They say the table doesn’t lie, and it’s true, unless you’re using the table in October to make sweeping statements about potential title winners. In which case, the table lies! It lies through its teeth! I was one of many deceived by Chelsea’s early promise this season. As October 2012 ended, Chelsea were top of the pile, a point clear of Manchester United, with nine games played. It might not sound a lot, but that’s a quarter of the season. Sure, they hadn’t had the toughest start, but some of the football they were playing was magnificent, and while it was a bit of stretch to call them potential champions, the future was looking bright.
Since then Chelsea have given up a 20 point swing to United, with a little over a quarter of the season left to play. In truth, the reversal says as much about United’s relentless consistency as it does about Chelsea’s fragility. But, given the money spent on Chelsea’s squad, being this far off the pace and out of the Champions League is a poor return.
Benitez or no Benitez, the current Chelsea squad is probably not good enough to win the Premier League. This is an outrageous statement to make, given the talent that it includes. Chelsea do have some wonderful footballers, but they do not have a side built to endure the sustained pressure of a title push. They can devour weaker prey, but struggle to seize control against stronger sides. If we leave the misfiring Fernando Torres sulking in the corner, the remaining evidence suggests a problem with their midfield – even though their most consistent performer in the centre of the park, Frank Lampard, is scheduled to depart – hello irony!
Chelsea have Ramires as a box to box type player, and Mikel as the ‘stand around a bit, pass it sideways’ type. But, pretty much all their other options are attacking midfielders who do their best work in the final third: Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Marko Marin, Victor Moses, and Oscar. Oh, and they also have wide players like Gael Kakuta and Kevin De Bruyne out on loan.
There may not be another European side as well covered in twinkle toed footballers, but with one or two injuries they’re forced to play David Luiz in midfield. You cannot expect to sustain a title winning challenge with such an imbalance in the squad. Thankfully for Chelsea, there are two options available to rectify this problem. The first is the now familiar massive spending binge; the second is the ridiculously talented Nathaniel Chalobah.
Born in Sierra Leone and a graduate of Chelsea’s academy, Chalobah has represented England at various youth levels. He captained Chelsea’s victorious side in the 2012 FA Youth Cup. But, a more telling indicator of his talent occured in July 2010, when Chelsea’s manager at the time, Carlo Ancelotti, introduced the 15 year old Chalobah as a substitute in a first team friendly. Having joined Watford on loan last August, Chalobah quickly established himself as a regular first team player and has become an integral part of the Hornets’ successful season (who am I kidding – we are totally kicking ass). He has the physical attributes associated with the prototype modern midfield general – tall and athletic (I know, I know!) – but, it’s his natural awareness and assured touch that impresses most.
The incredibly simple things he does stand out, like the way he gives a little feint as he receives a short pass, just enough to send his marker the wrong way and give him time to turn. Or, the way he can play a first time pass perfectly to teammates when under pressure. He also seems to possess a freakish sixth sense that makes him a magnet for loose passes. You can work on a player’s technique, and on tactical drills, but the ability to read the game is surely a much hard attribute to acquire. There have always been footballers who seem to have more time on the ball than others, and who seem to know where everyone is around them. It’s what sets them apart. And, you can see these special characteristics in Chalobah’s game, and he’s only eighteen years old! I know what you’re thinking, anyone can look decent in the Championship, eh? Well, no, actually, they can’t. If Lee Cattermole dropped down a level he wouldn’t suddenly turn into Michael Laudrup.
The risk for Chalobah is that whoever is in charge at Stamford Bridge next season doesn’t fancy throwing an unproven youngster in, not when they’ve got Roman to placate. Recent history doesn’t point to many examples of Chelsea’s academy graduates being given a chance in the first team, especially not in such an important role, but the next manager’s hand might be forced a little by the looming Financial Fair Play regulations (alright, maybe not, but they might not have £50million to spend on midfield, either).
It sets up an intriguing summer reunion at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground between Chalobah and his squadmate, Josh McEachran – currently on loan at Middlesbrough and finally getting regularly first team football after being hyped for several years as Chelsea’s next big thing. McEachran’s clocked up 30 appearances in a decent Boro side, but could find Chalobah’s just nudged in front of him.
There may be opportunities for both to get some minutes in a Chelsea shirt next season. If Lampard departs as expected there will be an even bigger hole in Chelsea’s midfield roster, so it seems unlikely they’ll both be sent out on loan, again. Then again, if Watford are promoted, Chelsea may decide to give him another season with the Hornets and some valuable Premier League experience. That’s a big ‘if’, though. And in any event, this is Chelsea, so predicting what will happen a month from now is a pretty futile exercise, never mind next season. One thing’s for certain, the stories linking rival clubs with Chalobah will not disappear if Chelsea can’t make room for him. He’s far too good to waste.
