“What a waste of money,” he’s the only player that can wear the Shirt – Chelsea’s striker risk exposed despite huge spending

Chelsea faced disappointment with a 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, leaving them with questions to ponder during the international break. Despite another busy transfer window, the Blues found themselves short of options up front. Mauricio Pochettino’s young squad is being built for the future, but supporters will expect more wins in the interim.

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Chelsea did create opportunities, but they were also frustrated by a well-organized Forest team that capitalized on the break to score a brilliant winner through Anthony Elanga.

The upcoming fixtures against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Fulham after the break precede a challenging run of matches. Chelsea will need to secure wins before facing the league’s top teams.

Key Observations:

1. Palmer’s Exciting Debut: Cole Palmer, the £45 million signing from Manchester City, made an exciting debut for Chelsea. He constantly demanded the ball and took responsibility under pressure. His four dribbles, precise passing in the final third, and a wonderful through ball to Raheem Sterling demonstrated his potential to make an impact.
2. Need for a Striker Profile: Despite the excitement surrounding Palmer’s signing, Chelsea could have benefited from another traditional striker to change the course of the match from the bench. Nicolas Jackson had a challenging afternoon, and the only striking option on the bench was 18-year-old Deivid Washington. This shortage of experienced strikers presents a risk.
3. Impact of Spending: Chelsea’s significant spending in the transfer window, which included over £400 million on 11 players, has ushered in a period of rapid change. Balancing player sales with new arrivals has led to an inevitable dip in performance. Steve Cooper’s tactical setup exposed some weaknesses in Pochettino’s system, resulting in a lackluster attacking performance. Pochettino will need to utilize the wider squad over time to make the team less predictable.

While Chelsea’s young squad shows promise for the future, it also faces the challenge of delivering results in the present. The international break provides an opportunity for reflection and adjustments as they aim for a more successful run in the upcoming fixtures.