Paul Scholes has accused Chelsea of going from one extreme to the other with their transfer strategy, questioning the club's decision to sign veterans Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck.
New Direction Under Alonso
Xabi Alonso's appointment as Liam Rosenior's permanent successor has coincided with a significant change in direction for a club that endured another chaotic season last term, failing to qualify for Europe. Chelsea have largely relented from signing untried youngsters from Europe and South America, instead focusing their recruitment on Premier League-proven players.
The arrivals of Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix typify that new approach, driven by Alonso, whose job description as manager rather than head coach is no coincidence. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder made it clear he would only accept his new role on the proviso he would have a greater say on incomings and outgoings.
Scholes' Criticism
Having been forced to abandon his pursuit of Granit Xhaka, Alonso has had a major hand in the shock signings of Welbeck and Henderson, who will both be expected to assume senior leadership roles in a dressing room that has sorely missed those qualities, particularly since the departure of Thiago Silva.
Chelsea collected a record eight red cards last season and regularly threw away leads, but Scholes has questioned how much of an impact their two new veterans will have if they aren't on the pitch regularly. He told The Overlap Fan Debate: 'Those two older players, it feels you've gone from one extreme to another, I can't get my head around it.'
'You've got a load of 21-year-olds, alright get some more experience at 28 or 29 but they're like 37 or 38. I get the Xhaka one, he's still a good player and he was brilliant in the World Cup. I think that's where he'll expect the most and that's where they're going to have most influence on the training pitch because they're not going to be playing all the time, especially Henderson.'
'Welbeck will still come on but that's where they're going to be most valuable. Look if Chelsea have got money to waste doing that then it's down to them isn't it.'
Carragher's Concerns
Those sentiments were echoed by Jamie Carragher, who was particularly puzzled by the signing of his former Liverpool teammate Henderson. The ex-Liverpool captain, now 36, has endured a nomadic career since leaving Anfield three years ago, with spells at Al-Ettifaq, Ajax and Brentford.
'I find it strange because I think the signing from Crystal Palace is really good,' said Carragher of Chelsea's decision to bring Henderson and Welbeck to the club. 'You've got a lot of young centre backs, he comes in, he knows the league and he's an experienced player. But you're talking about the issue on the pitch in terms of red cards and losing leads, throwing leads away. How much are they going to be on the pitch, Henderson and Welbeck?'
'That's my point, if they were 28 or 29 say like Tielemans in that age bracket. I know they're going to be great on the training pitch and we'll be getting hit with those stories if Chelsea make a great start it'll be Henderson and Welbeck are great in the dressing room. In terms of helping Chelsea with discipline which Chelsea need or helping see games out they could come on the last 10 or 15 minutes of games. But what Chelsea need help with is that experience on the pitch.'
'I understood Henderson going to the World Cup. People said he's not going to play that much, but it's only a six-week tournament, there's going to be players who don't play but when you've got a squad of 22 at some stage over a 10 month season you're going to need everyone at some stage. He will add something off the pitch but I think experience you need on the pitch I look at the lad from Crystal Palace as more valuable than Henderson coming in.'
