Probable Chelsea line-up for 2008/9
Chelsea 2007/8 was one of the great nearly stories, runners-up in the League, League Cup and Champions' League - all to bitter rivals. But the season was also a story a transition with Jose Mourinho replaced temporarily with Avram Grant - who creditably created the form team of the second half of the season.
With Phil Scolari in charge the easy prediction is that he will immediately change half the side (he will certainly have the cash to do it) and new players are likely to be Brazilian or Portuguese to ease the language transition and simply because he trusts them and the way they play.
Therefore the pre-Euro2008 signing of Bosingwa (£16m) was probably a Scolari choice (even if the manager was not officially in place). With Cech and Terry assets to any manager there is little chance that Scolari will look elsewhere - but Carvalho is reportedly unsettled, a situation that Scolari should be able to calm. As Ferreira has operated for Scolari at left-back the new manager may opt for a largely Portuguese defence at the expense of Ashley Cole.
In midfield Makalele is probably now a squad player if he remains although Mikel-Obi is by no means guaranteed a place. The Brazilian-born Marcos Senna was for many the best player at Euro 2008 and although 31 he would be an ideal holding player for a couple of years - after six years at Villarreal he would jump at a chance of one last big contract. The arrival of Portuguese playmaker Deco (£8m) was not a surprise. Deco's arrival will probably see Frank Lampard move to Inter Milan because the form and gravitas of Ballack and Deco suggests that they would form a brilliant central midfield pivot.
In attack there is little doubt that a big headline move will be made; and as Kaka is probably unavailable a move for Ronaldinho - long courted by Chelsea - could this time be successful. Ronaldinho will probably cost around £30m - but would pay for himself in merchandising alone. The two quality goalscorers at Chelsea - Anelka and Drogba would enhance any team, but with Scolari's liking for clever players Joe Cole seems likely to retain his place. That leaves one central striker and although Drogba may get his wish for a move - big Phil is likely to fight to retain a player that is so difficult to replace.
If Drogba is allowed to leave then a huge move for someone like Torres will probably have been lined up.
Chelsea will inevitably be linked with dozens of players, but the core of the side - Cech, Terry, Ballack, Drogba - is formidable and will probably remain. Add in Bosingwa and Deco and the scope for further players is probably limited. The current team plus Ronaldinho and Senna would be hugely competitive.
Mourinho moved in Portuguese players at Chelsea, Arsene Wenger has favoured French at Arsenal and Rafa Benitez has leaned towards Spanish players at Anfield and so Scolari will look to build a side that is at least 50% Portuguese/Brazilian before the new season starts.
Typical 2007/8 line-up (league starts in brackets):
Cech (26), Ashley Cole (27), Terry (23), Carvallo (21), Belletti (20) Lampard (23), Obi (21), Essien (23), Kalou (24), Drobga (17), Joe Cole (28)
Subs: Cudicini (10), Alex (22), Ballack (16), Wright-Phillips (20), Bridge (9), Makalele (15), Ferreira (15), Malouda (16), Shevchenko (8), Sidwell (7), Anelka (10), Ben-Haim (10)
Probable 2008/9 line-up (6 changes):
Cech Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, Ferreira, Ballack, Senna, Deco, Ronaldinho, Drogba, Joe Cole
