Cole Palmer, the promising Chelsea midfielder, finds himself in an intriguing paradox this season. Despite recording six assists in the first 13 games and creating 18 big chances for his teammates, Palmer has struggled to maintain his early form. In his last 13 outings, he has failed to register a single assist, leading to criticism despite his evident playmaking capabilities.
Palmer's creative prowess cannot be understated. His 47% conversion rate of big chances is unmatched at Chelsea among players with at least two such opportunities. However, Chelsea's frontline has been wasteful, with players like Noni Madueke and Christopher Nkunku squandering several goal-scoring chances, contributing to Palmer's assist drought.
Palmer has not been entirely off the mark himself, having scored three goals in 11 games across all competitions. Notably, he has seen a rise in his expected assists data, nearly doubling from 2.63 to 4.15 since the start of the season. His creativity remains undiminished, leading to comparisons with other prolific creators such as Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Salah, who have also seen fewer assists despite their knack for setting up big chances.
While Palmer's creative contributions have remained consistent, Chelsea's overall performance has faltered. The team has drawn three and lost four of their last nine matches, with a recent 3-0 defeat at Brighton marking their worst performance in the Maresca era. This slump has added pressure on Palmer to deliver more end-product in terms of assists.
"I just watched Cole Palmer do something silly and daft," remarked Jamie Carragher, highlighting Palmer's potential to pull off unexpected moments on the field. However, such moments have yet to translate into tangible results in terms of assists.
Palmer's last assist came on December 1, against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. Since then, he has been visibly frustrated by his inability to capitalize on the chances he creates for himself. Over the past ten Premier League games, Palmer had only two big scoring opportunities and managed to convert both of them. This efficiency in front of goal underscores his versatility but also highlights the lack of support from his teammates in converting chances into assists.
Chelsea’s attacking struggles are not solely on Palmer's shoulders but reflect a broader issue within the team's offensive setup. As Palmer continues to create opportunities, the onus is on Chelsea's forwards to be more clinical and convert these chances into goals.
Leave a Reply