Chelsea FC start a new season with the usual high value transfers,
but this time they are not alone. Along with Manchester City the other usual
suspects Arsenal and Liverpool are also breaking the bank for quality players. But
the biggest movers have been Manchester United who, after a disastrous campaign
last season, are keen to make amends. They have already spent close to £60
million on the services of Ander Herrera from Bilbao and have made Luke Shaw’s
transfer the highest for any teenager beating Rooney’s transfer fee.
Chelsea have managed to keep hold of their prized asset Eden
Hazard and have added Cesc Fabregas to their already bulging attacking
midfield. But with Jose Mourinho preferring to play a 4-2-3-1 it remains to be
seen how he will fit in the likes of Oscar, Willian, Ramires and Schurrle
assuming that Cesc and Hazard will be in the starting eleven. Hazard will most
likely play on the left with Cesc in middle which takes away Oscar’s preferred
position. Oscar is without a doubt one of the most gifted players Chelsea have
and at 22 will only get better. However, after a bright start his end of season
slump in form last year had Mourinho worried and necessitated the move for
Cesc.
In my opinion Oscar just needs some rest to recover his
touch. It should be remembered that he has been playing non-stop, even in the
close season for the last four years. He played the 2011-12 season with Internacional
in Brazil, then represented Brazil in the London Olympics, played about 70
matches for Chelsea in a grueling season where they had to play in the Club
World Cup and won the Europa League, represented Brazil in the Confederations
Cup at the end of the season, had and arduous season with Chelsea again in
2013-14 and finally is representing Brazil at the World Cup at present.
Any player needs rest to recover for the oncoming season,
young players even more so. Considering his work load over the last four years,
his dip in form should come as no surprise. At this rate there is a very high
risk of him burning out even before he reaches his peak. My fear is that
Mourinho will not have the patience to give him an extended break and he could
go the Mata way. Mind you, there will be no shortage of potential suitors
should he decide to move on. PSG have long been admirers and their Brazilian
contingent will be attractive to him. The club has to be patient with him.
Mourinho could show more attacking intent in home matches by playing just one
defensive midfielder with Oscar and Cesc in the middle.
Another area where Mourinho has to make a tough call and it
seems he already has, is the goalkeeper. With Petr Cech in his prime there should
have been no need for a change. However, the meteoric rise of Thibaut Courtois
has caused a selection headache. At 22 Courtois should have been an ideal
understudy to Cech but while on loan at Atletico he has become one of the best
goalkeepers in the world and cannot be treated as a no.2 in that position. Rumors
suggest that Courtois will start the season as the new no1 while Cech will be
sold. Again, a top goalkeeper like him will never have a dearth of admirers.
Real, Barcelona and PSG are all in the market for a goalkeeper and they don’t come
much better that Petr Cech.
The area that has been the biggest concern ever since Drogba
left has been a dependable striker. It’s safe to say now that the clubs and
fans patience with Torres has run out. He can produce the odd moment of
brilliance but cannot be relied upon to score 30 goals a season. Earlier he
looked like he wanted to succeed but of late that spirit has also faded. He looks
uninterested. Demba Ba is a good back-up striker but I don’t think he wants to
be that and will most likely leave. The biggest suspense is over the future of
Lukaku. He has the quality but needs to have patience and that is where his
attitude is suspect. He has continually been linked with a move away from
Stamford Bridge over the summer and is highly unlikely that he will be around
next season. The signing of Diego Costa has not been completed while a few
others have been rumored to be in the Chelsea shortlist.
As a Chelsea supporter the next season promises a lot of
excitement but as a football fan first I am really thrilled at the prospect of
having five or six teams starting the season with a chance of winning the
league.
