Please please please, let us get who we want

Congratulations to a worthy set of champions for 2008. Despite the drama of the last couple of weeks, the title was always in United’s hands – at the risk of invoking old ghosts, I’m sure José would have approved – and they finished it off in fine style.

So whither Chelsea now? Let’s not look ahead to Moscow just yet, as I’m sure that the protracted grind of build-up will be starting any second now. So let’s plough an entirely different furlough of tedium as we make wildly uninformed speculative remarks about the shape of Chelsea’s squad this season. Why, you ask? Well, everyone else seems to be doing it. 

So, who’s moving on? Let’s zip through the obvious suspects: players who may or may not move, but whose place in the team seems to have gone the way of the dodo, or perhaps Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Sorry, Steve Sidwell, but that attempt to show the world that you were as good a player as Michael Essien seems to have reached its inevitable conclusion. The former Gooner and Reading midfielder will surely find a suitor in the Premier League – more than one, if the rumours are to be believed – but a midfield berth at Chelsea seems to have proved beyond your reach.

Up front, both Claudio Pizarro and Andriy Shevchenko must surely be wondering where to buy their next executive home, with neither getting much playing time, nor impressing when they do. Having said that, a late goalline clearance from the Ukrainian has undoubtedly cemented him a place in my affection, whilst at the same time giving me an object lesson in how far it is possible to fall in professional football. Thank you both, and surely goodbye.

Tottenham, if you believe the papers, want Tal Ben Haim – a mighty statement of intent from Juande Ramos – and, with Paulo Ferreira signing a long-term deal this year, Jose Bosingwa’s arrival probably means curtains for long-range goal specialist and awful, awful defender Juliano Belletti. Rarely have I seen a right-back get caught out of position so frequently, or make such half-hearted attempts to recover when a zippy left-winger brushed past him. The last right-back we bought from Barca – the majestic but understated Chapi Ferrer – turned out so well. Perhaps the blaugrana were getting their own back for letting the Catalan go by squeezing £4m for a Brazilian with a blind spot instead of a positional instinct. Sneaky.

 
The off-again on-again saga of Frank Lampard’s contract must surely be resolved this summer, with unconfirmed reports of a change of heart and a provisional decision to stay in west London for our midfield talisman. Michael Ballack, I’m sure, will hear that news with all the relish of a man asked to pickle and eat his own crown jewels, but the elegant German must also be looking at the button marked “contract extension”. A barn-storming finish to the season has masked his slow start, but he’s now beginning to elicit joy and affection from a crowd that had hitherto felt alienated by his casual style. Retaining that pair, along with the terawatt energy of Essien and the still-developing skills of Mikel, leaves us well catered-for in the middle. Makelele still has some time left in him, as a both player and elder statesman of the squad, and has agreed to stay for at least another year.

Both Florent Malouda and Shaun Wright-Phillips have large question marks next to their names. The Frenchman hasn’t had a bad end to the season, but has comprehensively failed to live up to the impressive billing he brought from France. Given that we’ve persevered with SWP for 3 years despite his consistent underachievement, I find it hard to believe that we’d cut Malouda loose after just a year, but stranger things have happened. Ask Asier del Horno.

Which brings us to the big, big question. It’s Drogba-shaped, and it comes with added uncertainty. I think it’s fair to say that Didier Drogba is a master of the mixed message: from sullen misery to cheerful optimism in a matter of days, or even sentences. Being in a relationship with him must be a thrill a minute. If the big lad is on his way – and my instinct tells me he probably is – that will be 3 strikers out of the door in one summer, leaving only Nicolas Anelka as a recognised target man in the squad. I say target man, but his strengths do not lie in the archetypal English centre-forward zone. The Frenchman prefers the stiletto to the sledgehammer, to put it mildly. There may well be room for Scott Sinclair to finally make the leap to the senior squad – it’s also rumoured that the promising centre-halfMichael Mancienne  will be doing the same this year – but that leaves Anelka, Joe Cole, Salmomon Kalou and a promising teenager as our only options up front.

In terms of Premiership pedigree, we’ve briefly seen names like Kenwyne Jones (author grits teeth) linked with a move to the Bridge. Dimitar Berbatov is another name consistently linked with a move away from his existing club, but the Bulgarian shares Anelka’s languid style and his nature would demand a shift in team strategy. This isn’t to say that Chelsea couldn’t accommodate him – in fact, a buy like this could be Grant’s best chance of imposing his own style on a team that still feels full of Mourinho conservatism – but the question is how long that new approach would take to bed in. It might have the advantage of reducing our dependence on a single goalscorer, and bringing Lampard, Ballack and Joe Cole to the fore as goal-getters, but it would take time. Across Europe, the usual names crop up: Mario Gomez, David Villa... perhaps even Samuel Eto’o, who is rumoured to be flirting with Ramos at Spurs. We’d humbly suggest that one of those three, with Sinclair and Kalou as options both central and wide, might be enough, with the possibility of another left-winger should the club decide to cut its losses with Malouda.

With Ferguson doubtless ready to spend another £60m, it’s going to be another long summer of conjecture and flirtation. But where Ferguson is looking to bolster a winning combination, Chelsea may very well be looking for a new style and ethos. It’s going to be interesting.

Comments

[Filip]

I would like to see a switch in style towards a more passing, touch and move game as opposed to mainly using muscle all over the pitch. At the moment, 4-3-3 works and is preferable to anything else for 3 reasons:

1) Ballack and Lampard are accommodated and protected by a very disciplined player
2) Makelele is the perfect player for 4-3-3 and would be next to useless in a 4-4-2 now
3)Drogba is the best for playing one up front in front of a functional midfield.

As Mak is going to be a little bit less athletic this season, Drogba is unhappy and Lampard not sure, I would like to see the club take initiative and sell Drogba and Lampard. This would open the door for someone like Diego or Van Der Vaart, or if we want to switch to proper 4-4-2, Berbatov or Aguerro. Also, I like the look of Ribery and he won't want to stay in Germany for long. We also need another striker and I would like Roman to really fork out for Benzema and knock out the other clubs from the running with the transfer fee offered. The guy is a great finisher, awesome touch, great movement, speed. The next great, who would not mind rotating with Anelka till he is established.

So for me, the first 11 attainable with Roman's money would be this:

Cech - Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Bosinghwa (or Essien) - Ribery, Mikel (or Essien), Ballack, J. Cole - Berbatov - Anelka (or Benzema)

In the dream world, Kaka would kick up a fuss about not qualifying for the Champs League and we would outbid Real Madrid.

[chima]

chelsea has done very well and urgueably the most consistent team in the league this season.we still have quality and would need a few changes only.for the most part, i would like to see shift in parttern for the team,maybe introducing a deadlier six yard finisher (rud van nistoro) to pair with drogba up front ie if he stayed on or someone like (toni) of werder bremen.then a good winger like (dos santos or rhobinho) and a creative holding and attacking midfielder like messi who is the best in the world irrespective of the noise about C.ronaldo. generally chelsea is a solid team.

[alyamas]

I do fear the leaving of Drogba for chelsea's near future. concerning the defence and middle lines, there will be no problem I think. the main question is in the attack where chelsea's manager has to think it over. The team will need time to have a clear attacking strategy if drogba leaves. A transition phase will be required since drogba has been undoubtedly at the heart of chelsea's attack these last seasons.

[Toby]

I do agree that Drogba is a very important player but I can't see how having him in the team next season will be good for the other players in the long run. When other important players have voiced desire for pastures new ( Henry, Van Nistleror, etc ) the team itself has not been that badly effected. If we want to see more attractive flowing football we need a more creative minded forward and Drogba is not that man. Don't get me wrong he is probably the best at what he does and he will always score goals but with him in the team it makes the football a little one dimensional. If we look back a couple of seasons at when we had Robben and Duff down the flanks, it made us far more attractive. Plus, it also made the central players have more defined roles. Hence the addition of a quality wing can't be knocked.
Defensively I think we are fairly sound. People have to remember that Ivanovic is yet to make any sort of start and hopefully learning off Terry and Carvalho will mean he turns out to be an astute purchase. Ben Haim has been a major let down but was for free and Alex has not done badly and makes a good fall back if and when needed. Makelele still has another season in him, albeit mostly for important games and Mikel seems to have matured over the past season. looking at it that way most teams would be more than content.

[James Allport]

I truely hope that Drogba stays, espcially as Crespo is out of contract with us at the end of this year and we cannot get him back. Keeping the Drog and Lamps is key to Chelsea's success in the next three years. The new right back is worse than Ferreria according to a Porto following friend of mine! Alves has been missed for the sake of £8million, which is a shame. Anelka is a class act in the middle, but needs to score more. Ideally he needs a partner. Essien, Ballack, Ricky, and Cech must all be kept along with Kalou and Cole. SWP, Mikel, Malouda, Bridge and Sidwell as all worth keeping as well. Although Sidders is a squad player, but not a bad one. Alex is not perfect and Ben Haim poor, a better back up centre half is needed as well as a creative forward. Gudjohnson anyone? Chelsea should focus on players around 24 that are on the up to improve the quality of the squad. Lampard and Drogba cannot be replaced

[Atle]

Good comment for sure!
As long as Lamps stays I agree that midfield and defence is pretty well covered. As for the front men, I have some faith in Franco Di Santo. I hope he will get some time in the first team next season.
With Drogba I kinda have the feeling we're better off without him. He brings the same problem Man U had with v.Nistelroy. He scores a bucketful of goals, but the team seems to play better without him. When he's on it tends to be a lot of: shoot the ball at him and hope he will conjure up another goal...

[Toby]

It also needs to be said that it will be a real shame if Cudicini leaves the club. I can't blame him if he moves on, as being in the shadow of Cech for 3 seasons has to be annoying, especially when you were previously considered the league's best keeper. If he does leave there should be no resentment as he has been one of the loyalest members of the squad and we should wish him well wherever he might end up.

One player that surely has had more than enough chances is SWP. He may have the pace and at times skill do dazzle opponents but end product is so often lacking. We need to replace him with a world class winger who will be able to constantly supply the front men. With Drogba off to AC Milan (if you believe todays reports) we have to ensure that whoever figures up front is constanly supplied with enough good ball to guarnatee goals.
Ribery could be that man if Bayern let him go. Bentley is another contender but I think he needs to show more consistent quality for him to be taken seriously as he could go down the same road as SWP.

Finally the rumours surrounding Kaka and Messi are just a waste of time. Both player are adored at their repective clubs and the money being mentionned is purely ridiculous. We could strengthen the squad with 4 players for the £80m apparently being lined up for Messi.
Hopefully we can keep the core of the team together and add 3 or 4 quality players that will want to play for the club and not just get lured in with the promise of wealth.

[Syed]

OUT:

1CUDICINI (retired - possible goalkeeping job at Chelsea - Lollichon needs to go)
2HILARIO
3FERREIRA
4BEN HAIM
5SIDWELL
6MALOUDA
7SHEVCHENKO
8PIZARRO
9ANELKA (ONLY If Drogba stays)
10SWP (ONLY If Bentley signs)
9DROGBA (definitely don't want it - but I think he has made up his mind and the Champions League Final will be his last match on a Chelsea shirt)

IN:
1KIRKLAND (GK)
2Another young goalee (Shmeichel?)
3BOSINGWA (RB: Already signed - I would have preferred Alves)
4ROBINHO (LF: or any other quality player who can play in Left-Wing)
5BENTLEY (RM)
6BERBATOV (CF)
7OWEN/YAKUBU/FABIANO (CF: One of those 3- in that order)
8SINCLAIR (CF/RF: In the first team squad for the entire season)
9CAHILL/MUNTARI/ELANO (CM: One of those 3- in that order)

[Pack Rat]

Not a Chelsea fan at all, but enjoyed reading a balanced and thoughtful piece.

Your problem is this policy of bringing in established top quality internationals. All of them arrive in their mid to late 20s, so as soon as they show up you have to start looking around for replacements. What are your options for the future if Ballack decides to run a bit next year, hits top form, and becomes "irreplaceable".

Like every other football fan I envy Chelsea their millions and recent success, but I would rather watch a team that has been planned and moulded than a team that has been assembled.

[Nick]

...or maybe abramovich's fantasy will come true and we'll see either Kaka or Ronaldinho in blue.

[Toby]

I would like to think that you are correct in saying we will retain the services of Malouda. From the start of the season he obviously was not used to the physical nature of the premiership but in the last couple of games he has played he seems to have developed a better understanding of what is required in this league. Plus how often is it that a foreign player needs atleast a full season to acclimatise himself.
Losing Beletti is no suprise, it was always going to be the case that he was a temporary measure until we bought someone else. Bosingwa is a very good player and the fact we already have 2 Portuguese defenders should make it easier for him to settle into the team over pre-season.
Drogba leaving has to be seen as inevitable. His histionics and endless commenting on his desire of wanting to move on can't be good for team spirit. If he can help us win the Champions league it would be the perfect leaving gift. I don't know who will replace him but Anelka can't do the job on his own and needs a true front man to play off.
Over the next couple of months I am sure we will be linked with anyone and everyone for ridiculous sums of money but if Grant has any aspiration of keeping his job he will have to be careful with this Russian friend money. Moreover if he is to make way for a more established manager I hope there won't be too many changes as with a touch more luck and fewer injuries who knows what would have been the outcome last Sunday???