256 Days With Chelsea: Was Andre Villas-Boas Given Enough Time At Chelsea?

Jose Mourinho came to Chelsea in 2004 fresh from an European conquest with Porto. His protege, Andre Villas-Boas, came to Chelsea in 2011 fresh from European conquest with Porto. Mourinho won two league titles, two League Cups and an F.A. Cup in his three years at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho’s protege lasted a scant 256 days and leaves behind a club sitting fifth in the league and facing exit at the Champions League round of 16.

Was AVB allowed enough time? Chelsea’s veteran-heavy lineup needed rebuilding. Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United faced a similar problem entering this season and has managed to work in Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverly and David de Gea into his first team squad while still challenging for the title. Young stars like Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge have shined for Chelsea this year, but the club is in danger of missing Champions League qualification and the attendant millions. Roman Abramovich cut a diamond-laced cord, as he paid Porto £13 million in compensation to Porto for the supposed wunderkind. But, until UEFA’s financial fair play rules come into full effect, it’s all just yacht fuel money for the increasingly impatient Abramovich.

What say you, did AVB deserve more time to rebuild Chelsea or did Abramovich give him the boot before matters got worse?