Can Delap break number nine 'curse' at Chelsea?
- Published
While some might scoff at the idea of a football curse, for others, it is hard to shake the feeling that there is a reason why their club always misses out on a certain piece of silverware or no player can fill the boots of a past legend.
For Chelsea fans, the news that new signing Liam Delap has taken on the number nine shirt will bring back feelings they have managed to bury for the past two seasons.
That is because that particular shirt has become synonymous in recent times with forwards that have ultimately underwhelmed and led to some to call the squad number 'cursed'.
It has not been in use since 2023 and when you take a look at the past 10 players who wore that particular shirt number, it it is understandable why some feel this way about it:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23): Three goals in 21 games
Romelu Lukaku (2021-22): 15 goals in 58 games
Tammy Abraham (2019-20 - 2021-22): 30 goals in 82 games
Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19): Five goals in 19 games
Alvaro Morata (2017-18): 24 goals in 72 games
Radamel Falcao (2015-16): One goal in 12 games
Fernando Torres (2010-11 - 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
Franco Di Santo (2008-09 - 2009-10): Zero goals in 16 games
Steve Sidwell (2007-08): One goal in 25 games
Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07): Zero goals in 20 games
Of course among that list is a natural midfielder and defender and it could be argued that Tammy Abraham did break the curse among those 10.
And there are also some incredibly successful names associated with the number from the legendary Peter Osgood through to Gianluca Vialli and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
But, it is still little wonder that Blues supporters now view it with trepidation for whoever is wearing it and it takes a brave striker these days to take the Chelsea number nine shirt on.
So, how do you feel about Liam Delap taking this squad number? Can he break the number nine 'curse'?