How Chelsea Spent £800 Million and Got Away With It
Aug 15, 2023
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Culture Cams and Lyes Bouzidi join James Allcott to discuss Chelsea's spending, Liverpool's recruitment challenges, the importance of the 'six' position in football, and analyze Neymar's career choices.
Chelsea lacks experienced leaders in their squad, relying heavily on their manager to solve issues on the pitch.
Chelsea's strategy focuses on long-term development, aiming to build a team of young players that can challenge for titles in the future.
Chelsea complies with Financial Fair Play regulations by spreading expenses over several years and making profits through player sales, allowing them to make big signings while maintaining financial stability.
Deep dives
Chelsea's young squad and the need for experienced players
Chelsea's team is made up of young players, and while they are talented, there is a lack of experienced players to guide and lead the team. Reheem Sterling, alongside Tiago Silva, are the few experienced heads in the squad, but they may not be enough to provide the necessary leadership in challenging times. The team relies heavily on their manager rather than players solving issues on the pitch. This lack of experienced leaders could pose a challenge for Chelsea when they face difficulties or hit a wall during the season.
Chelsea's significant spending and squad development strategy
Chelsea has made significant investments in their squad, spending around 207 million pounds this summer alone. However, their strategy focuses on long-term squad development, with the aim of creating a team that can challenge for titles in the future. They have signed young and talented players like Romelu Lukaku, and while they have a lot of potential, the team may still be a season or two away from becoming genuine title contenders. The strategy seems to be centered on building a strong foundation now and gradually integrating these young players into the team's core.
The financial implications and loopholes in Chelsea's spending
Chelsea's spending has raised eyebrows due to the significant amounts involved. However, they are still in compliance with Financial Fair Play regulations by spreading the expenses over several years. By signing players to long-term contracts, they can split the costs and make it more manageable, despite the high total figures. Additionally, Chelsea has also made significant profits through player sales in recent transfer windows, allowing them to continue investing while staying within FFP guidelines. The financial strategy employed by Chelsea enables them to continue making big signings while maintaining financial stability.
Liverpool's Difficulty in the Transfer Market
Liverpool is facing challenges in the current transfer market due to the inflated prices of players. In the past, Liverpool has built its team by sniping players from lower leagues for lower transfer fees. However, the current market makes it almost impossible to sign players for less than £50 million, even if they play in lower divisions. This shift in the market has made it more difficult for Liverpool to acquire the players they want at a reasonable price.
The Evolution of the Number 6 Position
The role of the number 6 position in football has evolved over the years. Previously, the number 6 was seen as a destroyer, responsible for breaking up play. However, in recent years, the number 6 position has become more crucial in possession-based football. They are now responsible for dictating play from deep midfield, connecting the defense to the attack. As a result, the demand and transfer fees for top-quality number 6 players have increased significantly, with teams willing to pay large amounts to secure their services.
James Allcott welcomes Culture Cams (@CultureCams) as well as Lyes Bouzidi (@LyesBouzidi10), who makes his 'Ripple Effect' debut. The trio dive deep into what recent transfer goings-on mean for the Premier League but also for Europe. How are Chelsea able to spend so much? Have Liverpool just shot themselves in the foot? What is Neymar's legacy? And of course, what's next for all the teams involved?