Chelsea loanees: Black and yellow are the colours for 4 goal-scorers (Video)
By George Perry
Four Chelsea loanees in three countries combined for five goals this weekend, all while wearing yellow and black. Michy Batshuayi and Todd Kane had stellar debuts, while the M4 train kept rolling along at Vitesse Arnhem.
Michy Batshuayi launched his hopefully brief tenure in the Bundesliga with a complete game performance that spawned endless banter and commentary. Batshuayi scored two goals and assisted on a third, courtesy of former Chelsea player Andre Schurrle. Both Batshuayi goals were trademark poacher-striker goals. Batshuayi was in the right place to take the ball and pound into the back of the net.
Unsurprisingly, many Chelsea watchers wailed about the Blues’ mistake in letting the Belgian leave. Batshuayi is very good at doing what he did. His brace did not reveal any new dimensions to his game Antonio Conte ignored or overlooked. The Belgian did not have to hold up the ball, bring wingers into the play or make any runs. These are the fundamentals Conte expects from his starting centre-forward.
The openness of play in the Bundesliga and the highly technical styles of play will open up Batshuayi’s game, especially if he continues to play 90 minutes for Dortmund. He can develop into a true reference point while quickly adding to his goal total. He would not have those chances under the pressures Chelsea FC puts on the coach. Those are the opportunities this loan presented and why it can benefit all parties, including Chelsea.
Andre Schurrle can have a major hand in this development. Schurrle makes the runs in behind the defence that Chelsea’s wingers do not make. This forces the defensive line to retreat towards their goal, putting Batshuayi in his favourite poaching position 6-10 yards out.
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Back in England, Todd Kane scored his first goal since April 10, 2016. In his debut for Oxford United, Kane scored an 89′ equalizer against Charlton United. The Yellows scored a winner deep in stoppage time for a 3-2 victory.
Oxford United is Kane’s seventh loan destination and his fourth in England (the other three were in the Eredivisie). Kane’s goal in his first game will endear him to the Yellows’ fans and could seal his place in the starting XI. Oxford have been searching for a competent right-back since Phil Edwards two seasons ago. Their previous right back, Christian Ribeiro, had to retire through injury.
Todd Kane has experience in the lower English divisions, and is defensively solid while providing thrust in attack. Oxford’s attack lacks width, but striker Wes Thomas is a true poacher and will thrive from crosses from the right through Todd Kane.
Kane’s previous loan club was Groningen in the Netherlands. In yet another Chelsea loan army coincidence, Groningen lost 2-0 to Vitesse through goals from Matt Miazga and Mason Mount. Mount is now Vitesse’s third-leading scorer with six goals, while Miazga is one of only two defenders with two goals.
Both alliterative loanees are ready for Premier League loans next season. Given the difference in age – Mount is 19 and Miazga is 22 – next season’s loan will be much more important for Miazga’s future as a Blue. After a season in England, Antonio Conte will have a much better measure of whether Miazga will be able to fight for a spot on Chelsea’s back-line along Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.
Miazga’s style of play, though, is also well-suited for the Bundesliga. If Chelsea play their cards right with the Batshuayi loan, Miazga could swap one black-and-yellow kit for another and join Borussia Dortmund on a loan-to-buy program. That move could set him up better for his long-term career. Playing defence behind Christian Pulisic at Dortmund would also give a large boost to America’s hopes for the future of the United States men’s national team.
Mount, on the other hand, is on track to be the future of Chelsea’s central midfield. Like Andreas Christensen, his composure and play is mature beyond his years. He is flourishing at Chelsea B, and needs to step-up to a “big five” league loan. Whether that is in England or Germany, he may only need one more year on loan before taking the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
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Christensen had two years in the Bundesliga, and Conte may insist on a similar path for Mount. Chelsea have sufficient depth in central midfield that Conte will not need to accelerate his development. On the other hand, Conte is showing increasing support for Chelsea’s youth players. A coach’s third year is when he normally has the freedom to expand youth play, which could open all the doors for Mount before age 21.