The SOS KICAP TIRAM
GOALKEEPERS
Petr Cech (30)
Last year’s player of the season, Cech has had a mixed season. Some outstanding saves have been mixed with an increasing number of mistakes. Most goalkeepers get better as they get older. I’m not sure that’s true of Cech. He’s been number 1 for 8 seasons and owes us nothing but needs stiffer competition to prove he deserves to stay there.
Keep or Release: Keep

Ross Turnbull (27)
Aside from a penchant for saving penalties, I’ve never quite understood why we signed him. His kicking is erratic, he’s not great on crosses and really just makes up the numbers. This is a no brainer.
Keep or Release: Release

Henrique Hilario (36)
Capable of the sublime and the ridiculous simultaneously. 1 year contract extension just signed so he’s clearly staying but I don’t expect him to play (my ‘A’ position, given his stellar performances for Atletico Madrid is Thibaut Courtois comes into serious contention alongside Cech).
Keep or Release: Keep (reluctantly)

DEFENDERS
Branislav Ivanovic (28)
A right back who is terrific in the air, who can also play centre back and scores a few really important goals. Whilst not flawless, one of our steadier performers this season and definitely one for the Keep net.
Keep or Release: Keep

Ashley Cole (31)
Like a comfortable pair of slippers, its hard to say goodbye but its time to do so. A chronic ankle problem and the ageing process has seen a dip in performance that is proliferative. Benfica on Wednesday shows he still has ambitions to be offensively creative but such incursions are fewer in number and less potent. With Ryan Bertrand and Patrick Van Aanholt as cover, the fat lady can clear her throat. Thanks for the memories.
Keep or Release: Release

David Luiz (25)
A poor showing against his old side at The Bridge can not detract from his increasing importance. There is still the odd gaffe (Napoli away sticks in the memory) but even his harshest critics would not argue he has turned in several Man of the Match performances in the first quarter of 2012. His surges forward are better timed and he has retained an eye for a goal but most importantly, he has stopped lunging in and taken a more safety first approach at the back. I want curly hair too.
Keep or Release: Keep

Jose Bosingwa (29)
Great strike against Norwich. Er that’s it. He has never been the strongest defensively but has been found wanting too many times and his positional sense is appalling. Use the recent 1 year contract extension to generate a transfer fee but Micah Richards or Cesar Azpilicueta he is not. Start the car.
Keep or Release: Release

Paulo Ferreira (33)
Away cameos against Spurs and Benfica are a fitting swansong for a loyal servant.
Keep or Release: Release

Gary Cahill (26)
I’ll give him the benefit of my continuing doubt as he’s still finding his feet. Needs his pace to overcome poor positioning and for me, remains a squad player. Has a goal in him but so do Terry and Luiz. Next season will be seminal.
Keep or Release: Keep (but must kick on)

John Terry (31)
Captain, Leader, Legend and all that. Not at his best in the early part of the season and at Christmas I thought his time was up. Remains lion hearted though and we look much better organised at the back with him there. Expect him to play less next season as his playing career winds down.
Keep or Release: Keep

Ryan Bertrand (23)
Time for the boy to become a man. Has looked accomplished when he’s had his chances and should have started against Man Utd at The Bridge.
Keep or Release: Keep

MIDFIELDERS
Michael Essien (29)
Injuries have taken their toll and he can’t get from box to box with his trademark driving runs anymore. His distribution is not strong enough to play the holding role. Terrific player at his best but time to move on.
Keep or Release: Release

Oriol Romeu (20)
Has fallen out of favour since a sub par performance against Man Utd at home but his performances earlier in the season indicated he has what it takes to be a regular next season.
Keep or Release: Keep

Ramires (25)
A tale of 2 halves. Terrific in 2011 and discovered a goal scoring fluency, his performances have subsided somewhat in 2012. Does not look to have fully recovered from injury as his lung busting runs are fewer and further between but I’m expecting great things of him next year.
Keep or Release: Keep

Frank Lampard (34)
“Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn”. There are so many superlatives used in relation to Lamps and rightly so. His very public spat with AVB bordered on odious (at worst) and was petulant (at best). Can no longer play twice a week and penalties aside, the goals are drying up. Caught in possession more now and distribution waning. I know many fans believe he deserves another season to try and break Bobby Tambling’s record but I don’t buy it. If we aspire to be the best and are really honest with ourselves, Lamps should have gone last summer.
Keep or Release: Release (cue the backlash)

Florent Malouda (32)
No pace, no vision, no future. Has had a truly horrible season. Easiest decision of all. Allez.
Keep or Release: Release

Raul Meireles (29)
Has interspersed some terrific goals with some truly lame performances. His goals against Birmingham and Benfica sandwiched an unforgettable display against Man City that was memorable solely for its paucity of quality. Clearly upset by AVB’s departure he may seek pastures new in the summer. If he doesn’t, he’ll have to accept a role as a squad player.
Keep or Release: Keep (squad player)

John Mikel Obi (25)
Much maligned, not least by me. I’ve never quite “got” Mikel and when Romeu was rolling out solid performances built around 2 touch football, this was exaggerated. I still think he wants too many touches but his tackling has improved and we need some steel in midfield. One more season.
Keep or Release: Keep (though I’ll probably regret it)

STRIKERS
Fernando Torres (28)
A stop/start season. The red card against Swansea (after a run of goals and games) derailed him for several months, particularly during Drogba’s absence at the AFCON. His general level of performance has improved and his work rate, apart from competing in the air, is good. We have still not delivered the type of ball he thrives on regularly enough but slowly the goals and particularly assists are coming. His star is slowly rising again. We must give him more ammunition next year and he must deliver at least 20 goals in return.
Keep or Release: Keep

Didier Drogba (34)
Rolled back the years at home to Valencia to take us to the last 16 but AFCON, injury (a sickening clash with Jon Ruddy against Norwich) and age have made for a below par season. His contract saga has been protracted and dull. Like Lamps, a Chelsea legend but in decline and I wish him all the best in his next home (and the continued success of his foundation).
Keep or Release: Release

Romelu Lukaku (19)
A chronic lack of game time and should have gone out on loan this season. Despite his physique, needs to work on his physicality, especially when challenging for balls in the air.
Keep or Release: Release (season long loan)

Salomon Kalou (27)
There is a reason why players rack up so many substitute appearances. Good when he doesn’t have time to think, inept when he does. No manager has trusted him to start regularly and he should now be at his peak. Move on.
Keep or Release: Release

Daniel Sturridge (22)
After a legacy suspension, a free scoring start to the season when he started to fulfil the club’s faith. Let’s be clear: he is not a Centre Forward and probably never will be. Moaning about playing on the right and wanting a pay rise has not endeared and most frustratingly of all, his decision making on when to pass or shoot is poor. A talent that should blossom next season if he let’s his football do the talking.
Keep or Release: Keep

Juan Mata (24)
Has adapted well in his first season in English football and his left foot has been at the heart of most of our progressive football. His lack of a right foot is glaring and he has dipped slightly as the season has progressed to the business end probably through overuse. Needs to shift his shooting radar by a few inches to stop hitting wood but his future’s bright.
Keep or Release: Keep

It may seem radical to be showing the door to almost half the current squad but if we aspire to remain at the top table of English and European football, an overdue recycling of our first team squad is needed.

With players including Josh McEachran, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Willian to come into the squad, with further strengthening, the future is bright. A word of warning though: next season will be transitional too. Don’t shoot the messenger!