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Ever since Jose Mourinho sealed his return to Stamford Bridge a few weeks ago, I have been counting down the days until we all saw him back smiling at the Cobham training ground.
It’s a pre-season we are all looking forward to and with three new additions so far, it looks like being another busy period for Chelsea.
I believe there are FIVE key decisions Jose and his staff need to make in this period to ensure we are ready to start against Hull at home in just over a months time.
It’s a position we have all looked at and thought at one stage or another we need to strengthen. Demba Ba was brought in during the January transfer window and although it’s been made clear that everyone will get their chance, Jose must decide whether or not he is good enough for the coming season.
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There has been reports linking him with moves elsewhere but nothing to note as yet. With constant reports of Chelsea being linked with a big name striker, you have to question whether or not Ba will be told his future lies elsewhere.
For me, Ba has made an important contribution at times last season but I would understand if the club decided to sell him.
Formation
A criticism of Chelsea’s formation last season was in defence. Time and time again we would be opened up at the back and that could be due to the fact we had been playing with three players pushed up supporting the main striker.
Chelsea, under Mourinho in his first stint as manager, were known to have a formidable defence and home record. I just wonder if he will decide to revert back to the 4-3-3 formation for the coming season?
If he decides to stick with what we had been playing, the 4-2-3-1 formation, we need to ensure that we work on defensive areas. With Mikel, Romeu, Lampard, Ramires, Essien and now Van Ginkel on the books, we have more than enough cover for those positions – maybe too many?
Romelu Lukaku
A massive hit with West Brom in the Premier League last season, surely Romelu Lukaku has done enough and proven to Chelsea that he MUST remain with us to play an important role this season!
I like the idea of rotating Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku depending on the opposition and the threat we want to pose them in each game.
Chelsea’s biggest problem until the January window last term was they had no options to mix up our play up front and we missed the presence of a big man up top to change our play.
Fernando Torres is somewhere near his best and as we all know likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender for balls in between defenders or over the top. He isn’t someone that can be physical and hold the ball up when we need him to, to bring other players into play.
Lukaku is the opposite. We have all seen exactly what he can do at West Brom. He is all about power and pace and for me, is the natural replacement for Didier Drogba at the club.
Imagine we are away struggling to break down the opposition with Torres up front. Lukaku comes on and gives our game a different dimension and causes our opponent a different problem.
The same the other way around. Our opponent has dealt with Lukaku and we struggle to break them down, Torres comes on and gives us an alternative and different option.
Romelu Lukaku needs to be given a chance as promised by Mourinho and he MUST take it over the coming weeks.
Kevin De Bruyne
Again someone who has moved away on loan for the previous season in a big league and has proven himself. He MUST like Lukaku, take his chance in the coming weeks because at times he would have filled in and possibly made a difference last time around.
If you look at the Chelsea attacking three last season, how many times did we play with Hazard wide left, Juan Mata in the middle and then either Oscar, Moses or Ramires wide right?
De Bruyne is a natural winger and working down the opposite wing to Hazard would provide Mourinho with a natural balance. We haven’t seen a balance like that in my opinion since the days of Robben and Duff at the Bridge.
Victor Moses is being linked with a move to Everton, Ramires surely has to be utilised through the deeper midfield position and in my opinion, Oscar could provide Mourinho with an option in a similar position to Ramires to pick and play his passes.
Of course we cannot forget Andre Schurrle and the option he now provides us. I haven’t seen alot of him, but it’s obvious he is someone who can play as part of the attacking three.
We need out and out wingers in those positions and Hazard, De Bruyne, Schurrle and Moses (for the time being) provide cover in each position.
Holding Midfielders
As we know, Jose Mourinho likes to have two players in his squad for each position. Based on the 4-2-3-1 formation, we have an option of four players to fill those positions and provide cover and we have to look at who is available at the start of pre-season.
Michael Essien is back, Oriol Romeu will be back in contention, Frank Lampard, Mikel and Ramires are all to be considered over the next few weeks before decisions have to be taken at the club.
Mikel has been linked with a move to Turkey although again nothing concrete has been reported as yet. Romeu linked with a return to Spain on loan once again, needs to prove himself as with everyone else and these four weeks could really be make or break for the Spaniard.
Romeu provides Chelsea with a better option there with the ball at his feet than Mikel but Mikel provides Chelsea with a better defensive option without the ball in my view.
Michael Essien, a favourite of Mourinho, is now back in the fold and is under consideration. However, with Essien, we have to consider the problems he has had with his knees in the past and decide whether or not it’s worth another gamble on him this season.
Frank Lampard will play his part as always as to me it’s obvious that Mourinho played some part in his contract extension. We will not know just how much of a part he will play until we get an idea a couple of months into the season but he is and remains an important part of Mourinho’s Chelsea.
So that leaves Ramires. You have to imagine that Ramires is a managers dream and will become an important part of the core of Mourinho’s second era at the club. Someone will endless energy, who is box to box without a problem, can play in virtually any role on the pitch and also someone who can provide you with goals.
For me, the decision needs to be taken between Mikel, Essien and Romeu for the remaining two spots next to Lampard and Ramires. It’s sounds stupid really doesn’t it based on the fact that those two aren’t even defensive minded!
These are the five key decisions Jose Mourinho and the club needs to make by the end of pre-season.
What do you people think? Have I pointed out the right areas or do you think there are other important decisions that need to be taken?
Carefree & KTBFFH!
