Vote For Pedro: Catalan winger already at home is West London

With under a week to go in the Transfer Window, and the Stones saga set to rumble on for the entirety of that, one comfort to the hordes of moaners on Twitter is that for the first time since the Double winning season of 2009/10, both of our first choice wingers are top class options. Despite not even being here for a full week, Pedro Rodriguez seems at home in West London already.

Granted, he’s probably seen more of West Bromwich than he has of West London so far whilst in England, but the impressive nature of his debut, especially considering he will have had 2 training sessions with the squad, is probably as good a debut as I can remember. For someone doubted by Louis Van Gaal for his pace or perceived lack of, his goal and assist both on the counter attack were very impressive.

Source: chelseafc.com

Where Andre Schurrle (albeit having lost his form and fitness) and Juan Cuadrado failed last season is where Pedro has joined and made his own. Fans and pundits alike have been calling out for a player who can provide more from the right flank than the aforementioned two or Willian, who for all his worth for the team structure and cult hero status has still had best game at Stamford Bridge in a Shakhtar shirt, Pedro offers exactly that. Fresh from scoring the winner in the Thriller in Tbilisi for Barcelona, and wearing the number 17 that has fond memories of Jose Bosingwa and Mohamed Salah, his performance made Chelsea look a much more balanced side in attack than the Hazard-dependent left-leaning side last season.

One by-product of this strengthened attack is the potential for a defensive shake up. Willian and co were used by Mourinho to have more defensive responsibility than Eden Hazard, with Ivanovic being more of a wing back than Azpilicueta. This signing, tied with Ivanovic’s poor form in our first 3 league fixtures, could signal a return for Cesar back to his natural Right Back, with new signing Abdul Baba Rahman being played at LB. Adding in Stones’s increasingly likely arrival, an all new and long term back four could be seen when September 12th and Everton Away rolls around.

All in all, Pedro’s addition brings a whole new dimension to Chelsea’s attack. I hope to see Oscar fit for the Crystal Palace game on Saturday, as a 3 of Hazard-Oscar-Pedro in behind Costa sounds absolutely brilliant. Whether Stones and even Pogba arrive is yet to be seen when 6pm on September 1st comes along; but for the added factor it’s given Chelsea, you might be calling Pedro the signing of the window. Poor old Manchester United.