In the 16 years since Roman Abramovich threw his billions behind Chelsea Football Club, the Blues have been fortunate to have numerous
However, while the squad has generally had a core of quality, there has still been a smattering of names who will haunt the dreams of supporters, stinking up their sleep with misplaced passes, glaring misses, unfulfilled potential, eye-watering wages and inflated price tags.
Granted, things probably haven't been as thoroughly turgid as they have at Liverpool over the past decade or so as the titles continued to roll in despite the likes of John Obi Mikel and José Bosingwa.
But with
vs Newcastle (September 2010)
Chelsea: Ross Turnbull; Paulo Ferreira, John Terry, Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt; Ramires, Yossi Benayoun, Yuri Zhirkov; Gael Kakuta, Nicolas Anelka, Daniel Sturridge.
Subs: Alex, Josh McEachran, Salomon Kalou
This bleak his
This may shock you, but a defence featuring Paulo Ferreira, Patrick van Aanholt and club legend Jeffrey Bruma shipped four goals as the Blues exited the cup at the first time of asking.
As is typical of the man, left-back Van Aanholt did manage to get on the scoresheet as Chelsea went down 4-3 at Stamford Bridge.
A last-minute Shola Ameobi header won it for the Toon. Stuff of nightmares.
vs MSK Zilina (November 2010)
Chelsea: Ross Turnbull; Paulo Ferreira, Branislav Ivanovic, Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt; Ramires, Josh McEachran, Florent Malouda; Daniel Sturridge, Didier Drogba, Gael Kakuta.
Subs: Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka, Jacob Mellis.
Another Ancelotti special from 2010, as the phlegmatic Italian showed MSK Zelina all of zero respect in the Champions League group stage by fielding Turnbull, Bruma, Van Aanholt, McEachran and Gael Kakuta AT THE SAME TIME.
Somehow this Chelsea side (pictured at the top of this article) ran out 2-1 winners as King Carlo gave youth a chance against the Slovakian titans, and those names proved they were worthy of their current places at [retired], Wolfsburg, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Amiens respectively.
It was ultimately an ill-fated European campaign for the Blues, who were eventually dumped out of the competition by Manchester United in the quarter-finals. Little surprise considering state of the wider squad at the time.
vs Bayern Munich (May 2012)
Chelsea: Petr Cech
For all the millions and millions of pounds spent in the Abramovich era in the pursuit of European glory, it was José Bosingwa, Ryan Bertrand, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou who were all handed starting berths by injuries and suspensions.
The rest is history, as what could have been a nightmare somehow became a dream.
vs Wolves (September 2012)
Chelsea: Ross
Subs: Oscar, Marko Marin, Eden Hazard
Considering the riches at their disposal now, it is hard to remember a time when Chelsea's youngsters just weren't very good.
Well, if you look back to 2012 they had a host of youngster's whose ceiling was a tad lower than that of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount.
While this lineup will have struck fear in the Stamford Bridge faithful with the likes of Oriol Romeooooh, Lucas Piaarghhhhzon and Ryan... Bertrand playing, they actually put it a damn good showing and thumped then Championship side (were)Wolves 6-0.
vs Walsall (September 2015)
Chelsea: Asmir
Subs: Nemanja Matic, Pedro, Papy Djilobodji
Arguably the most terrifying of the lot is the eleven José Mourinho picked to take on Walsall in the League Cup in 2015.
It's rare when a front line is more likely to strike fear in your own fans than the opposition's, but that is a feat Chelsea managed with aplomb as trio of flops Kenedy, Loic Rémy and Falcao started up top.
Injury-plagued left-back Baba Rahman also got a start at left-back. He's now plying his trade in with Mallorca in La Liga.
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Source : 90min