English Premier League: Assessing Chelsea’s needs for the summer transfer window of 2010 (Part 4)
After explaining Chelsea’s midfield troubles in the 2010-2011 season and highlighting Frank Lampard’s loss of form and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-c25261 Essien’s below par performances, it is now turn for Chelsea’s attack to face their verdict.
Attack
In the summer transfer window of 2010, many pundits considered that Carlo Ancelotti would sign another striker to provide himself with options and to also legislate for any injuries or loss of form with regard to Nicolas Anelka
and Didier Drogba. When Ancelotti confirmed that he won’t be signing a striker in the summer transfer window of 2010, many questioned the wisdom of his decision as Chelsea were clearly short of fire power. However as the 2010-2011 Premier League season began,
Chelsea started to steamroll teams due to Florent Malouda’s impressive form coupled with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Didier-Drogba-c11044’s explosive attitude.
However by the end of 2010, Chelsea were dwindling in the English Premier League. Ancelotti’s gamble had backfired as Drogba was bogged down with malaria and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nicolas-Anelka-c27786 was showcasing his old sulky self. With both of his strikers
out of form or injured, Ancelotti was caught out and the Italian manager came under severe criticism for his lack of insight into the issues that plagued his strike force.
Chelsea put their faith in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-Sturridge-c10076 as a consequence of Drogba and Anelka’s lack of goal scoring form but the Englishman failed to live up to the Blues expectations . Thus in the 2010 January transfer window, Chelsea spent
big on the transfer of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 for a record 50 million pound transfer fee. Torres’s arrival at Stamford Bridge was accompanied by the striker’s wretched form as well. The Spanish forward was unable to justify
his price tag as Chelsea laboured on in their title http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Defence-c38904.
By March, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 were considered down and out of the title race but Drogba’s return to form along with some valuable goals from Solomon Kalou changed their fortunes and the Blues found themselves in contention for another title
win. With just Manchester United standing in their way, Chelsea needed to defeat the Red Devils at Old Trafford in May 2011 but Sir http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Ferguson’s men steered six points clear of Ancelotti’s Blues by defeating them by two goals to one at the Theatre of Dreams.
With their loss to United, Chelsea’s title charge also diminished into obscurity. Now what remains to be seen is what Ancelotti will do in the summer transfer window of 2011. Roman Abramovich must invest in another striker whilst
parting ways with either Drogba or Anelka. Drogba seems to be the likeliest to leave Stamford Bridge considering his age and the lack of positions he can play in as a forward man. With Torres’s arrival, Chelsea will build their team around the Spaniard which
leaves no space for Drogba.
In selling Drogba, the Blues will also save up on the wages that they are currently spending on the Ivorian target-man. Chelsea can also save up on another striker by recalling Daniel Sturridge from Bolton Wanderers. Sturridge
has been impressive for Bolton in since going on loan to Owen Coyle’s team in January 2011. Nonetheless, changes need to be made in Chelsea’s first choice front line if they are indeed interested in challenging for the title in the 2011-2012 season.
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