Rosenia's Appointment: Chelsea's Multi-Club Model and Fan Disquiet - Episode Hero Image

Rosenia's Appointment: Chelsea's Multi-Club Model and Fan Disquiet

The Athletic FC Podcast · · Listen to Original Episode →
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TL;DR

  • Liam Rosenior's appointment as Chelsea head coach signifies a strategic alignment with the club's multi-club model, leveraging his success with Strasbourg's young squad and possession-based tactics.
  • Strasbourg fans express significant frustration, viewing the club's role as a "feeder club" for Chelsea, leading to a potential erosion of fan support and club identity.
  • Chelsea's strategy of employing a consistent playing system across its multi-club network aims to streamline player and coach integration, minimizing adaptation challenges.
  • Despite significant investment and managerial turnover, Chelsea's internal targets may still be achievable, with Champions League qualification remaining a primary objective.
  • Rosenior's strong communication skills and experience with young players are assets, but he faces immense pressure to deliver immediate results in Chelsea's high-scrutiny environment.
  • The multi-club ownership model, while legally permissible, raises concerns about the ceiling on smaller clubs' aspirations and the potential for exploitation of talent.

Deep Dive

Chelsea's appointment of Liam Rosenia as head coach signals a strategic alignment with their multi-club ownership model and a focus on developing young talent, but it also exacerbates existing fan disquiet and raises questions about the sustainability of their ambitious project. While Rosenia's success at Strasbourg in cultivating exciting, high-energy football with a young squad suggests he is a system fit for Chelsea, the club's turbulent managerial history and the inherent pressures of the Premier League mean he will face immediate scrutiny with little room for error.

Rosenia joins Chelsea with a proven track record of developing young players and implementing an attractive style of play, mirroring the club's own strategic direction. At Strasbourg, he transformed a young squad into a formidable unit, achieving their highest league finish in decades and qualifying for Europe. His emphasis on player development aligns perfectly with Chelsea's philosophy, which has seen them invest heavily in young talent. This shared vision is intended to streamline adaptation, as both clubs operate under the BlueCo umbrella, promoting a unified playing system. However, this synergy has also led to significant frustration among Strasbourg's fanbase, who view their club as a mere feeder for Chelsea, evidenced by the departures of key players and now their coach. This sentiment highlights a core tension: while the multi-club model provides financial stability and access to talent for clubs like Strasbourg, it can also impose a ceiling on their aspirations and alienate their traditional support base.

The implications for Chelsea are multifaceted. Rosenia's appointment is a calculated gamble, leveraging his familiarity with the club's operational structure and his ability to connect with young players. His strong communication skills and relatable management style are expected to foster buy-in from a squad that has experienced considerable upheaval. Yet, the Premier League's intense scrutiny and Chelsea's demanding expectations for Champions League qualification mean that Rosenia must deliver results rapidly. The club's history of managerial turnover, coupled with significant investment and a lack of sustained on-pitch success, has eroded fan confidence. A recent survey indicated widespread dissatisfaction with the ownership and management, and further pressure is expected to mount if immediate improvements are not visible. This context suggests that while Rosenia's tactical approach may be a good fit, his ability to navigate the unique pressures of Chelsea's environment and satisfy the club's high ambitions will be the ultimate determinant of his success.

Action Items

  • Audit Strasbourg's player development pipeline: Identify 3-5 players who excelled under Rosenia and analyze transferable coaching methodologies for Chelsea's young squad.
  • Create a communication framework for Rosenia: Define 2-3 key areas where media scrutiny is high and outline strategies for consistent, honest messaging.
  • Measure fan sentiment at Chelsea: Track sentiment via surveys and protests for 3-5 key issues (ownership, ticketing, sponsorship) to gauge project buy-in.
  • Analyze Strasbourg's multi-club model impact: Document 5-10 player movements and evaluate their effect on Strasbourg's competitive aspirations and fan sentiment.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"He made a really positive impression in France. He wasn't known at all when he was appointed. There was a lot of curiosity about him, this young English coach with very little coaching experience behind him. But he made a very good impression very quickly."

Tom Williams explains that Liam Rosenior's arrival in France generated significant curiosity due to his limited prior coaching experience. However, Williams highlights that Rosenior quickly established a positive reputation, impressing observers with his rapid development and impact.

"In terms of tactical setup, Rosenia generally played with a back three and wing-backs at Strasbourg. And, as we know, Maresca preferred a back four at Chelsea. But Strasbourg's shape was quite fluid. You had a lot of players taking up hybrid positions. He was quite inventive in the way that he used his fullbacks, his wing-backs."

Tom Williams draws parallels between Rosenior's tactical approach at Strasbourg and Chelsea's previous system under Maresca. Williams notes that while the base formations differed, both coaches employed fluid shapes and inventive use of positional play, suggesting a potential for tactical continuity.

"Coaching and management is 90% people skills, it's 10% football."

Liam Rosenior emphasizes that the core of effective coaching and management lies in interpersonal abilities rather than solely tactical knowledge. Rosenior's statement suggests that understanding and managing individuals is paramount to success in his profession.

"I think it's one of the things that he's been most successful at. I think there's an awful lot of young players who've really progressed under his stewardship. You know, you look at some of the players who've left Strasbourg in the last few months and the kind of clubs they've gone to."

Tom Williams asserts that Liam Rosenior's ability to develop young players is a key aspect of his success. Williams points to the progression of several players under Rosenior's guidance at Strasbourg as evidence of his effectiveness in nurturing talent.

"And it is impossible to avoid the feeling, if you are a Strasbourg fan, that your club has just become a feeder club to Chelsea. And this is an old club with proud traditions, with a great history, with a sizable and very passionate fanbase. And they are basically being used as a feeder club by Chelsea."

This quote from Tom Williams captures the sentiment of Strasbourg fans regarding their club's relationship with Chelsea under the BlueCo ownership. Williams explains that the frequent movement of players and staff to Chelsea has led to a perception of Strasbourg being exploited as a development team rather than an independent entity.

"I think the fact he's such a good communicator will work in his favor. Maresca wasn't a great communicator, okay, he's speaking in his second language, it's not always easy. But Rosenia, one of the things that really sticks out about him is how easy he is with the media. I think he'll make a very good impression with the media and with supporters, which might help to buy him time."

Tom Williams suggests that Liam Rosenior's strong communication skills will be a significant asset in his new role at Chelsea. Williams contrasts this with Maresca's communication challenges, indicating that Rosenior's ease with media and supporters could help him gain crucial early backing.

"Well, I know Manchester United try their best, but I constantly go around telling people, saying that if there is a trophy to be handed out for most bonkers club in football, then Chelsea are consistently the reigning champions."

Simon Johnson describes Chelsea as a "bonkers club," implying a history of chaotic and unpredictable management and decision-making. Johnson's statement highlights the extreme volatility and drama that often surrounds Chelsea, even when compared to other high-profile clubs.

"And therefore, if it does occur, you're in a position to get going and, and you're not sort of playing catch up. I mean, some clubs fall foul of this, and that's why you sort of see the shambles of, of some clubs sort of getting rid of a manager and not appointing anyone for a while. But, but yes, Chelsea did talk to other people. I, I think it's been reported that Philippe Luis, a former Chelsea connection there, and done a, done a fine job at Flamengo, was, was one of them. But I was always led to believe that Liam Rosenia was, and, and that's why we reported on The Athletic, the leading contender."

Simon Johnson explains that Chelsea, like other clubs, maintains a list of potential managerial candidates to avoid being caught unprepared. Johnson confirms that Chelsea considered other individuals, such as Philippe Luis, but that Liam Rosenior was consistently viewed as the primary target.

"The key is that sort of one of the main practices of BlueCo is, and of course BlueCo, the company, parent company, own Chelsea and Strasbourg, as well as the women's team and obviously the academy teams, is that they all play the same way, they all play the same system. This obviously helps with the players."

Matt Slater explains that a core principle of the BlueCo ownership group, which controls Chelsea and Strasbourg, is the implementation of a unified playing style across all its clubs. Slater suggests this strategic alignment aims to facilitate player adaptation and integration within the broader organizational structure.

"Now, I'm not saying Strasbourg are the same as Chelsea. I'm not. Chelsea play in the Premier League. Chelsea've won the, you know, Champions League. But Strasbourg fans are allowed to dream, aren't they? They're allowed to think, 'Do you know what, we could be the best, we could be a really good team in France. We could be a Champions League team in France.' But there's now a permanent cap on, a permanent ceiling has been imposed on, on their aspiration, on what they can be."

Matt Slater articulates the frustration of Strasbourg fans, arguing that the multi-club ownership model imposes a ceiling on their club's aspirations. Slater contends that while Strasbourg may not be on Chelsea's level, their fans should be allowed to dream of top-tier success, a possibility now seemingly limited by their affiliation.

"Not entirely chuffed. There was a survey released by the Chelsea Sports Trust last night, which was Tuesday, I can see. I, I, I've no idea what day of the week it is at the moment. And this, they sent it out to their members. Around 4,000 responded in just 40 hours. And essentially, the very, very vast majority said they got very little sort of faith or they're not happy with what's going on and with the ownership and, and how they're running the club."

Sam acknowledges that Chelsea fans are largely dissatisfied with the current ownership and management of the club. Sam cites a survey indicating a significant lack of faith among supporters, reflecting a widespread unhappiness with the club's direction.

"Look, I think, I think undoubtedly there'

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "The Athletic FC Podcast" by Iwan & Liam Rosenior - Mentioned in relation to an interview with Liam Rosenior.

Articles & Papers

  • "The Athletic FC Podcast" (The Athletic) - Discussed as a platform where Liam Rosenior was interviewed.

People

  • Liam Rosenior - Appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club.
  • Tom Williams - French football writer and broadcaster, providing commentary on Liam Rosenior's coaching style and perception in Ligue 1.
  • Simon Johnson - Chelsea correspondent, discussing the club's managerial changes and hiring process.
  • Matt Slater - Senior reporter, analyzing Chelsea's multi-club ownership model and its implications.
  • Enzo Maresca - Former Chelsea manager, whose departure is discussed in the context of the club's strategy.
  • Thomas Tuchel - Former Chelsea manager, mentioned as a comparison for rapid success.
  • Graham Potter - Former Chelsea manager.
  • Maurizio Pochettino - Former Chelsea manager.
  • Philippe Luis - Former Chelsea player, mentioned as a candidate for the head coach position.
  • Frank Leboeuf - Former player with a Chelsea link, mentioned in relation to Strasbourg's history.
  • Olivier Dacourt - Former player, mentioned in relation to Strasbourg's history.
  • Papiss Cissé - Former manager of Strasbourg.
  • Gary O'Neil - Mentioned as taking charge at Strasbourg.
  • Bruno Labbadia - Mentioned as having done a good job at Sunderland after coming from Ligue 1.
  • Gianluca Vialli - Former player and manager, mentioned for his first game as manager against Arsenal.
  • Todd Boehly - Co-owner of Chelsea, mentioned in relation to the club's ownership and multi-club model.
  • Clare Shine - Co-owner of Chelsea, mentioned in relation to the club's ownership and multi-club model.
  • John Textor - Mentioned in relation to multi-club ownership.
  • Gerhard Struber - Mentioned as a youth coach hired by Pacific Media Group.

Organizations & Institutions

  • Chelsea Football Club - The primary subject of discussion regarding managerial changes and club strategy.
  • Strasbourg - French football club, discussed in relation to its relationship with Chelsea and its multi-club model.
  • BlueCo - Parent company of Chelsea and Strasbourg, discussed in relation to its multi-club ownership strategy.
  • NSF for Sport - Independent certification body for Momentous products.
  • JD Power - Ranked Sleep Number number one in customer satisfaction with mattresses.
  • The Athletic - Media outlet providing coverage of football.
  • Ligue 1 - French professional football league.
  • Premier League - English professional football league.
  • La Dodgers - MLB team owned by Todd Boehly, used as an analogy for multi-club ownership.
  • Tulsa Drillers - Minor League Baseball team, used as an analogy for a farm team.
  • Great Lakes Loons - Minor League Baseball team, used as an analogy for a farm team.
  • Oakland Athletics - MLB team, mentioned in relation to farm systems.
  • UEFA - Governing body of European football, mentioned in relation to multi-club ownership rules.
  • Chelsea Supporters Trust - Organization conducting surveys on fan sentiment.
  • City Football Group - Multi-club ownership group, discussed as an example.
  • Red Bull - Company with a multi-club ownership model, discussed as an example.
  • Pacific Media Group - Multi-club ownership group, discussed in relation to its strategy.
  • Sunderland - English football club, mentioned in relation to Bruno Labbadia.
  • Arsenal - English football club, mentioned in relation to the League Cup.
  • Manchester United - English football club, mentioned for comparison.
  • Manchester City - English football club, mentioned in relation to coaching pathways.
  • Lyon - French football club, mentioned in relation to Bruno Labbadia's past.
  • Charlton - English football club, mentioned as Liam Rosenior's first potential FA Cup opponent.
  • Fulham - English football club, mentioned as Liam Rosenior's first potential league opponent.
  • Brentford - English football club, mentioned in relation to a planned fan protest.
  • Melbourne City FC - Australian football club, part of the City Football Group.
  • Mumbai City FC - Indian football club, part of the City Football Group.
  • Troyes - French football club, part of the City Football Group.
  • New York City FC (NYCFC) - American soccer club, part of the City Football Group.
  • Yokohama F. Marinos - Japanese football club, part of the City Football Group.
  • FC Basel - Swiss football club, mentioned in relation to multi-club ownership.
  • RCD Espanyol - Spanish football club, mentioned in relation to multi-club ownership.
  • Sporting CP - Portuguese football club, mentioned in relation to multi-club ownership.
  • SC Cambuur - Dutch football club, mentioned in relation to multi-club ownership.
  • KV Oostende - Belgian football club, previously owned by Pacific Media Group.
  • Barnsley - English football club, previously owned by Pacific Media Group.
  • Bournemouth - English football club, previously owned by Pacific Media Group.

Tools & Software

  • Pura - Smart home fragrance system, mentioned as a way to reset space.
  • Momentous - Supplement brand, highlighted for its testing and transparency.
  • Sleep Number - Smart bed company, discussed for its customizable comfort and cooling features.
  • Babel - Language learning app, mentioned for its conversation-based technique.
  • Stamps.com - Service for printing postage, mentioned for small businesses.

Websites & Online Resources

  • pura.com - Website for Pura smart home fragrance.
  • livemomentous.com - Website for Momentous supplements.
  • sleepnumber.com - Website for Sleep Number smart beds.
  • jdpower.com/awards - Website for JD Power award information.
  • betterhelp.com/fcpodcast - Website for BetterHelp online therapy.
  • blueapron.com/terms - Website for Blue Apron terms and conditions.
  • mintmobile.com/switch - Website for Mint Mobile wireless service.
  • babel.com/acast - Website for Babel language learning subscription.

Other Resources

  • Multi-club ownership - Discussed as a complex debate with implications for British football fans and the structure of club relationships.
  • Farm system (MLB) - Used as an analogy to explain how Chelsea treats Strasbourg within their multi-club model.
  • Conference League - European football competition, mentioned in relation to Strasbourg's participation.
  • Champions League - European football competition, mentioned as a target for Chelsea.
  • League Cup - English football competition, mentioned as a potential trophy for Chelsea.
  • FA Cup - English football competition, mentioned as a potential first match for Liam Rosenior.
  • World Cup - Mentioned in relation to Chelsea's past achievements.
  • Trophy - Mentioned as a goal for Chelsea.
  • Player development - Discussed as a focus for Chelsea under the new ownership.
  • System fit - Mentioned as a justification for Liam Rosenior's appointment at Chelsea.
  • Best practice sharing - Discussed as an ideal aspect of multi-club ownership.
  • Talent pathways - Discussed as an aspect of multi-club ownership.
  • Coaching talent progression - Discussed in relation to multi-club ownership.
  • Youth coaches - Mentioned in the context of Pacific Media Group's hiring strategy.
  • High energy pressing - Style of play mentioned in relation to Pacific Media Group's strategy.
  • Ticketing issues - Mentioned as a point of fan frustration at Chelsea.
  • Shirt sponsor - Mentioned as a point of fan frustration at Chelsea.
  • Stamford Bridge - Chelsea's home stadium, mentioned in relation to fan reactions.
  • Craven Cottage - Fulham's home stadium, mentioned as the location for Liam Rosenior's first official match.

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