Chelsea have noticeably changed gears. The Blues have died by the sword of their transfer strategy over recent years, and it has yielded mixed results.<\/p>\n
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The Blues wanted to sign young, adding players with big potential, both to develop into better players and become more valuable assets. To be fair, many of Chelsea’s bets have come off, with most players retaining or growing in value, but that is not the whole story.<\/p>\n
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Chelsea’s mistake was not recognising the need to adapt<\/h2>\n
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Chelsea qualified for the Champions League under Enzo Maresca, and it felt like big money at the time. It felt like a moment when a young squad proved everyone wrong, shaking off some disappointing results down the stretch to get the job done.<\/p>\n
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It felt like a ‘told you so’ moment for the Chelsea board, who were rewarded for their bold strategy. And to their credit, it wasn’t a roll of the dice strategy – something had to change.<\/p>\n
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The Blues spent silly money to sign players early in the BlueCo era, and that wasn’t sustainable under Profit and Sustainability rules. Chelsea needed an approach that would bring in talent at reduced – even if still big – cost while providing a path to make big profits to balance the books.<\/p>\n
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This strategy has done that, and it can be credited for the building of what is a hugely talented, and still young, squad.<\/p>\n
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The problems came when the Chelsea chiefs did not recognise the moment when they had the choice of changing or going backwards. While the top four finish was an impressive feat for a young squad, it was the most the Blues were going to get out of the group.<\/p>\n
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To take the next step, it is imperative that a club can call upon experienced players who can lead the dressing room with their experience and knowhow. Maresca did not ask for a squad overhaul, only that Chelsea signed an experienced centre-back to allow his team to take the next step after Levi Colwill suffered a long-term injury.<\/p>\n
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That led to a fallout and Maresca’s sacking. Most agree that was a mistake, and Chelsea have since appointed and sacked Liam Rosenior, too.<\/p>\n
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Now, it is hoped Xabi Alonso can bring success to Stamford Bridge, but finally, Chelsea’s recruitment chiefs recognise the shift that needs to take place.<\/p>\n
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Chelsea chasing experienced heads Welbeck and Henderson<\/h2>\n
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Chelsea are now chasing deals for Brighton’s veteran striker Danny Welbeck and experienced Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson. Those were not deals that were going to get done a year ago.<\/p>\n
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Even at a cheap price, Chelsea were not going to contradict their whole approach by signing two players who are likely at the end of their respective careers.<\/p>\n
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But Alonso knows he needs experienced heads to lead his young group in key moments, and the Blues board has finally come to their senses in recognising that experience is a key part of any successful team.<\/p>\n
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Even if such players sit on the bench all season, successful managers recognise that having such players around the group all season can only be a benefit.<\/p>\n
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At the top, we have seen it with Arsenal in the form of Christian Norgaard, with Manchester City and Scott Carson in the past, with Sunderland and Granit Xhaka, who Chelsea actually tried to sign this summer.<\/p>\n
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Having players who can say the right things in the right moments in the dressing room, be it during a coming together between teammates, calming over-celebration or relaxing the group during pressurised moments, those players can provide value, and they are also able to bring that calmness to the pitch when called upon, too.<\/p>\n
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Chelsea are now beginning to see that, and it doesn’t have to be a complete shift. No one, including Maresca, has asked for that, but there has to be a balance.<\/p>\n
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