For the last 5 games all post match comments by Management were about us creating chances and not taking them. Not one explanation was given as to why that's now happening. But obviously, apart from Palmer, none of the other attackers are scoring enough goals to keep our winning run going. Why is that when we were scoring for fun ?? I think it's as a direct result of changing the way our right and left backs play. No more bombing down the sides, linking up with midfielders or especially the front 2 wide players, Madueke , Neto, Sancho or Felix, whoever is playing. All four of those players plus Gusto have had a dip in form. Only Cucurella has really taken to coming inside. So opposing teams are no longer as threatened from wide out ,and just clog up the goalmouth and watch 90% of our shots bounce off their legs or bodies. Todays goal by Palmer came from a clean pass through the middle by Jackson who escaped 3 opposing mids and made a great pass to Palmer, the first and only one I saw all game from anyone. With Caseido playing out of position too, our mid field was weakened and open to Bournemouth. Just a thought. Can these players adapt or do we need ones' who can play Marescas' system better?? Buggered if I know.
I think the warnings of Leicester fans are coming to bear fruit. He doesn't really seem to have much in the way of a plan B and his subs are far too late. Maybe we're missing a decent defender and that's why we've recalled Chalobah?
Well I think that was the case even when we were winning. I have to agree with CP's assessment, it does seem that this fullback issue is what is nullifying our attack. As harsh as this may sound, especially since he grabbed the equaliser in this game, I dont think James is up to playing the way Maresca wants, and even if he was, there is only a small countdown until his next injury. Our wide play needs work, everything is going through Palmer and Jackson in the middle and like CP said, as long as defending teams clog up the middle, our players will just keep running into brick walls.
I agree about Reece James, his great forward runs are his mainstay and as with Malo Gusto and Chilwell some time back, the front players would get passes to run onto. Now the front wides are often static or even facing the wrong way, and just pass it backwards. I just think that Maresca might allow his L& R backs occasionally to let rip and inject some pace out wide. That is their instinct. Cuccurella can do both wide and inside. Trevoh Chalobah should NEVER have been loaned out, he was always better than Fofana in a Chelsea shirt. Badashielle and Disasi have not worked out and now need to be sold, bad for them and us. With Colwill, Trevoh and Fofana all fit, we will have real talent in defence and all 3 can play as well. My hope is that when we FINALLY sort out our squad, that Maresca can use the natural skills available to him to adapt a decent Plan B, and use his subs to change things around, not just like for like for the last 5 minutes. Still very positive with the progress, just fine tune things, and keep playing the youngsters he is using. Hope that history isn't repeating itself with Maresca. His last team almost squandered a huge lead and he was unable to stop the slide and they fell over the line. With Chelsea though, he has money in the bank for getting us to where he has. Now he really has to prove he's not just a one trick pony. Hope he does. PS. He has to use Palmer a bit less, the kid will get injured soon from being overplayed.
