After an exhausting 2007/2008 season, Chelsea Football Club has made many changes ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign. An unheralded manager has left, a World Cup-winning one has arrived and half the squad wishes to leave with the half that already has left.
For the time being, the important piece of news for all Chelsea fans has been the arrival of Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, previously manager of an attractive Portugal side. His relatively swift appointment contrasts heavily with the impending departures of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, two of the key contributors to the Blues' recent glut of trophy winning.
Already out the door are English midfielder Steve Sidwell, who only managed to show his bright Reading first team form for Chelsea's reserves; Dutchman Khalid Boulahrouz, a failed stop-gap defensive signing; and the aging Claude Makélélé, who was allowed to return to his native France to finish up his glorious career.
The holding midfielder's contribution to the club will never be forgotten and the gap he leaves might not be filled for a while yet.
Incoming is Portuguese national Deco, an £8 million signing from FC Barcelona. There are questions over the Brazilian-born trickster's ability to cope with the pace of the Premier League, but his arrival should allow Michael Essien to step into Makélélé's boots.
Also arriving is fellow international teammate José Bosingwa, a £16.5 million signee from FC Porto who will hopefully fill the never-ending problem at right-back.
Other signings to come will hopefully include at least one striker, mainly due to Didier Drogba's uncertain future and occasionally loathesome conduct, Nicolas Anelka's lack of application and the fact that neither Andriy Shevchenko nor Ivorian Soloman Kalou have proven themselves as goalscorers in England.
However, one of the biggest holes in the team at this present time is on the wing. Since Damien Duff and Arjen Robben fled the nest, the side has been missing a top-notch fast winger.
At present Joe Cole commands one position, but the aforementioned Kalou is essentially a square peg in a round hole and Shaun Wright-Phillips has found neither the consistency nor the first touch to nail down the other.
As for the rest of the team, the defence is rock solid (apart from Tal Ben Haim, who suffered similarly to Sidwell last year) and picks itself. No one sanely doubts Petr Cech's position between the sticks.
In fact, the Czech has just signed a new five-year contract along with Essien. The midfield could use another body, especially if Lampard departs, but with Michael Ballack, John Mikel Obi, Deco and Essien, the unit is packed with quality.
Scolari himself surely raises expectations from Grant's tenure, in spite of the Israeli outperforming certain critics by attaining three separate runners up positions (of which no more shall be spoken!)
His teams have won in Brazil and at the international level using different formations. With Cristiano Ronaldo injured and possibly leaving for Spain, the Premier League should be harder fought from the beginning. Neither Arsenal nor Liverpool have yet proven themselves to be anything further than contenders.
A domestic cup is always on the cards but Europe is eternally a lottery with all the quality on show across the continent. As long as Roman Abramovich gives the footballing staff a long leash, the team should look to extend its domestic league home record win streak of 82 games and continue its aggressive winning mentality.
Though it could well prove to be the last hurrah of the great Mourinho sides of just a couple of years ago.
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2 months ago
Half the squad wishing to leave...are you sure? Your opening gambit seems mightily red opinionated to me. Let's look at the facts: Makalele was honoured with his release, Sidwell looked out of his depth and Boularouhz made too many mistakes. Chelsea are clearing the deadwood in Pizarro and Ben Haim and less so with Belletti and possibly Shevchenko. Apart from that you have the Lampard contract dispute and Drogba's desires. Both of whom are more likely to stay. With the new recruits (Bosingwa and Deco) and more likely, at least, another forward signing that leaves the desired squad strength of quality coverage in all areas. Hopefully Mancienne and Sinclair will be kept as part of the squad. You also omit Malouda from your criticism of lack of wingers! All things considered probably the strongest squad in terms of depth and quality bar none in the Premiership...Champions elect?
2 months ago
Half of the squad don't want to leave. As Steve said we are clearing the deadwood and Drogba and Lampard still might stay.
2 months ago
Agreement with Steve and Alan for sure! Drogba should leave though. He flourished under Jose, but his departure was clearly a heavy loss for the Ivory Coast International.
The club needs to give Lampard an extra year on the contract, and he needs to come down on his wage demands and stop being fussy. That much money isn't right for anyone. Once you reach 100k a week, you shouldn't start complaining for goodness sake.
Malouda is a waste of space indeed. Wingers like Robben are desperately needed though or like Ronaldo. These are players with a real edge, and give the team something completely different. The team can play as usual, but you know that, given the chance, something magical will happen at some point in the game to give the team a spark.
2 months ago
the arrival of miclael essien is to go back to mekelelees boots, and for drogdas should shill be in chelsea club
2 months ago
Half of the squad wanting to leave was a joke - I suppose it's not that evident I'm actually a fan - and my omission of Malouda shows just how useless he was last year! I do think though there are a few more twists to come with Frank and Didier.
2 months ago
drogba is psychologically not with chelsea since the exit of morinho.I feel he should be allowed to leave.Anelka and Shevshenko should also be sold.Scholari should look for new young strikers
about 1 month ago
scolari should not manage the team based on individual personality,it should be based on what a player can exhibit. It should not be Ballack always when maybe mikel or Lampard can do better on that wing. Agbo moses Agbo. benue state nigeria.
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