Having let the dust settle a little, I have come to the frank and honest assessment that we're not good enough and Potter's team selections and constant tactical changes aren't helping our cause.
Mendy was class when he came, but he is just an average keeper who was playing at the very top of his game at that point. Since the middle of last season, we are seeing the reality. Unsure on crosses, not dominant in the area, slow coming out and pretty bad with his feet. I was happy to see Kepa reinstated and it coincided with our best run of the season. I hope nobody in the club is seriously considering his contract demands.
Losing Rudiger was the biggest blow of a hugely disappointing summer. I do believe Fofana will be a good signing and I think Chalobah is maturing and developing well. However, Koulibaly doesn't always look comfortable and Cucurella should never be deployed as a centre back. In fact, Cucurella should not be at Chelsea. James and Chilwell are always big misses for us but even when fit, neither Tuchel nor Potter picked Chilwell sufficiently. We need better full-back cover and a top notch central defender.
In midfield, we obviously miss Kante. Jorginho is far to slow and sideways for us to progress. Loftus Cheek is a fair player but he's never going to be a top player. We need a top midfielder to play next to Kovacic, someone who is positionally good, faster than Jorginho and who has enough flair and creativity to start our attacks.
We bought Sterling as a left sided inverted winger - a position where he has shone for Liverpool and Man City and we play him as a centre forward, a right winger and worst, and most nonsensically, as a wing back. People are criticising Sterling but he's a top player when played in his role. Likewise Pulisic, he's a fair enough player but must be played as a wide forward.
The biggest problem we have is that we let Lukaku go and didn't bring in a proper centre forward. Any half decent striker would have sufficed. I even think Lukaku would have been better playing under Potter than he was for Tuchel. It also hurts me to say that maybe Havertz should be sold. I keep reading how classy and silky he is but I don't see it. It seems that he needs to be in a team constructed around him and to his needs in order to shine.
In short, we have too many failing and whilst I would like Potter to be given time to develop his style and tactics, he must start playing a more settled team and formation and the failings in our squad must be addressed. We do have quality but no identity.
We're just not good enough
posted on 8/11/22
I was thinking about doing an article like this last night. Glad I didn't now cos this is way better than mine would've been
I'm generally quite optimistic about us when it comes to predicting how the season will go, but I came to a realization bored at work on Sunday night. This is the 1st season I can remember in awhile (since around this time in 15-16 I think) where I don't think we'll finish top 4. So I clearly think something's not right.
I don't mind the squad. I don't love it but there's a few players I like/believe in. I think the manager's capable but it's hard dealing with him being an obvious downgrade on his predecessor who was fired WAY too soon. I don't particularly like the way Boehly's handled his business so far but I do think his intentions are good (i.e. he's not interested in milking us for profit like our rivals). Nothing obvious on the surface is irredeemably wrong, but something's off.
posted on 8/11/22
Chelsea for me have the worst team in the top 6 now. Even Newcastle have more desirable players imo such as ASM, Wilson and obvious Guimaraes. Chelsea need a Lewandowski type striker, a good one.
posted on 8/11/22
Your squad building and recruitment has been poor for many years. If it weren’t for United taking the heat off there’d be a lot more shiiiiiit thrown your way.
posted on 8/11/22
I know our squad is not the best and considering the injuries we have suffered then Potter has done what is needed to be done. We have got a very long way to go with shaping our squad to get up to challenging for the title, but I honestly think if we can get James, Forfana, Chilwell and Kante fit and stay fit after the World Cup then we will finish either 2nd or 3rd.
posted on 8/11/22
but I honestly think if we can get James, Forfana, Chilwell and Kante fit and stay fit after the World Cup then we will finish either 2nd or 3rd.
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I doubt that. But you won’t get those players fit and staying fit anyway.
This was a problem of Chelsea’s own making. The injury history of these players was well known, but they still signed them and, or, didn’t make provisions to cover for their inevitable injuries.
posted on 8/11/22
What we mustn't forget is, this years WC is playing havoc with football in general,and especially with the players who are expecting to go to it !
Quite a few players seem to me to be going through the motions whilst awaiting the call up to their international teams,and this is not only Chelsea, as I'm sure fans of other teams will agree with.
Get this WC out of the way,and let get back to normality !
Even the old goat Blatter has come out and said that it shouldn't have gone to Quatar !
posted on 8/11/22
Had about 6 players missing and lost 1-0 to the league leaders. It’s not the end of the world but we do need to improve obviously
posted on 8/11/22
I agree with those saying our recruitment has been dodgy for at least two seasons now. We don't seem to have a concrete plan, which is something every modern club needs. I hate Arsenal, and while I don't expect them to win the league, the coaches and board identified their needs and bought the relevant players and they have improved greatly. You could say similar things about Newcastle and Spurs.
The main problem Boehly had is that by the time he took over the club, it was too late to implement a transfer plan and get the players we needed. All the more reason he should have kept Maria and had her working behind the scenes while the takeover was happening. Our transfer targets should have been identified, targeted and pursued the day the club was allowed to trade again.
We desperately need a proper striker, we have done since Conte got rid of Diego Costa. The arguments about injuries only go so far. Chilwell should have played the majority of games but was only a bit part player before getting injured, that was the call of both managers. Lotus Cheek, Sterling, Pulisic as wing backs is folly. Havertz as a striker is not the way a top club would go. If a manager has a fairly decent squad, we are not a top team now but we are still decent, the first thing is to implement a system and style and play players who fit into that style. I want to see Sterling high up on the left wing cutting inside and running at defences, not tracking back in his own half. I remember Mourinho trying to make Hazard work defensively it didn't work. Potter is naive but I hope he learns quickly.
posted on 8/11/22
The main problem Boehly had is that by the time he took over the club, it was too late to implement a transfer plan and get the players we needed. All the more reason he should have kept Maria and had her working behind the scenes while the takeover was happening. Our transfer targets should have been identified, targeted and pursued the day the club was allowed to trade again.
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Yep. Ripped everything up from the roots without a succession plan already in place. Was completely unnecessary and in combination with his conduct in the market smacked of someone more interested in making a statement than smart, calculated decisions.
It's the type of attitude managers get called out on ALL the time, and on a very basic level is just a bit of a d!ck move.
posted on 10/11/22
Sterling is a great player but he blows hot and cold. First you need to play him in position. Second his confidence is pretty fragile. He lets stuff get to him - like the criticism of his England performances or the barracking he gets at Anfield. He’s high maintenance, but if you get him going he’s definitely worth it.