Reece James needs to be played to his strengths by Enzo Maresca, marauding down the right, not inverting into the middle.
Plus Todd Cantwell is good but not as good as he thinks he is.
It’s always fascinating to watch newly-appointed managers with strong ideas and self-belief go into a dressing-room used to playing a different way. Do they stick dogmatically to their philosophy and tactics? Or do they accommodate the skill-sets of that squad? Does Chelsea’s new and inexperienced head coach Enzo Maresca attempt to invert a full-back of Reece James’ calibre into midfield? Or realise that James’ best work is done down the flanks? Ditto Malo Gusto, who replaced James in the painful pre-season loss to Celtic at Notre Dame.
The natural instinct is to wish Maresca well at Chelsea. He learned under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and got Leicester City promoted, albeit with a few wobbles and not many fans at the King Power mourned his departure that deeply. Maresca walked into a difficult situation at Chelsea. He needs to win over a fanbase bemused by the departure of Mauricio Pochettino just as form improved.
Maresca’s had to deal with the uncertainty over the future of the popular Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah, home-grown players who may be sacrificed on the altar of pure profit and PSR. He needs an elite, battle-hardened centre-forward (with Romelu Lukaku still on the books but off the radar). He today needs to begin assimilating Enzo Fernandez back into the fold after the midfielder’s offensive chant on Argentina duty.
On the pitch, Maresca’s side required a late goal to rescue a draw against League One Wrexham in Santa Clara and then got that 4-1 thumping by Celtic at Notre Dame. Chelsea’s social media admin was reduced to short elegies of posts like the solitary “FOUR” as sub Mikey Johnston completed Celtic’s scoring two minutes after coming on.
It’s not been an auspicious start for Maresca at Chelsea and, following Thursday’s friendly with Club America at the magnificent Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Italian has tough tests against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Inter Milan before the season starts with City at home. Welcome to the Premier League. Welcome to the pressure dome of Chelsea.
But pre-seasons are times for ironing out problems, imposing new philosophies and tactics, and Maresca obviously deserves time and patience to introduce his ideas into a squad formed from others’ ideas. For all the doubts around Maresca, and disappointments of this pre-season to date, it needs noting that talents like Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Fernandez and Gallagher have still to return to reinforce the side after their summer’s international duties. Marc Guiu, the 18-year-old Spanish striker recruited from Barcelona for a modest £5m, looks promising, and showed some neat turns, runs and shots against Celtic.
But Maresca admitted that his players suffered some “confusing things on and off the ball” and he has to drill quickly his defenders in his ideas. They played as individuals against Celtic rather than a well-coordinated unit but Maresca needs time at Cobham for that. Thiago Silva’s calming presence and reading of the game will be missed. They seemed unsure when to play a high-line and when to drop.
Allowance must be made for returning players. Wesley Fofana is back playing, and he’s an elite centre-back when fit. Tosin Adarabioyo, who looks an important recruit with his strong personality, communication skills and good distribution, came on at the break for Fofana.
James was back at right-back yet instructed to invert into midfield. This use of James did raise a concern over Maresca. He may simply have been building up James’ fitness after injury or may genuinely believe that this is the best use of James’ gifts in possession and watched some old tapes of his time on loan at Wigan Athletic. Chelsea fans will respond that James is best when marauding down the right. Ditto Gusto, who replaced James after 67 minutes, and again inverted, again taking him away from his destructive work down the right flank.
It will be interesting to see whether Maresca persists with his preferred plans (that even some Leicester fans grew tired of) or works more to the strengths of his new squad. James is a team man, and will doubtless do what Maresca demands, but he is also a strong individual, Chelsea’s captain, and will have his views. James needs to be delivering at right-back, charging up and down the flank, if he is to succeed Kyle Walker, 34, for England.
Maresca’s commitment to his Pep-approved inverted full-back doctrine will be followed with interest. Some flexibility to bring the best out of his Chelsea players makes more sense.
**
I bumped into Todd Cantwell in the Norwich City training ground canteen in April 2021, back when he was being tipped for big things. I nodded, went “ah the Dereham Deco”, grabbed a coffee and went off to interview Max Aarons.
Perhaps the Dereham Deco greeting was a mistake. Perhaps it only reflected the hype around Cantwell at the time. He was just 23, an up-and-coming talent, spoken of as a potential England player, but still needing the body of work to go with the praise. Even now after 205 games and 28 goals for Norwich, Bournemouth on loan, and a move to Rangers, the 26-year-old has still not lived up to that young potential.
The problem with Cantwell is he’s good but not as good as he thinks he is.
In Rangers’ most important game of the title run-in, away to Celtic, Cantwell was not deemed good enough to start by Philippe Clement nor capable of coming off the bench to make a difference. As he descended from the bus outside Celtic Park, he was greeted by a home fan with “get your hair cut, Cantwell” to some amusement. He needs to be known exclusively for his football not also his image and social media posts.
Now he’s signalled he wants to quit Ibrox. It sounds like Clement handled things well when Cantwell came into his office, asking to leave. Clement made the point that Rangers are a big club, Ibrox a magnificent stage, and that he should reconsider. Cantwell didn’t waste much time mulling his decision over, and confirmed his intentions to Clement, who has made him train with the B team. That makes sense as Clement has to concentrate on those who want to represent the club.
A sensible player would listen to Clement, appreciate how the manager could improve him, and learn to balance his desire to influence games with his undoubted ability along with the demands of team shape and duties. It’s a team game. Cantwell has to concentrate on delivering otherwise his career will drift, and all that early promise will be forgotten. His career, his choice. But it’s always a pity to see talent unfulfilled. Dereham, but never Deco.
Excellent as always Henry.
Maresca appointment worries me. I think he could be out of his depth. No upgrade on Pochettino . This playing out from the back and inverted full backs sounds risky. James as you say is an attacking down the wing full back. Not an inverted player. But how often will he be fit to play anyway.
Cantwell does look one overhyped flash player. Never delivers when it matters. Poor work rate. You would go into battle with him. Rangers better off to without him.