Chelsea have dropped off since their early season form, much to the disappointment of the Blues in the Football Transfer Tavern…
Like their Manchester rivals, Chelsea gained three points from each of their first three games. Since then, though, the Blues have lost emphatically at Arsenal, been defeated at home by Liverpool and dropped points away at Swansea.
The arrival of Antonio Conte this summer promised stability and a much more resilient defence but the leaks and cracks that appeared last season are yet to disappear and they seem to be suffering the same problems.
A couple of wins against Hull and Leicester have steadied the ship somewhat, with Antonio Conte’s men impressing on both occasions – but they still have a lot to prove before they are reinstated as one of the big favourites for the title this season.
Substitutions have saved Conte on more than one occasion so far this season, and our landlord thinks that he would be wise to place more value in what he can gain from the bench moving forward.
With that said, Conte simply must utilise these 2 Chelsea players as impact subs
Michy Batshuayi
The Belgian has already been used effectively from the bench this season when required.
He came off the bench to make his Premier League debut in the season opener against West Ham, teeing up strike partner Diego Costa to win the game late on.
In the next game, he came on and netted his first goal for the Blues in another victory, this time away at Watford.
He has already proven his value as an impact sub, and it should no brainer to call upon Batshuayi as a sub whenever Chelsea are under the cosh.
Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas is easily the biggest name to be dropped from Conte’s first XI plans.
The ever impressive Spaniard has been dropped to the bench for Chelsea this season, making his only start in the 3-0 defeat away at his previous side, Arsenal.
However, every time he has stepped off the bench with Chelsea in a time of need, he has responded magnificently.
He came on when they were 1-0 down at Watford and he changed the game single-handedly, assisting one of the goals in the turnaround.
Conte would be wise to continue using him in this way, as thus far – it has worked a treat. Given the fluid system that the Italian is utilising this year, Fabregas simply does not fit in as a starter; but he can be thrown on for 20 minutes towards the end of the game to great effect.
