Off the back of another fine performance from Trevoh Chalobah for Chelsea against Brentford on Wednesday evening, plaudits rightfully continue to flood in for him.
I’ve been used to seeing negativity and hate for Chalobah, but personally for me, I’ve always thought he has been under rated, under appreciated, and disrespected by sections of the fanbase. He has received unfair hate and criticisms of late, but right now, he has proven to be a key player for us.
Chalobah has received his fair share of undeserved hate recently, and I don’t even think he’s been bad at all, even when this hate was rife.
He had some moments and a spell where he made some rash decisions and gave the ball away a bit too much, granted. But he has never been performing badly. I think under Thomas Tuchel, he was ignored a bit too much and deserved more.
It was only this summer when we were speaking about Chalobah leaving. But now, he has proven to be an essential part of this squad again under Graham Potter, just as he was under Tuchel in the early days.
Based on current form, Chalobah for me would be the second starting centre back out of all of our options, just on current form and reliability right now.
Thiago Silva has obviously been world class and is still the first name on the team sheet in terms of defenders, maybe even the whole team. For me though, as of right now and off current form, Chalobah is next.
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Kalidou Koulibaly has obviously proven himself to also be world class throughout his career. But at Chelsea so far, although we are seeing him steady up a lot more lately, he’s struggled in some moments, and that for me makes him less reliable than Chalobah as of right now.
Marc Cucurella has been similar to Koulibaly in that sense, so I’d still be Chalobah over him at the back for now.
Wesley Fofana is going to be world class, but he’s looked a little raw on occasions and naturally will take some time to fully settle and get to speed. So, with that said, Chalobah pips him for now too.
Don’t get me wrong, Fofana will soon become indispensable for Chelsea, that I have no doubt about. I’m not even saying he shouldn’t start when fit, I’m just saying that off current form so far this season, Chalobah pips him as of now, for me anyway.
Cesar Azpilicueta should be no more than just a backup option in my humble opinion, with the upmost respect to our captain.
This is why I believe Chalobah, on current form and under the circumstances mentioned above, is our second most reliable pick for centre back right now and he deserves to keep his place on merit.
I even think he stands a small chance of getting an England shout at the World Cup. I think it’s unlikely, but certainly not impossible that it happens.
He has become Mr. Reliable for us and that was emphasised again last night against Brentford in the absence of Silva. Chalobah was the calmest centre back on the pitch for us and did his upmost to replace what Silva brings us.
He led us to another clean sheet at the heart and middle of our defence, and that wasn’t a one off, his form has been excellent of late.
Graham Potter on Trevoh Chalobah after the Brentford game:
“He’s come in and hasn’t let us down. Again, he gives everything. A tough evening for him with the centre-forwards Brentford have. Different test but stood up to it well. A soldier.”
I believe he deserves much more respect and is a better player than some believe him to be. There’s no reason why he now cannot push on, improve even more, and turn himself from a rotation option to a regular nailed on starter for Chelsea.
