Avram Grant

Comment: Check out the 2nd paragraph. How dare he say that? I wonder
if he'll be attacked by the press, and if fans will moan about it.

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Grant spells it out: there are no 'untouchables' at Chelsea now


Sachin Nakrani
Wednesday October 31, 2007
The Guardian


Avram Grant says there are no longer any "untouchables" at Chelsea and
only those who perform well are guaranteed a place in his side,
dismissing Jose Mourinho's policy of picking certain players
regardless of form.
Mourinho said nine players - Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Frank
Lampard, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba,
Michael Ballack and Peter Cech - were "untouchable" and would always
play for him if fit. His successor, who leads the side into the
Carling Cup against Leicester City tonight, has made it clear that no
such group exists at the club now. "I only know about the movie
Untouchables, it is a great movie, I saw it three times," he said.
"The only people who are guaranteed a place here are those who play
good."

Grant, though, said that he will rotate his squad in order to keep
them fresh for all four competitions they are playing in. That will
mean more time away from the pitch from Shaun Wright-Phillips who has
not taken part in Chelsea's last two matches, the 2-0 Champions League
win against Schalke and the 6-0 thrashing of Manchester City.

Wright-Phillips had become a regular under Mourinho and the England
winger was deeply upset at losing his place. "What is important is
Shaun Wright- Phillips attitude on and off the pitch," said Grant. "I
want him to be happy, but I don't think I can make everyone happy.

"I can't make everyone happy unless I play with one team in the first
half and a different one in the second. All the players knew before
they signed that Chelsea has a big squad and that they will not play
all the time. But we pay their wages and we want them to make a
contribution to the team. If there is a problem players now know that
they can knock on my door and we will try and find a solution."

Grant refused to say if Wright-Phillips will appear in the match
against Leicester at Stamford Bridge tonight. There will be changes,
however, with Carlo Cudicini expected to replace Cech in goal.

Grant, as Mourinho did, is taking the competition seriously and is
aiming to make it the first trophy success of his managerial career at
Chelsea. He said: "I play each game to win. We will give 100% in each
competition."

Having scored on Saturday, Andriy Shevchenko could start again tonight
as Grant tries to build the confidence of a player who, despite
signing for £30m, was not deemed good enough to be one of Mourinho's
untouchables.

"Andriy has a great attitude," Grant said. "He played a good 20
minutes against Man City and will do so again in the future."

?
mourhino is quoted as saying certain players were untouchable.
what are you driving at?


"Google Beta User" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1193851588.755420.139770@d55g2000hsg.googlegr oups.com...
Comment: Check out the 2nd paragraph. How dare he say that? I wonder
if he'll be attacked by the press, and if fans will moan about it.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Grant spells it out: there are no 'untouchables' at Chelsea now


Sachin Nakrani
Wednesday October 31, 2007
The Guardian


Avram Grant says there are no longer any "untouchables" at Chelsea and
only those who perform well are guaranteed a place in his side,
dismissing Jose Mourinho's policy of picking certain players
regardless of form.
Mourinho said nine players - Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Frank
Lampard, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba,
Michael Ballack and Peter Cech - were "untouchable" and would always
play for him if fit. His successor, who leads the side into the
Carling Cup against Leicester City tonight, has made it clear that no
such group exists at the club now. "I only know about the movie
Untouchables, it is a great movie, I saw it three times," he said.
"The only people who are guaranteed a place here are those who play
good."

Grant, though, said that he will rotate his squad in order to keep
them fresh for all four competitions they are playing in. That will
mean more time away from the pitch from Shaun Wright-Phillips who has
not taken part in Chelsea's last two matches, the 2-0 Champions League
win against Schalke and the 6-0 thrashing of Manchester City.

Wright-Phillips had become a regular under Mourinho and the England
winger was deeply upset at losing his place. "What is important is
Shaun Wright- Phillips attitude on and off the pitch," said Grant. "I
want him to be happy, but I don't think I can make everyone happy.

"I can't make everyone happy unless I play with one team in the first
half and a different one in the second. All the players knew before
they signed that Chelsea has a big squad and that they will not play
all the time. But we pay their wages and we want them to make a
contribution to the team. If there is a problem players now know that
they can knock on my door and we will try and find a solution."

Grant refused to say if Wright-Phillips will appear in the match
against Leicester at Stamford Bridge tonight. There will be changes,
however, with Carlo Cudicini expected to replace Cech in goal.

Grant, as Mourinho did, is taking the competition seriously and is
aiming to make it the first trophy success of his managerial career at
Chelsea. He said: "I play each game to win. We will give 100% in each
competition."

Having scored on Saturday, Andriy Shevchenko could start again tonight
as Grant tries to build the confidence of a player who, despite
signing for £30m, was not deemed good enough to be one of Mourinho's
untouchables.

"Andriy has a great attitude," Grant said. "He played a good 20
minutes against Man City and will do so again in the future."

On Oct 31, 1:36 pm, "Dave G" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uk> wrote:

I meant this paragraph:

Grant, though, said that he will ROTATE his squad in order to KEEP
THEM
FRESH for all four competitions they are playing in.

"Google Beta User" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
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A- imo, depends on results.

--

Google Beta User wrote:

No surprise there. It is what every manager in the Prem does,
with some like Wenger, going to more extremes than others.

The question is, will Grant rest key players, who are not in
need of it, but just to give them a break, in key games like
the Prem, but play them in the Carling Cup? We know somebody
that does.

Playing different men in various competitions is sensible.
Resting some players in lesser competitions is sensible, What
better time to do it?

The dismay at RB's policy has never been simply about changes.
It has always been about when they are made and the reason
for making them. He is only too pleased to admit that he will
drop key players- mainly forwards - even for Prem matches (
his stated main objective) just to rest them whether they need
a rest or not. THAT is what the media and a growing number of
fans find illogical.

You, like so many others, seem to have missed the point.

So, yes! If Grant had been silly enough to play Drogba last
night but leave him out for the weekend Prem game, not for
tactical reasons, but just to "rest him" then the media would
be asking questions about his selection methods. I doubt if
that will happen, inexperienced though he is.

Raffa will be saved from too many further eccentric
selections, owing to lack of options. Saved by unwanted
injuries, as some of us predicted.


LC

>

Do you remember the stick he got resting players in last years League
Cup ?
Still unbeaten in the league.
Go figure

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

Another one missing the point. If your prime objective is the
Prem, it is best to play you most effective team in those
matches, regardless of what you might do in others.

'Unbeaten ' looks great on paper but it is not good enough if
the record contains too many draws. It is these one pointers
that make the difference. Chelsea lost less games than last
years title winners, but MU won it because they were able win
more games rather than drawing them.

The 6pt difference between top team Arsenal and Liverpool,
both unbeaten, is because of 3 draws rather than 3 wins.
Nobody will ever know if not resting key players would have
turned draws into wins, but you cannot do better than giving
the team every chance.

A manager with serious intent and just a touch of common sense
should know that, whatever tactical choices you might make,
you will not drop your first choice player in a Prem League
game just "to give him a rest" when he is not in need of one.


LC