Chelsea’s season starts in just a couple of days, and we’re already excited. As per usual, there’s more unpredictability around the Blues than almost anyone else in the league. Finishing in the top 4 wouldn’t be totally impossible – but nor would finishing 16th if things totally fall apart.
Gambling online is easy when a site lists over 100 casino bonuses, but you can also have a great time just betting on Chelsea in these early weeks. Do you think the Blues can exceed everyone’s expectations? Or is this season going to burst into flames too?
It’s simply so hard to tell what’s going to happen with this team. Here are the 6 big questions we hope to have answered this weekend, so we can start to get a sense of where we’re headed this season:
The midfield
Chelsea spent so much on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo that you can’t really create a first team without them. Enzo Maresca’s first task as coach is to figure out how to arrange a team that fits them both. But the question goes beyond just these two. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been brought in as a player who knows Maresca’s system, so surely he has to play? But then what happens to Romeo Lavia? This is the key area of the teamsheet for Sunday’s game.
Up front
After the collapse of Samu Omorodion’s transfer, Chelsea are left exactly where they were last season, without a competent and experienced backup to Nicolas Jackson, who is himself only now coming back to full fitness. Marc Guiu has impressed in preseason, but he’s still just 18 and it would be huge pressure on him to have to play regularly. We still expect major moves in this department before the window closes, whether that’s a monster move like finally landing Victor Osimhen, or something more temporary.
In goal
Chelsea’s policy of buying 2 mid-priced, mid-level goalkeepers every summer is bringing them no long term solutions, and it looks like Robert Sanchez is somehow going to be our first choice, despite having had two seasons in a row where he’s lost that honour, at Brighton and then with us last year.
There will be time during the season for Filip Jorgensen to show what he can do – perhaps Sanchez can make it three in a row? Djordje Petrovic looks set to be sold or loaned, despite forcing his way into our first XI under Mauricio Pochettino.
The defence
With Trevoh Chalobah frozen out, our selection of central defenders is made up of a group who have all been highly rated at some point, yet right now don’t look convincing. Levi Colwill we all still hold out major hope for, given he’s a Cobham graduate and has shown superb ability on the ball.
But there’s no denying he’s had as many shaky games as most of his rivals in that position, and we’re not convinced yet by any combination. The early part of the season is likely to see Maresca trying a few things out as he desperately tries to find the right balance both at centre back and full back.
The style
Mauricio Pochettino ended last season on a high, and despite everything it was surprising to see him go. The owners and sporting directors want to see a new style of football however, and didn’t think the Argentine was the man to do it. That puts huge pressure on Maresca, who knows a large factor in his appointment is the style he had Leicester playing in in the Championship last year.
He’s not going to be able to compromise, even if he wants to. If results aren’t going his way, he can’t very well mix things up. His way of playing will have to remain sacrosanct, and it’s up to the supporters to adapt to it.
If there’s a good speed and urgency to it, and the results are good, nobody minds. But as some pundits have pointed out, there’s going to need to be some good pressing from the front at first to convince Stamford Bridge this is what they want.
The squad
We saw two years ago how badly a bloated squad can affect morale. Graham Potter was never able to escape from the death spiral created by the bad vibes in his dressing room. Things are potentially even worse now, with fan favourites being frozen out and a lot of players who signed in the last few windows worrying their chances might be running out already. It’s vital that Chelsea’s squad planners get a handle on things as soon possible.
Whatever happens, we’re in for another wild season at Stamford Bridge, with this one being perhaps the most unpredictable of any one we’ve had for some years. Whether you’re positive or negative about our chances, you won’t be able to take your eyes off it.
