Chelsea: Season Preview 2014-15
Chelsea have for a long time been associated with the managerial merry-go-round, and not without good reason. Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board have been trigger happy for too long, firing under-performers almost immediately. At the start of last season, the club signaled their intent of changing that policy. Stability was the word, and Jose Mourinho the man. The Special One returned.
In his first press conference, Jose indicated that the objective for the season was to build for the future while competing for trophies.
I don’t want to win the Europa League.
Fast-forward ten months, Chelsea finished a trophy-less third in the league and saw themselves get knocked out by an energetic Atletico Madrid side in the Champions league semi-final. The season had started well, but 6 goals conceded in 2 consecutive games against Stoke and Sunderland meant that the Chelsea Project of World Domination TM would have to be put on hold. Juan Mata, the man so admired by the Chelsea faithful left the club in January as did the versatile Kevin De Bruyne. Chelsea used the funds generated to balance the squad and in came midfielder Nemanja Matic and Mohammed Salah.
It is worth noting that we had no trouble beating the big boys, winning six and drawing twice in 8 games against Arsenal, City, Liverpool and United. We did have a problem against lower-mid table opposition, and dropped points against Aston Villa, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace and the like, which saw us lose ground to City and eventually the title.
Maybe he knew what was wrong with the squad and saw it coming, or maybe he was simply trying to relieve the pressure off his players, but his message was the same, each time. Speaking of our title chances after the win against City (A), Mourinho was quite conservative:
The title race is between two horses and a little horse that needs milk and needs to learn how to jump. Maybe next season we can race.
The Revolving Door
The end of the season saw many big names leave the club.
Ashley Cole (released):
He arrived in rather controversial fashion from Arsenal eight years ago, and went on to have eight stellar seasons with the club. He’s been there when we needed him most, and has without doubt been the greatest left back in recent memory. Excellent crosses, crunching last second tackles, keeping Ronaldo in his pocket, goal-line clearances, and that post match interview (yes, that one in Munich), he really had it all. We’ve seen the media give him a tough time and people love to hate him, but let that not fool you. Ashley Cole was the best player in the world in his position for a long time, and while his form declined last season, he still will be a tough act to follow. He’s now plying his trade in Italy with AS Roma. Good luck Ash.
Frank Lampard (released):
Next season is going to be slightly strange partly because it is the first time in over a decade that Chelsea start the season without Frank Lampard. The club and player parted ways this summer after contract negotiations failed. Frank signed a contract with MLS newbies New York City FC, and has now joined title rivals Manchester City on a 6 month loan. Not seeing Lampard at Chelsea is one thing, but watching him play for City is going to hurt. Wish you all the best Frank, but please don’t score against us.
David Luiz (48M):
The man we all loved, the player we were sometimes frustrated with, David Luiz has been a rock in the Chelsea dressing room. He’s got an excellent aura about him, and is always laughing, always the jester. He’s been someone the rest of our Brazilian contingent looked up to, and was once tipped to become the next Chelsea captain. On the field he was unpredictable and that was part of his charm. That same unpredictability however meant that he was subject to lapses in concentration and the occasional blunder. He played many games in midfield, partnering with Matic in the second half of the season and together they collectively destroyed the opposition. Still he wasn’t playing as much as he would have liked, and a 48M offer from PSG was good enough to take him to Paris.
Samuel Eto’o (released), Demba Ba (5M), Romelu Lukaku (28M):
Lukaku, on loan last season at Everton, scored more goals than all of Chelsea’s forwards put together. However in the words of the manager:
Playing for Everton is not the same as playing for Chelsea.
We would have loved to see him fight it out with Diego Costa for a starting role, but he chose to return to Everton and we made a tidy 28M. Old-man Eto’o was never expected to stay beyond a season, and Demba Ba recently moved to Besiktas as well.
Incoming
Thibaut Cortouis (returning from Loan):
Any discussion about the best goalkeepers in the world is incomplete without bringing up TC. He’s definitely the best young goalkeeper in the world and one of our most shrewd signings in recent history. We signed him three years ago from Genk, and he’s been on loan at Atletico Madrid ever since. Courtois announced himself to the world last season with brilliant and consistent performances, so much so that Chelsea hero, Petr Cech, finds his position in-goal under real threat for the first time in a decade. Only one of them can be first choice, and that’s going to be an interesting battle to keep an eye on. It’s a big decision to make, but that’s where Jose earns his money.
Cesc Fabregas (27M):
For a Chelsea fan, the 27 year old has been a rather divisive figure. He’s been brought up at cross town rivals Arsenal and moved to Barcelona for whom most Chelsea fans have nothing but hate. Add to that the fact that he’s had fights with Lampard on the field, and even spat in Michael Ballack’s face at one point, and you’ve got a really unpopular figure. Even if you were to set aside that for a little while, there lies a debate about whether he’s actually the right answer to our midfield troubles. But the one thing that cannot be questioned is his eye for a through ball. It is this that led many to believe that he was Xavi’s heir apparent for Barcelona and Spain. For 27M we’ve got ourselves an elite home-grown midfielder who is just entering his prime years. He’s got the qualities we needed so desperately last season and playing him alongside Nemanja Matic means that we’ve got an amazing combination of silk and steel in equal proportions.
Diego Costa (32M):
It is no secret that Chelsea have lacked firepower upfront. None of our strikers inspired any faith, and that showed over the course of the season. Jose has been calling for a new striker all season, much to the dismay of Eto’o, Ba and Torres and finally it looks like he has his man. Last season Costa scored 36 goals in 52 appearances for Atletico Madrid. But that’s not even the most impressive part. He’s got this ability to wind up the opposition, draw them out of position and a win-at-all-costs attitude. He’s the kind of striker that defenders hate going up against. It’s refreshing to see a real striker lead the front line for the first time since Didier Drogba.
Didier Drogba (free):
Speaking of Drogba, the big man is back. Just the thought of having him run out at Stamford Bridge makes me giddy. He departed a legend, his last kick winning the one trophy we craved. Now he’s back. At 36, do not expect him to be scoring goals consistently, and even get enough time on the pitch for that matter as long as Costa is healthy and banging them in. Having said that, DD is still a handful for any opposing centre-back and if we’re chasing games, you can expect Jose to bring him on to partner Costa up front.
Kurt Zouma (returning from loan):
A young French monster who we actually signed in the January transfer window last year for 7M from St Etienne, Zouma was loaned back immediately. At 6”4’, he’s a great threat in the air and possesses a fair bit of speed as well. In the few preseason friendlies he’s played, he looks like the man most likely to have lapses in concentration and occasionally gets caught out of position. Zouma has bags of potential though, and if Mourinho can make a man of the lad as he did of Raphael Varane at Real Madrid, we have no reason to be worried. Also his full name is Kurt “Happy” Zouma. No seriously. I’m not even kidding.
Filipe Luis (16M):
Filipe Luis had a standout season last time around in Atletico Madrid’s back four. He’s no Ashley Cole, but he definitely is as good as it gets in the market today. Many fans wanted us to sign 19 year old Luke Shaw, before his transfer to Manchester United, but while Shaw is a prospect for the future, Luis is the finished product. He has great positional play, can defend just as well as he can attack and brings great tenacity and desire: excellent qualities for a full-back.
You will never see me just walking around the pitch, I run all the time.
Nathan Ake (youth academy):
A product of the Chelsea academy, Nathan Ake is a versatile young man. He’s been known to play at CB and as a defensive midfielder but if pre-season is anything to go by, Ake will line up on the left side of Chelsea’s back four should Filipe Luis be injured, rested or otherwise unavailable.
How the chips fall
Goalkeepers:
Petr Cech. Thibaut Courtois, Mark Schwarzer
Defense:
Filipe Luis, Nathan Ake, John Terry (Captain), Gary Cahill, Kurt Zouma, Branislav Ivanovic, Cesar Azpilicueta
Midfield:
Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Ramires, Marco Van Ginkel, John Obi Mikel, Eden Hazard, Oscar, Andre Schurrle, Willian, Mohammed Salah, Victor Moses
Forwards:
Diego Costa, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres
One of these players will not be registered in the squad on account of Premier League’s home-grown regulations. I haven’t a clue as to who that might be and I’d be speculating if I did mention a name. Jose is going to have to take a call here and before September 1st, one of them won’t be here. The easier way out is to not register Schwarzer and call on Jamal Blackman as a third choice goalkeeper. Regardless of how this plays out, Chelsea now look more solid as a team than they did last season. We have strengthened in almost all areas of the squad, bringing in quality players and filling all the holes. We’ve got the most dynamic AMs in the league: Eden Hazard, Oscar, Andre Schurrle, Willian and Salah. Together they possess a wide array of skills, and on their day, each is more than capable of winning a game on their own. Eden Hazard in particular was our most dangerous man last season, and you can expect that to continue. If Eden, Fabregas, Oscar and Costa can find that chemistry, Chelsea will become the team to beat. John Terry and Gary Cahill make a formidable defensive partnership at CB, and should either of them be unavailable – we’ve got Kurt Zouma, and a big scary Serbian: Branislav Ivanovic to provide adequate cover. We’ve got the brilliant Azpilicueta and Ivanovic competing for the right back berth and Filipe Luis and Ake at left back, with Azpilicueta just as capable of filling that role as he so excellently did last season.
Satisfaction who?
Personally, I would like to see us add another striker. I feel we’re a little light up top with the aged Drogba and impotent Torres the only cover should Costa ever be unavailable. Lukaku could have been that man, but that’s a story for another day. I also feel we should sign a CB (Raphael Varane anyone?). We’ve got 7 players for 4 positions in defence and we’re two injuries short of a defensive crisis. And who doesn’t love a good Paul Pogba?
The Contenders
The competition has become stronger too. Manchester United have now found a manager befitting their reputation in the man who mentored Jose Mourinho: Louis Van Gaal. Expect them to be contenders. Manchester City had the strongest squad last season, and have added more midfield reinforcements and Arsenal right back Bacary Sagna to the squad. Liverpool on the other hand lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona for an astronomical sum of money, signed Southampton winger Adam Llalana, Norwich striker Rickie Lambert and continue to strengthen at full back. They still have millions left over from the Suarez sale, so don’t be surprised to see them splash the cash on a big forward before deadline day. Even Arsenal have been busy in the transfer market, recruiting Newcastle right back Debuchy and splurging in very un-Arsenal fashion on Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez. All in all, this season is probably going to be the tightest, most fiercely fought and competitive season in the history of the Premier League. Elsewhere in Europe, Bayern Munich are as strong as ever with Lewandowski finally making his move to Bavaria. Real Madrid have just added Toni Kroos and World Cup star James Rodrigues to their growing list of attacking talent. Barcelona paid a titanic sum for Luis Suarez and have signed Ivan Rakitic and Arsenal defender Vermaelen.
Scared? Anxious? That’s good. That’s how it should be. But hey, we now have the best goalkeepers in the world to call on, the stingiest defence in the league, arguably the best midfield, and a diminutive striker to go with the lot. Oh and one of the greatest managers in modern football to pick the best team for the occasion. Still scared? You shouldn’t be. The little horses have grown up, let the race begin.
