This list illustrates the lack of depth in the Cfc squad.
Chelsea’s 29-man squad for the 2023 USA pre-season tour:
Goalkeepers
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Gabriel Slonina
Lucas Bergstrom
Eddie Beach
Jamie Cumming
Defenders
Thiago Silva
Trevoh Chalobah
Ben Chilwell
Marc Cucurella
Malo Gusto
Bashir Humphreys
Levi Colwill
Ian Maatsen
Alfie Gilchrist
Midfielders
Enzo Fernandez
Conor Gallagher
Carney Chukwuemeka
Andrey Santos
Cesare Casadei
Lewis Hall
Forwards
Mykhailo Mudryk
Raheem Sterling
Noni Madueke
Angelo Gabriel
Diego Moreira
Nicolas Jackson
Christopher Nkunku
Mason Burstow
Dujuan Richards (training only)
Key players out facing ongoing injury concerns:
Forfana, Badishile, James, Broja, & Bettinellli:
The preseason squad is extremely young, talented & very inexperienced.
Imo there are at least 12 players out of the 29 who are either not yet ready for top flight football of not good enough to hold a place in a squad that has ambitions to regain min a. top 6 place.
This equates to 17 players suitable , + 5 players out due to injury = 22 players with out doubt we require 3-5 experienced quality footballers. Even to have an outside chance of a top 6 finish
The issue is through out the season the squad will face injury problems and it is highly likely that the player pool available may at times be similar to the USA preseason squad , give or take.
This squad will have difficulty in attaining a top 8 place.
These players need time to gel and gain experience at the very top level.
Poch may be good but he is not a miracle worker.
The reality is we may well have a talented squad, but it is as much about how well our rivals improve their squads.
As we know the fact we have not strengthened the squad in time for the pre season tour, this will have an effect on the first three months + of the season.
The club are still focused with investing in young talented prospects, ? player banking for long term speculation.
The new ownership are investment bankers, it strikes me they are playing money ball with the clubs ability to trade footballers.Which may be fine for balancing the books,
One issue seems to be that due the new owners track record of paying absurd money for players and their contracts (in such a short time) they have boxed themselves in.
Fernnadez, Khoudibaly, ect ect.
This could well be the cause of the delay in strengthening the squad, as clubs are asking huge money for players when Cfc come knocking.
Brighton Caicedo, Cucuerella?
Brighton Mc Allister?
But does the club have a coeherent policy with regard to setting the first team squad up?
If they do, they must know something we dont know.
Since Boehly Clearlake took over they have spent in excess of 700m and this is the preseason squad for USA 2023.
The 29 man squad for preseason USA
posted on 18/7/23
That is very true.
posted on 18/7/23
This strategy is acceptable if the club give Poch 3 seasons.
But the three seasons will coincide with the next FFP cycle.
Missing out on 2/ 3 seasons of C/L takes a huge chunk out the clubs projected finances.
It will mean our rivals will get stronger in that time.
The club will be a far less desirable destination for players.
Im certain Boehly Clearlake were forecasting 2/3 seasons out of the worlds premier club competition.
The reality is nothing can be taken for granted.
I think the rest of this window & who we bring in will determine the clubs foreseeable future 2/3 + seasons.
posted on 18/7/23
Comment Deleted by Article Creator
posted on 18/7/23
'Clearlake were not forecasting'
posted on 18/7/23
Forfana out for a prolonged period?
James & Chillwell injury prone ?
The defence is vulnerable regrading adequate cover!
The midfield is light.
We have no out and out striker.
posted on 18/7/23
TLL, make that 1.1 bln
posted on 18/7/23
posted on 18/7/23
Defence wise we never had a settled defence for much of last season. I very much doubt Colwill will be loaned out next year and if he carries on the way he has with Brighton it will help. I also expect further signings yet so for now I am not going to worry, even if your post is worrying.
posted on 18/7/23
JFDI,
Yes, it is all about what the club does in the reminder of this window.
The poor quality of the preseason tour squad is something that will take the edge of what Poch can do in the first 3/4 months of next season.
The Caicedo transfer is troubling, personally i think if the club give in and give what Brighton want is further creating a rod for our own back that will haunt us continuosly.
But he is a definite step in the right direction.
Im conflicted over it tbh.
The gaps and vulnerabilities are glaring , from all of the clubs experiences with Roman, these issues are a problem imo unfortunately.
COY Blues, KTBFFH
posted on 18/7/23
Caicedo is probably complicated by Brighton wanting Colwill. I guess if we won't sell or loan them him, why would they want to settle for less what they value Caicedo at. I think we will end up pauling the full price if we really want him or pull out and go fir someone else but that would be too much like previous behaviour for me.