Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion was full of hypotheticals for Chelsea.
Would the result have been different had Reece James and Andreas Christensen not gone off injured?
How would the scores look if Callum Hudson-Odoi had managed to feed Mason Mount?
Should Christian Pulisic been awarded a penalty?
Was it right to start Pulisic at right wing-back and James on the opposite flank?
All questions that are nothing but whispers in the mists of time.
Letting Lamptey loose
Another query that was asked by Chelsea fans on the night revolved around Tariq Lamptey.
Mainly ones that went something along the lines of: why did we sell Tariq Lamptey?
That answer is actually rather straightforward.
Despite showing such promise in the youth ranks, the defender’s pathway to the first team was blocked by the man he directly came up against mid-week.
Due to James’ emergence under Frank Lampard, Lamptey failed to make his own breakthrough at Chelsea and therefore looked for alternate opportunities away from South West London.
The 21-year-old signed for Brighton last January and has since established himself as a certified Premier League star.
Tariq turning up
He returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time following that move to the south coast to show what his former employers have been missing.
Chelsea’s hierarchy must have felt pangs of major regret after seeing their academy product in opposing colours.
Not just because he performed well, but because the injury to James left one more full-back sized whole in Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
Ben Chilwell’s long-term absence means Marcos Alonso is the one remaining experienced wing-back in the team.
Had he not been allowed to soar with the Seagulls, Lamptey could be the perfect solution to this present problem.
Tino a no go
Another player who would be suitable for this scenario is Tino Livramento.
Like Lamptey, Livramento has landed on his feet after bidding farewell to the Blues to join a coastal club.
The teenager has turned out to be a superb signing for Southampton and looks right at home in the top flight.
He too could’ve supported Chelsea in their time of need now James looks set for a period on the sidelines.
Unfortunately, the scholars of the Cobham footballing school cannot offer their services anymore.
Tuchel will instead have to find solutions of an experimental variety or the kind that costs a bit of money.
If only his bosses had held onto Livramento and Lamptey, then the answer would be free of charge.