It’s been a while since I’ve been SO excited about a Chelsea attack. I’m gutted that we didn’t complete it with an elite number 9, but the rest of the attack is scary looking now.
For a while I’ve been wanting to see players with that x-factor at Stamford Bridge, those Eden Hazard-like players. I’m not saying the attackers we have are the same level as Hazard was yet, by the way. But you know what I mean, and we certainly now have a number of attackers with that x-factor.
We have a star studded attack now, and so much high quality competition. Adding Jadon Sancho and removing Raheem Sterling from it on deadline day this summer simply elevated it even more.
We have some really top options now all across those attacking midfield areas, and that really does excite and intrigue me, but it also creates some GREAT issues.
Every top side needs qualities options and depth, and I feel Chelsea absolutely do have that now in the attacking midfield position. But it does also create questions and gives Enzo Maresca one of the best problems you can have in football – a selection headache that he will be having ahead of every single match day, providing his top players remain fit.
Who is his best front four? What a question. Why is Christopher Nkunku getting stick? Genuine question by the way. On the odd occasions I do happen to reluctantly scroll X these days I’ve seen some criticism for Nkunku lately. Bit weird. I don’t think he’s lit it up yet, but he’s not been bad. He needs to settle and needs to play. But will he be a regular starter in this squad? I’m really not so sure at the moment. I do think he’s one of our best finishers though.
Cole Palmer seems to be the go-to in the central attacking midfield position which I like, with Noni Madueke on the right, and Pedro Neto on the left. But add Jadon Sancho to that now and what happens? Add Joao Felix to that now and what happens? Add Mykhailo Mudryk to that as well because he’s still here.
Thankfully we have a lot of games to play this season. But I’m wondering about how often players like Nkunku and Felix will be starting right now. Will they have to make do with bit-part roles off the bench? Will that be good enough for them to stay content?
Asking me to pick my best Chelsea attack right now is actually impossible – I’ll try and do it tomorrow I reckon.
I rate Sancho a lot, and if he can play the way we have seen him play before then he will be nailing down a regular spot, as will Neto. Madueke has started this season superbly and cannot be dropped, so he is going to have to keep his levels very high, as will Palmer. Nkunku, Felix, and Mudryk, when they come on are going to have to be world class. And this is all great, it SHOULD keep the levels so high and as a result, we SHOULD benefit from that on the pitch. That should be the huge positive from all of this and is how top clubs will operate.
I’m super impressed with the attack we have built (bar a true 9), and I am so intrigued to see how it all works and how much rotation we are going to see for different games.
I’m not even going to mention Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez (oooops I just did). And as for Carney Chukwuemeka, you all know I rate him highly, but he should not be here, he should be out playing and developing – he’s not getting a look in other than perhaps League Cup or early FA Cup?