In just 9 days time we will be back. I’ll be strolling down Fulham road, with my mates and possibly a drink or two heading into my usual spot in the Shed Lower. I cannot wait.
Last season was tumultuous, to say the least. I don’t think anyone could’ve possibly predicted just how bad a season was in store for us. Even my most conservative predictions would’ve had us just slipping outside of the Top 4. Not every did I think we’d end up 12th. So come 6pm on Sunday May 28th I was pretty ecstatic when Jared Gillet blew his final whistle and the nightmare at last came to a close.
Two months is a long time. Especially in football. Things have changed a lot in those sixty plus days since we last played a competitive fixture and I am now more excited than ever before for the season to get going again.
It’s been an incredibly busy summer on the outgoings front. Notable departures including but not limited too (takes a deep breath)… Koulibaly, Kovačić, Mendy, Havertz, Loftus-Cheek, Kanté, Mount, Azpilicueta, Pulisic and Aubameyang. Aside from the way one or two left, I can honestly say I’m not the least bit saddened by any of their departures in terms of their ability to contribute to our squad. Azpilicueta and Kanté both legends in their own right, but for all it was the right time to seek opportunities elsewhere.
The incomings excite me. They really do. Whilst we haven’t proved anything just yet, I feel a lot more confident in our wider scouting team’s ability to identify the correct profile of player and I can foresee big seasons ahead for both Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. When Wesley Fofana was ruled out for the season, we were quick to act and bring in Axel Disasi for a centre back spot which needed filling anyway with Thiago Silva turning 39 in September.
We’re still a couple of signings away from where we need to be going into the season. I’m optimistic that the potential signing of Moisés Caicedo will do a huge amount to fix the issues we’ve had in midfield for a number of years. He is the perfect profile. Young, technical, physical and above all else tenacious. He is the perfect signing for this team and I’m confident we’ll get it over the line in due course.
However, no incoming excites me more than the placement of Mauricio Pochettino as our head coach. I’ll happily admit I never really liked “Poch” when he was in charge of a certain North London institution. When Tuchel was sacked back in September, I wanted nothing to do with him either. Since then, I’m happy to admit I’ve seen the light. This charismatic Argentinian is everything we need to galvanise our current group of players and reset us on the path to glory. Put it this way, I don’t expect to see our players partaking in a walking press at any point this season.
Expectations for this season are tough. Poch needs time and it’s going to take longer than just a months intense pre-season to get our players to the required fitness level to implement his style of play but I expect to see big improvements over the next nine or so months.
Whilst many maybe won’t agree, I see no reason why we can’t make a challenge for top four once again this coming season. We’ve slimmed down our squad massively and you only have to look at 2016/17 to see what a team like ours is capable of when they’re not playing a game every 72 hours. As long as we can avoid Manchester City in the 3rd round of both the League and FA Cup, why can’t we go on a cup run?
Above all else, this is season is truly about rebuilding what we’ve lost at this football club in the last few years. More important than anything however, is that there is once again an aura of excitement circling around Chelsea Football Club. Something that has been dearly missed in the past 18 months.
Liverpool. Next Sunday. See you there.
The Shed Diaries 