Could this be the most exciting Chelsea team ever?

Now I know I could be going over the top here but I wanted to ask all Chelsea fans all over the world what they think about our current team and the likes of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar in particular, compared to exciting Chelsea teams of the past.

Now I have been a fan of Chelsea for over 30 years and the earliest memories I have is early eighties where for the most part, Chelsea struggled. In late eighties Chelsea were relegated and John Neal took over and put together the Division Two title winning side that included the likes of Dixon, Speedie, Nevin, Bumstead, Spackman, Canoville etc. Now that was a good team!

It was into the nineties that we saw glimpses of exciting times at the club and especially in the second half of the decade as Ruud Gullit took over and took Glen Hoddle’s revolution one step further. With the likes of Zola, Di Matteo, Wise, Hughes and Vialli, Chelsea became a top club once again by winning the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners Cups. Who could ever forget that Champions League campaign with Barcelona at home and AC Milan away with Dennis Wise’ goal in the San Siro!

Into the 21st Century and the exciting times continued as the likes of Desailly, Leboeuf, Poyet were added to Wise, Di Matteo, Zola and Tore Andre Flo as we lifted the FA Cup once again in 2000.

It wasn’t long after that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen flourished in our side, scoring goals for fun, featuring alongside a newly signed Frank Lampard.

Claudio Ranieri continued to build on Chelsea’s growing reputation by taking us to the FA Cup Final in 2002 and Champions League Qualification. We lost the FA Cup final to the Arsenal that year but the side we had then was good.

It was in 2003 that things really took off. Ken Bates sold Chelsea to Roman Abramovich and Chelsea became an exciting club with big name players. Think back to the end of the that first season with all the new big signings that came to the club such as Joe Cole, Veron, Crespo, Mutu and Makelele.

It was when Jose Mourinho took over in 2004/5 and we saw the emergence of the 4-3-3 formation by accident through Drogba’s injury and we saw the likes of Eidur Gudjohnsen, Arjen Robben and Damian Duff operate together. That for me, up until that point, was THE MOST exciting Chelsea team I had ever personally witnessed.

We had style, we had guts and we had skill, with added quality in all areas and the back to back title winning side back then. Crespo, Joe Cole, Duff, Robben, Tiago, Lampard, Makelele, Terry, Gallas, SWP, Drogba, Essien etc were simply out of this world.

Some people would argue the side in recent seasons has been exciting too. The Cup winning side under Guus Hiddink. The double winning side under Carlo Ancelotti and our Champions League winning and FA Cup winning side last season.

Chelsea have had some big names put on the blue shirt and ply their trade at the Bridge and have had success in different ways. In recent times, we have seen some levels of success before Roman’s major investment in our club. And huge levels of success ever since but is this Chelsea side that dream team?

I know it’s early days but before you even think it, remember that these players are still getting used to playing with each other, still getting used to how they think with the ball at their feet and the levels of understanding they have together.

They haven’t won anything yet and are a long way from doing so but we have seen how in recent seasons how we have struggled to break teams down. We have seen Chelsea come up with blanks against big teams last season, especially against our rivals and we have already beaten Newcastle and Arsenal this season with Spurs and United up next.

This Chelsea team has so much potential and I haven’t even considered the likes of Victor Moses, Marko Marin and Daniel Sturridge yet!

For me, it’s the level of understanding they already have, the short and quick passes they are playing to each other that are leaving defenders giddy which excites me. Finally we have a team that has more then one option to take teams apart and we don’t have to rely on just one player to create chances in our side like we did on Mata last season. We are already back up there with the days of Duff, Gudjohnsen and Robben in my eyes and can go even better.

I wasn’t around to see Hudson, Osgood and Cooke but judging by the stories I have heard over time, I am sure they would be right up there too.

So come on Chelsea fans, I am asking all of you reading this article, to spare me just five minutes and give your opinion. I thank those that do so on a regular basis and I ask you all to do so again. Come on and make time and come and give your view on what you believe to be the most exciting Chelsea team you have ever seen. Answer me this question:

Could this be the most exciting Chelsea team EVER? If not, who was?

I would love to hear from as many of you as possible on this, so come and give me your opinion right now!

Carefree & KTBFFH!

We know what we are, We know what we are! Champions of Europe! We know what we are!