Delap, maths and adding to his game
Indiscipline inhibits Chelsea player's progress
For someone who borders on being a genius at maths, Liam Delap really needs to understand that his growing count of yellow cards doesn’t add up to a bright future. Delap’s bouts of indiscipline are impeding not only his Chelsea career when the way is open for regular starts at No 9 for the Blues. It’s inhibiting his chances of being Harry Kane’s long-term successor for England. One lion on a shirt, or three, Delap needs to do better.
Today gives a welcome opportunity for a reset. Chelsea travel to Baku for a Champions League tie against the Azerbaijani side, Qarabag, and Delap could start on his return from his latest suspension. His ability with sums, times tables and cubed roots first surfaced on a family holiday and has kept him occupied during the frustrating down-time of injury and suspension.
Delap has a problem with his challenging. He’s not dirty, just overly robust in attempting to win the ball. Last season, Delap was booked 13 times in 40 games for Ipswich Town and then, following his £30m move to Chelsea, twice in six games at the Club World Cup. Within four weeks of joining Chelsea, he was serving a suspension.
His second came in Chelsea’s weekend win over Tottenham Hotspur following his red against Wolves. As stupid dismissals go, Delap’s was up in the senseless category. Some latitude should, perhaps, be granted for a young player, eager to make an impression after returning from two months out with a hamstring injury, charging into Chelsea’s game at Wolves and putting himself about.