Paul
Merson has urged Chelsea to give Graham Potter more time but feels the
substitution of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following his early introduction
against Manchester City shows the striker's days at the club are numbered.
Potter's position is under intense scrutiny after fans vented their
frustrations in the wake of Sunday's 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City in the
FA Cup, just three days after they suffered a fourth Premier League defeat
in six games to the same opponent.
In his latest column for Sky Sports, Merson explains why Potter, who
succeeded Thomas Tuchel in September, needs more time to turn the club's
fortunes around - but says the sub-subbing of Aubameyang at Stamford Bridge
last week marks a point of no return for the former Arsenal striker.
'He's not become a bad manager overnight'
I think Potter has been bang unlucky, if I'm being honest.
The way they play, with three at the back, the most important thing is to
have two good wing-backs, but Reece James and Ben Chilwell are injured and
they have also been caught with no centre-forward.
I hope he gets time because I don't believe he has become a bad manager
overnight.
It's a hard one because he's had so many injuries, but the problem when
you're in trouble is that every game is followed by a hard game.
You are crying out for a Forest at home - no disrespect to Forest - but they
just do not come along. Instead, you get Man City twice.
I think he has been unfortunate with both injuries and the fixtures. To bump
into Man City twice when you are under pressure and you have not got a full
team, you are always going to be up against it.
He is putting youngsters in and some of them have done well, but it's a hard
situation.
There's a lot of work to be done on the squad, particularly in attack.
They have spent a lot of money on defenders, but you are only going to win
something if you can score a goal.
I rack my brain for who is out there. There's only one striker I can think
of and that's Harry Kane, but I don't think he would want to go to Chelsea
and I don't think Tottenham would sell him to Chelsea.
But you go around the world and there is not an obvious centre-forward for
them anywhere. That's a big problem.
I worry for Potter that the fans are singing Thomas Tuchel's name because,
at the end of the day, it's the fans who sack you.
The last manager I can think of who has been sacked when the fans were
singing his name behind the goal was Alan Pardew years ago when he was at
Southampton.
They had just beaten Bristol Rovers 4-0 but he got sacked the next day. That
never happens now. The fans have much more sway and there's no doubt a lot
of Chelsea fans are turning against Potter.
'I think Aubameyang is done'
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was taken off after coming on as a substitute in
the first game against Man City and I think he will now be moved on. I think
they will cut their ties with him.
As soon as you are sub-subbing a 30-something player, I think that is
probably the end.
Maybe you can get away with it with a younger player, but in football it's
one of those unwritten rules. It's a don't-do.
But Potter did it with him at 33 and, for me, I think he's done.
It's an example of why recruitment is such a big problem for Chelsea.
They have brought a couple of players in already and it looks like they are
going to have a go in the transfer window. They have to. The top four looks
very far away right now but there's a long way to go.
But if you do that January business and, all of a sudden, Potter goes a week
or two later, then another manager will come in and say, 'Well, I don't like
him, I didn't want him.'
That's what's happened with Aubameyang. Potter did not want him, but if he
is now sacked and someone else comes in, they will go, 'Well, I don't want
that centre-half or that centre-half.'
Then it's like you are going around in circles again.
That's why Potter has got to be given more time in my opinion.
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