Chelsea fans will be delighted with the start that the club has made this season as we are currently sitting two points clear at the top of the league and have negotiated the Champions League group stages with ease, but does the team lack a plan b?
The Blues have failed to score away from home at some of the bigger clubs such as Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
I’m not suggesting that we should automatically be winning these games or that it is a disaster if we don’t, but finding it hard to score away from home is not something we want to be struggling with later down the line. I think it could be something we may have a particular problem with in the Champions League especially, where we seemingly had no answer to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan side’s tactics last season (unfortunately fouling Didier Drogba at set pieces was very much a part of those tactics).
During Sunday’s game in midfield it was clear that we missed the driving force of someone like Frank Lampard and Michael Essien in particular, so perhaps things will be different when we get that pair back and Drogba firing on all cylinders once more as he makes his recovery from a fever. But perhaps it is worth bearing in mind that the backups to the above may continue to struggle in the tougher games and Carlo Ancelotti may wish to rethink his reluctance to sign anyone in the January transfer window.
If there was an area I would like to strengthen then it would most likely be another striker. I’m quite happy for Nicolas Anelka to lead the line in Drogba’s absence in most games, but he seemed to struggle against a stern Liverpool defensive unit and these days he seems more comfortable in a wider berth in support of the main man.
But of course good deals in January are hard to come by. It is also made much more of a task as you want to find players who are still eligible to play in Europe, so is going back for Neymar an option (he’ll be expensive at any time of year), or even his team mate Ganso? Players like that could possibly produce that something different and that extra flair – which can be particularly important in European football where games become tight and players like Wesley Sneijder can make the difference as Chelsea experienced first hand.
Perhaps another option is a change of system – which could see the return of Ancelotti’s originally preferred 442 diamond formation. I would argue that we probably have players who would suit that position at the top of the diamond, where we were lacking last season and reverted back to a more familiar 433 formation which Lampard thrived in. Perhaps the likes of Gael Kakuta or the impressive Josh McEachran could play behind the front two during Lamps’ absence.
Perhaps I am just being a little melodramatic and still suffering the hangover of defeat, but I don’t think it would hurt to try to develop an alternate style or even bring in a fresh face or two in January.
Do we lack a plan b? If so, how should we rectify it?
Chelsea haven’t been playing well lately, I’m not sure if the players are exhausted cause of the schedule but I doubt so since Ancelotti do rotate the squad. The game against Blackburn was an example of us scrapping a win despite not playing well. But against big teams such as Man City and Liverpool, we were simply outclassed. Yeah we can argue that we have several key players injured BUT that is just an excuse for big clubs like Chelsea. I do agree we need fresh faces in the team, someone with experience such as Schweinsteiger, whom will be a great addition. Let’s just hope we’ll bounce back for Fulham’s match first. KTBFFH.
Thank you for your comment, Zahara. I think sometimes we lack a certain spark and perhaps rely on Drogba a little too much, so I wouldn’t be against seeing new faces as long as they are the right ones.
I don’t think we need another striker, because we have Borini. What’s wrong with trying him? He did score 5 in a reserve match. I know there’s a big difference between the PL and reserve, but it wouldn’t to hurt to give him a try. Play him in the CL now that we guaranteed top spot. Kakuta and Sturride supporting. We might be suprised.
I don’t think Borini is ever going to get another chance and will probably leave us for nothing, unfortunately.
Dear all ,
on my opinion i think their is missing things that is plan B and spark and also tactics are zero ,i believe Ancelloti has to go other wise he will put us in a big hole which will take alot of pain and hard to take.He is worse than scolari.even if will have beautifull players in the world still for him is nothing.Ray use to help him either you agree or not but that is the truth,now we just move like empty box on the water outside look good but inside is empty.i know managment wants to be looking good because of our reputation of kicking manager’s but believe me you have to act first otherwise we are gone with a wind in 60 seconds.we lost carling cup, fair enough,we lost the FA not acceptable,we lost the premier league and i guarantee we will not win or be in the final of UEFA championship .worst to the worst even chelsea will loose a lot of millions prepare to play mickey mouse competition .ooohhh my god i start to feel pain from now.