Villas-Boas gave an interesting press conference in Hong Kong ahead of the upcoming pre-season matches in the Far East
While not actually going into specific details - he never does, I seem to notice - he announced that the team is focused on playing 4-3-3 this season with the added flexibility of changing that.
But it's the final comment that begs examination: "We tried 4-4-2 in a diamond against Malaysia, 4-2-3-1 against Thailand in the second half, so we are getting bits and pieces with other formations, and we are pretty happy at the moment and not focusing a lot on the striking positions."
Now, I'm not one to nitpick, but when the manager says he is not focusing on the striking positions, it does seems a bit odd - don’t you think?
Chelsea has Torres, Anelka, Drogba and Kalou and Sturridge at his disposal at the moment.
Sturridge and Anelka are earmarked to be farmed out on loan or sold should Chelsea be successful in bringing in Neymer, Lakaku and just about any other striker worth his salt.
What does that comment mean to those players?
Torres is still looking like a little boy lost - “he’s working very hard,” is the obligatory response when anyone asks about him.
Well I should hope he is working hard as should all the players - but it’s hardly a glowing testimony to him
Drogba looks to have won the battle to remain at the Bridge on his terms and a year-long extension on his contract should be signed on their return to Blighty.
For some reason Kalou still represents value to Chelsea.
Chelsea’s defence is still the meanest in the land - no goals conceded so far on this branding exercise tour is a testimony to that.
The midfield is an area of concern for the new Chelsea - the Barcelona/Chelsea.
An exceptionally creative midfielder is something the current side lacks.
Javier Pastore or Luka Modric appear to be the preferred option for the Blues while Yossi Beneyoun can warm the bench. Kaka long since discarded as an option - sadly.
But if Villas-Boas is not bothered to much about the striking options why should that be the case?
Is it a simple practical exercise in that there’s no point in working and expending too much time and energy on players that won’t be making a significant contribution to the team this season.
That’s what the players would deduce from that comment.
If I was Sturridge, I’d not unpack my bag when I get back - a loan beckons, methinks.
Anelka should probably be seeking how best to get to the head of the queue for a visa to America as the MLS looks like a nice place to play for a couple more seasons.
Drogba is not going to move for anybody and that attitude is something any manager wants to hear.
So the focus will fall on Torres. Yes he’s working very hard - but until that creative midfielder arrives and is able to feed the type of through-ball that made his stay at Anfield so devastating, it’s probably not worth focusing on at the moment.
Oh, that’s what Villas-Boas said - maybe he knows what he doing after all.