Chelsea Continue To Give Themselves A Strange Starting XI Problem
source : pexels
With Profit and Sustainability Rules becoming a far bigger beast in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign as the Regulators cracked down far harder on those clubs deemed to have not acted in good faith, some notable clubs continued to see themselves go unpunished, much to the shock (and not so much surprise) of fans in the wider world of football.
The Manchester City saga continues to rumble on with clubs like Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City taking the punishment headlines, but following the lavish spending by former owner Roman Abramovich, that pales into Todd Beohly's efforts since he took over back in the summer of 2022. Even regulars using https://smartpokies1.com/casinos/bizzo-casino-review/ could not have predicted the odds on the transfer moves they would make, especially in such a short space of time, but here we are. They can at least get an escape from all the football talk at smartpokies though.
With their capture over the weekend of Wolverhampton Wanderers star, 24 year old Pedro Neto, in a deal worth a reported £54 million and a seven year contract signed until the summer of 2031, since arriving at Stamford Bridge Boehly's and Clearlake Capital's spending has now breached the £1.5 billion barrier when it comes to transfers.
It has been £243 million by most calculations since June 14 and has gone on 12 players (often aged 21 or under) and leaves them with a bloated 50 senior man first team squad. Fans will know that there is a 25 man cap in place, with wriggle room for homegrown and Under 21 classified players.
Whichever way you look at it, that does not make for a happy dressing room, and Chelsea have, of course, just changed managers again when it seemed Argentine Mauricio Pochettino had finally begun getting some term spirit, cohesion and understanding into the group.
It is probably one of the biggest squads ever assembled, if not the most expensive, and there will undoubtedly have to be more sales before deadline day, and we will probably see a plethora of loans hit the headlines as well to recoup some money as the club look to balance the books, or at least give the perception of heading in that direction - however, if the rumour is right, their spending is not yet over. - which is just mind boggling.
Before a single piece of additional business is done they have eight goalkeepers, seven full backs, nine centre backs, 15 midfielders, nine wingers and eight strikers.
56 players where the vast majority would be considered accepted Match Day squad candidates. Enough for two very well known starting XI's, potentially a third not as well known XI (but have made their debut for the club or their country), but in any case it is just bizarre.
Starting XI Problem
Chelsea 4-3-3 on game 04-Mar-26 
Jörgensen (3.50)
Gusto (3.50) Fofana (3.00) Chalobah (3.50) Hato (3.50)
James (3.50) Caicedo (3.50) Fernández (3.50)
Palmer (4.50) João Pedro (5.00) Garnacho (4.00)
They had already reportedly had players sitting on the floor during team meetings under Graham Potter as nobody had thought to order more chairs, and that was with a squad of just over 40.
There are plenty of players who could still depart, rumour suggests that they are actively looking to move 14 more on for as much money as they can get with an eye to PSR, but the casual observer would note they have now run out of hotels to sell to themselves and people already have differing opinions on the spirit of that PSR loophole as it is.
This is a story that will undoubtedly run and run, but having mentioned their two well known starting XI's:
Starting XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia, Fernandez; Palmer, Nkunku, Neto.
Second XI: Jorgensen; Gusto, W Fofana, Badiashile, Veiga; Ugochukwu, Dewsbury- Hall, Chukwuemeka; Madueke, Jackson, Sterling. The eagle eyed amongst you will quickly note that both lists do not feature Disasi, Chalobah, Chilwell, Omorodion, Mudryk, Kellyman.
I cannot be alone in still having questions as to what their overall business and playing plan actually is?
- Chelsea FC
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