Sari played one way at Napoli regardless of opponent, he will play that way with Chelsea.
Means kante is wasted
Just utterly bizarre to use Kante in the way that he did. As Scara said, play him as a destroyer or not at all.
Personally I think Kante and Jorginho together would have been comlimentary, but as it is Chelsea just handicapped themselves and it makes no sense.
It seems that, the last two Chelsea managers have come in expecting to make 4-1-4-1 work...I wonder if it can be done in this league. The cut off of the single holding playmaker means there’s too much of an easy and obvious route to choking the whole system.
Poch has tried it as well but always seems to abandon it as soon as he starts it.
It can certainly work, like any formation - but depends upon the having right players in the right places. Yesterday was tactical suicide.
To be fair to Nayim, it was he arguing that Sissoko should have something of a Palacios role a couple of pages back was it not?
Although on the other hand, I’m sure I’ve had some debates where I’ve said Sissoko is excellent defensively and ive had it said that he is bad...alongside being a terrible footballer and up until only recently a complete liability, it is quite the change to now say it was always the case that he’d play well in the position. *insert smiling emoji here*
Sissoko has been utterly terrible defensively at times. Thats the beauty of an ongoing point of view, rather than an entrenched one - recognising change.
I dont and havent stated he would always been good in that position. Until recently Id have said the best position for him would have been boot boy.
However, with his improvement, I have stated the way to play him to his best utility is as a strict DM. Yesterday he did that, and IMO put in his best performance for us since joining. He did well.
I think there comes a time when you just need to admit he has surprised you recently. Sorry, and I more than willing to apologise if proven otherwise, but for you to suggest that you “knew he’d do well” when deployed as a DM is re-writing history. Unless you meant to say “sent”?
Quite possible, I lost total track of the ding-dong debates there, so will happily hold my hand up if that is the case. I have actually believed -and still believe- that his best work is done as a central midfielder working box-to-box as he has room to move/is supported defensively by the likes of the much-underrated Dier. It worked supremely well today because our creatives - Kane/Dele/Eriksen/Son - got to play together with freedom and relative fitness/freshness for the first time I remember this season. I actually believe that if Sissoko was deployed in the Dier position, it would not be the best use of him at all. I am simply glad that he is finally showing that there has always been a player in there, albeit one who lacked confidence and did not play in his preferred position for a while due to being a squad player.
I really feel like you have me confused with someone else. And I also feel you might want to order your own thoughts on the player before taking shots at me
It was over a week ago I stated his best position for us, to get the most out of him, would be strictly as a DM. To which you disagreed. Only to make the exact same point a few days later
I actually believe - and still believe - DM is getting the absolute most out of him. And disagree with you entirely that he should in any way be a box to box player.
It was notable in the last two games prior, how poor his positioning and movement was as a b2b type, as well as the fact he simply doesnt provide enough of anything going forward. Against Wolves he left Winks consistently exposed and the team suffered. Against Palace Wanyama did a very good job of covering his gaps and people were then claiming Sissoko to be the second coming. He wasnt, HIS performance was basically as before, but the team was set up to compensate.
Yesterday? He was EXPLICITY a DM. Not b2b, this was a very different role. Most obviously when he intercepted a ball, thought to put the afterburners on, but then consciously checked back and played it simple. He was very clearly given a strict role to play which was different from what he has been doing.
He was playing the role I have been saying he should be, the one you argued against. And, as I said, I think it was probably his best performance for us.
Sissoko didn't just play well by Sissoko standards yesterday, if he can keep that up, we won't miss Wanyama or Dembele.
When playing as an outright DM, then he could replace Wanyama on that sort of form. He wont ever be able to replace Dembele though.
