It is fair to say that since coming to Chelsea in June opinions of Andre Villas-Boas has been rather mixed. His high defensive line and love of attractive football have had a lukewarm response with some seeing it as a timely shift away from the days of the Special One and pundits slamming it as kamikaze. At the same time his comments about ‘continuous persecution’ from the media and his angry reactions to Alan Hansen and Gary Neville have bought into question his attitude and whether he will succeed at Chelsea, despite them sitting in the top four.
But one thing that has caught the eye of most is his decision to take the pressure away from experience in favour of youth. No longer are Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba automatic selections for the starting XI, instead Daniel Sturridge, Ramires and Oriol Romeu are taking centre stage. Not everybody is in favour of this move because the ‘old guard’ have been pivotal to the most successful period in the club’s history and now they are becoming bit-part players. But this bold statement of intent from the 34-year-old boss is something that a certain Mr Capello should be taking note of.
When the Italian took over the national team following the Wally with the Brolly, it was hoped that there would be a change in emphasis for the side and that the so-called ‘golden generation’ would find it harder to keep their place in the side. And to some extent Capello will claim that he has done so. Beckham is no longer involved, we have Joe Hart in goal, Kyle Walker at right-back, Phil Jones plays and Jack Wilshere is a linchpin in the centre of the park. However, when it comes to the big tournaments and important games then the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and Terry come strolling back into the side. Like at the ill-fated 2010 World Cup. David James was in the squad, Gerrard and Lampard were picked to play together despite being unable to play alongside each other for the past decade and he sent Paul Scholes an S.O.S to join the team.
There is a belief that these players were part of a golden generation for English football but when the success of the team is looked at, it’s not even bronze. Quarter-final finishes at two World Cups and a European Championships, failing to qualify for Euro 2008 and second-round shortcomings in 1998 and 2010. The success the players had domestically is impressive but they are playing against each other and helped by foreign stars so it is laughable to rely on them at international level. And with six months to go before another international tournament where delusions of grandeur are growing already, it is time for the old Italian to take a leaf out of AVB’s book.
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Capello needs to start by taking them off their pedestal and treating them like any other member of the squad. During the Mourinho era he identified a group of ‘untouchables’ but Villas-Boas has made a mockery of that, showing no fear of the reputations and egos that surround him at Stamford Bridge and has picked people on merit. Their were rumours that emerged after the transfer-listing of Alex and Anelka which suggested that he ruthlessly criticised every first-team player and while that could have had catastrophic consequences to his side, it proved that sentimentality is not for him.
He has relegated Lampard, Malouda and Drogba to bit-part roles at times during this campaign and even when Frank has scored he has been put back on the bench for the following games. The boss recognises that they have something to add to his team but unlike those that preceded him he doesn’t want to become reliant on an aging team. Meanwhile, Alex and Anelka are being shipped out sharply because they do not fit his ideas and the post-Christmas clearout will further do this.
As he trims down his squad his plan of action is coming to fruition. After seven years of playing percentage football, happily winning games 1-0, they have adopted a fearless style of play which has made Saturday afternoons at Stamford Bridge a lot more exciting. Like the side showed over the last few games they can revert back to old ways, pushing deeper and battling through matches but this extra dimension to Chelsea’s play has revitalised his squad and once the team become more accustomed to what he wants they will be an even bigger threat than before.
The changes at Chelsea should be used as a blueprint to success for Capello this summer. Thankfully he will be leaving after the tournament but what he achieves in Poland and Ukraine could have a lasting legacy for England. There is no chance of us beating Holland, Germany and Spain to the Euro 2012 crown so we can use it to give the next generation of talent the experience of a major tournament so that when the 2014 World Cup comes round they are ready for it. Next summer’s squad needs to rely on Daniel Sturridge, Jack Wilshere, Tom Cleverley, Phil Jones and Kyle Walker while the likes of Gerrard, Terry and Lampard should be included in the squad but rather than being given a starting place they need to be used to help compose the young stars.
A change of tactics is needed as well. England need to ditch 4-4-2 and adopt a less rigid, attacking mantra that has served Spain so well. Villas-Boas has done it at Chelsea as well and it is beginning to work and the same would happen for our national side. The next generation arguably has more talent than those they will replace and it is time to give them their shot. If it can be done at the Stamford Bridge pressure-cooker, surely a man who knows he is going should do the same.
Should England follow AVB’s example? Comment below or follow me on Twitter @jrobbins1991.
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