Crystal Palace fans have fallen into familiar Chelsea trap after Trevoh Chalobah recall

Today at 09:39 AM

Every few seasons, Crystal Palace fans fall into the same trap: They fall in love with a loan player from Chelsea.

First it was Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Then it was Michy Batshuayi (the first time round when he could actually score goals). Then it was Conor Gallagher.

And after it was confirmed that Palace had absolutely no chance of bringing back the the tenacious England midfielder, we supporters vowed to never again get emotionally attached to a short-term signing from our London rivals.

Only, we did. Trevoh Chalobah made his Eagles debut in October against Liverpool and from there performances and results steadily improved.

The back-three is pivotal to the success of Oliver Glasner’s tactics and with Chalobah on the right, Maxence Lacroix in the middle and Marc Guehi – more on him later – on the left, we finally found our rhythm.

Palace are 15th in the Premier League, a lot lower than hoped, but are looking more like the side that ended last season on an incredible high. Chalobah has contributed at both ends of the pitch, notably scoring in wins against Brighton and Southampton.

We didn’t know it at the time but that game against the Saints on December 29 would be Chalobah’s last for Palace.

The 25-year-old was ineligible to play the next league match against his parent club. Then he missed the FA Cup win over Stockport County on Sunday despite Glasner saying he would start.

‘Contractual issues’ were blamed, suggesting Chelsea didn’t want him getting cup-tied in case they recalled him as rumours had suggested they could.

And then on Wednesday, just hours before Palace play at Leicester City, the announcement was made: Trevoh Chalobah will return to Stamford Bridge.

This is where, I’m afraid, my rant begins.

Firstly, to recall a player on the day he is due to play for his loan club is nothing short of disgusting.

Secondly, this decision has been made on the basis that Chelsea are in the midst of an ‘injury crisis’.

Excluding Chalobah, they have seven centre-backs in their squad, two are injured: Wesley Fofana is potentially out for the season and Benoit Badiashile is expected to be back in February. This is by definition, not a crisis.

A couple of Chelsea fans – who I begrudgingly call friends – have pointed out that Axel Disasi cannot defend and may well be sold soon. Taking their word for it, Enzo Maresca still has Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and promising youngsters Josh Acheampong and Aaron Anselmino at his disposal.

Thirdly, Chalobah’s best football has come when playing in a back-three under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea and Glasner at Palace. Enzo Maresca uses a back-four. Could the player adapt? Maybe. Will he? I think it more likely that he’ll be on the bench.

Finally and most importantly, Chelsea’s treatment of Chalobah over the past six months has been utterly embarrassing.

Last summer, the Englishman was told he had not future at his boyhood club – omitted from the Blues’ pre-season tour, kicked out of the changing room and banished to the infamous ‘bomb-squad’.

This would no doubt have broken Chalobah’s heart as, much like fellow exile Gallagher, he loves Chelsea as much as Chelsea fans love him, and was more than ready to prove himself under a new head coach.

Maresca didn’t care for him one bit however and supposed football genius Todd Boehly knows best, so he was loaned to Palace with an eye on a permanent transfer later down the line.

Now they’ve had to come crawling back and will no doubt make some grovelling, half-hearted apology. Chalobah seems a professional and exemplary individual so I’m sure he’ll politely accept it.

The most important person in this story however is not the disgruntled Palace fans like myself but Chalobah. No doubt he wants nothing more than to play for the team he first joined aged eight.

I’d love to see him do well and prove those in charge of running the club wrong. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s how this story ends.

He’ll sit quietly on the bench till the end of the season before being sold off to fund a transfer for a new centre-back. Ironically, his value will only lessen the more he doesn’t play so Chelsea won’t get a much as they hope.

Guehi, another English centre-back unceremoniously kicked out of Stamford Bridge and now Palace captain, is the man the Blues want. One would hope the Eagles refuse their advances out of spite and, if he must be sold, sell him to a rival like Liverpool.

In conclusion, Palace lose, Chelsea lose, Chalobah loses and just plain common sense and decency in football lose.

And THIS is why you don’t fall in love with a loan player.

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