Source: Telegraph
Didier Drogba key to Chelsea problems
1. Ageing side[LNB]With an average age of 28, the 11 who started on Sunday aren't exactly ancient. United's average, in fact, was only marginally lower. Unlike the champions, however, Chelsea's seasoned band only boasted one player (21-year-old John Obi Mikel) under the age of 26.[LNB]The bulk of this side have grown up together, which is great, but there are no obvious replacements waiting in the wings. Will Franco Di Santo, for instance, emerge as a top-class striker? It's safe to say the young Argentine has an awful lot of improving to do first. [LNB]So, while Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping to profit from the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jonny Evans and perhaps Cristiano Ronaldo for many years to come, Luiz Felipe Scolari is looking at a hugely expensive rebuilding programme just to maintain standards at Stamford Bridge. Worryingly, though, that's going to be out of the question, with Roman Abramovich now tightening those famous purse strings.[LNB]2. No change of pace[LNB]Chelsea's build-up play is a little too pedestrian at the moment, with no change of pace to mix things up. With Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Deco on hand, there's certainly no shortage of passing ability. The trouble is, it's all very similar. There's no one on the scene to add variation and vitality by speeding up the tempo with, say, a burst of acceleration to beat a defender or two. On this point, the steam train that is the injured Michael Essien has been a big loss. [LNB]But you have to go back to the days of Arjen Robben to find a genuine dribbler in the ranks, someone suited to running with the ball with skill and pace. The Dutchman had his faults but at least he was unpredictable. There's not enough of that now.[LNB]3. Stop the full-back, stop Chelsea[LNB]Opponents have cottoned on. Stop Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa from bombing up the wing and you go a long way to nullifying the whole team. Liverpool were probably the first to successfully manage this, coming away from the Bridge in October with a disciplined win.[LNB]Scolari, after all, has always worked this way – asking his full-backs to provide the width by constantly overlapping to join in with attacks and supply crosses. Yet when the opposition work extremely hard to counter that tactic by pinning Cole and Bosingwa back with their own wide men, Scolari's game plan begins to look frail. Consequently, to give him more options, the coach could do with buying a penetrating winger.[LNB]4. Didier Drogba[LNB]Chelsea have built their success on a system requiring its lone centre-forward to be up for the fight, to be working the channels, outmuscling defenders and generally putting himself about. When that doesn't happen, the whole thing breaks down, with the team robbed of an attacking focal point.[LNB]Drogba, therefore, could hold the key to an upturn in fortunes, just as he led the charge during two title-winning campaigns. If he could somehow find some form again, rather than looking like a player who would prefer to be somewhere else, many of Chelsea's problems would instantly disappear.[LNB]As for attempts to pair Drogba with Nicolas Anelka, it's been a shambles so far. The two don't look as if they want to even give it a go. In any case, this particular group of players are much more familiar and suited to 4-3-3.[LNB]Scolari's main job is therefore quite clear – persuading Drogba his future lies in London before coaxing out the best from this temperamental powerhouse. If the Brazilian can pull off that little miracle, the other moving parts would click easier into gear. [LNB]5. Lack of hunger and spirit[LNB]Having said all of the above, the team that took to the field at Old Trafford were extremely talented, the strongest Scolari could have wished for, and certainly capable of doing much better. In fact, if Jose Mourinho had still been in charge he would have probably picked the same 11. [LNB]It's highly unlikely, though, that they would have folded in quite the same manner during that second half, which points to a problem with team spirit and desire more than personnel.[LNB]It seems from this distance that something's not right in the dressing room, whether we're talking about individual players rocking the boat or Scolari and his staff struggling to handle the egos.[LNB]Whatever the reasons, a strong hand is needed to reinvigorate a squad leaking precious self-belief. [LNB]
