The last time Chelsea lost back-to-back home games was in 2002. Roman Abramovich hadn't yet appeared on the horizon, and many Chelsea fans would've been content to see their team 5th in the league table. But defeats against Arsenal and Liverpool now, and suddenly there appears to be a full-blown crisis at Stamford Bridge. The Blues currently lie fifth in the league table, and even the very thought of finishing outside the Champions League places is a nightmare for the Chelsea faithful.
It all appeared to be so promising at the start. A dashing new manager, who cost a world-record transfer fee. Andre Villas-Boas promised to bring the revolution that Chelsea fans have been waiting so long, ever since the Blues' infamous collapse at the Bridge versus Sunderland. So, what has suddenly gone wrong? While it's outright rubbish on some fans' part to demand AVB's sacking, what is it exactly that's ailing Chelsea right now?
The Lampard-Drogba-Malouda Conundrum:
Frank Lampard went on a scoring spree recently, and suddenly it was all about shutting the critics up. Yes, he has been sparkling at times, but why we keep forgetting that He's 33 now. Isn't it simply too much to expect him to play every single game, and still be on top of it? Just have a look at Manchester United. Ryan Giggs does have legendary status there, like Lampard has at Chelsea. But does Ferguson give him starts day-in-day-out simply because he was brilliant in one game? It's imperative for Chelsea to realise Lampard and Drogba will have to be used sparingly, even when in form. Taking the risk of stating the obvious, Drogba is a pale shadow of the monster, that could bully the World's best defenders into submission.
But for me, the biggest disappointment is Florent Malouda. The Frenchman was Chelsea's most inspirational player couple of seasons ago, when Chelsea stormed to the Double (And I say it, despite the bucket-load of goals Drogba and Lampard scored that season! ) But this season, he's simply looked...terrible. Too selfish on the ball at times, no more the clever reader of the game, add that dreadful back-pass against Arsenal, Florent Malouda should simply play no part in AVB's attempted revolution.
The Makelele Void:
Very few may have noticed it, but Chelsea have hardly been the impregnable defensive unit they once were, ever since Claude Makelele left the club. The French destroyer was not just the ever-present shield in front of Chelsea's back-line, but he also quickly released the ball to his attackers, never allowing the opposition to close down the spaces and pressurize. Essien did a commendable job at that position, but his fitness is always an issue.John Obi Mikel does try his best in that role, but so far, he hasn't simply been good enough.
If AVB wants Chelsea to play a fast-passing game, Mikel is always going to be a liability. He's a good passer of the ball, agreed.But, he's too slow to make the passes, to get the ball out of the defense and to the pacey frontmen. It was precisely this reason that Liverpool got their first goal this Sunday. Would Oriol Romeu, a player brought up in Barcelona's tiki-taka style take that much time on the ball? Never. And if he's considered too young to handle the pressure, there's always Raul Meireles who is an excellent passer of the ball.
Of course, it's not just Mikel's fault. He was more of an advanced midfielder before coming to Chelsea, having been touted as one of the most exciting young prospects in 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships. Even now, he does produce some great long balls out of nowhere, but that's a rarity because of his deep-lying role. When he arrived at Chelsea, Claude Makelele was on the wane, and Mikel was a strong,physical guy. So, Jose Mourinho added one and one as two, and started grooming Mikel as Makelele's successor. As it's clear, it hasn't worked out. Carlo Ancelotti talked about using Mikel as a deep-lying play-maker. But, it never materialized. Sadly now, he simply doesn't fit into AVB's system any more. Chelsea need a player who can move the ball quickly from deep, otherwise the opposition can close down the spaces, put the pressure and force mistakes. We all saw a live example last Sunday.
The High-defensive Line:
Okay, loads of stuff has been said about this already. I won't bore you with more. It's just that, the fault doesn't lie just with the system, but also with the personnel. Chelsea could've pulled it off, if John Terry was 26 instead of 31, and he had a reliable defensive partner like Ricardo Carvalho. This Chelsea team lacks on both counts. Luiz is many things as a footballer, but reliable is not one of them. In fact, it's the spontaneity in his game, that makes him special. Ivanovic has been Chelsea's most reliable defender so far, either at Right-back or at Centre-back. The problem is, he can only play in one position at a time. John Terry is still a terrific defender, but he doesn't have the same pace to match the pacey runs off his shoulder anymore. And that's the exact reason Chelsea's high defensive-line is on a break-point, every time there's a long ball across the defence.
Same Old-Same Old Story:
There were talks about revitalising the current Chelsea squad with dazzling new talents. We all got excited as Sturridge started banging in goals, and some of the hottest young prospects were arriving at Chelsea. Three months into the season, and what's the reality? England's supposed new superstar, Josh McEachran is yet to start a league game, so are Oriol Romeu and Romelu Lukaku. Sturridge may have established himself in the team, but too much tinkering with forwards isn't helping much. Villas Boas needs to make his picks now. For all the great things he has done for Chelsea, Didier Drogba can no more carry them on his shoulders week-in week-out. Sturridge and Lukaku are the future of the team.And for all the ridicule he has received, Fernando Torres is the present of Chelsea Football Club. Chelsea need to build around him, there's no point playing him with Malouda and Anelka, and expect him to score tons of goals without any service. AVB knows it very well. But he simply has no one apart from Mata, who can play the creative role. Signing Jovetic or De Bruyne in January may not be a bad idea at all.
It has to remembered that there's massive re-building work to be done at Chelsea. There was only one great Chelsea team built in the Abramovich era, by Jose Mourinho. It was just patched up at times by different managers, but the core remained the same. Even Hiddink, if ever to be called again, would do some more patching-up to coax a bit more out of the team. But make no mistakes, unless Chelsea can somehow lure the master re-builder Sir Alex Ferguson, Andre Villas Boas is their best hope for a revolution!
The Lampard-Drogba-Malouda Conundrum:
 |
| Chelsea's Golden Generation seems to be on the way down... Picture Courtsey: Audrey Pilato |
Frank Lampard went on a scoring spree recently, and suddenly it was all about shutting the critics up. Yes, he has been sparkling at times, but why we keep forgetting that He's 33 now. Isn't it simply too much to expect him to play every single game, and still be on top of it? Just have a look at Manchester United. Ryan Giggs does have legendary status there, like Lampard has at Chelsea. But does Ferguson give him starts day-in-day-out simply because he was brilliant in one game? It's imperative for Chelsea to realise Lampard and Drogba will have to be used sparingly, even when in form. Taking the risk of stating the obvious, Drogba is a pale shadow of the monster, that could bully the World's best defenders into submission.
But for me, the biggest disappointment is Florent Malouda. The Frenchman was Chelsea's most inspirational player couple of seasons ago, when Chelsea stormed to the Double (And I say it, despite the bucket-load of goals Drogba and Lampard scored that season! ) But this season, he's simply looked...terrible. Too selfish on the ball at times, no more the clever reader of the game, add that dreadful back-pass against Arsenal, Florent Malouda should simply play no part in AVB's attempted revolution.
The Makelele Void:
Very few may have noticed it, but Chelsea have hardly been the impregnable defensive unit they once were, ever since Claude Makelele left the club. The French destroyer was not just the ever-present shield in front of Chelsea's back-line, but he also quickly released the ball to his attackers, never allowing the opposition to close down the spaces and pressurize. Essien did a commendable job at that position, but his fitness is always an issue.John Obi Mikel does try his best in that role, but so far, he hasn't simply been good enough.
If AVB wants Chelsea to play a fast-passing game, Mikel is always going to be a liability. He's a good passer of the ball, agreed.But, he's too slow to make the passes, to get the ball out of the defense and to the pacey frontmen. It was precisely this reason that Liverpool got their first goal this Sunday. Would Oriol Romeu, a player brought up in Barcelona's tiki-taka style take that much time on the ball? Never. And if he's considered too young to handle the pressure, there's always Raul Meireles who is an excellent passer of the ball.
Of course, it's not just Mikel's fault. He was more of an advanced midfielder before coming to Chelsea, having been touted as one of the most exciting young prospects in 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships. Even now, he does produce some great long balls out of nowhere, but that's a rarity because of his deep-lying role. When he arrived at Chelsea, Claude Makelele was on the wane, and Mikel was a strong,physical guy. So, Jose Mourinho added one and one as two, and started grooming Mikel as Makelele's successor. As it's clear, it hasn't worked out. Carlo Ancelotti talked about using Mikel as a deep-lying play-maker. But, it never materialized. Sadly now, he simply doesn't fit into AVB's system any more. Chelsea need a player who can move the ball quickly from deep, otherwise the opposition can close down the spaces, put the pressure and force mistakes. We all saw a live example last Sunday.
The High-defensive Line:
 |
| The problems Chelsea's high defensive line faces: Long balls across the defense |
Same Old-Same Old Story:
There were talks about revitalising the current Chelsea squad with dazzling new talents. We all got excited as Sturridge started banging in goals, and some of the hottest young prospects were arriving at Chelsea. Three months into the season, and what's the reality? England's supposed new superstar, Josh McEachran is yet to start a league game, so are Oriol Romeu and Romelu Lukaku. Sturridge may have established himself in the team, but too much tinkering with forwards isn't helping much. Villas Boas needs to make his picks now. For all the great things he has done for Chelsea, Didier Drogba can no more carry them on his shoulders week-in week-out. Sturridge and Lukaku are the future of the team.And for all the ridicule he has received, Fernando Torres is the present of Chelsea Football Club. Chelsea need to build around him, there's no point playing him with Malouda and Anelka, and expect him to score tons of goals without any service. AVB knows it very well. But he simply has no one apart from Mata, who can play the creative role. Signing Jovetic or De Bruyne in January may not be a bad idea at all.
It has to remembered that there's massive re-building work to be done at Chelsea. There was only one great Chelsea team built in the Abramovich era, by Jose Mourinho. It was just patched up at times by different managers, but the core remained the same. Even Hiddink, if ever to be called again, would do some more patching-up to coax a bit more out of the team. But make no mistakes, unless Chelsea can somehow lure the master re-builder Sir Alex Ferguson, Andre Villas Boas is their best hope for a revolution!
