Twister

Off you pop, nothing to see here.

[Twister @CFC_TWISTER]

@thepitchpuzzle Hmmm i think you are up to something 🤔

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

Adam Wharton: A Necessity Or A Luxury?

Football is a game of complementary profiles, like a puzzle; each piece should complement the other in order for you to make sense of the overall picture.

Chelsea fans have understandably fallen in love with Wharton, but signing him would be akin to buying the same car you already have in your garage. When you strip away the names and focus purely on the what they do on the pitch, Wharton and Barco share far more similarities than many realise. Both thrive as central midfielders whose main strengths lie in progressing passing and creating chances from deeper areas with the occasional box crashing.

The logical question now is: should Chelsea invest heavily in another player with the same profile, or target a midfielder who brings qualities the squad currently lacks?

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

Pep Chavarria: A Smart Bargain, or a Nothing Player?

Chelsea's interest in Pep Chavarría has sparked mixed reactions among supporters including me. On one hand, he lacks the profile, reputation and excitement usually associated with a Chelsea signing. On the other, successful teams are not built solely on stars and big names. Sometimes the important additions are the players who quietly fill tactical gaps and make the system function better.

Pep Chavarría would be an addition for Chelsea. He brings defensive reliability, intensity, athleticism and and at 28, he comes with a degree of experience and maturity as well to Chelsea’s young dressing room making him a dependable option both as a traditional left-back and as a wing-back.

Although he has played predominantly as a LB, he does possess certain traits that makes Alonso believe he can also cover WB role should it be demanded.

He’s does share certain similarities with Marc Cucurella in the fact that he’s a very aggressive front footed defender who loves to get tight to his opponents, a complete nuisance as well. The difference between them is in the attacking phase where Pep is a better carrier and crosser of the ball (although his present output hardly reflects this).

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

During my Uni days, I remember a lecturer who took Psychology of Human Behavior used to tell us that one of the hardest things for a human being to do is admit when they were in the wrong. More often than not you’d have to force it out and in cases where you couldn’t you’d continue to go in circles.

Maresca fanboys are still out here grabbing on to every strawman and ad hominem they can hold on to defend their beloved. It’s much easier to continue arguing than to swallow that saliva and just say “You know what, I was wrong”.

Listen, Maresca could have gone down as one of Chelsea’s fanbase favourite managers - I mean, he won two trophies here, all he had to do was leave honorably. There was nothing stopping him from completing his season and resigning or even informing the club that he’d leave at the end of the season.

I absolutely hate BlueCo, but I can never hate them more than I love Chelsea. Whenever Chelsea wins it’s not recorded as a BlueCo win, and same for when we lose. I’m not going to be out here waxing lyricals for a man (and certain players) who completely undermined the club.

Hopefully this is the last I’ll have the displeasure of speaking about Maresca. Alonso is here now and it’s time to look forward.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

At the moment, after Morgan Rogers, there’s no direct plug and play option for the LW/10 position in the market currently except youngsters.

Two things will happen, we’d either leave the position blank and reassess next summer or we take a punt at another youngster.

If we must get a youngster then it must be the highest rated youngsters:

- Ibrahim Maza
- Mika Godts
- Johann Manzambi

The reality is that we’re currently in a position where compromise may be unavoidable. The elite, ready made profiles are either unavailable, too expensive and simply don’t exist in large numbers anymore.

If Chelsea decide to invest now, it should be in a player with genuine top level upside rather than a stopgap signing. In that scenario, backing a high-ceiling talent like Maza or Godts makes sense.

What do you think…..

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

After that Xhaka request, I’ve been thinking and rethinking; the popular consensus is that Xabi wants to play a back three with wingbacks, but i don’t think so.

I think he’s going to use a structure similar to Pochettino preseason 3-2-5 and Maresca’s 3-2-5 as well- without the rigid inversion of course.

I’m tempted to believe we might see a 4-3-3 at the bridge next season.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

Even after the settlement Enzo Maresca fanboys still believe BlueCo chased and frustrated him out of the club😂

It’s incredibly funny that at a point during last season, this team was joint top of the table. Somehow everything went downhill and they blame every single soul except the coach; he’s a saint, he did nothing.

When he wins it’s because he’s a genius, when he loses it’s because of BlueCo 😂😂

[Twister @CFC_TWISTER]

@thepitchpuzzle Maresca fanboys won’t like this one😂

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

Nmecha and Gonzalez for me are two names that instantly raises both physical and technical security of this team, especially Nmecha.

In Nmecha you have an elite all phase midfielder capable of contributing in both boxes.

Elite carrier, nimble footed and an eye for goal too.

On the flanks, we need to be smart. Barcola is the dream but Abde is a very similar option for around half the price too.

I wouldn’t mind James playing a high flying role once a week. We could manage him the way PSG manage Dembele.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

Chelsea fans don’t want to hear it but Deeney is right.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

A grown man with beards and hairs on his chest believes Chelsea will plant a snitch to spy on *checks note* a manager appointed by Chelsea 🤣🤣🤣

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

If we get Woltermade, then I can live with selling Jackson.

JP, Woltermade and Emegha is such a good ST depth.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

I know comps are supposed to make every player look good, but when you pay attention to specific actions you’ll find out if a talent is scalable or not.

Emegha’s rep is at an all time low rn, but look at the variety of finishes here (a far from finished product btw):

Round the keeper
Dinks
Tap ins
Headers….

Most especially the tap ins and headers; the ability to get blind side of defenders and be a nuisance in the box is a very scalable trait for a striker. We have a team full of ball to feet players and Emegha mostly wants to play off the shoulder of the defender (even when his hold up play is decent), we have capable passers and crossers in this team. Emegha who stands at 6’5” will be a towering presence in the box, useful against stubborn low blocks. I don’t see how this particular player doesn’t compliment what we already have in the squad. And of course he’s not coming in to be the main guy, but a different profile to what we have upfront. This is who Delap was supposed to be.

The only issue rn is making sure he maintains his fitness, I don’t see this move failing.

🎥 - @CFC_Nathan

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

What Emegha did yesterday, regardless of the noise is proper captain stuff. I prefer my captain putting himself on the line and not shying away from confrontations.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

They had better convince him.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

2nd CF imo.

Delap has had his chance, should go on loan or be sold.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

MLS is a player I’ll take in a heartbeat if Arsenal ever wanted to sell.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

It’s easy to blame Liam for Chelsea’s slump, but tbf the guys playing are to be blamed as well.

Downing tools because “I don’t like the manager” meanwhile you’re just shooting yourselves in the foot.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

Neto is available, just for you.

[The Pitch Puzzle @thepitchpuzzle]

Has a signing ever been so glaring for Chelsea?