World Soccer: Review of the 2007-08 Premier League season

Chelsea

Final positon 2nd (85 pts)

----------------------------Cech----------------------------
---Belletti/Paulo Ferreira---Terry---Carvalho---A. Cole---
--------Ballack------Essien/Makelele----Lampard------------
--------J.Cole-----------Drogba-------Kalou/Malouda-----

Other key players: Alex(CB), Cudicini(GK), Anelka (FW), Wright-Phillips (RW), Ben Haim (CB), Obi Mikel (M)

Lots of key players (20) and a very changeable line up for Chelsea. Almost too many good players available - as highlighted by the late season persistence with playing Essien at right back - possibly because Avram doesn't quite fancy either Belletti or Paulo Ferreira (backed up by the purchase of Bosingwa) but also perhaps the desire not to leave a player as good as Essien (or Makelele, Lampard, Ballack etc.) out.

Drogba - despite his recent demeanor - will be hard to replace. I'm not sure - yet - if Anelka is the man to do it. And Kalou looks unlikely to step up from his supporting role. Elsewhere Malouda has been a disappointment since he arrived from Lyon & Wright-Phillips seems to have become a peripheral figure again after a good start to the season.

For the future:

Chelsea reached the Final of the FA Youth Cup (considered the most prestigous competition in the country at youth level) but their team of expensively gathered (for youth football) stars did only finish 7th in their Academy league section.

Franco Di Santo - Argentinian striker bought from Audax Italiano in Chile in January. 7 goals in 8 reserve games since shows a lot of promise.

Gael Kakuta - highly-rated French youngster bought from Lens in the summer. The U18s shared the goals around a bit - but he got six of them from an attacking midfield position and was also an important player for France in the recent U17 Euros.

Danny Philliskirk - U17 player bought from Oldham last summer. Attacking midfielder or support striker. Stepped up to the reserves late in the season but it perhaps should be a worry that - even at this level - Chelsea's depth of (mostly overseas) striking talent - means he took no part in their Youth Cup campaign.

Jacob Mellis - Chelsea's other big young English purchase of last summer & another attacking midfielder - this time from Sheffield United. Same age group as Philliskirk but involved in the reserves sooner and heavily involved in the Youth Cup run. Six goals for the U18s.

Michael Woods - part of England's U17 squad last summer & bought from Leeds in summer 06. Plays in central midfield.

Nana Seth Ofori-Twumasi - Attacking right back who was another member of England's U17 squad.

Miroslav Stoch - Slovakian who plays wide right or as a second striker. Top scorer for the U18s (8 goals) and heavily involved in the reserve set up now.

Jeffrey Bruma - Dutch centre back who can also play in midfield. Signed from Feyenoord last summer. He's only 16 (so he'll only be a first year scholar from September) but has been a regular in the U18s all season and has already played for the reserves.

Frank Nouble - actually a homegrown player - another schoolboy who can play on either wing or as a striker. Scored six for the U18s and made one reserve team start this year.

Jacopo Sala - Italian forward bought from Atalanta at 16 (much to the displeasure of the Italians) and he's mainly been playing for the U16s (about which I have no information) this year. Expected to make a big impact on the U18s next year though.

At a slightly more advanced level I ought to mention Scott Sinclair & Ben Sahar too. Both have already had some first team involvement & both spent periods of 2007-08 on loan in the Championship.

Reports suggest Ben Sahar may have struggled to cope with such high expectations at a young age. Sinclair - who originally came from Bristol Rovers - I like a lot. Whether he can make it at Chelsea - given their spending power - is a difficult question. But if he doesn't he ought to have a chance at Premier League level somewhere.

And Michael Mancienne won the young player of the year award at QPR (where he spent the season on loan) as well as receiving rave reviews from Stuart Pearce for his recent performance in a strong England U21 team.

Post Extras

Subscribe to World Soccer