When Loic Remy was announced as the starter for Chelsea FC‘s match against Manchester City, more than a few eyebrows were raised. This was supposed to be the match that decided the Premier League title and one of the biggest games of the season for the Blues. They had on their bench, one of the greatest big game players of this generation in Didier Drogba, but Jose Mourinho chose not to use him. It was not quite a cup final but it had the feel of one and we all know how good Drogba is when there is silverware on the line.
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Conventional thinking would suggest that you use your big time players in big time matches and Loic Remy has proven to be just that. Remy signed with Chelsea FC this past August and his role was initially unclear. Would he become the second striker behind Diego Costa or would he be third in the pecking order to Drogba? He began the season as the second striker and was given an excellent chance to impress during Diego Costa’s injury layoff in October.
Loic Remy. pic.twitter.com/D4ewWsUkCo
— Louis (@RealityChelsea) January 31, 2015
Instead, Remy himself was injured after scoring against NK Maribor and Drogba stepped up to the plate. Drogba was a man on fire as he scored in three straight matches including the opener against Manchester United with a bullet header reminiscent of Munich. Drogba’s performance in those three matches seemed to have flipped the depth chart in his favor and he continued to be chosen over Loic Remy. Mourinho actually selected the both of them to start against Bradford City in the FA Cup and it looked like a stroke of genius when the Blues were up 2-0, not so much as they lost 4-2.
With Diego Costa serving his suspension, it appears that Loic Remy is firmly established as the man who will replace him. Remy looked like every bit the lethal striker we know he is against City and was in the right place at the right time to score from Eden Hazard’s cross. He made the right runs and was a nuisance to the City defense all match long. His performance and goal earned him a 7.4 rating from WhoScored.com, third highest among Chelsea players that day.
The next two matches for Chelsea FC are crucial as they will look to build on their five point lead with Manchester City still missing Yaya Toure. City face Hull City and Stoke City at the Brittania next while the Blues face Aston Villa and a struggling Everton side at Stamford Bridge. There is no such thing as a sure thing in the Premier League but the Blues will need to come away with 6 points in the next two fixtures and hope City stumbles at the very difficult Brittania Stadium on a cold Wednesday night.
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Perhaps Didier Drogba may still get a start in either of those two matches but a smart bet would be for Remy to continue on as the starter. He has proven that he can score against the best this season and he is a willing runner and tracks back very well. He provides a level of pace and energy that Drogba can no longer match and he fits in to the Blues’ possession style attack against smaller clubs. Chelsea only paid £10 million for Loic Remy so suffice to say he is well on his way to paying that fee back this season. If Remy keeps up his performance in Diego Costa’s absence or in relief of the Spanish striker, he may go down as the transfer bargain of the season.