Okay, the cash infusion into Chelsea afforded by the club's purchase by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is naturally a Very Good Thing. Being able to buy players is of course better than being crippled by debt. But let's take a look at the Chelsea midfield. Returning are Jesper Grønkjaer, Frank Lampard, Emmanuel Petit, Mario Stanic, and Boudewijn Zenden, a very solid group indeed. This summer we've spent £17 million on Damien Duff and £7 million on Geremi, two fantastic players as well. Just today it was announced that Chelsea have reach an agreement with West Ham to buy Joe Cole for £6.6 million. And constantly swirling are the rumors that we may also snatch Juan Sebastian Veron from Manchester United. So that makes 8 world class midfielders. Now, we can field 4 or 5 a match, and we should try to establish a consistent squad of starters, so that means 3 or 4 are left on the bench week in, week out. I see trouble brewing.

The situation with the defense is not much better. Celestine Babayaro, Marcel Desailly, William Gallas, Mario Melchiot, and John Terry will be competing with new arrivals Wayne Bridge (£7 million) and Glen Johnson (£6 million) for the 4 or 5 starting spots. Problem is, Chelsea has always been in need of strikers, moreso now that Stamford Bridge icon Gianfranco Zola has returned to Italy. But there's been nary a bid, lest any interest, in forwards this offseason (save for an audacious and somewhat far-fetched attempt to pry Raul from Real Madrid). Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will hopefully shoulder the load, with some assistance from blossoming youngsters Mikael Forsell and Carlton Cole.

On the upside, looking at the squad as a whole right now, i'm getting more and more antsy about seeing this super-squad finally take the pitch.