As the dust settles on the derby match at the weekend, Chelsea legend Pat Nevin highlights on-pitch partnerships as a key contribution to the Chelsea side seeking improved form in the games ahead…
There is no doubt that these are tough times at the club with such a run of results. There is one group of Blues fans of a younger vintage who have never, or rarely, experienced a run to compare.
If your memory can go all the way back to season 2015/16, we had fewer points than we have now at this point of the season. Our eventual 10th-place finish that season gives younger fans that can remember it at least a little experience of something other than fighting for, and winning trophies, year in year out, and of course we still have a Champions League campaign ongoing this season.
So, as Graham Potter has said, any annoyance, anger and frustration from the fans is understandable. We all feel it. It is just that when you have been through it before there is hope and belief we will come out of it stronger.
In hindsight that season in 15/16 when Jose Mourinho couldn’t get the side to click was a major transition time at the club. Maybe there wasn’t quite the numbers of new players we have had in the past months, but certainly in terms of influential players it was a huge time.
Didier Drogba had left the year before, after his comeback season. John Terry was now 35 years of age. Frank Lampard’s influence and his goals had been lost a year before along with Petr Cech, who had signed for Arsenal. That was the spine of probably the best team in the club's history, totally removed. Transitions are hard and that one took time, with plenty of pain on the way.
Those who can recall watching the club before the Roman era know there were far more painful and difficult times even than that one. So, the older vintages have seen it all before and understand that there is sometimes famine amongst the feasts.
These are the times, more than any other, that the players and the staff need the fans’ support, particularly at the games. Chelsea fans always turn up, maybe some a wee bit grumpily at the moment, but they will be there and as the next game starts, they/you will be hoping for the best and cheering for the team even in these tough times.
The Spurs defeat was particularly painful for our travelling faithful because of the history between the two clubs. We have had the better of our great rivals for a long time, so we kind of got used to the idea of ‘Three Point Lane’. But I don’t think it was just losing the three points that upset some of the supporters, it was the fact that unlike a few recent games against the likes of Dortmund and Southampton, we created precious few chances.
That is the thing to be rectified over the next few games. Having been there before as a player I know the feelings well. On this sort of run, the confidence as a group isn’t what it should be, or indeed would be, if the team could get those one or two wins in a row.
Winning breeds confidence and belief, just as not winning can breed uncertainty. The odd thing is that often the players know they aren’t far away from getting it to work. The difference between winning and losing in many of the matches this season has been tiny, and the squad will feel that.
What you need above all else now is players who are brave enough to want the ball all the time in difficult areas, who are willing to take risks and to try anything to change the narrative. They also have to be hard-working as well as talented, showing a desire for their work, a pride in what they do and yes, a deep feeling for the team and the club itself.
It is strange to say but the player who epitomised that probably more than any other at the weekend for us was Joao Felix. The reason why I say strange is because he is ‘only’ a loan player.
I reckon that makes his bravery, attitude and work rate even more impressive. I thought he looked the most likely player in the team who was either going to score or was going to make that elusive goal we have been searching for. It was also noticeable that Spurs had a specific plan to deal with him. One of the centre-backs would come out and often tackle him robustly, as soon as he got possession.
It was a crowded midfield, but even so, they felt they needed help in there as soon as Joao got the ball. It didn’t stop him looking for it, making runs, taking the hits and trying things, even if it didn’t always work.
It is noticeable that much of the good, creative stuff we have seen has been when Joao and Enzo Fernandez have tried to link up. They are clearly working on that understanding and hopefully it will bear even more fruit very soon. It does help in tough times when you have partnerships working well together.
One of the disappointments lately has been not getting as many dangerous balls in from our full-back areas. It sounds easy to do, but I know from experience the full-backs can only get in good areas if their understanding with the wide player in front of them is working well. They need to work on creating space for each other, and if we can sort that one then with the quality that Reece James and Ben Chilwell have, the opportunities will come.
I spent a career out wide and understood the importance of the flanks producing, but producing as a partnership. If you don’t work together, it is easier to shut down creation by doubling up, just as Spurs did so effectively at the weekend. Those are partnerships that have to improve.
There is always the option of reverting to a back three however, which must be a temptation just now. Then it becomes much easier for the wing-backs to get up the field and into the right positions to deliver, even if you have to sacrifice an out-and-out winger-type player. Almost every ‘winger’ at the club such as Mykhailo Mudryk can play more centrally as one of the two in a 3-4-2-1 formation, so it doesn’t deny any of them the chance to play, if they are on form and creating.
Having said that, I have just mused about not playing with wingers for a while. I think I will go and have a lie down to recover. I have obviously let the brotherhood down!