IS JAIME CARRAGHER RIGHT ABOUT CHELSEA?

Jaime Carragher has had a "pop" about Chelsea and our appointment of AVB ahead of up and coming British managers. When asked about foreign managers here he said:

"Benitez, Houllier, Mourinho – they've all got things about them in terms of having won the big trophies. Does that mean English managers don't get a chance at the Premier League?

Look at Chelsea with a 33-year-old manager. In years gone by David Moyes would have got that position, or an up and coming manager who's done a great job but that doesn't happen anymore and with the national team it's about what you've achieved, what you've got in the locker."

(Source)
So is he right about British managers not getting a chance to manage the big clubs?. Think about it for a second, United and Arsenal have had Ferguson and Wenger in charge for over 20 years and 15 years respectively so that rules them out of the equation.

That leaves the likes of Liverpool who have had their time with Benitez but then tried Roy Hodgson who let's face it worked wonders at Fulham but for one reason or another couldn't step up when appointed at Anfield. So Dalglish is back there now and we are yet to see how he will do. What happens if he doesn't qualify for the Champions League? Will he last there?

Then we have Spurs, who took a gamble with a foreign coach and then took the plunge with Harry Redknapp who has done a really good job there so far.

So what of Chelsea?. We have had foreign managers at the club ever since Ruud Gullit replaced Glen Hoddle. Luca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and now AVB.

So why do Chelsea look on the continent for their managers? Is it a case that these people are more Champions League savvy than the likes of a manager from these shores? Some will argue that in order to gain the experience you need to be given a chance. Look at Redknapp last season. I don't think any of us thought Spurs would have got as far as they did.

So what British managers are out there that would have been considered if any at all?. For me there is only two managers I can think of that are tried and trusted "man managers" in the game with certain levels of success so far in their career's and they are Redknapp and Martin O'Neill. Some people won't like their style of play, but if they are proven in getting results and the best out of their players, then why not?.

Of course David Moyes deserves a mention for what he has achieved with hardly any money. Whether or not he could make the step up to one of the big guns is another thing though. Could he have been a success at Chelsea and would you have taken a chance on him?

Mark Hughes is another British manager under consideration but let's face it, he couldn't cut it at Man City and walked away from Fulham after finding it hard. Could he have been a success at Chelsea and would you have taken a chance on him?

Has it now become the case than in order to stay up there at the top of the league and competing in Europe, the requirement is success and experience?

What do you think? Is Carragher right?

KTBFFH

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