Donnie

✍️ There's a big difference between how we move the ball under Maresca and under Rosenior. Maresca used more of the wingers — the second phase receiver always find the winger, while Rosenior prefers central progression and combinations in attack. Wide progression is a lot safer. If a winger loses the ball, a midfielder can cover and the line also serves as an extra defender. It's easier to box a player at the line and minimise danger. Central progression is whole different story. The most dangerous of them all. One misplaced pass and your defenders will start praying for divine intervention. It's not impossible, Barcelona do this very well. But for that to work, every central midfielder must be a counter-pressing junky and very comfortable in possession of the ball. The reaction time is also extremely important not just any kind of reaction but the trigger must happen in quickest possible time, as soon as the ball is lost. You basically need specific kind of players to do it at a very high level. That's where Rosenior is having issues. He can't find the right balance but he insists on playing through the middle. Imagine this Chelsea squad playing Hansi Flick's highline... that will be prime circus show. For central progression, pressure on the ball isn't a choice but a most. If you don't have the leg, forget it and play safe. There is a reason why we have been outrun by every opponent in the Premier League this season. It's down to the profile of our squad, especially the starters. For me, if we must do that, we have to sacrifice one of Enzo or Palmer in central midfield. Or move Palmer to the wing. I will go with Lavia - Caicedo/Essugo at the base and Enzo/Palmer and Caicedo/Santos in front of them. A lot of combinations here will work but three out of the four box midfielders must be defensive minded players. That is the bare minimum. We don't have time to massage egos now, we need to find the right balance to stabilise the team and become difficult to break down and start winning games again.

watch and observe caicedo

🔵🇧🇷 6 goals, 1 assists in the last 5 games for Chelsea striker João Pedro. “I’d not swap him with anyone else”, Liam Rosenior said yesterday. 📈

The only regret I had till now, I no guide during my university days 😂😂

Only one club here has ever played in the conference league 😭