Chelsea - Your Thoughts on Next Season (7)

radioactiveD becomes the seventh to answer our seven probing questions.

1 - Last season was a fantastic experience winning the Double. Do you believe we have the playing staff to mount a similar challenge this year or are we in danger of standing still?

It would require several long-term injuries to key players for Chelsea not to seriously challenge for trophies. The quality and unity of the group is still very much in place, and hopefully the D&G contingent has eased up a little on Carlo, who absolutely deserves our respect and trust.

2 - Which of those whose contracts had expired were you the most sorry to see go?

A no-brainer: Ballack. When the word got out in Germany that he`d miss the WC, Beckenbauer expressed serious concern that his country would flop. We know now they didn`t, that other youngsters stood up and seized their opportunity with so much success and style that many feel, perhaps unfairly to Ballack, they`re better off without him. I could go into detail about why I feel Ballack`s contribution to Chelsea will be missed, but I`m hoping others will excel in his absence. I`m hoping we won`t miss Ballack at all.

3 - If you could sign one player for Chelsea Football Club and one player only, who would it be?

A terrible question. If I can only choose one, it has to be Messi. It will never, ever happen, but he`s got to be the one.

4 - Who do you see as our main rivals for the Premier League next season and why?

Manchester United, for all the usual reasons. There`s a lot of talk about City being contenders. I think it`s premature. Mancini has to make a team now, and with the revolving door of players there, it will take some time. You can have loads of individual talent but if you`re not playing together, you look like England at the WC.

5 - Which one of our many youngsters do you see making a real impact next season?

Jeffrey Bruma looks most ready, although I`m having a tough time imagining when he`ll play. Realistically, I suppose we`ll see Sturridge the most--and he`s got enough skill to make an argument for himself as Carlo`s third-choice striker. The competition will hopefully get Kalou`s attention and we`ll finally learn what he`s really made of.

6 - Allowing for no more signings, what is your starting eleven for next season if everyone were to remain fit?

Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Essien, Zhirkov, Anelka, Drogba, Malouda

7 - Where do you realistically expect us to finish in all four competitions next season?

The priority for the club will be the CL and the league. I expect and care most about winning the league, and feel confident we can do it again. The CL is so difficult to win anyway, and when I look to Spain at its two giants, reality of just how hard it will be sinks in. If Carlo is smart (he is), we`ll see more emphasis on youth in the two domestic cups and so Chelsea probably won`t win those. I`m fine with it, so long as we can enjoy witnessing the development of our young talent.

Vital Chelsea on:

Vital Chelsea on:

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Writer: Merlin

Date:Thursday July 29 2010

Time: 8:00PM

Your Comments

If anyone else wants to answet the 7 questions then simply send your answers to JUVENILED40@HOTMAIL.COM

merlin

zhirkov starting? hmmm... this could be his season... if he stays injury free... he looked good in patches last season... and now that his cliched first year is over, we can probably look for more from him...

lampardsrightfoot

Yep, provided he can stay fit, Zhirkov could be a big success as a midfielder. I forgot to add my formation of choice, a 4-3-3, so maybe my lineup makes more sense now.

RadioactiveD

The russian ronaldinho eh? I want to see those mazey runs of his.

Chelsea24/7

I think we can handle the spanish contingent.Yeah, Sevilla and Osasuna are tough teams but we got it... what was the name of the other two again? ;)

maka4chelsea

^ valencia and atletico madrid

lampardsrightfoot

i also rate zhirkov but i cant see him playing LCM.

mrdax

Ballack will probably anchor the German national team in the next euros. I think they will win it with the talent they have coming on. Spain can not match that aspect. // I really like Zhirkov, have since long. It is sad that he have had so many niggling injuries that bothered him. Hope he comes along leaps and bounds this year and most importantly stay injury free.

lindy

The interesting question is: what system is Carlo thinking of starting with for the new season? Will he stick with the 4-3-3 which we finished the last campaign with, or will he revert back to his classic 4-diamond-2 formation?

daspecial1

If he sticks with three up and three in the middle, well, Carlo would not be the first to try to wean Chelsea off the three-man midfield and finding out that is exactly what makes Chelsea difficult to beat. Carlo is nothing if not a pragmatist, he will stick with 433 as long as it's what enables him to get maximum effectiveness out of Lamps, Bison, Drogs, Malouda, Ashley, and hopefully Yossi who may need longer than expected to fit in, having played strictly as a wideman in Benitez's 4-4-1-1. In any case I have no worries about Carlo. A good manager picks the formation best suited for the players he's got, not the other way round, and a good manager Carlo is.

Born To Be Blue