That’s what it seems to be. In the last 8 years, Chelsea FC have won everything there’s to be won. The squad that was put together in the summer of 2004 and the subsequent additions thereon have delivered us everything. You could argue on the life span of any squad could be shorter than 8 years but this generation of Chelsea players have indeed outlived their age.
When Carlo took over, the need to overhaul the squad was evident. We won the double but still it was another case our squad pulling above their weight while the rivals had started their rebuilding. This Chelsea squad, if managed well, should comfortably finish in the top four and hence that’s hardly the expectation. Under Carlo, we won but we didn’t progress.
AVB came in. It was clear that Roman is all for the rebuilding of the Chelsea squad. And it started from the manager. AVB was to oversee the phasing out of the senior players and bring in and install new players. AVB failed at achieving the fine balance of maintaining the results while reorganising the squad. It was probably too big a project for AVB. All he had to do was to keep us in the hunt in all competitions and ensure champions league football – that was the minimum. If he had done that, he’d have had the privilege of marshalling this new, young and fiery Chelsea team.
Typically, in Chelsea, managers are like players. They are part of the solution. Neither are they expected to strategise the future nor the execution of the strategy is dependent on them. So AVB goes but the rebuilding is happening anyway. The champions league win though has had a big impact on expediting the squad refresh and the kind of players we sign.
As you could see, the contracts of many of our players are expiring this summer or next summer. Roman’s idea was always probably to see out their contracts, get the maximum from their time and to start rebuilding. We are not a selling club. So we have kept all the players to get the best of their contracts and boy did we get that! Roman played like a true businessman and got full value for all the money he spent and let them leave only after he’s got that.
So the squad refresh would have happened in this summer anyway. No matter who the manager is, no matter whether we won the champions league or not, whether there is FFP or not. If the club needs to continue to be competitive in football terms, this squad refresh is absolutely a must at this point in time.
So the much-awaited rebuilding of the Chelsea squad is indeed here. We’ve got Eden Hazard and Marko Marin. We also had got Lucas Piazon, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne. We’re still looking to sign Oscar, Willian and a quality right back. That’s more than £100m worth of quality players that would be the future of Chelsea FC.
This rebuilding of Chelsea is very significant for many reasons. Firstly, it reiterates Roman Abramovich’s passion for Chelsea FC. No matter how much he does for the club, he will always be doubted by the neutrals because he’s a billionaire businessman and he doesn’t care to explain himself. Back in 2004, every man and his dog said Chelsea is Roman’s new plaything and he will throw it away when he’s bored of it. About 8 years on, Roman has put Chelsea in the global football map and is clearly hungry for more and more. He spents hundreds of millions, built a world class training facility, wanted to build a brand new stadium and is rebuilding the squad now. What more should he do before the world knows he’s here to stay!
Secondly, the FFP impact. See, I don’t rate the FFP and I don’t think the implemention of FFP will be unforgiving. FFP will be effective from 2013-14. I’m quite confident that the FFP will crash and burn soon for a new football order but it makes sense to have a squad that would hold us in good stead for the next five or six seasons, just in case it doesn’t. When you could have most of your starting eleven under 25 years of age, that means you’re well placed for any financial regulation of any sort.
Thirdly, the competition. If you don’t do this, you lose out. I know it sounds like the credit crisis. But that’s the reality. Arsenal are experiencing this. But they didn’t quite lose out because all that they want is champions league money and they’re getting it. The clubs that really want to win major competitions have to invest quite a lot. Because, you get what you pay for. The only other way is to have an academy that’s your major source of talent and that’s gonna take time. Until then, if you want to deal with the competition and win major honours, you gotta spend. By spending in this summer, Chelsea FC have sent a message to all that we are right in it. It’s like this quote from The Dark Knight: “It’s not about the money. It’s about sending a message.”
Chelsea FC are spending their money on young and hungry players who are believed to have great potential and prospect, as confirmed by stiff competition we are having to face in all our signings. The kind of players we have bought has also undoubtedly restored some respect for Chelsea among the rivals. While they always respected Chelsea, albeit grudgingly, they would now embrace Chelsea better with these younger and more expansive players.
The other thing is, we haven’t gone and bought superstars like Man City & PSG do. Even when Roman spent big in 2004, Chelsea didn’t buy superstars. We bought some good, young and hungry players and turned them into superstars. Even the ones that were there like Terry and Lampard were just good players then. And when we did buy superstars, we bought them after they spent their prime elsewhere. So, unlike Man City & PSG, Chelsea are investing in young talents now. And that also has meant a lot of respect for Chelsea.
For me, this is easily the most exciting summer to date and we aren’t even done with our transfers yet. I can’t wait for the new season. I just can’t. And interestingly, I haven’t set any massive expectations depite what’s happening at the club. I’m quite aware that these are some great players individually and they still need to train and play as a team and gain experience to be champions. I’m prepared to wait and I think this is one wait all Chelsea fans must be prepared for.
When Chelsea won the champions league at Munich, Roman Abramovich said this to the Chelsea players and staff in the dressing room: “This is just the beginning”. That is all.
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Well is very nice that spend on young players but we must add atleast one strong pointman in the person of either Hulk, Cavani or Falcao
” Typically, in Chelsea, managers are like players. They are part of the solution. Neither are they expected to strategise the future nor the execution of the strategy is dependent on them” —–This is one reason, I feel, the role of a manager in chelsea, is be limited.
a)Limited in the sense of independent decision making, developing a sense of taste, help team develop a unique playing style.
b)Managers here come and go, life their life in uncertainty, unable to assure anything to players, less breathing space.
c)The role of a manager is merely an intermediary between owner and team players. This is what, others & I, feel, observe and opiniate about the uncontrollable interference of Roman in daily ‘business as usual’.
@Prithvi
That’s true for ALL managers of any top club – except Sir Alex Ferguson. And I’m personally perfectly happy with that situation. Strategy should not be with the managers. The managers are just employees of the club employed to deliver and execute the strategy of the club ownership and management. That’s how it should be.
Explain something about the ‘uncontrollable interference of Roman in daily business as usual’. You said this on twitter too. When I asked you for proof you disappeared. How do you say Roman is interfering in the daily business? Roman is the owner of a conglomerate of which Chelsea is a small part. He’s way too bay to interfere in the job of his managers whom he’s paying millions of pound to do that job.
One last time: How do you say Roman is interfering in the daily business?
How can I support my view with tangible evidence. Are u looking for a support material from me? I do not have any proof to demonstrate my view in this topic.
For me , a perfect owner is Man c’s sheikh. Just provide continuity of support ( commercial, financial), listen to the basic needs of the team, articulate current & near distant aspirations of the club. And, just maintain the distance. Club owner should articulate, the club’s vision & represent ideals and just stay there. Not to visit the team, during practice sessions, not to try and show his motivational and inspiration stories etcetra. Club owner having 1-1′s with player’s without manager’s presence, changing players terms of contract without including view from manager is not recommendable, according to me.
BC, do not ask for proof, evidence or source. I do not have one at the moment. This is only my observation. And I quite feel, it is with considerable shape, form and context.
@Prithvi The worst chiefs in football are Sandro Rossell of Barca, Daneil levy of Spurs and Mansour Sheilkh of Man city. Their constant intervention and self-imposition cost those teams so much. Rossell tells Messi whom to pass and whom not to. Levy tells his players not to support Harry. Mansour picks the team and not Mancini. Now don’t ask me for proof or evidence. Peace.
ahaha . I am surprised, that, we have reconciled our differences, so early ! I am impressed.
BC is writing again. Yeah.
I am happy with this Chelsea squad. We have pretty mean and decent squad. Indeed.
I don’t see any reason as to why Chelsea should not win the Barclays Premier League and either the League Cup or FA Cup during the 2012-2013 season. A Uefa Champions League semi-final should be the minimum target reached although I am quietly confident that this group of players can reach the final for consecutive seasons.
Although let’s see how the season unravels itself with importantly form, supspensions and injuries before we get ahead of ourselves.
I am not so sure that Roberto Di Matteo is the right man to lead this group of players though. That’s all from me for now.
@ Prithvi
Roman has a right to interfere in his business. If you were Roman and were to spend a $1 billion on a project , would you not prefer to personally over see the developments ? in simple management terms , this is called “Hands-On” approach. However , there is a thin line separating a hands-on approach with a micro management style. Roman is doing the right way in handling the business side of the club and leaving the technical training details to the manager. Not many teams in the world succeed just by splashing money. Look at Galacticos I & II untill they got JM ! Even the ManC project took 3 years to succeed and they won the EPL on goal difference ! It takes an acute sense of business acumen along with technical brilliance to succeed in EPL
Hi Guys,
Saw the game live on Chelsea TV. The defence really needs some work before the start of the season. The communication among the back line was pretty poor & they were all over the place most of the time.I guess its just about getting 100% match fit over the coming weeks. Hopefully everything should be set before the community shield game against City.
The understanding & link up play among the attackers was not great either, but its understanble since many of them are new to the 1st team squad.
If Marin manages to remain injury free, he is definitely the bargain of the season for us.
The striker situation is not very encouraging.We need to have a decent striker as back up / competition for Torres.Sturridge as we all know can be brilliant / frustrating on any given day. Sadly its more frustrating than brilliant in his case.Lukaku is very lazy & his off the ball movement is very poor. Lukakau needs a loan move to a smaller club & should get regular football week in week out to get up to speed. He has to adjust his game to match the pace of the premier league.
The right back position is also worrying, but I think Ivanovic with Ferreira & Hutchinson as back up should be good enough. Hutchinson was caught out of position on numerous occasions, but he can only get better with proper management.
Looking forward to the next game now. Hope Torres plays some part in the remaining games.
We just signed Hazard’s brother from Lens!
i wanna see this formation this year
——————Cech—————
Ivano—Terry–Luiz—A.Cole
—-Oscar—Lampard—Mata—-
–Hazard—Torres—Marin/Hulk–
I am absolutely baffled by this “Roman interferes” nonsense. How many trophies have we won since Roman started his “interference”. This is all garbage from the British tabloid press and it’s been peddled for so long that now everybody believes this nonsense. Roman wont speak to them, so they create stories about him. He may not know much about football, but he sure knows about when the Club needs change. Haters will always hate. First we wont win Big Ears and if we do Roman will then pack up and leave. We’ve been hearing this for ages.
Anyways, I’ve seen our matches during the preseason. Individually a few players have shown up, however as a team we dont have a chemistry yet. There’s no fluidity yet. I hope all these fall in place at the right time. Cheers. will be watching the game this dawn .1:30 am for me. Phew.
Honestly i think that most fans are really jealous as per say and wish they had an owner just like Roman. Look at all the other clubs in the Premier -(apart from Man city ) most clubs are unable to attract a similar kind of pull and get the (in demand )players – it is absolutely sad how they tend to react. Arsenal has a list of very rich shareholders but you will never hear them looking for Cavani and the likes – it’s sad all it says is that they are really in it for the money unlike Roman who is an absolute fan and willing to get the best to see Chelsea do so well. When have you ever seen the Glaziers help spearhead for the best players like messi- they would rather go for a good player but are unwilling to get the best and this is why my friends Roman is far above the rest.
Having seen the pre-season games i was really dissappointed by Lukaku who seemed not to take full advantage of his abilities – that and with the PSG match he seemed to play on the wings-really for a team that wants to focus on one striker it shows you are unable to break the defence something Didier was good at.
Marin on the other hand is simply classic -absolutely creative and Piazon really showed up for the match
we have signed Oscar – now that is really good news to hear- the Squad is growing- with technically gifted players considering that both Piazon and Oscar are known for their hunger for the goal and have very good passing and movement off the ball hence very useful for attacking football.
Marin and Hazard are both very good players on a 1v1 situation that are going to line up with the rest of the squad