17 Apr 2016 09:30:51
For the first time in a decade Chelsea find themselves at a genuine crossroads. Like it or not the dynasty that was created by Mourinho's first tenure at the club has, like all sporting dynasties do, come to an end.
Before we survived on the remnants of this period and the longevity of a new manager wasn't directly linked to our abilities to successfully challenge for titles and cups. Often a manager would come and go but the silver-wear collection would continue to grow because, generally no matter who the manager was, the likes of Cech, Terry, Cole, Lampard and Drogba remained; and the winning ethos created, and installed deep within them, by Mourinho remained too. Last season Mourinho was able to eek out the last of this winning mentality but this season, even for him - the manager who created it, that well run dry. When John Terry's contract isn't renewed this summer the last member of these winners will be gone. But this is a natural conclusion to a sporting dynasty, and we should just be happy that we were here to experience such a period at the club we support; a period where we won everything English and European football could throw at us.
Now the process starts again and in Conte we have manager who isn't just another post Mourinho managerial appointment; it's his job to create a new playing identity for Chelsea and build a new successful dynasty - from the foundations to the roof. It might be a long process but we will see success come back to Chelsea. In our youth ranks we already have players who are used to success - they too have won everything thrown at them and some will surely bring this mentality into the first team by Conte and hopefully the likes of Clarke-Salter, Aina, Loftus-Cheek, Baker, Musonda and Solanke can become the spine of a new dynasty at the club and we, the fans, will get to see the club grow again and be fortunate to see another period just as successful as the last.
17 Apr 2016 19:10:00
Great post would love to see those lads you've mentioned become the spine of the team for years to come.