The end of the line for Chelsea?

[Tom84]

May be slightly jumping the gun here but how long will Chelsea go on with their current crop of players before whole sale changes are made?

Obviously league wise they've shown that along with United they're head and shoulders above the rest however in 2 seasons with Mourinho they didn't win the Champions League, amazing got the furthest they've ever done under Avram Grant but lost, got a real chasing against Barca last season under Hiddink (albeit decisions obviously could have gone their way meaning that should have been a mute point) and have been roundly outplayed in two legs against Inter Milan under Ancelotti who himself has said that Chelsea couldn't compete in midfield - surely some alarming signs?

Things may have been different if they had Essien but looking at his record since being at Chelsea I think it's fair to say he's a tad on the injury prone side so that leaves Mikel (the only player on the pitch tonight under 25) who's a bit rubbish IMO. Apart from those two Chelsea have Ballack 33 & Lampard 31.

I think it was last season that Fergie said Chelsea were an ageing side, well they're all a year older now.

Does Roman needs to release the funds again and get some younger players in if Chelsea aren't to be overtaken permanently by the likes of Arsenal and City?

 

[Tom84]

Just for comparison, check out the oldies at Old Trafford.

Over 30: (age at end of this year)

Giggs 36 (37)
VDS 39 (40)
Neville 35
Scholes 35 (36)
Brown 30 (31)
Ferdinand 31 (32)
Owen 30 (31)

Turning 30 next year:

Evra
Berbatov
Hargreaves
Park
Vidic
Carrick
O'Shea

Opened up a can of worms there mate, especially as with the likes of Carrick and Vidic they wont hit 30 till 2011 (July for Carrick, October for Vidic, I couldn't be arsed to check the rest)

The key thing for United is apart from those that have been in their thirties and apparently on the decline for what seems like a decade now (Scholes, Giggs, Neville etc etc) what I consider to be the core of our team (defence apart which isn't really an issue for defenders to be in their early thirties) we're still a young team

Rooney
Fletcher
Carrick
Valencia
Nani

With also the likes of Evans, Rafael, Anderson all very young as well and sure to be first choice players in the future, compare that with Chelsea.....

 

[Tom84]

Absolute rubbish, Lampard has more creativity in his passing than the majority of the rest of the England squad in his little finger.

Rooney

 

[Tom84]

I don't believe players suddenly fall to bits when they hit 30, quite a few hit their peak in fact. I just don't think Chelsea are as old as the media make out when really it's Man Utd who have the slightly older players who actually don't look like being properly replaced yet.

Disagree mate, as you posted previously a large amount of our players dont hit 30 till next year whereas a large amount of Chelsea players are already in their thirties

Compare our front 6 with Chelsea's;

Valencia - 25
Carrick - 28
Fletcher - 26
Park - 29
Rooney - 24
Berbatov - 29

Ballack - 33
Mikel - 22
Lampard - 31
Anelka - 31
Drogba - 32
Malouda - 29

Defenders/goal keepers dont worry as much, if anything many believe they're in their peak when they hit early thirties

(it could also be argued that Nani is ahead of Park meaning the average age of ours goes down even further)

 

[Tom84]

They cant rely on Essien, I think he's kinda proved he's a crock

 

[Tom84]

Somewhat ironic considering you were asking whether Hargreaves could be the difference in the title run in Yes Essien has been somewhat limited the last couple of seasons (hence Mikel has been getting some games) but prior to that he played over 40 club games in the previous 5 seasons. Compare that to Hargreaves, who at the age of 29 has only managed 40 club games one season out of his entire career. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and see what happens this year, he's only 27 so a bit too soon to put him out to pasture just yet.

Why?

If Hargreaves is back why cant he be a difference in the title run in? If there were any signs that Essien was going to be back I'd say the same thing

They're both crocks, I cant understand why you'd think I think differently?