Let me tell you my friends that we are in for a total humdinger of a pre-World Cup season come August. With David Moyes chomping at the bit to prove himself as a worthy successor to Sir Alex at Manchester United, Jose back at Chelsea and Manuel Pellegrini also coming in at Manchester City, next season could resemble the Oklahoma land rush of 1889. And we all know who won that. Right?
What I’m trying to say is that pre-eminence, in this wonderful league, is up for grabs after two decades of Manchester United dominance. We aren’t suggesting that Manchester United won’t prolong the empire under the superb David Moyes. But the last time Manchester United did look seriously in trouble was when The Special One was last plying his trade at Chelsea. That team that Mourinho put together may not have dominated Europe but it was tailor-made for Premier League omnipotence. With bewitching skill on the wings from Robben and Duff, superb power up front with Droggers, a midfield including the then stupendous Micheal Essien (and still stupendous Frank Lampard) and a defence that looked like that of The Germans in ‘Escape To Victory’, Chelsea had power, pace and precision in abundance. They were full of goals and utterly watertight at the back. They were almost a bit too good. It was borderline unfair. They were so good that they were sort of cheating but you couldn’t quite articulate how. But this team was unquestionably a match for any in Premier League history.
So having seen Jose manage Chelsea already we can make certain assumptions about what he will do this time around. The Chelsea that Jose is inheriting has some of the most technically gifted players in Europe, but the team is too open and concedes too many goals for this manager. Some will worry that Jose will sacrifice flair for physicality. But we think he will manage to regularly shoe-horn his most talented trio, Hazard, Mata and Oscar in there and still add some steel. If he doesn’t play all three then two of them plus Lampard will get the nod in the attacking midfield slots. A striker is a priority and Edin Dzeko looks like a perfect fit for the Mourinho template. Romelu Lukaku also fits into the mix well and it surely won’t be long before Mourinho is moulding him in the image of the scintillating Drogba – a balletic bulldozer.
We believe that Chelsea will line up in a 4-2-3-1 next season, which also means that Jose may invest in another defensive midfielder. We think that he could well fancy Marouane Fellaini for one of those berths. In time he will also need defenders but for now we think he can coax another year out of John Terry. Mourinho also has Cahill at his disposal and Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Porto’s highly rated France U21 Eliaquim Mangala.
So, here goes. Our punt at Chelsea’s team for August.
Cech, Ivanovic, Luis, Terry, Cole, Fellaini, Ramires, Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Dzeko
Follow us on Twitter @soccersweep10
dave@shepton
Jun 5, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Cech, Ivanovic, Luis, Terry, Cole, Fellaini, Mikel, Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Dzeko.
Not very frightening is it. When you include the likes of Luis, Terry and Mikel in any team, it will hardly send shivers down the spine!!
George Thomas
Jun 6, 2013 at 7:15 pm
I am sorry but luiz is a world class defender, mikel is solid and terry is dodgy
Awesome8
Jun 5, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Dzeko will bein napoli…you’ve got no money stop dreaming.
Debo
Jun 5, 2013 at 8:37 pm
Felani will not be in chelsea neigther Dzenko.Jose has returned to with bundles of labour for nothing,ur imagination without considering other teams is useless.
yoel
Jun 5, 2013 at 8:40 pm
noo not dzecko this is a better team; Cech Azp Ivan Cahill Cole Felliani Ramires Hazard Mata Oscar Cavani
allen
Jun 5, 2013 at 8:54 pm
what abt Ba, lewandoski or cavanni??
Stu
Jun 5, 2013 at 9:58 pm
As a united fan, i think mourinho is a incredible manager and if anyone can bring success, its him
dean
Jun 6, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Realistcly (due to ffp) chelsea can afford 2/3 signings, and to be honest that’s all we really need. A 22 man squad of quality. courtois/cech, azpilcueta/wallace, cole/bertrand, terry, cahill, luiz, mangala?, Fellaini/luiz, ramirez/essien, lampard/oscar, hazard/shurrle, mata/hulk, lukaku/benteke. sell/release hilario, ivanovich, ferriera, mikel, romeu, marin :(, malouda, benayoun, ba, torres. following season sell cech, luiz(if still error prone), essien. bring in de buryne, chalobah and look for replacements for terry, lampard and cole.
Ali
Jun 6, 2013 at 9:46 pm
@george Thomas
‘Mikel is solid’
Do you even watch football?
And everyone raving about fellaini. Bit more likely he’ll follow his ex manager to united, no?…..
Hulk is extremely over rated as well.
And why was azpilicueta removed from right back?
ede emeka
Jun 7, 2013 at 9:05 pm
some ppl ar jst typing rubish here,hw can somebody say tat we shld sell ivanovic and mikel?ar u ok pls?
Erickus
Jun 8, 2013 at 10:07 am
Cech, cahill, luiz, azpillicuta, cole, fellani, lampard, mata, hazard, oscar and lewendoski and sell torres, mikel, banayoun, moses
Mubarack kamba
Jun 12, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Cech ivanovic cole cahil luiz falainí ramizes oscar hazard mata and cavani sub. Lukaku kevin bruyne moses etc This line up is perfect 4 chelsea next season with dt we can win premier an fa cup champions league and carling cup
decency
Jun 13, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Cech,ivan,mangala if he is dat gud,luiz,cole,mikel,oscar,mata,hazard,hulk,dzeko or Gomes
nyangaresigeofrey
Jun 14, 2013 at 6:06 am
I believe in this squad,
cech
Azipil,Luiz,Cahil,Cole
Obi Mikel ,Ramires,
De Bryne,Andre,Eden
Lukaku