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| Why we really watched Wimbledon |
Chelsea continued their pre-season adventures in Ireland on Saturday afternoon as they faced Europa League hopeful St Patrick’s Athletic. A number of young debutants who had lined up against Bohemians were shipped back to London to link up with the development squad and prepped for impending loan deals immediately following the draw. Which led to a number of more familiar faces joining the pre-season fray at Richmond Park.
The biggest, baddest and most exciting thing of note from that first half wasn’t the players themselves but the shape. While I’m not one to delve too deep into the tacticsphere, I can’t say I wasn’t a little excited to see not only a midfield diamond but TWO whole actual strikers up top! How long have Chelsea fans been waiting to see two up top when chasing a game, as a plan B when plan A is failing, to compensate for not having a brilliant lone striker since the days of Didier Drogba.
This is the first time in as long as I can remember* a manager has flirted with the notion of versatility. Didn’t formations to deal with different styles of play, the players that are available, just when things are falling flat on the day. The mind truly boggles.
As for those two strikers - Michy Batshuayi and Kevin Tammy Abraham - neither of them technically got on the scoresheet. But not for lack of trying from Batman. He peppered St Pat’s goal hitting the woodwork and was denied by an imperious Barry Murphy a number of times. In fact the goalkeeper impressed so much that the Belgian striker waited on the pitch at half-time to tell him as much and give him a little cuddle. Or maybe slip him a fiver to let him score next time. Who knows what was actually exchanged there.
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| Olivier Giroud showing the kids how it's done |
It was Derby County hero Mason Mount who opened the scoring for Chelsea. Played in by the much maligned Jorginho, the youngster made a clever run to get the better of Murphy and find the back of the net. Proving why Lampard relied on him so heavily last season. He is making a serious case for himself to make a break from the loan army.
Frank Lampard once again changed his entire team for the second half and once again the second half looked slightly ropey compared to the first. Hopefully it’s about the pick’n’mix lineups rather than any Maurizio Sarri style team talks.
St. Pat’s did not find themselves completely overrun in midfield after Chelsea changed both personnel and shape. And introduced Tiemoue Bakayoko into the side. Although not as dominant the Blues still started brightly and everyone from Kasey Palmer to Kenedy had a go. But it was World Cup winner and handsome bastard Olivier Giroud that stole the show.
It was the Frenchman’s first appearance during pre-season and he was out to show Batshuayi and Abraham how it’s done. His finishing was as impeccable as ever and immediately made a case for himself to start against Manchester United next month. Not that I’m getting ahead of myself.
One other familiar face of note that made an appearance in the second half — trialist Eric Molloy. From late Bohemians equaliser fame! Molloy managed to face Chelsea twice in four days with two different sides. While he didn’t get his goal for St. Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday, I am looking forward to see how he does with Barcelona next week.
Comprehensive result and good for the players to get into the habit of winning even if by and large the result itself is meaningless. Exciting to see some tactical flexibility and potentially some competitions for places and eradicate complacency.
Roll on Kawasaki and Barcelona.
jb xx
*note: I do have the memory of a goldfish, so ‘as long as I can remember’ barely extends to the first paragraph
RESULT: St Patrick's 0-4 Chelsea
FiRST HALF STARTING XI: Caballero, Zappacosta, Tomori, David Luiz, Emerson, Jorginho, Mount, Kovacic, Barkley, Abraham, Batshuayi
SECOND HALF STARTING XI: Cumming, Alonso, Zouma, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Bakayoko, Gilmour, Palmer, Kenedy, Pedro, Giroud
STAR MAN: Barry Murphy
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