Its always easy to say it at the start before things become
clear... Weather Scolari will be seen as a success or a
failure its still up in the air... But to dismiss Grants work last
season as insignificant is totally rubbish... When Grant took
over at Chelsea a month into the new season, the club was
already way behind United and other clubs... He also got them back
into the CL after their poor start with Mourinho in charge... He
continue to improve their results even with unprecedented injuries
to key players... This alone you have to give the man credit cos
Mourinho had a lesser injury problem the season before and it shows
he couldn't manage it...
To say Chelsea's team sprite that push them forward is even more
ridiculous... Having team sprite is important but team sprite don't
come about if the manager is that bad... Seeing Ballack and
Drogba having a go at each other and Terry and Hank
Ten... I don't see any team sprite there at all... Its more
like every man for himself...
Its always very convenient to shift the blame onto Grant when
things don't go well cos of his qualifications... or should i
say lack of it... But he showed the world that he could also take
them all the way to the CL final something that all their
previous qualified managers couldn't and only losing because of a
Terry miss last penalty... IMHO, Chelsea may not even have been in
2nd place had it not been for Grant's amazing chase to the
last day cos Arsenal had a record points last season too. In the
end, you can say they lost by 2 pts or maybe even could be goal
difference... That 2 pts that was lost even before Grant took
over...
As for Scolari, well... I guess only winning the CL will be seen
as an improvement from Grant... other than that, i think we have to
take it that he didn't improve them much...
well, i will have to totally disagree with you. By saying
indirectly that Grant picked up what Mourinho did is totally
absurd. they are both from a different class. Grant got the
job because surprise surprise he is close to the owner. We
dont call Mourinho the 'Special One' for nothing, and theres
surprise surprise no 'title' for Grant (trophy-wise and
name-wise)
Another thing is, it was really team spirit that brought Chelsea
so far. Whatever happened between the players remain off
field (or factless rumours), but onfield, they put on a high work
ethic (dont you reckon?). And yes there'll be rumours like what
happened to Rooney and Ronaldo, but most importantly, professionals
forget and get along for the spirit of the game. Chelsea
really went thru a season with a sudden change in management.
Other 'top flight' teams wont know it, coz their managers dont get
sacked suddenly (liverpool, maybe).
i reckon, an improvement from the 'old' chelsea, Scolari will
bring in attacking mouth watering football. Trophies or not,
as long its for the good of the game. And to say that Grant
isnt to blame is absurd. Anyone can be given that role with
the line up of players that Chelsea had last season and be in the
CL final, 2nd in EPL.
