A massive part of Chelsea's struggles this season has been the clear lack of a world-class striker leading their attack. Diego Costa currently looks a shadow of the player that took the Premier League by storm last season when he bullied defenders, finished chances with aplomb and generally provided the battering ram presence up front that the more twinkle-toed trio behind him (Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar) needed.

So far this campaign he seems more intent on fighting all who enter his personal radius than scoring goals, and Chelsea as a consequence have often found that when they do get the ball in the opposition's final third, there’s no target man to protect it. Last year of course the Blues had Didier Drogba to call on from the bench, a much better prospect than that they have this year... Radamel Falcao - who currently looks as if he has forgotten what the ball looks like and where he’s supposed to put it.

There is still another option however for whomever comes in to replace Jose Mourinho.

Loic Remy was never a first choice under Mourinho, and last season that was fair enough. The French forward was third choice behind Costa and Drogba to play up front as the lone striker, and was mostly relegated to appearances from the bench. He did however score some vital goals, notching against Man City in January on one of his rare starts, and scoring the winner against Hull to complete a turnaround from 2-0 down. In short, when he did start he never let anyone down. His pace, allied to a natural goalscorers instinct and a pair of quick, tricky feet, meant that he was seen as a perfectly competent understudy when the big guns were injured (or in Costa's case, suspended). However, Mourinho never quite seemed to place as much faith in him as with his first team, as in the case of various other underused squad players (Mohamed Salah, Juan Cuadrado, Kevin De Bruyne even).

Things are different at Chelsea now however. Costa is definitely not the player now that he was last year, and Drogba has gone. The only other option, as mentioned above, is Falcao, who has been misfiring in front of goal ever since he arrived in the Premier League last year at Manchester United. Having only scored once for them so far, and having had his time in England plagued by injuries, if Mourinho's successor chooses him to lead the line over Costa and Remy that represents a major risk taken by the next man up, and frankly now is not the time for risks.

Now is the time, however, for a boss to come in and adopt a new approach. That could involve playing Remy with Costa, together as a front two, or even the Frenchman as the lone striker. While this would certainly be a controversial move and would no doubt be greeted with some dismay amongst sections of the Chelsea support, surely it’s worth it considering the dire straights they currently find themselves in? While obviously a fully fit and firing Diego Costa would be preferable, there must come a time (and it may well come soon), when enough is indeed enough.

Let’s not forget that Remy has scored goals in the Premier League wherever he’s been.. and in struggling sides (QPR and Newcastle). What might he be able to do with a more consistent supply line and genuinely creative midfield? The questions are already stacking up for the next Mourinho.

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