Sitting here bored post op and looking at weaknesses in the side prior to the next season. Assuming (and a large assumption at that) that we are about to buy Hulk, I would imagine our starting XI will look something like the following, with the back up players underneath - depending on opposition, injuries etc. The only area that really looks weak is the inexperience in the cover on the right side of defence, so why is there so much talk of more attacking players required?
..................................Cech
................................Courtois
Ivanovic .............Luiz ............Terry.............Cole
Hutchinson ......Chalobah........Cahill .........Bertrand
...................Ramires ...........Lampard
.....................Mikel............. de Bruyne
.......Hulk .................Mata..............Hazard
.....Benayoun...........Sturridge.............Marin
..................................Torres
..................................Lukaku
Their time will come: sorry if I've missed any other players on the books that could break into the first team squad in the next season. Please advise.
Romeu
Kakuta
McEachran
Turnball
van Aanholt
Paizon
Lalkovic
Davila
Their time has passed:
Essien
Malouda
Kalou
Bosingwa
Meireles
Hilario
Ferriera
Area of weakness for 2012/13
posted on 23/6/12
Benayoun will go and Courtois already confirmed going on loan, I think Davila still needs a work permit
posted on 23/6/12
Might keep Cech sharp though and following his first couple of games at the euros he could probably do with it. It's about what's best for the team not individuals
posted on 23/6/12
Hope we keep Yossi, good squad player and better than Mikel,Malouda and Essien
posted on 23/6/12
tbk. Didn't know he was already on loan. I think it's a mistake to sell benayoun great squad player IMO.
posted on 23/6/12
The way I think of it, Benayoun wouldn't get more than 15-20 appearances, before he's on his way. If that player was Kakuta instead, it's so much more beneficial to the club and I think he'd have a similar impact to Benayoun. Kakuta is also homegrown.
posted on 23/6/12
I haven't seen this lad play much and I know he didn't get many opportunities on loan at Bolton and fulham so is he really ready for Chelsea first team?
posted on 23/6/12
Benayoun will be at Arsenal next season
posted on 23/6/12
Chalobah's future is in midfield,Kalas will be understudy to Luiz/Cahill in the future.
posted on 23/6/12
So our cover for the whole of the right side is looking a bit inexperienced or do you think these young players are up to competing for so much silverwear?
posted on 23/6/12
I don't know what the situation is with Hutchinson...
Turnbull is useless will be sold sooner or later, It is unlikely Lalkovic has a future at Chelsea,Van Aanholt will be moved on as well I reckon as he is not a good defender and Bertrand + Cole are ahead of him, also Deen-Conteh has more potential than him.