him, but understandable for the club. The real question is why he was put in charge in the first place.
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    I defy the Grant supporters to name one astute move that Grant made over the course of his tenure. He was no luminary. He did what an average football manager should have done with the talent at his disposal. And, he did so in a peculiarly negative way by shutting up shop (see the 10 1-goal victories Chelsea had).
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    Any manager that got Israel as close to World Cup qualification out of UEFA as Grant did is an outstanding tactical manager.

    He absolutely outclassed Dommenech in both Israel/France games in 2005.

    You see Israel post Grant, a 3-0 humbling against a Beckham and Rooney less England at Wembley. (Although that scoreline will look favorable when compared to what England will do to my helpless Yanks on Wednesday. We are going to look like the war criminal placed in front of a firing squad. Same for the Spain and Argentina games. I would be shocked if the US scores a single goal in those 3 matches)

    Now on to Chelsea. You want a shrewd tactical move? Finding the room in the midfield for Ballack and Lampard to play together something Mourinho was clearly incapable of doing. Another shrewd move?
    Using Anelka down the flank even though he doesn't like it, because that gave the Blues some pace and skill on the ball out wide.
    He out-managed Fergie twice in a three week period.
    His sacking is plain criminal: Roman A. is turning the EPL into the dreaded Serie A/La Liga syndrome of sacking managers at top clubs every year.
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    Usually, I'm not able to agree with Kartik on any issue, but, I am glad to see that kartik agrees with me as far as Avram Grant goes.
    The simple fact is that Grant should have been given a chance for just taking the club where they have never been before-to the champions league final!
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    Kartik I agree whole heartly that Grant is no idiot. I think a lot of his critics think he is some bloke Roman picked off the street. I respect most of those who have got to the heights of football greatly, what happens day in day out on the training pitch i do not know so i always find certain criticism of team selection and tactics a bit harsh. However saying that i think he always going to struggle with the media and the environment in the PL. And because of that i think it's the right decision for both parties.

    Michael, i didn't direct my comments about Clarke or Cate towards yourself specifically, but that's what comes across with people of similar opinion to yours. If your saying he got out coached based on the lottery of a penalty shootout i find that very very harsh indeed (Ferguson hadn't won a penalty shootout up until that game against Chelsea i'm pretty sure). Anelka is a professional you don't get paid that amount of money and complain about taking a penalty, Anderson/Belletti (a Grant sub) didn't! And Terry, well obviously he was hitting them alright in training and he hit the BAR after he slipped so again... your nit picking...imo I'm surprised at the lack of criticism directed at that half arse professional Drogba.

    TBH i don't find a problem with Essien at RB. It splits a lot of fans and writers. Makelele has played very well since Grant opted to play him in front of the back four. I think people have forgotten that when Essien was in the midfield before and just after the ANC he was not his commanding self. So much so he was left out of the team for Ballack and Lampard. Belletti against Ronaldo, i think that is a disaster waiting to happen. Belletti is great at going forward but can't defend to save his bacon. I could see reason for Ferrira at RB (cause he has played well againt Cronaldo in the past) but again i just feel if Grant was to tinker with his team selection people would jump all over his back if the result was negative. And once again i can't see where you can fit Anelka into a team when people are wanting Essien in midfield as well...

    In the end the results speak..Grant won nothing however some thought Chelsea would crumble behind Arsenal and Liverpool when Mourinho left and they havent. The transfer window will be mighty interesting...
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    Agreed Ivan - most wrote Chelsea off at the stage Maurinho was let go and Grant opened with a 2-0 win at OT. He proved everyone wrong. There has been a miedia outcry in England laughing at Chelsea for this decision as I expected there would be. Grant in the last few weeks has produced big results - across the season with a team of "we're all leaving's" he has done something remarkable.
    As for them not being more attractive under Grant, I'd say they were about the same - but look at what he had - a defensively minded long ball team that hoofs it to Drogba. He at least got them playing crosses for Ballack. With a Summer of actual signings he may have changed things further - all speculation of course.

    Michael did you say that Terry as captain of the club should have a say in how its run? Do you play football - have you ever gone up to the boss and said I want us to sign this fella, cna you play Anelka on the wing today...
    Rafa doesnt take any of it from Gerrard - Capello doesnt even rate captains. I highly doubt Rio voices his thoughts over those of Sir Alex.

    End of the day Chelsea are run by a maniac who can do what he wants and has. All these players who are 'going to leave' will see what money the will make when they go elsewhere - not easy to find those Chelsea wages in Serie A...
    Some of these players wont be leaving, they are going to be pushed.

    Michael care to backtrack on your comment of he never won the big games? Despite beating Liverpool and United in the same 5 day period and coming from behind to beat Arsenal and being ONE inch away from winning the CL on 3 occasions (Drogba/Lampard/Terry).
    What were the big games ? Wigan - the Worthless Cup final? No its United/Chelsea and Liverpool.
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    oops - and Arsenal!
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    Yes, I did say Terry should have a say in Chelsea's game-day mindset. He knows the players at Chelsea better than Grant and their skill levels and respective personalities.

    Yes, I do play soccer, and I never said the captain should TELL the manager how the team should be picked, but the captain and manager should commiserate before the game on tactical strategies and decisions, and yes, that includes the lineup and formation.

    No, I won't backtrack on my comments that he didn't win enough of the big games. He beat a Manchester United team that didn't have Cristiano Ronaldo and was resting other players in preparation for their second leg of the Champions League final, whereas Chelsea was forced to play their full team because they needed the points. Yes, the Carling Cup final was a big game. They only beat Liverpool because of Riise's own goal at Anfield -- I guarantee you Liverpool would've advanced if it was 1-0 going back to the Bridge.
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    **Second leg of the CL semi-final, sorry.
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    And "Grant opened with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford???" What are you talking about Simon, they lost 2-0 in that game..
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