The Feel Chelsea writers’ season verdict continues, with Charlie Johns offering his take on a season of ups and downs. Take it away, Charlie.
Charlie Johns
Feel Chelsea: Greetings, Charlie. Are you ready to embark on a journey of realisation and discovery, culminating in a renewed perspective of the world around you?
Charlie Johns: Uh, I’m ready to answer a few questions about Chelsea’s season, if that’s what you mean.
FC: Yeah, that’s what I meant. So, first up, describe Chelsea’s season and give us your rating out of 10.
CJ: I think it’s fair to say that Chelsea’s 2017/18 season wasn’t a great success, with the blues failing to capture Champions League football, and certain players not fulfilling expectations. However, we still finished with more trophies than Tottenham & Man United, so I guess that’s a bonus. Chelsea started the season pretty well, sustaining 2nd/3rd place for a large part. However, in January everything seemed to go downhill, with a string of terrible results. That meant the blues fell out of the top four. So I would rate Chelsea’s season 6.5/10.
FC: You’re the first person to use the decimal point while rating the season, so you’re already ahead of the curve. Speaking of front-runners, who was your Player of the Season?
JC: N’Golo Kante is my player of the season because his consistency has been a vital factor of Chelsea’s campaign and I can’t imagine a Chelsea team without him in it. His work ethic, humbleness and desire to do all the dirty work has made him a fan favourite; as well as being regarded as one of the best central midfielders in the world.
FC: Can’t say I disagree with that, no sir. Now, let’s see what you think of the newcomers. Who is your Signing of the Season?
CJ: Antonio Rüdiger. I think this is a pretty obvious answer, considering Chelsea’s signings from the 2017/18 summer window haven’t exactly made a huge impact. Rüdiger was consistent, composed and solid at the back throughout the entirety of the campaign, and proved many doubters of the German defender wrong. The only other argument in my opinion is Giroud, but as the Frenchman was only signed in January and hasn’t put in too many performances, I won’t be picking him.
FC: He has been rather good, hasn’t he? Sticking with good things, what was your Goal of the Season?
CJ: Willian vs Brighton. This was a hard choice for me, with Chelsea scoring a range of great goals this season. However, this goal was purely incredible, the link up play between Hazard, Michy and Willian was magical and the finish to top it off made it my goal of the season. Was upsetting that we couldn’t see more of these three together that season.
FC: I think that’s vote number three for that goal. A work of art, in all fairness. But amidst all that beauty, who stunk the place out? Who was your Worst Player?
CJ: Bakayoko. This was a reasonably easy decision for me; Bakayoko joined Chelsea with high expectations, winning Ligue 1 and getting in the Champions League team of the season the previous campaign, but he just didn’t live up to the hype. Most of Bakayoko’s performances looked effortless and poorly composed, however he did show signs of his great potential, and this is why I believe he will succeed at Chelsea in seasons to follow.
FC: Yes, the young man just needs time to settle. Out of everything that happened, what was your Favourite Moment from the season?
CJ: Winning the FA Cup. Easy choice, Chelsea’s otherwise dull season had a happy ending, with the Blues beating Man United to secure the FA Cup trophy. The match wasn’t an incredible watch, but Chelsea ended victorious, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
FC: Hey, they all count. And now for the Worst Moment of the season.
CJ: Chelsea 0-3 Bournemouth. There were many to choose from, but this was my worst moment of the season. Coming off the back of destroying Brighton and progressing in the FA Cup, I had high expectations for this clash, however, this was just absolutely embarrassing, and just to rub salt in the wound, ex-Chelsea player Nathan Ake scored the third for the cherries.
FC: Ake will come back to haunt us many more times, unfortunately. Final task – choose your side: Conte In or Conte Out?
CJ: I think this depends, if he’s happy at the club, and also on his situation with the squad. Rumours are suggesting that Conte has fallen out with a few of the players recently, and we all know he’s got a past of doing as such, Diego Costa being one. The question is, how many top players can we allow him to make leave? Because I for one don’t want to see Willian leave the Bridge this summer. So if he can’t work on this side of his game, then I’d happily see him leave.
FC: I guess we’ll find out soon enough. It’s been great talking to you, Charlie. Have a good one!
CJ: No problem.
