It was an open criticism under previous managers and regimes; the Chelsea team are too old was the critique that came from fan, pundit and commentator. It was a valid one too; the average age of their starting XI has been consistently high for the past 3 seasons and growing. Last year their aging squad hit its all-time high of 29.9 years of age, 3.3 years older than Mourinho’s Chelsea that became the fifth English team post-war to win back-to-back Premier League titles. Furthermore, the last time Chelsea had an older squad was the 1999/2000 PL campaign and that year they finished 5th, 26 points adrift of the eventual winners Manchester United. It was their lowest finish for three campaigns.
For a short while at the beginning of this campaign, the ominous age factor eluded the media, AVB’s possible list of excuses and indeed the fans; at least it wasn’t publicly utilised. The fact that the age problem was tentatively remedied somewhat, with the reduction in the average age by 1.9 years, through the introduction of Sturridge into the starting XI and the purchases of Lukaku, Romeu, Mata and Meireles, may be why.
Sturridge and Mata in particular have shone this season, breathing fresh life into what would’ve been a dying Chelsea squad without their contribution. The former looks like his form so far may well earn him his plane seat to Poland & Ukraine next summer as he continues to blossom in the wide role of Chelsea’s front three. In Chelsea’s 14 PL games this season, Sturridge has played in 10 and scored 7. His scoring success is 70% from 10 shots on target and his goal tally is greater than Chelsea’s other front men put together. In fact, out of Chelsea’s top 5 scorers, he is the only striker.
Unlike Mata, most creative midfielders suffer from stagnated spells and purple patches; for the Spaniard he hasn’t stopped producing. In Chelsea’s past 9 games, Mata has laid on 7 assists and scored a further three in the Premier League, averaging direct involvement in 0.71 goals per game (gpg) in a Chelsea side that are averaging 2.2gpg. After Mata and Sturridge, the most fruitful Chelsea player is their evergreen midfield spearhead, Frank Lampard. Despite being Chelsea’s second top scorer with 6 goals and a further 4 assists, Lampard hasn’t escaped the limelight of the aging squad debate and his frustration at his withdrawal on the hour mark, at the weekend against Newcastle, was evident.
Before Chelsea’s away fixture at an emotional St. James’ Park, The Blues were the only team in the top 7 that hadn’t picked up points against any of the other top seven sides. Allegedly, despite stating that, “this is not a period of transition,” AVB has caved into to an excuse synonymous of the recent Chelsea team and has supposedly started to plan for a comprehensive overhaul of Chelsea’s aging squad in the summer, not happy with the start his side has made.
If this is the case, who should bow out at Stamford Bridge?
Didier Drogba?
Drogba, whether Chelsea fans like it or not, is a shadow of his former self, putting shots wide where he previously would’ve seen them end their flight path in the net and firing headers over where he normally would’ve buried them. Once a force, as recently as last season proven by leading the charts for the most shots on target, Drogba has only returned 2 goals this campaign. He’s had flashes of the Drogba that has hit 29 Champions League goals for Chelsea, but he has sunk into the background and if it wasn’t for Fernando Torres’ even worse form, I’d imagine AVB would’ve already considered showing him the door in the summer. As it is, speculation has surrounded the Ivorian and a possible move to Tottenham has already been mentioned, however Drogba has insisted that, “I am fine here and my personal case is not an important factor for me at the moment,” perhaps subconsciously eluding to his poor form and return.
Nicolas Anelka?
The former PSG, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester City striker is almost certainly heading out of Stamford Bridge and has claimed he already knows the destination once he moves. Time under AVB has been miserable for the elite club journeyman: he hasn’t played for Chelsea in the PL since Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road back in October and to add more pain to the Frenchman’s campaign, he’s only completed one 90-minute run out and has only scored once. Anelka has been a model professional throughout AVB’s tenure, and having been officially transfer listed, the striker said, “The club, which is going through a difficult time, has decided to work with Chelsea’s players of the future and, as I am a good professional, I have accepted this.” The rumours are he is heading to China.