So, let's hear the way-too-early wants, needs, predictions predict actions, etc. for your team......
1. Will Jose be fired, like every other manager under Roman who finished a season without a trophy? No. But he won't be allowed a second trophy-less season, either. And he knows it. So I expect a few big-money, big-name purchases.
2. How much of the old guard sticks around? If it were up to me, I'd keep Terry, and let Lampard and Cole go. I'm also curious what the prognosis is on Cech's shoulder. Ideally, he's healthy, Courtois is brought back into the fold, and you let those two battle it out for the #1 job. But it's not up to me, and I think Jose still loves his old man players. Wouldn't surprise me to see all of Terry, Lamps, and Cole back next year.
3. Striker situation. Eto'o's contract is up, and Jose implied that's it. He also said Torres likely will be back, and that he likes him as a player, likes his work rate, likes his movement, etc.; he just doesn't score enough. Maybe he's just pumping him up publicly to stir up some interest in him, who knows? I think the club would sell him, but I don't see anyone offering big enough wages that Torres would agree to it. So I expect he'll be around. If any good offers came in for Ba, I'd like to see him sold, Lukaku brought back in, Torres kept (I guess), and someone like Costa brought in.
4. Key needs. For one, Chelsea need a guy who can take a decent free kick. Lampard is still decent, but he doesn't play all the time and might not be around next year. Oscar and Willian take a bunch of them, and they're usually bad. Luiz drops a zomgamazzzing free kick goal every now and again, but puts 20 of them into the upper deck in between those goals. Chelsea have a big lineup -- Terry, Ivan, Cahill, Matic, etc. -- but they don't take advantage of it enough, because most corners and free kicks are shit. A goal machine striker is also needed, obviously. Not enough goals. The games Chelsea dropped against "bad" teams weren't usually 4-3....they were 0-0, 0-1 type games with a bunch if inaccurate shots.
5. I'm all for defensive discipline and stressing the importance of clean sheets, but I'd like Jose to get more aggressive against the bottom of the table teams. Maybe run a 4-1-3-2 and really push for a couple first half goals. An attitude adjustment might also be in order for those games. I don't expect Chelsea to repeat this year's top of table success: 6 points each against Liverpool and City, 4 points each against Arsenal, ManU, and Tottenham. That means they'll have to eliminate many of the losses/draws against smaller clubs.