Having lost to Manchester United in the previous season’s Champions League, Chelsea need to change things around in order to have a chance at winning the trophy.
Here is what they could do:
Reduce the average age of the team
It is no secret that Chelsea has one of the older squads in the Premier League. With important players like Anelka, Drogba, Lampard, Malouda, Cole and Terry past their prime, this might be the summer of rebuilding at SW6.
The problem with Chelsea is that they do not have replacements for most of these key players and this was evident last season when Lampard was on the sidelines. The Blues rely heavily on the 33-year old and time has come to find a younger but equally talented playmaker.
In addition to this, they also need a right back, as Jose Bosingwa is not a good defender and while Ivanovic is solid defensively, he doesn’t offer much going forward.
Also a backup for Cech would not hurt as Hilario, at 35, is just not good enough.
Find the creative spark to unlock El Nino’s goal scoring threat
On his day, with the required supply, Fernando Torres is the best striker in world football.
However, without the supply, he looks very ordinary. He has yet to justify his heavy price tag and it looks like he would continue to be frustrated if the service he is getting from the midfield continues.
Chelsea look woeful when they are chasing a game and seem devoid of ideas when it comes to unlocking a mean defence.
They are in desperate need of a creative midfielder like a Modric or a Sneijder who can give this stale Chelsea side some much needed spark and flair.
Get McEachran and Sturridge into the first team
Josh McEachran was the silver lining for Chelsea in an otherwise dismal campaign. He was very cool under pressure and his passing was first class.
His inclusion into the team would also lead to better performances from players like Essien and Lampard, who would know that their starting a game would not be a given anymore.
Sturridge, on the other hand was brilliant for Bolton on a loan spell, scoring eight goals in 12 games. He is fast, good on the ball and has the required eye for the goal.
He certainly deserves a chance and would only increase Chelsea’s already potent attack.
Give the manager time to build a team
Seven managers in eight years is not the type of record, a club as big as Chelsea would like to have. Sacking Ancelotti was a mistake and it damaged the club’s reputation.
Success doesn’t come instantly. To win the Champions League, Chelsea has to give the new manager at least two or three years in order to bring some much needed stability. Abramovich has to stop changing managers at will and success will follow.
Change the style of play
Chelsea, since the Mourinho era, have been associated with a defensive style of football. While this has made them successful in the domestic competitions in the last decade, against quality opposition in Europe they have come up short.
Football is fast becoming more and more attacking with the “Tiki Taka” replacing the “Catenaccio” as the most successful football tactic today, employed by both Spain and FC Barcelona.
With the kind of players Chelsea have, they definitely have the ability to turn on the style and may finally find success in Europe.
Subrasub
Roar Guru
Really good article i agree with most things. Being a die-hard blues fan i am not ready to declare that John Terry and Ashley Cole are passed it and believe they are capable of playing great football for a few years yet. As for the rest of the veterans i think its important to keep an extra experienced backup or to like a drogba or anelka and benayoun and malouda because one of the reasons chelsea were so dismal last season was that when they won the double they released Deco, Juliano Belliti, Michale Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho and Joe Cole. These players are experienced and hardened professionals who can steer Chelsea on course when they fall off the rails like when injuries hit last term, but the shipping out of a a significant number of players and leaving depth problems was the issue last year. If Lukaku or Neymar or Aguero wants to be signed to partner torres then kalou and anelka/drogba must go and gradually integrate danny into the XI. Modric or Sneijder or even Diego would add a spark but could cost michael essien or John Obi Mikel a spot in midfield. There are many things to way up, and like AVB said the team is good enough as it minus torres to win anything but injuries hit hard and bad form was a killer. Last season was an aberration and i think sticking to the 4-3-3 is important and i dont't necessarily believe Chelsea have to change their style because they play a unique style combing power, fluidity, compactness and physicality into a mean machine and is rarely replicated in world football. If they can add some class and fleet footedness into this team to add to the grunt and power then it can win the cl but i would say buy a playmaker and forward and integrate the youngsters and c how u go and if it doesnt go right then start to rebuild
daryl
Guest
6. Sign Neymar
Elliot Lodge
Roar Pro
Did you catch the Villas-Boas interview last night? He spoke very well and seems an intelligent choice. Most interesting for me was that it seems he has taken a managers role, as apposed to the first team coach job his predecessors held. He speaks with authority over his role in the transfer market, and he has been allowed to build his own backroom staff, including Chelsea legend Roberto Di Matteo AVB was also certain that this Chelsea team were good enough to win the league last season, but just had a few too many slip-ups, something I agree with. Chelsea do not need wholesale changes, they have already got long term replacements for Lampard, Terry and Drogba. Chelsea need a winger and and a playmaker, that is it....and patience.
Mals
Guest
Good summary & agree with your points. Depth in the crucial midfield playmaker role is a issue for Chelsea which seems crazy considering the money Abramovich has spent on players. If he can keep in the background & give the new gaffer time to grow in the role the Blues will be better for it. I'm still disappointed that Carlo was chopped :-( Saurav - what are your thoughts on the new manager?