Transfer Talk: This season, the Blues have relied on goals from all areas of the pitch. Only 19 of the 68 goals scored in all competitions have come from a Chelsea striker; so what do we need to be looking for in the summer?
As the season wears on, our attacking midfielders are beginning to take the spotlight in front of goal, with Hazard, Willian and Oscar conjuring up 25 goals between them in all competitions.
Emphasised in the performance tonight, and perhaps throughout the season, the Blues have been missing that player to complete the puzzle. Samuel Eto’o – who has led the front line in Torres’ absence – is an alternative to your typical target man when playing with a lone striker.
Much like Torres, he offers influential off-the-ball movement when the likes of Hazard and Willian are running at defenders – but on an off day for our three behind the striker, is that really enough?
I look to tonight to accentuate my point; countless times the back four would hopelessly direct the ball forward, for it to roll straight to the opposition keeper; and when you need that spark, that instrumental performance from your striker to grab you the 3 points on a cold and windy night at West Brom, I’m afraid we just haven’t got it.
Transfer Talk: Options?
So, where do we look? There were many reports linking us to Diego Costa in January; a player that possesses very opposing traits to our current forwards. Of course the reports were slightly optimistic, as Atletico are heightening their hopes of the league title, currently level on points with Real and Barca at the top of La Liga.
However, come August, the opportunity may be there to bring 25 year old to the Bridge. The – newly announced – Spaniard has grabbed 20 goals from 22 games so far this season, and he doesn’t look far from what the Blues need. Costa is a player not afraid to throw himself about; he’s a powerful presence and would offer Chelsea an alternative up front.
Another strong link gathering pace through the media is that to the Uruguayan Edinson Cavani. The Blues were interested in the PSG forward last year when he announced he was ready to leave Napoli, but instead he opted for the Ligue 1 side.
Cavani is again another alternative. The 26 year old – certain to face England in the World Cup this summer – has everything our side is crying out for. Regularly this season we hit balls into the box that we know nobody is going to get the end off; we thrive for that physical dominance that left alongside Drogba.
It’s questionable whether we will see Lukaku come back to West London, as the weeks go by he seems less and less of a Chelsea man. Again Lukaku epitomizes that power and desire to bully defenders off the ball that we so lack. Not only this, but we lack that clinical edge that so many other teams in the title race have.
Where does this leave our attacking midfielders?
This season, the three behind the striker have been fundamental in delivering goals and match-winning performances. If we were to bring in a player with that missing physicality, the question is… will it change our approach?
It will certainly offer us an alternative in our style of play, particularly when putting balls into the box. As the season has progressed we have developed a new mentality to play the ball in and around the box until someone gets the shot away; however, this doesn’t always work, and at times it can be incredibly frustrating to watch.
A new outlet will provide us strategy that can vary, as predictability could so easily be our downfall. The midfield would perhaps be more confident in getting the ball forward; sometimes you just need that player you can hit the ball up to and it sticks to them.
To reiterate my earlier point, it’s games where we struggle for that influential figure, that we really crave a forward who can set the game alight with a 25 yard volley into the top corner, or a Drogba-esque diving header at the front post.
For me, it’s the same spark we’ve been missing for the past two years; not only will it take the pressure of our midfielders to win us games, it will reinvigorate our mentality as title-contending team.
