With the transfer window now closed, but the international break underway, we’re into the most frustrating fortnight of the season as we eagerly await the return of the action we had just had a taste of before it was snatched away.
While the rest of us are frustrated, it’s a vital moment for Enzo Maresca and his training staff to get another two weeks of work done on the training pitch with the group of players that remain there. Right now they will be looking at the squad they ended up with after a long summer of transfers in and out – but will they think they’re better off than they were? We’re not so sure. And Tom Coley, who covers the club for Football.London, certainly isn’t.
“Let’s get it straight, Chelsea haven’t actually improved their squad clearly over the summer, which is the plan. What they have done is created more questions: Where do all the attackers fit in? Can the £250million midfield actually play together? How will they ever develop players if change continues at this rate?” he wrote today.
Talented Chelsea still need to know where they’re going
He admits that the squad are very talented – nobody would disagree with that. But after 4 windows with these sporting directors in charge and billions spent, we’ve still got just one recognised senior striker and no top class goalkeepers:
“This is the squad that they built. There can be no excuses.”
It’s harsh but fair. Perhaps we will come back after this two weeks break and tear a few teams apart like we did Wolves. Then everyone will be feeling very smug about this summer’s work.
But a couple of bad results like we had last week against Servette and Crystal Palace and we will quickly be wondering once again about what direction we’re heading in.
