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Publication date: Monday, September 14, 2020 11:22 AM
The first game of the season is all about hope. New kits, fresh faces and tans. The chance to end perspective and dream of glory, no matter the costume. Is a time for quick judgments: for clubs, coaches and players to be announced or discarded. Intermissions are even scarcer this season, with no draws in the eight games played this weekend. West Ham is falling, Mourinho will not last the season and Arsenal will be in the top four.
Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Brighton on Monday, could, depending on the outcome, lead to an instinctive suggestion of a title challenge for the team billed to the great artists of the Premier League.
But Brighton will have walked off the court stumped by how they lost at the Amex. Chelsea looked perky, even disoriented at times, while Brighton was well trained and confident. they they were the entertainers, if there were any.
After popping the ball with little to no pressure for the first 20 minutes, a bit of carelessness cost Brighton.
Steven Alzate’s square mishit ball was first launched into space by Jorginho. Overhit for most, but not Timo Werner, Chelsea’s sharpest player by distance, who sped the ball up past Matt Ryan to earn the penalty, which was converted by Jorginho.
They didn’t deserve it.
While current Chelsea players seemed disoriented, a previous one, Tariq Lamptey, was electric for Brighton. Marcos Alonso’s defense against him was suspect, but Ben Chilwell saved what could have been a heartbreaking debut. Any left back would have been in trouble.
Brighton dominated the game. And ten minutes of sustained pressure in and around the Chelsea area early in the second half paid off, as Leandro Trossard’s long-range shot slipped past Kepa. Of course you do: you have a hole in your gloves, dear Kepa.
Trossard’s strike is one that a Premier League goalkeeper simply has to save. Reece James, moments later, is not. He melted the ball into the top corner from 25 yards. A timely reminder of why he was kept at Stamford Bridge, while Lamptey was allowed to leave.
But it was again a goal that Chelsea did not deserve, like the third ten minutes later. Lewis Dunk had missed a crucial golden opportunity in the middle, failing to make a proper connection with an unmarked header off the back post, before Kurt Zouma’s docile volley hit the net via a detour.
It was one of those games that leaves you a bit empty: big spenders beat the little one with a little luck and some other superior attribute. And also deflated. Chelsea’s first game had a great preparation. And despite the fact that only two of the new signings were starters, they were the two ‘best’. How disappointing then, that none of them caught fire.
Timo Werner showed his worth in flashes, but any match without a goal for him will be a disappointment. Kai Havertz seemed shocked: he frequently turned the ball over and struggled a lot with the pace of the game. At least he wasn’t as bastard as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was really hideous.
While there was nothing new to shout about, the same problems persist.
Frank Lampard said after the game that his centers were “fantastic”, which has to be a concern. They were fine but yeah that’s the standard, Chelsea is in trouble.
They still It seems they are going to concede on every set piece, with Kepa completely lacking in authority and sowing doubts in a defense that doesn’t seem to know who or even if it should score.
Lampard also said he was “happy” with the Spaniard in goal. What Chelsea fans will be waiting for is the see-through bulls ** t it appears to be. They won’t go anywhere as long as he remains.
It was a laborious performance. One that, unsurprisingly, lacked answers to questions that remain on the defensive, and disappointingly short of the free-flowing threat of attack that the summer business had promised.
The hype will continue to surround Chelsea as new signings continue to arrive to the first team, and some of them, Thiago Silva and a new goalkeeper in particular, may however, make them title contenders. But on this evidence, keeping emotion at bay would be wise for a while yet.
Will ford is on twitter
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