EPL: How Avram Grant Can Win the Hearts of Chelsea Fans

The dour looking Grant  had the unenviable task of following the Special One and you can't help feeling that whatever he did, he was always doomed, with some of the players, the media and the fans comparing him to Jose. Success this year and it would have been argued it was all down to Mourinho's team, anything less, then the Israeli would be the cause of the failure.

The backdrop to Chelsea's Champions League clash with Liverpool is a revolt among some senior players who want Avram Grant removed from his post as manager.

It is widely accepted that the injury list has been ridiculous this season at Stamford Bridge and that the African Cup of Nations affected Chelsea more than any of the other big three. The unbeaten home league record remains intact and Grant could argue that he has spent relatively little in the transfer market compared to his Portuguese predecessor. In most situations, a first season like this would be accepted while the manager rebuilt the team in his own image, but not now.

In the end is there anything that will satisfy the fans other than a new face and one that is more recognised and renowned? There are lots of rumours about Frank Rijkaard, whose popularity is on the wane at Barcelona. He would bring a more attacking outlook for sure, but would he bring in the silverware in the first year? Who knows, but I am sure he wouldn't be pilloried in the same way as Grant has been in his inaugural season.

The anger from the dislocation between the fans and the club is now being targeted directly at Grant. He is a decent enough coach, but he has landed a job that was previously being done by one of the world's best and one who was adored by the fans. Many of them still think Grant was plotting against their man all along to get the job and he certainly was about as welcome as Camilla at Diana's memorial.

Mourinho made mistakes, and big ones too, but he could either talk his way out of it or simply point to the trophies he had already won. Grant makes mistakes such as leaving Joe Cole on the bench and Ricardo Carvalho out against Wigan and he is pilloried for being an amateur. His fine decision to play the last 10 minutes on Thursday with two holding midfielders, which earned the three points against Everton, is conveniently overlooked. But fans have a right to be fickle. If Grant does steer his side past Liverpool this time, most will be forgiving.

But what can he do to win the blues' support?

I have come up with a few suggestions :

1. Play the attractive football he promised with good results.

2. Make press conferences more attractive, opposite of what he did last Thursday night.

3. Lose some weight and get a makeover - lets face it, even women started watching football for Jose Mourinho's good looks.

4. React with more passion when his team scores goals and be inspirational.

All this looks impossible, so it does seem like he will never win the support of the club's fans.

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