Yesterday noticed the tip of the 2023/24 season within the Premier League, and the time has now come to begin reflecting on every thing that has occurred, and there was lots.
It’s been an actual emotional rollercoaster this season. I feel again to moments through the season, simply how gloomy and poisonous it was at occasions. I keep in mind leaping on right here after a match and simply studying actually 100s of feedback typically with uncooked anger and feelings on the conditions. I actually keep in mind how dangerous it obtained this season at occasions. I felt all of it from a lot of you on this group, a group I truly suppose is way extra measured than many different Chelsea fan communities round. We’ve an incredible combination of followers right here, whether or not it’s match-going, UK-based, abroad-based, followers who can’t get to video games, and every thing in between. The one factor all of us have in widespread is our devotion and fervour to our soccer membership, a membership all of us bleed blue for.
Feelings, over-reactions, under-reactions, all of it occurs, and it’s all pure. We’ve all been at all-time low at occasions supporting Chelsea this season, and the one factor I heard and skim lots was the disconnection they’ve felt this season. It’s been not possible to disregard. I felt it too at occasions.
However what a distinction successful video games make, proper? The final 5 video games has seen an actual flip in feelings and emotions amongst the fan base. Issues have been a lot better with the higher performances and outcomes. I assume that’s simply soccer, proper? Opinions can change quick, VERY quick.
Chelsea had a powerful finish to the season for positive, and there’s no doubt in my thoughts that it HAS been an achievement to complete sixth and get European soccer again on the membership. Nevertheless it’s solely an achievement because of how dangerous issues did get this season. If you happen to keep in mind all of the doom and gloom, the unprecedented damage issues, the youngest squad within the league, and all the opposite circumstances which have performed an element, I feel you merely have to have a look at ending sixth to be an achievement for Pochettino and the gamers.
Nonetheless, the season just isn’t performed out over 5 video games, sadly, neither is it performed out from January. If it was, we’d have completed 4th, which is what the membership goal was that was set for Pochettino earlier than the beginning of the season, a goal he has not reached.
We’ve scored objectives and actually, Chelsea have scored 77 objectives this season, which is our third-most throughout a single marketing campaign within the competitors. Solely bettered in 2009-10 (103) and 2016-17 (85) – which had been each title-winning seasons.
Once more, that’s some achievement. However on the different finish, it’s not been so good and actually, it’s been dangerous.
Chelsea’s 63 objectives conceded this season is essentially the most within the membership’s Premier League historical past and essentially the most they’ve conceded for over 30 years. This has been the most important drawback and is 16 extra objectives than we conceded final season.
We’ve mounted up our attacking points from final season, and we now have had much more finesse in entrance of aim and extra creativity. However defensively we now have typically been a shambles.
Points that may impact that was not with the ability to decide an everyday again 4 because of accidents. However sadly the coach should do higher to coach a greater defence. Defending is a crew accountability, not simply the again 4. Pochettino’s facet performs far too open and permits actual vulnerability on the counter assault.
I’m going to hone in on particular person gamers later this week and we will likely be score all of them collectively. However Cole Palmer’s aim contributions have been insane this season and have been an enormous purpose for our attacking enhancements. But in addition, Pochettino’s setup and the best way he units up with numbers and third man runs in assault, has additionally helped us be devastating on the counter.
Once more, we’ll hone in on Pochettino individually in one other article, however his general ways have typically simply not been adequate (been so a lot better within the final 5 or 6 matches). He has additionally nonetheless did not create a rapport and reference to the general fan base. However once more, we’ll hone in on Pochettino and the gamers individually in one other article later this week.
Let’s get to the video games now, and there’s been some horrific performances and outcomes, and there has additionally been some excellent ones. It’s been vastly inconsistent, with one cup ultimate and one cup semi ultimate made, and a few excellent outcomes to get there and all through the season.
We had an honest pre-season and there was some actual promise with Pochettino’s setup then, with it wanting much more like how he ended this season. Christopher Nkunku appeared key to it, after which after all obtained his irritating damage.
Chelsea went unbeaten in 5 pre-season video games, successful in opposition to Wrexham, Brighton, and Fulham alongside the best way.
However as quickly because the season started, the cracks confirmed straight away and all of us feared the worst after defeats in opposition to West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa actually set the tone for an extended and gruelling season forward.
After that got here a defeat by Brentford, however we additionally beat Tottenham 4-1, and went toe-to-toe in opposition to Manchester Metropolis drawing 4-4. We truly deserved to win that recreation and plenty of see it as our greatest efficiency of the season.
It ought to have been a turning level, however then got here a 4-1 thrashing from Newcastle, and a defeat to Manchester United in December, and the tone dropped down once more and the gloom got here again. There have been so many of those one step ahead and two step again moments this season, and so they continued all through the season.
Everton additionally beat us 2-0 throughout that interval, and Wolves beat us 2-1.
After that we loved good runs within the FA Cup and League Cup to assist take our minds off the league kind. However issues within the league continued to stutter. We conceded 8 objectives in two video games dropping 4-0 in opposition to Liverpool and 4-2 in opposition to Wolves, our second defeat of the season to them.
However then we beat Aston Villa within the cup, Crystal Palace away from dwelling, and as soon as once more went toe-to-toe with the champions Manchester Metropolis, drawing 1-1. This was one other recreation the place we may have simply taken all three factors and actually stood as much as be counted. It left us all saying ‘why on earth can’t we play like this each recreation?’
Then we narrowly misplaced out to Liverpool 1-0 within the League Cup ultimate, and recreation that was there for the taking with a depleted Liverpool facet full of academy gamers. Shedding this was poor for me, and we must always have been celebrating a trophy carry too this season.
We then went on an 8 recreation unbeaten run, with a 6-0 drumming of Everton, a win in opposition to Newcastle, and a 4-3 win in opposition to Manchester United which confirmed nice crew spirit as soon as once more, one thing we had seen solely in isolation this season till the season run in actually.
There was a irritating 2-2 draw in opposition to Sheffield United on this run although, that noticed us throw away all three factors by conceding an equaliser deep into stoppage time.
We then misplaced narrowly to Manchester Metropolis within the FA Cup semi ultimate, one other recreation in opposition to the champions that we did nicely in and deserved extra from. This was the third time we confronted Metropolis this season and deserved extra.
Then there was one other low level of the season, and in addition to all through the season, this was one other level the place nearly all of the fan base was calling for Pochettino to be sacked. I did polls on this all season and it was averaging 80% of individuals wanting Pochettino sacked at this level in addition to all through the season earlier than that time. However I’m after all speaking concerning the 5-0 thrashing from Arsenal in April.
Nonetheless, after that issues modified, and Chelsea then went on to complete the season robust, going six video games unbeaten, having fun with wins in opposition to West Ham, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, after which after all Bournemouth on Sunday to seal our sixth positioned end. It was an incredible finish to a season that has been extremely up and down.
The Every day Mail’s Kieran Gill reported yesterday {that a} desk for first halves would place Chelsea within the Premier League’s high 4 this season. For second halves, they’re nearer to the relegation zone.
And this nearly sums up our season. A recreation of two halves, first halves and second halves of matches, and the general season.
We began sluggish and badly, however we picked issues up on the finish of the season. It’s been combined feelings all through, and it’s been a narrative of what ifs too. We’ve narrowly misplaced video games we must always have gained, and we now have gained video games we deserved to lose or draw.
The gamers have proven actual combat at occasions this season, and so they have proven an actual togetherness, Pochettino has actually helped construct that rapport.
Different occasions they haven’t been match to put on the shirt and have appeared unbothered. However fortunately that appears to be behind the gamers now and so they have been on the market combating for the badge, and plenty of of you have got seen that. I’ve seen feedback this previous week akin to ‘that is such a likeable group of gamers’ – and I’m actually beginning to really feel that now too.
The squad has some query marks for me nonetheless, and there are gamers in it who I firmly consider won’t make it right here. We additionally want some extra key additions. However there was some high signings, and gamers like Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo have actually confirmed critics unsuitable. Others like Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto have confirmed to be excellent and really good signings. There was numerous nice issues achieved with our squad construct, and we all know it wanted gutting out.
I consider we now have been naive by not including extra high quality expertise and I actually hope that’s addressed in the summertime.
Joe Cole mentioned this week: “What is essential is the recruitment in the summertime. You want expertise, I wouldn’t say wherever specifically. I don’t suppose the membership want so as to add any extra younger gamers, they want expertise. Similar to what Bayer Leverkusen have achieved. They introduced in Jonas Hofmann and one other senior participant (Granit Xhaka), you possibly can’t put a worth on that.
“If I used to be advising the membership, it could be two or three gamers in. Skilled gamers who know the right way to win video games, good characters, set the tone within the dressing room.”
I feel I’d perhaps take heed to a person who was a really intelligent participant himself again within the day, as a result of he’s spot on there.
General I can not overlook the glum moments this season and the poor outcomes and performances. However on the similar time, I can acknowledge the problems we now have confronted and the enhancements we now have seen on this season run in, and I also can notice that we now have additionally had some first rate performances and outcomes too this season.
For Chelsea as a membership, it’s not been adequate. For the house owners, they needed Champions League qualification, so targets haven’t been hit. However for the circumstances and the very fact we had spent a big portion of the season exterior the highest ten, that is an achievement to complete in sixth place.
I actually wouldn’t say I’ve loved this season and at occasions, removed from it. It’s been painful and punishing. However I can see the indicators and I preserve perception on this possession and the ambitions they’ve.
Time to enhance the squad once more, make some large choices, and push on into subsequent season a lot stronger!
