Chelsea’s limp title defence and tenth-place finish shocked us all here at the Transfer Tavern last season.

Nobody could fathom how a side who had won the league so convincingly the year before, and was managed by a world-class manager like Jose Mourinho, was suddenly losing every other week and flirting closer to relegation than the Champions League spots.

In the end ‘The Special One’ had to go.

Once the ship had been partially steadied by the experienced Guus Hiddink, Chelsea announced they were hiring Italy coach Antonio Conte to take the reigns.

The former-Juventus manager has had a decent start to the season, managing ten points from 15 but more importantly instilling a never-say-die attitude in the Blues squad and ensuring they fight to the final whistle.

In the long term, Conte will be tasked with reshaping a squad that is starting to show its age, particularly at the back, and to cast off those who aren’t earning their keep.

But who in the Chelsea squad isn’t worth their wages?

BRANISLAV IVANOVIC

Chelsea’s Serbian right-back is surely on last orders now.

Named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for 2014/15, Ivanovic was always slightly suspect defensively but made up for it with his marauding runs and aerial presence in the box.

Even the attacking threat seems to have dried up somewhat in recent times, meaning there isn’t a lot Ivanovic can contribute to the team.

Chelsea punters here at the tavern are screaming for Conte to shift Azpilicueta back to the right, with the Serb likely soon to be shown the door.

GARY CAHILL

You know you should be worried when David Luiz is the more solid of your centre-back pairing.

In Chelsea’s 4-2 extra-time win over Leicester, the Brazilian was the man chasing down lose balls and performing last-ditch tackles while Cahill looked out of his depth.

It’s an unfortunate sign of the times but the England international hasn’t been his solid self for a couple of years now.

With David Luiz setting the Blues back £32m and with John Terry and Kurt Zouma set to return from their respective injuries, Cahill’s days in the first team would appear to be numbered.

THIBAUT COURTOIS

Some might see this one as controversial, but Courtois is not earning his wage by any stretch.

The Belgian boasts a measly 50% save percentage from Chelsea’s first five games, stopping only 6 out of 12 shots on goal, according to Squawka.

The Belgian was another who had a good 2014-15 campaign after Mourinho had faith in him to take over from club legend Petr Cech. Since Cech has left for Arsenal, Courtois has repaid that faith with poor performances and announcing a desire to move to Real Madrid.

Conte should cast him out before his stock falls any lower.