09 Dec 2024 06:41:54
Hi Ed001
I was wondering if you'd be willing to share your thoughts on Chelsea right now?
I'm interested in hearing if you think some players are over or under performing, and if you have gathered any thoughts on Maresca?
{Ed001's Note - that is a very difficult question, the one about over and under performing. As a club, it is clear that in recent years you had been underperforming. You were still spending heavily in the transfer market but dropped off the pace at the top of the league, most seasons. Now you have spent mind-boggling amounts in the last couple of seasons, you really should be title challengers, but those seasons of underperformance had lowered expectations.
So you are, imo, doing what you should be doing with the investment made, even if I am surprised. I am still not convinced by Maresca, he is dealing with the egos well so far, but that's because it is going well. You can only find out how good someone is when there is a rocky patch. But, so far, he is doing well, if the play is unconvincing.
That defence is a disaster waiting to happen, the players are all over the place, there is no organisation at the back at all. That is why you are going to find it really difficult to win leagues. It is like Keegan's Newcastle, but unable to do it against the top teams, which is a worry. So I am cautious with my views on you, simply because of that shaky defending and inability to look dangerous against the better sides.
As for players, it is hard to suggest any player who is bought for such a high amount can be overperforming to be honest. Even Palmer, who just vanishes in tough games and that is costing you, cannot really be considered to be overperforming until he is not just stat-padding against weaker teams. He needs to turn up and perform against the Arsenals, Liverpools and Man Citys.
That is also one of the issues with Maresca, he has yet to find a way to get the best out of Palmer in the big games. It is easy when you are taking on Spurs, for example. They are always wide open and Palmer will be left in space. He needs to find ways to get Palmer space against the better sides. Also, I am not convinced his A and B team policy can work long term. That is something the club have to help him with though, by offloading the players who are not in his A team plans and giving him a manageable squad to work with.
I think that is the biggest issue to be dealt with, to be honest. Until the squad size is reduced to a reasonable number of players, it is difficult to judge Maresca at all. The defence is a mess, but is that simply because he has too many players to work with and try and organise into a cohesive unit? I don't think it is, because his Leicester side were dreadful defensively as well, but he is a young coach who is learning, so he might well have improved that side of his coaching and we are just not finding out.
As for players performances, you just have to say that a player bought for 100m should be among the best players in the league, top 3 in his position, at the very least or he is underperforming. So they still have a way to go, but they are certainly showing signs of getting there. The key thing, for me, is that there is improvement, even as the season has gone on. The team is improving. That is all you can really ask for from a head coach, to improve the team and its performances.
Sorry that is a really long-winded reply and I am not even sure I ended up answering the questions properly!}
09 Dec 2024 08:52:42
Ed, I enjoyed your summary and echo a lot of your sentiments and concerns.
{Ed001's Note - thanks Tom. I wasn't sure if it would even make sense. Often when I type something up as I think, it can end up being gibberish as my mind jumps ahead of what I am typing. It is so difficult to keep from jumping across sentences. I used to do that as a child. I would write stuff down, but it would be the start of one sentence, the middle of another and the end of a third a lot of the time!}
09 Dec 2024 10:22:56
I got diagnosed with dyslexia when I was fifty ish and that explained a lot about my previous struggles.
I constantly miss out words from sentences and I haven’t got a clue about punctuation.
One of my sons is severely dyslexic and he taught me some tricks about reading while standing on one leg. You look bonkers but it works for me!
{Ed001's Note - you know that is a trick that works when you are uncomfortable in a public place. Like in the Philippines, the men's urinals are literally just a concrete slab in the middle of the street to pee up against. No privacy at all. I couldn't go for a pee in one for ages. Just had to hang on. Then I read somewhere about standing on one leg and suddenly you are peeing without realising it. It is weird, but it does work. I still hated using them though!}
09 Dec 2024 10:30:02
Morning ED, understand your points and although valid do a degree i do feel they are a bit harsh. I think your analysis of our defence is my biggest area of contention. We are obviously not a finished article and the injury issues definitely aren't helping. The goalkeeper i think we can all agree is an area of concern and requires an upgrade. However, Fofana and Colwill with Gusto/ James and Cucarella seems like one of the best back lines in the league to me (which may be a indication of the poor quality of defenders playing in the league at the moment) . We have the best DM and one of the best AM in the league in my opinion. Attacking wingers who are contributing and one of the most inform strikers. I don't think we are a finished article by all means, still lots of room to progress and also improvements to in game management. However, progress has been really good, we are one of the best attacking teams and watches in the league and moving in the right direction. Liverpool are streaks ahead but apart from them, we are there or there abouts.
I have loved Marescas approach to the media, how he is challenging his players and being clear in his expectations. He is 5 months into his first premier league role, i think he is doing a really good job to date. Completely agree you only see the cread and man when things go wrong and challenges occur. Based on what we have seen so far though, i think he's shown the skills and character to potentially handle this well.
Appreciate your input as always ED.
I would also say, with Estevao coming in next summer, Paez, Andre Santos, we have a lot of talent arriving. Taking your point about a large squad, the Sporting Directors and Manager will have a job thinking about a playing squad next year. I have loved seein the A and B team approach this year, but next year (if we get champions league football) that approach isn't going to be viable.
{Ed001's Note - I think you massively overrate your backline. Gusto is very average and neither him nor James (on those rare seconds he is not injured) are good defensively at all. Fofana I really don't rate at all. He has no positional sense whatsoever, and chasing around after the play just leads to needless fouls. Colwill I do like a lot though, I will agree on him. They are all very good on the ball though, which can be as important to defending in the modern game.
I really should have said about the goalkeeper, as it is a large part of the defensive problem and must contribute. Until you have a goalkeeper that the players are confident in, you will never truly know how good the defence is.
If you get Champions League football? If you don't, then it would be a major shock. With both Spurs and Man Utd having such a poor season, then I think you have to expect to be top four at the very least.}
09 Dec 2024 17:47:48
I think that's harsh on James, he's a top 3 right back when fit in the league (better than Walker on this seasons form and Trent defensively respectively) . I disagree on Fofana but appreciate he's not 2006 Carvalho, Maresca has been praising his performance and attitude so hopefully he can improve.
Are there any top keepers out there available? Ever year people mention Costa, Maignan etc would Kelleher be available? He's not going to want to play third fiddle behind Alison and Mamardashvili.
{Ed001's Note - James has never been better than Trent defensively. Utter nonsense. More to the point, he is never fit.}
09 Dec 2024 18:45:05
I think TAA will fit in well at a big club like Real Madrid. haha Ed.
10 Dec 2024 10:41:44
We have the 3rd best defence in the premier league this season. Only Liverpool with 11 concededed and Arsenal with their famed defenders 15 conceded better our 18 conceded.
10 Dec 2024 17:34:19
Whether you think Ed001 was a bit harsh he has a point. Conceding 18 goals so far is nothing to shout about. A sound defence is the starting block for success and winning big games. Let’s be honest we haven’t won any “big” games for a while. We should start with a top class keeper and an experienced CB and then look to a striker who is an aerial threat and not just good on the ball. If those three positions were sorted we could make a big leap forward.
10 Dec 2024 18:11:04
I have repeatedly said that I am a massive fan of Colwill. I also expressed my concerns when we signed Fofana.
Fofana’s injury record since he joined us hasn’t allowed me to be certain of his abilities but from game to game so far this season he has given improved performances that have given me hope that my initial concerns were unfounded. I hope his latest injury does keep him out for to long.
I think we have a top class LB in Cucarella and that opinion is complete change from his early days at our club.
I think Gusto is more of a WB rather than a RB but he is young and his defensive frailties can be worked on. Strangely a mate told me that Utd are keen on signing him.
Tosin has looked solid from what I have seen but BB is very inconsistent. Veiga looks to have a it of class and he can play in several positions.
The big call for me is James. I think pre his injury issues he was the best defensive RB in Europe and yes that is a biased opinion. The question is how long will these fitness issues last? If he stays fit he plays. Or maybe he is sold to RM.
10 Dec 2024 18:04:22
Thanks for the write-up, Ed. I appreciate it a lot.
Have a nice day! :)
{Ed001's Note - cheers Emil, you too mate.}