by Tom Allen
Chelsea fell some way short of regaining the Premier League title last term
when a shocking spell around the turn of the year cost them any chance and,
having failed to strengthen significantly this summer, I can't see an ageing
Blues squad being good enough in 2012.
Carlo Ancelotti paid the ultimate price for guiding Chelsea to their worst
season of the Roman Abramovich era but it was tough luck on the Italian who was
not done any favours by his underperforming players and now Andre Villa-Boas, a
33-year-old relative rookie, is charged with bringing silverware to Stamford
Bridge.
What owner Abramovich craves most, of course, is Champions League success but
Chelsea were comprehensively outplayed by Manchester United in both legs of
their knockout stage clash last season and 12 months on I find it hard to
believe that Villas-Boas can bring about enough improvement from key men whose
best days are almost certainly behind them.
Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, John Terry and Ashley Cole are
all past their peak and that group of 30 some-things are also entrusted with
hauling £50m misfit Fernando Torres out of his prolonged slumped.
Torres couldn't lack any more confidence in front of goal but his hefty price
tag means the striker will be given every opportunity to snap his remarkable
goal drought and that, for now, can only be counterproductive.
While title rivals Manchester City and Manchester United have bulked already
solid looking playing staffs in the off-season, the West London club's starting
XI will be virtually identical to the one that limped over the line in May and
the loss of Michael Essien, with yet another long-term injury, is a huge blow
too.
Essien brings pace and power to a Chelsea midfield that without him looks
bereft of either of those attributes and John Obi Mikel, certainly no Claude
Makelele, simply doesn't cut it.
Chelsea do, of course, have two dozen internationals from which to choose,
and an open chequebook, but good team spirit, so evident when Jose Mourinho was
in charge, will also need to return to a squad containing some sizeable egos and
whether that can happen is also open for debate after yet another change in
dugout personnel.
Chelsea 2011-2012 Premier League Odds and Best Bets:
Premier League Odds: 11/4 (888sport,
Paddy Power)
Top 4 Finish: 1/9 (Bet 365)
Best Bets: Man City to beat Chelsea (Season Matchbet) @ 6/5 (Paddy Power)
Prediction: Third
