Month-In-Preview: January

January Preview : A Very Important Month.

January will be a month where all the games will be winnable. There will also be the excitement of the January transfer window. If we win all these games (and ideally, with the Manchester clubs dropping points) , while bringing in fresh players too, it will be a very successful month for the Blues. Let’s look ahead to what January brings for us.

Who/What we face :

Our new year starts with a relatively easy derby fixture at Stamford Bridge, owing to the awful form of our “struggling-for-a-win” rivals QPR, a very winnable game indeed.   The next game marks the start of our FA cup defense with an away day at Southampton where we again are the favourites. After that, we face Swansea City in the league cup semi-finals in midweek. The first leg is a home game where we should (hopefully) triumph. Thereafter, we face a tough, physical burnout game at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke City. Then there is another derby at Stamford Bridge where we welcome one of our biggest rivals, Arsenal where will look to win as we did at the Emirates, but the game will be a tough one. Following that is a trip to Wales, as the blues play the second leg of the last four of the League cup after which we face a trip to relegation-fighting Reading, which is again, a very winnable game indeed if we look at the current status.

All-in-all, a pretty winnable, decent month as far as fixtures are concerned but at the same time, a very important one for our campaign this season. Much depends on it and we should be doing well, ideally.

Transfer window :

As we all know, the much-awaited transfer window starts on the 2nd of January, as all the clubs start looking at the options they have and the fans will be eagerly looking at the news for the latest rumours for the new players coming in and going out of their clubs. We have work to do in this transfer window. Our squad depth has been a problem this season, especially in midfield and up front. We have only 2 forwards and with one reportedly on his way out as soon as the window starts, we need re-inforcements. We also have a midfield problem, with not many players available for the double pivot. We will need midfielders as well and quality one’s. That will also be something to look forward to with the new year dawning.

Hope this is a very positive new year for the blues and for all our readers. Happy new year.

Konark Antani (@ExorbitantBlue)