Chelsea’s decent little run of form ended at the hands of Brentford on Saturday. It was the Bees’ their third win in succession at Stamford Bridge. To put things into perspective how bad the situation is for the home side, Brentford manager Thomas Frank has won more games this year at the bridge than Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino have won in the premier league combined.
CFC’s set-piece coaches should be embarrassed. None of the corner routines worked. It is so bad nowadays Chelsea’s corners are a chance for opponents to counterattack. It is difficult to point out a few individuals after such a shameful performance. None of the Blues were good enough. However, here are three of them who let the team massively down.
1. Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea boss
There was no reason to drop Malo Gusto after his impressive performance against Arsenal, where he shut Gabriel Martinelli off completely. In his place, Axel Disasi got the nod. There is no justification for starting a traditional center-back at right-back when Reece James and Gusto were available on the bench. Earlier, Pochettino was starting Levi Colwill at left-back when he had multiple actual left-backs available.
Chelsea saw how good it can be when starting players in their preferred role against Arsenal last week. Yet Pochettino was tweaking his back four for no reason. It was poetic that Ethan Pinnock popped at the back post as Disasi failed to track. The lack of a proper right back also hampered Chelsea’s attack through the right wing. It is high time Pochettino stops with his experimenting at the back.
2. Nicolas Jackson
The Senegalese forward returned to the starting line-up on Saturday. It was the perfect opportunity for Jackson to show his worth after a dreadful substitute performance against Arsenal last week. Instead, he was terrible.
Fans saw a lot of qualities in Jackson against Liverpool in the first match of the season. But since that match, his performances have gradually subverted. There was no stretching the defenses or running behind the backline. His shot-taking is something now rivals fans joke about because of how bad it is.
Saturday proved why CFC cannot lead the project with him being the starting striker. It also shows flaws in recruitment policies at Chelsea of going after unproven players. Sometimes, experience is required. It was none more evident than in the late stages when Thiago Silva headed a corner toward the back post. Jackson was near, but he failed to anticipate. Stamford Bridge has seen a lot of times forwards waiting there in case the ball comes.
3. Noni Madueke
Against Brentford, Madueke made his first start for Pochettino in the premier league. He started well and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as his shot hit the edge of the crossbar. But after that, he was below par.
The absence of a proper right-back did not help his case. Nevertheless, it was his chance to show his worth. Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling are above him in the pecking order to start in the right wing currently. It was up to Madueke to change it, but he failed massively.