Chelsea’s next goal in the Premier League will be our 50th this season, and if that sounds a lot, it’s because it is. In fact, Chelsea has only hit that mark once since 1997 (we’re not talking about that season, and with good reason).
Despite that, Chelsea still has a good chance of finishing in the top four to meet this season’s expectations, and that’s probably a minor miracle. We have conceded over 50 goals five times since the start of the Premier League, finishing 11, 14, 11, 6, and 10. Granting that many goals simply do not lead to success, especially in the modern era.
Regardless of how this season turns out, defensive issues have to be resolved so that we can really begin to bridge the gap with elite teams. Fortunately, head coach Frank Lampard claims not only to be aware of these issues, possibly having heard accusations to the contrary, but also to have an idea, or at least a … feeling? … on how to fix them.
“There is a way I want us to play and it is not enthusiastic, it is not crazy, many of the goals (we recognize) are the balls that enter our box that perhaps we do not defend at that time.” . That is something that needs improvement and I think I know the answers.
“Some of that is work and that is something we will see and it is part of the process we are in. I don’t like it, I hate to set goals, but we have to work harder on it.”
Obviously, Lampard is not expected to present a detailed plan at a press conference, making it easy to speak generally. But hopefully you really do have some kind of plan, and not just the whole “work harder” routine. This is not a problem that can be addressed by brute force alone or by testing each combination. We need some kind of key to solve this crypto in our life.
“I don’t want the players to think that they will be out of the team if they make a mistake, so there is a balance in that.” But clearly we have not found that association in that area in which I have settled and that is something we are striving for. ”
-Frank Lampard; Source: Telegraph
And if none of our current combinations works, we need to break things down and start again.
Perhaps Chelsea’s biggest problem is not deciding on a central match with defined roles. 7 different combinations in all competitions (6 if we eliminate the beginnings of Guehi). Switching CBs back and forth is also a bit confusing. pic.twitter.com/6zDp87KHty
– Tweeds (@joeTweedie) July 12, 2020
