Relegated by March
Is Silva staying? Looking at the squad, there's plenty talent there, but I'd be worried about the lack of leadership in there. There might be a bit of a hangover from the previous season, and I look at the players that are left and see many talented young players but not sure who the natural leaders are.
Silva is staying. I'd say James is next up to be captain for sure. Enzo seems "leadership" material and I'd like to see Sterling take more responsibility.
But for sure, especially with Azpi leaving we need some people to step up in terms of setting the tone.
We are hoping pochettino magic to get every thing right especially the physical conditioning of young players will set us the tone.Silva staying could be helpful.
Another big problem is just who you are up against. Competition is fierce now in this league. City will be City, the hope is that they might drop back a little after losing guys like Gundogan, but that tends to be wishful thinking.
Then guys like Klopp and Arteta have been in multiple years and established style of teams and patterns of play etc and look like adding well to their teams.
Utd will be into their 2nd year under ETH and if they get guys like Onana, Mount and a striker, should allow them to evolve even more into his type of team, and Newcastle look like they are adding quality as well and will continue to evolve.
Spurs will be a bit of a wild card, and I fancy Villa to have a good season with a full pre season under Emery.
So, as much as I think Chelsea will defo get better, they don't get better in a vacuum, and are almost playing catch-up to the rest now. Should certainly be a lot more exciting to watch this season that's for sure.
We are hoping pochettino magic to get every thing right especially the physical conditioning of young players will set us the tone.
Fit squad with the ability to play strong 11 for most matches a great improvement than last season. Thats all we hoped from team.
Are Chelsea not looking for a keeper?
Surely they can't go into the season with Kepa as number one?
I'm a bit torn on this one.It’s gone weirdly quiet on that front. We were linked with Onana before United took the lead in that race. We’ve been linked with Costa and Maignan too but there’s also been some rather worrying reports that Poch is happy with Kepa as the starting goalie next season.
That would look pretty underwhelming having spent over half a billion. Sterling and madueke as your primary wide options isn’t going to have you competing at the top. Also zero creativity from the centre of midfield.What does Chelsea look like if they get Caicedo and season starts tomorrow?
Kepa
Fofana Silva Badashile
James Enzo Caicedo Chillwell
Sterling Nkunku Madueke
Certainly not a bad starting eleven with Poch. If he makes then tick, that’s top 4 material.
Where does Jackson fit in?
Really?It’s gone weirdly quiet on that front. We were linked with Onana before United took the lead in that race. We’ve been linked with Costa and Maignan too but there’s also been some rather worrying reports that Poch is happy with Kepa as the starting goalie next season.
Last season's top 4 bar City and at a push Arsenal weren't better than 21/22 Chelsea.Top 6 is a realistic aim. We aren't better than last seasons top 4.
I see the biggest challenges settling the squad after so much change and I expect we'll go back 4 all season long. Plus scoring enough goals, Liverpool came 5th scoring double us.
Sure can... that team was gutted. Rudiger, Alonso, Christensen, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Lukaku, Werner, Mount, all gone. It's like a different Chelsea now. Exciting times, but also a huge huge ask on Poch, who I dont believe had a hand in building this team.Last season's top 4 bar City and at a push Arsenal weren't better than 21/22 Chelsea.
A lot can change in a season.
I dont think its any different to a new manager coming to his new team. In fact it is easier for pochettino to implement his own ideas to this newly assembled squad in my opinion.Regardless to who they sign, it's a massive job getting a group of players that haven't played much with each other to gel, it's a pretty much a new team, and it's a bit unusual at the top level. Poch should be given enough time to make this work. Even Pep and Klopp needed time.
I m happy for Pochettino, he has a squad full of young hungry players that he can implement his own philosophy into, similiar to what he had at Spurs. The squad overhaul was a blessing for pochettino, because now he doesn’t have a lot of toxic personality in the dressing room. The environment here is much better than the circus at PSG where no manager could succeed in despite him doing well over there. It is up to Bohley and their recruitment team to ensure that they get the players he wants. So far, the recruitment and selling has been intelligent and progressive, but he still need about 4 more signings.
Isn't Poch a 4-2-3-1 man?What does Chelsea look like if they get Caicedo and season starts tomorrow?
Kepa
Fofana Silva Badashile
James Enzo Caicedo Chillwell
Sterling Nkunku Madueke
Certainly not a bad starting eleven with Poch. If he makes then tick, that’s top 4 material.
Where does Jackson fit in?
You cant compare his spurs initial day team players and players he is going to have at chelsea.Pochettino's first season at Spurs was similar to the season before. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it takes him a season to figure out a formation to use and which expensive talents are ready for the PL. A lot of players leaving will help him avoid some of the confusion that hurt Potter. 6th or 7th.
Isn't Poch a 4-2-3-1 man?
--------------------------Kepa---------------------
James------Fofana-----Badishile----Chilwell
-----------------Caicedo-----Enzo--------------------
Madueke------Mudryk----------------Sterling
-----------------------Nkunku------------------------
Probably something like this but with Nkunku behind the striker and Mudryk/Sterling rotating LW. Whether that main striker is the new guy Nic Jackson or someone we'll sign later in the window remains to be seen. Also interesting to see if Colwill can push Badiashile for the starting position at LCB or not.
So my guess would be:
--------------------------Kepa---------------------
James------Fofana-----Badishile/Colwill----Chilwell
-----------------Caicedo-----Enzo--------------------
Madueke-----------Nkunku-------------Mudryk/Sterling
------------------Jackson/new CF------------------------
Will he go with 3 at the back? I think he’ll go to his favourite 4-2-3-1/4-3-3What does Chelsea look like if they get Caicedo and season starts tomorrow?
Kepa
Fofana Silva Badashile
James Enzo Caicedo Chillwell
Sterling Nkunku Madueke
Certainly not a bad starting eleven with Poch. If he makes then tick, that’s top 4 material.
Where does Jackson fit in?
After few weeks of training only he will decide. We have some classy midfield kids in chukwuemeka,santos and casedai. Poch will see them in training and decide one or two stay and one goes to loan.Will he go with 3 at the back? I think he’ll go to his favourite 4-2-3-1/4-3-3
Isn't Silva 38? That will be a travesty if he is still starting for Chelsea when you have top young center backs like Colwell, fofana and Badishelle.There's no way Silva won't start (and probably be captain).
That is something I predicted as well as their core starting 11. It will be a mistake for Pochettino to rely on Kepa. Chelsea need either onana or Costa. Even though I heard rumors they are after EMI Martinez or that Russian goalkeeper, Pochettino needs a keeper that can break the press with his passing.Probably something like this but with Nkunku behind the striker and Mudryk/Sterling rotating LW. Whether that main striker is the new guy Nic Jackson or someone we'll sign later in the window remains to be seen. Also interesting to see if Colwill can push Badiashile for the starting position at LCB or not.
So my guess would be:
--------------------------Kepa---------------------
James------Fofana-----Badishile/Colwill----Chilwell
-----------------Caicedo-----Enzo--------------------
Madueke-----------Nkunku-------------Mudryk/Sterling
------------------Jackson/new CF------------------------
Isn't Silva 38? That will be a travesty if he is still starting for Chelsea when you have top young center backs like Colwell, fofana and Badishelle.
At 38, his age will show. No matter how talented a footballer you are, when you reach a certain age, you can't play at a peak level anymore and his body will not be able to handle the intensity of modern football. With Colwell being an exceptional talent, and with Badishelle also close to that category, and with Fofana costing so much and also has lot of potential, I don't see a place in the starting 11 for silva. I may be wrong thoughIt'd be a travesty if he gets dropped because he is 38, despite being our best centre back.
At 38, his age will show. No matter how talented a footballer you are, when you reach a certain age, you can't play at a peak level anymore and his body will not be able to handle the intensity of modern football. With Colwell being an exceptional talent, and with Badishelle also close to that category, and with Fofana costing so much and also has lot of potential, I don't see a place in the starting 11 for silva. I may be wrong though
To be fair how do we know it hasn’t already started to show and was simply hidden in the shit show of their season last year?At 38, his age will show. No matter how talented a footballer you are, when you reach a certain age, you can't play at a peak level anymore and his body will not be able to handle the intensity of modern football. With Colwell being an exceptional talent, and with Badishelle also close to that category, and with Fofana costing so much and also has lot of potential, I don't see a place in the starting 11 for silva. I may be wrong though
That young lad looks good who’s playing for England u21 in euros, think he’s a forward player for yous. He’ll break into the first team this season surely?After few weeks of training only he will decide. We have some classy midfield kids in chukwuemeka,santos and casedai. Poch will see them in training and decide one or two stay and one goes to loan.
With these kids we can adopt to 4-3-3 without doubt. But main formation will be 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2.
