Fernando Torres Signing For Chelsea Will Get Carlo Ancelotti The Sack

Chelsea FC pulled off one of the biggest transfers of all time recently, when they took Fernando Torres from Liverpool for £50 million. The move was seen by many as Roman Abramovich flexing his financial might to not only get the Pensioners back in the title race, but also as a way of bringing the Champions League to Stamford Bridge.

However, while that may have been the Russian Oligarch's main aim, what he has achieved is a further erosion of the fragile foundation under Carlo Ancelotti's feet.

As the league table stands, Chelsea has 44 points and is a full 10 points behind the leaders, Manchester United, with just 13 games to go. Considering that the Red Devils have only lost one game from the previous 25, it looks highly unlikely that Alex Ferguson would allow his team to lose four games from their remaining fixtures to leave the Blues with a chance at retaining their title.

This, of course, means that Chelsea's only real aim for the rest of the season is the trophy that Roman Abramovich craves so much...the Champions League.

Last season, as Chelsea was eliminated from the Champions League by Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan, an incandescent Roman Abramovich issued an ultimatum to Carlo Ancelotti:

Win the league, or else.

At the time, a Chelsea insider told ESPN "[Ancelotti's future] now depends on the league. He will need to win the league to survive."

So, it is not beyond the realms of imagination to think that the Chelsea owner has issued a similar demand about the Champions League this time around.

The insider also told Soccernet that Abramovich wanted to bring Fernando Torres to the club next season, despite other areas of the team needing renewal.

"Of course Roman wants Torres, but he will not pay even £50 million for him, and Liverpool will be asking more than that."

“If the situation stays the same at Liverpool, then they will have to consider selling Torres, but you will not be able to get him for £50 million.

"How much? No one knows yet, as Liverpool has yet to decide to sell him."

Just last week, Roman Abramovich fulfilled one of his footballing ambitions when he bought the services of Fernando Torres for the £50 million mentioned last March.

With that, there are a number of things to be taken from the purchase of the Spanish striker.

The foremost is Torres was an Abramovich signing, and Carlo Ancelotti was not consulted on the addition of another striker. With that in mind, you can see how Abramovich sees himself as the manager of the club and that Ancelotti is little more than a coach with no say in the matter.

If Ancelotti had been consulted, then he would surely have looked at bringing some much needed creativity into midfield. This is an area where Chelsea are weakest, as the defeat to Liverpool showed.

The Reds used an unconventional 3-6-1 or 5-3-1-1, depending upon your point of view, to stifle Chelsea’s powerhouse midfield. With the Blues' lack of creativity, Kenny Dalglish’s side basically strangled the life out of the defending champions.

The Liverpool defeat, albeit with Torres on the team, demonstrated all the main reasons Chelsea’s season has come undone and why they will probably finish the season trophy-less.

They are an incredibly cohesive unit and every move has the look of a well-worked training-ground set piece. If those do not work, they lack a creative player in the midfield who can find teammates in dangerous areas of the pitch.

While the Pensioners midfield is their greatest asset, it is also a liability against teams that are well organised and who, most importantly, pack midfield.

It speaks volumes that Liverpool’s caretaker manager chose to take Chelsea on where they are physically strongest, because he was full in the knowledge that once that area of the pitch was won, Chelsea had no other routes to victory.

In essence, the supply lines to Didier Drogba and Torres were cut off completely.

Even if Carlo Ancelotti had acted more quickly to bring on Malouda and Kalou, the game was up, as both of those players are wide forwards rather than wide midfielders. Thus, the personnel up front would make no difference to the outcome of the game, as midfield was where the game needed to be changed.

This immediately points to the two areas Ancelotti would have strengthened before even looking at bringing in another centre forward, particularly one with such a poor track record at finding a partner.

Chelsea needs a creative central midfielder and a wide midfielder.

The defeat to Liverpool effectively ended Chelsea’s slim title hopes, and now Carlo Ancelotti’s job is dependent upon winning the Champions League.

The Italian can rightly feel aggrieved with Abramovich. Even though he has done a superb job since joining the club from AC Milan, winning the double in his first year, that hasn’t stopped Abramovich from seemingly undermining his head coach at every opportunity.

The first example was last March when he told Ancelotti he would be sacked if he did not deliver the league title. This effectively sent the message out to the players that, with anything less than a 100 percent success rate, they would have a new boss. Every player worth his salt knows that this demand is impossible over the fullness of time.

The next step was the disgraceful sacking of Ray Wilkins.

Regardless of what Wilkins’ role was at the club and whether Abramovich thought he was needed or not, Wilkins was Ancelotti’s man. By unceremoniously sacking him in the manner that he did, Abramovich sent another two messages out to the team:

1. Roman Abramovich is the main man at Chelsea, not Carlo Ancelotti.
2. Ancelotti is in an uncertain position and is not important enough to consult on the team’s direction, never mind the club’s direction.

Shortly after Wilkins’ removal, Ancelotti was inflicted with Michael Emanalo, a coach with very little experience of football at the highest level.

His installation as Ancelotti’s right-hand man is seen with distrust by all involved in the first-team set-up. Emanalo is thought of as little more than a spy for Roman Abramovich, and Ancelotti has done his best to distance himself from the new appointee.

This also means Ancelotti is now completely alone at Stamford Bridge, with no one to turn to for advice or to brainstorm with.

It is in this atmosphere that Carlo Ancelotti approached the League Managers Association in late November, to seek advice on his standing and employment rights at Chelsea.

He spoke on the matter and offered a frank opinion on where he stands at the club and how his role is completely different than the one enjoyed by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

He said, "You compare me with Ferguson, it's a different position. Ferguson has total control of the team. I have just technical direction. Full-stop.”

This was a clear indication that Ancelotti has no say or power at the club and that every signing is chosen for him, regardless of how he feels about the matter.

Now, the latest step in the constant disruption of Carlo Ancelotti has seen Roman Abramovich buy Fernando Torres.

There can be little doubt that the Chelsea manager would not have chosen Fernando Torres as a player to bring in.

The ex-Liverpool striker has a fearsome reputation in front of goal, but his link-up play outside the box is average and his past history has shown that he is a striker who plays best by himself, in a counter-attacking team where he can come onto the ball rather than playing with his back to goal.

If anything, Ancelotti would have tried to buy Andy Carroll, as the ex-Newcastle No. 9 is as close a player to a young Didier Drogba as you’re going to find.

He would have fit in at Chelsea seamlessly.

It is clear for all to see that Carlo Ancelotti is living on borrowed time at Chelsea. The ironic twist in all of this is that the newest catalyst of erosion, Torres, is also the only man who can save his job.

Given Chelsea’s and Torres’ form over the last couple of months, it seems highly unlikely that things will click in time to win Ancelotti and Abramovich the Champions League.

First up is FC Copenhagen in two weeks time. The Danish club are seen by many as the weakest team in the Last 16, but the short time frame leaves Ancelotti struggling for answers.

The likeliest result is that Chelsea will beat FC Copenhagen, with or without Fernando Torres. However, the real test of the new partnership with Drogba and Anelka is likely to happen in April in the quarterfinal, just eight games away.

To go any further, the Blues will be hoping for another good draw. But, considering that the waiting teams are likely to include Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United, amongst others, their chances won’t be good.

Looking at their current form and the type of player that Torres is, it is very hard to see that particular partnership working, and it looks increasingly likely that Chelsea will not win the Champions League this year.
Should that happen, Roman Abramovich is almost certain to send Carlo Ancelotti back to Italy, with AS Roma as his likeliest destination.

The irony for Carlo Ancelotti is that the last signing by Roman Abramovich, Fernando Torres, said, “If you don’t play in the Champions League, it is as if you don’t exist.”

He’ll find that, as far as Abramovich is concerned, that quote is very true indeed.

David Beckham to Replace Fabio Capello as England Manager in 2012?

Fabio Capello has announced that a new English coach will be added to his England backroom team before September. The man to take the job and succeed the Italian in 2012 could be David Beckham, for a number of reasons.

Despite the 115 cap international star stating on July 14 that he had "no interest in being a coach or becoming a manager" speculation has begun to grow that Beckham will be talked around by Trevor Brooking into taking the job.

Newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch, who in turn owns NewsCorp and Sky TV, have begun to print articles stating that Beckham would be the ideal successor to the Italian because of his experience and Diego Maradona like celebrity.

News Corporation are the second largest media conglomorate in the world behind Walt Disney, and are the third largest in terms of entertainment.

And when an organisation with the kind of money and resources NewsCorp have at their disposal start to run with Beckham for manager stories you know that somewhere there is a benefactor that would like to see it through.

Trevor Brooking's Coach Search:

Indeed, the FA have charged Fabio Capello and Trevor Brooking, the FA's Director of Football Development, with bringing a young Englishman into the set up for the Autumn internationals with a view for future development.

After England's abysmal showing in South Africa the FA have decided to shake things up at the highest level by introducing an assistant to the Italian, who would be given the chance to learn from him before succeeding him.

It is a model that has been used successfully in other countries and with the FA's insistence that Capello is a short term answer to a long term problem, they have moved to install an early candidate.

So why David Beckham over Stuart Pearce or Ray Clemence?

For the media and for the promotion of England he would be a dream. He is one of the most recognisable men on the planet, and while he may not be the footballing ideal, he is. without doubt, the most well known English footballer of all time.

This is something that the FA will be eager to capitalise on, hence the need to install an apprentice two to four years before he actually takes over. One train of thought on why the FA is willing to gamble on a young coach is the lack of right-aged English managers in the game.

Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgeson are the two stand out candidates at the moment, but both are in their 60's.

Beckham has absolutely no coaching badges, other than those afforded to players who have plied their trade at the highest level and would need time to earn his UEFA badges before taking over from Capello. As such, There would be no better place than as assistant to one of the most thorough managers in Europe.

Perhaps, the most important reason for installing Beckham into Capello's team is England's World Cup bid for 2018 or 2022.

In years gone by, countries like France, Germany, Portugal, and Brazil have been able to wheel out great thinkers on the game like Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, and Pele to promote their bids to hold the tournament and a David Beckham / Sebastian Coe led assault on FIFA does look very appealing.

Apart from being one of, if not the, major influence for London gaining the Olympics in 2012, Sebastian Coe is recognised the world over for being one of the best sporting politicians on the planet.

FIFA recognised this back in 2006 when they made Coe the Chairman of their Ethics Committee. He has since stepped down to help lead the charge for 2018/22.

With Coe as the face meeting and greeting around the world and Beckham as the face of the team, the England bid would surely have an upper hand on it's rivals.

On May 14 Beckham travelled to FIFA headquarters in Zurich to hand over England's bid to host the World Cup, a mammoth 1,752 page document. So the FA have already seen what an influence the midfielder can be.

On a negative side for Beckham, Pearce would be the current squads undoubted favourite to take over as manager after the injured midfielder publicly blamed the players for their poor performances in South Africa, further stating that Capello had prepared each player meticulously.

He has also alienated certain senior players who felt his appearance at the World Cup was not needed and that he served no purpose other than to increase his own celebrity.

However, Pearce would not command the same attention media that Beckham would guarantee.

FA orders a shake up at the highest level:

The shake up at senior level in Fabio Capello's team comes on the back of a disastrous World Cup where England only won one game from four.

There has been much finger pointing, from Capello seemingly over training the squad during their six week recuperation period from the end of the English season to the start of the World Cup, to players attitudes, the 4-4-2 being outdated, and altitude.

However, the main reason for England continually failing at major tournaments is their management structure.
When each and every manager starts off in the England hot seat he is doing it from square one. Thus meaning that every regime goes back to the start every time there is a changeover
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No previous manager is ever sought and questioned or asked for advice on what he did right, even though things invariably went wrong in the end.

From Graeme Taylor to Terry Venables, past managers are always ignored by the FA. While some of you may scoff at Taylor's name being mentioned, he is currently spearheading Watford new philosophy as they become the template for player development throughout Europe.

When clubs like Ajax, Valencia, and even Barcelona are sending representatives over to see the Hornets pioneering coaching and schooling methods you know that it is definitely time that the English FA also go to see what is transforming the way football will be coached in years to come.

At it's most basic, Watford have integrated their academy players into a mainstream school, guaranteeing the players an education and the club at least three times more coaching time with aspiring 11 to 16 years than any other club in Britain.

Every manager does something right, and it is on this aspect of the game that countries like Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Spain have moved away from England. They are not afraid of introspection and using previous ideas from ill fated reigns, thus benefiting from a wisdom of crowds type approach.

If England had used a similar ideal then Fabio Capello would not have trained his team so hard after a long tough season, and they would not have been as tired.

In placing an apprentice with Capello the FA seem to be acknowledging this is someway but they have once again fallen short of what is really wrong with English football.

In English football there is a belief that kids are now receiving too much coaching and that the football is being coached out of the player, that's akin to saying there is too much education in school.

The facts speak for themselves; there are 2,769 UEFA qualified coaches in England.

Compare this with 23,995 in Spain, 29,420 in Germany, and 34,970 in Italy.

That means the ratio of coaches to players in England is 1:812 while in Spain it is 1:17.

The future of English football is in the hands of the FA.

Club football dominates the structures of English football to such an extent that teams often defy the FA when they are requesting young players for underage international squads. Whereas in Europe conventional wisdom is that the international teams come first and that experience at underage levels is vital for player development.

Just look at the trouble Noel Blake ad recently when clubs like Arsenal, Blackburn, and Everton all refused to release players for England's assault on the U19 European Championship Final's in France.

During the last World Cup in South Africa we read almost daily of how English players were bored with being stuck together for so long when in actual fact the German side of Jogi Loew had been together even longer. Five of Loew's first XI had been directly promoted from their successful U21 team where they gained invaluable experience when they won the UEFA U21 European Championships in 2009. Only one player from England's 2009 U21 squad made Capello's final 23, James Milner.

England is relying on 2018:

Quite simply, they will not win the World Cup in 2014.

And with every indication thus far that they will figure in the running for the almost certainly Europe-bound competition in 2018, the FA have moved to promote the game early.

If England do not win the competition on home soil then the game runs the risk of moving backwards in the country of it's birth, to such an extent that club football would almost certainly take over from international football completely.

The pieces are beginning to fall into place. John Peacock's U17's are probably the best passing team England has ever produced and in May they beat Spain in the final of the UEFA U17 European Championships. In 2018 they will all be at their peak and need an English manager to lead them.

The English FA recognise this and are moving to have an Englishman in charge for the World Cup. David Beckham?

The hearts and footballing minds of the country is at stake.

Spurs to Go For Pandev, Micah Richards, Sandro, Mensah, Van Nistelrooy?

Harry Redknapp's January shopping list is beginning to take shape. Spurs are looking to take advantage of Lazio's current strife with Goran Pandev, then move for Micah Richards with David Bentley as bait, while talks with Sandro and Sissoko continue.

As Dimitar Berbatov Heads To Utd, Who's To Blame? And What Do Spurs Do Now?

The death knell rang on Dimitar Berbatov's time at Spurs on Saturday after he was left out of the squad to face Roy Keane's improving Sunderland.