Xabi Alonso must fix awkward Chelsea problem as key man upstaged by summer signings

Reece James’ struggles in midfield are endemic of an unbalanced squad as opening fixtures draw head coach’s to-do list into sharp focus

A season of new hope under a new manager got off to a fine start, but Chelsea have since fallen more than a little flat.

Winless in three straight Premier League games, they head into a three-week international break in need of a reset and a rest but no doubt restless to curb their poor form.

While Xabi Alonso and his ten first-team signings were bound to take time to bed in and form a chemistry, there are clearly some areas in which Chelsea have shown more progress than others.

Time to assess their season so far — what to improve, what to keep, who has stepped up, and who still needs to.

Which players have impressed?

Seven games into the campaign and with only five matches played in the league, the season is very young indeed. Already, though, it is clear Chelsea are all about the front end of the pitch and attacking firepower.

The front three of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro took just 30 seconds in the opening game of the season against Fulham to begin showing encouraging signs of a three-man strike force being formed. Between them, they have ten goals and ten assists in 19 games in all competitions so far. No team in the Premier League will be looking forward to trying to contain the three-man front line.

Romeo Lavia has been finding his feet again in central midfield after an injury-plagued last couple of years; Pedro Neto has worked hard to learn the ropes in the new right wing-back position thrust upon him by Alonso and his new 3-4-2-1 formation.

Lively: Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer made a fine start to the campaign

PA

Which players have struggled?

In truth, a number of Chelsea men have had difficult starts. Playing at wing-back and also in midfield, Malo Gusto has struggled for form and consistency, as has captain Reece James. Though a real battler in the middle of the park, James’s lack of midfield expertise was exposed in the defeat at Arsenal.

Wesley Fofana ended last season in poor form and has been unable to stop the rot, while Jorrel Hato has impressed from left wing-back in an attacking sense but been error-prone defensively. He should never have allowed that ball to drop to Mohamed Belloumi against Hull City.

Out of his depth: Reece James has struggled with his midfield task

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How are the summer signings faring?

Rogers has been superb. Elsewhere, Danny Welbeck has already scored as many goals in two Carabao Cup starts as Liam Delap — sold to Nottingham Forest for £50m — did all of last season in all competitions.

Valentin Barco looks a real terrier in midfield, and Alonso will be pleased with his start to life with the Blues, while Maxence Lacroix began well but has since dipped, just like Chelsea at large.

Jordan Henderson’s only appearance came when Chelsea were whacked 3-0 by his former team Brentford, while goalkeeper signing Emi Martinez has certainly not repaid the faith yet. He has shipped ten goals in his first four games and not looked anything like the dominant, physical presence Argentina and Aston Villa had come to know him as.

What has Alonso got right and wrong?

Alonso has given Palmer the freedom he never had under Liam Rosenior and particularly Enzo Maresca. Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro have been allowed to interchange as they see fit.

A three-man backline looks workable but is shipping far too many goals. Chelsea are without a league clean sheet in 21 games. Regular changes of personnel at the back have added needless complication.

Alonso is also known to be concerned by Chelsea’s inability to maintain a high level of performance throughout the full 90 minutes of any of their league games yet. But unlike a certain Italian in charge of the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, he does not dig players out and has taken responsibility when results have not gone Chelsea’s way. Injuries haven’t helped.

Chelsea are still guilty of a failing under Maresca. Outperforming their expected goals (xG) by more than every team bar Brighton and Newcastle evidences the elite finishing of their ruthless front three, yet they struggle to produce regular clear-cut chances. Their 7.3 xG after five games is fewer than Fulham and Ipswich.

Revised end-of-season finish prediction

Before the season started, I said they would finish fourth. While still very achievable, that appears hugely reliant on that front three continuing to excel. “We have dropped our consistency, our competitive mentality,” says Alonso, who needs others to step up too.