Chelsea FC: Surviving the Transfer Ban

January is almost over.  The mid-season transfer window soon will be closed.  For most teams this means that they have to get through the rest of their season with their current roster.

Chelsea FC is not most teams. 

Chelsea is facing a two transfer-window ban from its signing of Gael Kakuta from Racing Club de Lens of Ligue 1 in France.  This means that after this current transfer window, Chelsea will not be able to sign players until the transfer window that opens in summer of 2011. 

Chelsea are trying to appeal this decision, but most experts believe the ban is not likely to be overturned.  Chelsea will then have to make their current roster work.  They will likely pull loaned players back to the reserves or first team and try to weather the storm.

One thing that makes this ban more difficult for Chelsea FC to deal with, than some other teams, is the age of their players.  They have many players that are over the age of 30 in their first team rotation. 

The players over the age of 30 are Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco, Frank Lampard, Nicolas Anelka, and Didier Drogba.  Second keeper Henrique Hilario and RB Juliano Belletti are also over the age of 30. Ashley Cole is getting close at the age of 29.

When these players are all healthy, they combine with the other players in the squad to make Chelsea a formidable side.  The problem is that these players are rarely all healthy.  Other than Lampard, who is rarely injured, these players have all missed time due to injuries. 

This is not to say that younger players don’t get hurt (just ask Joe Cole), but the time for recovery from these injuries is longer the older you get.

Chelsea FC are usually playing for multiple cups, Champions League, and the Premiership Title late in the season. The extra games from all of the tournaments take their toll as season progresses.

Now, between today and the end of the month, Chelsea could pull the trigger and sign one or multiple targets. Some players that are rumored targets are Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, and the always mentioned Franck Ribery. 

Any one of these players would be moved into Chelsea’s first team and would greatly increase their chances of holding on for the Premiership title and challenging for Champions League for this a future seasons. 

If Chelsea do not ultimately sign any players in this window, don’t get the idea that the cupboard is bare.  Chelsea do have quite a few young players that could develop into first team players.

Players you may see in future Chelsea sides would be forwards Gael Kakuta, Daniel Sturridge, Franco Di Santo, and Scott Sinclair.

In the Midfield Chelsea have Miroslav Stoch, Jack Cork, and Nemanja Matic. Then defense they have Michael Mancienne and Jeffery Bruma with keepers Ross Turnbull and Jan Sebek. There is also holding midfielder Mikel who is only 22, but already sees first team football.

With this many young players mixed into the side, Chelsea will still be able to win.  The problem with relying on so many young players is that it is difficult to get consistent results.  Just ask any Arsenal supporter how this strategy has worked so far for them. 

They field a very young side when compared to the other top teams in the Premiership and have not won a trophy since their FA Cup victory in 2005.  To their benefit, it has made them one of the most financially lucrative clubs in the world, but if your goal is winning it has not worked so far.

Now I’m sure Chelsea executives have thought this out as well. As a fan, I hope they sign a few younger targets to help get through this transfer ban.  They need a few more players to bridge the gap between the older stars and the future stars in waiting.

Chelsea needs more players like Michael Essien and possibly Joe Cole. If not, the young players will have to step up and the old guard will have to work harder than ever for Chelsea to have continued success at the level they are currently. 

I have no doubt that the current players will work hard to bring more trophies to Stamford Bridge, but I just don’t think it will be enough if new blood is not added to the team.