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1. MASON MOUNT (8.8)
Mason Mount has entered the conversation for Chelsea’s Player of the Season as of late, and that’s no surprise when we look at his community player ratings (which, as I often point out, reflect sentiment as much as actual performance).
Of his 40 starts, 6 were rated 8+, but 4 of those have come in his last 13 starts (starting with the 2-1 win over Spurs), while only 2 were awarded in his first 27 starts (Spurs again, plus our first win of the season, against Norwich City). He’s been one of the standout performers of Project Restart, underlining the notion once again that when he plays well, Lampard’s Chelsea tend to play well.
He has no chance of winning the WAGNH Player of the Season however — there are quite a few players carrying a much higher overall ratings average — but that’s no slight on the man himself.
The future is very bright!
2. OLIVIER GIROUD (8.3)
Speaking of players transformed into a force of nature in the second half of the season ... Giroud got yet another goal, yet again in first-half stoppage time, for the fourth match on the bounce.
olivier giroud has scored during first half stoppage time in four straight games
— Graham MacAree (@MacAree) July 26, 2020
So that’s now 10 total for the season in all competitions, including the Super Cup, which I tend to forget about. That also means that Giroud has hit double digits in goals for the 13th (THIRTEENTH!) straight season ... of a 14-year professional career! In terms of goals per game ratio, he’s having his best season since 2015-16.
Oh, and he’s now scored in five straight, which apparently makes him quite zesty. Thanks, Opta!
33 – At the age of 33, Olivier Giroud has become the oldest player to score in five consecutive Premier League starts, taking over from Jamie Vardy (32 years old). Zest. pic.twitter.com/2MZyWY4DTU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 26, 2020
3. MATEO KOVAČIĆ (8.1)
And as always, when in doubt, vote for Kova, because he’s the boss and our actual Player of the Season.
Yes.
vs. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (PL, H, W 2-0)
EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —
EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): Mount (8.8), Giroud (8.3), Kovačić (8.1)
GOOD (7.0-7.9): Zouma (7.7), James (7.4) Caballero (7.3), Azpilicueta (7.2), Alonso (7.0)
AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Rüdiger (6.9), Pulisic (6.9), Jorginho (6.9), Pedro (6.5, sub), Abraham (6.3, sub), Hudson-Odoi (6.1, sub), Loftus-Cheek (6.1, sub)
POOR (5.0-5.9): Barkley (5.9, sub)
BAD (4.0-4.9): —
TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —
OVERALL
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