In his debut for the Fancast, Simon Phillips analyses the current Chelsea squad.
Chelsea are currently experiencing a bit of a mess of form in 2018, and many wish we could start this year again. For me, there are so many issues that I can sit here and discuss all day. However, I believe that a few of our players are just not good enough, and here I am breaking down each squad member with my verdict.
Goalkeepers:
Thibaut Courtois
Of course, the Belgian stopper is more than good enough; he’s one of the best keepers in the world. But for me, his heart is not in it, and he has his mind on Real Madrid, whether it be this year or next, he will go soon. Can he be replaced? Absolutely.
Verdict – First team automatic starter.
Willy Caballero
A hugely underrated keeper who could be starting at the majority of most other Premier League clubs, we are lucky to have him as our backup. A replacement for Courtois? No. But would I be concerned if he had to step in as number one for a lengthy amount of time? Not at all.
Verdict – Important squad player.
Defenders:
Cesar Azpilicueta
Need I even bother here? Dave should be the club captain; he is of massive importance to Chelsea football club for many reasons. One of our few real warriors.
Verdict – Indispensable automatic first team starter.
Andreas Christensen
Being monitored with a magnifying glass by some currently picking up on every individual error. Has he been shaky in the last few matches? Yes, at times. But players make mistakes; he is a defender, so those mistakes have worse consequences than other positions on the pitch. He is still the second best defender at the club and will become indispensable.
Verdict – First team automatic starter.
Antonio Rudiger
I stated recently that he is a ‘liability’, this got misconstrued by most of my followers as me saying he wasn’t a good player. I merely meant he is liable to give away silly fouls in dangerous areas and can be clumsy. But do I rate him as a defender? Absolutely, he’s our third best in fact. But at the same time, could we have signed a better defender? Yes. Would Kurt Zouma do just the same job as him? Yes.
Verdict – Important squad player.
Gary Cahill
Will always love Cahill for what he’s achieved at Chelsea and the effort he puts in. He was always a much better defender playing in a back four, and at basic defending, last ditch tackles/blocks, there aren’t many better than him. But for me, he has now become surplus to requirements and should not be in the squad anymore, let alone captain. Bring in a youngster in his place such as Ethan Ampadu.
Verdict – Time to move on.
David Luiz
Regardless of his fallout with Conte/apparent injury. For me, he has always played in his wrong position, Luiz is a midfielder in my opinion, and anyone who follows me knows I’ve been saying this since 2011. He has the quality and influence to play a part in this team still.
Verdict – Important squad player
Ethan Ampadu
Huge, HUGE talent. Ampadu can play a number of positions, and he simply MUST be integrated into the first team squad next season, he’s ready, he does not need a ‘step’.
Verdict – Important squad player.
Victor Moses
Has that something about him, but unfortunately while always doing a job, I just don’t think he has enough about him anymore, and in my opinion, Dujon Sterling is better than him, as is Davide Zappacosta. So for that reason, he’s also become surplus to requirements, and there are better options we could bring in.
Verdict – Time to move on.
Davide Zappacosta
Has been a little hit or miss for me, often frustrating but also signs of class. But unfortunately, I can only see him ever being an average player, so…
Verdict – Squad player at best/sell on.
Marcos Alonso
Has a lot about his game that is and has been crucial for Chelsea in the last couple of years and is a decent player. But for me, he doesn’t bring enough to the wing back role; he can’t beat his man, get down the line and deliver a cross. A good backup, but would not start for me, and there are much better options we could bring in.
Verdict – Important squad player.
Emerson Palmieri
Far too early and not enough game time to make any judgements.
Midfielders:
N’Golo Kante
I won’t even waste time writing…
Verdict – Indispensable automatic first team starter.
Danny Drinkwater
I was all for the signing of Danny; I insisted he would be a good squad player to have. But although he has shown signs of brilliance, I now believe he is far too average to be a Chelsea player and has nothing more than Kyle Scott can offer for example and he’s also nearing 30. Yes, it’s his first season at Chelsea, but he has bags of Premier League experience and has not shown enough for me. Can still turn that around though.
Verdict – Squad player at best/sell on.
Cesc Fabregas
Seems to be working out his defensive side of the game, did very well in that aspect against Barcelona. If that comes, good I’ve always thought that Fabregas would be an excellent deep-lying playmaker and still has so much to offer Chelsea. Could we sign a better player for that role? Yes. But Fabregas is still needed for his ability to come on and change a game/squad rotation.
Verdict – Important squad player.
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Kyle Scott
This is another young player who I rate highly and expect a lot from. Could benefit from a loan right now, but has all the talent to be a good all-round midfielder with a robust yet creative style of play.
Verdict – After a loan, important squad player.
Tiemoue Bakayoko
Purely for the reason that Didier Drogba was poor- in relation to later seasons – during his first season for Chelsea arriving from a foreign league, I am giving Bakayoko the benefit of the doubt. I can’t make a judgement in his first season in England, even though Michael Emenalo said previously that Chelsea currently buy and NEED ‘ready-made’ players and don’t have the time to wait. If I did judge now I’d be saying sell him, he’s awful. But before he joined he showed he seemed to be an excellent player and I still believe/hope he will come good.
Verdict – Unfair to make one yet.
Ross Barkley
A player who many Chelsea fans have already written off after such little game time so far, a player who is not rated by many. For me, however, I rate him. He’s not had a chance to prove his worth at Chelsea yet or show where he might fit in. But if used correctly and his form peaks, he’ll become hugely important.
Verdict – Important squad player (for now).
Forwards:
Willian
Underrated and inconsistent, the two contrasting words often affiliated with the Brazilian winger. He has shown a good run of form recently (one of the few) and is essential to the team. But can we invest in a better right wing option? Yes, I believe we can.
Verdict – Important squad player.
Pedro
The ageing winger has shown signs recently of dropping off the radar, while he still has a real threat, pace and work rate to be an asset all over the pitch – for me, he has also now become surplus to requirements, and Callum Hudson-Odoi is now a better option.
Verdict – Time to move on.
Eden Hazard
Hide him in a dungeon at Cobham this summer, claim he’s a new groundsman and change his name to Jim…
Verdict – Indispensable automatic first team starter.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Again like Ampadu, he’s good enough to be in the first team squad right now, does not need a loan or that ‘step’. Has everything about his game and will be world class in a few years.
Verdict – Important squad player (for now).
Alvaro Morata
The same as Bakayoko, it’ll be unfair to judge him on his first season coming from a foreign league. But on early signs for me, he has just mirrored a poor form, Fernando Torres. He ’s weak, he falls too much, plays poorly when his confidence is low and misses too many chances. But again, he’s scored many vital goals for us already and has shown many signs of genuine brilliance and class. He will come good; I believe that.
Verdict – Unfair to make one yet.
Olivier Giroud
I was happy when Chelsea signed him; I believe he is underrated and should currently be leading that Chelsea line from the off. But next season, he’ll be a great squad player.
Verdict – Important squad player.
Please note, these opinions are hypothetical and not entirely realistic. I’m not saying we can get rid of this player, that player and bring in two world-class replacements. I am merely rating players by my opinions. Although, the way things are going at the club, we could well be about to lose two essential players, thus bringing in potentially a lot more funds for replacements across the pitch… But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Written by Simon Phillips – @SiPhillipsSport
