Our final 25 man squad. I've included RLC and Solanke as strikers to give the appearance we have 4 strikers. Maybe this will fool somebody. Solanke was on the bench against Bristol Rovers and has been given a squad number so you never know, maybe he'll see some action. The other teenager in the squad is Aina.

 

Observations. Firstly, it's a much stronger squad than last season. We've brought in 5 players without really losing anybody, so we have much more depth than last season. If you pretend we have 4 strikers for a moment, we now have 2 players for each position throughout the squad, which is something we haven't had for a long while. Secondly, Conte has obviously gone for experience. I expected to see the likes of Ake, Kenedy and Traore in the squad, and I'm still slightly dismayed they're not, but I can see the logic in letting them out on loan if they get regular game-time, thereby allowing them to develop. Conte clearly believes in young players getting games and also believes he needs experienced players to compete. Batshuayi is 22 and he'll get games, Chalobah and RLC are 21 and 20 respectively, and it's harder to imagine they'll get plenty of game-time but we'll see, maybe they will. For my money, we certainly need RLC to get games, otherwise we're really doing him no favours at all, and I think he's a talented boy. We're not in Europe so there are less games this season and less opportunity to impress, but the season is long, injuries and suspensions occur, so I've no doubt we will be seeing Chalobah and RLC at some point, at which point it's up to them. They have to impress the manager. In the case of Chalobah, you feel this is a make-or-break season for him at Chelsea. It's hard to see him staying if he doesn't make a mark this season.

 

Lovers of Mikel may want to cherish his appearances for us this season, as I imagine they'll be fleeting under Conte and this is the final year of his contract. Having said that he's been written off many times before. I just can't see him being here next season and I can't see him getting significant game-time this season. He may just be too languid for Conte, besides, Chalobah's been kept on, and for that to make any sense, he has to be given opportunities when presented, otherwise we're really stifling him.

 

Anyway this is the squad. I'm looking forward to it.

 

GK

Courtois

Begovic

Eduardo

 

FB

Ivanovic

Azpilicueta

Alonso

Aina

 

CB

Terry

Luiz

Cahill

Zouma

 

CM

Kante

Matic

Chalobah

Mikel

Oscar

Fabregas

 

AM

Hazard

Willian

Pedro

Moses

 

CF

Costa

Batshuayi

Loftus-Cheek

Solanke

When I look at the squad I'm very positive, we have a world-class goalkeeper and good backup keeper, our defence was our problem, but with the new signings, I think this problem has been fixed. I hope Matic will get to his best, having Matic and Kante at their best would be the strongest central in the league, we also got Fabregas who is our best playmaker and Oscar who shows positive signals, let's hope he will continue to show the same most of the season. Hazard and Willian at their best would just improve us and we will be unstoppable in our counter attacks. Pedro and Moses as a backup for them, couldn't ask for a better. 

We have a pair of fantastic strikers, both of them knows the work and knows to score, that's what we need. Also our youngsters are good enough to stay with us and play for us, we can use them properly during the season. 

Squad to win the league?

Looking at it closer I’m even more baffled we let Traore go out on loan.

Interestingly it seems like we more or less have two players per position (assuming a 4-3-3), with three at centre-forward if we assume Solanke actually plays a serious part in Conte's plans. Our strength in depth isn't bad either - if players like Pedro, Mikel and Zouma can be considered to be cover that is very encouraging. I'm also very encouraged by our midfield options - each of the seven players we have offers something different from the other six, which is ideal for a manager who likes to have several different possible setups from his squad, rather than having backup players who are essentially less good versions of the starters. Certainly that is a squad which is capable of challenging for third place, which I assume is our main objective.

 

11 minutes ago, Davey Baby said:

Lovers of Mikel may want to cherish his appearances for us this season, as I imagine they'll be fleeting under Conte and this is the final year of his contract. Having said that he's been written off many times before. I just can't see him being here next season and I can't see him getting significant game-time this season. He may just be too languid for Conte, besides, Chalobah's been kept on, and for that to make any sense, he has to be given opportunities when presented, otherwise we're really stifling him.

(I love the ability to manipulate picture size on the new forum setup btw)

I think the squad seems strong and balanced, especially if solanke is going play a part. 

We have a bit of everything in there tbh, experience, youth, pace, creatively, goals, impact subs, cover. 

Top 4 still has to be the main goal after last season, and i think a title challenge will depend on whether our big players luiz, kante, hazard, and costa, all show up on a consistant basis. 

48 minutes ago, IliyaKrostin said:

Squad to win the league?

I'd love to be optimistic but I don't think so personally, I think we have a squad capable of accumulating points against mid/lower table opposition, but even with Kante/Matic I still feel we're a physical box to box CM short of having a competitive midfield and as a result may struggle to grind out results against top opposition. My hope is we'll be up there come January when the transfer window reopens, if we strengthen further perhaps then we can have a go at the title / making top 4.

Edited September 1, 20168 yr by the special one

16 minutes ago, the special one said:

I'd love to be optimistic but I don't think so personally, I think we have a squad capable of accumulating points against mid/lower table opposition, but even with Kante/Matic I still feel we're a physical box to box CM short of having a competitive midfield and as a result will struggle to grind out results against top opposition. My hope is we'll be up there come January when the transfer window reopens, if we strengthen further perhaps then we can have a go at the title / making top 4.

Can't agree that we are a physical box to box CM short.  Kante, Matic, Oscar, Chalobah.  That seems pretty strong.  If anything we're lacking creative midfielders.  Basically just Fabregas and Oscar, at a stretch.

Good work davey. 

 

This squad is balanced, fit and premier league ready.  What excites me is the potential conte could yet wring out of people like Willian, Oscar, pedro etc.

For example, and it is too small a sample to get too excited about, Hazard is taking more than double the shots per game he ever had for us. I think he could squeeze more out of players assumed to have nothing more to offer. 

Good post Davey, measured!

I think we have good reason to be optimistic to be honest. 

25 minutes ago, ethicalstrategy said:

Can't agree that we are a physical box to box CM short.  Kante, Matic, Oscar, Chalobah.  That seems pretty strong.  If anything we're lacking creative midfielders.  Basically just Fabregas and Oscar, at a stretch.

It does seem strong I agree but in reality I don't think Oscar and Chalobah (or RLC) fall into the category of what I would class as a reliable physical box to box CM. It's no criticism of the squad don't get me wrong, I'm hopeful Chalobah will have an opportunity to play and still have hope van Ginkel will recover from his latest injury and stake a claim to be that CM I think we lack, but unless Luiz plays in midfield in the big games I just can't see us accumulating enough points to guarantee top 4 / have a go at the title.

Edited September 1, 20168 yr by the special one

Squad is good, doubt will be good enough to beat both Manchester clubs come the end of season.

My only worry is if Fabregas isn't a starter where the creativity comes from apart from Hazard. I reckon it will be noticed more in the bigger games.

How much better would that squad look with Traore in the striker column though.

I was never a massive fan of that loan move but assumed we has a trick up our sleeve, i.e. Lukaku or someone of that nature being signed.

Really odd move by the club given that he is not even gaining Premiership xperiance like Kenedy which will be a benefit in the longrun. 

I like the squad and agree with Davey that it looks stronger than the squad Mourinho assembled last season.

Don't know a huge amount about Alonso having never really looked out for him so the jury is out on that one but I do like the idea of experimenting in playing with a back three at times with wing-backs (although Kenedy would have been one of my preferred choices for a WB - maybe next season?).

I do hope Solanke gets some game time. When Costa is injured or suspended and we are relying on The Batman, it would be great to see Solanke come off the bench and do for us what Rashford and Iheanacho have done for Utd & City.

COYB!

 

With that squad and Conte in charge we should be able to win the league, top 3 minimum.

The squad is looking much more stronger than last year, and we have much needed back up options.

 

im pretty confident that this squad can finish top 3. 

 

the only place I'm still not sure of is LB as we don't know if he will be any good (Alonso) 

 

Still not convinced by having only two recognized strikers in the squad. We're one serious injury or long supension to Costa (both are easy to imagine) away from trouble.

The current squad is more than capable of challenging for the title, as long as we don't get too unlucky with injuries. 

 

The only thing that baffles me is some of the players we have out on loan, some of them should be in the first team squad (Ake, Traore etc...) and the vast majority of them should have just been sold on a permanent basis, because they really have no chance of making it here (The likes of Wallace, Hector, Feruz, Pasalic, Rodriguez, Piazon just to name a FEW)

With what we have now, might even lead to Conte trying  3 5 2 or 5 3 2 depending how strong the opposition.

Our squad is definitely good enough to win the league, even our 2nd team would challenge for top 4.

 

Edited September 1, 20168 yr by pacquiao

I've always thought you should have 3 players who can cover each position. 2 experienced, first team players, and 1 young prospect who can be given the odd game here and there.

 

GK: Courtois, Begovic, ???

LB: Alonso, Azpilicueta, Aina

CB: Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic, Tomori

CB: Zouma, Luiz, Ivanovic, Tomori

RB: Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Aina

DM: Kante, Mikel, Chalobah

CM: Fabregas, Oscar, Loftus-Cheek

CM: Matic, Oscar, Loftus-Cheek

LW: Hazard, Pedro, Moses (He will have to do as the youngster here)

RW: Willian, Pedro, Moses

ST: Costa, Batshyuai, Solanke

On paper it's strong, although it is still largely the same team was was absolutely sh*te last season, then again it is still largely the same team that won the league the year before.

In conclusion, I have no f**king idea what is going to happen this season.

Baffles me people saying might not get a top 4? Other than the mancs name a squad even half as good as ours...and we have a top manager in Conte...truly bizarre, we will challenge for the title.

Good squad,success will ultimately come down to how many games Costa misses,Kante and Hazard keeping fit and how many of the brainfarts by Luiz affect games.

Edited September 2, 20168 yr by charierre

As many of you have already said, we've got a good squad, although there are a few ?? for me until I see the team play more. For example, I am in doubt as to Luiz's capacity to focus on his defensive job for 90 minutes, or with respect to Alonso's quality as LB. I also need to see more consistency in Oscar and an improvement in Matic, since they are being used ahead of Fabregas (to me that is a real mystery). I also think that Traore should have stayed to be the third striker, but I hope Solanke can do the job. In any case, I am most excited about Conte. For me he is the best acquisition of this season. With the team we have and him in charge, I think we can expect to enjoy this season and get a top 3.

I think the squad is great.

Some are concerned about the striker situation .... it is okay in a 433 right ?  as 3 up top would be hazard/perdo/Ocsar/Moses with the sticker rotating. only an issue with 442 which is unlikely to be used that often I would have thought 

And I am convinced that Cesc will feature despite the recent matches.  

And of course there is talk of 3 at the back. 

Great options Conte has with this squad  433,442 or 343 or some other combination if you want to get really boring.

I think we could challenge, however I always sandbag I suppose too long a Chelsea fan so I am going to say give Conte a season at least, don't expect too much.