This is a very important process that will define our next few season's and how fantastically written Peace. You really have managed to provoke a underlying issue most do not care to think about when debating the 'overhaul project' that the men behind Chelsea talk of.....'keeping balance'. The Back-Five like you said seem's to be ok with no real issues having the balance of power, speed and skill, hopefully with the addition of Azpilicueta reinforcing what i consider as the strongest defense in the EPL. I won't go into too much depth about this area of the squad because Peace has mentioned all that could be said on the matter. Funny enough the center of our midfield doesn't seem as much as a problem to me as it may do for most posters here. Something inside me, call it my 'gut feeling' says that Essien is going to have a significantly different season to the previous injury plagued years he has been forced to endure at Chelsea. All be it could be his last but never the less i really do think he is going to have a good season. Mikel is improving vastly and if Robbie can somehow sustain a high level of confidence in Mikel by showing belief and loyalty to him then there is no doubt in my mind that Mikel can become as important to us as Makelele once was. Ramires has all the qualities to play in the defensive midfield role and I hope to see him playing there this season when called upon. With Romeu and a 'seen it all' Lampard our central midfield possess experience, skill and strength with only confidence being the factor that could effect how these players perform this coming season. Having said this we must not forget that Romeu has a clause in his contract similar to that of Fabregas in which Barcelona could come calling for Oriol if and when they wish to. This would mean that maybe we should look at bringing in another defensive midfielder or two preferable young but proven within the next two transfer windows as we ease Essien and dare i say it Lampard out of the squad. Meireles, well his name says it all...... With the addition of Oscar and Eden Hazard along with the heart winning Mata does that attacking central role look at all fragile? Yes Oscar is unproven in Europe and it seems that everyone has an opinion on weather the 'lightweight' Oscar will be able to handle the brash physicality of the EPL and who am I to judge! After all I have only seen Oscar play in a handful of International friendlies and a two competitive Olympic games but from what i have seen so far I for one think the boy looks a real handful. If we can integrate Oscar into the CAM role in the preferred 4-2-3-1 at Chelsea this would allow Eden to work wizardry out on the wing. We should keep hold of Yossi as a squad player for the beneficial factors of experience and squad rotation throughout all competitions but for me I think Malouda has had his day and it is time for him to move on. Mata of course has experience in the EPL and this could be important to the balance of our attacking trio as he can show Oscar, Marin and Eden how to keep composure under pace which is vital in forming a penetrative attacking midfield to combat the crowded and organised defenses of the EPL. So wing wise we have Marin, Eden, Mata and i know some won't agree but Ramires who when forced to play there last season under Robbie actually performed quite well scoring that ridiculous goal against Barcelona which i won't forget in a hurry. He isn't a natural winger by all means and i would definitely prefer to see him as our ball winning mid in a more central role but his work ethic is effective on the wing. Maybe over time we should look at bringing in a strong and aggressive winger maybe in the form of Hulk but for now I wouldn't be too disappointed with what Roman has given us for the forthcoming season in terms of pace, vision and skill I think it is enough to take us to the top of the league once again where we belong. The striker problem that is Fernando Torres has become nothing short of a debacle and the amount of times I have found myself willing Nando to succeed when watching him either in the stands or on the TV has weakened my belief that he will become the prolific goalscorer for us that he once was for Liverpool. Either way he is staying for another season and at least he was back in the goals for club at the end of the season and now for country and that is a promising sign for the season ahead. With Lukaku looking to go on loan Sturridge is another kettle of fish entirely, I just cannot work out what is true wishes are. Weather he wants to succeed with us as a striker I just don't feel safe with only having Danny as our back up forward going into the new season and this is why I think we should reach into our pockets and buy a striker in the form of Cavani now rather than leave it too late considering we don't have the Great DDA to rely on anymore. I say Cavani because he is a proven goalscorer who has experience in the Champions League and seems to deliver on the big stage. We are going to need a striker who can deliver in the big games because now we are European Champions every team is going to be gunning for us even more than they already do which probably means more defensive tactics and more walls to break down. Will and can Torres be the one to do this for us? God only knows! In conclusion I think the foundations have been there for a while and with the summer signings I was crying out for Roman to make last season this forthcoming year or so could be the vital 'overhaul' in which we see Lampard, JT, Essien, A.Cole and Cech nurture a new Chelsea team on and off the pitch. Now crowned European Champions I believe they will feel it is their responsibility and the only thing left to achieve here will be for them to help ease the new guys and what already has been built here in the form of Luiz, Cahill, Ivan, Ramires and Mikel to leave a solid spine for many future teams at Chelsea. p.s. Sorry If i missed out any specific players or formations to suit, I kind of run out of steam when editing the post. I will try and touch on other areas when considering how we can maintain balance with easing out the old and settling in the new.
