In this latest edition of Tactics and Transfers, we focus on the former. How can Antonio Conte fit his formations to the Chelsea squad and what are the issues?
Chelsea FC’s season is well underway and it already feels like the matches are coming in fast and furious (minus Vin Diesel). Chelsea have shown the same weaknesses in the matches against Watford and Bristol Rovers and though the mood is still positive, the holes in the squad are glaring.
In both matches Chelsea conceded soft goals and have played without the sort of cavaliering never-say-die attitude that famous Chelsea sides of yesteryear prided themselves on.
Antonio Conte does seem to be intent on fashioning a system to fit his players rather than his players to fit a system. This is evidenced in the fact that despite never running out the 4-1-4-1 in preseason he decided that it was the best method for the team to play in.
Some things about it make sense. Chelsea only have one great defensive midfielder. N’Golo Kante is the only DM in the squad right now who is capable of starting week in week out in a Premier League team that hopes to finish in the top four.
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What doesn’t make sense is the utilization of Nemanja Matic higher up the field. He is an extremely limited player in a technical respect. The reason why it is important for attacking players to have such fine technical skills is because play condenses as it heads towards the opposition goal.
The spaces and routes become a lot finer and a player needs to be able to do more with less. Nemanja Matic usually needs two or three touches to control the ball and then another couple to search out his teammates. Simply put, he is a liability in the attacking four.
The solution seems simple. While the cries for a two-striker system have been validated in many ways, if Antonio Conte insists on the 4-1-4-1 system then it must be found.
The solution is this: the four players behind the strikers should be Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Victor Moses. The issue with the lack of chances created in the 4-1-4-1 is that Matic slows down play with his bumbling that far up the field. By subbing in Willian, a player with equal hustle but more refined skills, Chelsea should see a significant improvement.
Willian was wonderful last year, but the best season of his career came when he played in the number 10 role at Shakhtar Donetsk. Indeed, the giant-killing Shakhtar team of the mid 2000’s. Here at The Pride of London we have often claimed that Willian is an imperfect winger, but that is because it is his unnatural position. His work ethic and natural talent make him a serviceable one, not a perfect one.
Matic has been used in that midfield four due to the defensive work-rate he provides. Willian, though, brings a greater attacking threat with a minimal downgrade on effort going backwards. This could be the change that makes the 4-1-4-1 work.
Having said that, Chelsea should still switch to the 4-4-2/4-2-4 hybrid that has been winning matches for them in recent weeks.
Michy Batshuayi has blessed Antonio Conte with the most magnificent of managerial issues. He is playing to a level that makes him undroppable. Every time he has been on the pitch he has made Chelsea a different side altogether. Simply for his play he deserves to start alongside Diego Costa.
The 4-2-4 may be too risky for deployment over the full 90 minutes. However, it is that fusion with the 4-4-2 that could genuinely work for Chelsea.
The match against Bristol Rovers displayed more than anything Chelsea’s frightful defensive situation. Branislav Ivanovic does not look like the player he used to be. Having him on the field is becoming increasingly dangerous every week.
Unfortunately, an unnamed club executive’s failure to build a rounded squad has left Antonio Conte has no option but to play the once-dominant Serbian. Chelsea have five healthy defenders.
This is patently absurd. Chelsea is an institution that teaches defending to the rest of Europe and it’s fans deserve better than that. Ivanovic may not have lost his spark, it’s just that at his age he should be playing 20 games, not 40, per season.
Conte has no option but to play the once-dominant Ivanovic
The issue is that the same applies for all three of Chelsea’s CB’s right now. Terry can no longer play 45-50 matches (even though he would die trying) while neither can Gary Cahill.
The two goals that Bristol Rovers scored laid bare the club’s defensive frailties. The first was a header born from a lack of defensive organization. Yes, Ola Aina was beaten, but no-one let him know which of the three Bristol Rovers players in his area was his.
Back in the days of Petr Cech and Terry, this lack of communication would have never happened. Now, though, without either on the field that’s the biggest issue. Defending is about communication, organization and teamwork. Without leaders on the field proper defending will not happen. The man closest to Aina scored but he was one of three in the youngster’s vicinity. This Rovers trio remained unaccounted for by the Chelsea defense.
The second goal was a rubbish penalty conceded by Pedro. It should not have happened and that’s all there is to it. With Pedro and Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea seem like some sort of bargain bin for ex-Barcelona players. Note to the executive who shall not be named, Barcelona don’t give up players they think are still good. Do not buy them.
These key vulnerabilities are holding the Blues back. In the next edition of Tactics and Transfers, we will take a look at the options available to Chelsea as the transfer window comes to a close.