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| The classic three, but for how long? |
With a combined cost of £132 million for Drogba, Lukaku, Torres, Anelka, Sturridge, Kalou and Malouda, they aren't cheap, with an average price of £18.9 million. They are all quality players in the own respect and all deserve game time, the trouble is Villas-Boas isn't likely to play a 2-1-7 formation, which he can't be blamed for. This means he's going to have a headache as bad as groom after a stag do with his selections this season. I explore the possibilities ...
Didier Drogba
Age: 33
Height: 6ft 2in
Weight: 84kg
Goals per game at Chelsea: 0.47
Drogba has been the leader of the attack at Chelsea over the last 6 seasons. Has had minor spells under Scolari where he was dropped for Anelka but has proved his undoubted ability to score goals by becoming the sixth highest scorer ever at Chelsea, and the highest scorer for all foreign players to play at Stamford Bridge. Had an out of sorts season last year, with malaria and Fernando Torres holding him back slightly but he still managed to get a decent goals total. Easily got another season at the top left in him.
Height: 6ft 2in
Weight: 84kg
Goals per game at Chelsea: 0.47
Drogba has been the leader of the attack at Chelsea over the last 6 seasons. Has had minor spells under Scolari where he was dropped for Anelka but has proved his undoubted ability to score goals by becoming the sixth highest scorer ever at Chelsea, and the highest scorer for all foreign players to play at Stamford Bridge. Had an out of sorts season last year, with malaria and Fernando Torres holding him back slightly but he still managed to get a decent goals total. Easily got another season at the top left in him.
Salomon Kalou
Age: 26
Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 71kg
Goals per game at Chelsea: 0.24
After a £9 million transfer from Feyernood, Kalou has failed to ever hold down a starting position in the team for the 5 seasons that he's been at Stamford Bridge. He does bring pace and Has been a super sub in ways for us, and had his best season in England for us last year, but a lot of fans believe he lacks the enthusiasm and talent to stay at the club.
Florent Malouda
Age: 31
Height: 5ft 9in
Weight: 73kg
Goals per game at Chelsea: 0.23
Goals per game at Chelsea: 0.23
Malouda was another one that failed to convince fans for the first year and a half of his stay. But the arrival of Guus Hiddink has revitalised the French winger, turning him into more of an inside forward than a winger, which resulted in him being top scorer last year for the blues. Getting old, but he hasn't started showing it yet, he should be good for at least a couple of seasons.
Nicolas Anelka
Age: 32
Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 78kg
Goals per game at Chelsea: 0.35
The journeyman, the most expensive player in the world on cumulative transfer fees, he's found a happy home at Chelsea, with 'Le sulk' smiling more than ever. Been pushed out to a wider role in the team to accommodate him and Drogba, he has embraced this though and is widely appreciated by the fans. It would be unfair for him to be sold off to accommodate for new players.
Fernando Torres
Age: 27
Height: 6ft 0in
Weight: 79kg
Goals per game at Chelsea: 0.05
The man with most pressure on him in world football. Expectations from a £50 million move need to be close to being met, this is the biggest season of Fernando Torre's life, it could make or break him, and Andre Villas-Boas' tenure as the boss. If he can find some of his Liverpool form, he will be a massive hit this season, if not, it remains to be seen.
Danny Sturridge
Age: 21
Height: 6ft 2in
Weight: 76kg
Goals per game at Chelsea: 0.22
The young pretender, has been ignored at Chelsea for the last season and a half, so he went to Bolton for the second half of the 2010-2011 season and showed us all what we were missing. He grabbed an excellent 8 goals in 10 games, and after a strong pre-season, he's shown us he's definitely ready for the first team. One of the potential stars of the premier league this year.
Romelu Lukaku
Age: 18
Height: 6ft 3in
Weight: 94kg
The new man. Has showed amazing potential in his time at Anderlecht and has been snapped up before anyone else could. Definitely one for the future, but can he match the first team level now? He has played senior international games for Belgium, but he is unproven at this level. Very like Drogba with an added burst of pace.
With all of these options, there is definitely trouble ahead for selection. In mind that Sturridge being suspended for the Stoke game, and Torres maybe injured, I would keep with the classic three of Malouda, Drogba, Anelka, especially against a physical Stoke side. Over the course of the season, I believe Sturridge will make a position on the right side his own. Torres's place will depend on form, and many fans believe he will find his form this season. If thats true, I believe that the first choice three for the season should be
Special thanks to Tom Higgins @hurricanhigginz for suggesting this article for me to write. Hope you enjoyed it and don't hesitate to get in touch either by emailing thechelseachat@gmail.com or by twitter @thechelseachat
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