What is VILLAS BOAS thinking?

I hope it’s not what Carlo thought, the major mistake in Carlo’s reign was that he believed that the team was strong enough to challenge on all fronts. Yet they fell to Newcastle at Stamford Bridge (Carling Cup), then lost to Everton at Stamford Bridge (FA Cup), and went down to an unimpressive Man United side twice (during the Premier League and the Champions League).

Looking at the team at the end of the double winning season, it was obvious we needed to buy and buy a lot. But instead of buying we kept on selling – actually scrap that, releasing players which led to the team failing to win anything. Now the trend begins again, we have released at least four young players, and I am sure there will be more to follow – It’s appalling to a diehard and committed Chelsea fan.

We are tired of all the speculation surrounding new players, it is time to dip our hand into the transfer kitty and get players in so they can start the pre-season with the rest of the squad. Right now we are short for pre-season because of the Copa America game. Ramires and David Luiz will need to have a slow start or they could struggle come the end of the season.

There are players out there to be bought, talk of a move for Bolton’s Cahill have gone quiet – Do we think he is not good enough for us? I don’t think this is the case, I am sure he would jump at it. If we must send Sturridge back on loan to Bolton as I have been hearing (let’s hope our unproven strike force delivers, I would prefer Sturridge to stay until January), maybe part of a deal should see Cahill come to the Bridge.

The delay about the Pastore deal and others in the South American competition is understandable, but what about Lukaku and the other players we’ve been linked with? My concern is that our delay could cost us. As we wait, other clubs circle the players. Surely we can move faster get these players into pre-season preparation?

Or, is it a case our new manager is thinking what the great Carlo thought? Our squad is not the way it used to be, we have experience and strength but we lack skill, creativity and pace.

In my last article I suggested the addition of a right wing player, a keeper, an English defender, a goal scoring central midfielder and “no releasing of any main players”. We need these new additions – not replacements and we need to get them fast, really fast.

And now, we have lost Essien ….

Stan Blue