STURRIDGE PRAISES THE OLD GUARD.

For any club to be successful you have to strike the right balance. You need the experience players combined with younger players to gel and if you do find the right mix, you will have a good chance of being successful.

It pains me to say it but look at Sir Alex Ferguson at United. He continues to do it season after season, he evolves his squad and his team to keep things fresh and has done it again this term with the likes of Wellbeck, Cleverley, Jones and Smalling.

Chelsea have done the same thing with Luiz, Ramires, Sturridge, Torres, Romeu and Mata.

It's the likes of Ramires, Mata and Sturridge that have taken most of the plaudits this term so far for Chelsea but Danny Sturridge was quick to point out that we cannot forget the role in the team and the squad that our experienced players have at the club.

He said:

"The disrespect I've seen towards the likes of JT and others is ridiculous. When times get hard, these are the sort of players who step up to the plate. It's not just the younger players people should be looking at, thinking they're the exciting ones.

Ashley Cole, JT, Lamps, Didier - these are the players which keep the team going. They are the heart of the team. They have been here a lot longer than I have, or any of the younger guys coming through have. They're the ones who are paving the way for us. I can only look up to them right now.

The younger players wouldn't be able to perform when faced with adversity - because we're not used to it, It's a big change for us.

But the older players have been through it. To have those players around the club makes your job so much easier."

(Source)
I'm glad that Sturridge has come out and spoken well about the experienced players because I do get sick of hearing about the Chelsea old guard and the fact that our side is too old and players need replacing.

It's not just as simple as that though as we found out last season by letting too many experienced players go and struggled when we had injuries and suspensions that cost us. Like I said it's about evolving the squad and eventually the first team and think about it, in two seasons we really have begun the process with the amount of signings brought here.

I wrote a blog post at the beginning of the season stating that "It's a big season for the old guard" and it still is. We need them playing their part if we are to be successful and I believe in time, all of them will.

KTBFFH

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