Chelsea now face a humbling reality, there must be consequences

The people who got us into this state need to leave the club

Simon reported the other day, that Chelsea are now in a position where first and even second choice targets don’t want to join us anymore. If that is correct, it’s an embarrassing and shameful state of affairs, created by the Sporting Directors and their shocking recruitment and managerial appointments.

The proud name of Chelsea Football Club is being dragged through the mud, and for a fan for over 40 years, its painful and upsetting to see.

I hate to say this, but as a fanbase, we’ve sadly got to recognise where we are, and that to get back to the top again is going to take time and work. This means we need to lower expectations in terms of what kind of coach we can attract and what players we’ll be able to sign. It may well be we still appoint the top choice, Xabi Alonso, but even if we do, there’s a lot of work to do to get us where the club should be - challenging for the PL and CL titles every season.

Sadly, that’s the reality our Sporting Directors have created for us. How they’re still in jobs is beyond me, the damage they’ve single-handedly done to our club on so many levels is incalculable. Respectfully, they owe fans an apology and their resignations.

As I’ve said before, my first choice for Chelsea manager is Xabi Alonso, and Si’s report today gives me hope that’s still possible. If they’re willing to give him the influence he’s demanding, there’s still a good chance we can appoint him. That would be a game changer for Chelsea if it happens. But its still a big if.

If Alonso eventually rejected us - and lets hope he doesn’t - I do have hope Andoni Iraola might join us however, because Fabrizio Romano said a couple of weeks ago he’d be keen on the job. He keeps getting linked to us (the only name Fabrizio links us with). He was linked with Man Utd, but they are being reported to go for other managerial targets, with Michael Carrick odds on favourite.

The other club he’s been linked with is Crystal Palace, and although one Spanish journalist reported today that he is likely to join them, its not been reported by legitimate sources at time of writing (could change very quickly, but not currently). Arne Slot is likely staying at Liverpool, so that job probably won’t be available for him (or Xabi Alonso) either.

The negative reception by many to the idea of Andoni Iraola coming to Chelsea makes no sense to me. He’s only lost 7 PL games this season (that’s only 2 more than Arsenal), with 3 games to go. He’s on a 16 game unbeaten run, the current longest in the PL this year and 6th in the league with a tiny budget. Bournemouth are probably going to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history, having lost all their best players in the last 12 months.

Iraola’s managerial career includes two semi finals in Spain, beating Barcelona 3 times, beating Real Madrid, Arsenal (x3), Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd. He’s consistently made the best of what he has and been successful, gaining respect of the players and his peers, never questioning the higher ups or really being involved in transfers. He’s also a calming influence, doesn’t have an unhealthy ego which could cause problems, and could give some much needed stability.

Andoni Iraola plays a brand of football much more likely to please match-going fans too. Many match-going fans I know are tired of the constant sideways and backwards passing of Pep/Maresca ball. I personally don’t have a preferred playing style, I’m open to the Maresca type football or Iraola’s style. But I think fans would enjoy their football under Iraola. The liklihood of playing one game a week next season also negates one of the concerns about him having never managed two games a week, for now.

Andoni Iraola is not my or most people’s first choices for the new manager - I think almost everyone now wants Xabi Alonso, and rightly so in my view - but for where we are as a club, I think he’d be a good fit. I believe Iraola, if appointed by Chelsea, could get us back to a baseline of consistent top 4 status, maybe winning some cups, and some stability. And frankly that’s what we need right now, talk of winning the league or Champions League is far off currently, even if we appoint Xabi Alonso it will take time to get there given the state of the club right now.

In terms of player signings, that may well change depending on which manager we appoint, with the right manager, it may help us attract players. But if our first choices do reject us, we’re going to have to be smart. However, there’s some good players available if you look in the right places.

Nathan Ake, linked to us this week by Simon and apparently interested in joining us as one of our two CB signings, would be smart. He is someone with experience, Chelsea know-how, and leadership, who has won it all. He can be a solid squad and rotational player in multiple positions. Again, one game a week makes the injury concerns less of an issue for me.

The other CB position will be more of a challenge. If, for example, you rule out Jan Paul Van Heycke and Maxine Lacroix (and again, our ability to get them may change depending on the new manager), we may end up looking at Murillo from Nottingham Forest by default. We could attempt to get Antonio Silva from Benfica, who is allegedly available more cheaply.

Some of the potential relegated teams have some talented players in midfield and attack, and we’ve been linked with some of them recently by Simon.

The likes of Mateus Fernandes and Joao Gomes in midfield are both talented players. Alex Scott from Bournemouth and Noah Sadiki from Sunderland are other midfield options, though neither from a relegation threatened team.

In attack, Mateus Mane, Crysencio Summerville and Jarred Bowen in attack, from clubs in the bottom three, all are good players with PL experience. Yes, they aren’t our first choices but they are talented players, and in particular in attack, are arguably better than some of our current options.

Up front, we may have no choice but to bring back Nicolas Jackson to compete with Joao Pedro in attack. There’ve been reports Jackson is willing to come back, and frankly 10 goals from him as a backup striker is better than what we’ve had this season. I don’t see another backup striker who is worth investing in that would join us, especially when we have big transfer priorities elsewhere.

Thankfully goalkeeper Mike Penders and winger Geovany Quenda are already ours, and both will improve our squad in key positions. If a GK is still needed, then James Trafford will be available and has PL experience.

I’d also not underestimate the Valentin Barco signing, he’s a massive talent with the ability to break down low blocks, there’s a good chance he can have a positive impact too.

In terms of players leaving, my mind is if they aren’t fully committed to Chelsea after one bad season - which they are partly to blame for - then let them go.

The likes of Reece James and Moises Caicedo undoubtedly had better offers but both were fully committed to Chelsea and signed new deals, which looks an even bigger achievement in hindsight. Levi Colwill is apparently in talks over a new deal too. These are three elite footballers who we can build around. Much of our squad have shown an abysmal attitude and lack of commitment, especially in the last two months, and frankly I’d not be sad to see many of them go.

Again, this is partly on the Sporting Directors who assured us of players characters and ‘character checks’ upon signing certain players, but, yet again, have clearly failed miserably in those assessments. Players appearing to down tools with weeks to go in the season - regardless of the considerable physical and mental fatigue which they’re clearly struggling with - isn’t the attitude I want from any player at Chelsea.

There’s simply no excuse to be that unprofessional, or to just give up when you go behind in games, regardless of player unhappiness. They’re well paid professionals, there’s no excuse to down tools.

I don’t want a squad of mercenaries, I want people committed to the long haul at Chelsea, who’ll stick with us after a down season. People who will never give up and fight to the end, through the worst times. People with the right attitude and character. Right now that matters more than anything else.

Its really sad that this is the state of affairs at our club. What we’re going through right now is very humbling, and it’s not easy when you’ve been where we have been, to be in this state. Most fans, including myself, are fuming right now, and rightly so.

Make no mistake, there need to be real consequences. The people who got us here need to be out of the club. They’ve done enough damage already and should be ashamed of themselves. If they don’t go, then we’ve learned nothing. This is elite level sport, there have to be consequences for this level of poor performance.

Ultimately, we have to swallow our pride, make the best decisions we can and hope that the next coach can rebuild the club and get us back to a baseline level of being a regular Champions League team. Only then, can we think of moving back to the level we all want and should be, title challengers and Champions League contenders.

I have no idea if or when that will happen at this point though. We just have to hope that this season is the low point, and we learn the lessons and begin to get it right.

The Score