Chelsea Matters #1

The first week of 2017 has provided mixed fortunes for Chelsea with a 2-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur followed by a 4-1 win over Peterborough United at home in the third round of the FA Cup. We've also seen the departure of our long servant John Obi Mikel and the return of Nathan Ake from his successful loan spell at Bournemouth. Next weekend we play reigning champions Leicester City and in this blog I'm going to review all of the above events.

1 – Results

2 – John Obi Mikel

3 – Nathan Ake

4 – Next Match

5 – Transfer Market

1 – RESULTS

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Chelsea, away in English Premier League

Team: Courtois / Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill / Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso / Pedro, Costa, Hazard Subs: 65 Willian for Alonso, 79 Fabregas for Kante, 85 Batshuayi for Moses Booked: Cahill & Pedro

After a run of 13 consecutive league wins and 10 consecutive wins in all competitions it was disappointing to lose when we were so close to breaking the record. Had we beaten Spurs and then Leicester next weekend we would be the only team to have won 15 consecutive English top flight matches. There is not point in lingering on the 'ifs' of this world though. As the old saying goes 'if my aunty had bollocks she'd be my uncle' – make of that what you will. Many fans were devastated by Wednesday's loss and the Tottenham fans were understandably jubilant but I still think there were positives to take from the game. Let's face it after such a successful run of wins it had to end at some point and personally I'd rather it was against a top side like Spurs rather than a lower half side like Leicester City or Hull City, both of whom we face in the next few weeks. Despite the loss we are still five points clear of Liverpool and seven clear of Tottenham and Manchester City, with Arsenal eight points behind us and Manchester United ten. We play Liverpool on 31st January 2017 and Arsenal on 4th February 2017 and both games will have a huge impact on the title race.

Back to the positives from the Spurs game though and although they don't come from the performance itself I believe that it has shown Conte what needs to improve at the right time. There's no better time to see where your team's weaknesses lie than at the start of a transfer window. I've seen many comments that thinking of replacing certain members of the first XI is an over-reaction after one defeat but the warning signs were there in previous games especially the matches against Spurs and Man City in late November and early December. Many feel that Marcos Alonso is the weak link at left wing back and while I agree I also think that Moses gets exposed too easily against better teams. Even though Cesar Azpilicueta has been a revelation as a third centre back this season there's no doubting he was exposed in the air against Spurs and he is certainly better suited to the full back role. There have also been poor performances from Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill despite the successful run of consecutive wins. I'll cover this in a bit more detail later.

Chelsea 4-1 Peterborough United, home in F A Cup third round

Team: Begovic / Zouma, Terry, Cahill / Ivanovic, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Fabregas, Pedro / Willian, Batshuayi

Goals: Pedro 18, 75, Batshuayi 43, Willian 52

Subs: 57 Aina for Cahill, 70 Azpilicueta for Loftus-Cheek, 73 Kante for Willian

Booked: Fabregas

Sent Off: Terry

Here was a match which promoted the future of Chelsea with great performances from young players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah while showing the past should be behind us with a contrasting performance from John Terry. Pedro made it three goals in his last three games for Chelsea with a brace of goal that bookended the scoreline. In between that Michy Batshuayi scored his third of the season and his first since the 3-2 over Bristol Rovers in the League Cup in August 2016. The Belgian striker has only started the three League Cup ties before today but made the most of his ninety minutes with an energetic performance. Willian scored our third goal which is also his third goal in three games and his sixth of the season.

Asmir Begovic continued his run of playing in goal for all of Chelsea's cup games this season but once again failed to keep a clean sheet. I suppose you can hardly blame the Bosnian though when he is often playing with a weaker ten players in front of him than Thibaut Courtois is accustomed to.

Antonio Conte recalled experienced defenders Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry to the starting eleven and I've made no secret of my feelings in the last couple of years that both players are well past their best. It was Ivanovic's first start since the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal which persuaded Conte to change our formation and system although he has made seven brief appearances from the bench since that time. For team captain Terry it was a first start since the 2-1 defeat to West Ham United in the League Cup at the end of October. The 36 year-old has lost so much pace that he is more of a liability than ever in our back line and this was proven once again when he pulled back Posh striker Lee Angol as the last man and was dutifully shown the red card.

It was great to see Kurt Zouma back in the side and completing a full ninety minutes in his first game back since his injury. Perhaps if he rejoins the back three alongside David Luiz and Gary Cahill in future that will free Azpilicueta to replace either Alonso or Moses as a wing back who can defend better than the current pair. For Loftus-Cheek and Chalobah it was their first starts since earlier League Cup games against Leicester and West Ham respectively. It's good to see Conte putting faith in his young midfielders in the cup but I'm sure most fans would also like to see more of them in the league as well with Chalobah in particular making nine substitute appearances.

2 – John Obi Mikel

The Nigerian midfielder has divided the opinion of many Chelsea fans over the years with some believing he was a pivotal player in our success over the years while others (myself included) believe he was over-rated and his departure is long overdue. I respect the opinion of those that support Mikel and mean no disrespect with my opinion that he was not good enough for Chelsea but we're all entitled to our opinions. The 29 year-old joined the Blues in June 2006 when we paid Manchester United £12m for a player they never had and £4m to Lyn Oslo with whom he was registered. In 374 appearances with 6 goals he won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa Cup, two Premier League titles, four F A Cups, two League Cups and one Community Shield. Love him or hate him he certainly has a great medal collection. Now he has travelled to China following his former team-mate Oscar where he will play for Tianjin TEDA.

3 – Nathan Ake

It was announced on Sunday that Conte has recalled Ake from his loan spell at AFC Bournemouth where he has flourished under Eddie Howe's management. The former Italy manager confirmed he recalled the Dutch player for his versatility as he can play in the back three, in midfield or even as a left wing back. With Zouma and 21 year-old Ake back in the team we already feel stronger without making any purchases in the transfer market. Ake joined Chelsea in 2010 from Feyenoord and as well as his loan spells at Bournemouth, Watford and Reading he has also made twelve appearances for us. Personally I'd like to see him either replace Cahill at left centre back or Alonso and left wing back.

Without making and purchases in January my preferred XI going forward would be Courtois / Zouma, Luiz, Cahill / Azpilicueta, Kante, Fabregas, Ake / Willian, Costa, Hazard.

4 – Next Match

On 14th January 2017 we face Leicester City away. After surprising everyone with a title win in 2015/16 the Foxes have returned to their more accustomed position in the lower half of the Premier League table. Since they lost N'Golo Kante to Chelsea and neither Riyad Mahrez or Jamie Vardy have rediscovered last year's form the team have struggled this season and lie 15th in the table just six points above the relegation zone. They've won only five league matches this campaign and suffered defeat nine times which is three times as many as the whole of last season. In 20 games they've conceded 31 goals when they only conceded 36 in 38 last term. Leicester have only won two of their last eleven league games.

I've prepared a list below of the Chelsea players' bookings this season and if my data collection is correct then Fabregas, Luiz and Matic are one booking away from a suspension. If that came against Leicester it wouldn't be too bad as they would only miss the Hull City match but if it came against Hull then we'd lose them for the F A Cup fourth round match.

6 – Pedro (suspension served)

5 – Kante (suspension served), Costa (suspension served)

4 – Fabregas, Luiz, Matic

3 – Azpilicueta, Moses

2 – Alonso, Cahill, Hazard, Ivanovic,Willian

1 – Chalobah, Courtois, Terry

5 – Transfer Market

I've already written a blog on the targets I believe Chelsea should be looking at HERE and it was good to see one of those player, Michail Antonio, mentioned a possible target for Antonio Conte. The story appeared in The Sun and I believe he would be an ideal option for the right wing back slot. The English 26 year-old has played at right back and right midfield for the Hammers and for me was one of the best players in the league in 2016. I was very surprised that Roy Hodgson didn't include him in England's Euro 2016 squad.

The Express reports that Chelsea are looking at the Bundesliga for their targets and Conte has identified Arturo Vidal of Bayern Munich and Ricardo Rodriguez of Wolfsburg. I certainly believe Vidal would be a great acquisition and he would make a formidable partner for Kante. The Chilean 29 year-old has won five consecutive league titles in Serie A with Juventus (four) and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich (one). Rodriguez is a Swiss international left back who has been at Wolfsburg since 2012 and although I believe he is a good player I don't think he's a purchase we need at the moment with Ake and Azpilicueta able to cover for or replace Alonso.

I'm surprised by the report in The Guardian that we made a £21m bid for Atalanta's Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie. Unless he is better than our existing first team players then there is no need to buy him as we already have excellent young midfield prospects in Loftus-Cheek and Chalobah.