Not long after Clearlake took over from Roman Abramovich, one thing became clear. Things were about to change in West London. In the two years since there’s been a move away from the trophy-hunting and big-name signings that marked the previous era of success.
In its place is a focus on signing the next big thing and stocking up on youth. Now on to a fourth permanent manager in just over two years, the question has to be asked. If Chelsea fails this season is it finally time to blame the ownership and sporting directors?
There’s been a lot of talk, especially from journalists like Simon Phillips, of a four-window plan. This was designed to give the owners and sporting directors time to offload the older, high-wage players and instead put in place their own data-driven, younger signings to play a possession-heavy style of football.
This summer is the final transfer window of this plan, after this point, there is no more rebuilding or patience. This is THEIR squad, the statistically favoured, sporting director-approved squad that is meant to take this club back to the big time. Gone are Cobham graduates like Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall, and Ruben-Loftus Cheek. Gone too are veterans like Cesar Azpilicueta, Edouard Mendy, Jorginho, and Mateo Kovacic to name just a few.
Looking at the assembled pieces would lead you to believe that Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart have been playing football manager. There are at least three goalkeepers signed to long-term deals in the squad with no clear idea of who will be the number one option.
There is no proven, clinical striker and only the raw young Marc Guiu, an unimpressive Armando Broja, an impressive but unrefined Nicolas Jackson, and just for fun, there’s also young, unproven Samu Omorodion, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The left-wing spot is either a woeful Mykhailo Mudryk or a Raheem Sterling who’s so inconsistent he goes from dazzling to missing open chances at a moment’s notice.
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