5 players Jose Mourinho should axe in January and why

There can’t have been a person that follows football in any capacity whatsoever who would’ve predicted the extent of Chelsea’s demise this season.A team that won last season’s Premier League at a canter have imploded spectacularly and lost almost as many games already this season as they did in the entirety of their title-winning campaign.There has continued to be huge speculation as to the reasons why the Blues can’t seem to shake themselves out of their current malaise, but the answer is pretty clear and staring everyone in the face.The players that they have just aren’t good enough. Plain and simple.Let’s take a look at five players who Jose Mourinho should wave goodbye to in January.

#1 Branislav Ivanovic

Ivanovic looks nowhere close to the player he was last season

There was a time when Branislav Ivanovic was one of Jose Mourinho’s untouchables.

An imposing and physical specimen, the Serb was superb in defence and advantageous as a support for Chelsea’s attack. Not anymore.

It’s almost as if someone has filled a trench full of quicksand along the right-hand channel where Ivanovic has made his living for some while now. In virtually every single one-to-one this season, Ivanovic has been shown a clean pair of heels by his opponent. To the point of embarrassment.

Quite why Mourinho has persevered with the player when he has other options is a mystery. Lest we forget that one of Chelsea’s most consistent performers is a natural right back and would give the back line some balance.

Cesar “Dave” Azpilicueta might well have got to the point where he has made himself almost indispensable as a left back, but he’s needed in the role that he carries out with such aplomb for his country.

Shuttling him across to the right will see an immediate improvement in nullifying the raiding in that area of the pitch

#2 John Terry

Terry has had a nightmare of a season so far

Like Ivanovic, John Terry has made a mockery of his regular inclusion in the back four.

“Mr. Chelsea” he may be, but he should never have been offered a new year’s contract at the beginning of the campaign. It was clear to everyone that Terry’s legs had gone before then and the deal smacked of the old pals network working overtime.

Look at Chelsea’s situation objectively. What actually has their captain provided for them in this most awful of seasons? Where is his famed leadership?

Frankly, Terry has been one of the worst, and certainly the slowest players on the pitch for the Blues this season. Lost a yard of pace in one of the most crucial areas of the pitch, but now being routinely beaten in the aerial bombardment as well.

If Terry really thought anything of the club he would cancel his own contract after Christmas. Kurt Zouma, a powerful, young and energetic centre-back is more than ready to step in when required.

#3 Jon Obi-Mikel

It looks like Mikel’s time at Chelsea has finally come to an end

Jon Obi-Mikel has fallen right out of favour at the Bridge. Just seven appearances since the start of the season is evidence as to how far down the pecking order he has fallen, with just one of those seven lasted the full 90 minutes. In two of those other six games, he as played less than 10 minutes.

Mikel has been shown up to be something of a carthorse when given the opportunity to stake his claim for more regular employment in an underperforming Chelsea midfield.

The zip has gone from his game altogether and he labours about the pitch now. Gone is the Vieira-esque rangy strides as he moves through the gears. Gone are the fearsome, bone-crunching tackles.

Mikel, in an area of the pitch where Chelsea need warriors, has surrendered.

Ramires and Nemanja Matic, although not at their best during this campaign so far, can provide much more adequate cover in the position.

Time to save on some wages...

#4 Falcao

It seems Mourinho’s hopes of reigniting Falcao’s career have been dashed

It was an experiment that was probably doomed to failure before the Colombian’s arrival at Stamford Bridge.

Kudos to Mourinho for trying to reignite the partnership that was so successful for Atletico Madrid, but Falcao has had the confidence knocked out of him after an awful few months at Manchester United.

You can’t imagine a scenario at this juncture where he will once again terrorise defences like he did just a few seasons ago. Chelsea fans themselves will remember the 2012 European Super Cup Final when Falcao tore the Blues to pieces.

He is as far removed from that player as it is possible to be and it’s very sad to see for any football fan.

Diego Costa has been way off of his best from last season,

but he hasn’t yet sunk to the depths of his old sparring partner.

It’s time to give Ruben Loftus-Cheek some more minutes. The youngster has something about him and Mourinho knows it. He may not appreciate the players’ attitude at this stage, but if he wants winners in the team, he need look no further.

#5 Papiss Djilobodji

Papiss Djilobodji arrived from French side Nantes in the summer

Papiss Djilobodji was signed at the last knockings of the summer transfer window. It was seen at the time as a panic buy by Jose Mourinho who had missed out on his preferred central defensive target, John Stones.

No doubt trying to assuage the doubters, Mourinho felt that the 26-year-old signed from Nantes was just what he was looking for. Which is strange because here we are a few months later and the player has got nowhere near the first-team picture yet. And probably won’t either because he isn’t Premier League quality.

He can only ever have been signed as back up but of the many players that Chelsea have out on loan, there are some central defenders that could’ve been earmarked for exactly that reserve role. Andreas Christensen and Kenneth Omeruo to name two.

The only saving grace was that the defender was a bargain at £3m. He had actually agreed a deal to go to Spanish club Celta Vigo but Nantes wouldn’t sanction it. Chelsea could do worse than look to revive the Galician’s interest.