Quote

"Everyone wants to play as much as they can, but I'm willing to work as hard as I can to be on the pitch as much as possible," Gallagher said.

"There's world-class players in the squad and it's obviously a tough team to get into but I feel like if that challenge is there, I think I'd be a bit silly not to take it.

"With Chelsea being my club as well that I've supported, it's very exciting.

 

 

Edited July 15, 20224 yr by Amputechture

Read a bit of his latest interview on how he doesn't actually enjoy doing the whole transfer business role and wants to stick to coaching, but he's just doing it now because he has to.

I would've thought managers would love having the power to identify targets and buy exactly who they want but not in Tuchel's case.

Really looks like Boehly sacked Marina for her recent track record.

Dunno, ofc the Lukaku transfer is as bad as it can get and the previous transfers mostly didn't really work out at least the way they should but the squad overall won convincingly the CL and played a good role in the title race for half a season - while the downfall in the second half wasn't down to reasons directly regarding Marina. 

I think it's mostly two things (while latest transfers didn't help of course):

a) having a face up top that is directly and 100% linked to Roman means bad PR for a new owner. That's just how it is.

b) you'd want somebody in that is invested in the project / club long term and not on his/her way out. Somebody who can be held accountable.

 

As for TT, I don't think he's not interested to be involved at all. But there is a huge difference between being integrally involved in the whole process or discussing certain targets that are already filtered out - while also not having to think about a total budget and whatever else.

 

I really hope this season TT rebuilds fortress Stamford Bridge.

Used to be sides like Brentford, Bouremouth, Wolves, Everton etc woild come to the Bridge knowing they were beat before a ball was kicked, and us going in front just confirmed it for them.

More recently though it does not matter how sh*t you are we will encourage you over and over again.

Far from being a side no one wants to play, no body comes to the bridge in fear anymore. That needs to change.

On 16/07/2022 at 00:12, Drogba1 said:

Yes

Then Tuchel will surely see that in training

7 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I really hope this season TT rebuilds fortress Stamford Bridge.

Used to be sides like Brentford, Bouremouth, Wolves, Everton etc woild come to the Bridge knowing they were beat before a ball was kicked, and us going in front just confirmed it for them.

More recently though it does not matter how sh*t you are we will encourage you over and over again.

Far from being a side no one wants to play, no body comes to the bridge in fear anymore. That needs to change.

I come in fear of the toilet queues 

Lately, every team knew it could get at least a point at the Bridge, even three, with a bit of pushing on until the final seconds. Ugh. 

7 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I really hope this season TT rebuilds fortress Stamford Bridge.

Used to be sides like Brentford, Bouremouth, Wolves, Everton etc woild come to the Bridge knowing they were beat before a ball was kicked, and us going in front just confirmed it for them.

More recently though it does not matter how sh*t you are we will encourage you over and over again.

Far from being a side no one wants to play, no body comes to the bridge in fear anymore. That needs to change.

As long as we keep playing this aweful side ways, backwards sh*t it won't change.

So, I know that it’s just one friendly and can’t draw many conclusions from it, but wouldn’t it have been better to try 433 and see how it works than insist in 343? Is Tuchel not going to move to a back 4 this season? We’ve probably got now the players in midfield to at least try it. What o you guys think?

50 minutes ago, RMH said:

So, I know that it’s just one friendly and can’t draw many conclusions from it, but wouldn’t it have been better to try 433 and see how it works than insist in 343? Is Tuchel not going to move to a back 4 this season? We’ve probably got now the players in midfield to at least try it. What o you guys think?

Fans have been banging on about that since the previous preseason but he is too stubborn. Guess if you stick 5 defenders behind the ball, your limitations as a coach won’t be exposed.

32 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Fans have been banging on about that since the previous preseason but he is too stubborn. Guess if you stick 5 defenders behind the ball, your limitations as a coach won’t be exposed.

I really like Thomas,but if we keep up this season with the dross play we saw last I will very quickly go of him.

Without a proper DM and Thiago still in the mix I recon we won't see a 433 on a regular basis.

32 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Fans have been banging on about that since the previous preseason but he is too stubborn. Guess if you stick 5 defenders behind the ball, your limitations as a coach won’t be exposed.

He beat the best in England and Spain with a back five in his first season, nearly did it again in his second season, consolidated 3rd place in the league in a truly extraordinary season off the pitch, and yet fans always know better.

 

35 minutes ago, weetee said:

Without a proper DM and Thiago still in the mix I recon we won't see a 433 on a regular basis.

I don’t agree now with Gallagher back. We’ve got a strong midfield if we play Gallagher, Kova/Kante/Mount, for example. We can play also Ampadu as a DM. We also have Koulibaly and I don’t think Silva would disappoint in a back 4, he’s got the positioning intelligence and can be fast as showed las season in a few occasions sprinting to save the ball going in.

I mean, I don’t mind a back 5 if we played all the time like we did against Madrid, but mostly we get dross against the likes of Brentford, Leeds or Arsenal.

41 minutes ago, RMH said:

I don’t agree now with Gallagher back. We’ve got a strong midfield if we play Gallagher, Kova/Kante/Mount, for example. We can play also Ampadu as a DM. We also have Koulibaly and I don’t think Silva would disappoint in a back 4, he’s got the positioning intelligence and can be fast as showed las season in a few occasions sprinting to save the ball going in.

I mean, I don’t mind a back 5 if we played all the time like we did against Madrid, but mostly we get dross against the likes of Brentford, Leeds or Arsenal.

Who's playing in front of our back four then / #6 ? Gallagher certainly not. Mount certainly not. Kova? Nope. Even Jorgi, who'd be the best fit in theory isn't up to it imho, not with Thiago for me as that combo just lacks a minimum of speed. Thiago is fine if he's got to do the occasional sprint / tackle if one of the other two CBs are overrun - but I doubt we want to see him doing that within a high line every other minute. He'd also be totally burned out after a couple of matches if he's got a lot more sprinting to do.

Ampadu I don't know about but I doubt we're building our complete system around a player that occasionally played that position with 21yo and 2100mins PL football under his belt. Just don't see it happening.

Our problem last season wasn't the back four (lack of) or back five (dross). But that we didn't have good back ups for our wingbacks who missed a lot of games and are integral part for us creating chances.

Edited July 17, 20224 yr by weetee

Just now, weetee said:

Who's playing in front of our back four then / #6 ? Gallagher certainly not. Mount certainly not. Kova? Nope. Even Jorgi, who'd be the best fit in theory isn't up to it imho, not with Thiago for me as that combo just lacks a minimum of speed. Thiago is fine if he's got to do the occasional sprint / tackle if one of the other two CBs are overrun - but I doubt we want to see him doing that within a high line every other minute. He'd also be totally burned out after a couple of matches if he's got a lot more sprinting to do.

Ampadu I don't know about but I doubt we're building our complete system around a player that occasionally played that position with 21yo and 2100mins PL football. Just don't see it happening.

Our problem last season wasn't the back four (lack of) or back five (dross). But that we didn't have good back ups for our wingbacks who missed a lot of games and are integral part for us creating chances.

I’d play probably Kova, but would try Ampadu that has played recently there for Wales. With a midfield three of Gallagher, Kova and Mount, we have enough energy, and throw Ampadu into the mix and we have a potential DM, to use against lower teams playing a low block. We might need to play Jorgi against top teams, I agree then a back 5, but against the low block teams we need more firing power up front and need to play a back 4 and we’ll win the midfield with Gallagher, Kova and Mount. Rotate Colwill and Chalobah to give Silva an Koulibaly (I don’t know if he’s a beast physically or will need rotating).

12 minutes ago, weetee said:

Who's playing in front of our back four then / #6 ? Gallagher certainly not. Mount certainly not. Kova? Nope. Even Jorgi, who'd be the best fit in theory isn't up to it imho, not with Thiago for me as that combo just lacks a minimum of speed. Thiago is fine if he's got to do the occasional sprint / tackle if one of the other two CBs are overrun - but I doubt we want to see him doing that within a high line every other minute. He'd also be totally burned out after a couple of matches if he's got a lot more sprinting to do.

Ampadu I don't know about but I doubt we're building our complete system around a player that occasionally played that position with 21yo and 2100mins PL football. Just don't see it happening.

Our problem last season wasn't the back four (lack of) or back five (dross). But that we didn't have good back ups for our wingbacks who missed a lot of games and are integral part for us creating chances.

I forgot to mention that I agree that we missed the wingbacks, but I also think that we struggled in many games against mid and low table teams that set up defensively. It showed our lack of creativity in midfield, which I think now will be fine with Gallagher, and we could not overload their box with attacking players as we lacked them. Someone showed a while ago a comparison between City’s and our playing style, and a massive difference was how City players get into the box while we just sit around it. That, I think, it’s down to Tuchel defensively minded style and needs to change, and a good start would be a back 4.

5 minutes ago, RMH said:

I’d play probably Kova, but would try Ampadu that has played recently there for Wales. With a midfield three of Gallagher, Kova and Mount, we have enough energy, and throw Ampadu into the mix and we have a potential DM, to use against lower teams playing a low block. We might need to play Jorgi against top teams, I agree then a back 5, but against the low block teams we need more firing power up front and need to play a back 4 and we’ll win the midfield with Gallagher, Kova and Mount. Rotate Colwill and Chalobah to give Silva an Koulibaly (I don’t know if he’s a beast physically or will need rotating).

Kova as a #6?

Haven't seen much of Gallagher defensively, he's 1,82m tall so not as short as Mount or Kova (or Kanté) but I doubt you'll win many headers there. And one  lost header + a speedy attacker against Thiago within a high line and we have a 1on1 against Mendy instantly. And that's exactly how a lot of mid-low level teams will play against us: sit very deep, force us to play a high line and overrun us. Also you need to factor in that James would have to play much more defensively / conservative. Will CHO compensate for our scorer that we will miss out due James not being in the box half as much? Doubt it.

I'm not saying that I don't want a more fluid system but I don't see it as long as Thiago plays an integral part (likely only this season) or we don't have somebody (elite) like Rice who can occasionally drop deep to form a back 3/5 or stay put as a #6. In case we sign Koundé or Kimpembe I can see it against certain teams with Thiago on the bench.

14 minutes ago, RMH said:

I forgot to mention that I agree that we missed the wingbacks, but I also think that we struggled in many games against mid and low table teams that set up defensively. It showed our lack of creativity in midfield, which I think now will be fine with Gallagher, and we could not overload their box with attacking players as we lacked them. Someone showed a while ago a comparison between City’s and our playing style, and a massive difference was how City players get into the box while we just sit around it. That, I think, it’s down to Tuchel defensively minded style and needs to change, and a good start would be a back 4.

We usually overload the box with James and Chilly - and that worked pretty well hence why I think we should be on the lookout for at least one sub that could play LWB/RWB to compensate at least if one of them can't play. Pulisic, CHO, Sarr all didn't work out - heck with Alonso out Emerson may be the best bet and that tells a lot.

Not sure we should try to emulate City as we won't have their overall elite attacking power - the raw personell makes a huge difference. And they also have Rodri which is imho the best #6 on the planet with Fernandinho / now Phillips as very good subs for that on top.

Edited July 17, 20224 yr by weetee

14 minutes ago, weetee said:

We usually overload the box with James and Chilly - and that worked pretty well hence why I think we should be on the lookout for at least one sub that could play LWB/RWB to compensate at least if one of them can't play. Pulisic, CHO, Sarr all didn't work out - heck with Alonso out Emerson may be the best bet and that tells a lot.

Not sure we should try to emulate City as we won't have their overall elite attacking power - the raw personell makes a huge difference. And they also have Rodri which is imho the best #6 on the planet with Fernandinho / now Phillips as very good subs for that on top.

I don’t think we overload the box. How many times we cross and there’s only one player inside the box? I think that will be changed with Sterling, who att@cos a lot the second post on crosses. I think Bob there did a good job showing our attacking woes. Not enough attacking minded players. And I don’t think we should try to emulate City, but it shows our attacking woes.

Not sure what to say, we don't disagree here but as I said, City have a real DM - in fact the best in the world - even with like to like back-ups while we have none.  The are also incredibly secure with the ball up front: Foden, Silva (the other Silva while he was still playing there), Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling, Gündogan, KdB (who's their most risky player) while also being able to play extremely precise. Of course you can play more risky if that's balanced by the pure talent and potential of your attacking players. Pulisic, Werner (lol) Lukaku, are not really that comfortable with the ball or plainly lose it too easily. I would have to see what CHO offers with little space (which you would automaticly have in City's system) to assess him but I dout he's anywhere near the level every single City attacker is on.

So you can't talk about sheer numbers without looking how that is counterbalanced by having top CBs (there is no 37 Thiago playing in such a system), a wc #6 and comfortably the best attacking players on tight spaces.

 

edit: luckily Pep decided to play without a real DM in the CL final because that was a deal-breaker and they could shove players into the box as they liked: we were still far more threatening and in control of the game.

Edited July 17, 20224 yr by weetee

2 hours ago, coco said:

He beat the best in England and Spain with a back five in his first season, nearly did it again in his second season, consolidated 3rd place in the league in a truly extraordinary season off the pitch, and yet fans always know better.

 

he record in the league has been pretty average.. Yes he has done well in cup competitions.. but over a long season you need more-

1) if it is such a great formation no other top team in europe deploys it?

2) We dont have great wingback options as cover, if the idea is to have your best 11 on the pitch on most nights  Alonso and Azpi shouldnt be a part of it

3) The back 3 encourages our the least adept passers in the team to kick start an attack 

yes sometimes the fans have a valid POV too.

7 minutes ago, Jangz said:

 

yes sometimes the fans have a valid POV too.

Having a POV is fine, but i value Tuchels POV a million times more than any fan, especially fans who think they know better, that would be all of us, including me.

A back 4 would make us more attacking in theory, but without a Maka like DM I am not sure it will work.

That's TT problem to figure out, best formation to use for this group. Group is changing so will see if he feels a back 5 or 4 is best for them.

The issue also is not having a player like Jorginho, or a player with the same distributor positional sense. Having someone like that with defensive qualities will allow the likes of Kova, Gallagher, and Kante to play in the pivot with that player + Jorginho.