The injury pile up of players at Stamford Bridge this season doesn’t excuse what’s been a massively underwhelming year so far, but it’s certainly a contributing factor that can’t be completely ignored.
In our view, Blues head coach Mauricio Pochettino has only picked the team’s two best players in the same starting line-up five times all season.
The luxury of the Premier League’s giant clubs like Chelsea is that they can call upon a deep squad. Therefore, it’s unacceptable Chelsea sit 11th in the league table right now, regardless of the poor luck with injuries to key names.
In fairness, it’s been a campaign where pretty much all sides have had numerous injuries to juggle, so it’s about how you deal with them.
If we were picking the top two players at Chelsea right now on ability alone, Reece James and Cole Palmer get our vote.
That’s why it’s pretty disheartening to hear the English duo has only started five matches together this season across all competitions.
Palmer’s been fortunate enough to fly through the year so far without injury interruptions, growing in stature every week with more and more top-class displays. In contrast, club captain James has only managed nine appearances across all competitions.
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Journalist Bobby Vincent claimed via X last month that Chelsea are reluctant to put a specific timeframe on when James will actually return.
Build the Chelsea team around Reece James and Cole Palmer
We understand the reservations around James, 24, and the injuries that keep cropping up in his career. But when fit, our belief is he’s an elite player that pushes close to a world XI.
As for 21-year-old attacker Palmer, he’s the genius going forward that scores, creates and keeps getting better.
You may need to tinker with systems and positions if replacement full-back Malo Gusto continues playing the way he is, but we’re desperate to see a fully functional Chelsea line-up with both James and Palmer at full tilt.
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There’s a lot of negativity at Chelsea because of another turbulent year, but just a gentle reminder there’s special talent in the ranks.
