Nine goals conceded in the first four games — not ideal by any stretch. But over the international break, Frank Lampard has had a chance to ponder the best way forward for his Chelsea side.
One obvious remedy would be the return of Antonio Rudiger, who has been passed fit to play at Molineux.
As for Rudiger’s central defensive partner, that’s not so easy to decide.
It had been assumed by many that Kurt Zouma was earmarked as the German’s long-term sidekick, but his hesitant performances must raise some doubt.
Having done so well on loan at Everton, I expected a bit more assurance from the big centre-half. Instead, he’s looked slightly clumsy and a touch nervous. Conceding that penalty at Old Trafford on the opening day certainly didn’t help.
In Pictures | Chelsea vs Sheffield United | 31/08/2019
I wonder if Zouma thinks he’s got to do a bit more than he did at Everton, where his game stayed fairly straightforward. Head it, kick it, do the basics right. Goodison Park will rightly be happy with that. Don’t over-complicate matters by trying to get clever.
Yet once or twice this season Zouma has fallen into that trap. He has been caught taking chances in dangerous areas when his game doesn’t suit that kind of stuff.
I don’t know. Either Lampard wants him to become a more sophisticated defender or the player himself thinks he’s got to do things in a Chelsea shirt he wouldn’t think of in Everton’s.
