Delusions of grandeur (Chelsea F.C.)

Member Name: GroundZero

Product:	Chelsea F.C.
Date:	10/03/01 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good players

Disadvantages: Lacking in team spirit, appalling away form, Ken Bates

Chelsea like to think of themselves as one of England’s top teams. Their owner, Ken Bates would have you believe that they rank up there with the most powerful teams in English football, alongside Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

The reality of course, is very different. Chelsea have only won the league once; their recent success has been entirely in cup competitions. They seem to have the mentality to be able to cope with one-off games, but are incapable of presenting a challenge throughout a season.

This season was meant to be the one where Chelsea started to win major trophies, but things have gone badly for the team tipped by many as Manchester United’s main challengers for the Premiership title. Axing their popular manager Gianluca Vialli only weeks into the season was not a smart move, and rightly received condemnation from the football world. His replacement, another Italian, Claudio Ranieri has yet to win over the fans, and his record so far is no better than Vialli’s.

Chelsea’s main problem stems from the fact that Bates’ ego requires Chelsea to win against the big boys. Despite Vialli winning the FA Cup for Chelsea last season, Bates decided that he was not the man to lead the club forward, and was thus ruthlessly axed. If Ranieri’s team does not show signs of progress soon, expect his position to become increasingly uncomfortable. Bates is not renowned for his patience.

The reasons why Chelsea never live up to the hype are numerous. The average age of the team is on the high side, although Ranieri has at least attempted to lower it by signing younger players like the promising Danish winger, Jesper Gronkjaer. Before he joined the club, Chelsea were seriously lacking in any sort of width.

The disparate nationalities in the dressing room must make it difficult for Ranieri to communicate his ideas to his players, and Chelsea have long been criticised for their
policy of buying almost exclusively overseas. Too many of their players seem disinterested when playing in games against so-called lesser teams.

In goal, Chelsea can choose from former Dutch internation Ed De Goey, Man Utd reject Mark Bosnich and young Italian Carlo Cudicini. In defence, the formidable Marcel Desailly is the major influence, alongside the modestly talented Frank Lebeouf. Uruguyuan midfielder Gus Poyet is arguably their best player, supporting the front players and scoring a large number of his team’s goals. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is one of the league’s best finishers, although how long he will hang around an unsuccessful side remains to be seen. Loyalty is not his strong point!

Chelsea still have a long way to go before they can consistently challenge the best teams around. Ranieri needs to be given the time to build a younger side, one whose loyalties are to each other. Whether he gets the time or not is another matter...

Summary: