Some within Chelsea are feeling a bit miffed about the current squad right now, according to a big report today.
The Independent have released a long deep dive on the current Chelsea situation with a number of interesting snippets delivered.
EXCLUSIVE! Chelsea turning to historical striker target for this month! 👀
And I think one of the most interesting things to draw from the article is the fact that they claim some people within Chelsea feel that the current squad is “almost all kids†and “not a usual team to coach.”
They also say that this isn’t just the view from within Chelsea, but the view from around football as well, which is quite harrowing to read.
It goes on to explain that a common stance from those who work in academy football is that, as recently as five years ago, many of the players would still have been in the under-21 squad rather than carrying the responsibility of one of modern football’s noisiest clubs.
I think they have a real point here as well, in all honesty.
The only thing abnormal about this situation is that it’s happening at Chelsea. Fielding a team of youngsters is totally normal at many football clubs, not to mention other major sports franchises.
Take Ajax, for example. They have a history of developing young talent, featuring them, often as teens, in the first team for a few seasons until they draw interest from abroad and then selling them on. Take a look at their current roster. They have 25 players age 25 or younger in their roster! (https://www.transfermarkt.com/ajax-amsterdam/kader/verein/610)
Ajax have committed to youth for decades because it’s a financial imperative. Obviously, the big difference at Chelsea is that we are not under the same pressures to sell burgeoning talents—SO LONG AS WE DONT GET SUCKED INTO PAYING EXHORBITANT TRANSFER FEES ON STARS IN THEIR PRME. The thing is, that’s all supporters seem to want! They show little to no patience with enduring the inconsistent season or two it requires to bring along a young talented group and, instead, bellow and moan for the club to buy new talent at the slightest setback. It’s all pretty infantile, not to mention counterproductive.