The Need for a Starting Eleven ... and time!

Joe Cole. Frank Lampard. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Damien Duff. Eidur Gudjohnsen. Have I missed anyone?

If you believe everything you read in the papers, the above collection of stars, costing nearly £70 million in transfer fees, are all unhappy at Chelsea’s rotation system or are being lined up for moves abroad.

Well, my message to all interested is: HANDS OFF!!!!

Joe Cole is unhappy at his three starts for the blues, since his £6.6 million summer move from West Ham, according to many. Joe, however, has a different version of events. “I think I have come on bundles as a player since being here - and that can only be good for England.” Sound like a player looking for a move?

Frank Lampard is one the best midfielders in England. £11 million was over the top for him many said. He now has a permanent place in England squads, and is competing with Nicky Butt for the fourth starting position in midfield. Now Barcelona are apparently knocking at the door, and who can blame then. Thing is, we don’t need money any more! Last season, a decent offer from abroad and we may have had no option but to accept. These days it’s Chelsea who call the shots in the European transfer market, and never in a million years would Claudio be stupid enough to sell Frank Lampard. Barcelona and others can keep knocking, but I doubt there will be an answer.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. He’s another off to Barcelona one minute, then Wolves the next! Maybe even a return to Spain with Real Betis. Where is he now though? Sitting top of the Chelsea scoring charts, and still with his number 9 shirt. Maybe at the end of this season, Claudio may see fit to let Jimmy leave. At the age of 32, he will have his best years behind him, or will he? If Jimmy can carry on playing like he is, there’s nothing to stop him and no valid reason to drop, release or sell him. Jimmy is the only one who can determine his fate.

Damien Duff is another who has taken an immediate dis-like to not just the rotation system, but also the bright lights of West London. A homely, stay in sort of guy, Damien is reported to be homesick and longing for a return up North. He says he is settling in all right, just like any young man, setting off on a new adventure in his life, miles from home. He accepts the rotation system, and says he, like every other player, is just dying to play.

Eidur Gudjohnsen has already had whirlwind of a season! First he starts for the Blues and scores the first goal of Chelsea’s long awaited return to the Champions League, away in Zilina. He then is chosen to lead the front line on the opening day of the domestic season, at Anfield. He makes one glaring miss when through one on one with the keeper. He is substituted at half time, and replaced with a certain Mr Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who fires Chelsea a late winner. He is then dropped for the first home game under the new “Abramovich era” and watches as his replacement Adrian Mutu scores the winner, with a 25 yard pile driver. He returns for the home leg against Zilina, in which he strikes a post but looks fed up all game. He warms the bench for a couple of games, and returns against Wolves and Middlesbrough, awarded Man of the Match against Wolves and scoring against Boro. He then is recalled against Lazio of all teams! This guys has little to moan about, playing games, scoring goals, he is better off than most. Manchester City, Sunderland (!!) and Tottenham better take the hint that he is not for sale!

Claudio Ranieri has got the best squad in England, but is still looking for his best team. However in recent games, the nucleus of the team seems to be forming, as “Big Ron” Atkinson pointed out on ITV’s joke of a highlights show. He believes that the nucleus is:

Carlo

Terry Gallas Bridge

Makelele Lampard Duff

Mutu

(With other to fill the remaining 3 places)

This is scandalous! Marcel Desailly is the best defender Chelsea have. Glen Johnson has no worthy competition at right back, and his only threat would really be if Claudio decides to put Gallas at right back, allowing a centre back pairing of Desailly and Terry, to accommodate all three. Wayne Bridge is also looking very dodgy in a Chelsea shirt at the moment, so Celestine Babayaro would think himself very unlucky not to get run out sooner or later, when fit.

The midfield is about right, although, if Ranieri truly believes he has “the world’s best midfielder” in Juan Sebastian Veron at his disposal, is he really going to drop him? Would Roman Abramovich be happy to see him warming the bench?

Up front, I just feel so sorry for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Many think he is fourth choice, behind Mutu, Crespo and even Eidur Gudjohnsen, after Eidur was selected for the crucial Lazio game. He is our top scorer, and somehow, the big man always seems to get his goal. Whether it’s a scuffed shot at Wolves, a penalty against Blackburn, a tap in against Spurs or a combination of both his shins that he knew nothing about, against Manchester City! For me, the main man up top has to be Hernan Crespo. When fully fit, there are very few in the world to rival this guy. Up to now we have been limited to passing glances of brilliance, like his un-stoppable strike at Highbury and his 25 minute brace at Wolves. A personal tragedy, the death of his premature baby, has hit him hard, and he may not be seen for a bit, but when he is fully fit, settled in and in the team, opposition teams should be very afraid! Adrian Mutu is great, and works his socks off, and looks as if he is comfortable playing with anybody up front.

All in all, leave us alone!! Let our players settle in, get a regular starting eleven sorted, give them time to gel, then judge us!! Personally, I believe the team we fielded against Lazio was near our full strength. If all are fit, I would send out the below players, confident that they’d do the business.