What to expect in summer

What Chelsea fans should expect in summer ?

Title celebration? Yes. What next?

With Capital one cup already in bag and Premier league is almost won with 6 points lead at top with 1 match in hand, mostly it will be a very pleasant ending of the season.

2014-15 will be a season to remember in many ways. One of the best transfer window in summer with inclusion of Diego "warrier" Costa and Thibaut Courtois from Champions League runner up Atletico Madrid to the first team. Also great piece of transformation with legends Frank Lampard and Ashley cole were replaced by Cesc Fabregas and Felipe Luis. Fans' favorite David Luiz "Geezer" was sold to PSG for 50m Euros. Yes, 50m !! Romelu "talking" Lukaku was sold to Everton for 28m pounds. And young kid from France Kurt Zouma was included in first team."No domestic title curse" Fernando Torres was replaced with Guvoner, while Anfield Hero Demba Ba is replaced with premier league proven striker Loic Remy (After liverpool snubbed him for Balotelli, Thank god). Above all, Hero of  "The Great Munich Night" Didier drogba was returning Home, we all were excited for The Happy One's Second season in his second reign. At youth level, couple of talents including ake and christinsen were promoted to first team and almost 25+ players were sent on loans in various countries to get playing time at higher level competitive football.

As of now I am writing this in second week of march , We already won COC and having significant lead in PL. We are already out of FA cup and Champions League. With great start of season, our expectations were raised so much that we got disappointed with CL exit from round of 16 against very good PSG side.
But at the start of season, I would have happily accepted domestic double with 16 co efficient points for England (Highest from any club in England this season, yes)  in CL . In January transfer window, Schurrle left for Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado and Salah joined fiorentina on loan with option to buy, questions were frequently asked that "With this transfer policy, Mourinho's squad depth is very thin?" Now this season is in its last quarter, lets see whom to be added/removed to make this "thin squad" into force.

 

Strike Force

Lets Start with performance of 25 men loan Army. As Thorgan Hazard is sold with option to buy back clause, Patrick Bamford is the one who impressed the most from all loanees. On loan at boro who are forcing themselves for Premier league return, the young english striker has scored 16 goals till now. Though Center forward is his primary position, he played many matches as wide forward and still able to score. 1 goal and 1 assist against FA cup holders Manchester City shows he can handle pressure at higher level,too.
As Didier Drogba, currently our 3rd choice striker and mentor is 37 now ,likely to retire at end of season, Bamfordinho would be perfect to replace him. He can get some minutes in cup games and certainly training with likes of Costa and Remy would surely help him to develop. Other forward Stipe perica is on 18 month loan with serie A side Udinese and Islam Feruz couldn't make to starting eleven at 3 second tier clubs. Expecting 1 more loan season for him. Joao Rodriguez played rarely in first half of the season with SC Bastia and no update about where he is for second half of season.

 
So my Strike Force for next season - Costa, Remy and Bamford

 

Attacking Midfield Department

Now Lets come to Attacking Midfield Department. We have 4 AMs right now in form of Eden Hazard, Willian,Oscar and Juan Cuadrado with Remy,Ramires and Cesc have ability to play there when needed. 

The depth on this position is widely criticized with "accused" dip in form of oscar and "poor" attacking stats of willian from Right side.

Generally Mourinho would like to have 5 AMs in team. We have many players on loan for this position. German Messi Marko Marin couldn't perform well even in Belgian Pro League, so will be sold or loaned again till his contract expires. Victor Moses has impressed a lot at stoke under Mark Huges and will be likely to be sold at 10m pounds to stoke city. Gael Kakuta has impressed a lot at Rayo but he is in his last year of contract and unlikely to sign a new contract.Lucas Piazon performed in patches and don't see him with first team next season. At vitesse, Bertrand Traore who has impressed mourinho in his first pre season of second reign, impressed a lot. Starting at right wing and now playing as Center Forward,he is quite impressive. Christian Atsu, AFCON player of the tournament wasted his year on the bench of Everton. At this mode of career, he needs to play week in week out and expecting him to get another loan deal where he can get regular playing time. Other kids to get one more year on loan where they can get playing time. At academy, Boga is performing really well and I hope he will be promoted to first team

So my AMs for next season - Eden Hazard, Oscar,Willian, Cuadrado, Traore and Boga(promoted)

 

Center Midfield

Now most criticised position this season - Center Midfield. Cesc Fabregas and/or Ramires played alongside Matic/Mikel in 2 men pivot. 

We started this season with Matic-Fab Combo in Pivot. Ramires was injured or not fully fit for first half of the season while Mikel was unavailable with a little surgery in the second half of the season. And Fabregas had fantastic start of his career as a Blue with 15 assists in first half of the season.  Fabregas-Matic combo worked well and we were nothing to complain till Matic and/or Cesc unavailability. Fabregas' performance after return from injury took a slight hit and useless 2nd half dip in form stats entered into market.(Ignore it!)

We needed to play french wonderkid Zouma out of his preferred CB position as CDM. So,definitely we need to strengthen this department more than anyother.

 

Lets have a look at our players on loan. Our hope 2 years ago, one of our talented academy product Josh Mceachran can't break into vitesse starting eleven week in week out. Its unlikely for him to get into first team or get a new contract. Just like Sam Hutchinson, we would take care of him with loan deals till his contract expires in summer 2016. Nathenial Chalobah, who had great loan spell under our legend Gianfranco Zola in the championship with Watford, is right now at another championship side Reading FC after unsuccessful loan deal with Premier league side Burnley. He will be given 1 more season at loan to prove his worth.

Van Ginkel, our highly rated CM, on loan at Milan hardly got few mins.And for second consecutive season, he suffered an injury blow that is a sign to worry. Our other 2 CMs Oriol Romeu, who signed new contract in summer, played quite well with under performing Stuttgart in Bundesliga and Mario Pasalic had an amazing season with Elche. He needs to play week in week out for 1 more season at this level before breaking into first team,so expecting 1 more season on loan for this skillful Croatian. Next to next summer his future will be  that either he is ready for Chelsea or to be sold at better price.

In January, we promoted very highly rated Ruben Loftus Cheek to first team. He didn't play much till now with first team but we expect that he will get mniutes once we win title mathematically. Mourinho rates this 6'1" tall english midfielder very high and expects him to get more chances with first team next season (or better loan deal)

So, my CDMs for next season are:  Matic,Mikel

CMs for next season are: Fabregas, Ramires,New World Class signing (pogba?), Romeu/loftus cheek

 

Defence and GK

Comapred to previous season, our defense was not as solid as expected this season. With Cahill was exposed many times ball watching,out of position or reluctant to tackle many times, Kurt Zouma has been revealation this season.

With Terry is assured new contract and many specualtions over our new signing and potential of our defenders on loan and Tricky Goalkeeper situation will be discussed in next post.

Till then, Keep the Blue Flag Flying High !!

Your reviews and suggestions will be appreciated