I've been thinking a lot about our start to the season and even though we are only 10 games in, considered the direction Sarri is planning to take us in.

There are a lot of positives so far. The brand of football has been very positive, players have taken to the manager and his style very well whilst results have been good at the same time.

Surely not much to be concerned about?

However, I look at our current team and don't necessarily see a team with players for the future which has held back my excitement slightly.

I believe a core spine of players who play together for a number of years has always been the basis of success for the best teams. (The class of 92 / Cech, Terry, Lamps, Drog) to name just a couple.

To put it in comparison, if we look at some of our rivals, I see a spine of players at the perfect age that they could potentially be the heartbeat of their club for at least the next 5 years. These are also complimented by young English players getting regular game time which fans love to see.

Spurs: Kane (25), Alli (22), Eriksen (26)

Liverpool: Salah (26), Firmino (27), Mane (26)

City: De Bruyne (27), Sterling (23), Jesus (21)

However, I look at our current team and feel this might have to be the season we do well (if the current group will achieve anything together again).

A lot of players are around 30 or above (Luiz, Willian, Pedro, Azpilicueta, Giroud/Cahill/Fabregas), while Hazard who we rely on so much looks very likely to leave next summer.

Young players who could have been the future of the club have been left out of the squad entirely and are surely set to leave (RLC/Christensen) whilst Hudson Odoi rightly stalls on signing a new contract over playing time concerns.

This is not a negative post but I wondered if any fans feel the same way. With City being so good at the moment, it is possibly a good time to build a team for future. However, I also appreciate this may never be the Chelsea way and we may continue to buy "ready made" stars.

 

Yes it's clear to me that the squad will need to be rebuilt, at least 1 new defender and striker that are young, 2 young wingers (or 1 + Hudson Odoi), 3 new midfielders since Kovacic is on loan.

That's around 7 new players which is too much.

And for the season after we would need even more defenders but for 1 more year we have the players capable of playing IMO.

Edited November 1, 20187 yr by Gol15

57 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Yes it's clear to me that the squad will need to be rebuilt, at least 1 new defender and striker that are young, 2 young wingers (or 1 + Hudson Odoi), 3 new midfielders since Kovacic is on loan.

That's around 7 new players which is too much.

And for the season after we would need even more defenders but for 1 more year we have the players capable of playing IMO.

I don't think we need 3 centre midfielders, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, RLC, Mount, is a good set, with us maybe bringing in a hybrid that can play across any of the 3 positions like Ndombele or even Kovacic perhaps. 

I don't think we need any centre backs, we have decent options as back ups with christiensen, Zouma, and Ampadu.

Emerson and Alonso are a good pair of left backs, both at a good age. 

We could possibly replace zappacosta, although there's still loads of life left in Azpiliucueta, and we also have James, Sterling, and Aina. 

Left wing Hazard and Hudson odoi

Right wing Willian or pedro, then bring in a left footer who is entering their prime, personally I like thauvin. 

Finally we desperately need a world class striker.

 

 

 

 

Kepa, Rudi, Barkley, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante can be in our first team for the next 4 years. RLC on the fringes and Azpi has at least 3 full seasons left.  Also Kovacic and Mount coming in next season potentially.

So we need another central defender (although Christensen + Zouma could step up...though we will probably buy one)

We would potentially need 2 wide players, but I imagine we will be in the market for one in the Summer regardless of Hazard leaving. 

Next Summer I'd expect to see us sign a defender, a wide midfielder and a striker. I'd expect to see CHO develop and not leave - he's SO young and his performance against BATE showed he needs time to learn how to manage his head. 

Not really that terrible a situation to be in. 

Edited November 1, 20187 yr by benjsross

I think if everyone in the PL had to play all season with an under 25 lineup only, Chelsea would win it. If Hazard does leave, he'll bring in enough to buy a couple of good players.  As well I think we make one nice January splash, think Sarri really wanted to evaluate what he had before moving the deck chairs.

If Sarri's here a while... it starts with the midfield

Jorginho 26, Kante 27, Barkley 24, Kovacic(?) 24, Mason Mount 19

Wide players :  I think RLC starts to take ownership of that RW spot

Hazard 27, RLC 22, CHO 17

CF

Morata 26

Defenders

Azpi 29, Alonso 27, Emerson 24, Rudiger 25, Ampadu 18, Christensen 22

GK 

Kepa 24, Bulka 19

I think it all depends on Hazard.  If he stays, we need to tweak around him.

If he goes, we need to try and bring in a "replacement" by which I mean someone else to build around even if they aren't like Eden. We can't do the Spurs thing of trying to replace Elvis with the Beetles, we need Elvis replaced with Micheal Jackson.

All that being said, I am a bit less concerned as it seems Sarri is the sort who can improve what he has substantially..... and to be fair, if Eden is off, I wouldn't mind next season being a season where Sarri simply tries to create a good side with what we have in out first team, on loan, and in our academy with a few strategic transfers and not splurging tons on a bunch of fillers.  

2 hours ago, big blue said:

I don't think we need 3 centre midfielders, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, RLC, Mount, is a good set, with us maybe bringing in a hybrid that can play across any of the 3 positions like Ndombele or even Kovacic perhaps. 

I don't think we need any centre backs, we have decent options as back ups with christiensen, Zouma, and Ampadu.

Emerson and Alonso are a good pair of left backs, both at a good age. 

We could possibly replace zappacosta, although there's still loads of life left in Azpiliucueta, and we also have James, Sterling, and Aina. 

Left wing Hazard and Hudson odoi

Right wing Willian or pedro, then bring in a left footer who is entering their prime, personally I like thauvin. 

Finally we desperately need a world class striker.

 

 

 

 

Thing is that Kovacic is going to leave after this season most likely, Fabregas is old and will leave as well and Drinkwater should also leave. That leaves us with no real backup midfielders and nobody to contest for the starting lineup, we can't play Kante/Jorginho/Barkley every single game specially if we want to play Champions League football next season.
So at least some new midfielders should come from somewhere, maybe not 3 but at least 2 more for a quality bench and a good squad.

Imagine if we could land in the summer someone like Rabiot or Milinkovic-Savic that would be a great midfield group to work with.

For the rest it still OK for another season but Willian and Pedro are old and we shoud buy someone that will become a big star, for example if Martial doesn't extend with ManU or Lozano from PSV before a big team signs him or like you suggested Thauvin, or maybe even Zaha that is a great player as well...other possible names could be Fekir or Suso, all of these names are yet to enter their prime years, maybe we don't need 2 wingers since Hudson-Odoi should get more and more chances but at least some boost and an upgrade from ageing Willian and Pedro would be great.

A world class striker is really needed though and I don't see who would that be, sadly.

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

Thing is that Kovacic is going to leave after this season most likely, Fabregas is old and will leave as well and Drinkwater should also leave. That leaves us with no real backup midfielders and nobody to contest for the starting lineup, we can't play Kante/Jorginho/Barkley every single game specially if we want to play Champions League football next season.
So at least some new midfielders should come from somewhere, maybe not 3 but at least 2 more for a quality bench and a good squad.

Imagine if we could land in the summer someone like Rabiot or Milinkovic-Savic that would be a great midfield group to work with.

For the rest it still OK for another season but Willian and Pedro are old and we shoud buy someone that will become a big star, for example if Martial doesn't extend with ManU or Lozano from PSV before a big team signs him or like you suggested Thauvin, or maybe even Zaha that is a great player as well...other possible names could be Fekir or Suso, all of these names are yet to enter their prime years, maybe we don't need 2 wingers since Hudson-Odoi should get more and more chances but at least some boost and an upgrade from ageing Willian and Pedro would be great.

A world class striker is really needed though and I don't see who would that be, sadly.

I don't see the need to spend over £100m on Milinkovic-Savic, especially with the emergence of Barkley and RLC. I also think mount will turn out better than both them aswell. Rabiot on a free transfer could be good business, but I haven't seen him play a lot, and what I have seen, he doesn't really impress me.

I like fekir, lozano, and martial, not keen on zaha though.

On 23/10/2018 at 20:58, Nickcook26 said:

I've been thinking a lot about our start to the season and even though we are only 10 games in, considered the direction Sarri is planning to take us in.

There are a lot of positives so far. The brand of football has been very positive, players have taken to the manager and his style very well whilst results have been good at the same time.

Surely not much to be concerned about?

However, I look at our current team and don't necessarily see a team with players for the future which has held back my excitement slightly.

I believe a core spine of players who play together for a number of years has always been the basis of success for the best teams. (The class of 92 / Cech, Terry, Lamps, Drog) to name just a couple.

To put it in comparison, if we look at some of our rivals, I see a spine of players at the perfect age that they could potentially be the heartbeat of their club for at least the next 5 years. These are also complimented by young English players getting regular game time which fans love to see.

Spurs: Kane (25), Alli (22), Eriksen (26)

Liverpool: Salah (26), Firmino (27), Mane (26)

City: De Bruyne (27), Sterling (23), Jesus (21)

However, I look at our current team and feel this might have to be the season we do well (if the current group will achieve anything together again).

A lot of players are around 30 or above (Luiz, Willian, Pedro, Azpilicueta, Giroud/Cahill/Fabregas), while Hazard who we rely on so much looks very likely to leave next summer.

Young players who could have been the future of the club have been left out of the squad entirely and are surely set to leave (RLC/Christensen) whilst Hudson Odoi rightly stalls on signing a new contract over playing time concerns.

This is not a negative post but I wondered if any fans feel the same way. With City being so good at the moment, it is possibly a good time to build a team for future. However, I also appreciate this may never be the Chelsea way and we may continue to buy "ready made" stars.

 

Just as a side to the 'comparison'..
City aside It's unlikey that the others will hold on to that lot If they don't win trophies, and that will be the difference as It has been over the last decade or so.
What they look like now could be, and probably will be very different in a couple of seasons.
Just a thought based on the last few years of the teams highlighted.

3 hours ago, Barry Bridges said:

We can't do the Spurs thing of trying? to replace Elvis with the Beetles, we need Elvis replaced?? with Micheal Jackson.

I do not get this metaphor. I mean, I assume you meant "Beatles", but don't get it either way.

I think we should replace Elvis with AC/DC.  And Guns Roses playing in domestic cups.

 

14 hours ago, Ilya said:

I do not get this metaphor. I mean, I assume you meant "Beatles", but don't get it either way.

I think we should replace Elvis with AC/DC.  And Guns Roses playing in domestic cups.

I think he's trying to say that you shouldn't replace quality with quantity. IOW, you shouldn't replace a superstar like Hazard with a bunch of competent but not great players, which is what Liverpool and Tottenham did in a bid to replace Suarez and Bale respectively. 

However, his analogy doesn't quite work because at least three of the Beatles members (Lennon/Harrison/McCartney) were genuine stars in their own right. What Liverpool/Tottenham did was effectively replace Elvis with The Cure - a good band with good musicians (players), but ultimately not having the same star power. 

BTW, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses? Great bands.  You would favour AC/DC for sheer consistency, but Guns N' Roses could be godly at times. 

 

When Spurs replaced Bale with about 7 different players they came out with a statement "We've sold Elvis and gained the Beatles" or something along those lines.  Apparently they also bought Yoko Ono.

7 hours ago, Barry Bridges said:

When Spurs replaced Bale with about 7 different players they came out with a statement "We've sold Elvis and gained the Beatles" or something along those lines.  Apparently they also bought Yoko Ono.

That's just typical Spurs stupidity, though.