Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic and, most recently, Eddie Newton made comments that were either poorly worded or unintentionally revealing. Chelsea FC needs to train its players and coaches on speaking to the media before any real damage is done to club morale, player development or recruiting.
Chelsea FC’s players and coaches are the gift that keeps on giving for fans and pundits in the “OMG he said what???” industry. Thibaut Courtois’s pining for Spain is a frequent source of angry banter. Branislav Ivanovic riled up the Blue blood by saying that the players all but checked out on Antonio Conte’s instructions for the Arsenal derby.
Most recently, Chelsea’s loan player technical coach Eddie Newton got in the game. He praised Abraham’s potential, but inexplicably drifted into talking about Abraham’s inevitable “dips.”
"Our job is to guide him because he will have dips. He’s a young player and will have a dip during the season. He has started on fire (at City) and we are very pleased. We are also very aware that it is not going to be plain sailing all the way through the season. – Bristol Post"
More than just the fans read these comments. The players’ families read them. Prospective players’ families read them. The players themselves may hear about them.
Tammy Abraham’s loan to Bristol City came together when the Robins’ coach visit the Abraham family at home. Public and private messaging matters to a player’s choices and career.
Related Story: Chelsea's Tammy Abraham wins PFA fans' player of the month
How might Newton’s comments come across to Chelsea’s loan army and young players across England considering Chelsea for their youth development?
Andre Carlisle: You have to take this in context. When you’ve lost a connection with so many loanees you kind of lose the fairnesss of being level-headed. It’s common sense that Abraham won’t score a goal a game from now until he’s old and gray. Newton doesn’t need to be the one saying that given recent failures of Chelsea’s loan policy.
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Personally, I have no issue with the quotes. They are fair and fairly obvious comments to make. But if I were him, and in the same position, I’d put on the kid gloves in public. if not specifically for Tammy, for every other kid who may be questioning if joining Chelsea will be worth it.
Scott Brant: I agree on perspective. And for a 19 year old, I guess that’s plausible. I just feel it’s really sensitive of a young player – Abraham or a prospect – if he connected all these dots and arrived at that conclusion. As if he were looking for a reason to be like “to hell with it, I’m outta here…”
Daniel Mcclue: The comments about the dip are unnecessary. All Newtown needed to say is “we are really pleased with how Abraham is doing at the moment and we will see how the season progresses”.
I can’t imagine it would take much effort for the club to take small step towards better acknowledging their loan players and making them – and the fans – feel like the loan army is truly part of the club.
Scott Brant: I think the dip comments are being a tad blown out of proportion. Could he have worded it differently? Sure. Should Abraham take the comments personally or in any way other than how everybody knows they were meant? No.
Andre Carlisle: There are levels to things, though. Taking comments personally is one thing. Ingesting them as signs that you’re distant from your parent club is another.
Related Story: Lucas Piazon speaks out on failed Chelsea loan policy
That distance is something several loanees spoke about just this week. It’s also why Chelsea’s lost some in the past and why we’re all nervous as hell about Andreas Christensen. The words themselves are being blown out of proportion, but given what was just mentioned, it’s easier now to see how/why some kids move on from Chelsea.
Scott Brant: I agree with all of that. Except I feel this isn’t one of those occasions. Mainly because “Newton, who is the Blues’ loan player technical coach, has confirmed Abraham is firmly on the radar of the club and believes the striker’s mentality could see him break into Antonio Conte’s plans at Stamford Bridge.”
A blind man from the Amazon could see that what Abraham is doing is pretty impressive. If the club doesn’t, then Roman Abramovich needs to take his clowns and go.
Andre Carlisle: Having said that, a blind man could also see the disconnect between Chelsea and their “promising” loanees.
Chelsea talks big on every player on loan but never actually follow that up with actions. Any little sign of a different direction would help. So in the grand scheme, things like ignoring birthdays and business-as-usual quotes about an in-form striker who’s just a 3hr drive away are things that should be done differently.
Daniel Mcclue: Obviously Abraham knows he will have some sort of “dip.” But to have the club you’re trying to impress come out and say “yeah at some point in the season he will probably suck so we are kinda just waiting for that” is a little odd.
I’m exaggerating but you get the point. Why even mention it? just praise him for being good then when a lull in form comes make sure he knows how to handle it.
Andre Carlisle: It’s just so obvious that it didn’t even need to be said. without the context of our loan system or failings at getting academy prospects integrated into the first team, it’s just a useless thing to say. Add all of the youth issues and failings and I can’t blame Tammy if he reacted internally with “WTF! What else do I have to do?!”
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