Chelsea FC need to make one very important signing as soon as possible. They absolutely must find Michael Emenalo’s long-overdue successor.
Chelsea FC need to sign a technical director as soon as humanly possible. Not just any technical director, but a good one. A sharp, creative and cunning person who understands exactly the politics and complications surrounding the situation at Stamford Bridge.
The technical director job at Stamford Bridge is one of the hardest in world football. It is similar in many respects to being head coach, and in similar fashion can also be one of the most rewarding. If a person can navigate the proverbial minefield of player power, ownership whims, club politics, Premier League difficulty, high expectations and minimal patience, there’s something good there.
Chelsea offer a decently talented squad and a city that is wildly appealing as a transfer destination. True, some people do not take to it, like Diego Costa or apparently Alvaro Morata. But by and large, players love living in the city. Chelsea also has a structure to compete in the top levels of domestic competition and (theoretically) in Europe. Being Chelsea’s technical director is a far better job than someplace like, say, Palermo, where the owner is equally twitchy and the levels of success are harder to reach. It’s a better job than Newcastle, as well.
Chelsea is not a bad offer for a lot of people. It has potholes, absolutely, and it’s definitely not Juventus or Bayern Munich but hey – it’s a decent place to get a foot in.
Chelsea need to sign a technical director to start moving in the right direction again. They are making the mistake of acting like a club that has nothing going for them, shooting themselves in the foot time and time again.
It’s summer already, in a World Cup year and the transfer window is open. They should have had a technical director who already visited with the clubs of each of their 3-5 transfer targets. They should be signing checks over coffee in brilliant little continental coffee shops as soon as tomorrow. Unfortunately, they’re not, and that’s an issue.
Too many other things are up in the air for Chelsea not to have this position filled. They do not know if the are going to be replacing the manager or if they’re going to keep him. They don’t know who they are going to sign or who they are going to sell. For the love of all things that are holy and good, they don’t even have their pre-season schedule sorted out! What is going on?
All of this unknown nonsense is holding Chelsea back. Even if Chelsea keep the manager, make no signings and sell no players at least having a practical, smart and methodical technical director would be a move in the right direction.
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The infrastructure is there to be a giant club. Arsenal have finally ceded control of London. Tottenham, unfortunately, look set to take control of it with their golden team, newly re-signed genius manager and new stadium opening all at the right time. Chelsea should not be allowing this to happen.
To be the biggest team in South England would be something Chelsea could capitalize on. Being the biggest and best club in London would allow them to do battle with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
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The first step, though, is to stop floundering about like a child at their first swimming lesson. To be a big club, act like a big club. Get some direction and appoint a technical director this week.