The New Look Attack-Minded Chelsea: More Goals, More Problems for Manchester United, Arsenal & Liverpool
The 2008/09 Season is literally two weekends away and already excitement is growing up and down the country as the anticipation for another Premier League campaign kicks in. Once again, big money signings have arrived, new managers installed and new teams are about to experience what competing in the best League in the world is all about. Here’s part one of our preview to what is exciting us in the run up to the 2008/09 campaign:
The New Look Attack-Minded Chelsea
The Premier League title battle will be fought by the usual four clubs next season though one of those teams may have changed drastically from what we have known over the past few seasons. That team is Chelsea.
Despite not being regarded as the most adventurous coach in the world, Chelsea’s new main man Luiz Felipe Scolari arrived at the Bridge with an excellent reputation. Unlike Avram Grant who struggled to win over the pundits, players and fans alike, ‘Big Phil’ should have no such problems. Like Jose Mourinho, Scolari is a huge character and his first appearance in front of the press banished fears of both language difficulties and his inner confidence to do the job.
Steadying the Ship
When Scolari inherited the job he was expected to lose a number of his key men such as Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho. Instead, all have remained at the Bridge whilst two of his Portugal side have joined. The Brazilian Coach now has a vast array of attacking midfield talent boosted considerably by Deco’s arrival. The signing of Jose Bosingwa also signals a new approach to the machine-like Chelsea of old.
The Portuguese right-back is one of the most attacking full-back’s in Europe and should mean that Ashley Cole’s defensive shackles will be released allowing the England full-back to return to his wing-raiding days of old. The rigidity of the Blues side over the past few seasons may well be replaced with a new attacking style especially if the mercurial Robinho signs as expected. This new offensive approach is needed if the Blues are going to challenge the likes of Manchester United this season. After all, they struggled to compete with a number of sides goal scoring feats last season despite their multi-million pound line-up.
More Goals = More Silverware
Under Avram Grant Chelsea scored just 65 League goals last season, this meant they were the 6th highest scorers in the division. This figure is just not good enough for an owner like Roman Abramovich who thirsts for ‘sexy’ attacking football like that of North London rivals Arsenal. After all, United scored 80 goals, the Gunners 74 goals, Aston Villa 71 goals, Liverpool 67 goals and Tottenham 66 goals.
Even at fortress Stamford Bridge where Chelsea remained unbeaten once again, they struggled to score anything like the number of goals United scored (47 goals). The Blues 36-goal haul left them trailing behind United, Spurs (46), Liverpool (43) and Arsenal (37). It explains why the boys from the Bridge dropped 14 points at home compared to United’s five points, despite not losing a game under Grant.
Away from home Chelsea gained more points than any other side but still were outscored by 3 Premier League sides in United (33 goals), Arsenal and Villa (both 37 goals). The Blues may have scored 29 goals on their travels but it was their mean defensive record, the best in the division of just 13 goals conceded that led to their excellent points haul.
If Chelsea can improve their offensive play without losing any of their defensive solidity then Scolari may well be about to taste Premier League title success at the first time of asking. Premier 10 and Footy 15 players should be aware of this more attacking Blues side next season and predict accordingly. The dull grinding 1-0 Chelsea home wins of old may well be a thing of the past. So expect big improvements under the tutelage of Big Phil, I know Abramovich is!
Blues to Close the Gap
The Blues did not have the best of campaign’s last season but still finished just 2 points behind champions United as well as reaching the Champions League and Carling Cup finals. So with a new approach, new signings, the lack of the African Cup of Nations and more luck with injuries Chelsea should be one of your first choices on Premier 10 and Footy 15 this season as they will surely be one of the front runners for the title.
After all, Scolari has won the League title, domestic cup, the Copa Libertadores, the Recopa Sudamericana and narrowly missed out on the Intercontinental cup with Brazilian club sides. Whether Scolari can duplicate that South American success in the hurly burly of the Premier League is debatable and the Brazilian’s appointment can be seen as somewhat of a gamble for Abramovich. However, if you are going to have a gamble, why not gamble on a man who has won a World Cup!
Read part two: Liverpool’s Deadly Striking Duo
Read part three: The Rise and Rise of the Black Cats
Tags: Arsenal, Avram Grant, Chelsea, footy15, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Manchester United, Premier 10, Tottenham
