As Graham Potter continues to struggle to put together consistent results in the league following another loss before the World Cup, the injuries continue to pile up for the Blues. From the loss of both wingbacks to one of the most in-form goalkeepers in the Premier League, Potter has no choice but to turn to some of the youngsters in the Chelsea academy to fill the void in the meantime. In an encouraging 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, the 18-year-old left-back and midfielder Lewis Hall demonstrated that he belongs on the first-team level.
Hall’s versatility in the back and going forward make him the perfect player for Potter to utilize in the position that has become one of the most essential to the Blues’ system. With the World Cup now around the corner, Hall has an opportunity with players gone on international duty to impress Potter. Hall getting the nod in the starting IX following a quality outing in the cup is promising for his future as the potential replacement on the left flank for the Blues. Only Omari Hutchinson has more goal contributions than Hall this season in Premier League 2. While Hutchinson could struggle to find time in the first team due to the number of players in the midfield and attack, the injuries are undoubtedly working in favor of Hall.
A mediocre performance against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge left fans with a sour taste in their mouth, but the addition of Hall into the starting IX in a losing effort gave the Blues the energy it has lacked over the last few contests. His speed and elusiveness with the ball at his feet are traits he acquired as a midfielder, now with a more dangerous player on the wing, behind one of the midfielders, the options for CFC going forward are going to be far greater than it has been.
"“Lewis Hall did brilliantly. Fantastic performance. Great quality great effort. You can see he can take the ball, He took responsibility…Putting the ball in the net is the hardest thing and that’s all he didn’t do today but everything he did do was fantastic.”"
Finishing has been an issue that Potter has realized, and with time, the players will adapt to Potter’s style of play, just like at Brighton, and begin to put the ball in the back of the net. Hall may not even be close to an experienced player, but his youth is what makes him exciting. CFC’s developmental squad added some incredibly talented pieces to its squad over the summer and has rebounded from a season where it shaved off relegation by one point.
In a talent-filled pool of players coming up the ranks at the club, there will be a time when the manager will have to pick and choose. Hall putting together back-to-back displays in consecutive seasons in cup competitions has to give the coaching staff enough to say he deserves at least a consistent shot at contributing with the wing-back situation in the position it is in.
In the FA Cup against Chesterfield last season, Hall collected an assist finished off by Romelu Lukaku, staying with the play, and swinging in a cross in the perfect position for the Belgian to place it under the goalkeeper’s arms. The Slough native is smooth on the ball and has the persistence to never give up on a play even if possession may seem lost. If there is a seam in the defense, Hall is going to be the first one to spot it and take advantage of it immediately. Chilwell could be out for months, and as Reece James continues to make his recovery from his own injury, the depth on the wings is something the Blues could need.
Signing players in the January window is something Potter and Todd Boehly will be focusing on when the time comes, but for now, the elimination in the EFL Cup was a perfect opportunity to realize that Cobham continues to produce some of the most promising young players in the game today.
As the world watches the World Cup squads roll out, it is difficult not to look at how many graduates of the Chelsea academy made the rosters or were on the fringe of representing their country in Qatar. Hall has plenty of room to grow physically in the senior game, and with Marc Cucurella putting together back-to-back solid outings on the left side, Potter should look at adding Hall in the mix more consistently ahead of the Spaniard in the formation to add even more dynamism.