Between Carney Chukwuemeka and Cole Palmer, they have started five of Chelsea’s games so far. In those games, which has been the last three and first two, Chelsea scored nine goals, won three, drawn one, and lost one.
And in the five games we played without either starting, we scored five goals against AFC Wimbledon and Luton Town, and went three games without scoring a goal.
None of this is a coincidence and to be honest, is really quite obvious.
These two players are Chelsea’s ‘connectors’ between the lines and the ones who will make things happen in key areas between the midfield and the attack. Without players like this, we lack creativity and threat from midfield.
Going back to the first couple of paragraphs, the only game Chelsea lost when Palmer or Chukwuemeka have not been starting was against West Ham, when Chukwuemeka was forced off injured. I believe that if he stayed on, we would not have gone on to lose that match.
He obviously scored his goal, and he was bossing it in those key advanced areas all game until his injury.
This just goes to show the importance of such players, and of course, how badly we also miss Christopher Nkunku.
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Palmer and Carney are different players, but also bring a lot of the same assets. Carney is much more of a ball carrier than Palmer, but they both bring that creative threat in those vital areas of the pitch.
The massive problem for Mauricio Pochettino of course will be who he picks when all three of Palmer, Nkunku, and Carney are fully fit. Does he squeeze two of them in? All of them in? How does it work?
It’s a big problem, but as we always say, a good problem.
Carney and Palmer I think can certainly operate as 8s and be very effective, whereas Nkunku will need to operate in more advanced spaces and can be good out wide. Palmer and Carney I see better centrally.
Either way, to read the above facts on our games with or without them starting, is really quite eye-opening, but also when you really deep it, not surprising at all.
Of course we have lacked finesse in front of goal, but when Palmer and/or Carney are on the pitch, we are just naturally going to be getting more goals, same when Nkunku is on the pitch.
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