Chelsea defeat West Brom: 3 things we learned
Chelsea beat West Brom 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Monday, Feb. 12. Here are three things we learned from the match.
Chelsea cruised past West Brom on Monday thanks to a goal from Eden Hazard either side of Victor Moses’ striker. Here are three takeaways from the match.
Chelsea are back on track, just in time for a rough stretch
Last week, Chelsea lost to Watford and people were calling for the club to move on from Antonio Conte. Those talks may quiet down now that it seems Conte has righted the ship. Granted, he has West Brom’s number, having beaten them each of the four times he has faced them. Regardless, Conte chose a strong starting lineup (it’s easier with Tiemoue Bakayoko suspended) and the Blues never looked back.
In recent weeks, Chelsea have struggled. They weren’t scoring, their midfield was playing poorly and due to injuries, they were having to play a false 9. With the addition of Oliver Giroud, Chelsea now have a healthy striker to play. Giroud got the start, and regular starter Alvaro Morata made his first appearance as a substitute since injuring his back a few weeks ago.
Chelsea thoroughly dominated the match, controlling possession and out-shooting West Brom 20-8. This win is a huge boost of confidence going into a stretch that includes matches against Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City.
The team that lost to Watford last week looked lost and outmatched, surely not a team that would have a chance against those clubs. Today, however, against a weaker opponent, they got back on track. Hazard is world class, and the Blues are flying high going into a crucial match with Barcelona.
Daniel Sturridge simply can’t stay healthy
Injuries have plagued the English striker throughout his career, and it seems the bug has found him again. Sturridge moved from Liverpool to West Brom on loan to hopefully get more minutes to help him make the World Cup roster. However, only three minutes into his return to Stamford Bridge, the former Chelsea player was forced off with an injury. It didn’t seem like much, but after turning and making a simple pass Sturrdidge fell to the pitch and labored off.
When healthy, Sturridge has shown what he’s capable of. His pace and shooting ability make him a top-class striker when he’s on the pitch, but that’s his problem. Injuries have followed him around and derailed his once promising career. Injuries dropped him down Liverpool’s pecking order, obviously leading to his transfer.
Another injury is brutal, and will significantly hinder his ability to find his form going into the World Cup. West Brom were hoping the striker could help them emerge from the bottom of the table and avoid relegation. If he’s to miss a significant amount of time, it may be the final nail in the coffin. Sitting seven points out of safety, West Brom will be hard pressed to find their way out of this mess without Sturridge.
Hopefully the knock is not serious and he is able to return soon. Without consistent minutes, Sturridge will find himself watching the World Cup from his couch rather than on the bench, or even starting.
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Oliver Giroud is a valuable piece for Chelsea
Chelsea look like a completely different team with a true striker up top, rather than having Hazard play the false 9 role. It was apparent on their first goal, as Hazard played a one-two with Giroud and slotted the ball home with ease. The chemistry is there, and will only improve from here on out.
Giroud’s first start didn’t come without several mistakes. Some bad passes led to Chelsea giving possession away, leading to opportunities for the visitors. He also had a few chances in front of goal that he couldn’t convert. However, that should be nothing new for Chelsea fans, as Alvaro Morata can’t convert with anything besides his head.
He may not be a starter, but Giroud will undoubtedly have an impact going forward for Chelsea. Whether it be in the Champions league, which he’s eligible to play in, or in league play, Giroud will score some important goals down the stretch. He looked quite dangerous on Monday, finding himself in good positions and notching an assist on Hazard’s first goal.
The former Arsenal man already looks like a good signing for the Blues, and his value will only increase as the season progresses. His experience and understanding of the game are extremely valuable. Chelsea should feel lucky to have arguably the best backup striker in the league.