Should Chelsea FC Trade Oil for Fine Wine or a Pint of Chilled Beer?

In the summer of 2003, an unassuming Mr. Roman Abramovich entered the scene at Stamford Bridge. What followed was a roller-coaster ride fueled by oil-rich currency, much to the amusement of fans and neutrals alike.

While critics mourned the death of financial parity among clubs, supporters hailed the acquisitions of big name European players into the Premier League.

Between 2003 and now, Chelsea Football Club has witnessed the influx of world class players and at the same time, an exodus of highly ranked officials, especially Managers. However, no one can turn back time, not even an oil baron.

The turn of events at the Bridge over last couple of years has left the club reeling with a multitude of thirty somethings on the pitch and on the bench.

To the sound of drum-rolls, enters the latest man to test Abramovich's patience or rather lack of it—Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian's first task would be not getting fired in the 2009 calendar year. Once he gets that conundrum out of the way, he can move on to bigger and better things, such as the League, Cup, and European Glory.

In parallel, he'll have to get the wheels in motion with regard to re-building a cohesive unit that play an aggressive and free flowing style of football that guarantees success in England. Oh well, Jose Mourinho might not agree with that statement. However, Chelsea have been blamed for being too boring under Mourinho—effective but boring.

Avram Grant and Scolari didn't last long enough to conjure up any effective style of football at the club. On the other hand, Hiddink proved it doesn't take too much time to get the players performing in unison and have the owner smiling ear to ear once again.

So what can we expect from Ancelotti? Is it safe to assume that he will bring along some style and flair from the fashion capital of the world? For starters, the ex-Milan man loves his men old and rugged. Maybe a reason for joining Chelsea, besides the oil drenched funds, was that there are already a plethora of aged legs at his disposal.

The older the wine, the better it tastes they say. Hypothetically speaking, Ancelotti has come to Chelsea to sip some age old English wine. But is wine really a speciality of the Chelsea region or of England for that matter? No it is not! The conditions of the EPL do not favor wine making per se. If anything, old grapes turn sour in England.

So what does Ancelotti do then? Best bet is to bring some good old wine along with him from Milan. The best named brand that has lingered around last couple of weeks is one called "Merlot" or in footballing terms—Andrea "Pirlo."

To add to that are a few more 30 somethings including Seerdorf and Gattuso. Well Sir, drop the wine bottles and pick up a pint of cold beer while on English soil.

Ancelotti has had a long and deep association with the MilanLab that is reputed for churning out youth from the old legs of many a players, case in point being Maldini who retired at the ripe old age of 40 this year. Having said that, would this concept really work outside Italy?

The English league entertains a more fast paced game and the Italian styled defensive football is not what the league or the fans expect. If Ancelotti's men are to overtake teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal (maybe even Man City this season) to get their hands on any domestic silverware, they will have to attack more than they defend.

In other words, if Chelsea wants to win the English Premier League, FA Cup, Carling Cup, or the Community Shield even, Ancelotti's men need to clock more miles on their soccer cleats and score more goals.

Chelsea fans must hope that Russian oil is not traded for old Milan wine, if the Shevchenko experience is anything to go by. Bring in the Pato's, Villa's, Riberi's, Zhirkhov's and Aguero's.

And might I add, bring them in before one Mr. Florentino Perez invites their respective agents for an evening of fine Spanish hospitality behind closed doors at the Santiago Bernabéu.