Clayton Beerman’s take on Chelsea’s opening to the new season and our transfer activity
(n.b. written before the close of the transfer window but posted by the lazy Chelsea FanCast editor after the deadline closed!)
Four games four wins. A rejuvenated squad, two great signings, one of them exceptional and a lesser spotted clean sheet. Fantastic, right? Well sort of.
In the games we have played we have shown more energy and desire than at any time than we did last season apart from one game. Several of our players look rested and are in fantastic form. We are organised and there is a spirit which was previously so lacking.
If we look at the league games we have played the first two results are an improvement on the fixtures last season. Two draws were converted into wins. They were both hard fought and most would agree in both cases we could and probably would have lost those games last season. Our performance against Burnley was first class and some good goalkeeping and stoic defending kept the score down. A 5 or 6 goal thrashing would not have flattered us.
In addition you can only beat what is in front of you and the fixtures have been kind to us. A home derby against a London rival on the first day could always go either way. We have had a bit of luck which eluded us last season in so much as our match winner in both the first two games should probably not have been on the pitch.
Our manager seems fantastic. He plays the game on the side-lines, he is both passionate and an astute tactician. His substitutions in the 3 league games have all produced an impact and goals. In the first two games it could be argued that they won us the game.
You all know there is a big but coming and here it is: BUT the squad is as thin now as it has been for a decade. The defence who were so poor last year is the same with currently a youth player as the only back up (something rectified to a certain extent with the signings of Alonso and Luiz – Ed.). The frailties which still exist have been hidden by the brilliant Kante and the rejuvenated Matic. At the moment we are conceding less shots on goal than last season. Those two midfielders however will not be able to stem the tide when we play some of the better teams out there. The goal we let in against West Ham was a bit of a freak but the goal against Watford was dreadful.
That being said the manager has had only a short time with the defence but with the back four made up
of seasoned professionals it is difficult to know what more they can learn. With the exception of Azpi, it is hard to see in which way they can improve. Maybe Gary Cahill will stop backing away and start closing down more. What does help is Thibault looks more engaged. A keeper who is on top of his game will always give a defence more confidence. I found it interesting against Burnley both during and after the game the crowd chanted his name and there does appear to be a genuine attempt to re connect with the fans. We will never know but perhaps he feels more comfortable with Lollichon now firmly in the background.
The saga of bolstering our defence may have been resolved by the time you read this blog (hopefully it has been! – Ed.). There is no doubt that hiding behind ridiculous transfer fees does not excuse the complete dogs breakfast the club have made in signing reinforcements. Whatever the outcome bringing in players this far into the season means the chance of them bedding in is lessened. Most (if any) will come in from overseas clubs and it is not only the football side of things which will be difficult to adjust to.
With the exception of the two Manchester clubs not many teams in the Premier League have massively strengthened even with the respective increased revenues. With us however the situation is a lot more concerning. For years we have sat at the top table but now we are at a mid range burger chain and heading towards the local cafe. I do not think that anyone would want us to be ripped off by other clubs but in relative terms how has the club allowed this? Yes there is no Europe but I think Aguero signed for City before they were in Europe.
Perhaps the worst thing to happen this summer was the transfer fee paid for Kante. The club getting a player of that quality and brilliance for just over £30m maybe led them to believe that we shouldn’t pay over the odds for others. That is an honourable position but we are being left behind. There was such an amazing vision for this club 10 years ago which appears to have left and we are reactive rather than proactive and we are crying out for direction.
The keyboard warriors of social media decry some of the unheard names we are being linked with but how many had heard of Azpi or Branna before they joined. Indeed I had never heard of Kante before he played for Leicester last season. There has to be an element of risk in any transfer but having had a ridiculously f*cked up transfer window last year, how could we arrive at the same place this year? Last season is defined by the risible last day purchase of Hector and Papa and who’s to say there is not more of the same to come.
Our manager was appointed in April and he would have indicated who he would have liked to come in. If some of those players didn’t want to come or were just too expensive then fair enough but no Plan B? What must he think of what is going on. We can only speculate but from the outside it looks another shambles. There were few managers who could’ve replaced the Special One but we have got someone so please let’s try and keep him happy.
The loan policy is another article altogether but I need someone to explain why a player who can cover at left back, centre half and midfield is sitting on Bournemouth’s bench and not ours. Why can anyone who is let out on loan or sold without a replacement already at the club. I understand that Kenedy and Miazga are hanging around for that purpose but Remy, Kalas, Omeru, Traore, have all gone with no replacements brought in. The Papa sale shows what we’ve all known that profit on player sales helps but if as last year we buy anyone not as good as some of our loanees, then there is something seriously flawed with our system.
So as another international break looms to interfere with the bedding in of a new season, there is a sense of optimism and frustration. I hope that the last hours of the transfer window bring us some respite and at least give Antonio the cover and help he needs to take us up to the next dreaded window.
Clayton Beerman is the author of Palpable Discord: A Year of Drama and Dissent at Chelsea
