Tactics and Transfers: Overreacting is the enemy, Kepa, Felix, Potter and 4-1-4-1

Knowing that he was coming into a match against a resurgent side but one that is capable of mistakes meant perhaps simply letting the bond between his attack strengthen would have been a decent decision.

In fact, some of his decisions are so absurd that they do hint at the fact that he is favoring squad harmony above tactical logic at the moment. Chelsea have literally never had that in a manager in my lifetime.

The Blues have 31 players where most teams have 22-24. It is entirely possible that Potter is being pragmatic at times and realizing that this thing could all go pear shaped if he doesn’t manage the morale inside his dressing room.

In the end though he played Christian Pulisic who asserted himself well before being hit in the head with a free kick that changed his demeanor. I won’t go into my theory that Pulisic would be a wonderful pivoting midfielder in a three much like Kovacic now but perhaps another time.

Sadly this match did show Kepa Arrizabalaga’s main flaw in a way that is rather inarguable. For all his ability as something of a “save artist” the Spanish goalkeeper has never really grabbed ahold of his box in a dominant fashion. The first goal simply doesn’t happen if he comes out and grabs the second ball before contact while it’s in his own six yard box. It should never have been allowed to bounce around. That though simply is not Kepa’s style and never has been so goals like that are bound to happen.