Pz.

Rudiments on player analysis—Profile, tendencies, suitability and projection.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

No matter how you frame it, Chelsea strengthened Manchester City by selling Enzo Fernández to them.

Manchester City now has the best attack in the league, the second-best midfield, and a defense that is at least evenly matched with ours.

Meanwhile, Arsenal still has the best defense and now boasts the best midfield in the league.

We had enough opportunities this window to even the playing field in the middle—Locatelli, Camavinga, Alex Scott, even Chema Andrés. But we did nothing significant to shift the balance of power even slightly in our favor.

Our only real competitive edge right now is the attack + our schedule, and relying on those two factors over the course of an entire season is unsustainable.

I guess Chelsea will have to settle for a hard-fought 3rd-place finish after all, with Liverpool and Manchester United providing serious competition.

Anyways, good luck to Chelsea throughout the season.

I tried my best.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

@B03GHB4L1 Now that he’s playing with a competent anchor, I can finally watch him freely and give him his rightful accolades.

He’s one of the best midfielders in the world.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

You’d think Alonso had never coached a highly dominant system that won the Bundesliga, btw.

How many months has it been? And how many weeks has he actually had a full squad available to implement his ideas? Why does everyone suddenly lack the intellectual flexibility to account for context and allow things to develop?

Besides, when did you become like this?

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

Let this one go too man.

[EBL @EBL2017]

Lacroix struggles athletically in every game for Chelsea, even though they often spend so much time defending deep because of the flaws in the system.

People say I always overrate players, but what about my criticism of him before a ball was kicked?

Masses still yet to see it…

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

Never doubt me ever again either.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

Dudes will sit on their high horses, acting all knowledgeable, only to advocate for Chelsea to revert to a rigid, prescriptive structure that breeds spatial congestion over this beautiful, ultra-dynamic system that gives our attacking mavericks the freedom to thrive.

Preserve the intellectual free will bestowed upon you to remain flexible with your thought process. Stop letting EBL and other incompetent tacticos lie to you.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

Henderson is really just a mini Rice, with the physical and intellectual capacity to single-handedly anchor a midfield.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

Great minds think through the same lenses.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

Never doubt me ever again either.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

I told you not to doubt Jordan Henderson.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

Great minds think through the same lenses.

[Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC]

Your Blues to face Bournemouth this afternoon! 👊

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

The intentions are the same as everyone else’s, with a slight tweak to improve defensive solidity and free up space for our mavericks on the last line, allowing us to facilitate more direct attacks.

Besides, hardly anyone plays with three CMs in this system apart from PSG, so what exactly is the fuss about?

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

@imzispoms That is not ridiculous to say.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

This isn’t 2008, when Pep was just breaking into elite coaching and these ideas were still relatively novel. The game has evolved.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

People genuinely still believe formations and shapes are what decide matches in modern football. Ridiculous.

Teams are so tactically well-equipped these days that the marginal impact of formations alone is nowhere near what people make it out to be.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

@KAse11089 It’s unnecessary.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

Just let it go man.

[EBL @EBL2017]

Let’s see if Xabi Alonso has been working on the back 4 over the 3-week international break… 💭

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

@EndgameMaverick sure

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

@EndgameMaverick Had to detach for a bit seeing the state of this space during the break. What’s good

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

It’s such a crude & simplistic way to look at the game. Shapes/formations does nothing significant to impact results. It’s structure, intentions and most importantly player qualities that does.

Besides, the 3 atb is the best use of the squad to avoid potential overcrowding/spacing issues.

[Pz. @Newsheriff_]

This international break was probably the worst I’ve ever experienced on here.

The level of degeneracy peaked at such a despicable height that I genuinely didn’t know this place could ever sink this low.

Hopefully, we can find a way to extinguish this sudden uprising as soon as possible before it spreads any further and infects more people.