📌 Azpilicueta is hands down Tuchel's trusted man. He can play at RWB/RCB. He's the engine and Chelsea's skipper
For £6.0m you get a consistent starter in Azpi. He's attacking threat isn't the most glamorous and doesn't have much upside
Patient build up play. He can get you a few attacking returns since he does like to push high at times at RWB. I believe it's opposition based
Azpilicueta / James link up play down the right flank could be a key factor this season
During the early stages last season Azpi's role was pivotal in attack. He'd push forward at times from RCB also creating overloads on the flank
📌 Rudiger has established himself as Chelsea's frontrunner for the LCB slot. Kurt Zouma has left to West Ham which leaves that slot his to lose
He would be my third choice pick if I was on a WC since Reece James is the same price. I'd be more inclined to spend that on him
This is the 3 that I feel will play majority of games in the centre-back department
Of course they'll be rotation but bar any injuries/covid I don't see them losing their places
📌 James is suspended for GW 4 but if I was on a WC I'd definitely consider bringing him in and benching him. It might be an unpopular decision but I fully believe he'll be the best Chelsea defender to own this season
You could get ahead of the curve with this move
📌 AC has been tremendous for Chelsea. He's started the first (3) games of the season whilst playing all (3) games for Denmark during the IB
Their is competion for the CB slot with T.Silva however, I can see Tuchel rotating Silva for the UCL games. AC should be the glue at CB
🚨 Breaking News 🚨
Thiago Silva is set to miss the Villa game this weekend. This should mean Christensen starts at CB again. £5.0m gets you the Danish Maldini
📌 Chilwell had the 5th most minutes under Tuchel in the PL for defenders since his arrival. Alonso has started like a house on fire & has the form over the Englishman
I do however see Chilly back in the starting 11 this weekend or midweek
Chilwell can be a menace for any opposition. Loves to attack the width and get into the box
🎙️This is what Tuchel had to say regarding the Alonso/Chilwell situation
This would give me confidence we'll be seeing Ben Chilwell extremely soon
Chilwell won the defensive aspect whilst Alonso won the attacking threat column
A quick mention for Trevor Chalobah who seems to be breaking in under Tuchel
He's certainly the least nailed imo but he is one to watch out for as the season progresses
📌 In conclusion I personally believe a Chelsea defender on the WC is close to being essential. Chelsea's underlying data under Tuchel is one of the best in Europe
I'd look to invest in their backline now before the majority do in GW 7. (All views & opinions are my own)
A great article with Andreas Christensen. He talks about the faith and belief Tuchel has in him 👇 si.com/soccer/chelsea…
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Dominic Solanke to Tottenham just makes sense. Let me explain why.
1.) Ange Postecoglou teams are notoriously known for their high intensity & aggressive pressing. Solanke had the most pressures from a ST/CF last season due to Andoni Iraola's front-footed style of play.
🧵cont
Bournemouth were one of the best teams for ‘direct attacks’ last season.
Solanke would fit in like a glove under Ange Postecoglou. He fits the stylistic approach of Tottenham and what the manager wants in a forward. He has the experience of working under Andoni Iraola.
What Solanke offers off-the-ball is influential beyond the opposition's box. He applies pressure and can win the ball high up the pitch, he leads the line well, he knows how to position himself to defend from the front and his work rate is exceptional.
A deep dive into every Chelsea asset for the 23/24 season. My final thoughts before the Friday deadline. #FPL
[🧵] Thread
I really like our fixture run for the first 8 weeks. Back to back (H) games against Luton and Forest should ignite a lot of transfers especially if we see certain options emerging in the first two weeks.
Jackson's stellar pre-season isn't a secret. In this rejuvenated Pochettino system, he fits in like a duck to water. I'm predicting the bandwagon will start by GW 3.
Saïd Benrahma (£5.5m) has caught my eye in recent games 🇩🇿
In this passage of play, he gets time and space to recieve the pass. He scans, controls, and threads a through ball to Antonio whose 1v1 vs DDG.
Benrahma drifts towards the vacated space in the box . The left channel and LHS is where he's a major threat to defences. He's a superb ball-striker which often goes under the radar.
He scores a beautiful goal against United finessing his shot in the top bin.
Cresswell provides the overlap confusing the defender on whether he should track him or shut Benrahma down.
Benrahma has a few seconds and cuts inside on his preferred right foot and has a pop at goal.
I'm considering Haaland ➡️ Havertz for BGW 28, so I looked at some of his recent games. 🇩🇪
Sterling/Havertz have been rotating positions against different opposition. There's much more volume of vertical passes being made under Potter
The role Havertz plays is always an intriguing one. In this scenario he drops deep into the RHS, has a lot of time/space and opens up the defence with a superb through ball to Chilwell.
I've been crying out for Potter to utilize the WB system. It makes such a difference when Chilwell/James are stretching play/overloading the full width of the pitch.
La Pausa - Spanish for "The Pause", this trait is extremely useful. There's a sudden change in tempo that opens up new spaces. La Pausa is the ability to temporarily pause a player —— slowing down the game by attracting a defender and inducing them to move towards the ball.
After a defender has been lured, the player in possession accelerates play quickly and changes rythym with passes, dribbling or movement in a direction that takes advantage of the fact that the defender has moved closer to them, exploiting the vacant space left behind.