SOCCER:ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS'S period of assessment will be extended from Fratton Park to Asia. A hefty squad of players were due to touch down in Kuala Lumpur this morning for a two-week tour that will encompass four matches in three countries and offer the new manager a better insight into the strengths and weaknesses of those he has inherited. Villas-Boas preferred not to describe the period ahead as a "trial" but the need to impress is tacitly understood.
This was supposed to be a summer of regeneration at Chelsea but, as yet, the previous regime’s playing staff remain intact with only Thibaut Courtois, a 19-year-old Belgian who made his name at Genk, added to the ranks. Villas-Boas has described him as “one of the best goalkeepers (for the) future” but, while there will be other additions before the end of August – the pursuits of Luka Modric and Romelu Lukaku are continuing – the sense persists that the other contenders have stolen a march.
Yet, with a new manager in charge, Chelsea are patiently considering and contemplating their future. For now, those already at the club are to be given an opportunity.
“People are expected to arrive at Chelsea and make radical changes but we are taking everything on board before taking the right decisions,” Villas-Boas said. “I have two weeks in Asia to make decisions and I’ll need those four games to continue to assess. When we get back we’ll have a week running into the Rangers friendly, so, from then on, decisions will have to be taken.”
It would have been hard to draw conclusions from the 1-0 win at Portsmouth on Saturday. That was a first public glimpse of Villas-Boas’s Chelsea but, with rustiness in the ranks, it was possible to glean only the basics. His team adopted the familiar 4-3-3 set-up with Florent Malouda and Daniel Sturridge flanking Fernando Torres, and, after the break, the trio of Salomon Kalou, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka forming the attack.
Chelsea prevailed courtesy of an own goal from Tal Ben Haim, but Villas-Boas had not expected his side’s rhythm to be established already. He pointed to a need for “better quality in possession, and more speed of circulation with the ball”.
Games against a Malaysia XI, the Thailand All Stars friendlies – for which the policy of fielding a different team in each half will still be applied – Kitchee and either Blackburn Rovers or Aston Villa before the end of the month, will offer chances to experiment with issues to be scrutinised.
The manager must contemplate whether a replacement must be found for the injured Michael Essien. Scott Parker remains an option at relegated West Ham United. The choices in terms of trimming will involve potential loan moves for the younger members of this squad including Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge. Newcastle United are among the clubs keen to secure the latter on a temporary basis.
