Grant - The Debate

Join the Sky Sports debate on Avram Grant's tenure at Chelsea

Last updated: 26th February 2008

Grant - The Debate

Grant: Questions are being asked

Following Sunday's Carling Cup final defeat to Tottenham a number of Chelsea fans have not been slow in issuing frank appraisal of Avram Grant.

And the word emanating from the Stamford Bridge faithful is that the club is going backwards under the Israeli tactician.

Grants' win-to-game ratio is not dissimilar to Jose Mourinho's but in the match-ups that matter, against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, and Sunday's final, Chelsea have been found wanting.

His decision to employ Nicolas Anelka in a wide berth and only utilise Joe Cole in extra-time at Wembley caused more than the odd raised eyebrow, but are Chelsea fans judging Grant too soon?

Is Grant the man to regain the title for Chelsea, or is he out of his depth?

Have your say by filling in the feedback form below.

Comments (51)

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Paul Broadribb says...

Grant? Mourinho? and however many other permutations. Grant, no - sorry. When we need some decisiveness to make a difference Avram does not have it. Some here defend him, but the guy is technically not even qualified to manage any club in the premier league let alone one of the big guns. Mourinho is the special one, a leader and a motivator, yes he had money and indeed inherited a great team from Ranieri - (top talent scout and genuinely likeable manager, only one bit of hardness missing to make him the Man)- but Jose could make the team play. Who could manage Chelsea - if I had the anser to that I would be one of the most intelligent men on the planet. Avram is not the man though!

Posted 12:50 7th March 2008

Denis Hayes says...

To be honest I just can't understand why all the attention is on Avram Grant, why don't people cut him some slack. He has only been in the job 5 minutes. I am a gooner at heart but generally a football lover. Judge him at the end of his contract time. Whilst everybody has been on his back Chelsea are coming back in to form and picking up the points again. Let him be, get off his back and let him get on with his job. Nobody was calling for the head of Arsene Wenger when they had the heavy defeat at Man Unt the other week or the loss to Tottenham in the Carling cup. Let's just all move on and concentrate on the real excitement, the climax of the race for the Premiership, the best year for some time, may it continue.

Posted 23:12 6th March 2008

Kayleigh Harris says...

i do like Avram as a person, however at this moment in time i do not think that he should be the manager/coach of chelsea, because expectations of the media, fans, board and the team itself are high. I do understand that he was put in a difficult position entering a club that were distraught at loosing their best manager (so far) and that he was never going to fit in straight away. He was given a chance to do well and i think he has done an ok job in the league and FA cup however when it came to the Carling Cup( which isnt chelseas main focus, but still a chance at getting silverware) he experimented with his tactics and placing anelka on the left was a dreadfull mistake which he should have corrected at half time. i think that Avram should have be given a chance to prove himself but if no silverware is won at the end of the season then he should be replacedas he would not have fullfilled chelsea potential. And the whole point that Jose was sacked was because he wasnt playing beautiful football but i would like to ask Roman if Grants football is any better? At the end of the day chelsea is a big club and can get whoever they want to manage the club so why get someone who was virtually unknown for a permanant coach when he should have been a caretaker to keep options open. At the end of the day the job should go to who is the best, and at the minute Avram isnt the best!

Posted 22:32 6th March 2008

David Hudson says...

Chelsea fans keep harping on about the special one,but I wonder how special he would have been without all that money he had at his disposal . People forget he also had a ready made squad left for him by the previous manager.Avram Grant is doing what Morinio did.Evan the useless Kevin Keegan could be successful at Chelsea. Come on you WOLVES

Posted 13:16 4th March 2008

Elvis Chidi (Chelsea fan) says...

I really appreciate Grant, but i don't think he is the kind of coach chelsea needs, chelsea is big club and with a big fan base we can not be second best, we ought to take our normal position in premiership. with Grant i don't think we will ever get there!

Posted 13:57 29th February 2008

Paul Lindsey (Arsenal fan) says...

Surely all Chelsea fans didn't expect this guy to be in charge for very long anyway, he has only done what most of us could do with a money no object squad of players, what he has failed to do is get that extra out of them that would win them trophies, something only top managers have the ability to do, thats why i fully expect him to be replaced in the summer

Posted 13:33 29th February 2008

Prateek Kumar (Chelsea fan) says...

Grant must Go. ITs as simple as that . His tactics are flawed and we are relying on individual performances to win, not a strategy. All we need for silverware is a new manager, someone like Klinsmann or Van Basten. Someone Young, and someone who will fire up the team like Jose did.

Posted 07:32 29th February 2008

Eric Majdalani (Chelsea fan) says...

I wont comment about the beginning of Grant's reign but the CC final was a credibility make or break game. He put in the wrong team and I don't feel he motivated his players enough. Lamps and Anelka shouldn't have started as they were highly ineffective. Should he win the Premier League and the Champions league this season we should consider whether to put him back upstairs or perhaps bring in Lippi..

Posted 02:53 29th February 2008

Dennis Smedts (Arsenal fan) says...

Grant is never going to make it. Every single Premier League manager has to be able to get results with a squad and a budget like that, every club dreams of the star players that Chelsea have. Although I'm a real Arsenal fan I have to admit my great respect for José Mourinho. He's a great manager, and Chelsea should not have treated him like that. Grant doesnt add anything special to this squad. Mourinho gets the best out of Lampard, Terry, Drogba and Essien, the best players of Chelsea, something wich Grant can't seem to do. Grant just doesnt have that charisma that Mourinho has, that Wenger-flavour Arsenal have, the class Man United have... They really need to bring in a big name manager if they want to remain at the top and keep their star players in Londen, because I can understand if Lampard, Drogba, Essien and Cech are less motivated under Grant

Posted 00:16 29th February 2008

Sarif Alrai (Manchester United fan) says...

From the outset i thought, this guy has no charisma and no personality, but i thought its best to give him the benefit of the doubt. but now we can all clearly see that he lacks tactical ability, a team like the current chelsea isn't somewhere you come to learn your trade. as a sports psychologist, reading Grant's behaviour is pointless, because he comes across as a loser, he doesnt radiate a desire to win, or to do better. the reason chelsea didn't completely lose the plot is because of the impact that jose had. grant is still riding on the crest of a wave, its just a matter of time before he "parts ways" with chelsea. and i say....good riddance!

Posted 23:48 28th February 2008

Kim Jones (Chelsea fan) says...

First things first, RA made a huge mistake in getting rid of the special one, Jose was the leading light and force behind the team, with him in charge he had respect and fight from the players and all us fans. Can you hear Avram Grant being sung around The Bridge NO!!! Would we care if he were to go? NO!!! Where has the passion gone? I know Grant 's record is good BUT I believe it's because the players are running on the will and drive of Jose at the present but you can see it dwindling away, with AG standing in the background while JT did the talking to boost the team says it all.....Roman swallow your pride, make every football fan happy, BRING BACK THE SPECIAL ONE and leave him to run the team, then you will reap the rewards of having your name sung again and bring life and passion back to a great team that can only get better and better and the jealousy of every other team around

Posted 23:20 28th February 2008

Tom Fletcher (Aston Villa fan) says...

As soon as Grant was hired as Chelsea manager i thought he was out of his depth. I believed that at the start of next season someone else would be in charge. Fair play to Grant though Chelsea have quietly gone about maintaining an unrealistic title challenge. However, i am a bit sceptical becasue it is the same squad, same players being played & same formation etc, Grant didnt change much and again well done to him becasue he didnt really need too, some managers may of come in and unnecessarily tried stamp their own authority on the team & try to banish the memory of Jose. I think he made some good signings in January and before the Carling Cup Grant was being praised by lots of the media for their terrific run. But all of a sudden, after one loss, all be it a cup final everyone has turned on him, typical media & fan fickleness. I do agree that Grant made some tactical errors in dropping Ballack & Cole & playing Anelka wide left, but Tottenham were the better team on the day. Im not defending Grant so to say i am just pointing out the fickleness of the media & in particular football fans. Im not sure if Abramovic will finally get rid of the yes man he's desired (bit harsh) but again at the start of next season i would not be surprised to see a new manager at Chelsea.

Posted 22:11 28th February 2008

Kwasi Addai (Chelsea fan) says...

Avram is a good spectator but not a good manager.I believe strongely that his relationship with Abromovich made him the manager and expect him to leave by the end of the season.A good coach would not leave his two best players this season on the bench that is Cole and Ballack for this very important match.I beg him to leave before he destroys the club.

Posted 22:08 28th February 2008

Nigel Young (Bristol City fan) says...

The way that Chelsea got rid of the speacial one was a disgrace. Avram never did it for me. Jose made watching sky sports a joy. When I heard what team was playing on Saturday, I couldn't believe it. Chelsea have the players to beat any team in England and Europe.....but they don't have the manager.

Posted 22:04 28th February 2008

Jay Leslie (Liverpool fan) says...

I've been watching Your on sky sports over the past couple of weeks and most of the Chelsea fans have been saying what a good job Avram Grant is doning. The Chelsea fans are moanng because they will not be winning any silverware this season. DEAL WITH IT.

Posted 19:46 28th February 2008

Kwadwo Oppong says...

Although his record looks good, its not as good as his pre-decessor's and i cannot see how he can inspire the team with his demeanor. Abramovich made a big mistake getting rid of the special one mid season and an even bigger one employing Grant in his place. We should let Grant finish the season as manager but definitly replace him next season

Posted 19:37 28th February 2008

Johnny Appleseed (Chelsea fan) says...

The problem is not with Grant - the problem is with the MEDIA! Grant lost to Manchester in the first game (away) after he was appointed! How can anyone hold that against him? We did lose in the final, I too think that Joe Cole should have taken Anelka's position, but there is no guarantee that we would have won should Grant have played it differently. Moreover, should we have started with Anelka on the bench and subbed him in later, the MEDIA would have blamed the loss on Grant just the same. The truth is that Tottenham played well and that as much as we would like to win every game, it is not possible. Grant turned our team around after Jose left and really never got the apprieciation he deserves for coming in at a difficult time. I say "THANK YOU AVRAM"

Posted 18:07 28th February 2008

Kola Kadiri (Chelsea fan) says...

Avram grant isnt the right man for chelsea, right from the begining and i think the players are feeling the same way also, the departure Jose wasnt the best thing that happened to us, he made Chelsea who we are and put us into the dilemma we are into.. I think we should just manage till the end of the season and get a better Manager like SCOLARI.. He has the brain to manage a team like Chelsea. GOD BLESS CHELSEA FC

Posted 16:01 28th February 2008

Mike Newman (Chelsea fan) says...

Avram Grant is a square peg in a round hole ! he is tactically inept, he should be forced back upstairs before we lose ground on our competitors, if he stays I fear an exodus of our best players.

Posted 15:38 28th February 2008

Linda Martin (Chelsea fan) says...

Let me ask any of you Gunner/Manc supporters what would your reaction have been had Mr Grant been taken on as the manager of your team - be truthful now.........I thought so. How can a Director of Football with no UEFA Pro Licence be put in charge of a club like Chelsea especially as the aspirations are so much higher now. Mr Grant totally and inexpicably got it wrong at the Carling Cup but I think he will be at the club until the end of the season at least then I trust and hope that Roman and the board are big enough and have the courage to admit they made a grave mistake and replace him with someone who has the credentials to lead our great club to better things.

Posted 14:44 28th February 2008
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