It’s pretty difficult to preview and predict the 2018-19 Chelsea FC season until you know, for certain, how Real Madrid’s attempts to poach Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard will turn out. While the Blues are in the last chance saloon to buy players, with the window closing in about 60 hours from now, foreign teams can still buy English players all the way up until the 31st.
The good news is that Hazard looks very likely to stay (as a potential sale would almost certainly have to break the all time world transfer fee record), and that win or lose, the Blues will play a fun, entertaining style of football this season.
Reasons for Chelsea FC fans to be Optimistic:
Chelsea and Antonio Conte parting ways was long overdue, and now that it has happened, it’s definitely for the best. Owner and Vladimir Putin BFF Roman Abramovich has a ridiculously itchy trigger finger for his managers and it was clear since early last season that Conte was on the hot seat.
That tension loomed over everything, and now it’s gone, which should be very facilitating. And when you look at this roster, Hazard, Courtois, N’Golo Kante, Willian- you got to feel good about the prospects of a top four finish.
Reasons for Chelsea FC supporters to be Pessimistic:
With the two Manchester clubs finishing first and second last season, and bringing back essentially the same teams, plus Liverpool spending huge, cracking the top three is a really tall order. While new manager Maurizio Sarri brings a lot of great theories, ideas and excitement, he still hasn’t won a single trophy in his career.
Plus it’s going to take awhile for him to get his systems implemented and his players adjusted.
Summer Transfer Window/Offseason Analysis:
Because of the protracted negotiations over exit money, on both ends with Sarri and Conte, the transfer window couldn’t actually start until they got the manager situation sorted out. That delayed player acquisition, and thus the Blues only have one major signing in midfielder Jorginho.
Chelsea FC Players to Watch:
start with the aforementioned Jorginho (who is perfect for Sarri’s system and will work nicely next to Kante), Hazard (he easily could have won Golden Ball at the World Cup, and could use this season to vault himself into rarified air), Willian (it’s all coming out now that he got along with Conte as poorly as Diego Costa did, so it should be interesting to see how bright his star could shine this season), Courtois (was just world class in Russia this summer), Kante (it took us this long to mention the other former PFA Player of the Year on this roster??)
League Title Odds According to Betway: 14/1, fourth most favorable
It all Kicks Off: what the Community Shield wasn’t exciting enough for you? For real though, the Blues visit Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
Bottom Line Outlook/Prediction: Fourth
I’m a huge believer in Sarri, but I’m also a true believer that it’s going to take some time to get things right. Also, he’s having to start off behind the 8 ball just a bit, with Chelsea’s main stars coming to the team late after their post World Cup vacations.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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