Chelsea's Corner: The Broomstick And Why de Bruyne Is Needed

It’s easy to predict how and when Chelsea will hit their next slump in form, when things are seemingly going swimmingly. It starts off when Chelsea lose control of a game they should’ve won – thanks mostly to refereeing decisions that don’t go their way. Then the team proceeds to lose its head as the clock runs down, racking up yellow cards by the truckload. And in conjunction with a couple of ill-timed injuries, the Blues turn what should have been a tiny blip on their radar screen into a full-blown meltdown. The surprise loss to QPR earlier this season, was followed by a string of defeats. And the come-from-ahead draw to Man Utd, looks like it will trigger another poor run of results. Cue the loss to Everton.

And for all the most obvious flaws with Chelsea’s style of play – the pointless possession, the lack of potency up front, the aging legs, the high backline – the most recent (and perhaps the biggest culprit of them all) is Chelsea’s broomstick approach to the game. Let’s call it that, for want of a better phrase.

Most successful teams have incredible talent on the wings – United, City and Spurs. The presence of offensively-gifted players on the wings means these sides can effect a rapid switch from one flank to another in quick succession to leave the opposition gasping for breath in the midfield. As the play progresses up to the opponentai??i??s box, these sides switch to a narrower focal point of attack with shots on goal coming in from in and around the “D”. Notice how their style of play naturally assumes the form of a spear.

Contrast that with Chelsea. The Blues have no options of note on the flanks – any wingers they could have used, Malouda in particular, show a tendency to drift inwards. The rest of the midfielders live up to their classifications. Lampard operates on the left of a narrow 3-man midfield, Essien is a box-to-box midfielder who can be entrusted with defensive responsibilities, Ramires is an irrepressible livewire, and Meireles can operate on the right of a 3-man midfield. Essentially, Chelsea operate throughout the midfield in what is relatively a very narrow channel.

But that’s not the sad part (or humorous bit, if you get a kick out of West London misery). Where other teams concentrate their attacks with all their powers of focusing, Chelsea do precisely the opposite.

Broomstick formation — Spreading the ball out wide in the final third

The Blues, under Andre Villas-Boas, inexplicably extend the width of play in the final third. Like the bristles of a broom’s brush-end that point outwards, at the end of the broom stick, Chelsea’s attack in the final third consists of going outwards – away from goal. For a team that plays in midfield like it’s morbidly terrified of the touchlines, the Blues sure know how to stretch the limits up front. Fanning out in the final third, when they should be in the box, they lose all sense of focus – immediately taking out the wind from their own sails.

When they should be testing the goalkeeper from within shooting distance, Chelsea (Torres in particular) opt instead to send the ball out to the left or right to the waiting full back. That’s not a game-plan, that’s cowardice. The game against Everton was the most embarrassing exhibition of ‘passing the buck’ by major stars in any EPL team in recent times. You don’t get past stubborn defenses, by running away from them. You don’t prove you can stand the heat, by getting out of the kitchen. You don’t make up for an absence of creativity in the advanced midfield area, by trying to shift focus.

Sure, it makes sense to send in a lofted ball near a crowded goalpost once in a while. In an area packed with flailing limbs, you are bound to get lucky at some point. But to make that your Plan A – or your only plan – smacks of foolish optimism. No matter how many times the bombarding fullbacks, Cole and Bosingwa, loft balls into the general direction of the goal, the odds of it finding a blue jersey remain low. With Chelsea operating a high backline, the players are understandably a tad more nervous when it comes to committing all their resources up front. What you are left with are at most two Chelsea players in the box, when the fullback’s contribution comes whistling in.

Not only does this drastically reduce Chelsea’s chances of nudging or heading the ball into the goal, it also fails on another equally important front. The presence of just a couple of blue jerseys in the box, will never be enough to hound the opposition into committing an error in their haste to get to the ball first.

Potential formations — When the 4-3-3 flounders, go for a 4-4-2

So why not pack the box then with more Chelsea players in anticipation of a cross from one of the ridiculously advanced fullbacks? The high backline effectively puts paid to that option. One lucky clearance from the box by the opposition, and Chelsea’s aged stars will be all at sea trying to shore up their own ragged defense.

When the other teams wise up to the 4-3-3 the Blues ought to look at other formations that might work. A 4-4-2 perhaps. Letting De Bruyne out on loan was idiocy of the highest order. He would have been perfect on the left, while Bosingwa could have operated on the right flank. The wiry Portuguese leaves a lot to be desired defensively, but you can hardly fault his offensive caliber. Ramires too, is an exciting and dependable candidate for the right flank considering he was immense in Sturridgeai??i??s position, when the latter was out injured.

With Mata and Sturridge up, Chelsea could solve their striker woes. Sturridge yearns to wreak havoc in a central role, while Mata currently flounders on the left extremity.

kevin de bruyne - (c) Sky Sports — Bet you didn't think we'd need him so soon?

Chelsea and Andre Villas-Boas need to take a page out of Tottenham Hotspur’s book and the way Bale and Lennon or Kranjcar trigger the inward charge that culminates at Defoe or Adebayor’s feet. Or learn a lesson from Unitedai??i??s reliance on wingers like Nani, Park, Giggs and Valencia who help prop up the spearheads that are Rooney and Hernandez. It isn’t rocket science, it’s just the naturally obvious way to play the game. When closest to the goal, attack – and don’t go off on a pleasure cruise.

An imposing spear and not a lowly broom. Sticking with the broomstick, might end up being cruelly ironic if Chelsea are swept aside and consigned to the trash-bin of history, come season-end.

Chelsea’s Corner: The Broomstick And Why de Bruyne Is Needed

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