Pat Nevin: The Top Four Is Still Two Years Away For Cheslea

Pochettino still right man for Chelsea but top four may be two years away, Man Utd simply wanted it more and I back Everton to beat Blues.....

Speaking to BestGamblingSites.com, ex-Chelsea and Everton star Pat Nevin broke down the Blues’ dire performance at Old Trafford last night.

Q. What did you make of Chelsea’s loss to Manchester United last night?

Pat Nevin - ''The game between Manchester United and Chelsea was a massive one for United. They had been so dire, and I think every United fan understands that even if I don't like using that word!

“I thought Man United were more like themselves last night, and they had a certain Scott McTominay to thank for digging them out of a hole.

“Last week, I described Manchester United as having more false dawns than an Arctic winter! I think that phrase also applies to Chelsea. They seem to get a decent result one week before falling apart the next. They had a decent run against City and Spurs, but that awful performance against Newcastle followed. I always wonder what's next for them!

Manchester United were up for it and they were simply the better team on the day. Chelsea's form is middling midtable - and that's just not recently as it's gone on for a season and a half now.

“I'm not sure if expecting more is the right idea. Chelsea fans are used to success, and as much as they want it, their team is performing like a midtable one.''

Q. Is Pochettino still the right man for the job?

PN - ''I'd say Pochettino still is the right man for the job, especially when you consider how many new players have arrived. I'm not sure how many were his choice.

“I wouldn't say I'd pick a different starting XI as it seems to make sense to me. There are, however, a number of young players.

“Caicedo is quite young, and though Enzo Fernandez is only 22, he's hardly inexperienced. Mykhalio Mudyrk, Nicolas Jackson, Levi Colwill, and Axel Disasi all lack significant Premier League experience, and the bench is a very young one in Premier League terms.

“Last season, I thought that buying all of these youngsters was a risky strategy. There's very little Premier League experience there, and I thought that the team wouldn't be good for at least two seasons. I still stick by that.

“I have served as a chief executive before, and if I was at Chelsea, I wouldn't expect this team to get into the top four this season. Instead, I'd expect them to go out, learn, and develop a work ethic. I know it wouldn't happen overnight.

“Everybody knows that this team cost £1 billion, and that's the complication. The expectations of the fans are high, and the amount of money spent on the squad will always be something hanging over them.

“At no point this season have I thought this was a top-four team. I never thought that before the season started, either. Perhaps in two seasons' time, or next at the very earliest, this team could challenge. You never know. At the moment, Chelsea look short of being a top-four team.''

Q. Reece James was poor last night. Does he do enough as captain?

PN - ''Players often don't feel the same way about the captaincy as people in the media suggest.

“A lot of captains think of themselves as just another player, and that the leadership duties will be picked up by someone else.

“Reece James may be the one wearing the armband, but Enzo Fernandez is just as much of a captain due to the way he plays and how he pushes things around in midfield. Look at Thiago Silva! He's clearly the captain in everything but name.

“Players can be given the armband for different reasons. It can be done as a gesture because it helps that particular individual, for example. It doesn't matter if that player is Reece James or Raheem Sterling, there will always be another player who can pick up the slack.

“Reece hasn't been fully fit for a long time, and everyone who watches him wants him to get back to his previous level. If he doesn't, it won't be his fault, it'll just be a case of injuries destroying a large part of his game. James isn't quite the player he was, but perhaps that can be solved by getting more games under his belt. The problem is, that being the captain of a mid table side who are chasing wins can be a bit of a catch-22 scenario. What is obvious, though, is how much his quality is missed by the team.''

Q. No other team this season has received more yellow cards than Chelsea. Does their lack of discipline lie with the players or the manager?

PN - ''I don't think Chelsea lack discipline. Chelsea have had a lot of yellow cards, mostly through Nicolas Jackson, but a lot of them are for dissent.

“Most players are being booked for putting a tackle in, and I don't have a problem with that. No Chelsea fan wants their team to be soft! There was a time when Chelsea were a soft team, and you cannot be that in this league.

“Chelsea have had a few red cards, but Gallagher's one was a very harsh one. You need to put tackles in to be competitive. If players like Gallagher don't tackle, then they're half the player they should be.

“I don't think Pochettino will be concerned with Chelsea's booking statistics. He'd be concerned if they were at the other end of those stats! Chelsea should eliminate the stupid yellow cards, like the ones for dissent, as they're unprofessional. The manager won't have a problem with the ones from competitive tackles, though, and neither will the players.

“The downside of having a lot of yellow cards is they can cause you to lose players. Chelsea have a massive squad, however, and they can afford to lose players!

“I'd say only Thiago Silva and Cole Palmer would be significant misses for Chelsea. Everybody else is replaceable.

''I'm starting to see a bit more of Djorđje Petrović, Ian Maatsen, and Deivid Washington, and I think they're all solid.’’

Q. I think I filtered out Chelsea's transfer news in the summer!

DG - ''The amount of signings Chelsea made just underlines how big their squad really is. I think the one with big expectations is Armando Broja. Chelsea need a goalscorer!

“Broja had a good chance against Manchester United, and he's a player who'll take up the right positions at the right time. I have no idea if he's the answer, though. He's not necessarily the quality of Erling Haaland or even Ollie Watkins, but he is a player who is capable of scoring a few goals. His physicality is very good, too.

“Chelsea have a decent squad - an upper-midtable one. That could change in a few years, and I'd like to emphasize the word 'could'!

“We expect all of these Chelsea players to improve, but a lot of them haven't yet. We'll find out if the £1 billion spend has been worth it depending on how these players pan out.''

Q. Chelsea will play Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. What are you predicting for that?

DG - ''Ironically, I will be at Tottenham's stadium on Sunday, so I won't be able to watch Everton vs Chelsea!

“I don't actually enjoy this fixture as it involves two teams that I love. I hate to see either of them lose! Everton need the win more at the moment, and you'd have to back Everton on this one, even if they're in the relegation zone.

“Everton have been very impressive this season and they have such a small squad. They can't afford to have any injury problems at all. They're on seven points as of now with a game in hand. They're only two points behind Luton, and, if they win against Newcastle, they'll only be nine points behind Chelsea! Even with a points deduction.

“I think that's astonishing. It's one the craziest things in the league - the craziest being Manchester United only trailing City by three points! That's the madness of the Premier League and that's why we love it.

“Chelsea and Everton are two teams who have suffered. Everton may look as though they have far fewer points, but there's not too much between them at the moment.

“The Premier League has a few bully teams. One of them is Newcastle, and another one is Everton. They're so powerful at home. Chelsea have only won three of their last nine meetings with Everton, and they'll know that Goodison is always a tough place to go. I've been there a few times this season and it's always been rocking.

Villa Park is another one of those stadiums. The spirit that comes from the Everton fans is always so powerful, even when they lose.

“Everton are missing Calvert-Lewin at the moment, but they have spirit oozing out of every orifice! They're up for every game. The fans sing at the top of their lungs, and so does Sean Dyche. He's been brilliant for them, and I can't help but smile when thinking about Everton.

The club has been through a lot, yet the fans are still smiling.’’

Q. Do you have a score prediction in mind?

PN - ''I'm going to go with a draw, but I'd back Everton if I had to pick a winner. That's purely down to the fight they've shown under Sean this season.''

As of writing, Chelsea are favourites to beat Everton in the online football betting world.