We’ve reached the midway level of the Premier League season, and it’s been a usually fascinating and unpredictable one for Chelsea and their followers.
There have been quite a lot of opinions about how the Blues would get on this season, however even essentially the most optimistic of pundits didn’t have them doing so properly that they’d the possibility to prime the desk at Christmas.
Sadly Enzo Maresca’s males blinked within the face of such lofty aspirations and drew at struggling Everton. Then within the three video games since they’ve obtained worse reasonably than recovering their type – a defeat to Fulham, a defeat to Ipswich, then a draw with Crystal Palace to make it 4 with no win.
They’re nonetheless clinging on to a spot within the prime 4, however any discuss of title aspirations are lengthy gone. Liverpool, who might have been overtaken on that fateful night time at Goodison Park, at the moment are a full 8 factors and a sport in hand clear.
Nonetheless, a title race was by no means life like. Maresca stated it himself many occasions. So what are Chelsea’s actual goals this season? A take a look at odds – and you’ll learn extra right here – present that the Blues are nonetheless closely favoured to make the Champions League locations. In fact they’re helped by the truth that there are more likely to be 5 groups from the Premier League who qualify this yr.
We’d agree with the bookies on that – we’ve seen sufficient from this staff to suppose they’ll get again into gear and begin profitable once more. However there are additionally causes to be nervous.
Chelsea haven’t simply had some unfortunate outcomes, they’ve been measurably worse on this poor run, going by the stats. Shedding Wesley Fofana to harm has damage them each defensively and in with the ability to play increased up the pitch. Romeo Lavia’s harm points haven’t helped preserve the midfield contemporary both.
Then there’s the competitors – Nottingham Forest appear like the actual deal. They’re not only a harmful staff to play, they’re a real menace to make the highest 4 now. The identical goes for Newcastle, who all of a sudden look a terrific staff once more now Sandro Tonali is again of their midfield. Bournemouth have misplaced a few key gamers to harm this week, however they’re adequate to trigger anybody hassle – as we’ll discover out in our subsequent Premier League sport.
So whereas the highest 4 (and even 5) ought to nonetheless be our intention – the previous couple of weeks present that nothing could be taken without any consideration.
