A Guide to Success for Dummies (or New Coaches or Rich Owners)

Whatever happens in the transfer markets, Roman Abramovich has to forget this beautiful football fantasy, this isn't FIFA 2009.

He has to realise that:

a) Chelsea are based on efficiency not beauty
b) Beautiful football is a long process (Barcelona's transition started in the Cruyff Era which was eons ago)
c) Chelsea's efficiency will get them immense success but it takes time
d) Chelsea has one of the strongest midfield in Europe let alone EPL but its a midfield based on substance rather than style; if you want beauty buying Michael Ballack and Essien were bad ideas; that's what Scolari tried to do last season although it worked against the lesser teams but when it came to teams such as Liverpool that had player such as Alonso with high work rates, the midfield fell flat.


He also has to take a step back and let Ancellotti do his magic, but the Italian stallion has to realise a few things himself:

a) Do not let proven goal scorers such as Anelka and Drogba go just to get young blood into the team, try phasing in Stoch or Kakuta into the side rather hinging on players that have not played at EPL pace

b) He has to give Essien the license to roam, using him as a holder or a gap filler is wasting valuable talent; game 36 in 07/08 Essien was given freedom and he teared Man United apart

c) Ballack has to be more forward and the tactics has to be constructed in a way that Ballack does not get in Lampard's way and vice versa; let them control their own stations; try building the attack around the two of them because they are the best midfielders in the world (not at the moment though).

And BTW, people who claim Ballack is getting old has to realise he seems slow and lethargic because his range on the park is limited as he has been used as holder back and between Essien/Lampard hence he cannot move forward without exposing the midfield to counter-attacks; watch him play for Germany with Schnieder and Frings behind—he tears oppositions apart!

d) Although a rotation policy sucked for Benitez, it could do wonders for Ancellotti because unlike Liverpool, Chelsea have game winners all over the park and do not rely on one player to lead them forward

e) Do not buy Pirlo because he doesn't lower the age and he brings more issues to an already star-studded experience midfield although a young midfielder in Lampard's mould could be useful

f) Purchase a solid, young goalie like Artur Boruc, because Cech could use the competition.