Chelsea vs West Ham: Tactical Deep Dive

Rotations, Box midfield/occupation, Goals. Complete 5 star performance

Chelsea lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation with the same front 6 yet to be beaten, as well as welcoming Silva back into the Starting XI. West Ham also lined up basically fully strengthened in their own 4-2-3-1.

Chelsea continued to build up in their 4-2 build-up with Gallagher and Caicedo in the pivot which changed to a 3-2-5 with Cucurella coming into the pivot (as we’re all aware). So we continue to reap the benefits of this change and we will see how it applied in this game.

Chelsea also did something interesting and new during the build-up. Silva came centrally like a DM, Chalobah (RB) and Badiashille are on either side of the GK. Cucurella and Noni then give width. Gallagher dropped to also look for space to receive. So including the GK, it makes it look like a 3-3-5 build-up.

It gives us more central options in the build-up. Caicedo has more options in the central initial build-up. Even though this wasn't fully tested as West Ham implemented an extremely terrible press at times.

The shape is not only for the build-up but for the Rest-Defence when Chelsea attacks. Caicedo isn't stranded anymore. At times the Rest-Defence could also be a 3-2/2-3 like in this pic. Chalobah's role is very interesting and different to Gilchrist's role against Spurs. Chalobah was basically tasked with the "Ben White" role. He can shuttle between a 3rd CB in possession and an inverted midfielder and attack wide if he has the license to.

It is also because of how Cucurella and Chalobah play as inverted FBs that Mudryk and Noni get more touches of the ball now, because the passing lane to them is always open to get 1v1s.

If you look through the past few games, Chelsea's system is not so different from Arsenal's. I knew Palmer and Noni would work because of a similar template and similar profiles in Odegaard and Saka's work. A back-to-back shuttling playmaker paired with a 1v1 winger.

The Rest-Defence adequately protects the team from counterattacks and sustains attacks. West Ham (one of the best counter-attacking teams in the land) couldn't successfully manufacture counterattacks. It was successfully implemented as Noni mentioned post-match to stop West Ham from creating chances on the counter, so the rest-defence had to be spot on.

The positioning of the players made it easy. What makes the counter-press successful is the attitude of the players when they lose it. The wingers, and 10s track back immediately to cover and the CBs are aggressive in their positioning and execution.

I've criticized Silva and Disasi this season because of the way they retreat when we lose the ball rather than aggressively position themselves to win it back when we lose it. The system was also to blame.

Now it's different. Badiashille and Chalobah, and even Silva have been aggressively defending on the front foot, anticipating loose balls which sustain attacks.

Another Example. Mudryk loses the ball but look at Silva, instead of thinking about how to run back to mark Antonio, he leaves Anotonio and goes to make up the numbers to block Paqueta from advancing. Counter-press. Badiashille eventually makes Antonio.

Another thing apparent in the structure is the famous box midfield which helps us to overload the midfield. The main proponents are Gallagher (LHS), Palmer (RHS), Caicedo and Cucu DMs but at times it could be Jackson/others forming the box midfield by rotating.

The first mistake West Ham made was to try to press Chelsea. With the press not so intense, Chelsea played through most of it like a knife through butter. Chalobah, Silva and Badiashille are all excellent at breaking the lines with passes to our midfielders and we have improved our ball temperament remarkably

We dont rush plays like before and take our time, even if it means going back to the Gk multiple times. Players are closer to each other as well. This makes it easier.

Chelsea also forms the 3-3 when the 2 in midfield are marked. Palmer and Gallagher usually take turns to drop deep to receive the ball and provide another option in midfield. Akin to our preseason work with Carney doing that role.

Chelsea also sought to press West Ham high whenever they tried to build out of the back in a 4-1-4-1/4-4-2 depending on the situation.

Gallagher/Palmer cover Alvarez and Soucek, Jackson angles his press to take WHU on one side, and Noni and Mudryk mark the FBs. If it is a 4-4-2, although WHU hardly tried to play out.

Palmer joins Jackson to mark the CBs. Baidashille was tasked with being close to Kudus/Bowen, anyone that occupied the LHS even if it was in WHU's half like he did for Sarr in the last game vs Spurs.

A key way Chelsea got through West Ham was with rotations. Putting slick long passing sequences and rotations which ended with adequate box occupation together, we had at least 4 in the box in settled attacking plays. The more players there, the more likely it will rebound to your own player. Which is so improved and beautiful to watch..

Our players regularly switched positions temporarily throughout the pitch. I'll explain Palmer-Noni later in the thread. With rotations, it is hard to mark them as the markers most likely don’t follow those they are marking diligently.

Another way Chelsea got at West Ham is through transitions. It won't be a Chelsea game if there aren't any transitions. We got goals and chances out of it. Something the team look strong at and one of the best in the league at.

West Ham posed little threat. Paqueta was kept quiet and Kudus, although slippery, hardly made much of that. Although Bowen did hit the bar 3 times, and they came at crucial moments that could have changed the game. We were too dominant.

A big example of better temperament with the ball is how we handled the ball for 5 minutes in the 2nd half, recycling the ball more than forcing it. It was very impressive.

So, there is another interesting thing to highlight. Palmer's free role in a more structured system. We've seen when Palmer drop deep to receive in a 3-3 build-up…

But another thing he does well is he receives in between the lines, drops deep and plays in runners.

He rotates with Noni and gets the chance to also get into 1v1 positions to create chances. That's why he and Noni understand each other well and know how to create space to go 1v1 and link up, and anyone can be the runner or passer between them

Palmer's free role doesn't hurt the team's shape because his teammates rotate to cover the positions adequately. This goes for the rest of his teammates when they rotate. So it's fluid.

Chelsea decimated West Ham with ease. The system once again triumphed today and there were a few interesting updates different to what we've seen before. There will be much tougher tests but it's extremely promising.

Seun