Graham Potter and Chelsea. If only the new manager had a prominent middle name. It'd make the connection nigh on perfect...

AVB, anybody? AVB? Undoubtedly, Potter has Andre Villas-Boas by a good 14 years. The Portuguese did indeed arrive with a much better track record than the current Blues manager. nonetheless, on this level. Chelsea's level, please. The similarities in terms of experience are plain to see.

Additionally, we refer to experience at the Chelsea level. the media's interest. Players' politics. All of it is specific to this London club. the strain. the needs. Potter is currently expecting everything that sucked AVB in and spit him out in less than nine months. For the former manager of Brighton, things only get worse.

The board meddling Potter is currently dealing with didn't exist in AVB. Todd Boehly, the club's maverick co-owner, reportedly wanted to discuss formations (a "4-4-3"no less) with Thomas Tuchel. Argued that Edouard Mendy should be withdrawn from the frontline. And scoffed at his former manager's claims that having Wesley Fofana undergo his medical in New York would only put back his integration... those problems, that interference, well they're now Potter's.

But this can cut both ways. As Potter - and his lack of experience - will be a problem for Chelsea. He's learning on the run. And for a team... better yet, a club... in such a transition, there's sure to be more troughs than peaks this season.

As we say, everything is new for Potter. By his own admission, Wednesday night against RB Salzburg was a first in terms of Champions League experience. Not as a manager nor a guest, nor even a fan, had Potter taken in a Champions League game before. It does smack of the level he has been working at, that over his time in the game, Potter never had need to attend a Champions League match. Not to check on a potential signing. Nor run his eye over a future opponent. It never came up. Indeed, it's puzzling, for all the 'coaching super brain' claims we've had since his appointment, that Potter, even out of professional curiousity - or indeed preparation - never thought of attending a Champions League fixture..