Sporting Directors should be under same review as Pochettino – Talk Chelsea

Yesterday saw a report from Matt Law of The Telegraph which has clearly come directly from Chelsea.

Apparently Mauricio Pochettino is under scrutiny, and rightly so in my opinion, at the end of the season, but the sporting directors, the ones who hired him and rebuilt the squad, are not. Puzzled? Yes, so am I.

The irony behind this of course, is that it will be Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart in the meeting probably asking the questions to Pochettino at the end of this season.

There will be a two-way review between Pochettino and the board happening next week – and Law says the end-of-season review will focus on performance over the entirety of the campaign, which could lead to some awkward conversations over the first half of the season.

This is right by the way, this is how it should be. I have no issues at all with the end of season review and Pochettino’s future still being under doubts. People have short term memories if they think that this review should not be happening at this stage.

But if Pochettino is under review and under scrutiny, why on earth are the sporting directors not under review and under scrutiny? That’s absurd.

Law says Winstanley and Stewart are not facing doubts over their positions as the club prepare for next week’s end-of-season review.

Apparently the club are happy with their work and they continue to have an ‘enthusiastic’ backing by the owners, not even just a backing, but an enthusiastic one!

They’ve made some good signings

I do think that they have made some very good signings and done some good things, but not enough to be receiving an ‘enthusiastic backing, and not enough to avoid being under review as well – they should ALL be under review after the season we have had, at the very least. They wanted Champions League football, we haven’t achieved that, our target, so why are they not all under review? In any business if a senior member does not achieve said targets, they at least get asked questions, no?

I think some of the players signed have been great captures and for good money, especially Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto. I also backed the gutting of the squad and believe that needed to happen. Even in Law’s article there is acknowledgement from Chelsea apparently, that mistakes have been made. And that’s very much the case.

I will never not believe that if we signed more proven and quality experienced players within the squad build then we would be in a higher league position right now and would have already qualified for Europa League football at least next season. I truly believe that. Our U25 policy has been naive and silly. The only thing missing this season has been clear (and quality) leadership on the pitch and quality experience.

So why aren’t they under scrutiny?

I’m not necessarily saying sack them. But they seem to have full control of the footballing side of Chelsea, yet with no experience of squad building. How does that make sense? I maintain, Chelsea should appoint and should have appointed a head sporting director to oversee it all and have the final sign off. That’s been a huge mistake for me.