Abandon 'off the shelf' approach: Chelsea's transfer policy

Everyone has a view on who Chelsea should be signing - or who they will sign (check out what the papers think here). Aside from a few token names, papers and fans alike almost exclusively seem to discuss the biggest names in football - Ribery, Aguero, Villa... This time last week we were buying Kaka for £73.5m.

If Abramovich is prepared to spend the kind of money needed to secure the services of these players, then that's all well and good, and of course exciting for the fans. But an 'off the shelf' transfer policy that revolves around looking for players that are established, world names shouldn't become the norm. We unearthed Robben in 2004. Man Utd found Ronaldo the same year. Barcelona found Messi when he was in his young teens. It can be done and not at such exorbitant cost. Much as been made of Chelsea's world class youth set up (by Chelsea it must be said) but - as Mourinho complained - it hasn't yet delivered. To become sustainable it has to, and the club need to show far greater nous in the transfer market.

The likes of Mancienne (who played and scored for England U21s on Monday), Sahar, Stoch and Katuka look promising, but in the push for honours the team hasn't been performing well enough to provide them with opportunities to play. Furthermore, the constant changing of managers over the past few years has left the club devoid of continuity and decidedly short-termist in approach, lessening the chances of these players breaking through further still.  Now rumours circulate that they are up for sale. All of this stands in stark contrast to Man Utd's purchase of Fabio and Rafael (the Brazilian twins) who have made an immediate impact in the first team at Old Trafford.

Of course, there is a balance to be struck - I'm not suggesting reverting to an Arsene Wenger-style policy of only blooding youngsters (which itself is inconsistent - compare the respective chances awarded to, say, Gibbs or Denilson over the past two or three seasons with Walcot, despite the potential of the latter). Some players of this ilk, like Kalou, have been given a chance, but Chelsea have been far less willing to take a risk on a player and have the prospect of a Nani or a Dos Santos on our hands than the rest of the so-called 'big four'.

This summer, Chelsea have been linked with younger, lower profile players - Sturridge and Arnautovic, for example - and perhaps this does suggest a desire to move  to redress the balance. Maybe Ancelotti will achieve success quickly enough to stay in the job and allow the club to follow a coherent transfer and youth policy. But therein lies the problem: purchasing these sorts of players presents risk, and if you set expectations sky high and won't countenance not meeting them, all risks become unnacceptable.

Comments

[TrueBlueDDP]

This is a very valid view. Our constant quest for holy grail seems to the problem here. Inconsistency with managers isn't helping either. I hope that we give Ancellotti fair chance and I really really hope Ancelotti will give our promising youth a chance.
This is what i think should be our list for transfer window.

In:
1. Ross Turnbull : Backup for cech
2. Daniel sturridge : 4th Striker
3. Yuri Zhirkov : Backup for Malouda & Cole.
4. Mark Noble : Future Lampard.

Out:
1. Hilario.
2. Deco.
3. Carvalho.
4. Mineoro.
5. Pizzaro.
6. Shevchenko.
7. Ferreira.
8. Ben Sahar.
9. Kalou (or may be give him one more season)

This is the most logical/realistic transfer list I could think of. Any opinions?

[KD]

@ TrueBlueDDP.
I hear what you're saying. Totally agree with your list of outs - will be sad to see Carvalho, Ferreira and Kalou go, but think it's probably time to move on. I think you might have gone a bit too unambitious with your ins - there are players out there who could be part of a long-term transfer policy who would bring a little more proven experience with them.
Either way, not sure it will happen - Roman's set on the Champions League which is going to stop us buying anyone who isn't good enough to play in that kind of game from day one.

[CFC_Forever]

Agree with you on Turnbull. He's a great player and by the sounds of things definitely leaving Boro. Would like to see a few more stars come to Chelsea than you're proposing though. I know what you're saying about building for the long-term, but who doesn't want to see players like Ribery and Kaka at CFC?

[KD]

People need to remember Messi wasn't a star before he went to Barca. Kaka wasn't a star before he left Brazil. Ronaldo wasn't a star before going to Utd. There are other ways to find quality players. What's our youth and scouting system doing?

[pb]

Though I agree that the youth/scouting system seems to be failing, there is one sign that it is slowly coming to life, in the signing of Philipp Prosenik, the austrian 'wunderkind.' Even as an Austrian I can admit that we are horrendous at football but this kid seems to have it in him. Hopefully, this situation can be repeated!

I don't think that the 6 + 5 rule will be implemented. The EU has and will block it as it discriminates against foreign workers!

[akpan gideon]

Common lets face dis head on,we all understand that the CFC team is ageing,d best opinion is to bring in
new players(young),it will do us more good 2 bring dem 4rm d academy,like stoch,manciennes,kakuta e.t.c
to play alongside d older players for a possible smooth transition.in d case of nations cup i think we need just a player like aguero.

[chingari]

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