25 Sep 2026 10:23:45
ED01, what do you think is our issue in conceding all these goals?
{Ed001's Note - lack of cohesion as a unit. Fofana is a big part of the problem, he has the brain of a chicken after its head is cut off, just running here, there and everywhere. But the biggest issue is trying to play defence with only half a team. You have Palmer and Morgan just strolling about off the ball. They need to help more. What you can get away with in some other leagues is not possible in England. As Colwill finds his form again, I expect your defence to tighten up, as he is in there as the leader and he will control the line. But the midfield has to help.
It would certainly help if Alonso stopped picking full-backs in there and played midfielders who will think about the centre first. Full-backs are useful for covering in behind when the wing-backs get forward, which is helpful, but they will tend to get dragged out easily, so if you are going to play that way, you have to have the front three dropping in to help out in the centre.
What you end up with is a big gaping hole in the midfield for players to run through, which draws out a centre-back to try and plug it, which then leaves a gap behind. So players end up running round trying to fill that gap and so on. If you look at the most solid defences, they hold their shape, the players all work together one dropping in if another is pulled out of position etc. That can't happen at Chelsea with you already stretched thin because Palmer and Morgan are not helping out.
It then becomes a case of risk/reward. Are the risks of conceding goals greater than the reward of them scoring them? To me it seems the risk is too high, but it can bring great rewards if you can frighten enough opponents of their threat.}
25 Sep 2026 14:40:07
thankyou so much ED01 for your insight.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate. I am sure it will be tweaked gradually to try and get balance. I don't think Alonso is the type to just go gung ho every week.}
25 Sep 2026 17:20:06
Thanks Ed001 persuasively put as usual.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate.}