Premier League Round-Up

The Passing of the Old Guard at Chelsea and India

Over the past few weeks, we here in England have witnessed the dramatic collapse of the Indian Test cricket team. Going into the recent four-Test series, India were the world’s number one Test nation. Now, a 4-0 series whitewash later, India have been displaced by England and now find themselves in third place in the overall rankings.

Various theories have been posited as to the reasons for India’s malaise this summer, from arguments about the impact of the Indian Premier League to criticisms of the Indians’ intense touring schedule. One inarguable fact about this Indian team, though, is that it is ageing and tired, and that there does not seem to be much fresh young talent waiting to burst onto the scenes to replace them.

India’s two highest-scoring batsmen in this series (and the two highest-scoring Test batsmen of all time), Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, and both approaching 40 years of age. Many column inches have been devoted to discussing how this series will almost certainly be their last on English soil, especially as Tendulkar was pursuing his hundredth international century. Along with VVS Laxman and RP Singh, half of this Test team are approaching the end of their careers, and the team is in a slump as a result. The players look tired and devoid of ideas, and there is no young blood coming in to replace them.

It is possible to draw a parallel with the current Chelsea team, except that the West London club is making a far bigger effort to address the problems of an ageing squad.

In the off-season, a traditional manager in Carlo Ancelotti was replaced with a young, inexperienced boss in Jose Mourinho protege Andre Villas-Boas. Last season, Ancelotti struggled to get the best of a creaking squad, which featured a number of key players who were all the wrong side of 30. Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Florent Malouda, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka – six crucial first-team players who have all passed their thirtieth birthdays.

Some effort was made to address this problem with the big-money signing of Fernando Torres, but the Spaniard struggled to settle in and has so far only scored one goal in a Chelsea shirt. Torres hasn’t looked right for some time now, but he has started this season reasonably brightly, albeit still without goals.

Last week, Chelsea drew 0-0 at Stoke City, and this week, only just managed to get past an organised West Bromwich Albion side at Stamford Bridge. Torres started both games, and was replaced by Drogba in the West Brom game when the scores were level. Once the Ivorian striker came on, Chelsea essentially reverted to their gameplan of the past three seasons, a 4-3-3 with Drogba as the spearhead. A winning goal was eventually found, courtesy of Florent Malouda, another of the old guard.

Villas-Boas is already encountering similar difficulties to those Ancelotti struggled with last term. He is finding it difficult to incorporate Torres into this team, and his team appear most effective when he resorts to bringing on Drogba and relying on his older players.

The signing of Juan Mata from Valencia this week may prove the key to moving on from the old guard. Torres thrives on short balls in and around the box, something which Mata can provide. He is a different kind of player to Malouda, less inclined to run to the byline and cross, and more disposed to cutting inside and looking for a through-ball. He may provide the service Torres needs to rediscover the form we know he is capable of producing.

If another sprightly playmaker like Luka Modric is signed, then this Chelsea team will begin to look much fresher. The transition away from the old guard will have begun in earnest, and a title push will probably be on the cards. Without this signing, they may find themselves left behind the youth and the millions of the two Manchester clubs. This would place them third in the rankings – just like the Indian Test side who are so struggling to win with their older players, yet cannot imagine a way to do it without them.

 

Talking Points

• Arsenal’s crisis has deepened this week following a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal were somewhat unlucky to lose after a calamitous own goal, but it’s possible to argue that the side’s almost complete lack of any experienced Premier League players cost them dear (albeit due to an unfortunate injury/suspension combination). The confirmed departures of Fabregas and Nasri will not help matters, and the Gunners season could be ruined for good if they lose to Udinese on Wednesday night.

• Sir Alex Ferguson seems to have found yet another crop of talented youngsters fit to grace the Old Trafford stage – although it must be noted that he has paid large sums of money for many of them. For all the eulogising over Ferguson’s skill at blooding youngsters, David de Gea, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling cost, in total, over £40 million. If only other Premier League teams were able to carry out such a youth policy.

• Roberto Mancini seems to be ready to pursue a more attacking style of football with Manchester City this season, but he should be careful it does not come at the expense of defensive stability. Bolton were able to get back into their match far too easily, and this frailty could cost them against better teams if they are not careful.

• Alex McLeish is making a good start to his Aston Villa career, crucial for his popularity with the club’s supporters. Steve Kean, on the other hand, will be in serious trouble if he does not pick up a victory soon.

Results in full:

Arsenal 0 – 2 Liverpool; Aston Villa 3 – 1 Blackburn Rovers; Bolton Wanderers 2 – 3 Manchester City; Chelsea 2 – 1 West Bromwich Albion; Everton 0 – 1 Queens Park Rangers; Manchester United 3 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur; Norwich City 1 – 1 Stoke City; Sunderland 0 – 1 Newcastle United; Swansea City 0 – 0 Wigan Athletic; Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 – 0 Fulham.

Advertisement