Chelsea's First game Under Potter
Last night Chelsea played their first football match under Graham Potter. We, the Chelsea fans, did not know what to expect from the club. We just closed our eyes and hoped for a win.
The team sheet came out and we were not sure whether it was a back 3 or back 4. Most people assumed it was a back 4 with a very weird center back pairing of Thiago Silva and Azpilicueta. The game started and it looked like a back 3 instead with sterling as left wing back. The formation looked like a 3-2-4-1, but sometimes also looked like a 4-2-3-1. Graham Potter is known for being very fluid with formations.
Chelsea were dominant and created a couple chances, but as had become a norm they couldn't capitalize. They pretty much played well during the first half, but it ended goalless.
They went in for the half time team talk, and they started the second half really strongly. A few good passes and mount is able to get some space on the wing. He makes a good cross which misses Aubameyang, but doesn't miss Sterling at the far side. Sterling curls it in, and scores the first goal of Graham Potter's era.
After that goal, everyone's nerves are settled and it looks like a sure victory from there. But then Chelsea take their feet off the pedal and start to lose the ball a little bit too much. The players played the ball around lazily and didn't look hungry for a second.
Little by little they let Salzburg back into the game. Eventually Salzburg won the ball in the midfield and were able to score the equalizer. As a fan it was quite frustrating, but at this point I'm already used to this.
After Salzburg's equalizer Chelsea got serious again,Potter made a lot of attacking minded subs and we started pressing aggressively once more, we created 2 more big chances which on another day may have gone in. One was a quick counter which saw the Salzburg keeper deny ziyech a tap in, and the other a misstruck volley from Broja. Both players who were brought off the bench could not save the day. In the end it was futile and Chelsea dropped 2 points.
Now they are currently sitting bottom of their group and are going to have to beat Milan home and away if they are going to have any realistic chance of remaining in the Champions League. To think they got such an easy group.
From the little I've seen so far we looked better offensively, created a lot more chances than we've done in the last couple of games. The problem we still have is being clinical. Aubameyang didn't really impact the game. I'd argue Broja played better off the bench. There's still time, so we'll see. Defensively, one can't say as we were rarely ever tested. The opposition only had 1 big chance (their goal), and a half chance, a curled shot from Sesko which Kepa saved.
Based on the performance of this game, I'd say Chelsea under Graham Potter may not be so bad. As usual we just need to be more clinical and the wins will definitely come in. But then again this is such a small sample size, and we have to factor in "new manager bounce" where the team plays better because it's a manager's first game. There's not so much to read from today's result, besides Tuchel also got a draw in his first game, and he ended up doing pretty well.
I'm not sure why, but I'm very optimistic about Graham Potter's era. I have a feeling he can actually do wonders at the club.
Our next fixture is after the international break against Crystal Palace. A fixture which will definitely not be easy. So much stop and start for Potter, but we'll see how he fares in the coming weeks.
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The only player that impressed was James, he was exceptional, i just hope the new coach will play him regularly.
Hmm, to me James was ok, but he could have been better offensively in some situations. I'm sure he'll definitely play a lot of games under Potter especially as there's no real substitute
The above is part of my Hive post.
He did wonders before Brighton. I think Chelsea fans should take a chill pill now.
Great reporting you have there,you make the game come alive.
Best regards.
I haven't really looked into his managerial career before brighton. Seems I'll look at that.
Chelsea fans are just hurt about the sacking of Tuchel, all he has to do is win a couple games and they'll forget
Thanks a lot. I'm glad you enjoyed reading
!PIZZA
My pleasure, indeed your blog is enjoyable.
Yeah please check him out before Brighton.
I can understand the feeling of Chelsea fans and I don't blame them.
I'm pretty sure they've signed a gem. He has to win them over though.
Thanks for the "pizza" share.
Regards mate
Though Chelsea was expected to win this one, a draw isn't the end of the world.
As for Potter, his fluid tactics or possession based football will not determine how successful his tenure will be. Every manager that was once hired and fired by Chelsea had fluid tactics and great understanding of the game. What will determine his stay is how good he controls the dressing room. Ancelotti and Zidane are not known to be the most tactical managers out there, but those two knows how to manage their players off the camera. That's where Potter's major work lies.
True, but some fans are making it look like it is.
Interesting opinion you have here. Chelsea football club is so weird. You hardly see any player defaulting or arguments with the manager, but there's always rumors once a manager is sacked that the players stopped playing with zeal because of the manager.
I'm hoping Potter is able to control the dressing room,and get rid of bad eggs in the squad, if they are.
!PIZZA
Hehe,you made me smile when I read that part,
"You hardly see any player defaulting or arguments with the manager, but there's always rumors once a manager is sacked that the players stopped playing with zeal because of the manager."
Really a weird phenomenon,the players hardly ever misbehave when the camera is rolling. And the rumours are mostly true. They shouldn't even be called rumours, but they are called so because, the club makes it so– with their efforts to cover up things. Though covering up,is something most big clubs share in common,howbeit to varying degrees.
As for the issue on Zidane and Ancelloti(by @mckane ). People sometimes downplay their tactical acumen which I find very cruel. Firstly,it takes a man that understands the highest form of tactics,to be able to set up a team to beat the so-called most tactical managers. Secondly,both coaches will play a game that is easy on the eyes(giving their players more freedom to express themselves),however it is no gamble,it is very well calculated(people often miss this point).
As for Potter, it is not correct that his longevity will be determined by how well he handles the dressing room. He's no slouch in that by the way. Actually his longevity will be determined by how much the hierarchy dovetails nicely with him. Tuchel's "demise" wasn't because he wasn't great in dressing room matters. Please see the very last paragraph of this post to know why.
Once Zidane and Madrid's President couldn't agree on transfers, Zidane resigned, before his second coming. Ancelloti was ejected by the dressing room of Bayern, they accused him of being a lazy trainer,etc.
Listen please, there is no way(absolutely NO WAY) Ancelloti had lost his midace touch with regards creating ambiance in any dressing room.
The real issue was that he wasn't playing Muller and the hierarchy was loyal to Muller,infact you hurt Muller and you've hurt Bayern. That crack between the hierarchy and a manager will normally be explored by the dressing room(accusing him of all sorts) and make the manager feel like a poor manager of men. Ancelloti and the club heirarchy were not on thesame page with Muller.That was the reality.
At Napoli,once again it was the heirarchy against Ancelloti,but with a different story-line. Here, the players loved Ancelloti AS ALWAYS. He has been and still is the best at managing a dressing room. In Napoli the players disobeyed the order of their President,who unilaterally summoned them for an emergency training as a disciplinary measure for losing a match horribly. The boys didn't show up from their homes. The President confronted Ancelloti privately, wondering why Ancelloti was quiet about the disobedience of his boys.[I don't like club interferences in coaching. You summon a squad for training without discussing with the coach? Who does that?]
Ancelloti took the neutral stance and pleaded with the leadership to cut the boys some slack, that the boys are also sad by the loss, that the boys didn't mean to disrespect him.
The President couldn't stomach that disobedience by the squad, he felt do embarrassed and that the coach took a neutral stance made it hurt him even more,so he sacked Ancelloti eventhough the dressing room was fine and results had improved.
So controlling the dressing room is not primary for a long stay here. The key factor is that unnecessary interferences from the heirarchy doesn't happen. What will determine his stay apart from good results on the pitch is his relationship with the heirarchy.
Cheers
Firstly, my comment is to celebrate the superior man-management skills of those two, not to downplay their tactical acumen; after all, one of the first things you master in football management school is tactics. We all saw how Mourinho messed up Madrid despite being a tactical genius. I'm experienced enough in this game to draw a perfect line under tactical acumen and man-management skills.
Secondly, Potter is no slouch in handling players that get paid less than £50,000 per week, players who are rarely known beyond the city their club is based. It's a different ball game when you get to manage superstars, external influence is crazy. Do you know how many times Man U had to deal with Pogba's shit because of Raiola? Potter is now managing players that are more high profiled than him, don't compare that with those nobodies he managed at Brighton. Some managers at Chelsea owe their departures to the Terry-Lampard-Cech-Drogba clique. Player power is real.
Lastly, the presidents/owners/chairmen don't spend every minute with the team. Their actions and inactions depend a lot on what they get from some selected few members of the squad who have direct access to them. Get on the wrong side of the selected few and you might as well kiss your job goodbye. Those selected few are the boss of the dressing room. Controlling dressing room is not about making everyone listen to you, it's about having the ones that really matters do your bidding. Potter might as well go crazy and start tussling with the likes of Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva, he will get sacked in no time! And, I want to believe you are conversant with the parlance "downed tools". I rest my case.
Hi,
Mr. Potter had more success before Brighton if you read the post in my earlier note, so it's tough for me to react to any comment that only talks of Potter at Brighton. Bottomline, he will cope well with the "expensive" dressing room.
A lil correction again, the heirarchy gave Pogba the needed ventilation,so Raoila was not primarily the causative agent.
Your second and especially your last paragraph sounds more like it. I have shown you that those names,who you said know how to "manage their players off the camera",still had problems when a certain parameter interfered with their work. Yet for me,those two men are the best in managing a dressing room–egos,tastes,wealth,etc. The "select few" don't just rise on their own they are selected,"anointed","ordained" by the heirarchy.[Pardon my use of some Biblical lingo,they are for emphasis]
Enter Napoli and get bewildered at their "senseless" clear-out in the last two windows. You've managed to work your socks off to qualify for the Champions League and you are pushing out important players,who got you there. All their 3 captains were moved out, that they had to select a new captain this July.
Dries Mertens,35,one of their assistant captains and Napoli's all-time highest goal scorer with 148 goals,had a year left on his contract and begged to finish the contract.He had spent 9 seasons with them,he even speaks Neapolitan and prides himself in their customs and christened his son with the nickname given him(Mertens) by fans,"Ciro". He wanted to see out his professional career in Napoli,as a mark of honour. Why not? The fans absolutely loved him and he's still playing well(he'll be at the World Cup). What's wrong with,granting him his wish,but smartly signing an understudy? The club certainly had enough finances and marketability to do this, but the President bluntly refused and sent him packing. He's now moved to a huge project in Turkey. I think the biggest in all Europe.
What am I saying?
1.)The heirarchy is the source of things. They can crush or create player-power if they decide.
2.) There had since been an agreement(not the heirarchy doing something unilaterally) between the heirarchy and Napoli's coach on a new direction for the club(AND THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE) that occasioned this seemingly senseless clear out,that is making sense now.
All the show of influence that Mbappe is demonstrating now at PSG was created by the heirarchy. It was once Neymar lording over everyone,insisting that Cavani submits. Well Cavani had to submit,but it's also a key reason why he left the club. Who gave Neymar that effrontery? Yeah,you probably guessed right, it's the heirarchy! So a key tool for survival in PSG,as a coach,is aligning with the hierarchy's thinking.
Bottomline line,and you have alluded to that yourself, being in sync with the heirarchy is the most important factor for Mr.Graham Potter's longevity. It was a key factor in his employment even(please see the very last paragraph for proof).
Cheers @
Yes, Potter had success managing a fourth tier Swedish team and a Championship playing Swansea. Financially, those two are not even on the same level with Chelsea's academy, not to talk of the first team.
And, a lil correction again, Paul Pogba is a brand, not just a football player. Woodward knew what he was getting into when he signed him. That same 'hierarchy' begged him to sign a new contract so that they can make more money off his huge media presence
Pogba has the power, he knows, Raiola knows it.
See, this football thing is more than your stories about Napoli and Laurentiis. Football is a business. For the average teams, footballers can be toyed with. At the top level, these players with serious endorsement deals with big companies are not some regular folks. They are huge investments.. You are not just managing the players, you are managing the big companies with money invested in these players. Toy with them, and those companies will be knocking at the owner and sporting director's doors.
You really need to get familiar with player contracts before waxing lyrical about hierarchy. All the show of influence was created by Mbappe, not some hierarchy. If Mbappe wasn't important they will discard him. The 'hierarchy' signed the papers giving Mbappe absolute power because they were at his mercy; they needed him, just like they needed Messi to be the face of football in the Middle East. Even the president of France put a call through to Mbappe to stop him from leaving France.
Now, those managing a club at the top level owns the final decision. However, dispelling dressing room control and saying it's not primary to a long stay at the club is 100% wrong. A settled dressing room is the one that produces absolute result. A warring dressing room is every manager's nightmare. If they paper over the cracks at first, things will fall apart in the nearest future. Even if a manager eats on the same table with the owner, everything will go south if one important member of the squad gives a press conference that questions the manager. The media will get a hold of it, the fans will run with it, players will down tools. In no time, the manager gets booed by his fans. Bad results will roll in. Shareholders will call for the manager to be sacked even if he is the owner's brother. It's even worse for clubs listed on some Stock Exchanges across the world.
You seem to present a definition of Potter that doesn't look like his sides have beaten all these managers– Arsene Wenger, Marcelo Bielsa, Ralf Rangnick, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho,Rafael Benitez,Brendan Rogers,Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag. He scored worthy victories against all these coaches and he met a number of them in European competition when he was managing a TOP FLIGHT Swedish team.
A counter correction on Pogba please. Allegri and Juve knew that Cristiano Ronaldo was&is a unique brand when they engineered his exit. Between Ronaldo and Pogba,Pogba is a crawling brand looking unto a flying brand like Ronaldo's. I gave you an example of Mertens. That was a huge brand at Napoli's level, even Insigne their captain,who they let go. These are brands in their own rights.
A bigger brand than Pogba was pushed out by Juve,a bigger club than Chelsea. Why? Because a player does not put a gun to any club management's head compelling them to sign the dotted lines. "It's a free world" as they say, so correction again, it is PSG's management that HAS CHOSEN to leverage on Mbappe's talent and appeal as their means to move the club forward. There is no law written anywhere that they are under compulsion to retain Mbappe or Messi.
The choice or power is with the heirarchy, not the player. The player can advertise himself(what you call,the player having more power),but it's left for the club management to sign in or not to(what I call the most significant power). So who is more powerful? The heirarchy!
Thus,please don't belittle the Napoli story as if Juventus' story isn't there.
There's even the Barca story. Messi was asked to leave...yes,due to the club's dwindling finances. But my research tells me that if the club really wanted to keep him and take advantage of his huge global economic appeal,they could have done so. However,the heirarchy had other ideas. They were willing to take risks on signings which were always going to be tough to register,but not willing for Messi. Look,there is something they didn't tell the media.🙂
So friend,please drop that matter. No club is under bondage to any super star, it is a thing of choice.
I have not dispelled dressing room control,if you notice,I have only outlined what Mr. Potter PRIMARILY needs, to last long. I have showed you a note by the President himself, confirming that this very reason was very key to why he hired Potter in the first place.
Dressing room control ain't a problem for Potter, that is why I put the word "expensive" in between inverted commas in my previous note. Wasn't I the one who also listed the things you find in the dressing room of a big club,in same previous note? So I know what's up.
Therefore, I have enough info on the former left-back to relegate dressing room control and elevate a brilliant rapport with the heirarchy as his primary need for longevity. Trust me.🙂
Cheers
Bro, Moyes Everton defeated top managers too. The dude shrunk when he got to Man U. There are levels to this thing.
That TOP FLIGHT Swedish team doesn't have the budget of Chelsea's academy; it's different.
Ronaldo left Juventus because Allegri made him realise he is not a guaranteed starter, Juve didn't push him out. And I want to assume you used the word "leverage" to subtly admit some players are powerful.
Do you really know why I didn't totally agree with your points all along? It's because I knew from the onset that your idea about hierarchy and all was about the gibberish Boehly spilled during his last media appearance, I only want you to mention it. Now that you've mentioned it, we are good.😃😃😃
However, Boehly is just a power drunk mumu looking to flex his muscle. The guy eye go soon clear.
Moyes ain't Potter. I'm aware of budgets,so when I say what I said before, it's because I'm looking holistically– it's beyond varying budgets or the Moyes experience.
I know of what happened to Ronaldo, that is why I intentionally said they engineered his exit o. We are talking of a brand that dwarf's Pogba's and you're not assuring him of starting. Also years before he came to Juve,the football world(including Juve) perfectly knew that Ronaldo doesn't take it kindly if he is benched, infact even subbing him off can make headline news the next day. So what did Juve mean by their act?
For one, that's not how to properly leverage on such a huge brand. I leave the other reasons to you to find out.
For your "leverage" talk,lemme remind you–
"so correction again, it is PSG's management that HAS CHOSEN to leverage on"
The above quote from my post shows a couple of words in block letters. My brother,if block letters don't mean emphasis,wetin e go mean again? There is no need trying to make my words mean what they didn't please.
I repeat: "The player can advertise himself(what you call,the player having more power),but it's left for the club management to sign in or not to(what I call the most significant power). So who is more powerful? The heirarchy!"
I don't see I have any business talking much about Mr. Boehly here. He has appointed a coach and the coach's relationship with him is gonna be the vital factor in his longevity. It is too late to show me otherwise with other coach's experiences or low budgets in the past. I have considered all that and more before concluding that,
"...Wasn't I the one who also listed the things you find in the dressing room of a big club,in same previous note? So I know what's up.
Therefore, I have enough info on the former left-back to relegate dressing room control and elevate a brilliant rapport with the heirarchy as his primary need for longevity. Trust me.🙂"
I have checked things including his general psyche,his improvisation techniques,capacity to handle egos,etc, which I don't have time to roll out here.
If you don't agree with me this far,that's alright we see such things in life.
Time will reveal things bro.
Thanks for your time. I wish we had other folks giving their perspective too.
Happy Sunday.
Show you? I'm not interested in that, bro. Your opinion remains yours, I don't need to change that. Doesn't have to be mine.
And, once again, Potter's ability to handle ego AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL is based on hope and assumption, he's NEVER done it before. Ostersünd? Swansea? Brighton? Not the highest level, not even close.
By the way, I witnessed dressing room madness and how some players can effectively destroy a manager no matter what the board thinks about him when I worked for a Premier League side in my country. So, I'm not here discussing abstract theories or what I read on the pages of a newspaper.
Also, if you check one of my posts, I really do wish Potter well. I hope his good performances will open the doors for English managers to take the biggest jobs in the country.
Whichever way, you hold on to your belief about hierarchy, I'll hold on to my experience. It's what it is.
Hey, do have a lovely week ahead.
Hi @mckane ,
Not based on hope. I never said it was, that is you reading me wrongly once again.
I have made my point crystal clear.
You are free to hold unto your experience and I hold unto my experience. That's it.
BTW,I'm glad Brighton has signed Zerbi. You can see in that my post that I wasn't comfy with the listed options they were reportedly considering. Now this is more like it,this is respecting the brilliance of Potter!
Thanks on "lovely week", do have a blessed one.
It was a amazing game unfortunately Chelsea could not win. But I think under Potter style Chelsea will improve.
For me I think the game plan was okay, the players just couldn't finish. But like I said, small sample size, we'll see his true tactics after the international break
It is not the result that Potter wanted in his beginnings, but it is a result that will make his confrontations with Milan a great gain for the public, as it will be a great battle on both sides.
Yeah it's going to be something the neutrals want to see. For the fans it's going to be a tension filled set of games.
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I remember tuchel saying 'we have the same problems because we have the same players.' The issue is clear here. Even though Potter's way of things are a bit more flexible and can bring good stuff, it's all in vain until the forwards learn to finish. Missing sitters are a regular show.
Exactly. I wonder why the strikers are so indecisive. I expected Auba to be better, but it's not looked so in the short time he's been here. I'm hoping it can change in his subsequent games as he's known to be a fox in the box