Chelsea must swap these four players for Monday night’s clash at Watford

Chelsea must swap these four players for Monday night’s clash at Watford

Chelsea found themselves avoiding victory for the seventh time since the turn of the year on Tuesday night when they were humbled by visitors Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.

Goals from Callum Wilson, Junior Stanislas and former Blue Nathan Ake completed a 3-0 rout for the Cherries and rounded off what has been a miserable month for Antonio Conte’s side.

Next up are London rivals Watford – who are in a bit of a rough patch of their own. Like Chelsea, the Hornets have won only once in 2018.

But who will come out on top? If Chelsea are to record only their second victory of the year so far, Antonio Conte should consider swapping these four stars for the trip to Vicarage Road …

OUT: Tiemoue Bakayoko, IN: Danny Drinkwater

Bakayoko was at fault for Bournemouth’s opener on Tuesday, losing the ball too easily in the middle of the park to allow the visitors an easy route to goal on the counter – and his performance wasn’t much better for the rest of the game. In honesty, nor have they been for the rest of the season either.

Danny Drinkwater was signed as what some would call a ‘panic buy’ in the summer, but in the few opportunities he has been given – he has been excellent. The Englishman has looked thoroughly at ease alongside former Leicester City team-mate N’Golo Kante, with the pair complementing eachother’s styles in a way that Bakayoko and Kante don’t.

OUT: Ross Barkley, IN: Olivier Giroud

Where to start with Ross Barkley? There is some sympathy – he hasn’t played in almost seven months and has been thrust straight into the Chelsea limelight. But to be straight, his first few appearances in Blue have been sub-par. Sloppy in possession, too easily knocked off the ball and a non-existent eye for goal have made Barkley a passenger in the last few games.

Chelsea’s biggest problem this year has been the lack of a striker, or at least Antonio Conte’s insistence on not playing one. A false-nine system for the Blues just doesn’t work. In step Olivier Giroud. Signed on deadline day from Arsenal, the Frenchman is just the sort of striker Conte historically prefers – big, strong, good in the air and with the ball at his feet, but most importantly – intelligent. Giroud’s excellent movement and interplay will compliment the likes of Eden Hazard and Pedro perfectly.