Chelsea ranks 12th for big chances created in the league this season. This is really poor.
The Blues have been in poor form, defensively and offensively, and their defensive problems have been covered extensively here. For the attacking issues, it’s clear the Blues need a reliable source of quality chances; a player that the players can pass the ball to, and trust to create chances. There aren’t many suitable candidates at the club, but the transfer window is closed now so the Blues have to make do with what they have. Here are four potential candidates for the “Chief Creator” role for the Blues:
4. Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling (No. 17) Forward, England
Sterling is on this list mainly for what he has done in a Chelsea shirt so far. He leads the Blues in Shot-Creating Actions (16), chances created (8), big chances created (3), and big chances created per 90 minutes (0.53) this season. He has clearly been at the center of the Blue’s attack this season, though that’s not a tick in his favor considering that the attack has been abysmal. Sterling’s dribbling has actually been equally abysmal this season, and that may be something he needs to cut back on or do better at. However, in terms of chance creation, he has been the most involved. Can Sterling be Chief Creator at Chelsea?
3. Mason Mount (No. 19) Attacking midfielder/Forward, England
The names mentioned so far have been consistently in the lineup this season because if the Blues creation problem would be solved, it’d likely be solved by someone who plays regularly. Mount led Potter’s men in chances created (58), Shot-Creating Actions (111), Goal-Creating Actions (15), and big chances (10) last season. He averaged 0.38 big chances per 90. He didn’t lead in any of those metrics per 90 though, which suggests that the number of minutes he played contributed heavily to the volume he gathered in those metrics. Nonetheless, he has led the Blues in total big chances created in each of the last two league seasons. This indicates that he knows how to create chances.
This season he has ranked fourth for Shot-Creating Actions (10), second for chances created (7), and has created no big chances and recorded zero Goal-Creating Actions. He plays a lot though, and being on the pitch puts you in a position to create chances. History has shown that he will create chances if he’s on the pitch long enough. Please select the below link once again in order to continue.
2. Reece James (No. 24) Right wingback, England
James has put up impressive shot creation and goal creation numbers since the beginning of last season. He averaged 3.81 Shot-Creating Actions per 90 and 0.53 Goal-Creating Actions per 90. This is very good for a fullback/wingback. He ranked second for chances created (47) and ranked first for chances created per 90 (2.27) amongst players who played up play to 1000 minutes. He ranked second for big chances created (9), and third for big chances created per 90 (0.43). He had nine assists from 5.7 expected assists (xA). He was one of Chelsea’s major sources of quality chances last season, especially with his superb crossing.
This season he has ranked third for Shot-Creating Actions (12) for the Blues and has ranked second for Shot-Creating Actions per 90 (2.4) for players that have played up to 200 league minutes. Unfortunately, his goal creation has been nothing to write home about, which should be obvious watching the Blues play. He has created six chances, ranking third, as well as ranking second for big chances created (2). These numbers in and of themselves aren’t dazzling, but when you consider that they’re better than many of his colleagues, you see why he’s one of the candidates for Chief Creator.
1. Hakim Ziyech (No. 22) Forward, Morocco
Last season, of players who played up to 1000 minutes for Chelsea, Ziyech recorded the most Shot-Creating Actions per 90 (4.77) and ranked fourth for total Shot-Creating Actions (64). He averaged 0.48 Goal-Creating Actions per 90, which is very good. He ranked fourth too for chances created (30) and ranked third for chances created per 90 amongst players who played up to 1000 minutes (2.04). Perhaps most importantly, he ranked second for big chances created (9), playing the fewer minutes of the two Chelsea players who created nine big Chances. He was by far the most efficient big chance supplier, creating a whopping 0.61 big chances per 90.
Ziyech has only played 117 minutes this season, but he seems to have kept up his efficiency. He leads Chelsea in chances created per 90 (2.31) and Shot-Creating Actions per 90 (3.85), but has had zero Goal-Creating Actions and has created zero big chances. Everything points toward Ziyech being the best candidate for Chief Creator, but for whatever reason, he has not gotten much game time since the final third of last season. If Ziyech gets substantial minutes under Potter, can he bring an end to the Blues’ goal and chances drought?
CFC needs to start getting some goals on the board, and the best way to do that is by consistently creating quality chances. The players need to decide who they’d trust with the creation of these chances, as it’d make the flow of play better and establish some sort of chemistry, especially amongst the forwards.