Many Chelsea watchers have convinced themselves the transfer ban is a good thing: build a team of young players and set up a dynasty for the coming years. But just because the youth should have a clear road ahead does not mean they will.
Chelsea, as it stands, have a great opportunity to do the unthinkable: build a team rather than buy it. The transfer ban looming over the club has its negatives, but in the overall development of the club, this could only be good news. The ban will be a good reset for the club in terms of spending, and it will force a manager to work with who he has rather than make excuses about who he doesn’t. But more importantly, it will give the youth players – loan army and academy alike – an opportunity to earn a spot. Or so the fantasy goes.
Although this theory sounds poetic, the ban itself will not guarantee the youth any opportunities. In fact, it may just do the opposite and destroy their chances of ever reaching the team.
Why the pessimistic contrarianism? Consider the reality of Chelsea’s managerial philosophy. It is simple, really: if the manager doesn’t win or is not in absolute control and harmony with some players, he is sacked. That alone is the biggest problem. Whoever takes charge of the team next season will have to win silverware because he’ll want to keep his job.
But giving young players a substantial opportunity and winning trophies do not go hand-in-hand.
If young players are to be used, it will be in the League Cup and FA Cup. After all, some of these players have already played in the lower leagues and can surely hold their own against lower-table teams of the Premier League.
However, these two trophies are also the only trophies Chelsea could realistically win while under a transfer ban with a first-year manager. Taking the risk to play an inexperienced bunch is highly unlikely.
On top of that, some senior players have signed contract extensions and will expect to play most games. If history has thought us anything, it is that some players, because of their seniority rather than ability, will protest for lack of play time. If they are not satisfied, the manager will lose control of the dressing room and, thus, get the sack.
More significantly, Chelsea’s actions after the ban expires will not be to continue the growth of young players.
What will Chelsea do as soon as the ban is over? Easy. Buy players, and lots of them.
Assuming the club saves some millions and loses in all competitions, the only course of action is to rebuild from the ground up. The club will buy superstars in every position, from the defense all the way up to the strikers.
But to do that, they will need to sell players, both for the money and space on the roster. And not just the senior players whose services are no longer needed, but the youngsters who were never deemed good enough.
In the best of cases, even if they are not sold, they will be sent out on loan, keeping them out of the team. Perhaps a couple of players young players will stay at the club, but only for an extra season or two until they are replaced by another super star.
The idea of Chelsea finally developing the youth is a romantic one. The academy players have won just about everything at their level and should be getting a chance at the senior level.
However, reality for them in the coming seasons is bleak, at best, just as it has been in the past.