Top three comparison

[northernblue 2]

Just read this article in the Telegraph which compares the strengths and weaknesses of us, Arsenal and Manchester United. You can read it here, but if you just want to know the Chelsea facts, they were:

Strengths

Consistency - Chelsea have now had much of the same team for five years, both in terms of starting XI and those tasked with supplanting and supporting them. Replacements need no bedding-in time.

Quality - Neither United nor Arsenal can match the players at Ancelotti’s disposal in terms of top-class experience throughout the squad. Chelsea have 20 senior international players, most of them the cornerstones upon which their national sides are built. It is a priceless commodity.

Weakness

Numbers - Beyond those 20 players, the options are more limited. Several bright young things occupy the reserve slots, but the likes of Gael Kakuta and Danny Sturridge, no matter how talented, are yet ready for the responsibility of a title challenge.

The African Nations Cup - The greatest obstacle to a third Chelsea title in six years comes in January, when Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel depart for the ANC. How they cope in that month will go a long way to deciding the title.

[Term-X 7,891]

yea, that's more or less spot on.

[Steve 10,227]

True.

[diskoviolente 425]

I don´t see why we shouldn´t win the games while ACN....

[BlueLion. 21,491]

When you look at our fixtures during the period of the African Cup of Nations, I don't see why we can't win all five of those games. The likes of Burnley aren't exactly the same as playing United at Old Trafford, and so on.

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Porbably the possibilites of one of those players getting injured and having an affect for the aftermath months?

[diskoviolente 425]

Every opponent hopes that we will sleep during ACN, so we must take care that we don´t. Easy as that, means, that we have to keep our available squad fit and healthy (rotation policy) and maybe ad one striker to the squad as well (if our young guns can´t step up ).

lets don´t forget even without our african lads we still can play a really strong team...

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Well we've just put Arsenal in their place.