After a weekend free of Chelsea football, the west London outfit takes the pitch again, beginning a critical four-game stretch in the Premier League. The next four fixtures will be against sides currently between 10th and 20th.
The Blues will take to the road for the first time in three matches, traveling south for an encounter with Andoni Iraola’s AFC Bournemouth. It will be just the second time so far this campaign across all competitions that Mauricio Pochettino’s side will compete away from Stamford Bridge.
Disaster struck in east London in the previous road contest for Pochettino’s team as West Ham United mustered three goals on just 24 percent of the ball. The hope is that at some point these underlying statistics of the west Londoners’ dominance will eventual lead to positive results. Coming up against a “seesaw” club that has lost two out of its last three league matches following an international breaks seems like the perfect opportunity. Here are three things to watch out for at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
3 things to look for in match between Chelsea and Bournemouth
1. Former Blue Dominic Solanke has been great for Cherries despite poor record
After contributing a team-high three goal contributions in four contests, the 2014–15 Chelsea Academy Player of the Year Dominic Solanke put pen to paper on an extension until the summer of 2027 this past week. It only makes sense that the former west Londoner confirmed his place on the coast ahead of this weekend.
For the red and black, this is a massive triumph as it locks down a proven striker for hopefully four more years in the Premier League. Iraola’s No. 9 has found his place. It may have taken a few stops, but the Englishmen has officially settled at a top-flight club.
He is the only individual that has played a part in every single minute in the English top-flight for the Cherries so far. Solanke has been responsible for a goal in each fixture expect for his side’s last home contest against Tottenham Hotspur.
Not only is he putting in quality shifts, the striker has all the incentive to show out against a side that let him go upon the expiration of his contract back in 2017. He has already punished one of his former clubs. It only makes sense that he has his eyes on doing it to another. Just three minutes into the Cherries’ trip to Anfield, the Reading native displayed his composure in the final third, laying the ball off to Antoine Semenyo instead of forcing it himself.
The 26-year-old striker mimics the kind of physicality Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi presents between the white lines. Whoever represents the west Londoners’ at center back has to be able to match that.
2. Will Mauricio Pochettino shift to starting two true center backs?
Over the last week or so since the defeat at the Bridge to Forest, there has been a lot of rumblings about the kind of formation the west Londoners have been deploying. Pochettino has stuck to a back four with three real center backs, leaving one often to be exposed on the flanks due to his speed. When observing the average positioning of each Blue last time out, Levi Colwill acted in what looks to the naked eye as more of a left back. That simply is not putting No. 26 into the best position for the team to succeed.
It only makes sense that fans is confused what kind of formation the west London outfit has been playing. It is a whole lot of switching and improvisation that is simply not playing into the club’s favor. It is difficult to stamp down the exact role for each player through 90 minutes because it changes in the blink of an eye.
Selecting just two and moving Ben Chilwell out of the left wing into a traditional left back with Malo Gusto on the opposite side will decrease the ability of teams to be able to expose the Blues on the counter attack. It is nothing that Thiago Silva has done on the field, but a partnership of Colwill, and Axel Disasi may be the future.
The left side of the field has been an area of concern, especially in the Luton Town, and Forest match. With that switch, it could unlock the left flank, allowing for a more traditional winger like Noni Madueke to do his part. The bones are there. It is now time to iron out the flaws.
3. Nicolas Jackson’s breakthrough
Life in London has not been the most pleasant to the club’s newest forward, Nicolas Jackson. It seemed as if the transition was going to be a whole lot smoother than normal due to the kind of pre-season he had. That has not been the case. Jackson did not kick on from his goal against Luton, struggling to find that final touch to beat the goalkeeper consistently.
On and off the ball going forward, the 22-year-old has looked impressive. He sits at the top of the Premiership in runs challenging defensive lines, showing his talent to cause stress for any defense that he has faced so far. His unselfishness has allowed Raheem Sterling to excel on the wing for the first time since leaving Manchester City.
Against a lower half of the table opponent, Jackson has the potential to thrive. He is not bagging goals at the clip this club would like, but he is 22. That warrants a bit of patience. His raw talent in addition to the positives he has shown means a breakout in front of goal is imminent. This Sunday could be the day.
The west Londoners’ return fixture from the international break against the Cherries can be seen on Sky Sports in the UK, and USA Network in the United States.