Graham Potter’s poor begin at Chelsea received even poorer on the primary day of 2023 as his crew drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest, and albeit did not deserve way more from the sport.
They now sit down in eighth within the Premier League, seven factors off a top-four spot having received simply one in all their final seven league video games.
In consequence, many are beginning to wonder if Potter is the suitable man for the job, however Todd Boehly can be smart to make modifications on the pitch earlier than switching managers once more.
Whether or not sacking Thomas Tuchel was determination on the American proprietor’s half may be very a lot up for debate, however choosing Potter as his successor most actually was. The 47-year-old labored wonders at Brighton, getting glorious outcomes whereas enjoying thrilling soccer, and is among the finest younger managers round.
He hasn’t been capable of impress as a lot in his new job simply but, however there’s loads of purpose to imagine he’ll have the ability to take action if given time and a squad that fits his wants.
The Englishman hardly hit the bottom working at Brighton with the crew ending down in fifteenth with simply 41 factors and 9 wins in his first season there. That is largely as a result of he did not have gamers significantly properly suited to enjoying his possession-based, high-pressing model of play, and he has an identical difficulty at Chelsea.
That difficulty begins on the again. Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly are each glorious defenders however neither is especially cellular or fast off the mark, making the crew susceptible to counter-attacks after they play as excessive a line as Potter likes to.
In the meantime in midfield, Potter does not have many gamers which are capable of press laborious, win the ball and get ahead – Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic are way more passive gamers and N’golo Kante is previous his finest.
The issue up high wants no explaining with the membership missing a high striker capable of hyperlink up play in addition to rating objectives for an extended, lengthy time now.
Fortunately, Chelsea are one of many richest golf equipment on the earth and have the flexibility to deal with all these points within the switch market. In the event that they achieve this, giving Potter the gamers he wants, he may properly flip issues round as he did at Brighton.
Doing so should not be too troublesome both, with a lot of faster centre-backs and dynamic midfielders round and accessible for the suitable worth, together with one which labored with Potter at Brighton and would certainly like to take action once more in Alexis Mac Allister, one of many stars of the World Cup.
Getting a high striker is admittedly robust within the present market, however there are good choices on the market similar to Memphis Depay, who may very well be accessible for subsequent to nothing and has the whole lot they want on paper.
Boehly could also be reluctant to offer monetary backing to a supervisor that hasn’t began properly however, in the end, it is a danger value taking.
He want solely look north to Manchester for proof of that, the place Erik ten Hag is popping issues round at Outdated Trafford after being allowed to do away with the most effective gamers ever and spend an enormous sum of money on two gamers that had by no means performed at a better membership degree than the Eredivisie earlier than, together with a centre-back that almost all mentioned was too quick to reach the Premier League.
Younger thrilling managers that may play entertaining soccer whereas getting outcomes are laborious to return by, and if you get one, you need to do the whole lot you’ll be able to to assist them succeed.
