Chelsea’s season part one of three: Surprises, successes, disappointments

Biggest Chelsea disappointment this season

Scott: Ross Barkley. He was, at the beginning of the year, my player to look for to have a huge season. And he totally Jeremie Boga’d me, made me look a fool. He hasn’t learned anything from Lampard, and Everton and laughing thinking we can’t believe they paid what they did for him. These players are the toughest to forget because they have so much potential and promise and just don’t meet it.

Varun: Kepa Arrizabalaga. Kepa the keeper hasn’t done much wrong this season, but the fact that almost every player in the starting eleven has improved exponentially from last season puts the progress of world’s most expensive keeper in perspective. He has been sloppy on the ball as well as while dealing with aerial balls on multiple occasions, displaying a lax attitude at times but then he goes on to make a match winning save like the one at Watford. Arrizabalaga needs to make improvements and bring consistency in his overall game to keep up with the rest of Lampard’s youthful team or risk being termed as the “weak link”.

Gabe: Easily Cesar Azpilicueta. A staple at the back over the last few years has looked a shell of his former self to start this year. He’s had notoriously slow starts when integrating into a new system, but this is becoming a major concern.

Nate: Ross Barkley. Despite knowing that the preseason is a deceitful temptress, I still had hopes that Barkley’s great form would translate to real football. It has not.

Olaoluwa: Ross Barkley, but not in the way you expect. I’m disappointed Barkley hasn’t been given as much playing time as would have been fair. Despite what Chelsea Twitter would suggest, Barkley is not half as bad as people paint him. Unfortunately his competition is Mason Mount, and while they have generally similar number, bar goals and assists, Mount is a better presser and it is understandable why Mount keeps getting the nod. I would love to see Barkley play and flourish again though.

Abhishek: Antonio Rudiger. The German defender has had his season disrupted by injuries at a time when a youthful back line was crying out for an experienced leader. One only hopes he can make it back in time for the second half of the season.

Barrett: It’s got to be Ross Barkley? Right?

Oliver: It’s got to be Marcos Alonso. The Spaniard has had an iffy past year or so but this year with Super Frankie Lampard he had a clean slate. In addition to that, with how Lamps sets up the team, he had the perfect platform to showcase his ability going forward. Instead, he’s been sloppy defensively and he hasn’t contributed enough going forward to justify selection.

Who is your success story and disappointment for the season? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!