Thread by @JacobsBen

A few Chelsea fans calling for Graham Potter to be sacked, which is ridiculous. Chelsea are trying to move away from this kind of cutthroat approach. Potter is a long-term appointment who hasn’t had key players available or a transfer window at the club.

It takes time to implement a new style, culture and, perhaps most importantly for long-term success, recruitment model. The senior leadership team at Chelsea is still being built and are fixing many problems that pre-dated them.

Granted, some will call sacking Thomas Tuchel a problem of their own making, hence the lack of patience amongst a few with Potter. But the ownership group and Tuchel had strategic differences that proved untenable and started as early as pre-season.

cbssports.com/soccer/news/be…

The sanctions, & super-speed sale, created a period of instability impacting not just internal mood but setting back #CFC's window planning. That not only affected last summer but could influence January and next summer. Chelsea are behind rivals for Jude Bellingham, for example.

Meanwhile, Antonio Rudiger also hinted at the internal issues when he put his Chelsea exit down to "a period of uncertainty." It hasn't been an easy transition for Clearlake-Boehly and that's why a 100-day review of every aspect of the club was urgently needed.

Chelsea are building an ambitious model and there will be be teething problems, especially with the owners moving so fast since taking over. And yes, a model isn’t nearly as exciting (or to use a Potter word, "sexy") as a win. But the former leads to more of the latter over time.

From day one the ownership group also pledged to extend the contracts of Reece James (now done) and Mason Mount (work in progress) and modernise the club, including stadium redevelopment. A concrete roadmap is expected towards the second half of next year.

Chelsea also spent almost £300 million in their first window and upped their commitment and investment in the women’s team. They play Spurs at Stamford Bridge on November 20.

And the aim was always to revamp the board. Even during the bidding process, Boehly planned to be chair. He just couldn’t say it that early because Bruce Buck was such a key decision maker in the sale process.

So things look chaotic and #CFC are not playing with confidence. The injuries to James, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and N'Golo Kante don't help and Potter clearly has to find an identity and unity. But let's also not forget Chelsea's very future was in doubt just six months ago.

Flash forward six months and model will start to take shape. There's important incoming recruitment hires in 2023 and expect #CFC to ramp up efforts to find partner clubs. Still told Sochaux not fully off table. France seen as key country along with Belgium, Portugal and Brazil.

Within this context, Potter is seen as a fit for an exciting yet 'risk-reward' period of further upheaval. He was told at interview the goal was top four this season but also reassured, providing progress is made, he wouldn't be sacked if it wasn't achieved.

So what is progress? Ultimately, it's building a squad and style, having a successful few windows, tying down talents and providing pathways for new stars. Potter still has to win but he must also be given the time and tools to do so.

And one of the keys to all of this is an environment of debate with freedom to challenge... and even (believe it or not) fail at times. That's why the dynamic of how Potter and other senior hires work together is so important. It's also why Paul Winstanley has been chosen.

Success may not happen overnight but the 'hire and fire' approach of old won't help bring stability either since what the owners are trying to build doesn't work if they (and fans) aren't patient.

(End of rant)