Football is game that happens in cycles, teams come, dominate and then ultimately, crumble. For many the hardest part of success is maintaining it, when actually, the hardest part is reinventing it.
Sir Alex Ferguson was a master of this, time and time again he was able to reinvent his sides and maintain sustained periods of success.
Whilst the likes of Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola have experienced a small period of success, none of them have been able to reinvent their teams in the way Sir Alex did.
Right now, Chelsea are in a period where they are only just starting to invent themselves under Frank Lampard.
The emerging talents of Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham, are just starting to find their feet in the Premier League and it will take a year or so before we find out what level they can operate at.
Things seem extremely positive right now, but time will be the ultimate judge.
But whilst we should be positive about the chances of our homegrown talents, it’s the situations of our rivals which should give us the greatest reason for optimism.
Manchester City have become one of the best teams in Premier League history under Pep. Their style and attacking prowess has made them unstoppable for the past two seasons, which has seen them reach a record 100 points.
However, this season, despite an 8-0 win over Watford, defeats to Wolves and Norwich City have left them 8 points behind Liverpool.
You get the feeling that Guardiola and City, with all the money they’ve spent, will regard their period of dominance in England as a failure if they don’t go on and win the Champions League.
If they do that this season, it’s almost certain that Pep would leave, and City would find themselves having to rebuild themselves.
Doing that under a new manager, with new ideas and as has been the case with Manchester City, new players, it won’t be an instant job even though the foundations laid down by Pep will be incredible.
The same goes for the current European Champions Liverpool. Their 5 year climb to the top has seen them become the Premier League’s record holder for the runner up with the most points.
In many other normal seasons, they would’ve broken their 30 year duck. This season they look even stronger and with an 8 point lead it’s hard to see past them.
But make no mistake about it, if they do win the league, Klopp will be gone quicker than the hub caps of a car parked on any given street in Liverpool.
Then you’ve got Spurs, who are already being Spursy. Rumours of a dressing room bust up and a 7-2 mauling at home to Bayern Munich followed by a 3-0 defeat away at Brighton has left Mauricio Pochettino on the ropes.
Before last season’s Champions League final, Poch said he would leave if they won, because he knew that topping that achievement would never be matched.
What he maybe didn’t expect was that for simply reaching the final be the biggest achievement in the Premier League era for Spurs.
With Levy seemingly unwilling, or unable, to give Poch the funds to be able to reinvent and take the team to the next level it seems that Spurs have gone as far as they can.
I’ve no doubt that Poch will go onto bigger things, but if current form is anything to go on, Spurs are heading straight back to where they belong.
Then you’ve got the two outsiders of the top 6, Manchester United and Arsenal. Knowing where to start with those two is a challenge.
Arsenal are now in their second year under Unai Emery, but look no further forward than they were under Wenger.
Their ace card is Aubamayang, but how much longer will he be happy playing Europa League football?
Defensively they’re still shocking and signing David Luiz has so far only made things worse.
Unless they come out and spend the £150+ million they need to turn their squad around then they’re going to be stuck at Europa League level.
Then you’ve got the joker of the group, Manchester United.
Their fall from grace has been nothing short of spectacular and a joy to watch.
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho got them two trophies, kept them in the Champions League and allowed them to have delusions of grandeur.
Now Ole’s at the wheel but the car has smashed head first into a wall and the car seems to be a write off.
Don’t you just love to see it?
For Frank and Chelsea, if they continue this upwards trajectory then in a couple of seasons they could find themselves as the team at the peak of their cycle whilst others try to reinvent themselves.
Teams come and go, but our time is near.
Dean is the author of ‘Cult Fiction- how a year under Sarri almost tore Chelsea apart’ available on Amazon now amzn.to/2T7v5Tu
