I think, to an extent, the non Chelsea fans are missing our point on the discussion. We JUST need to get top 4 to keep the plan in motion. And there is a misconception about how deep in a rebuild we are.
Kante was a completely unique player. Our midfield pieces were set up to compliment a player that can’t be duplicated, and right now none of the combinations truly work together, especially with Kova at maybe 70 percent still with his muscle issue.
Azpi started and wasn’t even supposed to be on the roster this year. We were missing both Koulibaliy (who was settling in really well of late) and Fofana, and Thiago is 38 years old. Tuchel couldn’t pull off that line up with Thiago and Azpi and Jorgihno in a grouping without conceding tons of goals.
Then there is the fact that we knowingly weren’t going to fully address the overhaul of attack until Winter or next year.
That’s a lot is issues you say? Why, yes it is. We were also missing Gallagher and James yesterday. That Chelsea side wasn’t very good… on paper. United is convinced they are one or two players plus Martial back from having THE team to compete, and you drew against a Chelsea squad that was patchwork at best, mostly due to a talented manager still figuring out his team.
Its the kind of view that is promising for Chelsea fans. Because we know we are buying Gvardiol, Nkunku, at least one prime midfield target, one of the RB covers they are looking at, and a primary attacker (be it Leao, Toney, or David who Potterreally likes) to compete with Broja.
In addition we will own the first of our satellite clubs by the start of next year. I expect them to have a South American team, a Portuguese side, a European team, and possibly an MLS side all under the same banner, giving them the type of integrated farm system the top clubs are building. Prior to Clearlake we didn’t even play the same formations and style in our under 23 squad that we did in the first team. Guys like Harvey Vale would come through and then have no role, even if he was good enough. Now we will have a style and philosophy consistent not just over age groups, but over each age group in multiple teams, in multiple countries.
There is a massive project I still dont think people understand the scope of on the Horizon.
“You really think they are going to spend Billions more on that?”
Yes, yes I do. There was always a plan in place when they sought to buy Chelsea. Unlike the Glazers (who helm the Losingest NFL franchise of all time, and are essentially 6 squabbling children with no direction), Clearlake is clearly acknowledged as one of the best ownership groups in sport. The people they are putting in place are acknowledged, by people outside Chelsea circles , to be excellent at the respective jobs they are being hired to perform.
If injuries clear up, and the Winter window goes well, Chelsea will look different by Jan. They will look even more different by next year. In two or three years they will bear almost no resemblance to the talented but scattershot teams of the Roman era.
