As another international break disrupts the rhythm, Blues manager Morrie Sarri is suffering from the crabs: too much sideways passing.
Don’t get me wrong. Skilled build-up play – as in Man City’s 44-pass Manchester derby goal – is a joy to watch.
But when endless passes generate no final outcome, it’s like watching grass grow. Which is how spectators felt at Stamford Bridge on Remembrance Sunday against Everton.
Everyone stared at the turf, but all they saw was 10 outfield crabs, doing what crabs do.
Sarri acknowledges things must change, accepting that going sideways will never reach the net.
When the Blues face Spurs at Wembley on November 24, they will have to risk going forward.
“In the last two or three matches we haven’t been approaching the games right,” Sarri said after an ill-tempered encounter which saw ref Kevin Friend – not a man to brandish cards lightly – book five players before half-time.
There were signs of a lack of freshness after the Blues’ midweek journey to Belarus, which generated a similar display, only this time in fog.
How the fans wished a thick blanket of mist could have rolled in from Brompton Cemetery to shroud the weekend’s serving of crab paste.
The only plus is that, for just the second time in their history, Chelsea are unbeaten in their opening dozen top-flight fixtures. We could just do with less scuttling about.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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