The Blues have players like Lampard, Terry, Cole and Drogba that will soon need to be a weight lifted from the clubs’ shoulders, allowing future stars like Josh McEachran and Lucas Piazon to join established players like Daniel Sturridge and Gary Cahill in becoming the backbone for Chelsea Football Club’s next generation. This will be a tough assignment for any manager; leaving out the experienced players whilst challenging for the Premier League title are not two things that seem to go hand in hand.
In the real world, progress for Chelsea would be re-building. In Abramovich’s world however, it is the instant success that may come with some managers; but if that way of life continues at Stamford Bridge, it will eventually result in their own downfall.
Moving on, we look at a team who is at the other end of the financial spectrum: David Moyes’ Everton. For Evertonians, frustration grows as each day passes and the club continues on its cash-strapped journey.
Moyes is often praised for his ability to work on incredibly constrained funds. A takeover would undoubtedly mean progress for the Toffees; however they have to look for other ways to move onwards and upwards without cash.
A battle for a top ten finish is what the Goodison Park crowd has been more than used to under David Moyes’ 10 year reign.
However, as key players departed, the money became more scarce and teams like Tottenham and Manchester City have padded out the ‘big six’, Everton have expectedly found it increasingly more of an uphill struggle to land a European place like they had several times in seasons gone by.
This leaves Moyes with only one route to Europe: domestic cups. The importance of the competition in Moyes’ eyes was proven when he controversially made 6 changes before the Merseyside derby at Anfield. His side drew 1-1 at home against Sunderland to earn an away tie at the Stadium of Light-not ideal, however Moyes’ planned route to success continues.
It is interesting to see how and why progress varies for individual clubs at the height of English football. It may depend on money; it may not. It may be down to morale, managerial situations or the stature of a club. Whatever it may be, progress is to be strived for by every team in football, making the sport one of the most unique, developing, exciting and interesting sports in the world.
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