I have a vision for Chelsea’s attack, and I think that we could actually get it firing.
There’s no point witing it off after four games by the way, I must say that first and foremost. Nicolas Jackson will score more goals and we will finish chances. I don’t believe that our composure in front of goal will continue to be as bad as it has been. Mauricio Pochettino, the coaches, and the players will get it working.
But I DO have a vision for the attack and I believe that once Armando Broja is back fit and playing regularly again, that we need to play him as our centre forward, and Nicolas Jackson as a wide striker, a lot like another quality Chelsea player named Nicolas…. Mr. Anelka.
That’s the vision I see for Jackson. I see him driving at defenders from wide, cutting in and shooting, passing, and creating havoc. I don’t see him as a back to goal striker, and I don’t even see him as a main number 9. I see him working off of another striker, and hopefully that striker will be Ivan Toney come January if Chelsea manage to pull that off.
The vision and setup will change as injured players come back in. But I think Jackson on the left would be our best bet for now and even going forward. Christopher Nkunku coming back in will create more competition, but I think he can more be a number 10 as well as competing for the wide left position.
Raheem Sterling will compete with Noni Madueke and even Cole Palmer. Palmer will also be competing with Nkunku in the 10 role.
Then we have to add Carney Chukwuemeka into that mix as well and he will be fighting to get his starting role back when he’s fit again. He can play in any of the attacking positions as well as deeper in midfield for me. So he does have versatility on his side.
We have a lot of options in those areas when everyone is fit. Pochettino will find it tough to keep them all happy and I can see one, or even two going out on loan or permanent in January.
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I fear for Mykhailo Mudryk because unless he finds form I think he will fall way down the pecking order. But as I said yesterday, how do we get him to form? Is it by giving him a run of starts? Is it be protecting him and keeping him out of the limelight? Perhaps. But he has a chance to play now with injuries and really I think that’s the best way to handle this, by playing him. But nobody knows right from wrong on this situation. I do have concerns whether he will make it here.
It’s a cut-throat competition to make it here and if Sterling keeps performing to the levels he has shown this season, it’s going to be hard to get him out of the team.
Palmer for me is going to be absolutely key to our goals and creativity for this early part of the season. I also think that IF, and it’s a big IF, Broja comes back and is not held back by his injury at all and in any way, then he can also be key.
Until Nkunku and Chukwuemeka return, and even when they do, I see this vision as the attack. I think this could be our best attack and I do see goals and creativity in this.
Of course, this will be dependent on Broja coming back and being 100% in terms of condition and quality again, but I do rate Broja and have some belief in him.
I just really think Jackson could do some real damage by playing in the ‘Anelka role’ and it was even something we saw from Thierry Henry earlier in his career. I’m by far writing Jackson off as a centre forward, and I’ll draw on Henry again for my reason. Because although Henry was class as a wide striker, he soon became world class as a striker as he developed and got older. Jackson could do the same. But I just think to get the best out of him right now then we should be looking to use him like this, which is actually a position he played regularly before last season.
This is just one thing we can do. It’s on Pochettino, the actual qualified coach amongst us, the get things right now and I have no doubt that he will.
