Graham Potter’s poor begin at Chelsea acquired even poorer on the first day of 2023 as his staff drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest, and albeit did not deserve far more from the recreation.
They now sit down in eighth in the Premier League, seven factors off a top-four spot having gained simply one among their final seven league video games.
As a end result, many are beginning to wonder if Potter is the proper man for the job, but Todd Boehly can be smart to make adjustments on the pitch earlier than switching managers once more.
Whether sacking Thomas Tuchel was a superb resolution on the American proprietor’s half may be very a lot up for debate, but selecting Potter as his successor most definitely was. The 47-year-old labored wonders at Brighton, getting glorious outcomes whereas enjoying thrilling soccer, and is one among the finest younger managers round.
He hasn’t been in a position to impress as a lot in his new job simply but, but there’s loads of purpose to consider he’ll give you the option to take action if given time and a squad that fits his wants.
The Englishman hardly hit the floor operating at Brighton with the staff ending down in fifteenth with simply 41 factors and 9 wins in his first season there. That’s largely as a result of he did not have gamers significantly properly suited to enjoying his possession-based, high-pressing fashion of play, and he has the same subject at Chelsea.
That subject begins at the again. Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly are each glorious defenders but neither is especially cellular or fast off the mark, making the staff susceptible to counter-attacks once they play as excessive a line as Potter likes to.
Meanwhile in midfield, Potter does not have many gamers that are in a position to press arduous, win the ball and get ahead – Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic are way more passive gamers and N’golo Kante is previous his finest.
The downside up high wants no explaining with the membership missing a high striker in a position to hyperlink up play in addition to rating targets for a protracted, lengthy time now.
Thankfully, Chelsea are one among the richest golf equipment in the world and have the capacity to deal with all these points in the switch market. If they achieve this, giving Potter the gamers he wants, he might properly flip issues round as he did at Brighton.
Doing so should not be too tough both, with numerous faster centre-backs and dynamic midfielders round and obtainable for the proper value, together with one which labored with Potter at Brighton and would absolutely like to take action once more in Alexis Mac Allister, one among the stars of the World Cup.
Getting a high striker is admittedly powerful in the present market, but there are good choices on the market corresponding to Memphis Depay, who might be obtainable for subsequent to nothing and has all the pieces they want on paper.
Boehly could also be reluctant to offer monetary backing to a supervisor that hasn’t began properly but, finally, it is a threat price taking.
He want solely look north to Manchester for proof of that, the place Erik ten Hag is popping issues round at Old Trafford after being allowed to eliminate one among the finest gamers ever and spend an enormous sum of money on two gamers that had by no means performed at a better membership stage than the Eredivisie earlier than, together with a centre-back that the majority stated was too brief to achieve the Premier League.
Young thrilling managers that may play entertaining soccer whereas getting outcomes are arduous to return by, and if you get one, you need to do all the pieces you may to assist them succeed.
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