Chelsea's January splurge has created new-found optimism that has been missing from the club in recent months. Since losing to Brighton in a game that ended Graham Potter's nine-match unbeaten start to life at Stamford Bridge, it has been a tough ride for fans, players and the head coach himself.
The Stamford Bridge faithful were told that they had to accept the 'new Chelsea' and the team in transition having just seen one of the most energetic and engaging managers in their lifetimes leave. Potter was a different choice thrust upon them and the relationship never truly kicked off.
Results worsened, the bad run extended with the promise of more dark times before the light returned to Stamford Bridge. But this is Chelsea, most thought. It only took 31 days to change a lot of that. There is now excitement heading into the Blues' first fixture for two weeks.
READ MORE : Every word Graham Potter said on Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea squad decision, James, Chilwell, Fofana
The prospect of seeing £238million worth of new signings in action and the backs to wall, us against the world, 'forever hated' Chelsea mentality is back. Add in the return to the squad for Reece James and Ben Chilwell, the Blues may well be in 10th place but the clouds have parted somewhat.
Whereas previously there was uncertainty over the direction and future of the squad there is a defined plan. All of the permanent winter signings were 22 or under, Joao Felix is just 23. It's the connection with these players and the return to 'old Chelsea' spending, causing anger in the wider footballing world that has seen some turn so much that they believe a top four finish is not yet beyond them.
The Blues are 10 points off the Champions League spots and do have a favourable run of fixtures ahead of them. However, Paul Merson thinks that those occupying the European spaces are too far ahead. Writing in his SportsKeeda column, Merson said: "It'll be near-impossible for Chelsea and Liverpool to catch up with them."
He also offered his view on the record spending last month, adding: "Chelsea have spread their payments over eight-year contracts and would've possibly made a profit had they sold Conor Gallagher. It's quite clever, but things change very quickly in the Premier League. You never know how good someone's going to be in six months.
"I think Chelsea will have to sell a lot of their players this summer. You can only have a squad of 26, and they'll have to trim it down. Some of the players on their way out will dig their heels in and want to be paid.
"It's all right to go bang-wallop-crash in the transfer market when you're beating the rules and not breaking them. But when you have a lot of players leaving the club, they're going to hold all the cards.
"Don't ask me to name the Chelsea team in the Premier League this weekend. I know they lost the reverse fixture against Fulham a couple of weeks ago, but I thought they were the better team on the day. They need to get on a roll somewhere, and this is a good place to start. I expect Chelsea to win this game."
Merson's prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
Chris Sutton also gave his own thoughts. The ex-Blues striker said: "These two sides met a few weeks ago, when new Chelsea signing Joao Felix was sent off on his debut and Fulham won 2-1. This time? Well, who knows how Chelsea will line up on Friday with all their new signings - including Enzo Fernandez, the £107million man."
Ironically Sutton was the Premier League's most expensive signing at one point. As for how his former club will get on against their neighbours, Sutton added: "Jorginho started their last game, against Liverpool on 21 January, and he has now joined Arsenal. Hakim Ziyech and Conor Gallagher were also in the team at Anfield and they were linked with moves away - especially Ziyech, who thought he was on his way to Paris St-Germain. Surely he won't be involved?"
"There are so many questions and there is simply no way Blues boss Graham Potter can know what his best team is now. I do like the look of Mykhailo Mudryk, who is incredibly quick, but selling Jorginho is very odd, even with his contract running out in the summer. All of this makes it very difficult to make a prediction.
"Fulham have lost their last two league games, without playing that badly, and with a settled team they should definitely play the more fluid football. But maybe this is the moment Potter's luck turns and he gets a break for the first time at Stamford Bridge. That's what I'm going with, anyway!"
Sutton's prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham
It was only last month that a 2-1 away loss to the Cottagers resulted in fans chanting for Roman Abramovich and Thomas Tuchel. It continued with cries of 'we want our Chelsea back.' They might just have got their wish.
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