By Alex Roberts
The West London membership have had some rotten FA Cup luck in recent times, making the ultimate in three of the final 5 seasons, dropping all of them towards Arsenal, Leicester Metropolis, and Liverpool as they head into their first recreation of the 2024/25 version.
It’s the sort of report Morecambe followers would kill for, a facet which have solely been above League Two twice within the final 15 years and are struggling to remain within the soccer league this season.
Chelsea have a historical past
The duty appears insurmountable for lil ol’ Morecambe, however Chelsea have misplaced to decrease league opposition within the FA Cup earlier than, notably dropping 4-2 to League One Bradford all the way in which again in 2015.
It’s been a decade for the reason that defeat to Bradford, and Chelsea are now not have a chiselled Gary Cahill or a Russian oligarch to depend upon, now it’s younger Levi Colwill and a consortium of American enterprise capitalists.
Similar to pundits up and down the nation wish to say, ‘something can occur’, and it’s occurred earlier than, Morecambe beat Bradford within the earlier spherical in any case, however the odds are definitely in Chelsea’s favour.
A purpose scoring defender
Morecambe have a secret weapon in Jamie Stott. A defender who occurs to be their second high league purpose scorer, boasting the perfect xG within the facet, however in true centre-back model, additionally having probably the most missed huge possibilities.
He’s not the kind of participant who must be battle towards relegation in League Two and has been a driving drive within the two wins they’ve from their final 5 video games, scoring within the 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers and displaying his means on the again within the 1-0 victory towards Carlisle.
In fact, Chelsea are a totally completely different beast, nevertheless it’s a recreation through which Stott might impress potential suitors.
Give the children an opportunity
One of the constructive issues Enzo Maresca has accomplished is give Chelsea’s youngsters hope after a summer season of upheaval for his or her famed youth conveyer belt. Each Neil Tub and Jim Fraser stepped down as academy administrators.
Gamers corresponding to Conor Gallagher, Ian Maatsen, and Lewis Corridor, simply to call just a few, had been shipped out for ‘pure revenue’, leaving real query marks relating to a transparent pathway for the present academy stars.
Chelsea will probably be hoping regardless of all of the change, extra gamers will decide to the membership and do a Josh Acheampong slightly than a Rio Ngumoha, and video games like this are the proper likelihood to indicate them they’re wished.
Prediction
It’s simple to get carried away with the romance of the FA Cup and large killings and many others. nevertheless it’s essential to stay life like.
Morecambe profitable this is able to arguably be the most important factor to occur to the membership, however it could take a miracle, so we’re going to go along with 4-0 to Chelsea.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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