Accepted Chelsea cannot sustainably compete financially with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City, it still isn't enough reason for the Chelsea executives to continue to be linked with players who are in decline or average . The purpose of this article isn't to bash the duo of Crouch and Carroll but to spot the sudden fall in grace of Chelsea. While Manchester City and United spent well over £150m in the summer without a notable departure except City's Kelechi Iheanacho (joined Leicester City for £20m), Chelsea had to sell the likes of Nemanja Matic, Ake, Begovic, Nathan Chalobah and Diego Costa (all in excess of £110m) before signing Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater and Zapacosta (excess of £150m). Agreed Chelsea have to balance the books before making any signing, yet it is shocking that Crouch and Carroll are the best for the Blues in the market.
At 29, Carroll has played over 20 EPL games once since his 2013 summer move to West Ham. You have to go back to the 2010-2011 season to see the last time the striker scored over 10 goals (his most productive and breakthrough season ), a form which earned him a big money (£35m) move to Liverpool where he flopped scoring six goals in 44 league games before moving to West Ham for £15m. That is not all, Carroll has scored only 25 goals in 86 EPL games for West Ham (5566 minutes) ; which shows a conversion rate of 15% and a goals per minute of 222.64. The stat excluded his one season loan in West Ham prior to a permanent deal 2012-2013 (seven goals in 23 EPL games). With such stat it is not just shocking but mind blowing that Chelsea have been linked with him as an upgrade on Michy Batshuayi . This season, the Englishman has played only 12 league games (two goals ) coupled with his 18 league games last season (seven goals).
On the other hand, Stoke City's Peter Crouch is already 37 having struggled to play 18 league games this season (mostly as a substitute with three goals) coupled with his 27 games (seven goals) last season . On what account are these two stats of both strikers Chelsea quality unless the West London side have decided to punch down.
Even though Chelsea might be appearing to exploit the winter transfer , what has happened to scouting ? Is Tammy Abraham who is on loan at Swansea (four goals in 20 EPL games, 21 goals in 43 last season for Bristol City in the Championship) not an upgrade on the two ; and couldn't Dom Solanke who joined Liverpool this summer after running down his contract have done better than the duo. Financial Fair Play or book balancing , Chelsea fans deserve better from who ever is in charge of recruitment at the club. With Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas the only two creative players at the club and the club struggling with creativity all over the field , it is shocking that it is players with aerial strengths and physicality that get linked with the club. Ross Barkley might have underachieved while at Everton considering his talent but he is not the answer to Chelsea's dull and blunt offence . Ngolo Kante, Bakayoko, Drinkwater all lack creativity as well as the Inconsistencies of Willian and Pedro (aging), Chelsea do not have a top class winger as well as a creator in chief in the middle of the park .
On paper as present the current winter transfer sums up how the mighty have fallen considering how the Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with Alexis Sanchez, Virgil Van Dijk, Emerick Aubameyang and Malcom while Chelsea target Andy Carroll and Peter Crouch.
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