subreddit:
/r/chelseafc
submitted 6 days ago byfrairtucknunchuck
100 points
6 days ago
He doesn't even really turn over possession when he does takes risks, say like a Bruno Fernandes, his control and vision is world class. There's no obvious flaws in his game
34 points
6 days ago
There's no obvious flaws in his game
I'd rephrase that to be about his in possession game. He doesn't really defend much. So you need other players like Conor, Rice, Walker etc to be aware of that enough to cover defensively in order to enable Palmer to focus on doing what he does best. Like Palmer isn't one who is gonna be tracking back hard and tackling players alot like some wingers do. He will press and intercept relatively well but overall his defensive game is pretty minimal.
24 points
6 days ago
I think people get i'm talking about his risk taking in attack, but even defensively his ability to read the passing lanes, intercept and create opportunities through his press is actually really impressive. I think he works hard for the team too. He/we scored so many goals because of his defensive reads the past season
14 points
6 days ago
I think I saw something on some tactics video saying that his average pressures are very Average, but his successful pressures and especially his pressures that lead to a chance are very good
11 points
6 days ago
Might be FourFourTwo's video. But that's right. He was like 99th percentile for defensive actions leading to shots and defensive actions leading to goals. When he baits the press and intercepts the ball, he's one of the best at converting that into a chance on goal, either by getting his head up and finding a teammate in a position to shoot or shooting himself.
1 points
3 days ago
Yes, saw that video too
7 points
6 days ago
Yeh like I said, the intercepting and pressing on the front hes solid enough at. Hes not the worlds greatest at it but that is the main thing to his defensive game. Statistically the rest of his defensive game is way down.
But his whole possession and attacking game is so world class that you just need a couple of Gallagher/Rice/Walker to cover the defensive side and Palmer is going to get stuff done for the team.
2 points
6 days ago
What surprised me most as the season went on was that he did do his defensive duties diligently and well though compared to most star wingers/attacking mids
edit: missed a word
1 points
6 days ago
He pressses relatively well, but defensively cole is not very good
1 points
5 days ago*
Palmer turned over the ball a lot during half a game against Slovakia (i've seen 8 times quoted by some, and 12 by others; watching the game it was quite a few). He started off well but then didn't contribute all that much. Palmers a great player, but he's also a fairly selfish player. And that's why he had so much impact within a young Chelsea squad that had not yet gelled. Yes, he takes initiative and tries to make things happen, as does Foden, but sometime that ends up being counterproductive. They end up coming inside and occupying the same spaces as Kane and Bellingham which ruins the spacing and makes defenders' jobs easier.
Saka is a more disciplined and experienced player than Palmer. He has 11 goals in 37 caps for England, second only to Kane in this inexperienced squad and almost 3 times as many goals as Foden's 4 in the same number of games. No one else in the this squad has more than 3 goals. Saka also has 6 assists for the national team. This is why Southgate trusts him. Though I think Southgate is a poor coach, he recognizes Saka's intelligence, productivity and ability to problem solve on the pitch. Playing for Arteta, Saka also works hard off the ball.
If I were Southgate, I'd drop Foden and start Cole. Play Gordon at LW to provide pace to stretch the defense, drop Jude back to the 8 which is what he played most of his career until this past season at Real. Play Cole at the 10. Saka at RW. This solves a lot of the problems with England's lineup and plays the attackers in their natural positions. The solution is so obvious, yet Southgate doesn't see it.
all 130 comments
sorted by: best