Chelsea FC vs Everton: Start The Youngsters And More!

With Chelsea FC drawing at home against West Brom 2-2 on Wednesday night, Saturday’s game takes on added significance

Most Chelsea fans, including this writer, felt that the Blues were beginning to turn the corner on what has been a woeful season. A home game against West Brom should have resulted in 3 points. Obviously that did not go to plan. Attention now turns to the visit of Everton who, worryingly enough, will provide a much sterner test than the Baggies. Sitting in the Matthew Harding Upper for this one and here are a few things to look out for.

(1) Start the youth

The general feeling of Blues fans this season and especially after the West Brom game is that the established stars have let the club down this year. Therefore it only makes sense to give the youngster a greater role. They cannot do any worse than the likes of Hazard, Matic, Fabregas, Ivanovic, Pedro, Diego Costa and Oscar can they?

Chelsea are in a strange position whereby our only real chance of any glory this season is doing well in the remaining cup competitions. In the league, whilst relegation still remains a possibility, we have nothing to lose by giving Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kennedy and fringe players like Loic Remy a few starts. Our title-wining lineup from last year has been so poor this season, anyone else will be an improvement.

(2) Will Pedro retain his place?

It is hard to believe that the Spaniard started in the 2010 World Cup Final as well started and scored in the 2011 Champions League Final. Pedro has rather flattered to deceive since moving to Stamford Bridge from FC Barcelona in the summer. He was incredibly poor against West Brom and Guus Hiddink should drop him to the bench with Kennedy taking his place.

His mistake lead to West Brom’s first equaliser. Whilst mistakes can be accepted and forgiven, the irritation was that after his blunder Pedro went into his shell instead of re-doubling his efforts in the game. Given that Hiddink has not changed the team that much since taking over from Jose Mourinho, let’s hope he does in this regard.

(3) Will Romelu Lukaku come back to haunt us?

The Everton striker is on fire having scored 19 goals in all competitions this season. In fact, the Belgian has over 110 club career goals to his name and he is only 22 years-old. Given that we let him go, there is a sense of inevitability that he will find the back of the net on Saturday. Factor in that Chelsea have forgotten how to defend and this seems a sure bet.

Lukaku has improved in all facets of this game. He makes better runs, continues to hold up the ball, places better passes and has become more deadly in front of goal. Would you trade Diego Costa for Romelu Lukaku? I know what my answer is.

(4) Can we take advantage of Everton’s defense?

The most disappointing aspect against West Brom, beside the defending, was that Chelsea failed to take advantage against a porous back-line. The Blues only had two shots on target which is unacceptable.

Everton, meanwhile, have also been leaking goals and should provide opportunities for Oscar, Willian and Kennedy to get behind their centre-backs. John Stones and Ramiro Funes Mori are ball-playing centre-backs who should provide chances for Chelsea’s attacking quartet to pressurize and cause mistakes.

Next: Chelsea FC Not Out Of Relegation Danger Says Guus Hiddink

(5) Try to be positive and optimistic

It is not often that Chelsea FC fans arrive at Stamford Bridge fearing the worst, but this Saturday is one of those now more common days. However, there are some positive things to look out for. The quality of players we have will eventually shine through. Willian and Fabregas can be game changers on their day. If we beat Everton we close the gap on them to one point! I tempted to say it can’t get any worse but it certainly can so we are not at rock bottom yet!

Prediction

Chelsea FC 1-1 Everton

Kurt Zouma for Chelsea and Romelu Lukaku for the Toffees.