Tag: Werner

Ecstasy to Agony in Madrid – but Blues can be Prouder than Ever

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Football, bloody hell.

These were the thoughts of legendary Manchester United custodian Alex Ferguson, following his side’s dramatic injury time triumph over Bayern Munich in the 1999 European Cup final. The same sentiment could be used to describe Chelsea’s trip to Madrid last night, but perhaps from a place of slightly less jubilation.

It’s not often that a side comes to the home of the 13-time European Cup winners and comprehensively outplay them, but that is exactly what Chelsea managed to do. Aiming to maintain their 100% record against Real Madrid in knockout ties, the Blues were 11 minutes from securing the most unlikely of comebacks. It seemed for all the world that London’s finest had booked their place in the semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition when Timo Werner calmly slotted home late on – something in itself that seemed a minor miracle. We all know what happened next: the timeless Modric curling a peach of a ball into the box with his other-worldly right boot, which was dutifully finished by the young Rodrygo, followed by a stooping Benzema header in extra time to consign Chelsea to a gut-wrenching exit. This game went beyond score lines and stats though, and in these most uncertain of times for the Blues, this was a reminder of exactly what it is to be a part of the Chelsea family.

The first half went exactly to plan for Tuchel’s charges. Back in a more familiar 3-4-3 formation following the ill-advised switch to a back four for the Brentford game and parts of the first leg of this quarter-final tie, there were a couple of surprising inclusions for Chelsea. Timo Werner kept his place on the left side of the front line following his impressive performance against Southampton at the weekend, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek did the same, putting in an incredible shift at right wing-back, with Reece James monstrous yet again in his role as the right-sided centre back in a back three. The Blues choked the home side with their aggressive pressing patterns, so often forcing the ball back to Courtois, who in turn would hurriedly clear and present possession back to the away side. It took only until the 15th minute for Chelsea to capitalise on their over-whelming dominance. Following good build-up play by Kovacic and Loftus-Cheek, the ball fortuitously dropped to Mount off Werner’s thigh. The Cobham academy graduate needed no second invitation, exquisitely bending a bouncing ball first-time past the helpless dive of Courtois. It was the perfect start.

Tuchel got his tactics spot on as his side dominated throughout. Photo credit: The Telegraph

Chelsea continued to dominate proceedings without carving too many clear-cut chances for themselves, as the Londoner’s exited the pitch for half-time with their aggregate deficit halved to just the one goal. The second period got off to the perfect start with a towering Rudiger header from a delightful Mount corner evening the scores. The equaliser temporarily sparked Madrid into life, satisfying the baying home crowd with a couple of opportunities, first for Benzema then for Kroos from a free-kick. However, it looked as though Chelsea had completed a memorable comeback when flying left wing-back Marcos Alonso rocketed a dropping ball into the top right of Courtois’ goal with his weaker right foot, only for VAR to chalk off the effort due to the tiniest contact between ball and the Spaniard’s tucked-in hand. 5 minutes later it looked like that decision could have haunted Chelsea as Benzema had yet another free header, however this time the 2022 Balon d’Or favourite could only guide his effort onto Mendy’s upright.

Cut to the 75th minute and the most unlikely of heroes for Chelsea. A perfectly weighted through-ball from the imperious Kovacic (96 passes at a 96% accuracy to go with his two darting dribbles) slipped Timo Werner past Casemiro and Carvajal. Now to the tricky part. The German is infamous for slapping any chance he gets wide of the mark, or for being offside, or a combination of the two. However, on the grandest of occasions he was able to maintain the clarity of thought to cut past a sliding Casemiro, and then a well-placed David Alaba, before firing beyond Courtois. It looked as though the much-maligned forward had finally come good with a winner, following his impressive brace at the weekend. Much like the rest of the German’s Chelsea career however, upset was soon to follow. Five minutes later Modric picked out the perfect pass and that was the beginning of the end for an inspired Chelsea. Substitute Pulisic spurned two huge opportunities from perfect knockdowns from teammates and so this epic was to go to an additional half an hour of extra time.

Werner stepped up on the biggest occasion with a calmly-taken goal. Photo credit: The Telegraph

96 minutes in, Chelsea had made only one change (Pulisic for Werner) and the fatigue from battling for every ball for an hour and a half was beginning to set in. Vinicius Junior was away on the left-hand side, possibly the only time he had been free of a relentless Reece James since the early minutes of the game. The Brazilian once again demonstrated his almost telepathic relationship with Benzema, hanging a perfect ball into the box for the French forward to convert, with Rudiger slipping at the vital moment. The game was far from over. Havertz had bustled with industry and intensity from the very first whistle, and almost caught out former Chelsea man Courtois (which would have delighted his numerous detractors in the fan-base), sprinting and straining to block what he thought would be an up-field punt from the goalkeeper following a heavy touch. However, the Belgian proved his class with a calm Cruyff turn to get himself out of what could have been a very high-profile blunder. Havertz had a much better chance to earn his side a deserved equaliser just minutes later, failing to bury a free header from a magnificent Reece James delivery from the right flank. Finally, it was Jorginho’s turn to snatch at a guild-edged chance at the death, failing to finish a ball from Ziyech from all of ten yards out and under little pressure. The final whistle went, with La Liga leaders Real Madrid clinching a place in the semi-finals.

However, as I wrote at the start of this article: this game was about so much more than the result – despite the fact that the Blues did actually win this match 3-1 after 90 minutes! The perfect story to sum up this game was embodied by Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Forever the nearly-man, talked up by a seemingly endless procession of Chelsea managers as the future of their midfield (despite never being given a consistent run outside of the Europa League), the Englishman put in an incredible performance, little over 12 months since being relegated as part of a poor Fulham side – offering a single goal contribution over his season there. Throw in the horrific ACL injury sustained in a charity match at the end of his first season of regular minutes at Chelsea, which forced him to miss out on a Europa League final as well as the academy revolution of the Frank Lampard era, it looked as though the Englishman was finished at Stamford Bridge, another sad story of wasted potential at the London side. However, given a run of games over winter following injuries to Kovacic and Jorginho, Ruben grew into his role as a deep-lying playmaker and excelled there for a month. His resultant downturn in form coincided with the general December malaise at the club and gametime has been hard to come by since. But following a majestic performance in an unusual right wing-back position on the South Coast on Saturday, Tuchel put his faith in him to thrive in the most intimidating of atmospheres. Seemingly assured by the immense defensive presence of Reece James on his inside, Loftus-Cheek ruled the right-flank with 4 crosses and 2 key passes, as well as playing a key part in Chelsea’s first goal and performing to a high level throughout both on and off the ball, his driving runs from deep a reminder of the dynamic presence he can be.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was a dynamic presence down Chelsea’s right. Photo credit: football.london

 Mason Mount again silenced his doubters, with his 23rd and 24th goal contributions of the season (far and away the side’s most prolific player in this regard). The tireless midfielder put in a pressing performance for the ages, whilst finding the time to lay on a match-high 4 key passes and continued his impressive record against Spain’s most successful side, following on from his semi-final goal at the Bridge against the same opposition last year – so much for flat track bully! Reece James completed the triumvirate of academy players starting on such a huge stage. Following a yellow card for a professional foul on Vinicius Junior after getting beaten far too easily, the 22-year-old prevented the in-form winger from creating anything of note until extra time. This was summed up by his astonishing 8 tackles, three more than the next best on the pitch. Once again the Cobham graduate proved his world-class ability at right centre back, as well as bombing forwards to provide precise crosses and a thunderbolt effort which led to the corner from which Rudiger bagged Chelsea’s second.

Finally, there were a couple of stories of redemption on an extraordinary night for Chelsea. Coming into April it seemed as though Timo Werner’s head was fixed solely on his new club (thought to be Borussia Dortmund), as he shirked challenges all over the field and failed to impress during a six-month league goal-drought. However, the German seemed a man reborn following his confidence boosting double against the Saints, and he made threatening runs all night. Loftus-Cheek failed to release Werner on a couple of occasions, but when he was finally given his chance by Kovacic, he took it with both hands, briefly becoming a Chelsea cult-hero. There could yet be time for Werner to save his Chelsea career! Marcos Alonso is another potential summer departure for the Blues, following many questions over his pace and defensive abilities. The Spaniard was even dropped from his left wing-back berth for countryman Azpilicueta for the first leg against Madrid, despite it being the captain’s weaker flank. Alonso was back with a point to prove, and on top of his harshly disallowed goal he was a calming figure for the away side throughout. His joint match-leading 4 key passes illustrated his offensive contribution, as well as his 9 crosses, and he was switched on defensively, helping Rudiger shore up the left flank and preventing Carvajal and Llorente overloading that side.

If there are any Chelsea fans out there feeling awful today I can more than understand why: we were 11 minutes from a well-deserved Champions League semi-final spot and who knows what could have happened from there. But hopefully with a bit of perspective we can all see a bright future for Chelsea, regardless of who takes over. In Thomas Tuchel we have a tactical genius who once again proved he is one of the best coaches in the world. We have a young and hungry squad: Chilwell, Mount, Havertz, Chalobah, James and Hudson-Odoi are all 25 and under. And on top of these crucial factors, we have an innate fighting spirit and a passionate fanbase who will stick by the side through thick and thin.

The away fans at the Santiago Bernabeu put it best as they serenaded their heroes after the full-time whistle: ‘Champions of Europe, we’ll sing that ‘till May’.

One more thing to add: imagine not being Chelsea!

By Daniel New

4-2-2-2: a formation we could see more of?

Posted in Opinion, Reviews, Tactical AnalysisTagged , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Thomas Tuchel surprised us all on Wednesday evening in the 2-0 victory against Tottenham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge. Having been previously reluctant to veer too far from his tried and tested back-three system, Tuchel lined up with a back-four for (almost) the first time in his reign as Chelsea boss. A Kai Havertz opener followed by an unfortunate Ben Davies own goal saw Chelsea cruise to victory, in a game that really could have ended four or five goals to nil. Antonio Conte had no answer to Tuchel’s setup, one which may well be a glimpse of the future for Chelsea fans. 

Hakim Ziyech was the key man for Chelsea’s system on Wednesday, filling in at right-wing-back as the team maintained its back-three shape off the ball. He pushed high up the field when Chelsea pressed Tottenham’s block and tucked in as the right-sided number 10 once Chelsea regained possession. This is very similar to how Christian Pulisic was used when Chelsea played Leeds at Elland Road last season, an indicator that the setup had been in Tuchel’s mind long before Wednesday’s game. Mason Mount, meanwhile, dropped in to form a midfield-three out of possession, and pushed forward into the left-sided 10 position when Chelsea had the ball, as illustrated below. Essentially; 3-5-2 off the ball, 4-2-2-2 on it. This meant that our defensive solidity was maintained, whilst, in attack, Tottenham’s midfield two was overwhelmed by the combination of Chelsea’s four midfielders and Havertz, who dropped deep to help link play. A masterstroke from Tuchel. 

The evolution of Tuchel’s hybrid setup (Source: Twitter – @AliRadhi)

We should, however, consider the fact that Conte and Spurs will not have been prepared for this, setting up to deal with the back-three formation Chelsea had used in every game so far this season rather than the new-look back-four. With time to mount an adequate game plan, teams might use more central midfielders, or target the right-hand-side of Chelsea’s defence with overloads in order to expose Ziyech’s defensive weaknesses, for instance. For this reason, I think Chelsea fans may have to wait until next season to see this setup used more consistently. As links to West Ham’s Declan Rice and AS Monaco’s Aurélien Tchouaméni persist, it is looking ever more likely that Chelsea will sign an athletic defensive midfielder in the coming summer transfer window. This would allow Tuchel to use a similar system, but without the necessity for either of the number 10s to fill in at wing-back, as the defensive cover provided by a physical midfield signing would prevent Chelsea from being exposed on the counter.

Given that the 4-2-2-2 seems a realistic possibility for Chelsea next season, it’s worth considering some potential winners and losers that would come out of this formation change. 

Winners:

Romelu Lukaku – The best spell in Lukaku’s career came at Inter Milan under Antonio Conte, where the Belgian rose from being a ridiculed flop at Manchester United to being widely accepted as one of the world’s best strikers. Paired with Lautaro Martinez, he was extremely influential on the right side of the front two, using his speed and power to dominate the right channel. Much of this season, he has been used as a lone striker, a static reference point, constantly with his back to goal. We didn’t need Romelu to tell us for us to realise this clearly doesn’t suit him, as many began to claim, “we play better without him”. Using him this way is reminiscent of his time at Manchester United, where José Mourinho struggled to maximise his potential. As seen in the first half against Spurs, the 4-2-2-2 allows Lukaku to return to his favoured right channel, where he is more able to impact the game, by both hovering on the last line of defence and finding the runs of his strike partner.

Havertz’ movement in behind for his goal v Spurs (Source: Twitter – @PremLeaguePanel)

Kai Havertz – Though Havertz also favours this right channel, he is very comfortable playing on the left of the front two, something he proved in Wednesday night’s game. Since Tuchel was appointed, it has become clear that Havertz should be played high up the pitch, and this split striker formation allows Chelsea to make the most of his intelligent movement in the box. The small matter of dealing with Lukaku means that defences leave more space for him to drift into, just as we saw with his early goal against Spurs. Equally, when he’s not the lone striker there is less of a need for him to be a presence on the last line of the defence, meaning he can use his ability to drop deep and link play. This constitutes a new dynamic in Chelsea’s build up, making the most of his understanding with the likes of Mason Mount, amongst others.

Timo Werner – Werner is yet another example of a player who is less comfortable when played as a lone striker. Much like Kai, Timo’s quality movement is most effective when he is joined by a strike-partner, preventing him from being marked out the game. Like Lukaku, his most successful days came playing in a front two overseas, off the left of Yussuf Poulsen at RB Leipzig, scoring 34 goals in all competitions in the 2019-20 season. Having either been played either too wide, deep, or central so far in his Chelsea career, the 4-2-2-2 could be the key to him rediscovering his goal-scoring form.

Timo Werner celebrates a hat-trick against Borussia Mönchengladbach (Source: Trivela)

Christian Pulisic – Despite the recent equaliser against Liverpool, Pulisic’s time under Tuchel so far can only be described as inconsistent, bordering on disappointing. The 3-4-3 used by the Chelsea manager has often seen Pulisic stuck dribbling in between the lines, exposing his lack of creativity, and leaving him too far from goal. Playing in the front two of the 4-2-2-2 would favour his goal-scoring instincts and movement in the box, without leaving him as isolated as he has been when used as a lone striker in recent games. 

Mason Mount – Although Mason has had an excellent year, finishing in the top 20 of the 2021 Ballon d’Or and playing a pivotal role in Chelsea’s Champions League success, it’s important to remember he has not been playing in his favoured position. His skillset is perfect for the 8 role and, like Pulisic, playing on either side of the front 3 leaves him with too much responsibility to create between the lines. Playing a 4-2-2-2 wouldn’t have him as an 8, but it does allow him to occupy deeper areas and play a greater role in the build-up, whilst still being able to arrive late in the box and finish off Chelsea attacks. He would not be the primary creator in this system.  

Mason Mount with the Chunkz Frankenstein celebration v Liverpool (Source: Goal)

Hakim Ziyech – Ziyech is another on Chelsea’s list of forwards who haven’t thrived in Tuchel’s 3-4-3. He is a player who likes to remain wide on the right side of the pitch, finding the runs of those inside the box with in-swinging crosses from his infamous left foot. Reece James’s ability to come infield would facilitate Ziyech remaining wide, their connection something to look out for if Ziyech remains at Stamford Bridge next season. With an extra striker in the box, the chances are Ziyech’s assist count would benefit. The same can be said for Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has displayed a fantastic understanding with both Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku so far in his Chelsea career. 

Losers:

Jorginho – Jorginho is a player who divides opinion. Tuchel’s back-three system has seen the holding midfielder’s strengths maximised and his weaknesses masked, so much so that he managed a top 3 finish in the 2021 Ballon d’Or. The combination of the three centre backs and two holding midfielders means that, in the first phase of the build-up, a passing option is always available, allowing him to circulate possession and orchestrate passing moves out from the back. This structure also protects him on the counter, rarely leaving him isolated in transition. Given his inability to cover ground quickly, a move to a more expansive system could leave Jorginho out of sorts, especially with the potential arrival of a new defensive midfielder. 

Antonio Rüdiger – Also benefitting from Tuchel’s arrival, Rüdiger’s aggressive style of defending is very well suited to playing in a back-three. The German’s form has earnt him much praise, now seen as one of Europe’s best defenders. His raw speed means he is comfortable defending out wide, knowing the central areas are covered by the other centre backs. Toni’s drives into the opposition half have become a fixture in Tuchel’s Chelsea team, often igniting both the crowd and the team during tough periods of games. Unfortunately, a move to a back-four would restrict his ability to charge out from the back, there being less defensive cover for him in this shape. It’s still yet to be seen whether he could adapt his game to suit the 4-2-2-2, but it’s certainly a formation that plays less to his strengths. 

Jorginho and Rüdiger (Source: Twitter – @Mohxmmad)

Cesar Azpilicueta – After last year’s Champions League success, Azpilicueta is now regarded amongst many Chelsea fans as a club legend. His loyalty to the club is unquestionable, but so are the signs of his impending decline. He was given a new lease of life by Tuchel, returning to the same RCB position which saw him widely accepted as one of the league’s best defenders during Chelsea’s 2016-17 title-winning campaign under Conte. On the right of a back-four, Reece James would be the clear first-choice option, leaving Dave with a seat on the bench. 

Thiago Silva – Thiago Silva has been nothing short of a world class signing for Chelsea. Joining on a free transfer from PSG, he has defied the odds by performing as a top 3 CB in the league at the ripe old age of 37. Despite proving under Frank Lampard that he is perfectly capable in a back-four, the older he gets the less confident you’d feel leaving him with less protection. As his speed declines, his inability to defend the wide areas would be a worry for Tuchel. 

Tuchel and Thiago Silva (Source: Sportbuzz)

Of course, a formation change would impact the whole squad in various ways, but these are the players who stood out to me as the ones who would either benefit or suffer most from a move to the 4-2-2-2. 

Notably, every winner is under the age of 30, and every loser, apart from Rudiger, is over the age of 30. Make of that what you will, but it seems that with every day that passes, the squad becomes more suited to a back-four system. To me, the catalyst needed for Tuchel to consider leaving the back-three behind will be the signing of an athletic defensive midfielder. Regardless, Tuchel’s semi-final line up was just one of many examples of his impressive tactical flexibility, having made many in-game tweaks throughout his tenure, most valuably on route to the Champions League final. This adaptability should leave Chelsea fans with no doubts as to the capabilities of the German, as he continues to show he has what it takes to be at Stamford Bridge for years to come. 

Written by Tom Driver

24th July 2021 , Chelsea Transfer News Roundup

Posted in News, Opinion, TransfersTagged , , , , Leave a comment

Antoine Griezmann

Chelsea could become an option for Antoine Griezmann this summer as their pursuit of an elite level striker becomes more difficult. (SportWitness)

Marcos Alonso

Alonso is reportedly pushing to leave Chelsea for a new Serie A experience with Inter Milan.

Chelsea are reportedly asking for €15-20m for Alonso, whereas Inter would prefer a loan with an option to buy.

Alonso is apparently pushing Chelsea to let him leave. (Football Italia)

Timo Werner

Chelsea are ‘open’ to selling Timo Werner this summer as the Stamford Bridge club have reignited their interest in Romelu Lukaku.

Chelsea have continued their interest in Lukaku due to Inter Milan’s financial troubles. (The Mirror)

Romelu Lukaku

Inter Milan have set their asking price amid rumours of Lukaku leaving Inter this summer.

The price set by Inter is €120m.

The price is this high as Inter and Simone Inzaghi see Lukaku leading the line for Milan this summer. (Tuttosport)

Written by Frankie

22nd July 2021 , Chelsea Transfer News Roundup

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Timo Werner

Chelsea are not expecting to sell Timo Werner this summer. (Kevin Palmer)

His name has been mentioned in a potential swap deal but this is apparently fake news.

Sasa Kalajdžić

Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat isn’t worried about the latest rumours of Chelsea and other sides looking at Kalajdžić.

“Sasa still has a two-year contract with us and feels right at home. You can see that. He’s been training in VfB clothes all summer. I’m not that worried about that, to be honest,” said Mislintat. (portWitness)

Michy Batshuayi

Inter Milan see Batshuayi as an option in terms of bringing in a new striker.

Batshuayi does not ‘warm’ Inters management.

If Inter progress with the deal they see Giroud’s transfer as the perfect layout for their swoop on the Belgian. They would hope the deal would only cost a few million. (SportWitness)

Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski has long been in Chelsea’s thoughts and interest could be revived as Chelsea continue their search for a goalscorer.

The 32-year-old could be tempted with a move away this summer for a new experience. (Goal)

Harry Kane

Harry Kane will assess his future when he returns from holiday.

However, Daniel Levy makes the club extremely hard to work with, which could hinder the potential of Kane joining Chelsea. (Goal)

Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger

The defensive pairing have just one year left on their deals and talks around new contracts for the two have not progressed. (Goal)

Emerson Palmieri

Chelsea have the option to extend Emerson’s contract by a year.

This helps to justify the Blues asking price of around £22m. (Nizaar Kinsella)

Tammy Abraham

Tammy Abraham is admired by several influential voices inside Arsenal, including Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal see Abraham as a potential target this summer.

Abraham is understood to be aware of Arsenal’s interest, and would be open to the prospect of a move across London.

Arsenal have the preference of a loan deal with an option to buy. If this kind of deal were to go through, Chelsea would put the fee at around £40m.

Tammy Abraham moving to Arsenal is reliant on outgoings from the Emirates.

The transfer of Alexandre Lacazette away from Arsenal would make the signing of Tammy Abraham more likely and more logical. (The Athletic)Declan Rice

“The more you talk to people about the Declan Rice situation, the more you think a move could still happen in this window. He has made it very clear to West Ham that he won’t sign a new deal & as reported elsewhere, wants to be kept informed of any bids. Would clearly favour Chelsea over any other club.” (Simon Johnson)

Eden Hazard

There is nothing in regards to a potential move back to West London for Eden Hazard. (Simon Johnson)

Lewis Bate

The deal between Leeds and Lewis Bate was confirmed today.

He’ll join their U23’s for this upcoming season.

It is possible Bate was lured away due to the project that Leeds are undergoing as of this moment, with signings like Sam Greenwood, Crysencio Summerville and Joe Gelhardt all on the brink of first team chances.

Sergio Romero

Chelsea are stepping up their search for a third-choice goalkeeper and have Sergio Romero on their list of candidates. (The Telegraph)

Romero is a free agent and would sign for Chelsea in a free transfer.

The 34-year-old Argentinian is the perfect player to bring in as a third choice. He has a lot of experience that can be passed down to his younger counterparts and he is perfectly capable of stepping in when needed.

Written by Frankie

Podcast: Chelsea 2-1 Sheffield United Review & Barnsley Preview!

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https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/788738?theme=dark&visual=true&scrolling-title=true&autoplay=true&enable-volume=true&iframe-height=190
Will Billy Gilmour start tomorrow?

In another episode of The Chelsea Spot Podcast, Orlando (Host – @0rland1nho) and Michael (Writer – @MNazarian10) discussed the victory against Sheffield United, why Ben Chilwell is struggling, why Timo Werner has improved his game, the upcoming game against Barnsley in the FA Cup and so much more!

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Make sure to check us out on all our social media platforms, including our website, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, ITunes, Amazon Music, Google and Youtube.

Lampard IN

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Two hundred and eleven goals in the blue of Chelsea. Thirteen trophies gathered during his playing career at Stamford Bridge. One European Cup won as captain of London’s finest. Countless memorable displays. Frank Lampard is not so much a part of Chelsea, as he is Chelsea itself. It is beyond this writer’s understanding that anyone could be calling for the head of our greatest ever player after all he has given this club. But putting sentimentality to one side, in this piece I will try and outline a case for Frank Lampard remaining as manager of Chelsea Football Club, as well as suggesting where and how he can improve his side in the coming weeks.

A glance at the Premier League standings is enough to make any Chelsea fan grimace, the Blues are languishing in 9th place at the time of writing, behind the likes of Aston Villa, Southampton and Everton. But that is not to say that the lowly standing is deserved. Had the likes of Timo Werner been more clinical in front of goal and Edouard Mendy been available instead of the hapless Kepa Arrizabalaga to keep goal in games against West Brom and Liverpool, the table could have a very different look about it. As it stands, the Blues’ big-money summer signing (hot off a 28-league goal campaign) has failed to find the net in his previous 9 league outings. However, if his 5 efforts on goal which had rattled the woodwork gone in, the German would have been hailed a resounding success and the Blues would be further up the table. Thanks also to Kepa’s inability to do the absolute basics of goalkeeping, Chelsea conceded 5 goals and dropped 5 crucial points in the three aforementioned games. Put simply, Lampard and his team have not had the rub of the green so far this campaign, and to further demonstrate this, Chelsea sit 2nd in the expected points table so far (via Understat). As it stands, the Londoner’s are 6 points and 7 places below where their performances deem them worthy of. It is likely that with time Chelsea will go on a hot-streak and overperform their expected results, balancing out their luck over the course of the season and firing them up the table.

Coaxing the best form out of summer signing Timo Werner is crucial to Lampard’s system and success, Photo Credit: thechelseachronicle.com

A 3-1 victory over Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United temporarily put Chelsea top of the table in early December, following a 9-game unbeaten streak in the league. However, those three points came at a hefty price as the majestic Hakim Ziyech succumbed to injury, keeping him out of the next 5 league games, 3 of which Chelsea lost. Before that it seemed Lampard was on to something with his 4-3-3 system, Ziyech being the main beneficiary of the set up. Both full backs were able to bomb forwards, in turn providing space for the wingers to cut in and shoot – or in Ziyech’s case provide left footed deliveries to the back post from the inside-right channel – or feed Reece James or Ben Chilwell on the overlap, who have both provided excellent balls into the box this season. With the loss of Ziyech occurring at the same time as Callum Hudson-Odoi picking up a knock in training, Chelsea were left with only one fit senior winger in Christian Pulisic. As Timo Werner has struggled to adapt his game to the left wing, Lampard’s side lacked any real cohesion in attack, with no width provided outside of the full back duo. The game plan seemed to change to cross and hope, even against Manchester City where all 5-foot-9-inches of Timo Werner were helpless against the comparatively towering duo of Stones and Dias. Crossing may be in vogue at the moment – with Liverpool leading the league this season with 391 attempted so far – but Chelsea need another option in attack for when opponents crowd out box. Slick linkup play and passing patterns will develop as a very young and freshly put together attacking unit gel and get to know each other’s games. When the Blues eventually have a fully fit squad and hit the top form that they showed glimpses of in wins against Burnley and Sheffield United, Lampard’s side will start to play in his image.

Naturally given the busy festive period and the increased frequency of games during this pandemic hit season, many of the squad look jaded and in need of a rest. However, with Lampard’s job on the line he has not been able to afford his key men time to recover which has resulted in their games often looking flat and lacking energy. Perhaps Lampard could afford to rotate more given the quality and depth of squad he has at his disposal. N’Golo Kanté, for example, has been way off his best in appearances against Manchester City and Arsenal – being caught out of position regularly and uncharacteristically careless in possession (see his intercepted blind pass which led to City’s third goal) – and is in need of a rest. Lampard fortunately has the incredibly talented Billy Gilmour ready and raring to go in the Frenchman’s place. Similarly, quality internationals such as Olivier Giroud and Emerson Palmieri as well as talented youngsters in Tino Anjorin and Henry Lawrence are all of sufficient quality to play in the Premier League and could give valuable rest to Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount (among others) and Reece James, respectively. Utilising the large squad at his disposal is key to Lampard keeping his players fit enough to play his ideal high-energy pressing game as well as ensuring the players on the fringes of the squad are kept happy and do not revolt when the going gets tough (*cough, Marcus Alonso, cough*).

In his first season at the helm, Lampard looked to have a clear idea on how he wanted his Chelsea side to play. The side pressed aggressively and high up the pitch, bringing their defensive line close to the halfway line in order to compact the opposition in their own half. The results of this modern, progressive game plan were mixed, with Chelsea sparkling in attack – achieving the second highest expected goals scored over the course of the season (76) – but a mess in the defensive transition as teams frequently ripped through them on the counter, contributing to the massive 54 goals conceded throughout the campaign. Having strengthened defensively in the summer with the acquisitions of Mendy, Silva and Chilwell, Lampard would have hoped for a thorough preseason in which he could drill his side on the intricacies of his pressing style and how to efficiently switch shape when possession is lost before opponents can fly up the field. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on the fixture list, the manager was given limited time to integrate his 6 summer signings into his system. It is difficult to adjust for that number of signings in any normal season but given the circumstances it has proved a trying task. On top of this, regular domestic and European midweek matches have left little to no time for intensive, detailed work on the training ground. Not only are regular starters fatigued from the workload, but the coaches are unable to properly drill their sides and make the improvements necessary to turn form around. The board must stick by Lampard and give him time to work on his sides set up now that the hectic festive period has come to a close.

Lampard will be hoping to continue his winning ways at Chelsea in a managerial role. Could European glory be on the way if Abramovich has faith in him? Photo Credit: UEFA Twitter

Lampard cannot blame all his defeats on a lack of luck and a congested fixture list, however. Injuries and profligacy have hindered Chelsea, but a lot of the harm caused this season has been self-inflicted. A worrying trend has emerged recently that I feel is in desperate need of being rectified. In recent games against Arsenal and Manchester City especially, Chelsea’s entire midfield seems to have vanished for most of the game. It is clear that a three-man midfield unit of Mount, Kanté and Kovacic is not good enough when facing top-half opposition. Both Kanté and Kovacic have very little positional discipline, whilst the latter does very little meaningful pressing or defending – his 1.7 tackles and interceptions per league game this season proving that (for context, Kanté stands at 5.2 in the same metric). Lampard needs to address this issue as a matter of urgency. It could be that playing Billy Gilmour as a deep-lying, disciplined number 6 to break up opposition counter-attacks and to set our attacks in motion could be an option. The 19-year-old Scott is a promising talent and superior to Jorginho in most – if not all – aspects of a midfielder’s game. This could see Kanté returning to his position as a ‘free 8’, given license to roam and destroy opposition breaks before they get going. Another alternative could be to deploy a midfield pivot of Kanté and Mount in a 4-2-3-1 to allow Havertz to play in his favoured role as a number 10, however, this would rely on the Frenchman holding back his natural urge to cover every blade of grass and for Havertz to fully commit defensively. Whatever the solution is, it is obvious that this is a major area Lampard has to look into, and one which could hold the key when it comes to changing Chelsea’s sorry record this season against teams in the top 8.

A major worry for owner Roman Abramovich will be the struggles of summer purchases Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. The German duo were bought in for a combined £120 million and were expected to lead Chelsea’s title charge as Liverpool and Manchester City have faltered this term. However, neither has truly replicated the scintillating form that saw them contribute 36 and 18 Bundesliga goals respectively last season. Having broken the bank to bring the pair to west London, Abramovich is well within his rights to question why Lampard has failed to get the best out of them so far. Whilst the usual excuses of struggling to adapt to a new country and a new league are valid (not to mention Havertz was left reeling following his time out with the COVID-19 virus), it seems that Lampard’s system has not been adjusted to facilitate the Germans. Havertz thrives in the final third, playing high risk, high reward football and making late runs in to the box – as was his manager’s trademark back in his day – to finish moves. Therefore, his positioning as a number 8 on the right of a midfield trio will have frustrated him as he spends much of his time tracking back and tackling and less of it contributing to goals as is his strength (his 3 goal contributions from 15 league games is underwhelming for a player of his calibre). Perhaps a move to a number 10 role where he is able to link play and attack without worrying about defending – and giving the ball away deep in his own half as we have become accustomed to – so much could see him rise from his meagre 0.6 shots and 0.7 key passes a game this season to the 2 he managed in each metric last campaign. Similarly Werner has been forced out of his natural position to facilitate Lampard’s use of a 4-3-3, and although he has been getting into dangerous positions (his 6.8 expected goals from 17 league games is respectable), his ball retention and crossing abilities are nowhere near the level of a natural winger. Playing Werner with one of Giroud or Abraham to feed off – as he did with Yussuf Poulson at RB Leipzig – in a front 2 could help the German rediscover his best form. Feeding off knock-downs and running into the space left by centre backs occupying themselves with his strike partner will help him to find his feet in this league. Managers who have been unable to facilitate their star players have not fared well under Abramovich (see Carlo Ancelotti with Fernando Torres and José Mourinho’s first spell with Andriy Shevchenko) and so it is essential Lampard can get Werner and Havertz playing to the best of their abilities.

To avoid a similar fate to Ancelotti, Lampard must get the best out of his star players. Photo Credit: The Irish Mirror

It is important to remember that when Lampard was appointed he was not expected to deliver immediate success. Hit with a transfer ban, the young manager was unable to make signings to mould the squad to his liking, and perhaps more importantly, he was unable to replace Chelsea’s greatest player of the last decade in Eden Hazard. Scoring 16 goals and laying on another 15 for his teammates, Hazard directly contributed to 49% of Chelsea’s league goals in his final campaign at Stamford Bridge. It is rare to have a side so overwhelmingly dependent on one talismanic figure, and so losing the Belgian was a massive blow to Lampard. The board decided that Champions League qualification was sufficient in Lampard’s first campaign, with his second focussed on showing further improvements before an expected title charge in his third. It is easy to forget the incredible work Lampard has done thus far at Chelsea and it is reasonable to think that he should be given time to enact his philosophy and push for silverware next season as his three year plan comes to a conclusion.

Fans who have been following Chelsea over the past couple of decades will have been refreshed by the idea of owner Roman Abramovich sticking behind an exciting young coach for the long run. The culture of hiring and firing instilled at the club since the Russian Oligarch’s takeover in 2003 may have bought with it 18 trophies (if we stoop to Arsenal’s level by including our brace of Community Shields), but it has left fans yearning for more stability. In the 16 years that preceded Frank Lampard’s appointment, Abramovich ran through 11 managers (twice welcoming José Mourinho and Guus Hiddink) and yet it is difficult to remember any notable academy graduates breaking through and starring regularly for the senior team in that time. Given the immense pressure to deliver success in the short-term, managers were unable to plan ahead and therefore were reluctant to put their neck on the line for youngsters. Frank Lampard has changed that culture and finally shown everyone why Chelsea’s academy, led so ably by Neil Bath, is renowned worldwide. Promoting Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori to the first team and playing them regularly signalled a huge change in the Chelsea philosophy. No longer were the club going to go out and spend £50 million on a player when an academy graduate who could do their job was working hard for their chance. With Gilmour, Anjorin, Lawrence, Valentino Livramento, Lewis Bate and many more likely to follow their fellow academy graduates to the first team, this progression shows no signs of slowing down. If Lampard were not manager, it is feasible to suggest that none of this would have happened. Yes, we knew Abraham, Mount and James were quality players, but would another manager have stuck by them when they struggled and they had the likes of Giroud, Barkley and Azpilicueta waiting in the wings? Any new arrival could still decide he has no room in his side for Mount, Abraham et al and revert to type. This academy revolution has brought the fans closer to the club than ever before, seeing their own starring week-in-week-out. Lampard is the man who will keep this going, and many fans will massively appreciate that.

Lampard’s faith in youth hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans. Could continued trust in youngsters like Billy Gilmour save his job? Photo Credit: Chelsea News.

Narratives in football change quickly. Coming off the back of a highly respectable debut season at Chelsea which comprised of a top four finish and an FA Cup final, Lampard hit the ground running with a 17-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. A sticky patch of form over a month has seen Chelsea go from ‘title favourites’ (take Klopp’s word not mine!) to midtable mediocrity. But the story can reverse for Lampard just as easily. You only have to glance up North to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to see how quickly fortunes can turn. In early December as Lampard was heavily praised by the media, his counterpart was widely criticised following an early exit from the Champions League and a difficult start to the season which had seen them lose 6-1 at home to Tottenham. A month on and the Norwegian has led United to top of the league with a game in hand. Similar turnarounds have been witnessed at Arsenal and to a lesser-extent Manchester City, as Guardiola has gone from under the radar to apparent favourites for the league. In this highly unusual season, Lampard’s side find themselves a mere 3 points off the top four, albeit having played one or two games more than most sides above them. The compacted calendar means that a few weeks of hot form can result in a long winning run which in turn can fire a side up the table. Should Lampard make a few tweaks to his midfield, get Werner firing again and sort out his press, I have complete faith that the Blues will rocket back up the table. It should be every Chelsea fan’s dream to see a club legend succeed at Stamford Bridge, and fortunately for us Frank Lampard has what it takes to lead us to the top. He just needs time, something which right now seems to be in short supply.

Written by Daniel New

Podcast: Chelsea 4-0 Morecambe Match Review!

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https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/777936?theme=dark&visual=true&scrolling-title=true&autoplay=true&enable-volume=true&iframe-height=190
A game which should help for confidence ahead of Fulham…

In another episode of The Chelsea Spot Podcast, Orlando (Host – @0rland1nho), Dan (Admin – @danbarkzr) and Danny (Writer – @danny_new_) discuss Chelsea’s comfortable FA cup victory over Morecambe. Talking about there being no academy kids involved, Hudson-Odoi and Gilmour impressing, the confidence for Werner and Havertz and will Tomori ever play in a Chelsea shirt again?

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Podcast: What do Chelsea need to do to improve? w/@MishraAbhiA!

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https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/775500?theme=dark&visual=true&scrolling-title=true&autoplay=true&enable-volume=true&iframe-height=190
Some outstanding analysis…

In another episode of The Chelsea Spot Podcast, Orlando (Host – @0rland1nho) and data analyst Abhishek (@MishraAbhiA) discuss how Chelsea can improve under Frank Lampard. They talk about the reasons behind Timo Werner’s recent failure infront of goal, Kai Havertz’s early struggles, the need for Declan Rice, Ziyech’s importance to the team and SO much more!

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West Brom 3-3 Chelsea Player Ratings – Cobham Masterclass!

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Chelsea somehow managed to come back from a 3-0 defecit at Half Time, to take a point away after the 90 minuets. The academy boys once again saved us from embarassment, as goals from Mason Mount, Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham clinched us a draw. Let’s get into these player ratings…

Willy Caballero – 6:

Not really to blame for any of the three goals conceded, after individual errors all came from the defence. Didn’t need to do much in the match, but then again conceding three goals shouldn’t be anywhere near the normal, so he can take an average rating of 5.

Reece James – 5:

Not a spectacular performance from the English fullback, but there were some positives for sure. He made a delightful cross in the first half to Tammy Abraham who should have tucked it away, but other than that, most of his crosses and corners didn’t end up anywhere near the right place. Glimpses of his quality was shown but other than that it was certainly an underwhelming performance.

Andreas Christensen – 9:

An outstanding performance from the Centre-Half, today. Normally a player who struggles with consistency as well as these types of clubs who like to hoof the ball up a lot, but his strength and positioning was close to perfect today. He was by far our best Centre-Back today and so far this season has shown very encouraging signs of him becoming the defender we all think he can potentially be.

Thiago Silva – 4:

He took the armband in his Premier League debut, and unfortunately his mistake was so close to us losing the game. Even at 1-0 down, we looked like we could get back into the game but the Brazilian lost control of the ball and Callum Robinson glided past him and tucked it into the corner. Other than that he made some nice passes and didn’t make any other errors, but that one huge mistake certainly decreases his performance rating.

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IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Marcos Alonso – 1:

Probably the worst individual performance I have seen in a Chelsea shirt since Bakayoko vs Watford those many years ago. At fault for their first goal by pasing the ball to them, and at fault for him losing his man in the third goal. Frank Lampard rightly hooked him off at Half-Time and called him out twice in his post match press conference, although I have given him one pity point for being played out of position.

N’Golo Kante – 6:

Not his best performance in a Blue shirt either. In the first half he looked sloppy on the ball and made some very light-hearted passes, but then again Kante did what he always does and assembled some very nice tackles and interceptions. Meh.

Mateo Kovacic – 8:

Personally thought Kovacic was very good today, and showed the world what he’s good at. Drove with the ball very quickly in the first half and got us out of so many tight areas – after all, he is one of the best press resistant midfielders in the Premier League. He linked up with our attackers more, which is something we have been crying for from the Croatian. Good shift.

Kai Havertz – 8:

Thought Kai was very impressive today, and it was his first solid performance in the Premier League. He glides with the ball, worked hard, and was involved in and around the box a lot. Made a lovely 1-2 with Hudson-Odoi for our second goal which brought us right back into the game. A lot more to come to, but this was a very good start.

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IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Werner – 4

We saw very little of our German forward today. He hit the crossbar in the first half which he arguably should have scored from, but other than that wasn’t involved in the play at all. It certainly will be interesting to see if he starts as a winger next game, or whether he will go back to starting in the central position and drifting wide which he seems a lot more comfortable with. A disappointing performance from Timo but his goal will come, very soon.

Mason Mount – 9:

He’s just too good, isn’t he? First half he was being played out of position on the right hand side, but his versatility allowed him to be one of the better players even then. In the second half when he switched into the 8 role, he looked even better, and Mason was the stem of our comeback, after striking the ball beautifully 25 yards out with 35 minutes to go. He probably needs a rest soon after playing for all 270 minutes, but if you can’t see why Lampard wants to start him week in week out then I have no words for you.

Tammy Abraham – 7:

As he himself said after the game, he should have tucked away the tap in with his left foot in the first half. Other than that he wasn’t involved much in the game, but showed so much passion and clever striker play to get the goal in the 93rd minute to clinch us a much needed point. Didn’t get to see his linkup with Havertz, but it’ll come.

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IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Substitutes:

I won’t give ratings to the subsitutes as I think that can sometimes be a bit harsh. But no doubt the two half time changes helped us in our remarkable comeback. Azpilicueta came on for Marcos Alonso and we all know how much effort he puts in every single game, and Dave couldn’t have done any worse.

Hudson-Odoi was arguably our Man of the Match, and he was the main man behind us coming back from 3-0. His second Premier League goal came at 3-1 down after a lovely passing move, and his finish was delightful. For our 93rd minute winner, he put in the delightful cross which eventually led to the goal. Constantly, throughout his 45 minute cameo, he was causing the West Brom defenders havoc and left them panicking. Deserves to start against Spurs midweek.

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IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Not enough time to give a real judgement on Giroud, but he wasn’t involved much.

Do you agree with my player ratings? Let me know what you think on our social media platforms or my personal account!

Onto Spurs. Written by Paree

Brighton V Chelsea: Match Preview

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Preview: Brighton vs Chelsea | Premier League
Werner celebrates his goal in our friendly with Brighton (Image credit: Sports Illiustrated)

We can’t believe it either, but it is that time again. The time for our beloved Blues to begin yet another Premier League campaign and this season might just be one of the most exciting prospects in years. Chelsea have had a spellbinding transfer window so far, welcoming new stars all across the field. Our new arrivals thus far, as if you need reminding, are Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, Malang Sarr, and of course, the extraordinary acquisition that is Kai Havertz.

Frank Lampard has spent big this summer, that is no secret. Following the club’s two-window transfer ban, it was inevitable that Frank would want to splash the cash this summer. Not only that but following a successful first season as Chelsea boss last year, multiple weaknesses were discovered during the campaign. These signings will certainly strengthen the squad, as well as providing some important competition to the players already at the club, which will help develop their own game.

With that being said, let’s take a look at our first outing of the new season, an away fixture against Brighton. Chelsea recently travelled to the Amex to participate in a pre-season friendly against Brighton, which finished one apiece. Our goal came from Timo Werner (of course) after a delicious cross-field ball from Hakim Ziyech (of course) was met by Callum Hudson-Odoi who failed to connect comfortably with his header, which then dropped to Werner who hit home after 4 minutes. Pascal Gross equalised from the spot for the home side in stoppage time.

New Chelsea signings Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell to miss start of the season against Brighton
Our new Wizard in action against Brighton before his knock (Image credit: Sports Illustrated)

Chelsea will head into the fixture with high expectations, as the Blues have departed victorious in 9 out of the last 10 league meetings with Brighton. Some more good fortune for Chelsea is that both previous seasons we kicked off on a Monday resulted in the Blues securing the top spot. This stat will hopefully be continued, as Chelsea are favourites for the fixture.

Team news and updates:

New boys Ziyech, Chilwell and Silva are all out of contention for the game, after Ziyech picked up a knock in the friendly at the Amex, and Chilwell and Silva are nursing injuries from their time at their former clubs. Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud are both fit and will battle Timo Werner for a starting place. Kai Havertz is also in the squad, as well as Christian Pulisic, who after his form following last seasons’ restart feels like a new signing to many fans. Our beloved skipper is also back in action following his injury against Arsenal in the FA Cup Final last season.

Chelsea transfer news: What Kai Havertz will bring to Blues | The Independent
Our new wonderboy with his brand new Chelsea shirt (Image credit: The Independent)

Players to watch:

Timo Werner:
It is likely we will see Timo Werner start against Brighton, after his goal in the friendly and also following two very solid performances for Germany in the UEFA Nations League last week. Werner will have all eyes on him and will have plenty of expectations riding with him too. The prolific German will hope to pick up where he left off, after scoring an astounding 34 goals across all competitions last season. Werner should be able to trouble Brighton’s defence and help Chelsea secure victory.

Adam Lallana:
Following a title-winning season at Liverpool, Lallana recently made a move down to the South Coast. Tonight’s game will be his first test, and what a test it is. After beating Chelsea three times last season, Lallana will hope he can help his new side get one up over Lampard’s Blues. Lallana will have plenty to do, as Chelsea’s side has strengthened immensely.

Jules Breach on why Tariq Lamptey is her new favourite and offers bold Brighton vs Chelsea prediction | Sussex Express
Lamptey in action against Chelsea in the friendly (Image credit: Sussex Express)

Key Battle:
Tariq Lamptey v Christian Pulisic:
Ex Chelsea youngster Lamptey made a move to Brighton in January, and since joining the Albion, has seriously impressed the fans. Lamptey has been a breath of fresh air to Brighton’s defence, adding pace and agility to the backline. Tonight, however, he faces a huge task in keeping Christian Pulisic quiet. Pulisic ended last season in terrific form and sadly suffered an injury in the FA Cup Final. ‘Captain America’ is back fit for tonight’s game, and if he starts, it will provide an entertaining battle for the game.

Written by Mash Greaves.

‘I wanted him to have the number 10 shirt because he deserved it.’ – Frank Lampard

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Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was interviewed by Arlo White as part of the series ‘Inside the Mind’ for NBCSN, and here are some of the best quotes from the chat. To have a listen to the full interview, simply watch the video below (only available in the United States).

A brilliant 12 minute chat…

Frank Lampard on bringing in Thiago Silva:

‘He will bring us the experience of playing in winning teams and what it takes to win and I hope that he can lead from the back in terms of how he holds himself and communicates with others around him and hopefully that will address some of our defensive problems.’

Frank Lampard on the signings of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz:

‘They’re two players I’m delighted to bring in. They were players that I had a lot of admiration for from the outside. They were two players that I said I wanted to bring to the club. I think it will give us a lot of speed and flexibility in higher areas of the pitch as well as a lot of quality. I get a really good feeling from them that they’re hungry for success.’

Frank Lampard on Chelsea’s New Number 10 Christian Pulisic:

‘He’s trained with us for the last couple of days so I suppose I’ll have to be a little bit careful going to Brighton. I’ll see how he is right up to that game as his recovery has been pretty quick and a lot of testament goes to him for that because he’s worked really hard to get fit. I had every feeling last year that Christian would be a huge player for this club. I genuinely felt it was time for him to adapt to the League so I tried to protect him [hence I didn’t play him as much earlier on]. When he got into the team I didn’t need to protect him.

I saw that progression in restart that showed those qualities [he has] – speed and balance and finishing, and there was a new belief in being a player that was going to make a difference for us. I am very excited that this season he’s going to improve even more. He’s come back looking really hungry. He will only improve with the players brought in around him that will hopefully be on the [same] wavelength with him – maybe with their movements Christian will get even more space.

I wanted him to have the number 10 shirt because I felt like he deserved it and he wanted it. We all know what a fit Christian Pulisic can do. I was very pleased to actually make the call to tell him about it and I could sense he was happy and I sense a feeling that this is another push up for him and I’ve got no worries for Christian.’

Once again, make sure to listen to the full interview to hear more from Frank Lampard!

Written by Paree

Podcast: Chelsea vs Brighton Review & Recruitment Evaluation w/ @rramesss!

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https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/727118?theme=dark&visual=true&scrolling-title=true&autoplay=true&enable-volume=true
A brilliant guest.. must listen – thank you!

In another episode of The Chelsea Spot podcast, Orlando (Host – @0rland1nho) and special guest Ram (@rramesss ) discuss Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Brighton in Pre-Season, and then also go into detail about possible areas of the transfer market to dip into!

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Podcast: Chelsea Transfer Window Special w/ @MishraAbhiA (Data Analyst)!

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https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/720080?theme=dark&visual=true&scrolling-title=true&autoplay=true&enable-volume=true

In another episode of The Chelsea Spot podcast, Orlando (Host – @0rland1nho) and special guest Abhishek (@MishraAbhiA ) discuss the Chelsea transfer window and talk about Ziyech, Werner and potentially Havertz, the kind of profiles we need at LB and CB and the big question of whether we need another winger.

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Strength in Versatility

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Bayer Leverkusen’s exit from the Europa League was celebrated by Chelsea fans all over, as it meant Kai Havertz could make to switch to London as soon as possible, following the official conclusion of the German club’s season. The 21-year-old’s body language during the course of the game was that of a player whose mind was elsewhere, and one could see that he was not operating to his fullest- walking around off the ball, and lazy while tracking back. Despite this, he scored the only goal for Bayer; gliding past a sliding Inter defender and slotting it into the back of the net. The goalkeeper was unable to keep the ball from crossing the line despite getting a touch.

Following the confirmation of the Werner and Ziyech deals, one thing is for certain- our manager is keen on signing attacking players who are comfortable in a wide range of positions. Havertz is another fine addition, and the young German has featured as an attacking midfielder, centre forward and right winger. Our strength in attack going into next season is definitely in our versatility, and it could permit us to play the fluid football which fans have been craving at the Bridge since the days of Carlo Ancelotti. In this article, I will be analysing the various ways our attack could look like in the next season which starts in roughly one month. For this purpose, I will be including our confirmed signings as well as Havertz, along with a couple of players who formed a part of our current season and are unlikely to leave the club this window.

#1: 4-3-3 with Havertz/ Ziyech as a RW and Werner as the striker

The first formation is the renowned 4-3-3, which Lampard seems to prefer too. However, the formation is open to the interpretation of the manager and his brand of football. For example, Liverpool (under Klopp) play this formation with two box-to-box midfielders ahead of the lone DM, and offer the full-backs the freedom to make dynamic runs ahead to support the attack. (Henderson and Wijnaldum/ Keita ahead of Fabinho, which allowed TAA and Robertson to join the attack). Manchester City on the other hand (under Guardiola in the 2019/19 season), preferred to play with two attacking midfielders who occupied the ‘number 8 role’ ahead of the lone DM (de Bruyne and David Silva ahead of Fernandinho). Maurizio Sarri, who was the manager of Chelsea last season, also played with his version of the same formation, where Jorginho was the regista, Kante was the box-to-box midfielder and Loftus-Cheek or Barkley were tasked with providing attacking threat from midfield.

I will be covering the other systems as well, but the first one is similar to Sarri’s system, where we have one DM, one box-to-box midfielder and one midfielder that provides attacking threat, followed by the traditional front three. The front three includes Havertz on the right, Pulisic on the left and Werner up front. Havertz has played 12 games on the right side of a front three and contributed to six goals and five assists, most recently against Inter Milan last night. Alternatively, Ziyech can play this role if Havertz is unavailable.

Werner has played 38 of his 45 games this season as the striker, and has managed 30 goals and 13 assists from this position. However, it is interesting to note that he did mostly feature alongside another striker in most of these games. How he performs as the lone striker is yet to be seen- he did bag a brace against Augsburg in his last appearance for Leipzig though- where he played as the lone striker. Pulisic has been electrifying in the left-wing position post lockdown, which sees him feature alongside the two Germans. However, this formation would leave one of Ziyech or Havertz on the bench.

#2: 4-3-3 with Havertz as CF and Werner as an inside forward and Ziyech on the right

This is similar to how Liverpool utilise Salah, Mane and Firmino- a centre forward who is great at dribbling and space creation complemented by two wingers who become inside forwards and score a ridiculous number of goals to compensate for the absence of an out and out striker. Here, the main objective of the wingers is to get into the box and score, while full-backs provide the width. To balance the defensive aspect, generally the midfield trio are all players with incredible work rate to get up and down the pitch whenever required. For comparison, Liverpool have predominantly utilised Fabinho, Henderson and Wijnaldum, none of who are ‘number 10s’.

In this system, Havertz is used as the centre forward due to his close control and ability to glide past players, a position which he has featured in just eight times this season, but has an impressive tally of eight goals as well as an assist from this position. He’s also quite tall (189cm), which could provide aerial threat as well. Alongside him would be Ziyech on the right, as a right-sided inside forward is always left-footed. On the left hand side would be Werner, who could cut in and cause havoc. As he has played with another striker upfront throughout the course of the season, this could bring the best out of him. However, this would see Pulisic miss out.

#3: 4-3-3 with Havertz as an attacking no8, Ziyech as the RW and Werner upfront

The third and final 4-3-3 formation is similar to the one Manchester City used last season, where the wingers drift wide and the two attacking midfielders cut inside. Should Chelsea get the Havertz deal over the line, Lampard would have all the tools to pull this off. Ahead of a reliable, sturdy DM (someone like Rice or Zakaria) would be Mount and Havertz. The front three would most likely consist of Ziyech on the right, Pulisic on the left and Werner through the middle. This formation may look unbalanced on paper, but with the right coaching this team could do wonders and break any opposition down. While it isn’t advisable to go with this line-ups in the big games, this attack would certainly come in handy against the sides which deploy a low block (for example, Villa and Burnley). It also includes all our remarkable attacking options, which isn’t possible in the previous two line-ups.

#4: 4-2-3-1 with Havertz as the no10, Ziyech as the RW and Werner upfront

One last formation before we conclude, the 4-2-3-1 which Lampard seemed to favour earlier in the season. The double pivot would consist of a sturdy midfielder coupled with someone who can run up and down the pitch, while the front four could do the damage in the attacking half. Havertz would be deployed as the attacking midfielder- a role in which he’s excelled this season with 25 appearances. On either side of him would be Ziyech and Pulisic, followed by Werner up top as the striker. Alternatively, in the absence of Havertz, Ziyech could take up this role, and so could Mount. My personal opinion would be to stick with the 4-3-3 system as it is used by the best teams in the world, but a 4-2-3-1 with the right system could do wonders.

That brings us to the end of the various formations in which we can line up next season. However, the extracts of the formations which I have used are contingent on us getting certain players to balance the side, hence it will be up to Lampard to pick the best eleven with the personnel at his disposal. The likes of Hudson-Odoi, Giroud and Tammy will also feature throughout the long season, but I have not included them in this article. Our reported interest in Benrahma could also spice things up, but as of now, these are our options. Whatever the case may be, I’m delighted that I am not in Lampard’s seat, because he has a few tough decisions to make!

The Chelsea Spot Podcast #9 – Werner in Blue, Chilwell Price Tag & More!

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https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/669931?theme=dark&visual=true&scrolling-title=true&enable-volume=true

In our ninth episode of The Chelsea Spot podcast, Dan (Host – @danbarkzr) and Orlando (@0rland1nho) discuss the Werner to Chelsea move and how it affects us and Abraham next season, Chilwell’s rumoured price, possible departures and a lot more!

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#TheChelseaSpot | #Chelsea | #CFC

The Chelsea Spot Podcast: Simon Phillips Show #3 – Transfer Special

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https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/668933?theme=dark&visual=true&scrolling-title=true&enable-volume=true
Transfer Special!

In our third episode of the Simon Phillips show, Simon discusses the latest transfer news regarding the Football Club, including Werner’s transfer, Havertz, Sancho, Chilwell, Tagliafico, Benrahma and more!

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Make sure to check us out on all our social media platforms, including our website, Twitter, Spotify, ITunes and Deezer, as well as Simon’s.
#TheChelseaSpot | #Chelsea | #CFC

Timo Werner has agreed to join Chelsea.

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Timo Werner has agreed to join Chelsea, according to the latest reports and the most reliable ones.

Reports broke out late afternoon that Liverpool had dropped out and that Chelsea were now the favourites. Following the initial report, news has been flying out, and here’s a thread from our very own Simon Phillips of all the journalists who have reported that the German will be joining the best club in London.

The 24 year old has been a player who Lampard has wanted for some time, and who Chelsea have kept an eye on. It has been said that Roman Abramovich has wanted to back Frank Lampard this Summer in the transfer window, and this is certainly a first sign towardst this.

The German forward has scored 25 goals and provided the team with 7 assists in just 29 games so far this season. Chelsea have been lacking a threat in front of goal at some times this season, and there is no doubt that Werner will aid with this problem.

Timo can play both on the wing and through the middle, giving a lot of versatility in the forward areas. Not only does this mean that he won’t be directly blocking Tammy Abraham, but will also be an option out wide.

The Latest news is that Chelsea are willing to trigger his 60 million euro release clause. Liverpool have not made a bid and we will be waiting to see if they change their mind.

The deal is not done fully, and there is a bit to go, but it is looking very likely.