For a club that was sanctioned unceremoniously by its own government, is in the first year under brand new owners, dealing with the first-ever winter world cup, a managerial change, a monarchial death and an incredible injury record Chelsea are about where they should be.
Was giving away two leads to Everton frustrating? Of course.
But too often Chelsea supporters fall into the trap of thinking of the narrative as Chelsea-focused. The team from the Blue side of Liverpool are a team of professionals with their very livelihoods and reputations on the line and played like it on Saturday.
Everton are gaining momentum in a new manager bounce period under an excellent manager in Sean Dyche. The former Burnley manager was unfairly treated by his former employers as well as the “tiki-taka” obsessed football world when the truth is that he is an excellent and intelligent tactician who did what was necessary to keep Burnley relevant for far longer than their financial history suggested was possible. It will be interesting to see what he’s able to achieve with Everton if they avoid the drop and he’s able to acquire more talent.
Graham Potter did again make a few peculiar decisions in this match though that did leave one scratching their head. It was odd to see him make yet another change to the Chelsea starting attack when they had just played their most effective and cohesive two halves of football of the season against Leicester.
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.
It’s a shame because Kepa is such a likable man and a talented goalkeeper. He clearly cares for the side and has shown incredible character in training and in his ability to triumph over the low points in his Chelsea career. The fact that he is a secondary captain means a lot.
That said if he cannot be coached to take control of hix own six yard box then Chelsea will need to find a goalkeeper who can. Kepa has the ability to do it but there is no elite team in Europe whose goalkeeper is allowing such nonsense.
For what it’s worth it may be as simple as giving Slonina his chance. If he is the truth as we are supposed to believe he is then 18 is the appropriate time to start giving him substantial minutes. Courtois, Buffon, Donnarumma, Casillas and Neur were all playing substantially at that age. If he’s to reach his also-chased-by-Real-Madrid potential then he cannot be protected too long.
He’ll either ascend to the role as he was meant to or he’ll get the best out of Kepa.
Either way though Chelsea solve the goalkeeper issue moving forward and they must. Second chance headers in the six yard box are not allowed by good team. That. Is. That.
Moving on to transfer business.
It has never been more apparent that Chelsea should sign Joao Felix. Even though they are bringing in Nkunku as well. The combination that he is building with Havertz can’t be argued and when something that special appears to be forming you should grasp it.
There are a couple of options as well in terms of formations that Chelsea could utilize in order to get the most out of the majority of their talent.
One of the most dominant sides of the past ten years was Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern Munich. That team played in a 4-1-4-1 in attack before becoming a 4-3-2-1 in defence. They beat the all conquering Barcelona side of the era and actually were literally the team that ended that irritating period of time with the famous 8-2 victory.
Heynckes genius was allowing his team to create at pace by simplifying their roles and harnessing their athleticism. Chelsea’s team is too athletic to not use the transition more. They don’t allow their football to flow at all and it’s horrible and anti-productive.
Sure there are times when it’s appropriate to play tappy-tappa or whatever and pretend that’s beautiful but at times when you’re pinned back the necessary and intelligent footballing pressure valve is the counter.
You’re not going to sit there and say that a graceful attacking winger and an athletic olympian striker flying down the pitch isn’t exciting are you?
Chelsea don’t utilize that ying and yang, that ebb and flow, that be-like-water attack at the moment and that’s the problem.
Heynckes’ Bayern did it perfectly and destroyed Barcelona doing it. A 4-1-4-1 with Havertz and Felix as intertwning tens with Mudryk on the left and sterling on the right with Nkunku up top and Enzo behind them is the sort of thing poetry is made of.
That would work a charm.
It would take discipline but Chelsea’s players have shown a willingness to work in a way that older Chelsea sides did not. Havertz’s entire Chelsea career has been played out of position and he hasn’t complained once. Mudryk chases back and attempts to tackle people even if he does it like an attacker would.
For next season that would be the formation to move forward with.
The final note then is:
Chelsea must re-sign Kai Havertz.
I am so tired of hearing the impatient foolishness of people droning on about how he hasn’t been good enough. He was 20 years old when he joined during the COVID year. He was isolated and alone as a child and caught a particularly bad case of COVID that literally caused damage to his lungs. Can anyone play football without lungs?
He has at his worst been a good soldier and at his best displayed the sort of Zidane-esque potential everyone is still hoping he achieves. Potter appears to have found that allowing him to drift out to the wings and inward to create gets the best out of him and what do you know?
As Chelsea have figured out finally how to get the best out of their most limitlessly talented player they have started to play better as well.
Chelsea are moving in the right direction. Boehly and Eghbali are making the right moves. Things are getting better. Let’s get to the end of the season and win as many games as possible while re-integrating N’Golo Kante (an ace up our sleeves who could change the season) until then. Players will be able to be moved out and some actual training groundwork will get done. The only thing that Chelsea can do wrong right now is overreact and in doing so make all this suffering not worth it at all.