SPORTS
Just a few months ago, Chelsea’s Nicholas Jackson was being called the ‘bust of the season’. While it is true that the Senegalese striker, a £35m signing from Villarreal last summer, is often portrayed with his head down and his raw talent disappoints the Stamford Bridge faithful more often than not, the truth is not so clear cut.
In fact, compared to his more established predecessors at the helm of the Blues’ attack, the 22-year-old is managing expectations better than they did in his first season. Following his brace against West Ham United in a 5-0 Premier League thrashing this weekend, Jackson continues to show hints of redemption to come after a slow start in England.
Among these predecessors, a certain Didier Drogba, often considered one of the best Premier League strikers of all time after his 164 goals in 381 matches over two spells helped Chelsea win four Premier League titles and win the Champions League for the first time, gave Jackson has an opportunity for rehabilitation. When comparing the statistics between the two in their debut season, it appears that West London is not necessarily a graveyard for the revered striker, but rather a place that requires an adjustment period.
No difference in creating chances
Nicholas Jackson vs Didier Drogba – Team play (Premier League debut season)
Nicholas Jackson
Didier Drogba
Assists
5
5
With the statistical era being a promising direction in football, Drogba’s 2004/05 Premier League season produced no chance creation statistics other than total assists. However, the fact that both he and Jackson recorded five assists in their rookie seasons should be enough to show that the latter’s slow start isn’t a cause for concern.
Additionally, the Senegalese international’s large frame helps him draw attention to his ball retention game, often doing the grunt work to allow players like Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer to come into play. A pass success rate of 77.84% isn’t too bad for a striker who has been criticized by his opponents for being sloppy up front. Meanwhile, his pace unlocks Chelsea’s counter-attacking potential, particularly evident in his brilliant but ineffective substitute appearance against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final.
Verdict:
Trophies have helped Drogba avoid criticism, but Jackson has time
All that glitters seems gold when everything is going well. This was certainly the case for Drogba in his early days at Chelsea, as the Blues won two Premier League titles in a row under Jose Mourinho. This helped the Ivorian avoid unwanted expectations and scrutiny, since there was no need to immediately show results.
In stark contrast, Jackson risks being buried under pressure. With the failures of Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku and the widening gap between Chelsea and the next trophy, the burden of responsibility falls on his shoulders. But after comparing his stats with Drogba, there is clearly no need for Boeli to sound the alarm and sign a new striker this summer. At 22 and priced at just £30m, Jackson may even have exceeded expectations in his first season, even if the team’s alarming league position clouds the eyes of Blues fans.
Author: Mujuni Henry
JUNIITV
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