Another great poacher goal by Steven Fletcher, he has the composure to attempt… and finish a ‘Madjer’ !

Ashley Cole nutmegs Kevin Nolan.

West Ham v Chelsea, 1/12/2012

Lionel Messi vs Chelsea. via transfertmarkt.co.uk

Unhappy Torres is unhappy. Foul/clearance combo

Sam Allardyce chases his assistant Neil McDonald during West Ham United’s win over Chelsea on the 1st of December, 2012.

Chelsea using space #3

When the defensive minded Ryan Bertrand actually has an attacking contribution…

Ryan Bertrand isn’t a defensive option. Rafa Benitez confirmed that he also had in mind to rest Juan Mata but I do think Bertrand was a genuine choice ahead of Moses and Marin.

Bertrand offers what the other attacking players don’t offer: he makes runs,  schoolbook runs but still runs. He’s not attracted by the ball and provides support on the channels. Beside Mata, he’s the only player who can follow second balls as well (e.g his chance against Newcastle after a lay back from Torres).

Bertrand made several runs through space, what Moses would have done as he prefers to cut inside on the ball to shoot (when he’s played on the left).

Chelsea players can play through space; Mata, Oscar has the ability to do so. So why weren’t they able to link up with Torres on a regular basis? Has it something to do with the starting point of the attackers’ movements and runs?  

Chelsea using space #3:

Ramires pushes forward and Torres drags a defender away

This time, Oscar spotted Ramires’ run and managed to pick him through space. Fernando Torres doesn’t run toward the ball as evey goalscorer would do, he actually runs in another direction to stretch the interval between the center backs.

That’s something to keep in mind when you expect some variation or a ‘Plan B’ during game. I’m not so sure about Radamel Falcao being able to free space on a regular basis (not at all, actually. Arda Turan acts as a second striker and drags defenders away when Atletico needs space)

Chelsea using space #2

Late runs from the midfielders, Hazard dragging defenders away: relevant fast breaks

Azpilicueta was carrying the ball up the field and both Oscar and Ramires are at level with him. That’s interesting to notice that Hazard actually makes a good move there, instead of being magneted by the ball he runs the channel and creates space.

That’s how you can stretch the defensive intervals and allow more space for your main striker centrally as a matter of fact. 

Chelsea using space #1

Chelsea feature less players upper to the ball on the pitch, it leaves more space.

For two games, Rafael Benitez’s ‘defensive and negative tactics’ allegedly killing the attacking purposes of ‘Macazar’ allowed Chelsea to earn consecutive clean sheets in Premier League, something that didn’t happened since mid-September. Asking more work down the flanks from Mata and Hazard was about common sense considering their lack of defensive work leaving exposed defenders.

When the ball is recovered, and as the wide players are closer to their full backs, that leaves more space to break. There’s not half of the team upper the ball and firmly rooted into the grass anymore waiting for the ball. Ramires plays Azpilicueta through the right channel. It’s interesting to notice that Torres has more space and that Oscar is about to enter into the box with a typical ‘Lampardesque’ late run.

Chelsea’s 4-3-3 shape in possession #3

Oscar and Ramires can provide options to the full backs

Oscar and Ramires are prompt to provide options to the players in the channels and create triangles in that situation. There’s no point for Torres to drop on the channels then considering the attackers are available enough to help the full backs. Torres running down the flanks was more symptomatic of a wider issue (i.e the attackers’ unavailability to provide support to him & the full backs) than a clear statement of powerlessness from him the last 10 months or so.

Chelsea’s 4-3-3 shape in possession #2:

Oscar drops and carries the ball up.

Oscar’s stamina allows him to cover a lot of ground during games, but for such a young age, he’s not able to maintain the same intensity all game long. But he managed to produce at least one half in every game he played this season.

In that situation, Oscar drops deep and carries the ball up by himself. Romeu kept his sitting role whereas Ramires stayed upper on the pitch.

Chelsea’s 4-3-3 shape in possession #1: 

The anchor player not left alone anymore

4-2-3-1 is a flexible system if you have the good enough players tactically speaking and if you can keep the ball as a team. When in possession,  Ramires and Oscar behaved as the two midfielders in front of another with a more sitting role;  common situation in a 4-3-3 shape.

The main impact of such a positioning allows more passing options to the holder of the ball, especially when he’s one of the 3 deepest players (center backs and the deepest midfielder). That was arguably one of the main issues with Roberto Di Matteo’s gameplan as the team seemed cut in two parts.

Here, even if Fulham also opted for an organized approach, Romeu isn’t in the virtually hopeless situation John Obi Mikel has been used to the recent seasons in this very zone.

Chelsea’s pressing shape against Fulham #2

4-4-2 on ball side of the field

Sasha Riether sees a packed line of 4 behind him and tries to switch the play because he’s closed down and has no options. We’ve to note Hazard and Bertrand’s discipline to make Chelsea keeping a good shape on ball side of the field.

Oscar prevents the German left back to pass the ball inside toward former Chelsea man Steve Sidwell.

Chelsea’s pressing shape against Fulham #1

Oscar presses alongside Torres 

Oscar presses alongside Fernando Torres and prevents the Fulham defenders to distribute through the center. Here, Aaron Hughes is forced to play toward Riise.

Chelsea’s playing application vs Fulham: whiteboard summary.

The Rafa Benitez effect is already noticeable with not even one week of work at training. The pressing was arguably more organized than with Roberto Di Matteo.

Oscar’s versatility makes it easy for his manager to give him precise instructions about how to behave with/without the ball.