No need to feel blue

James Marshment says Chelsea can be major title challengers this term if they gel quickly.

When he was appointed Chelsea boss 12 months ago, one of Andre Villas-Boas' main briefs was to oversee the phasing out of the club's old guard. For a good three seasons prior it had been widely documented that the Blues had an 'ageing squad' and would need to spend big to maintain their place amongst Europe's elite. While the AVB project fell foul in a pretty specutacular fashion, the Portuguese tactician can count himself unlucky given his major faux pas was trying to change too much too soon. Tottenham seem a far better fit for Villas-Boas and his time to shine in England will still come. His intentions at Chelsea were on the right track, and you only have to look at the present-day squad - and the way in which Chelsea are investing this summer - to realise that he simply wasn't cute enough in his handling of the Blues' senior pros. But rather than obsess over AVB's failings, the Champions League holders are very much on a high and will head into the currect campaign as buoyant as they've been since the Jose Mourinho era. Their triumph in Munich - so expertly masterminded by Roberto Di Matteo - certainly plays its part in that, but it is the playing staff that the Blues are assembling that should ensure the good times continue at Stamford Bridge. Rather than be the instigator of change, Di Matteo is merely continuing the project that was started last summer by his predecessor. But the key to any successful transition is the way in which staff are handled or, in footballing-terms, man-managed, and this is an area in which Di Matteo is clearly superior to Villas-Boas. With Didier Drogba now packed off to the Far East - his reputation forever cast in Blues legend thanks to a fairytale Champions League triumph - Di Matteo will likely next have to turn his attention to Frank Lampard, and his phasing out of Chelsea's first-team line-up. Strangely criticised over the years, Lampard will be remembered as one of the finest goalscoring midfielders to grace the Premier League. As such, he deserves to be treated with the respect that Di Matteo will no doubt afford him. But Lampard's role at Stamford Bridge is likely to become even more peripheral this season. It's certainly difficult to see where he will fit into the system Chelsea are expected to play. As such, he may have to adapt his game to a holding midfield role, accept his place as a 'super sub' or (more likely) move on to pastures new, where like Drogba, he can walk away from the club with his status as a club legend still very much intact. To date, the Blues have only actually acquired Marko Marin from Werder Bremen and (headline-writers' dream) Eden Hazard from Lille. Both fit into the attacking midfielder-cum winger mould, and their arrivals - together with the possible capture of Brazil midfielder Oscar from Internacional - will see Chelsea revert tactics to a more modern, slicker looking 4-2-3-1 formation. The imminent arrival of Oscar particularly excites. Described as one of the best young talents in Brazil, the six-times capped playmaker has all the attributes needed to become one of the next generation of world greats. Aged just 20, he together with 23-year-old Marin and Hazard (21) should form the nucleus of another period of domination in SW6. And you only have to look at January's signing of Gary Cahill (26), together with the emergence of Ryan Bertrand (22) to see that the long-term replacements for John Terry and Ashley Cole have already been taken care of. The long-serving Petr Cech may well be heading into his last season as Chelsea's regular first choice, as it is expected Thibaut Courtois (about to embark on his second season on loan with Atletico Madrid) will challenge for the gloves come the 2013/14 campaign. So all in all, Chelsea have most of their key positions covered for a good number of years. An ageing squad no more, this Chelsea team (providing they gel quickly under Di Matteo's stewardship) are possibly more likely challengers to Manchester City's Premier League crown than Fergie's men in red. A more dynamic right-back than current incumbent Branislav Ivanovic is needed to really get the best out of the new formation and it is perhaps surprising they are not trying to hijack Newcastle's bid to sign Hazard's former team-mate Mathieu Debuchy. Long term, they also could also do with another holding midfielder, but with Michael Essien seemingly on his way back to full fitness, they can probably put that plan on hold for another 12 months at least. The much-derided Fernando Torres should start the season as first choice and it may well be a much-improved campaign from the Spaniard, who will revel playing in a formation he will know so well from his time with his all-conquering national squad. Whether the Blues push through with plans to sign either Uruguayan powerhouse Edinson Cavani or Brazilian force Hulk remains to be seen. Either of them would fit perfectly into the new system. It may come down to which of the pricely pair is more obtainable. Whether it be Torres, Hulk or Cavani who spreadheads their attack - at least one of them can expect to be amongst the goals this season. Possible Chelsea line-up: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Essien; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres (4-2-3-1) Have your say on James' piece and rate the team he has picked by filling in the feedback form below...