Scolari - a huge risk for Chelsea
Posted by Gringo Maclure in Brazil, Chelsea, Dunga, EURO 2008, Filipe Scolari, Portugal, Premiership, Roman Abronovich | 17 June 2008
The announcement of Luiz Felipe Scolari aka Big Phil's selection as Chelsea manager was unexpected as it was mistimed. In the middle of a major tournament his team have a great chance of winning, the news has been a distraction with a bizarre bidding war being waged for which players will follow him to Stamford Bridge next season. Maybe the media diversion will help the Portuguese focus for the knock out stages of Euro 2008. But then again, maybe it won't.
Scolari is a huge risk for Chelsea. It's true he is proven as a manager in various countries and is considered to be the man with the golden touch in cup competitions taking Brazil to glory in 2002 but I forsee teething problems at Chelsea. Scolari, ever since his bullish playing days as a central defender nicknamed 'wooden leg', is not a subtle character. He's not Arsene Wenger. Neither is he charismatic, and he probably won`t be learning English in a hurry. He's not Jose Mourinho. Furthermore, one criticism of the recent Chelsea squads is that they are a lifeless machine who've won without the flare or charm of, say, Arsenal or the present Manchester United squad. But, Scolari's teams, while successful, have always been a bit brutish and dogged and prone to the odd pitch-side brawl. If you want quality with style, he's not Sir Alex Ferguson. Also, his choice may be all about taking Chelsea to the prize of European glory - surely Abrahamovich's sole reason for pushing for his appoitment - but he has rarely turned teams into domestic league winning material for the long haul. His successes have been in the knock-out stages of cups where he seems to inspire - by sheer angst from the touchlines - teams to give 110%. But, can he replicate this for European and English club football? Nobody knows.
So, even if the Champions League is Abrahamovich's coveted target, expect tensions when Scolari rubs up against the media, Chelsea's fans, opposing managers and maybe even his own players. I stand to be corrected, but I predict a fireworks display.
Update from last entry:
1) Paraguay 2-0 Brazil in a WC qualifier. A very limp display from the men in yellow last Sunday has the press asking questions about manager Dunga once more. The general consensus: they preferred him when he was the WC winning captain fantastic he once was and not the rather vacant coach he now is. They face Argentina tomorrow in another qualifier.
3) Sport amazingly overturned Corinthians 2-0 at home to win (on away goals) the Copa Brasil for the first time in their history!
4) Nautico have been ordered to play their home games in another stadium for the forseeable future, the Botafogo player was charged and the Botafogo Director denied the charges against him and so his case rumbles on...
Comments
Not charismatic?? I could agree that he might not be diplomatic but Scolari is bursting with charisma.
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