Matt Law’s piece today for the Daily Telegraph is really an appreciation of Chelsea’s good form and the potential they’re showing to be a real force this season and beyond.
The Blues’ B team swatted aside Gent and now attentions turn to a winnable game against Nottingham Forest before the international break. Beat the Tricky Trees and we’ll be in the top four, and looking upwards. Games against the top teams in the next couple of months give us the chance to do even better.
The big picture is bright too – our average age in starting lineups this season has been an incredible 23 years and 228 days. That’s not just lowest in the league, it’s miles lower than anyone else. Our nearest competition are Bournemouth – and they’re on average TWO years older.
Timing lines up perfectly for Chelsea to challenge at the top
Law makes the interesting point that the youth-first strategy being employed by the owners is perfectly timed if the team can continue to be pushed towards the top. The main competition for trophies, in the form of Manchester City, are coming to the end of their cycle. Pep Guardiola will go at some point, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and others are coming to the end of their career, and City have the 6th oldest average starting team in the league this season.
While Liverpool have changed manager, their squad is also getting older – Mohammed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson. Arsenal are younger, but still not as young as Chelsea.
If we keep getting better as they all keep getting older, the timing is perfect for us to peak just as they all go through periods of transition. Of course there are so many factors involved, but it is certainly lining up nicely for a return to the top.
