Chelsea travel down to St Mary’s to take on Southampton in what will be a precursor to next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Antonio Conte’s side come into the game on a shocking run of form. Pushing for second place at the beginning of the year, the Blues have plunged down the league to fifth spot, with the possibility of Europa League football hanging over them.
Across Europe qualification for UEFA’s second competition is highly prized, as is winning it. In England it’s very much seen as a consolation prize. However, with the winner gaining entry into the next season’s Champions League, it’s credibility is rising.
There is still a mathematical chance that Chelsea could make fourth spot before the season ends though, but it will take a little help from our friends….in North London. Until that differential is insurmountable, we must try to be positive.
Watching our Italian manager on the sidelines, his demeanour lacks the enthusiasm and passion of last season. If he’s not bothered about who he picks, or how they play, here’s a heads up for him. It’s not the team he’ll pick, it’s the team he should pick. It’s old-fashioned but so am I.
Goalkeeper
Willy Caballero
The Argentine has performed well enough when he’s been called upon and should play the remaining games. Thibaut Courtois either has extremely stupid people advising him, or he definitely wants to leave London. Whichever it is, the bench is good enough for him to cogitate his next move.
Defence
Antonio Rudiger
Effectively, the German is the only signing this season who has had any impact on the starting XI. That’s not a great boast though, so bad have been the rest. Antonio Conte’s failure to restore four at the back has seen Chelsea supporters suffer without the ball for so long, as they watch on in despair.
Gary Cahill
It’s likely Chelsea will try to cash in on Cahill in the close season rather than extend his contract which runs out in 2019. A run in the side would increase any likely revenue and his experience would help Andreas Christensen, who has seen a drop off in form over the last few games.
Andreas Christensen
While he has struggled recently, Antonio Conte has shown great faith in the young Dane. It’s inevitable that he would find life at the highest level difficult, in his first Premier League campaign. He’ll be hoping for a strong finish with World Cup places up for grabs.
Cesar Azpilicueta
‘Dave’ is the first name on the team sheet. Even with Cahill in the side, he should be Captain. That’s not to disrespect Cahill’s Chelsea career in any way. With John Terry alongside him he was immense. Without JT, he’s struggled. We saw with Azpilicueta’s goal last weekend, the perfect way to celebrate a sad day. His celebration and respect for the passing of Ray Wilkins was spot-on.
Midfield
Marcos Alonso
Defensively, not so good, but with four at the back, going forward he’s as good as we’ve got. Add in his free-kick-ability and he has to make the team. Alonso has scored some crucial goals this season and can never be accused of not trying. Like Christensen, he’ll want to finish the season well, having just made his Spanish debut.
N’golo Kante
The Frenchman is the second name on the team sheet. His work rate is unquestionable and he has done the work of two men for most of the season alongside Cesc Fabregas. Kante reads the game and breaks up play, he’s Chelsea midfield general.
Danny Drinkwater
Conte will say he’s been injured and maybe he has, but Drinkwater has never been given a run in the team. To the layman, the purchase of the ex-Leicester City man, would make sense with his former teammate Kante already on board. However, it’s never really happened and we’ll probably have to wait until next season to see if the partnership can be rekindled.
Davide Zappacosta
Another one who has not been given a fair-crack-of-the-whip with Conte at the helm. That’s surprising, since it was he who gave Zappacosta his Italian debut. Like Alonso, his strength in offensive, but in a good way. Azpilicueta can cover his back as he goes forward unleashing his cross-shots.
Forwards
Olivier Giroud
Another member of the lack-of-rotation club. Giroud was signed in flurry of excitement on the final day of the January transfer window. He’s failed to excite Conte though and has played second fiddle to Alvaro Morata. Very little has worked since January, maybe it’s time to try two strikers up front.
Alvaro Morata
A combination that has never really been tried, unless the team are chasing a hopelessly lost cause. Will we ever know what it’s like to see two strikers upfront in the modern game of football. Not under the stewardship of Antonio Conte for sure. It could work though, with Giroud winning the ball for Morata why not give it a go. Could it be any worse.
The more observant of you will have noticed Eden Hazard is missing from the line up. We know Hazard is our best player, when he wants to be. Sometimes though, the best teams are not comprised of the best players.
Hazard or Willian for that matter, certainly make plan B. If it’s not going to plan, hook Drinkwater and replace with one or other in a 4-3-1-2 formation.
Let’s face it though, Conte will most probably line up in a 3-4-3 formation of Courtois, Rudiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Alonso, Kante, Fabregas, Moses, Willian, Hazard and Morata.