Chelsea three lessons learnt vs. Luton Town: Positive signs

It was a somewhat comfortable win for Chelsea during its FA Cup tie against Luton Town. With three goals in favor of the Blues, some good performances and good signs of improvement, they move to the next round following a 3-1 win. Frank Lampard’s side put in a good shift to beat Luton and although the game shouldn’t have been as competitive as it was, the players took their chance to gain confidence and score some superb goals.

Here are three lessons we learnt from the match:

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1. The kids should play together more often

Chelsea’s best chance of turning the season around may come in the form of the connection between the Blues’ young core. The likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Billy Gilmour and Callum Hudson-Odoi were the best players on the pitch against Luton. While Abraham took the glory of a hat-trick, watching all of the youngsters play together was a delight; even if they were together on the pitch for some short minutes throughout the match.

Their understanding of each other’s movement on and off the ball, their willingness to push forward as a group and their versatility inside and outside the box will be key to Chelsea’s attack. These factors also encourage the rest of the team to improve and be more urgent and creative.

Obviously, Luton was just a quiz before the massive upcoming tests. Nevertheless, the Blues’ young nucleus demonstrated how to pass with flying colors. Each of these players has a unique characteristic to their play style, but when combined and utilized correctly, they produce the perfect mixture to break down oppositions.

Therefore, it is Lampard’s job to play them together from this point on. The handful of former academy players have more than earned their spots in the team. Now, they can act as the new guard for the club; their fluidity on the pitch is undeniable and will serve as a catalyst for the rest of the season.

2. Timo Werner is showing good signs

Despite not scoring from open play, nor from the penalty spot, Timo Werner is not giving up. It is clear that Werner has lost a lot of confidence these past months, but despite it all, his attitude on the pitch is pure class. Werner is working hard to improve, and it will pay off in due time.

Although he could not score from open play, his effort to help other scores is undeniable. Werner was doing all the dirty work up front by occupying defenders and moving into the open spaces inside the box against Luton. This allowed for other players to have a chance at goal or create an opportunity for the team. He was creative and intelligent off the ball, which allowed for the like of Abraham to shine, especially on the first goal. Werner also teed up Christian Pulisic for a one-on-one with the keeper by using a brilliant dummy, but the American fired it straight into the keeper’s body.

At the moment, it is unfair to ask more of Werner. The German star is doing everything in his power to improve and he is doing it the right way. Obviously, his main objective is to score, but he is not falling into desperate acts of selfishness. Werner is being a team player, and more importantly, he is putting all of the effort a player can provide. Even after missing the penalty, Werner was still running full speed toward the goal when out of possession. If attitude and effort are anything to go by, Chelsea can expect a lot of goals very soon from the German.

3. Chelsea needs to score more

Overall, it was a good performance, but Chelsea should have really scored more. It is clear that Lampard wanted to win, but at the same time, he wanted to experiment with the tactics and formation. However, the Blues had the opportunities to score more goals than they actually did.
The lack of goals was due to lack of confidence from some players. The perfect examples were Werner and Pulisic, two players who should be ruthless in front of goal. The duo is becoming a shadow of their former selves; thereby putting all the pressure on a few players to do the job.

Luton only made the game competitive because Chelsea did not finish the Championship side off before the half. The opportunities were present, but the Blues failed to take them. That being said, they have to bring the fire power against Wolves. If the team does not learn from this game, the rough patch will turn into a rough road until the end of the season.

This was a much needed win for the team and manager. Not only did the Blues needed a confidence boost, but the manager also needed to try something different to get them going. The FA Cup presented the perfect opportunity for just that, and can only hope this performance will ignite a change in mentality and performances.

What are some of the lessons you learnt in the match? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!