Learn the lesson: Chelsea need leaders & proven performers

The U25 strategy has to end now

We’re coming towards the final month of the season now, so plans for next season will now being firmed up. The semi-final defeat against Manchester City finally clarified things for me in terms of what the club need to do this summer in the market. 

A few weeks ago I shared what I’d do this summer, but this has changed a little in the intervening time. I’m even more convinced now than ever that we need to bring some proven quality this summer. 

With Thiago Silva leaving we need more winners in the squad. We need captains. We need good experience. This doesn’t even mean we need older players, but players who are captains, with experience of winning major trophies, and playing at the absolute highest level consistency. Players who are proven and established in their positions and can come in and do a job immediately.

The sporting directors and owners need to realise the importance of this. One reason I think we’ve suffered under pressure in two big Wembley games is you need proven players who you know are going to deliver in those games. Ivan Toney up front against Man City, we win that game 2-0. We’d probably have won the league cup too, and be higher in the table.

You can have a squad of about 18-20 U25 players, but you need strong characters, captains, and proven players who can deliver now, to balance this out. It actually takes pressure of the younger players and allows them to develop more easily, in my view.

For example, Nicolas Jackson shouldn’t have to carry the burden of carrying our attack aged 22, after one year playing as a striker. Against Man City you could see he was struggling with that pressure, and that’s on the sporting directors. Having an established striker in the squad able to take that responsibility, frees the pressure on him and allows him to perform and develop. 

That brings me onto the recruitment, and lets’ begin up front. I think we need someone proven in the Premier League who can be depended on to score goals. Ivan Toney seemingly isn’t an option, for various reasons, so I’m now learning towards Dominic Solanke. He has 17 PL goals this season and is now an established PL striker. Not only that, but he has the Cobham connection too. He has Chelsea DNA, he knows the club well which is an added bonus. He’s only 26 so pretty much meets the age requirements.

He wouldn’t cost anything like Victor Osimhen would, and his wages likely won’t be beyond our capabilities/wage structure. I don’t believe he’d block the development of Nicolas Jackson either.

In terms of defence, I certainly wouldn’t be against keeping Trevoh Chalobah, but he seems to be destined to leave. In that case, with Silva also departing, I’d be looking at someone of the profile of Matthias De Ligt. He’s a captain, a leader, and has won multiple league titles in different countries. He has plenty of Champions League experience too, and would be a good compliment for Levi Colwill, who I believe is our best CB. If he’s not attainable, we need to try and find an equivalent type, with leadership qualities and preferably winning experience. If one is not attainable, I’d go for Max Kilman or Marc Guehi as a dependable, experienced PL CB with captaincy experience and leadership qualities. Guehi of course, again has the benefit of Chelsea knowledge/DNA, being a product of the Chelsea academy.

If we’re losing Conor Gallagher (which would be an awful decision), there’s an argument we might need another midfielder. I’d be tempted to bring Andrey Santos into the squad instead. Not only is he a profile which would benefit the team, with his ability to play as a deeper 6 to a high level, but he has leadership qualities which would benefit the squad. If he is loaned out again, I’d be hugely tempted to look at one of Andre Onana or Paulinha of Fulham. He has the benefit of being experienced and having leadership qualities, and would probably be less of a block to the likes of Santos long term, though Onana is an incredible prospect.

Left back is an area I think we can look at a younger player. Whichever of Cucurella or Chilwell stays, they are a more established player, so we can bring in a younger talent at LB to challenge them. So someone like Luka Netz of BMG, or Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves would make sense.

Finally, if Sterling leaves, I think bringing in Willian on a free transfer for a year would be an economical, shrewd way to add experience and Chelsea knowledge. He’d also some proven ability on the LW, before really going for a top LW next year if Mudryk doesn’t develop further. 

I do think we need an elite, commanding GK too. However, I also recognise the budget is limited, and Petrovic is doing a good enough job to be given another year as number one, then focus the budget on a top GK, along with another LW in summer 2025. 

On top of this, I’d be tempted to bring David Datro Fofana into the squad as another attacking option. He’s shown he’s been able to score goals at PL level and might be a useful squad option.

In terms of sales, its pretty clear now the club are going to sell Ian Maatsen, Trevoh Chalobah, Armando Broja and Conor Gallagher. I don’t agree with Trev and Conor being sold, frankly I think it's crazy. But it's clear those sales are happening, so we should act as though they are. 

I’m now at the point I think we need to sell Noni Madueke. I like his raw ability but I’m concerned at his attitude, there’s been various incidents which have raised concerns about whether he’s suited to a club like Chelsea. 

Other sales I’d make would be one of Chilwell or Cucurella, Kepa, Lukaku (which is a shame as in terms of player profile, he’s perfect for us), Ziyech, and reluctantly, I’d also sell Casadei. With all the bodies we have in midfield it’s best for his career to move on, and we’d get good money for him. Raheem Sterling seems to be on his way out, I’d take a good offer for him too. I’d loan out Ogochukwu as well, so he can get minutes.

The key point is though, we can’t go spending money on tons of inexperienced players this summer. We need leaders, winners, and proven performers to compliment the inexperience we already have. Head Coach is Mauricio Pochettino has argued for this repeatedly and I’m pretty sure any incoming coach would do the same. 

This is the basics of squad building we’re talking about here, and it shouldn’t take a genius to figure this out. To not address this is naivety at best, sheer incompetence at worst, and its’ sabotaged our chances this season. If we have a proven established striker, in my view we likely would have won the league cup final, be 5th/6th in the league comfortably and would probably be in the FA Cup final now. That’s the difference these type of players can make to a team.Young players would be able to learn from them too, which would be a real positive for their development.

This ridiculous concept of having an entirely young inexperienced squad has to end, it doesn’t work and its actually holding back players' development. The squad needs a few proven performers, captains, who can bring an elite mentality and good experience. You can still have 70-80 per cent of the squad as U25 players, but they need proven players and leaders who can take the pressure off them and allow them to develop, whilst delivering some success now. 

I really hope the sporting directors have learned this lesson. It could have a huge impact on next season and our future.

The Score

Note from Si - HERE HERE, I endorse this article, mostly!