This summer has not been the awful, long drawn out period of football-less torture most recent summers have turned out to be for me. I think this has to do with Chelsea bringing the first team squad, as well as some up-and-coming young players (i.e. Rajkovic, McEachran, van Aanholt, Sturridge, Chalobah, etc…) to Asia, including a short 3 days in Bangkok. I cannot begin to explain the fever-pitched excitement Chelsea created by being here, and despite the "friendly", and rather non-competitive, nature of the match against the ultimately rather disappointing Thai League All Stars, just being in the same stadium, breathing the same air as my heros filled me with happiness. It was absolutely surreal seeing the likes of Lampard, Terry, Cech and Drogba strutting around the pitch in their Chelsea jerseys. That will be an experience I take to my grave.
So, in addition to the brilliant reception they received in each of the 3 countries they visited on their Asian tour, Chelsea also took back 3 trophies from their 4 wins (1-0 versus Malaysian XI, 4-0 versus Thai League All Stars, 4-0 versus Hong Kong's Kitchee F.C. and 2-0 versus Aston Villa). I promise they did pick up trophies in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, even if most news sources neglect to mention anything about them and mention only the Barclay's Asia trophy they won in Hong Kong. I have to say, just from their ability to fill the national stadiums in Malaysia and Thailand, that these Asia tours, in addition to the success in recent years, is really putting Chelsea on the map in this part of the world.
An alternative view was recently proposed to me to explain the lack of desperation for the new season to begin: the lack of signings to excite the mind and get the juices flowing. I was of course of a mind to dismiss this out of hand. However, thinking about this a little more, I guess it could have some merit. It is difficult to imagine this same squad that at times struggled to create last season, remaining unchanged yet turning it around and winning everything in their path. I can't deny I still feel we are lacking just that little bit extra. What I will say though is that AVB has brought with him an aura of sensibility and stability to the proceedings. There has been little hoopla with regards to his arrival, and while many players were probably fearing for their futures a little, they now look settled and relatively happy. Also, a clear progression in the fitness and sharpness levels could be observed through their series of friendlies as the summer progressed. By the time they played Villa, you could see the fruits of the pre-season work. AVB must be praised for this.
The results were, of course, expected, as we really did not play anyone of much note, and none of the sides were really expected to give us too much of a torrid time. Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox will be another step up from the sides we've faced and should provide the platform required as we move into the start of the new season against Stoke away. By then, it would really be nice if we had another creative player on board.
So, which players have impressed on our pre-season tour? First up, Nicolas Anelka. I think towards the end of last season, when Nic sat out many games to accommodate the Drogba-Torres partnership, he probably feared the worse. That was probably the kick up the backside he needed too as he has looked focused and sharp in the pre-season for us, and looks like he knows he has a challenge on his hands. I still think this will be his last season with us, as he will be available on a free at the end of the season. But, if his performances are anything to go by, he will be an important part of our squad this season. Next, John Terry. JT has looked a colossus for us in the pre-season. He looks strong, sharp, fit and hungry. This is absolutely key to us having a good season. Third, Paulo Ferreira. Like Nic, I think Paulo probably feels like he is (or was) on the way out. But he looks determined to fight his way back into the reckoning. While Benayoun won man of the match against the Thai League All Stars, I have to say Paulo had a blinder. He was fit, haring up and down that right flank and putting in some good crosses. I am not at all certain both Paulo and Bossa will be with us at the start of the season but what I can say is that it would be 50:50 as to who may be replaced. Fourth, Yossi Benayoun. While Chelsea have not made any significant signings so far this summer (bar Courtois and, soon, Romeu), it will feel a little like we have a couple of new signings in Yossi and Studge. It is well-documented that our priority strengthening, if it happens at all, will be in the creative third of the pitch, an attacking midfielder if you will. If that does not come to fruition, we still do have a midfielder who could turn out to be key. The Israeli captain has looked fit and sharp in pre-season for us, after an injury-hit season for us last time round. If he can continue in this vein, I don't see why we should be too concerned with a lack of additions. We do need to keep him fit though. Fifth, Daniel Sturridge. I'm glad to see that Studge has continued where he left off last season for Bolton Wanderers. He has been used in the wide forward positions by AVB so far, and he has looked good - lively and deadly in equal measure. He'll likely struggle to break into the strikers position with Drogba and Torres ahead of him in the pecking order, but in a wide forward position, I think he has a good chance. We'll need him to do well. I also wanted to mention Slobodan Rajkovic. The young Serbian central defender who has spent most of the last three seasons in Holland has looked really, really good for us in the pre-season. I think the club need to do everything they can to secure him a work permit as he looks ready to step up and challenge the likes of JT, Ivan, Alex and Luiz.
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