Thread by @TalkinTactics

My thoughts on #ChelseaFC

From the outside looking in, Chelsea have almost acted as two separate clubs over the last few years. Their identification & development of talented young players (even back to the KDB days) has been exceptional. But their first team recruitment

Has been disappointing.

The key for the new ownership group will be to unite the club, ensuring departments work together, providing clear development pathways & a consistent style of play.

I’ve said it before but I hope - as a club - they move away from a 3 CB formation.

I don’t think a club of Chelsea’s stature needs to field an additional CB and recruiting within this framework (plus Managerial changes) has led to a strange squad compilation.

From January onwards I would expect Chelsea to target a GK, a left footed CB, at least two Midfielders

And some proper Wingers. It looks like the Nkunku deal is close to completion so it will be interesting to see where he fits in…he does seem to play best in a front two..and what will they do with Lukaku?

Todd Boehly appears to want a transfer panel that will oversee the recruitment at Chelsea & other clubs. I’m very interested to see how this works out (especially if he remains a key decision maker on transfers). Could it be a case of too many cooks/egos? Time will tell.

I’m not convinced that we will look back on their most recent window as a success..some of the transfers felt like big over pays (although they did recruit some talented players).

I hope Graham Potter is a success but he will need time to acclimatise to a club of that size.

Now he is managing a Champions League club he is always on SSN etc and some of the things he says come across a bit strange. Obviously this won’t make or break him but media duty is an important aspect of the role.

My expectations for Chelsea? Difficult to say. It depends on how successful their transfer windows are but I would expect there to be lots of change within the next 24 months. How Potter builds & develops a new starting XI will be the key to his tenure.

Other than James/Mount (if he stays) & possibly Fofana/one of Cucurella/Chilwell I don’t see many other current squad players forming part of that starting XI Colwill may come into the picture next season).

Chelsea & change have gone hand in hand for a good number of years & I don’t see that changing within the next 2-3 years. The owners are clearly willing to invest so the onus will be on the new recruitment team to provide Potter with the tools necessary to compete at the top end

To clarify on the three at the back formation…I don’t think an extra CB is needed in the majority of games but my issue is more with the selection of 5 defenders rather than 3 plus two inverted wing backs (like Potter did with Brighton).

I also think adopting a club wide 3-4-3 philosophy (played across all teams) is dangerous as it doesn’t provide many opportunities to develop full backs, a single 6, true box to box midfielders & out & out wingers.