Thiago Silva joining would show Chelsea has not learned their own lessons

Thiago Silva to Chelsea rumors are heating up. His signing would show the Blues have not learned their lesson about bargain buying and stop gaps.

Thiago Silva was a generational centerback. His calmness and poise at the back was a big reason why Paris Saint Germain’s project was able to build as quickly as it did. The important part of all that? It is in the past tense.

Silva is 35 going on 36 basically when the new Premier League season starts. Older, experienced defenders have found success in the Premier League, John Terry being one of them. But there is an asterisk that makes that possible that everyone seems to be ignoring: style of play.

Silva would be a bargain buy given it would be a free agent signing. He would obviously be a stop gap at his age. Recent history has shown Chelsea almost always gets both of those wrong. The fans ask for players that improve the team now and in the future rather than plan B’s and temporary solutions. Silva would be both yet many seem excited about the prospect of him joining.

The excitement seems to be primarily based on his “leadership” and experience which are both fine traits. The former is one fans often cry for but without being in the locker room or behind the scenes honestly have no idea about. Beyond that, a leader at one club is not necessarily a leader at another. The experience bit is there for sure, but many are also making the false equivalency of Silva’s past ability with his current ability. They are not the same and should not be treated as such.

Beyond all of that, Silva is simply a poor fit for Frank Lampard’s tactics. Lampard likes to play a high line with an aggressive press to shield it. If the press fails, the defensive line can easily be caught out if they cannot physically get into position quickly enough. Silva has the reading of the game to nowhere he needs to be, but not the ability to get there as quickly as Lampard would require. Marcos Alonso shares the same problem and is often blasted for it. Yet with Silva, it is either being ignored or not believed.

And it’s not even a case of Silva being able to play in a high line or not, it is an issue of him actively not wanting to. Unai Emery tried to get him to do it at Paris Saint Germain and failed (obviously). Beyond that, Emery said Silva sitting deeper forced the rest of the team to follow suit. That is really not the type of player Lampard needs to improve his backline.

Silva signing would be a poor fit on level with Gonazlo Higuain (who many also believed would fit right in and bang on despite literally all evidence to the contrary). It would be a signing of such Plan B, C, or even D quality that it would match that of Davide Zappacosta. Chelsea should have already learned these lessons in the last few years. If the sign Silva, it will be clear that they did not learn them at all.