Question for today is: Who would see more of the bench than of the pitch? After spending a difficult season with a limited squad, Chelsea have certainly increased the squad size this season. One common thing about most of these players is that they may not have the relative quality or experience to command a first team place in a team like Chelsea. In a way this helps because they may not cry about not getting enough opportunities and in times of need, they can be good back ups for the players who walk into the first team. Let’s analyse on how much time they would spend time on the coveted Chelsea bench and on the pitch.

My arrogant presumption is that Chelsea would be able to proceed at least till the semi finals of the Carling Cup, FA Cup and Champions League. This would mean that we might have to play about 60 matches in all. Also I feel that Jose would make this clear that Premiership and Champions league are the top most priority and even if we get eliminated in the domestic cups, that should not disappoint us too much. This would ensure that the top guys concentrate only on the priorities. And I also hope that we dont get any longish injuries that can lift the backup player to prominence.

Goalkeepers

If there is one player who is undisputed in his area of the pitch, it is Petr Cech. One of the best goalkeepers in Europe. Would start the match anyday, has tremendous energy, motivation and commitment. Cudicini should look for cup matches while Hilario has to be back in his shell. The other possibility is Cudicini playing more matches when Cech is available. I’m able to think of this because, we have full set of specialist defenders who should make good of any drop in quality from Cudicini over Cech. I’m not even talking about Magnus Hedman.

Squad Players: Hilario, Hedman

Bench Players: Cudicini

Defence

I dont think Terry and Carvalho would be playing all the matches even if they are fully fit. We should see more of Tal and Alex in matches against lesser teams. Between Alex and Tal, we will see more of Tal than Alex, due to his familiarity and success with English football and also because of his versatility. I would certainly keep Terry and Carvalho out of the FA Cup and League Cup. Bridge is already out for 3 months. When he is back, he would play more, having in mind those champions league matches where Ashley Cole is expected to play a bigger role. Nice to see Johnson slowly cementing his place in the team. This season, I expect Glen to make the right back, his own place.

Squad Players: Ferreira, Alex

Bench Players: Tal, Bridge

Midfielders

We might have more than half a dozen of them, goo enough to start. All that we need could only be 3 of them. Lampard and Essien are sure to start. The third midfielder role is where Jose can give opportunities and experiment. With the current strength, I dont see Makelele starting in any match at all. Sidwell’s dream of playing in Champions league may not come true unless, it is a dead inconsequential match in the group league stage. Sidwell’s best chances should come when Essien and Mikel are away for the Afrian Nations Cup. Ballack has been given clear indication by the boss that he has fight hard for his place. With 4-3-3, we would have counterattack opportunities and Ballack is not the best suited player for such instances. All this could mean that the third place would initially go to Mikel if we are on the defensive, and Joe Cole or Diarra if we want to be on the offensive. I would say Diarra would end up playing more minutes than Sidwell. Diarra has the pace and dribble and can be a very good sub to come in at the 70th minute.

Squad Players: Sidwell, Makelele

Bench Players: Ballack, Diarra

Forwards

Drogba is on fire and Sheva would like to prove a point after spending an indifferent season. That said, Sheva has certainly pushed himself to be a second choice behind Drogba. We may not be able to jusdge Sheva’s season this time based on the goals scored by him, because it is quite possible that Sheva plays in the wings. He might lack the pace but still has the style, touch and class to beat a defender to deliver a super-cross. With more indications showing that we might go back to our much feared 4-3-3, Pizarro’s chances of playing too many matches are very little. He might feature in the domestic cup matches and might even play as far as we proceed there. There is a widespread belief that Pizarro would come handy during the African Cup of Nations. I’m not too sure about this, if Sheva plays better than the last season, I don’t see why he can’t be the lone striker in 4-3-3. Pizarro should be mightily happy if he starts 10 matches in the season and may play as a sub in equal number of matches.

I dont think SWP’s fortunes would improve this season unless he stops thinking he is Maradona. In front of the box he has been very unselfish and has created many goals last season. His problem is his run from the midfield to the goal, where he invariably loses the ball most of the times without even earning a freekick. He will have very tough competition this season with Malouda in the team and Joe Cole and (I hope) Robben fit and ready. May be, he’ll get tired of lack of chances and would leave by the end of the season or mid-season. Joe Cole would be an ‘untouchable’ this season. He should start every match either in the wings or in the midfield. Kalou’s situation is more like SWP’s.

They both had a great opportunity to make an impression last season, when the big guns were out. Now that they’re back, only a great slice of fortune could bring them back into the first eleven. This season we should see Sinclair eclipsing Kalou and SWP.

Squad Players: SWP, Sinclair

Bench Players: Kalou, Sheva, Pizarro

Jose Mourinho must really relish this problem of plenty after toying with the possibility of playing Drogba as a centre back and Hilario as a striker, last season. If you look at the quality of the players that might not even find a place in the bench this season, you can be sure that Chelsea is highly insured against possible injuries or whatever is thrown at us by the Football Gods.

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