Chelsea's Issues Fixed? Part - 1

Chelsea have made some great signings in the market. Some are fixes to a lot of problems and are not just duct tape over cracks. Some claim Frank wont improve the team next year? Well, our transfers and change in approach suggest otherwise

This will be a two part thread where in the first part, i'll be focusing a lot more on our attacking output and how our attacking signings will help fix the squads biggest problem this season, chance creation against low blocks and chance conversion. This added to our struggles.

One word I'd use to describe Chelsea's season is 'Inconsistent'. Our results were good, some losses hard to digest. Our attack was very fluid in games but frustrating in the next. We lacked variety in attack and teams simply used this to defend in numbers knowing what to expect.

This is where i have to applaud the club for three of our biggest attacking signings this season,

Kai Havertz
Timo Werner
Hakim Ziyech

All brought in to boost the quality of our attack. Lets take a look at Chelsea's season averages on attack.

Chance Creation and Conversion

Chelsea were third best in the league for xG and xA behind Liverpool and City on target excluding penalties where only 7 were awarded the whole season. The squad were also placed second and third in shots attempted and on target in the league

This does not tell the entire story as the squad's goals per shot ratio was 10th best in the league below Newcastle and Burnley. The squad had attempted 210 shots on target with only 30% of them converted. This is very poor for a top side. How was this problem addressed?

Timo Werner - One of the most lethal finishers in the Bundesliga last season. Timo Werner's goals per shot average was 0.21 last season, compare that with Martial (0.22), Vardy (0.22) and Aubameyang (0.22) and you will know what a difference he makes to our squad.

He scored 0.90 goals per 90 played last season, best in the Bundesliga along with an impressive goals per shot on target ratio of 0.42, higher than the team average of Chelsea for a whole season. Frank Lampard needed someone to finish those chances and he brings in Timo Werner.

Another candidate who will aid to this is record signing Kai Havertz. The midfielder, not far behind Werner and averaged an impressive 0.19 Goals per shot. He was ranked 5th best in the Bundesliga for goals scored among midfielders/wingers with Sancho leading the pack at 17.

Kai Havertz boasted an impressive 4.28 Shot creating actions per 90 last season. Kai is also a very creative footballer averaging 4.4 progressive passes and 1.9 key passes per 90 for the season. His pass completion record stands at 85.2% for the season. He is an output machine.

Finally, we have the Wizard of Chelsea, Hakim Ziyech. Ziyech's creativity is a breath of fresh air for this sqaud as he picked a pass outta nowhere couple of days back only for Hudson Odoi to link up with Timo Werner to put it behind the net, a sign of things to come?

The versatile winger was ranked Number one among all midfielders in the Eredivise for Goal creating actions , Pass success percentage, xG and xA for the season. Ziyech's ability on the ball was clear as day in the Champions league as he almost dismantled Chelsea at the bridge.

In the Champions league last season, Ziyech wracked up 4 assists in the 5 games he started out of the 6, averaged 4.5 SCA per 90 for the campaign along with an impressive 11.5 progressive passes per 90. A dead ball specialist as well who Chelsea do not have excluding Mason Mount.

Frank Lampard has addressed his squads attacking output with three very impressive signings. Top players added to a very good squad featuring a lot of good midfielders and forwards. Our attack now is impressive to say the least and it will be interesting to see how frank uses it.

Tactically, I think Frank will switch between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 a lot instead of going back to a 3 Back formation. These two shapes were predominant last season when all our best players were fit. Will be interesting to see where Odoi/Tammy/Giroud and Loftus Cheek fit here.

I am even more glad Frank and the board have not gone for stop gap signings and second choice attacking targets with the likes of Edinson Cavani, Mertens, Ryan Fraser, Moussa Dembele to name a few. Average at best now, these players are not the solution to our problems.

I expect the squad to do very well compared to last season but also have some moments of drop as well as they adapt as the season goes on. Squad bonding, Chemistry and other intangible factors are important too when you are building a team and they will develop with every game.

The thought of the overall quality of our signings and what they can bring to Chelsea is exciting indeed. Frank has assembled a very good attack and all is left for him to bring the best out of the players. Look forward to a very exciting new season. Thank you for reading