Chelsea 0-0 Fulham: 3 Positives and 3 negatives from stalemate

Chelsea has played Fulham for the second time this season and has, again, dropped points. This would be incredibly frustrating for everyone in the Chelsea community, as the game had everything but a goal.

There was high quality, defending, pressing, and attacking on display. Chelsea has spent more than £600m on their squad this season and some fans are understandably displeased with the results and are asking questions of the manager. There is a need for calm and level-headedness though, so here are three positives and three negatives from that goalless draw.

3 POSITIVES from Chelsea vs Fulham

(The presence of) Benoit Badiashile

Chelsea’s No. 4 was excellent against Fulham. Yes, Silva was also very good, but it’s obvious that Chelsea’s consecutive clean sheets started coming when Benoit Badiashile stepped in. Silva has been in the lineup since the beginning of the season and was there throughout Chelsea’s funk.

The introduction of the 21-year-old Frenchman saw the Blues record three clean sheets in a row, having not let in a goal since the former AS Monaco defender replaced Kalidou Koulibaly. Badiashile is as good on the ground as he is in the air.

(The solidity of) Kepa Arrizabalaga

Some Chelsea fans, surprisingly, are still calling for the club to go into the market for a new shotstopper. This is surprising because Kepa Arrizabalaga has been one of the best goalkeepers in the league this season in his own right.

He has averaged an 83% save rate this season, making an impressive 3.5 saves per game. Arrizabalaga has been keeping clean sheets in the side long before Badiashile stepped in, and he was once again reliable between the sticks for the Blues, handling everything that came his way.

(The composure of) Enzo Fernandez

Enzo Fernandez had a very good game against Fulham. He showed his technical acumen and tenacity in his first game in Chelsea blue. He made 12 defensive actions, including two interceptions and six tackles. He did get dribbled past three times, but that just means he won 6/9 tackles, which is superb. He completed 6/7 long balls, showing some of that sweet long passing that was advertised. He won 9/13 duels, which is also excellent for a central midfielder.

3 NEGATIVES from Chelsea vs Fulham

(The ineffectiveness of) Mason Mount

Mason Mount did very little in the Fulham game, and this is becoming a regular occurrence for him now. There has been no progress in his contract talks, and his performance on the pitch is not pushing Todd Boehly to bend over backward to give the 24-year-old “what he wants”.

The Englishman tried to keep his passing simple, but it still wasn’t good, completing 77% of his passes despite playing in midfield and attempting (unsuccessfully) just one long ball. He won 4/11 duels too, which is not great. He created zero chances and made only two defensive actions. He offered nothing when he got on the ball, and also out of possession.

(The wastefulness of) Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz has been wasteful in front of goal for several games now, and that was the case again against Fulham. Chelsea has missed 13 out of the last 14 big chances they got in the league, and several of these chances have fallen to the German. He got on the end of a clear-cut chance created by Ziyech and he chipped the keeper, but couldn’t get it in the goal.

Potter’s substitutions

Graham Potter did not help himself and definitely hurt the team with his substitutions, well, one substitution. There was nothing wrong with the players he brought on, but everything wrong with some of the players he took off. This is why, at some point, Mount’s poor performances are no longer Mount’s fault, but Potter’s.

It’s OK to think a player deserves to start, for whatever reason, but leaving him on the pitch when the player is clearly doing nothing of value, is stubborn and unproductive. Potter took off Ziyech, despite creating the Blues’ best chance of the game, and left Mount on the pitch, whose performances did not improve whatsoever. He eventually did take off Mount, but that was at least 25 minutes after he was supposed to.

Will CFC win their next game against West Ham United?