Some of you may read this headline and immediately scoff at it; after all, all teams go through rough patches. After all, Chelsea was in dominating form, netting 21 goals and conceding just one in their first five games of league play and looked to be the ruthless team that won the league last season. However, the league champions have just 3 points from their last 6 league games, a number that is still staggering to read. The Blues dropped all points in an embarrassing home loss to Sunderland, 3-0, and two away contests at Birmingham City and Arsenal. As if that isn’t bad enough, they clawed their way back to humbling draws against Everton and Newcastle. Where’d the team of last year go? Here are a few problems I’ve found with the squad:
1). Squad Age: It’s always nice to have veteran presence on the squad, but the principal players are all around 30 years old. This team is starting to look AC Milan with their old age. Ashley Cole is 30, Frank Lampard is 32, Didier Drogba is 32, Florent Malouda is 32, John Terry is 30, and Nicholas Anelka is 31. These players play all the time and it’s starting to show. Having anyone under 25 breaking into the starting lineup will be nothing short of a miracle, besides Ramieres and John Obi Mikel. Where’s any youth breaking into the squad, especially in the back line? Are the main squad players all past their prime?
2). No Depth: Many will argue that squads do not need much depth, but without Frank Lampard, this team looks lost, and he isn’t getting any younger or less injury prone. The loss of Michael Ballack and Joe Cole as well as the nagging injury for Yossi Benayoun hasn’t helped matters at all and the injuries at center back coupled with the loss of Ricardo Carvalho has forced Carlo Ancelotti to play squad members who just can’t cut it in the EPL or don’t have the necessary experience to thrive at a big club, yet.
3). Lack of Coach Control: Ever since Roman Abramovich’s firing of assistant coach Ray Wilkins from under Ancelotti’s feet, the squad has looked so much less interested in playing. John Obi Mikel has looked bored and Florent Malouda has lost his desire to truly run at defenders and challenge for the ball. The back line is easier to open up than an MLS defense and the center backs seemingly have forgotten all sense of the concept of marking. Ancelotti has claimed he’s lost control of the locker room and even with his normal media prowess and expertise, he has little to no words for the squad, admitting that quality was the difference in its loss to Arsenal. Abramovich is the least patient person with coaches, so Ancelotti’s days appear numbered.
It’s been an amazing downfall of for the Blues. Just two months ago, the squad were sitting 5 points ahead in the table. Now, the squad is in shambles and Ancelotti is more than likely out the door. Some new men in a Chelsea jersey is looking to be one of the only solutions left. Spend big, Abramovich, or this may be the last you see of the empire. As fast as a squad can become great (see Manchester City), they can fall.
