So in a bit of a debate on my favorite Chelsea site today, WAGNH and debating about the consistency of minutes that Alvaro Morata has played so far this season. No one I think is arguing that Morata has done well. Sure, he’s done okay , but not well. 5 league goals is not enough for past halfway through the season. But it is a valid argument that he’s also not had consistent play so far this year. I’d easily argue that part of that is reactive, as in Sarri having to try alternate options, and more recently Morata had a bit of a knee something-or-other. But to hear that he’s had consistent play this year? Hogwash.
To the charts we go! I put together a nice bar chart showing each match, the minutes played, and color coded for what type of match it was, be it PL, FAC, EFL, or EL. As you can see, he most definitely has not had consistent minutes, and nothing like a designated ‘starter’ would have played for half a season.
17 starts of 32 possible matches. 11 of 21 league starts. Let’s see how other top forwards in the PL do, shall we?
- Harry Kane – 20 PL starts, 6 CL starts, 1 EFL start
- Sergio Aguero – 16 PL starts, 2 CL starts, 1 EFL start
- Roberto Firmino – 19 PL starts, 4 CL starts
Interestingly, Romelu Lukaku, who will forever be linked with Morata, has only 12 PL starts, albeit 4 CL starts, and 1 each in the FAC and EFL. And Higuain, the other player now linked with Morata, has 15 Serie A starts and 5 EL starts. So he’s had more consistency, too.
Needless to say, whether deservedly or not, the last thing that Alvaro Morata has had this season to date is consistent minutes played.
