The Poisoned Chalice - When oh when will Roman learn?

Deep, deep down in any Chelsea supporter's mind - post-Mourinho times haven't quite felt right.  Sure, it's not the lack of honours, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti bagged four trophies between them - one a Premier League title.

The age old question remains 'How do you replace The Special One?' - Jose almost became part of the furniture at Stamford Bridge, he wasn't in charge for a particularly substantial length of time, nonetheless he gave the supporters what they wanted, created a structure, a squad from scratch.

It was never hidden just how close Jose Mourinho was with his more senior squad members, the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech and Didier Drogba all held a notoriously friendly relationship with their boss - something so precious when times are high, but so dangerous when things begin to turn sour...

'The Special One' - Jose built up such a solid relationship
with his stars

Avram Grant began only as a stand-in, much as Roberto Di Matteo is now, filling the gap before Abramovich can lure another puppet to his collection.  Things were running smoothly for the Israeli Manager and he got the post full-time, only to stear the ship to a trophyless end and placed in the firing line, before being stabbed firmly between the shoulders.

 Luis Felipe Scolari next, former Brazil and Portugal Manager - this in many Chelsea eyes were when things began to spiral downwards.  A regime that has held much in common with that of recently diminished boss Andre Villas-Boas, the Brazilian lasted a matter of days less than AVB.  The tenures of Grant and Scolari were beginning to take toll on the London club.

Hiddink came in, grew extremely close with fans and players alike - and memorably ended his interim position with a FA Cup trophy.  The Russian was always only there to help compatriot Roman until the end of the term - it perhaps wasn't presumed that he'd become such a cult figure for the Blues, it was hard to say goodbye, but was never going to be forever.

This was the make or break time for the owner - 6 years on from his revolutionary takeover and his most prized asset was still not won, the UEFA Champions League trophy remained just a dream.  Quite aware that his chopping and changing of Managers was beginning to appear rather farcical in the media, Roman needed another Mourinho figure - one he could rely on for the next five years.

The moment Terry slipped and Roman's dreams were shattered

Carlo Ancelotti was the man with the European pedigree, if anyone knew how to collect the biggest prize in club football it was this Italian.  It was all going smoothly, more than that - fabulously, Mourinho-esque, Ancelotti stormed to the Premier League title in his first term.  That just wasn't enough however as Champions League defeats to Inter Milan and Mancheser United all but sealed his fate.

While all this was going on in West London, a sort of Mourinho incarnation was revolutionising Portugal.  Eerily, 34 year old Andre Villas-Boas was smashing all sorts of records Mourinho has built whilst in charge of his Porto side - going a whole Primeira Liga term unbeaten and demolishing the lesser European competition. 

Turn to AVB - the young, fresh faced Boss lead Porto
to domination, just like Jose before him.

By this time Terry, Lampard and Drogba had all turned the wrong side of 30 and the once strong spine of Jose Mourinho's empire had been slowly deteriorating and the fleeting appearences of Managers coming and going were less than comfortable embarking on a whole new regime.

AVB bought with him youth, energy and a modern spark that would freshen Stamford Bridge and blow away cobwebs of the previous few years.  38 games in all competitions later - following a dismal showing away at West Bromwich Albion - he ended up right where Mourinho, Grant, Scolari and Ancelotti had before him, in the firing line.

There are many reasons why Villas-Boas failed so spectacularly, 3 wins in 12 were the stats before his sacking - a simply abysmal record for a club the stature of Chelsea.  Was he indeed too young and inexperienced to carry the responsibility of a 'big' club? Sure, it would look impressive when things were flying but under scrutiny - the spritely young man from Porto appeared to be going greyer than Grant, Hiddink and Ancelotti before him - at half their age.

The word around is of players controlling what happens at Stamford Bridge, senior players, who have been there in the thick and thin of it - throwing a wobbler when not selected, all kinds of news stories of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard being left on the bench - when things were going right, the youth policy was great - when wrong, the whole place needed a thorough sweep through.  The man simply couldn't win...

Dejected and defeated, the British press and half
his Chelsea squad were attacking from every angle

It has got to the sickening point now, when one wonders 'where can Roman turn to?' we are in March and Chelsea appear appaling, with central defenders unable to defend, £50m centre forwards unable to hit a barn door (Fernando Torres has only notched 6 goals under the whole tenures of his last 6 managers).  A stand-in Manager will only be deemed a success if he grabs that final Champions League spot - with neighbours Arsenal seemingly picking up a bit of form, it seems highly unlikely.

Roberto Di Matteo has been handed the task, he has known the players since the summer - did a steady if not spectacular job in The Midlands with West Brom and holds at least that bit of Premier League managerial experience.

All we can say is good luck Di Matteo, not a lot to work with, most probably unable to achieve right from wrong and barring a footballing miracle will be replaced by a 'top class Champions League able boss' in the summer.  Following that, there's only one thing to consider...

Will he ger longer than 8 or 9 months to prove to the mighty Roman he can rebuild an empire?