'It’s only 2 games in to this era, it's impossible to make judgements on Maresca and his style as yet': I fully agree. Quite what is Marescaball? In detailed terms, it remains to be seen. What is clear, for starters, is that the coach is significantly more flexible than many of us (including me) were thinking before the start of the season. It seems that he doesn't just have 'one way of playing.'
I suspect the season is going to be a bumpy ride. I'm keen to see how Maresca is going to address deficiencies in the defensive midfield area and in central defence. Really, too, I feel we're going to need a new goalkeeper sooner rather than later. But let's see. It's going to be exciting, especially if we get a 20+ striker in before the window closes.
Booing or Groaning is in the Chelsea fan Psyche long may it continue but directed at the Ref, the club management or the opposition team.
The clapometer is gradually swing in the Maresca direction especially if the wins are more than 1-0 and passing the ball across the defense for 60% of the game.
After 2 games we’ve conceded 4 and scored six were that to be maintained over the season we could concede 76 and score 114 that might just be good enough for top 4.
However half the goals against and continue freely scoring and we are home free
A great article once again from you The Score. One 100% agree and support. I have been accused as being too positive but my argument always has been that irrespective of what we think about the owners and SD we must get behind the coach and team and support them and be patient as well. Sitting in the stadium for both the first two home games I heard people moaning within 10 minutes. It’s totally unrealistic to expect everything to drop it and be perfect in one season let alone one game for the reasons you have explained.
Added to that it’s not as if we haven’t had pragmatic managers/coaches in the past. I remember pundits being very negative at the beginning at marino’s style of play. Again there was negative messaging when Conte took over yet both of them won the Premier League for us. The only winning manager of the Premier League we had to date that they love from the outset seems to have been Ancelotti.
The most important aspect of the development of this team is that we are all patient with them over the course of this season as a minimum. Mistakes will continue to be made until they fully understand the role of the team and the individual place within it. Unfortunately, without wanting to upset anyone there are many supporters that have only seen us win over the last 20 years and do not realise that this is an exception to the rule and not the norm. Thank you once again for your time and for submitting this excellent article and I hope it will be appreciated by the majority of the readers of this site.
Great article and needed. To add to your points above, the definitive style of play makes it easier to identify players that are a fit for the system and the way the manager wants to play, it’s going to take time, but implemented well , will benefit not just the play in the pitch, but off the field as well.
I agree with the point that it's only been two games so it's too early to tell, but that means my early opinions are more open to change - but it doesn't mean I don't have them. On Maresca himself: I think there's a couple of ways of looking at his press conference, in particular what he said about Sterling. So: definitely blunt and direct - but a technical decision? Is there anyone who believes that? When he then selects Mudryk? That seems more like someone happy to front up the party line (and is good at it, throwing out chum in the way he says it to keep the journos happy). Very Pep, actually. As a tactician I behave concerns that the club seems to think there is something magical about slow possession football that equates to continued success. Pep - and even Arteta - have seen sides improve when they've added better talent. Kompany will probably do alright in Munich because he's got better talent. It's a player's game. What's important is that there is clarity for the players (hello, Graham Potter) but there also needs to be an appreciation that players have to have the freedom to play the game as they see it in the attacking third. I do have a significant concern that Palmer will be somewhat neutralised by Maresca - as may have happened to Hazard under Sarri (if he didn't go on to simply ignore his instructions). I also worry that this Pep-lite style has had, or will soo have had, it's day and there's a cyclical shift back to more player freedom and power over patient possession - and we've caught the zeitgeist at the moment it wanes. But more than anything I worry that the club going all in one a style of football is yet another example of them thinking they are cleverer than everyone else - and we can see how that's worked out so far.
'It’s only 2 games in to this era, it's impossible to make judgements on Maresca and his style as yet': I fully agree. Quite what is Marescaball? In detailed terms, it remains to be seen. What is clear, for starters, is that the coach is significantly more flexible than many of us (including me) were thinking before the start of the season. It seems that he doesn't just have 'one way of playing.'
I suspect the season is going to be a bumpy ride. I'm keen to see how Maresca is going to address deficiencies in the defensive midfield area and in central defence. Really, too, I feel we're going to need a new goalkeeper sooner rather than later. But let's see. It's going to be exciting, especially if we get a 20+ striker in before the window closes.
Booing or Groaning is in the Chelsea fan Psyche long may it continue but directed at the Ref, the club management or the opposition team.
The clapometer is gradually swing in the Maresca direction especially if the wins are more than 1-0 and passing the ball across the defense for 60% of the game.
After 2 games we’ve conceded 4 and scored six were that to be maintained over the season we could concede 76 and score 114 that might just be good enough for top 4.
However half the goals against and continue freely scoring and we are home free
A great article once again from you The Score. One 100% agree and support. I have been accused as being too positive but my argument always has been that irrespective of what we think about the owners and SD we must get behind the coach and team and support them and be patient as well. Sitting in the stadium for both the first two home games I heard people moaning within 10 minutes. It’s totally unrealistic to expect everything to drop it and be perfect in one season let alone one game for the reasons you have explained.
Added to that it’s not as if we haven’t had pragmatic managers/coaches in the past. I remember pundits being very negative at the beginning at marino’s style of play. Again there was negative messaging when Conte took over yet both of them won the Premier League for us. The only winning manager of the Premier League we had to date that they love from the outset seems to have been Ancelotti.
The most important aspect of the development of this team is that we are all patient with them over the course of this season as a minimum. Mistakes will continue to be made until they fully understand the role of the team and the individual place within it. Unfortunately, without wanting to upset anyone there are many supporters that have only seen us win over the last 20 years and do not realise that this is an exception to the rule and not the norm. Thank you once again for your time and for submitting this excellent article and I hope it will be appreciated by the majority of the readers of this site.
Great article and needed. To add to your points above, the definitive style of play makes it easier to identify players that are a fit for the system and the way the manager wants to play, it’s going to take time, but implemented well , will benefit not just the play in the pitch, but off the field as well.
I agree with the point that it's only been two games so it's too early to tell, but that means my early opinions are more open to change - but it doesn't mean I don't have them. On Maresca himself: I think there's a couple of ways of looking at his press conference, in particular what he said about Sterling. So: definitely blunt and direct - but a technical decision? Is there anyone who believes that? When he then selects Mudryk? That seems more like someone happy to front up the party line (and is good at it, throwing out chum in the way he says it to keep the journos happy). Very Pep, actually. As a tactician I behave concerns that the club seems to think there is something magical about slow possession football that equates to continued success. Pep - and even Arteta - have seen sides improve when they've added better talent. Kompany will probably do alright in Munich because he's got better talent. It's a player's game. What's important is that there is clarity for the players (hello, Graham Potter) but there also needs to be an appreciation that players have to have the freedom to play the game as they see it in the attacking third. I do have a significant concern that Palmer will be somewhat neutralised by Maresca - as may have happened to Hazard under Sarri (if he didn't go on to simply ignore his instructions). I also worry that this Pep-lite style has had, or will soo have had, it's day and there's a cyclical shift back to more player freedom and power over patient possession - and we've caught the zeitgeist at the moment it wanes. But more than anything I worry that the club going all in one a style of football is yet another example of them thinking they are cleverer than everyone else - and we can see how that's worked out so far.