Premiership Betting Preview - Chelsea
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Chelsea Look to Strengthen Squad But Tighten Their Belts
The 2005 ante-post Premiership betting market saw a huge plunge on Chelsea the season after owner, Roman Abramovich’s revolution at Chelsea had begun, when despite spending £100m, coach, Claudio Ranieri failed to land a single trophy. With the benefit of hindsight, the 6/1 available at PinnacleSports.com the following year represented amazing value, if bettors correctly anticipated that the arrival of Mourinho would be the crucial catalyst in the process of winning titles at Chelsea. In contrast, the Blues have never been shorter ante-post than last year after the Special One made Michael Ballack the Premiership’s highest earner and Andriy Shevchenko (£30m) its record signing, yet they failed to deliver the title. The message for Premiership bettors is – money alone doesn’t buy success, and in their early Premiership market PinnacleSports.com have installed Chelsea as second favourites 2.45 behind Man Utd.
Nevertheless, having spent £250million Roman Abramovich was rewarded with back-to-back Premiership titles, but that level of flagrant spending has proved unsustainable. When Mourinho needed defensive cover in the 2007 January transfer window, Abramovich’s answer was ‘Nyet’. The tension arising from this disagreement came close to ending their relationship, and was certainly a factor in the loss of the title and possibly their failure in the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool. Bettors must decide whether harmony has been restored.
In any case the new prudence at Chelsea looks likely to remain, chief executive Peter Kenyon, aims for the club to break even by 2009-10. After their league success in 2005, the club posted a record £140m loss, posing the question as to whether Mourinho can now succeed without financial carte blanche?
The first indication of a change in transfer policy is given by Mourinho’s first summer signing midfielder, Steve Sidwell. He should suffer none of the problems of adjustment after very successful first season in the Premiership with Reading, but it remains to be seen whether he has the potential to develop into the kind of world class player Chelsea need. Mourinho will be glad to finally welcome Brazilian central defender, Alex, into the fold after work permit problems. The Tank was a tower of strength at PSV and will be a superior replacement for the bungling Khalid Boulahrouz who may be followed out the door by Geremi and Paulo Ferreira.
Chelsea have been investing heavily in their academy, which is producing interesting prospects such as Israeli international, Ben Sahar (17yr), and Scott Sinclair (18yr) . However, with just one first-team start between them, they are players for the future and not the impending season, for which Mourinho will need reinforcements. The capture of Claudio Pizarro from Bayern Munich adds another attacking option but with 71 goals in five Bundesliga seasons, the Peruvian is hardly a goal machine.
Chelsea did lift two domestic trophies last season, but success is measured in Champions League victories and Premiership titles at Stamford Bridge. The expectation is that Mourinho must win at least one of these this term in order to see out his contract in 2010. While significant transfer activity at the club could be critical in tying down long term contracts for Lampard and Terry to allow them to concentrate 100% on the field.
Ultimately Chelsea’s chances next season may rest on the abilities of Jose Mourinho to flourish under financial restraint, while establishing complete squad unity while hoping his squad avoids the injury blight of last term.
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