Is Demba Ba being underused at Chelsea?

Demba Ba

Chelsea’s 3-1 win against Southampton was down largely to one substitution that Jose Mourinho made at half-time; he removed the rather inefficient Michael Essien and brought on Demba Ba to partner Fernando Torres up front. The addition of Ba gave Chelsea a more direct option and his addition did serve to invigorate Chelsea. He also managed to find the back of the net as he scored Chelsea’s third of the game.

His rather effective performance has led to some rather obvious questions as to why he hasn’t played a larger role this season. Mourinho himself acknowledged that Ba will be useful for the team.

In a recent press conference, he said, “The work him and Fernando did on Sunday (against Southampton) was amazing, of course the goal was important for his happiness and it was a crucial goal because it killed the game. I’m not sleeping, Demba is showing me he can help the team.”

While Mourinho admitted that Ba will be a useful player for the team, one cannot see him playing anything more than a bit-part role for large parts of this season.

Despite the fact that Mourinho essentially built a team around Didier Drogba‘s strengths during his first spell at the club, this time he has taken a rather different approach. Chelsea have been playing a very different style of football this time around, one that focuses more on possession and creating chances rather than simply relying on the counter.

Playing possession football requires a striker who is adept at linking up with the other players around him. The striker might even be required to play something of a False 9 role at times; drop deep or wide and look to play in one of the attacking midfielders who bombs into the empty space he will inevitably leave in the opposition’s penalty area. Both Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o have proved they can play in this role.

Ba’s strengths are somewhat similar to that of Drogba’s (although he is a poor man’s version of the Chelsea legend at best). He likes to hold up the ball and bring others into play and he will bully defenders aerially. However, his link-up play is often poor and he doesn’t necessarily look to drop deep at every opportunity. That isn’t a flaw in his game as such; his game relies more on his strength and finishing rather than the ability to bring others into the game with a pass.

Given how his skillset is different to that of both Torres and Eto’o, there are only two instances when Mourinho will look to use Demba Ba. Either he will start him as a lone striker against teams where his aerial threat and physicality is needed or he will be used as an option from the bench to give Chelsea a direct option or when they need a goal, like he was used against Southampton.

While it is safe to say that Ba is being underused at Chelsea (he will do much better in a team that plays to his strengths) one cannot expect him to be Chelsea’s number one striker any time soon. His use will be limited as long as he remains at Chelsea.