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With the Community Shield game against Manchester City just one week away, this seems like a good time to review Chelsea’s pre-season 2012. In short – not good. Okay in terms of promoting and expanding the franchise stateside it was certainly a success; in terms of achieving match fitness and getting everyone minutes on the pitch, you could say ‘objective achieved’, performances however have left a lot to be desired and have arguably left us with more questions than we had before. Only a stupid person would start drawing conclusions but only an ignorant person wouldn’t have any concerns.
Especially in defence, I think we have really seemed to struggle picking up where we left off. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say all 10 goals conceded in pre-season were easily preventable. Some you have to admit were the consequences of sloppy passes that match fitness and form will eradicate, but some however were the result of just plain poor positioning and decision making from experienced players and it wasn’t good to see.
One thing that will have to improve this season is our ability to defend on the counter attack. Last year, Andre Villas-Boas tried to get us playing attacking, possession football with the defence pressing high up the pitch; we all know how successful that was. Now though, with all the young attacking talent we’ve bought in there’s pressure on Di Matteo to make this possession game work, and it won’t work with the back four sitting deep and offering no support to the midfield at all. We need to get better at winning the ball back quickly, defending as a team, making sure we cover for the full backs and David Luiz when they move forward – which in an attacking, possession based system, they will be fully entitled/encouraged to do.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Chelsea can successfully defend in the Premier League with a high defensive line, our defenders are quick, know each well and we’ve got defensive midfielders disciplined and experienced enough to help make up numbers at the back when we need them. It might mean we’re soft at the back to start with, but we’re going have to persevere I feel to get the best out of our new signings. I think it might have slipped a lot our minds, the defence will need time to adapt as well, with all the changes being made to our attack this summer.
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Yesterdays disappointing loss to Brighton and Hove Albion, definitely resurrected some dark memories of watching Chelsea fail to break down weaker opposition, with a midfield three and ineffective wingers. Some suggested Di Matteo should take the performance as proof 4-3-3 simply won’t work with this group of players and just forget about it. Personally though I think it’s important we show tactical diversity/flexibility next year. My logic – if you have the players for numerous formations, use numerous formations. The benefits of a set-up don’t go away just because it doesn’t suit you the best. Particularly against the likes of Fulham and Sunderland and Manchester Utd (who still play with fairly flat midfield 4s) having three midfielders in the middle gives you a clear advantage.
I’m definitely with the consensus on predominately using 4-2-3-1 next season, but to completely lose touch with the formation that’s bought us so much success over 8 years would be a mistake in my opinion.
Now let’s have a look at various individual pre-seasons:
Eden Hazard: For me, new signing Eden Hazard was the stand out player of the US tour. From the first whistle he looked sharp and eager and threatening every time he got the ball, making dangerous runs and picking up good positions as part of an attacking three behind the striker. Even without playing exceptionally, I think he showed his quality and proved what an asset he’s going to be this season. Yesterday though against Brighton, he disappointed. Jason Cundy correctly pointed out on Chelsea TV that without more experience and tactical/positional discipline he is going to struggle to play as a wing forward in a 4-3-3. His link up play with Ashley Cole was bad, and he moved out of position far too often. Not that this really should concern anyone, with Eden still being so young and in all likelihood, not going to be playing that role much at all next year.
Ramires: I was disappointed not to see Ramires get a chance to play in what I think is his best role in pre-season – more centrally and deeper set. Personally I don’t like the idea of using Ramires as a winger next season, which looks like what Di Matteo is planning. In a similar fashion to Hazard, the runs Rami makes and the positions he picks up are excellent, but his decision making from wide positions are pretty bad – almost Theo Walcott bad! He also is not a great crosser of the ball. Regardless though, I think Ramires has got the talent and the work ethic to adapt and improve his games to play wherever Di Matteo wants him to. I predict he’ll have another good year.
Other players: Looking at the rest of the squad, I think both Raul Meireles and Michael Essien didn’t play brilliantly, at times both looked laboured and indecisive on the ball. I thought Josh McEachran looked very good on the ball though and I was disappointed not to see more of him in America. It was a shame not to see more of Marko Marin as well, whom I think is probably the best natural winger we’ve had at Chelsea since Arjen Robben. Fernando Torres hasn’t played much and was starved of the ball at Brighton yesterday, but still has looked good I think – clearly he knows what a massive, make or break year he has coming up. Kevin De Bruyne struggled to really impact the games he played in on tour but still looked energetic and showed his class in moments. I think his loan move to Werder Bremen is a smart decision, I think he’ll have a good future at Chelsea. Finally, I think a loan out would also be a good move for Romelu Lukaku who showed us all of the pace and power and raw talent we knew he had in pre-season, but still didn’t show us any of the finesse or discipline we all knew he was lacking. There is a lot of hard work needs to go into his game if he’s going to be a top striker at Chelsea, which I’m sure he knows and is prepared to put in. He said only a few weeks ago he intends to play for Chelsea his entire career – good luck to him.
So overall, things aren’t looking too promising for the Community Shield next week, with not a lot going for us at the moment. Di Matteo still has problems to fix and decisions to make before the season gets underway. Strangely I’m not particularly worried or confident about our first few fixtures, I think we could fall flat against Wigan and Reading just as easily as we could steamroll them. (Apologies to any fans reading this, looking for reassurances, I’m not being too helpful am I?)
Whilst there is a real pressure on us to perform this year, as Champions of Europe, I would still urge all Chelsea fans not to get impatient with the side or Di Matteo for the first few months. Just try and sit back and enjoy watching some of the best young players in the world become a great team together – a process that won’t be hurried up by immediate disparagement and open criticism.
To sign off, just a quick well done to Oscar who was brilliant again in helping Brazil reach the semis of the Olympic football tournament, and also commiserations to Ryan Bertrand and Daniel Sturridge who lost on penalties to the South Koreans. It incensed me to read abuse for Sturridge last night after what he went through to be prepared for this tournament. Some people need to look in the mirror. I just want to get everyone back together now and get this season started; pre-season always drags on too long for me.
KTBFFH
@MatthewClark46
Matt Clarke,
Well written article.
I agree with all of your above mentioned thoughts, mate! I agree with you that Roberto Di Matteo should think about his formation more seriously.
I love the 4-4-2 system.
The 4-4-2 system so clear and direct.
Then again, he could always use my formation.
Michael formation: 4-1-3-2
Cheers, mate!
Matt Clarke,
I would also just like to add. I really enjoy reading your articles.
As I feel that I did not waste 5 minutes of my time.
It’s funny, because you write waaaay much better than paid journalists in newspapers.
I feel like I wasted my time reading journalists articles in newspapers.
Again, thanks for the great read, mate!
Cheers, mate!
Hey Matt,
First of all, thanks for writing such a great post. It summed up the pre-season really well..
I agree with you on the point of using a 4-2-3-1 formation, but i slightly differ with your opinion of us having pacy defenders and using a high-line of defense.
I agree with you, that, with the kind of talent that we have bought, we should expect the team to play attacking football and have good quality possession while doing so. For that the defense wud have to give support to the MF. But out of the 3-4 regular CBs, I think only Luiz is relatively pacy and technically sound. During AVB days, I still remember the way in which so many opponents exploited the gaps between the the two CBs or the CB and the FB and our players wud not be able to track back soon enough. (Walcott’s goal after he squeezed thru the gap between Iva and JT was especially painful). Our defense is still the same, and lets accept the fact that we do NOT have a CDM/CM who can retain possession for a considerable amount of time and make a telling pass that could potentially start an attack.
Mikel was great in the latter half of the previous season, but he was better at making interceptions,breaking attacks or making clearances than passing to a player up the field. Lamps used to do this on a regular basis. He would lob the ball diagonally (like the one he set up for ramires for the goal against barca at the bridge), he would repeatedly try to find the striker with a cross/pass/lob that would somehow evade the defensive line. However, we all know that lamps would not be the same box-to-box MF that he was 2-3 seasons ago. Moreover, If we hope to play the attacking , passing, possession oriented football that we are expected to, we would definitely need a proper CM in the “mould” of a Xavi or even a Riquelme.
Now, please do not try to shoot me, I am not trying to lay down a player shopping list, I am just saying that we need a proper MIDFIELD GENERAL, in order to play the brand of football, for which we have bought players like Hazard, Oscar, Marin etc.
As Modric seems to be going to Madrid and looks like RDM is not going to add any players to the midfield, I reckon we shouldn’t start the season with a high def line. Like Cech-Terry-Lamps-Drog have been the spine of the squad for the last 8 years years, the new one looks somewhat like this Cech or Courtois – Luiz or Cahill – Ramires or ??? – Hazard or Oscar or Torres.
The “???” signifies that I don’t really know if the Mid-Field would get a player who would be a proper CM who can form a perfect link between the Def and the attacking MFs / striker. However, we have some candidates who can probably contend for that position.
McE , Romeu, Essien, Mikel, and even Ramires. All of them have their own pros and cons, but in my opinion, for his work-rate and pace, ramires seems to be best option as the Mid-fielder other than Mikel. Ramires and Mikel would be my choices for the MFs in front of the Def line. If they both combine well and complement each other’s strengths we can have good strong presence in the middle of the park. But even then, I don’t think we can afford to have a high defensive line, mainly coz, when it comes to “keeping” possession and the technical ability to hold the ball, both Ramires and Mikel aren’t that good in these departments and we could be vulnerable against quality opposition and swift counterattacks. and even if they keep possession, let’s accept they aren’t the most creative of the lot.
Anyway, It seems like I have rambled on a little too much
. But I am really of the opinion that we shouldn’t start the season with a high Defensive line. May be we could gradually start deploying one, once our key players have been accustomed to play with each other.
KTBFFH!!!!!!
Kaz, I agree with what you’re saying. It’s certainly going to be a balancing act and a case of every player in the team adapting and learning to play with more of the ball and defending as a team further up the pitch.
I agree with the idea of a Mikel/Ramires double pivot as well. I think Mikel is the best player in the squad at retaining possession in midfield and as I said in the article, I much prefer to see Ramires play deeper and more centrally than on the wing. I’ve noticed also that Oscar puts in a good defensive shift for Brazil as well, despite how advanced his starting position is. I think he’s the sort of player that will track back for us, help out/stick a foot in – something else to consider.
Michael, thanks I appreciate that. It’s a real mixed bag with football journalists these days, there are a lot of good ones about, but a there are a lot getting paid per word to spew out crap.
I don’t really read opinion columns in papers anymore. 5 football journalists who I think are excellent though and I think you might like: Jonathon Wilson, Jack Lang, Guillem Balague, Michael Cox and Tim Vickery. They’re all worth following.
Matt Clarke,
Hey Matt, thank you for your response. You are my favourite football writer.
My favourite football commentator is Peter Brackley. I enjoy his FA Cup commentary. Its a pity though he doesn’t do FA Premier league, Uefa Champions league matches or Fifa tournaments. Peter Brackley is the voice of football in my opinion.
It would be if these tournaments were on steroids if Peter Brackley was commentating.
I still believe that Chelsea can win the FA Premier league and Uefa Champions league. The question is, is Roberto Di Matteo the right man to lead these players. Roberto Di Matteo is a cool person. But I still prefer Pep Guardiola or Martin O’Neill.
One thing that worries me is that our team is becoming weak physically. In the past we had Ballack, Makalele, Geremi, and Lassana to strengthen the midfield. Let’s look a the players we bought: Marin, Hazard, Oscar, and De Bruyne. None of these players can even match Kalou’s strength. I hope we buy some muscle for the team. I would really like to see Alex Song in Chelsea. He has killer passes too, as Van Persie took advantage of them. He is the best defending midfielder in the EPL and one of the top in the position in the world.
I have to say good work Matt and i largely agree with you Kaz . In my view i see that the right side of the midfield straight through to the attacking aspects makes full use of Ramires’s ability as he is a tireless work horse he largely compensates for the short falls found in the team and having him operate in that position and adapting well in it makes it easy to quickly alternate in the team formations – thereby he does not abandon his defensive duties but is also allowed to explore more in his attacking options.
@defao: Well said, thats why I see Ramires in a way as a replacement for Kalou’s right wing position. This is regarding my comment above.
To sum up Ramires has to do a Franz Bekenbauer role.
Guys, I think ramires would be good in both the positions,
if he is played in the right wing, our counterattacks can be lightning fast considering his pace… and it would be easier for us to strike back… also, if he plays in the center.. his work-rate would definitely help in breaking up attacks and providing cover for our defensive line…
But considering the players we have for the final third (Hazard/mata/torres/oscar/Marin and may be even sturridge), we would have to have a midfielder who likes to hold the ball and pass it up the field. and more importantly/or preferably… find the feet of those players mentioned above.. coz i don’t think any of them are as good as Drogba, when it comes to playin with their backs to the opposition’s goal. If our attack (with our current crop of players) has to be potent enough, the build-up from the midfield will have to be fluid .. and for that we would need a player who can make those kind of passes… McEachran is the only guy who comes to my mind who can do this… but is he ready for such a high level of football week-in week-out..?
I am not saying there is any dearth of talent in our midfield. All i m trying to say is that, if our current group of attacking players have to fire, our midfield would need different kind of player (s) as compared to the ones we have now….
It’s definitely an interesting one – this where should Ramires play argument
Someone should write a blog on it.
@kaz: Alex Song is the best choice. Both an outstanding passer and defending midfielder.
Matt Clarke
You think you’re funny
. Cheers, mate!
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Hello Matt. Nice piece. This is what i think about some failures within our team and these are not just a fleeting observation. It’s something i’ve noticed over a long period of following our team. Yes we have a good crop of players now. Some technically gifted, others not so much and i agree you need a blend of these to have a great team. As an avid football follower, I also tend to look at the psychological aspect of teams and players. Old Red Nose is good at it, Mancini has a rather bland form of it too. Ze is a master of it. You see a team creates it’s aura. Prior to Frank Rijkaard we all knew Barca. Somehow over the last 5 years Barca has created a certain aura around them. Teams have this defeatist mentality when playing against them. That is when you need mentally strong players in your team. We have players who are mentally strong but we have much more mentally weak players. If you wanna know who is mentally strong, watch the absolutely crucial matches and see which of our players rise to the occasion and which of them hide on the pitch. Players who wobble at the knees when a ball is passed to them. Bosingwa was a prime example where as our mentally strongest player in my opinion was Didier Drogba.
In effect this is my point, when you see a player has made a mistake and raises his hand to signal offside and refuses to track back to correct his error , that should tell you the sort of player you have. A player’s psychological make up is a very very important part of shaping the player and his output on a football pitch.
On the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation, i have actually thought about Robbie playing Mikelo/Romeu with Josh McEachren there. Josh Mac would be perfect in this formation cos watching his game through the years, he is not a natural goal scoring midfielder. What he is brilliant at is his distribution and killer passing. However he lacks the defending instincts needed in that position. That is where Romeu would be a complement of Josh Mac. Plus Romeu can also pass the ball really well. With these two in there i think we can control possession in the center of the park instead of defenders just passing to each other then to the keeper.
These are just my observation. KTBFFH
Ronin, are you out there? need to ask you a question bruv
Matblue, Can you not load the forum on your phone either?
@Ronin, Exactly Bro, Glad you got back to me. I thought there must be something wrong with my phone. Seems there’s a general issue with it. Thanks i am relieved now.
Matblue, try posting something anyway. See if it comes up on the home page.
i did that. It appeared. But there were no contributers. And it was just my post lingering there, no updates, nothing.
An update has been promised for a while. We’ll just have to wait and see
Alright. Thanks Bruv
RDM should really think of the best formations he can use with these good set of young talents and great players. If that is done, then there will be no problem for Chelsea winning the title.