Chelsea was the Premiership champion last season after edging out rival Manchester United by one point in ex-AC Milan manager Ancelotti's debut season. The key players in the team all reached their peak which includes Drogba, Lampard, Anelka and Ashely Cole as they broke Premiership historical record by scoring over 100 goals in one single premier league season.
However, there are several factors not favoring Chelsea's championship chance for this coming season. As majority of Chelsea top players have reached 30+ (Drogba, Lampard,Anelka), their form will only go downward gradually. Although all three have had excellent 2009/2010 season, they sure need more bench help with the team also focusing so much on Champion League- a competition team owner Abramovic have never won. Yet, Abramovic's wealth is dropping fast with the current economic cricis and he cannot afford to bring in big names like he did in the past. Added the new Premiership home grown player rule, Chelsea is now forced to cut down some of their important foreign players in order to make room for their local young players to fill out the squad. Yet, for the past several seasons, Chelsea had been so desperate for instant glory that they never pay much attention in developing their young players. Under the league new home grown player rule, every Premiership club must possess at least 8 players among their 25 squad with their football career experienced under English or Wales football system before 21 year old regardless of their nationality. This new rule could hurt Chelsea's type of team the most with majority of their squad being foreign players who were well established in other European leagues before they joined Chelsea.
The departing key players include free-agent English AMF Joe Cole, Portugal CB Caravalho, Portugal CMF Deco, Germany CMF Ballack and Brazil RB Belletti. So far, only Brazilian MF Ramires and ex-Liverpool Israeli AMF Benayoun have bought in as replacement. While Brazilian MF Ramires could make positive impact for his tireless run, he does not possess the passing ability of Ballack and Deco. Benayoun is one of the most under-rated playmaker in the league, but Joe Cole is younger and a higher quality attacker. Among all departing players, Caravalho will be a sure miss. Captain CB John Terry has slowly declining every season and his poor form could be more easily exposed without the under-rated and consistent Caravalho cleaning up his mistake at the back. In addition, star LB Ashley Cole is chasing hard by Real Madrid and he could also want to leave Chelsea to join his former boss Mourinho.
Although Chelsea still possess a quality and experienced team with the backbone of Cech-Terry-Essien-Lampard-Drogba, Chelsea has less depth with majority of their aging players soon pasting their peak. With their young players Kalou and Mikel have shown no sign of major improvement, Chelsea could decline faster than most people could imagine. Make no mistake, Chelsea will be challenging for all trophies again this season, but could eventually end up with nothing unless Drogba can stay injury-free and have another super-human season. However, it won't surprise me if Chelsea could drop out from top 3 with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all having younger and hungrier players. After their glory days, Chelsea could soon step into transition period.
Strongest line-up: <4-3-3>
However, there are several factors not favoring Chelsea's championship chance for this coming season. As majority of Chelsea top players have reached 30+ (Drogba, Lampard,Anelka), their form will only go downward gradually. Although all three have had excellent 2009/2010 season, they sure need more bench help with the team also focusing so much on Champion League- a competition team owner Abramovic have never won. Yet, Abramovic's wealth is dropping fast with the current economic cricis and he cannot afford to bring in big names like he did in the past. Added the new Premiership home grown player rule, Chelsea is now forced to cut down some of their important foreign players in order to make room for their local young players to fill out the squad. Yet, for the past several seasons, Chelsea had been so desperate for instant glory that they never pay much attention in developing their young players. Under the league new home grown player rule, every Premiership club must possess at least 8 players among their 25 squad with their football career experienced under English or Wales football system before 21 year old regardless of their nationality. This new rule could hurt Chelsea's type of team the most with majority of their squad being foreign players who were well established in other European leagues before they joined Chelsea.
The departing key players include free-agent English AMF Joe Cole, Portugal CB Caravalho, Portugal CMF Deco, Germany CMF Ballack and Brazil RB Belletti. So far, only Brazilian MF Ramires and ex-Liverpool Israeli AMF Benayoun have bought in as replacement. While Brazilian MF Ramires could make positive impact for his tireless run, he does not possess the passing ability of Ballack and Deco. Benayoun is one of the most under-rated playmaker in the league, but Joe Cole is younger and a higher quality attacker. Among all departing players, Caravalho will be a sure miss. Captain CB John Terry has slowly declining every season and his poor form could be more easily exposed without the under-rated and consistent Caravalho cleaning up his mistake at the back. In addition, star LB Ashley Cole is chasing hard by Real Madrid and he could also want to leave Chelsea to join his former boss Mourinho.
Although Chelsea still possess a quality and experienced team with the backbone of Cech-Terry-Essien-Lampard-Drogba, Chelsea has less depth with majority of their aging players soon pasting their peak. With their young players Kalou and Mikel have shown no sign of major improvement, Chelsea could decline faster than most people could imagine. Make no mistake, Chelsea will be challenging for all trophies again this season, but could eventually end up with nothing unless Drogba can stay injury-free and have another super-human season. However, it won't surprise me if Chelsea could drop out from top 3 with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all having younger and hungrier players. After their glory days, Chelsea could soon step into transition period.
Strongest line-up: <4-3-3>
Cech
Bosingwa Alex Terry A.Cole
Lampard Essien Ramires
Anelka Drogba Malouda
Prediction: 5th !!!!
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