Chelsea followers will undoubtedly need to overlook what has been an abysmal yr for the membership.
Following the takeover by the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital Consortium in 2022, followers didn’t know what to anticipate, however they might not have foreseen the treacherous state of affairs on the membership right this moment.
Regardless of spending aggressively in two subsequent switch home windows, Chelsea ended the 2022/23 marketing campaign as mid-table fodder and did not qualify for any European competitors.
Their dire underlying metrics had been sufficient to fill a e book. The Blues completed their Premier League marketing campaign in twelfth place with 44 factors, tallying 1.16 factors per sport. They scored solely 28 objectives final season – solely 4 golf equipment tallied much less.
Chelsea sacked supervisor Thomas Tuchel at the start of the season and spent a document payment to take Graham Potter from Brighton & Hove Albion. He lasted seven months.
The much less remembered about Potter’s unremarkable tenure, the higher, however he seemed terribly out of his depth in a dugout that sat greats comparable to Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.
Chelsea comically determined to tow an unsuccessful line and introduced again Frank Lampard, however his tenure solely added extra distress as he managed just one win in 11 video games.
Aside from the managerial modifications, there have been too many upheavals on the membership as Boehly tried to usher in extra of his folks to usher out the previous regime.
They tried to alter the gamers too, shelling out senseless sums to safe ‘promising abilities’ from across the globe regardless of these gamers barely being able to play for a membership of Chelsea’s stature.
Potter and Lampard complained a few bloated squad that was an excessive amount of to deal with – an issue the executives created with their incessant signings.
In the course of the 2023 summer time window, Chelsea appointed Mauricio Pochettino as supervisor however continued their coverage of taking bets on younger abilities. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea are struggling once more.
What do Chelsea must do in 2024?
Chelsea should add extra objectives to their squad. Though he could be costly, a transfer for Brighton & Hove Albion’s starlet Evan Ferguson could be a superb place to start out.
The Republic of Eire star performed an enormous position in Brighton’s Europa League qualification, and prime golf equipment are noticing his expertise. Whereas the percentages favour a keep at Brighton for Ferguson, he might nonetheless transfer away from the Seagulls on the proper worth.
Ferguson’s arrival may very well be the catalyst for an enchancment in Chelsea’s fortunes. The finest betting apps would minimize their odds of profitable main silverware in the event that they signed the Irish worldwide striker, who has bagged 16 objectives in 50 appearances for the Seagulls.
Irish sportsbooks could be getting ready for a betting frenzy if Ferguson signed for Chelsea – Guinness gross sales in pubs would most likely eclipse all-time data!
You may guess on Brighton proprietor Tony Bloom enjoying hardball over Ferguson, significantly given the fearsome fame he constructed up whereas enjoying in skilled poker tournaments.
Ferguson has unbelievable ability for his age and is ice-cold in entrance of aim – a trait a number of attackers on this Chelsea squad lack. Other than Ferguson, Chelsea have to be smarter within the switch market.
Spending £12 million on the untested Cesare Casadei is the type of ponderous decision-making that has left Chelsea struggling to interrupt into the highest half of the desk.
They’ve spent ridiculous sums on quite a few flops together with Lesley Ugochukwu, Angelo Gabriel, Kendry Paez, David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos, Carney Chukwuemeka, Diego Moreira and Omari Hutchinson.
Chelsea have damaged a number of switch data of assorted classes to signal Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Fernandez has proven indicators of promise, however the different two have did not reside as much as expectations.
There needs to be a extra cohesive squad-building technique that focuses extra on the current than the long run. They should concentrate on strategic investments that may make a direct distinction to their fortunes.
This yr uncovered the cracks in Chelsea’s foundations. The membership wants a course correction or it can stay a shadow its former self. Reckless spending and short-term fixes received’t suffice.
