Everything Enzo Maresca's Chelsea! New Players? New Tactics?  

I broadly agree with you that Palmer is wasted out wide, and that Madueke is more of the chalk-on-the-boots winger. Palmer's effectiveness is reduced if he is only playing in the wide zones; he loves to get into the half-spaces. I'm struggling to agree with Palmer being more defensively impactful than Gallagher. Conor outperformed Cole by a multiple of 2-4 in almost all defensive stats. (I'll caveat that by acknowledging they had different roles in the team.) Palmer is, as you say, superb at blocking passing lanes, reading the play and grabbing an interception. There are spectacular successes where he immediately gets a shot on goal (hello, Jordan Pickford!) and I'm sure that's the sort of thing you refer to. Gallagher does more of the harrying, picking up second balls and forcing opponents into hasty passes, where they might be picked up by Palmer or, most spectacularly, Caicedooooooo! Palmer and Gallagher complement each other. It's always hard to say who can and can't do what, because we often don't see them attempt it. unless you've seen them try and fail, we don't know for sure. We don't know how well Palmer can play as a pure winger, but I'm sure he'd make a good go of it. We have seen that Mudryk isn't good at beating a man 1v1 unless he can sprint past, which makes him dubious against the low blocks we will attempt to force opponents into. (Mudryk does seem capable of a good pass and some of his better games have come when he's operating more inside, so I'll watch that space with interest.) Nick mentioned Chilwell isn't suited to the inverting FB role, but we've never seen him try; he's not been fit when Poch tried the tactic in pre- or late-season. Maybe he can. Interesting times ahead.

@@iandshaw My point about Palmer being effective in high turnovers was more about what he does after winning the ball. I believe that Gallagher's biggest weakness is his decision making and vision, he takes too long on the ball if his options aren't obvious. I agree that a player with Gallagher's skillset is necessary sometimes but I would much rather Palmer, Caicedo or Enzo be the player to turnover the ball in a press because they are more likely to make a decisive play after it The reason I choose to point that out is that I think that selling Gallagher is not as detrimental as a lot of people think. The player he has shown himself to be this season is most likely it in terms of development. He is going into his 7th pro season, he isn't a young, developing player anymore, he is in his prime. Selling him brings in good money, gives game time to younger players like Lavia, Carney or Santos, removes the risk of a free transfer exit and allows us to play a more ball dominant style of play with better "on-ball" players

@@robertpttt9790 I'll have to look more closely at CG's decision making to see if I agree with you on that. Palmer certainly can give immediate and spectacular results when he turns the ball over. Does that outweigh the times he doesn't manage it compared to CG doing so? I'm not so sure, when you consider the greater number of lower-grade attacking opportunities combined with the reduced number of opponents' attacks. I appreciate the arguments for selling Gallagher, and it seems that you are more in line with the sporting directors on this. I just happen to disagree.

And that is exactly the point. It’s why Gallagher will not be a Chelsea player come the new season.

The same could be said about Azpilicueta 10 years back. Or Dani Carvajal in RM. The point is not always about technicality, but whether he is providing what's necessary. And he did. A technical player also comes with a question of whether his already proven skills will translate in this club or not. If being technically good was enough then Torres, Morata, Timo, Lukaku, Aubameyang wouldn't have flopped here at Chelsea. All were technically more sound than Diego Costa, all were faster, 2 of them were better at headers than Costa. All of them did shit. Kai Havertz is extremely skillful, he also failed.

In the centre midfield of a premier league winning team , it’s always about technicality. Hardest position to play for a reason

I think that's because his football ability is below par

To play possession football, you have to have the ball. Gallagher and Caicedo win the ball. Like Deschamps ,Makélélé, Mikel or Kanté, Gallagher is fine making short passes to the players who can ping the long and medium passes accurately.

So tru. These r the same who's going to ask for plan b.

He mentions that James is suspended for the first games of the season.

Special type of commitment!

Hope this all pulls together

Maresca plays a 4-3-3 , there will be no 10.. fullback will invert

Will do!

Hmmm. It sure seems like they’ve tried to go that direction in the past with hires like Conte and Tuchel. Pretty small sample of the overall Chelsea history, but it seems that they’ve dabbled with possession-based play in their recent history to pretty good success…

More bullshit from Clearlake

​@@eggsIIConte Possession based??? Some of you don't understand the football you watch!!!

​@bilabijoseph5030 HE shouldve said Sarri, but yes possession football and chelsea are a toxic combo - we just dont know how to do it efficiently, it'll end up being our usual sideways and backwards keep ball exercise

@@leonaidoo it depends on the coach bro. Pep will deliver trophies at Chelsea with his possession based football! So it is not as simplistic as you fans make it to be. Let us allow Maresca do his job & watch him for some games B4 concluding!

Why?

@@filosofastone1442 work rate and effort. Club and team player. Not a wally.

Tuchel adapts his tactics. maresca, arteta, kompany are peps sons, he plays this formation, they also play this formation