In every line of business, you have to know who’s boss. That’s the only way for any organisation to have a sense of direction. But what happens when the boss has no idea what he’s doing? That’s the question everyone who loves Chelsea is asking themselves these days.The not-so-new-anymore head coach Graham Potter is finding out the hard way how unforgiving a role he finds himself, while the fans are watching their team struggle on the pitch, looking like a bunch of players who have hardly met each other before. Of course, the head coach should take responsibility for his side’s results, but the blame is not entirely his. You have to look at the bigger picture and ask how did it come to this. And to get answers, you don’t have to go too far. The answer is there, at Stamford Bridge, playing God – or at least acting like an inexperienced player who’s just got their first copy of the Football Manager, the computer game that puts you in total control of a football club – including recruiting, finances, tactics, team selection and public relations.He finally got it: ‘This is the hardest job in football’Todd Boehly, the wealthy American who bought the club from Roman Abramovich, is having the time of his life – making big decisions that influence millions of people in England and worldwide certainly provides a mighty adrenaline rush. Being allowed to tell Thomas Tuchel, the UEFA Champions League-winning coach, that he’s not good enough is not something many people can do. And yet, this guy who came across the Atlantic Ocean and has never worked anything football-related has gotten his real-life game of Football Manager.Chelsea spent over $320 million for new players in the last transfer window – and that was before sacking Tuchel. When Potter arrived to succeed the German, he inherited an imbalanced squad featuring several players who were brought in specifically to fit into Tuchel’s system – the system that was no longer there.##NAJAVA_MECA_6937564##In the meantime, the club has since re-modelled the recruitment department, but it remains to be seen if Boehly would still be the ultimate decision-maker. If and the strategy of lurching from one big signing to the next appears to be continuing this month. They have already signed defender Benoit Badiashile on a seven-and-a-half-year deal, striker David Datro Fofana and midfielder Andrey Santos, while Joao Felix arrived on a costly temporary deal. If those signings turn out to be insufficient to improve the Blues’ season, who will pay the price? We hate to tell you, Graham, but you would be the prime candidate.There are also considerable changes in the Chelsea medical team. The current setup is nothing more than a temporary solution, and that is having an adverse effect on the team. There are currently 11 players out injured, including the right-back Reece James, whose comeback from a long-term injury lasted less than an hour. He now faces another month out on the treatment table – and the team is set to struggle without their key player.As reported, Potter has the board’s confidence. Behdad Eghbali assured him of this during and after World Cup, and Todd Boehly has given his backing. Potter seen as not just right coach, but a strategic and personality fit, which is why owners want to avoid a knee-jerk sacking. pic.twitter.com/V6AKwjjrR4— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 11, 2023 Potter must turn the team’s fortunes as soon as possible, starting with tonight’s match at west London rivals Fulham – or he’ll be the next to give Boehly an adrenaline rush.The old proverb says that fish stinks from the head down. And the stench is slowly spreading around Stamford Bridge.
