Chelsea exodus

Drogba dropped from the squad; Malouda warming up with the reserves, Alex and Anelka off to pastures anew, what is happening to Chelsea football club?

When Roman Abramovich sacked double winner Carlo Ancelotti and paid £13m for Andre Villas-Boas, you had a feeling that Chelsea’s season was never going to be an easy one.

Nicloas Anelka and Brazilian defender Alex were the first to rock the boat with transfer requests and Anelka looks set for Chinese club Shanghai Shenzua. Alex’s location is less well known, the fact though is that with these predicted departures, and AVB is left with a depleted squad, with youngsters as cover.

It’s been said before; you can’t win anything with kids.

My main question is, why let Didier Drogba leave? Sure he may be entering the twilight of his career but in my opinion is there any other striker in the Premier League who leads the line as well as the Ivorian powerhouse?

The discussion on Drogba’s contract seems to be the reason for his indecisiveness on staying.  His absence from the team sheet against Wolves though makes you wonder whether this is the end in the Premiership. Surely though, with all the faith AVB has in Torres he must realize that the Spaniard has lost his confidence, and a misfiring striker is not a way to keep your job, let alone win the title/Champions League.

6 goals in all competitions may not be the Drogba of old, but with the sparse appearances the Portuguese manager has given the 33 year old it is hardly surprising he is frustrated.

Chelsea are looking at freshening up their side with younger faces, and while Juan Mata, Daniel Sturridge and Oriel Romeu have impressed you can hardly see Chelsea as title contenders. The main worry is Champions League qualification. Especially with fellow Londoners Arsenal and Tottenham flying high at the moment.

Romelu Lukaku was brought in as a long term replacement for Drogba, and while the talent/potential is there, he needs nurturing to deal with the physicality of the English game.

One thing is for sure at Stamford Bridge, this transfer window will be critical for them. 

John Fernandez

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