Source: Daily_Mail
Leo's London: Roman Abramovich must let Andre Villas-Boas do his job
ShareRoman Abramovich is ready to overhaul his Chelsea team and wants a highly rated rookie manager to oversee the process. [LNB]But he will find it is not as easy as AVB. Simply signing Andre Villas-Boas is not the solution on its own. [LNB]Even if Chelsea's former opposition scout has become the best manager in the world in the two years he has been leading teams, he will struggle to fulfill the owner's ambitions if he is not granted enough control. [LNB] New era: Andre Villas-Boas has signed a three-year deal to take charge of Chelsea [LNB]Transfers will be key and Abramovich has to allow the latest seat-warmer in the manager's office the final say. For a while at least, he and his lieutenants have to largely butt out. [LNB]If Villas-Boas really wants to sign Falcao and Joao Moutinho from Porto, then the club should do all they can to make it happen. [LNB] More from Leo Spall... Leo's London: Walcott and Arsenal fans are crazy if they think Wenger will break the bank08/06/11 Leo's London: West Ham and what they stand for has changed01/06/11 Leo's London: Abramovich is sucking the identity out of Chelsea25/05/11 Leo's London: Capital clubs should be worried as Manchester City march on18/05/11 Leo's London: Would the real Neil Warnock please stand up?12/05/11 Leo's London: Sullivan's stay away was latest in a long line of blunders04/05/11 Leo's London: Arsenal cannot even contemplate letting Fabregas leave28/04/11 Leo's London: Nasri should put Gallas row in the past for sake of title push20/04/11 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Neymar and Luka Modric sound like great signings but they have to be put on hold if they don't fit in with what the new manager wants to do. [LNB]It will be hard enough to win over senior players who have only known Villas-Boas as the DVD man under Jose Mourinho but having to put his weight behind other people's players could be fatal. [LNB]The beginning of Carlo Ancelotti's demise can be traced back to his lack of strength in fighting the desparture of senior players last summer without adequate replacements being signed. [LNB]Yet Villas-Boas is arriving in a situation that requires successors for Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, among others, to be found. [LNB]He has to prove himself while knowing that the consequences of making even the slightest mistake in handling either succession will be grave. [LNB]The way Abramovich works, any autonomy Villas-Boas is granted will be short-lived, but if he is really going to have anything like the impact Mourinho had he has to be given some freedom. [LNB]When Mourinho took over at Chelsea he signed six new players in the first summer at a cost of around ?70million and the second closed season was busy too. [LNB]Poor buys by Claudio Ranieri were blamed but Chelsea had just finished second in the Premier League and made the semi-finals of the Champions League, which is better than last season's return.[LNB] Wait for me: Porto striker Falcao is tipped to follow Villas-Boas to Stamford Bridge[LNB]Villas-Boas, at 33 years old, is the same age as some of the players.[LNB]Porto have been paid more than ?13m to release him from his contract and he will not be able to escape his billing as the new Mourinho. [LNB]The very least Abramovich can do is make him feel special for a while.[LNB] SAME OLD PROBLEM FOR CHELSEA'S YOUNGSTERSThe arrival of Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea does not bode well for the club's already inefficient youth system. [LNB]Despite being cast as a forward-thinking young manager, the Portuguese is also landing in an all-or-nothing situation. [LNB]His age and profile mean the environment of win or bust will be more oppressive than ever for a Chelsea manager and that does not allow much scope for promoting youth. [LNB] Limited opportunities: Chelsea's England Under 21 striker Daniel Sturridge[LNB]Daniel Sturridge, despite looking like he is maturing into an excellent Premier League striker, is likely to be left in the shadows for a start. [LNB]Falcao is set to follow Villas-Boas and there is already a queue of strikers with Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres and Salomon Kalou at the club. [LNB]At least one central midfielder will join too, adding to the obstacles for Josh McEachran. [LNB]And just to add to the frustrations at the Cobham-based academy, Chelsea's entry into the new European Under 19 tournament is at least a year away. [LNB]DAN'S THE MAN FOR JOL Martin Jol's recollection of his shoddy departure from Tottenham is delightfully pragmatic. [LNB]Damien Comolli, the former sporting director, has been cast by the Dutchman as the meddler and back-stabber who forced him out. [LNB] Getting things off his chest: Martin Jol during this first press conference as Fulham boss[LNB]Yet the chairman, Daniel Levy, who appointed Comolli, gave him his power and actually sacked Jol in such disgraceful fashion, is saved the vitriol.[LNB] 'I've got a good relationship with Daniel, he always looked after me and there are no hard feelings,' said Fulham's new manager. [LNB]It's amazing what a pay-off worth close to ?5m can do to your memory, isn' t it? [LNB]NOLAN A GOOD BUY FOR HAMMERSWest Ham's owners have not done a great deal right since they bought into the club last year, but signing Kevin Nolan from Newcastle at last sees them on the right track. [LNB]Costly, yes, and his ambition in dropping down to the Championship has been rightly questioned. But Nolan is a top-flight player and will be an excellent (and cheaper) replacement for Scott Parker, whose departure is imminent. [LNB] Singing a different Toon: Kevin Nolan has left Newcastle and joined West Ham[LNB] Chelsea hail 'outstanding' Villas-Boas after new boss signs three-year deal Andre's remarkable rise... just what has Villas-Boas done to get to Chelsea aged 33?New Fulham manager Jol gunning for Comolli over his Spurs sacking Get over it! Newcastle must move on from Nolan, insists Pardew [LNB] Explore more:People: Kevin Nolan, Daniel Levy, Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Luka Modric, Martin Jol, Roman Abramovich, Nicolas Anelka, Daniel Sturridge, Carlo Ancelotti Places: Newcastle
