Statistics are an ever-evolving tool in the game. For example, Chelsea’s new head coach, Thomas Tuchel, is heralded for his infatuation with stats, using every possible piece of information to build a specialised game plan for the weekend’s opponent. Other coaches have been derided for their over-reliance on figures—perceived as crutches for hiding the reality of what is happening on the pitch.
This phenomenon transfers into the tribal world of fandom. Before Frank Lampard’s departure on Monday, the fact that he found himself three points worse off than at the same point in the previous campaign has often been cited by rival fans and Lampard detractors alike. However, in a season like no other, in a league table like no other, what did that really indicate about the progress—or lack thereof—that that the Chelsea legend and his Blues side were making this season. Even the exuberant Jurgen Klopp seems to be less enthused in press conferences after a year that has thrown obstacles in his team’s way, leaving the club a whole 21 points worse off than at the same point last season.
Nobody is questioning Klopp’s tenability though, nor are fans second guessing his methods—rightly so. Lampard was not as good a coach as Klopp, nobody is trying to make that assertion, but there are multiple external factors at play that go beyond Lampard’s coaching inexperience. Stats and figures give great insight but need to be used in good faith. With Thomas Tuchel now at the helm, now is as good a time as any to take an honest, individual appraisal of Chelsea’s recent arrivals. While stats are used in this article to try to give more perspective, this will be a more subjective—yet level-headed—view on what I feel these players have offered so far.
Malang Sarr & Xavier Mbuyamba
To kick things off is these two hot prospects. As the media spotlight was focused on the more star-studded signings that came through the doors of Cobham last summer, Malang Sarr and Xavier Mbuyamba arrived to less fanfare. Both came in on free transfers from Nice and Barcelona respectively.
Sarr has been picking up valuable minutes in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and the Champions League with Porto. Although not a regular, the 22-year-old Frenchman has made five league appearances (three starting, two off the bench) in Liga NOS and will be learning plenty from Portuguese international and former Real Madrid defender Pepe. Sarr has been trusted far more often in Europe, appearing in five group games (four starts, one substitute appearance) and these all-important Champions League minutes could be crucial next season, when deciding whether to integrate him into the Chelsea squad or send out him on loan again.
Mbuyamba is a different case altogether. The 19-year-old Dutchman is yet to make an appearance this season due to what appeared to be a torn meniscus, which will keep him out until February. He is, however, highly touted and could well be fast-tracked to the first team next season, but starts outside of domestic cup competitions would presumably be unlikely at this point.
Edouard Mendy
Games Started: 22
Clean Sheets: 12
Goals Conceded: 16
Statistically, Edouard Mendy has had a solid start to his Blues career. After notably keeping 10 clean sheets in his first 15 games, things have started to even out. Mendy has conceded nine goals in the last six matches.
Unsurprisingly, better opposition—like Manchester City and Aston Villa—has led to more shots on goal for Mendy to contend with. In an article for The Athletic, Michael Cox and Tom Worville looked at the quality and position of the shots he has faced (expected goals on target, or xGOT) in his first 13 Premier League games. Despite making some excellent saves so far, Mendy slightly underperformed with his shot-stopping, conceding 12 goals to an xGOT of 11.22.
Mendy’s best traits largely cannot be measured in numbers. He was quickly able to build confidence with the back four with immediate effect and is not phased to command his area and deal with balls coming into the box. The Senegalese international seems to have settled well in London, with his sister already living in the city before his arrival. This could be a factor in his positive mentality on the pitch, where he rarely seems phased, regardless of whether the game is going in Chelsea’s favour or not. This should allow him to focus on improving his judgment when sweeping, which has been problematic in games against Leeds, Everton and Fulham.
Ben Chilwell
Games Started: 22
Goals Scored: 2
Assists: 5
Along with the goalkeeping position, recruitment was in desperate need at the left back position. Ben Chilwell’s arrival was met with muted tones by some parts of the fanbase, who questioned his ability to excel in both the attacking and defensive balance the position requires.
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Going forward, he has continued his output from last season with Leicester, with one more assist and only one goal fewer than what he attained for the whole of last season. The England international has been a present threat at the back post and in this respect, has teamed up well with the likes of Hakim Ziyech. Through his expected assists (xA) statistics, Chilwell shows he has stepped up his ability to create assists from harder situations, improving his xA in the Premier League by over 3.0, with four assists from an xA of 1.36. This is a big improvement from last season, where he underperformed slightly with three assists from an xA of 3.54.
With that in mind, one would suspect that Tuchel will be drawn to a wingback that can do more with less. But with a new coach to impress, Marcos Alonso and Emerson will be reinvigorated to make a claim for that starting place. Against Wolves, Chilwell was making moves into the middle of the pitch in what seemed like a pre-meditated manner and is being expected to find opportunities in these areas rather than focus on staying wide and stretching the play.
In addition, he offers a lot more going back than his counterparts. Crosses into the Chelsea box from the right have seemed far less prevalent and it feels like Chilwell has the necessary nouse to perform his full-back duties calmly, if the Blues ever needed to shut up shop and defend a precarious lead.
Thiago Silva
Games Started: 19
Goals Scored: 2
Assists: 0
Former Chelsea coach and World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari, described the football philosophy of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul—where he grew up—as having an emphasis on “physical play” instead of technical and skilled football, which was more covered in Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. Not many centrehalves in the game today mix physical ability with technical skill better than Thiago Silva. A Rio native who spent part of his formative years playing for Juventude and RS Futebol, both based in the aforementioned state.
His positioning, tackling and all-round reading of the game have been clear to see in multiple games this season, with December’s performance away at Old Trafford standing out in particular. Statistics would suggest his positioning has indeed been strong. In 15 league appearances, he has amassed 85 clearances (28 of those headed and one off the line) and won 55 of 87 duels. However, his tackling stats are somewhat underwhelming, at just 57 percent. Notably, his heading ability has also been a plus from attacking set-pieces, with two goals—both from corners—in the Premier League.
Lampard and the previous coaching staff did well to monitor the 36-year-old and use him sparingly after long haul flights from his commitments with the Brazilian national team. Knowing when to rest Silva will be crucial in getting the best out of him long term, if his one-year contract extension is triggered.
Kai Havertz
Games Started: 18
Goals Scored: 5
Assists: 6
It is difficult to pinpoint why Kai Havertz has not stamped his mark on games. Although more is being understood about COVID-19 and how the disease effects even the fittest of people—both in the short and long term—it hard to estimate how much comes down to the impact of the virus and how much is a lack of self-belief.
The statistics available for his performances both pre- and post-contracting COVID—which left him being hit hard by symptoms and bed-ridden for a large part of November—do not show any general improvements or deterioration in his output. Often utilised as a No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 for Bayer Leverkusen last season, Havertz was heralded for positional flexibility and Lampard used him in many different roles, from a No. 6, to right wing, to his favoured No. 10 role against Leicester, all with little success.
He is often thrown in with Werner as a byword for Chelsea’s under performance, but they are two different players expected to perform different duties. Werner is having a bad dry spell in front of goal, but he has still managed to make smart runs and make chances for himself, Havertz meanwhile, has too often had the game pass him by.
For Tuchel, getting good performances from Havertz will be weighted highly when assessing his first half season in charge and could be key to both of their long-term futures at the club. Against Wolves he looked more at ease on the pitch and showed some of his brightest moments in a long time with a strong dribble in the first half. Havertz also used his movement in the box to nearly take all three points at the end with a powerful header. His injury time effort was only to be deflected away by Joao Moutinho. As fans, we can only hope that this is a sign of things to come.
Hakim Ziyech
Games Started: 12
Goals Scored: 2
Assists: 4
£38 million has looked like a bargain ever since the deal was announced in February last year and little has happened to change that thinking during the Moroccan’s initial appearances in a blue shirt.
Ziyech has delivered so far, cutting in from the right to supply balls into the box. With four assists to date, the only thing that could hinder him are injuries, having already had two spells on the sidelines. This has resulted in him already missing 12 matches in a tight fixture list and the medical staff will surely be monitoring him after previously missing sizable stints of his last campaign with Ajax.
A continuation of good form from Ziyech seems critical to the teams output. A good relationship has started to establish itself with Reece James down the right, but he is linking well with multiple players in the final third and his previously mentioned four assists, have assisted four individual players. Furthermore, his supply of pin-point balls into the box will be particularly important if we are to see an upturn in goals from the Germans.
Timo Werner
Games Started: 23
Goals Scored: 9
Assists: 6
Although for me, things are not quite as bad as they appear, Werner has—by his own admission—found it tough in his first season at Stamford Bridge. 15 goal involvements at the halfway point seems like a good return, but his goal drought has been well publicised. Outside of finishing a move involving both Ziyech and Havertz for Chelsea’s third goal in the 4-0 FA Cup victory over Morecambe, the German international has otherwise been goalless since scoring in a 4-1 victory at home to Sheffield on 7th November.
With Werner some way off producing the numbers he achieved last season at RB Leipzig, there is little doubt his confidence is low and he has often looked disjointed when taking a shot. But in a game of fine margins, his poor performances have quite often been a whisker away from ending with a goal. Werner is joint-first in the Premier league for hitting the woodwork, having achieved that feat five times so far this season. His pace and movement have been consistent throughout the season and he has frequently done the hard work to get into good positions for shooting. We can see this in his Premier League xG (expected goals) of 7.16, indicating he has carved out chances for himself that constitute three more goals than the four he has scored so far this season.
Hard work and repetition on the training ground will be the be the best remedy to turn Werner’s form around, but after the missed penalty against Luton and a goal chalked off away at Leicester for a fraction of his upper arm being offside, the young striker deserves a slice of good fortune too.
What have you made of the Blues’ new signings? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!