By all accounts, or nearly all of them, Antonio Conte will arrive at Stamford Bridge next season. Reports are loud, in the main favourable, and straight out of the mouths of those that matter, from the sparsely-numbered in-the-know pundits to a whole host of respected players who have worked under him in the past and are now queuing up to sing his praises. There is, indeed, an ever-growing feeling that the Italian is on his way to Chelsea, riding in on an ever-growing tide of glowing references. And yet the club remains silent, no official word is spoken, no hint is given. Except one. On a wingback and a pray, the Under-18s have started to play 3-5-2 in the FA Youth Cup, the acknowledged trademark formation of Conte and his Juve title-winning team, the system for which he is famed for using from that day to this. 

 

Whether by Italian pre-emptive design or by coincidental Edwards/Morris decree (who can tell with any certainty?) this sudden formation change has seemingly come out of a clear Blues sky, with last Friday’s FA Youth Cup quarter final victory against Reading the latest indication of the sea change that might follow in the wake of Conte’s future managerial guidance, running like a river through the rest of the Development Squads and on into first team planning next season. Of course, cynics might say that this is all wishful thinking on my part, with Joe Edwards and Jody Morris simply striking it lucky system-wise on their way to yet another Youth Cup final. But in truth it has to be something more than mere good fortune to single out a new formation mid-term for just one Academy team in just one competition, as the following comparison between the latest performance against Reading and the Under-18s earlier defeat against them in the league shows…

 

Back in January, having just played a 3-4-2-1 in a 1-1 draw away to Swansea, the Under-18s went to Reading and reverted to a traditional back four, the official website giving no explanation as to why on their match report page, which normally shows the formation above the team sheet at the end and always includes a discussion on it within the content. Curiously, there was no such header or discussion, no 3-5-2 formation used, nor were Jay Dasilva, Jake Clarke-Salter, Kyle Scott or Tammy Abraham in the side, all of whom were soon to be integral cogs in this new machine. In fact, we went into this particular game with Ike Ugbo as a lone striker and created very little in a second half that saw Reading park the proverbial bus with stifling success. No wonder they came to the Bridge for the FA Youth Cup clash full of expectation, only to be bitterly disappointed after meeting the full force of a customised system featuring the above named quartet and described by the official website thus:-  

 

“Abraham was chosen to lead the line, while Trevoh Chalobah, Fikayo Tomori and Jake Clarke-Salter continued in defence. Mukhtar Ali and Ruben Sammut started at the base of central midfield with Kyle Scott and Isaac Christie-Davies operating as number tens. Dasilva and Charlie Wakefield operated at left wing-back and right wing-back respectively.”

 

To be honest, it is tempting, if a little presumptuous, to compare a lot of these contemporaries with Conte’s Juve title winners. Okay, I know I shouldn’t do it for fear of over-hyping many of them, but we’re all aware from bitter experience that these kids are unlikely to be given the chance to live up to any of it in a Chelsea shirt anyway, so I’m nevertheless going to go ahead, albeit somewhat self-indulgently. Starting with Kyle Scott, who played the Pirlo role for over an hour, seamlessly dictating play with quick incisive passing, always trying to keep the pace up and the movement going forward rather than sideways. Admittedly, his substitution after seventy minutes is becoming a bit of an irritating habit, but in this instance he had just started the attack that gave us a 2-0 lead and the opportunity was taken to bring on the more prolific Jacob Maddox, presumably to put the game out of Reading's reach..

 

Turning to the back three, Chalobah and Clarke-Salter expertly patrolled the wider areas [that are so often exploited] in a way that Chiellini himself would have been proud of and Tomori dominated in the centre, each one confident enough on the ball to go forward himself when Scott was heavily marked in midfield. In the wing back roles Dasilva and Wakefield performed as they had done in previous rounds and are fast-becoming seasoned campaigners, Dasilva opening the scoring with a tap in after being the furthest forward player on the park! In the second half Wakefield was replaced by Under-16 schoolboy(!) Dujon Sterling who belied his years and looked to be yet another fantastic player in the making - we can but hope it eventually turns out to be for us, under Conte‘s tutelage. 

 

Only up front was any sort of concession made, with Abraham played as a lone striker rather than in partnership with Ugbo. In terms of result, the effect was minimal, but the final 2-1 scoreline was not reflective of our dominance, nor did it bear testament to previous performances using this formation, tinkered-with or otherwise, and for those of you who are unaware of the youth team’s results since starting to play this way, here they are in all their glory:-

 

Third Round (home) v Hudderfield Town (3-4-2-1) 6-1

Fourth Round (away) v Manchester United (3-5-2) 1-5

Fifth Round (away) v AFC Wimbledon (3-5-2) 1-4

Sixth Round (home) v Reading (3-4-2-1) 2-1

 

Impressive as these stats are, the real proof of any successful experimentation, or pioneering exercise on behalf of an incoming coach, can only be gauged against stiffer opposition, which will come in the two-legged semi-final versus Blackburn and then a final, in all probability against Man City. Meanwhile, the club continues to remain mute on managerial matters, leaving Guus to cope with everything in his own inimitable, diplomatic style. And naturally, any subtle change in Development Squad style (formation, system, call it what you will) is of no long term concern to him - all that matters is dealing with the here and now in a first team squad prior to its inevitable close season overhaul. Not that this stops him dropping the odd veiled hint or two as to future thinking on this front, such as this observation on Kenedy’s performance at the weekend…  

 

“He did well. I like healthy competition among the players. Kenedy is a winger and I like to have wingers in defensive positions but we'll see how he does when he has a real winger against him, it might be a little bit different. I was critical of him and I saw in the last weeks a big effort in training. I observe what they do in training, especially the young guys, whether they have this eye on their very near future. He picked it up and in the last 14 days he was training very intensely and seriously.”

 

Wingers as full backs, the younger guys in training, eyes on their very near future - food for thought, or merely wishful thinking? It wont be long before we all find out.

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Edited February 29, 20169 yr by Dorset

Were does the notion that Conte favours the 3-5-2 come from? He utilized a ton of different formations at Juve, hes not going to start forcing it upon a squad clearly not suited for it. Likewise Edwards/Morris arent preparing the the youngsters for a change in philosophy, thay are simply trying to get the best out of their current crop of players

Remembered this excellent post from a couple of weeks back and thought it might be worth nothing that the under-21s played 352 last night too. First time I've seen them doing so and Matt Miazga was involved for the first time, playing as the right-centreback.

Remembered this excellent post from a couple of weeks back and thought it might be worth nothing that the under-21s played 352 last night too. First time I've seen them doing so and Matt Miazga was involved for the first time, playing as the right-centreback.

Only caught about 15 mins of it, but it will be a real shame if we lose ola aina on a free in the summer, he always seems to impress when I've seen him.

Only caught about 15 mins of it, but it will be a real shame if we lose ola aina on a free in the summer, he always seems to impress when I've seen him.

 

Definitely. Remember when he was 15/16 playing right-back for the under-18s and it was clear to see he was a top talent. If he does go then he becomes the first Academy player in the Abramovich-era to willingly leave at such a young age. That would be a shocking indictment of the club's development of youngsters.

 

Personally I'd give the lad first-team minutes between now and the end of the season, not least because he's probably earned them.

I have my doubts about the viability of 3/5 man defences in an age where most teams play with one centre forward