The sacking of Phil Scolari could not have come at a worse time. For smaller clubs, it is a knee-jerk effect that often halts a sliding team. But a team the size of Chelsea... it's like peashooter going against a charging elephant. With the unbalanced team so low on confidence, it is hard to imagine Ray Wilkins having any positive effect in place of the outspoken Brazilian. Effectively, the position of Chelsea manager is a poisoned chalice for any established big name in the game - and make no mistake, only a big name will suffice.
After the Avram Grant debacle, I cannot imagine Zola taking the role, particularly given the mismatch between Mr Abromovich's expectations and his now dried-up war chest. And make no mistake, in football terms, it is war that Chelsea is facing - basically as the Germans, the week after Normandy as far as imagery goes.
A lot has been said about the age factor, with Sir Alex's initial analysis of the Chelsea team now seen as sagely, but this would only mask the Scolari's faults. With the introduction of aged Deco to the failure to utilize his wide players effectively, I venture to say that this is the difference between club management and that of the national team. A player like Didier Drogba would not have turned bad overnight and the sight of Nicholas Anelka jogging in a rare Chelsea counter-attack against Hull only demonstrates the state of the dressing room.
Whoever takes over needs to do so from that very dressing room, because whatever anyone may say, a team consisting so much talent has no excuse dropping points at home against Hull.
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