Avram Grant, We Hardly Knew Ye

By: Ian Rose | May 24th, 2008

I suppose it was inevitable, but I have to admit, I’m a bit sad to announce it. Avram Grant has officially been given the sack by Chelsea. The same week that he led the Blues to their first-ever Champions League final, the Israeli manager is out on the street. So The Offside asks you: Did he deserve this? Were his questionable tactics and utter lack of personality just not enough for a man who appeared in the wake of Jose Mourinho? Or did he quietly rack up a pretty good season, and deserve a chance to make the team his own over the summer? Tell us what you think.

As for me, I’m in the camp that thinks Avram got a bit of a raw deal. The press never liked him, as he was a poor substitute for the walking headline quote that is Mourinho. He inherited a team which was not of his choosing, and in certain cases, was openly hostile toward him. I’m not claiming he didn’t make mistakes. Anelka and Malouda have both been mishandled during his time, wasting two great French international talents. Grant’s placement of Anelka on the wing rivals the same situation this year between Alain Perrin and Karim Benzema at Lyon for worst idea ever. But he did some things right, too. You don’t make the Champions League final by accident, and he not only made it, but got within one John Terry slipped boot of winning it. One has to wonder if that slip cost Grant his one chance at staying. If so, that’s a real shame.

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Category: England, English Premier League, Leagues, World Football

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fitz

Strictly to clarify, I wasn't blaming Chelsea's loss in Moscow on Terry. I meant that if Terry scored, Grant (probably?) keeps his job.
How can you guarantee that the next guy is gonna do better? Sure Guus and Frank R. have great pedigrees, but hiring them doesn't guarantee topping ManUnited. Chelsea had the big game at Stamford Bridge with three games left in the season and responded big time. Avrma had his stumbles (ahem Carling Cup ahem) but his body of work was nothing to quibble about.
But keep tinkering, Roman, you spoiled brat.
finnegan

was it fair? no, of course not. grant came in under tremendous pressure to do well, and he almost did. but the fact of the matter is that for chelsea, a trophy-less season is a disgrace, and no matter what the cirumstances, it can't happen. grant knew that coming in, so when he didn't deliver, he had to go.

like I said, it's not fair. but it had to be done, so I support the decision.
Nelson

What I want to know is, who the hell wants this job? If coming short of the league by a few points, the League Cup by a game, and the CL final by a penalty gets you fired then Chelsea aren't doing much for their PR.

I hope whoever they get has the character of Mourinho, because its going to take that to last at least a full year.
matt

didnt help that the classless anelka made sure to piss on his parade instead of saying "hey..i missed...you know...like the turd i am"
mele419

He absolutely did not deserve that.
I mean, they may not have won the Prem or the CL, but they were incredibly close. He did a pretty damn good job, I'd say. But then again Chelsea won't settle for anything less than their money can buy.
Shazback

As much as I didn't feel he was the man for the job when he took over from Mourinho, I can't really understand what Abramovic is complaining about. In is first three quarters of a season, whilst inheriting a team that looked almost already out of the title race (6th when he took over, and after a pretty logical defeat against Man U after barely 3 days at the head of the team, 7th and already 8 points adrift of Arsenal), and who didn't seem to be playing well in Europe (a draw with Rosenborg...). But he has managed to prove to his critics that he's not completely clueless. Sure, he's finished the season with nothing to show. But he's taken Chelsea perhaps further than Mourinho ever did, with Mourinho's squad.

It's a bit harsh to sack the man who has taken you to your first ever champions league final, in the same year as you finished second in the league only because of the results on the last day of the season, and you lost in the League Cup final... When it was his first season, and he didn't really get much freedom on the transfer market.
GeorgeZ

not only Drogba, who he supported more than Sheva got sent off, also he brought in Anelka and not Shevchenko, who was Abramovich's primadonna and the reason why Mourinho was sacked, and probably, Sheva's penalty would have gone in. Also, as a rule of thumb, defenders dont make good penalty takers, at least under big pressure. Attackers are more used to keeping their cool under stress, that's what makes a good centreforward, composure and resolution under pressure, the ability to read the movement of the keeper and change the direction of the shot according to it and being unpredictable at that time. Grant took long to react, could have changed the game before the 90th minute because Chelsea were running over United at full steam in the second half, and a failure to seize the chance when all the wind is blowing in your direction is punishable at that level with the harshest of punishments (within the law, otherwise he would have been shot in the head with a 9mm at the boss's office and his body thrown to the river in a bag with stones)
Kevin

Actually, don't blame John Terry's slip....blane "Bag O Douche" Drogba for getting red carded in the first place...
fitz

What did Roman want Avram to do, take John Terry's penalties for him?
confused

I know managers end up taking bullets, but jeez. I strongly dislike Chelsea for lots of reasons, but it seems to me he did a damn good job considering what all went on last late summer/early fall. Chalk this up to a cu-ra-zee owner--I'd like to see the next guy do better.
Rob

Absolute madness.
Lowe

Anelka was unnecessary, as he has always been. I despise Chelski. But Grant did a damn good job. I guess Real Madrid has someone to compete with over firings now.
ferhan

he has got to win, he signed nickloas anelka for what? to be a sub? that was the stupidest thing he did!
Ale

Definitely didn't deserve this, feel bad for him. What's a guy gotta do to keep a job?

Mancini to Chelsea, Mourinho to Inter
Matt

I got to agree about Grant getting a raw deal. He takes the Blues to the brink of winning the league from shambles and takes them to their first CL final...what exactly is a fireable offense in all of that?