🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

When Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over Chelsea in 2022, the club stood at a crossroads. Gone was the ruthless efficiency of the Roman Abramovich era—a time defined by silverware, superstar managers, and an unapologetically results-first philosophy. In its place emerged a new vision: youth-driven recruitment, long-term project planning, and an ambitious attempt to redefine Chelsea’s footballing identity in the modern age.

But with big spending came bigger scrutiny. Can this new era truly deliver the same level of dominance once enjoyed under Roman’s watchful eye? Can a club once synonymous with instant success learn the patience required to build something sustainable, yet still elite?

This save is my answer to those questions.

In "Blueprint to Blue Glory," I take on the Chelsea project in FM24 with a clear objective—rebuild the squad with structure, discipline, and purpose, while staying true to the high standards that made Chelsea a powerhouse in the 2000s and 2010s. Tactical balance, youth integration, and a refined recruitment model will be the pillars of this journey. No shortcuts, no chaos—just calculated steps back to the top.

The Roman empire may have fallen, but under Boehly, it’s time to prove Chelsea can rise again.

“ARISE!!!”

[ Sung-Jinwoo, Solo Levelling]

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As usual, typical owners would greet gracefully for a new manager in-charge for Chelsea team

Director of Football would be the ex-Brighton's Director of Football which Boehly has recruited during early takeover when most of the Brighton's staff has been brought upon along with Graham Potter (Well…yeah..)

Within the club's history, Chelsea has won

-UEFA Champions League (2012 // 2021)

-English Premier League (1955 // 2005 // 2006 // 2010 // 2015 // 2017 under Conte)

-FIFA Club World Cup (2021), which in real-life Chelsea still participating due to 2021 UCL success

-European Cup Winners Cup (1971 // 1998)

-UEFA Europa League (2013 // 2019)

-UEFA Super Cup (1998 // 2021)

-FA Cup (1970 // 1997 // 2000 // 2007 // 2009 // 2010 // 2012 // 2018)

-Carabao Cup (1965 // 1998 // 2005 // 2007 // 2015)

-FA Community Shield (1955 // 2000 // 2005 // 2009)

From the above, all of these would be silverwares that have been won under Roman era. With much more financial muscles that can be pumped into our squad year by year, perhaps it is not impossible for us to replicate things right further.

In terms of facilities, so far I'm not concerned much. As long as there's home venue for us to show the true value towards Stamford Bridge fans, we would preserve as long as we could.

But the current worriness is the transfer budget. With nil transfer budget and loads of wage budget (4.2m p/w), I don't think we would have problems…..for now I guess so. smirks

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BOARD CULTURE

When we try to observe and take an initial look on our board culture overall, I'm not surprised.

Maybe because of past achievements under previous owners that are possible to be achieved, it is reasonable that they may want to replicate again those achievements, but with much financial muscle under Boehly-Clearlake capital, they would also want to manifest a successful era with more trophies and utmost dominance as per what Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona able to enjoy past decades.

SUPPORTER CULTURE

In terms of supporter's side, they also want to embrace an attractive football being implemented into their own favorite football clubs, including Chelsea here.

For current expectation, they would expect no  less than qualifying for Europa League….for now.

Also due to domestic rivals, they also expecting us to finish and dominate Spurs, Liverpool and West Ham in the standings to be worthwhile for some time.

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So far that's all for the introductory here. On next post, we'll try to identify the key players that we would focus on, and to what tactical instructions, formations that we want to implement across all seasons.

This is to ensure that cohesion among the players in the squad are truly strong toward the end of the first season (hopefully), thus mentoring would be much easier for newcoming players at later season in the future.

See ya!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

In this one, we will take a look on how we can construct our tactics and formations to utilizing and maximizing our current player's maximum potential on the pitch

Sooooo…..let's jump along, shall we?

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So far from here, we do have 24 players in our squad

But in terms of squad depth,

For me, I'm considering this as ‘satified’ depth already. As those players are able to work on multiple positionings, so it may take impact on different phases of play moving forward.

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After making some alterings in FMRTE software to reflect real-life injury on players which may not available for Maresca's player usage in his perusal, below would be the almost true reflection (or what do we say, ALMOST EXACT I guess) on players at Maresca's disposal

Below would be counted from 2023 date as per the database when FM24 is released

Fofana would be out until March - May 2024 due to ACL injury

Reece James would be out until mid-August due to recurring hamstring from last year, expected to recover around mid-August or early September

Nkunku still on ongoing knee issues, expected to recover around Mid-August 2023

Romeo Lavia still recovering from multiple injuries, expected to comeback on mid-late July 2023

After put aside those injured players, so I'm expecting only 20 players to be used for this season.

INTERESTING….HMMMM….

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So let's identify which key players do we need to focus as priority in our tactical and formation setup, thus would prioritizing to provide maximum gametime on the pitch (considered as undroppable player(s))

COLE PALMER

One of the key cog during Pochettino's era, now to be continued to be used by Enzo Maresca as the main focal point upon all phases of play, by which we could implement the same here.

Overall here, his technical attributes provide the biggest impact, next to be physical and mental aspect of the game, which shows this guy is quite exceptional as a very technical player in my perspectives.

His dribbling (15), finishing (16), first touch (16), decisions (14), vision (14), flair (15), technique (16), balance (16), acceleration and agility (15) clearly shows as such

Could possible to be played as Trequartista or pure no 10 as the AM role, could considered played as Advanced Playmaker, depends on later decision throughout the season further

NICOLAS JACKSON

Mainly played as No 9 in Maresca's system, would also to be considered for consistent game time depends on consistency and form on the pitch. Otherwise, other players that seemed to be fit, would play on No 9 position.

For the overall, I would considered his physical attributes as his main asset, next by his technical attributes which all considered to be ‘more than satisfied’ level for me. Only his mental aspect of the game that clearly shows there's some space for improvements, which can be done via training regimes weekly.

PEDRO NETO

This Portuguese winger, although most of them feels this guy are not contributing enough this season, but for me, he's more to underrated player in Chelsea.

According to Fotmob, he already played 46 games in total,  contributing 15 goal contributions (7 goals 8 assists).

For me he almost function more of small forward (SF) or point guard (PG) in basketball, mostly on creating chances. Bases on FBREF website, across all wingers, his assists (70th percentile), xAG (Exp Assisted Goals) (79th percentile), progressive carries (82nd percentile), and progressive passes received on any phases of play he found (79th percentile) would be considered more than average.

But when compared among forwards (due to his tendency on staying on the final third most of the time), he nearly topples most stats as below;

So that's why I'm considering him as the most underrated player, which considered on the price tag of €60million (£51.4m) plus add-ons when Chelsea bought him from Wolves.

Slowly but surely, we can exploit his advantage to our effectiveness on the final third phases of play further.

JADON SANCHO

Yeah right maybe most of Chelsea fans would mock me on why he's been the chosen one for being among the selected key players for this season.

Put aside his attitude in real-life, I'm not immersed enough on real-life basis yet for Sancho, when considering his greatness period during Dortmund era, possible to be revived under this season.

For those attributes, overall for me is a so-so, but his technical aspect of the game would stand-out more than the other two, so it could possible that he would be gained much more on final third to exploit as much space as possible using his off-the ball movement (14), his agility (17) and pace (14), along with his technique (17), dribbling (18), and first touch (16) as well as passing (16) would be much valuable and possible to gain multiple goal contributions for us this season.

MOISES CAICEDO

Key cog under Pochettino and Maresca this season. We would consider him as the Chelsea general after justifying his £115 million price tag bought from Brighton & Hove Albion on 2023 by making Chelsea winning UEFA Europa Conference League.

Most existent Chelsea player on the field by playing all available games this season

From his attributes, we would consider him to roam and grab those balls to execute counter attacks from all sides he able to grab the ball.

His physical totally stands out as well as his tackling (18), and work rate (16). Would much to be favorite across all European teams to have him.

ENZO FERNANDEZ

Considered as Chelsea commander this season. Those technical attributes are at utmost top level already. Waiting to be seen how the commander-general combo in the middle of the pitch would do the favor for Chelsea this season.

Take a look of his stats recorded in FBREF as well.

All nearly dominating the top quartile. Marvelous I could say here.

MARC CUCURELLA

One to be considered as key cog in Chelsea this season.

He would be an important asset to impact Chelsea's mental aspect of the game at all times.

Only time will tell on how he could impact for us later on.

LEVI COLWILL

Lastly, the Chelsea leader himself. 

Strong presence at the backline to be paired with any of the available centrebacks, as well as his passing (14), technique (14), positioning (14), composure on games (16) as well as decision-making (14) as well as work rate (14), truly reflect himself as Chelsea's dynamo of the team to protect the backline this season.

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After identifying those key players that deemed indispensable (depends on form), below would be the formation we would chosen.

After considering to try to replicate Maresca's tactics, this would be it.

Palmer with Trequartista role, RW would be put under Inside Forward (Attack), LW would be only In Inverted Winger to combat the final third of the game, No 9 as Complete Forward to make it function across all phases of the gameplay. (Work Ball into Box and Pass into Space may have benefits on those four trident of attacks here, perhaps)

In the middle, Enzo with Segundo Volante (Attacking), making him to go up and down of the pitch through the middle, alongside Caicedo as Half Back (Defend) to protect the backline (Focus Play through the middle)

Cucurella with Inverted Fullback (Defend), but on personal role, I do set his as Wingback (Attack) on providing his free license to roam above (Overlap Left)

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Let's see how does it goes further on the pre-season consists of 10 friendlies have been decided.

Wait for the next series after this.

See ya!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

Let's see how is it goes for our friendlies before our 1st season would start.

Those friendlies would be

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Let's see how does our friendlies do the fare to us rightaway

 CHELSEA 2 : 0 ATHLETIC BILBAO (Palmer 7', Jackson 18')

Dominant in possession (59% with Bilbao's 41%)

More passes completed (521 completed out of 581 total passes vs Bilbao's 369 out of 422 passes)

More shots on target (6 vs Bilbao's 4)

At 04:31, our players made the off-the-ball shape of 3-2-5 successfully, as expected.

Colwill - Chalobah - Gusto

Cucurella - Caicedo

Sancho - Enzo - Jackson - Palmer - Pedro Neto

Now at 05:33, only 1 minutes after 1st highlight

Pedro Neto already drag Yuri wide, Jackson already dragging 2 Bilbao players, Yeray and Sancet, with him at the middle.

Palmer due to his Trequartista role, tend to roam, making Vesga and Vivian conservatively shadow-marking him to anticipate any possible burst forward action, Enzo pinning both Gorosabel and Nico Williams.

All of the sudden Sancho got so much space in front of him to be exploited.

Hint : Ball is at Cucurella.

Guess to where Cucurella passes to?

To Sancho at the so-much-space in front of him while Pedro Neto, Palmer, Jackson and Enzo already take action to move forward

When ball already arrive in front of Sancho, Bilbao slowly tilted towards Sancho's space, but at the same time, giving Pedro Neto to exploit the space left by Yuri

Sancho now being double-marked by Gorosabel and Nico Williams, Yuri-Vivian-Yeray making 3 vs 2 with Jackson and Palmer in the middle

Gorosabel got the ball, Jackson and Palmer still stick at the middle, Enzo nearby zone 14 at the edge of the penalty box, Pedro Neto with his rich-space to be bombarded once he has the chances to do so.

Gorosabel passes to Yeray to be cleared forward to avoid Jackson snatches the ball as Jackson is only behind him, Enzo being shadow-marked behind by Prados and Sancet.

Caicedo - Cucurella - Colwill providing Bermuda Triangle instantly nearby Zone 14 and half-spaces

Chalobah and Gusto 2 vs 1 with Inaki Williams

Ball goes to Sancet and at the same time being marked by Cucurella, all front five retreat backwards to act as potential support for mid-counterattacking phases.

Sancet headed back to Yeray due to being tightly-marked with some expectation that Yeray will compose himself to control the ball, but instead he headed forward again, which no one get the third ball (1st from Yeray to Sancet, 2nd ball Sancet to Yeray, 3rd ball from Yeray to no man's land)

Sancet nearly got the third ball but accidentallypassed to…no man's land again.

While in no man's land, Caicedo quickly leave his space to get the ball, Sancho already sped up to the available space for him to exploit.

Jackson dropped back to Zone 14, Palmer already get into the penalty box provided by Jackson early, Enzo already starting his forward move and Pedro Neto simply drag wide again to distract Yuri….again for 2nd time.

Yuri after realizing the space left behind, quickly cover back to mark Pedro Neto, and suddenly again Vivian already 1 vs 2 with Jackson and Palmer, I dunno why Berenguer is dominantly outlier in Bilbao system.

Caicedo on the ball.

Caicedo releases the ball to Cucurella and then Colwill that has been marked by Sancet, and make blindside runs in behind Sancet himself to drag him away. Jackson starting to run inside and Sancho drag wide again to provide space to Enzo exploit.

Gusto - Chalobah - Colwill still neatly marking Inaki Williams here.

Colwill passes to Palmer at Zone 14, Pedro Neto and Sancho knows what they need to do, dragging both fullbacks wide to give as much space as possible here.

Caicedo gets more inside and Palmer releases the ball to Caicedo back. Take a look at Pedro Neto's, Jackson's and Sancho's positioning

After a few passes here, the ball goes to Palmer again, Pedro Neto seems waiting to get the ball passed to him. 

As expected, Palmer passes to Pedro Neto again, while Palmer preparing to make curved runs in behind Vesga here.

Now Gusto already left the back 3, Caicedo take over as Gusto will cover Berenguer for potential counter-attack as if he gets the ball later.

Pedro Neto got the ball, Vesga suddenly distracted to him wide, accidentally providing Palmer acres of space in front of him opened.

Pedro Neto passes the ball to the open space while Palmer goes in.

Back 3 still intact here, Gusto with Berenguer. Palmer shots in, Goal 1-0

For the second goal here, it happened from a free kick taken by Palmer. Nothing unusual or spectacular here.

After a few passes from the free kick, there you go. 3-2-5 again still intact.

Sancho crosses inside the penalty box while Jackson, Palmer and Pedro Neto poaches the crossed ball.

There you go. Jackson snatches the ball, and shoots to the net. 2-0 for Chelsea!!!

CHELSEA 5 : 0 STRASBOURG (Enzo 3', Caicedo 13', Mudryk 26', Gusto 35', Jackson 64')

Early buildup would be as usual 4-2-3-1, with Badiashile suddenly the farthest leftback there 

And during buildup phases, goes to 3-2-5, with Badiashile tuck inside to midfield beside Caicedo, with Enzo starting to bombard forward to form the front 5.

Ball is at Mudryk

With one long direct pass goes to Enzo, activating the remaining front 4 including Enzo to counterattack at multiple slots

After few passes, Enzo exploits the half space uncovered and receive the pass from Jackson, which drift wide.

And BOOOOM!!! Enzo scores!!! 1-0

Exchange of passes between Enzo and Badiashile near the edge of the pitch.

Badiashile directly passes to unmarked Caicedo

And BOOOMM!!! Caicedo scores!!! 2-0

Same 3-2-5 shape

Palmer goes wide, Mudryk cuts inside at the same time here.

Palmer goes wide, Mudryk at half-space inside the penalty box. Palmer passes to Mudryk and Mudryk finishes elegantly. 3-0

A short free kick there by Palmer, but instead of crossing, he's passes directly on the visible lane toward Gusto directly.

There you go, Gusto scores easily, 4-0

Still 3-2-5 buildup shape. Has potential to counter attack easily here.

Few passes here and there. Caicedo passes to Palmer at half-space, with Mudryk ready to exploit the space in-behind.

Palmer passes to Mudryk as expected here.

Mudryk passes straightaway to Jackson at the vacated space and Jackson finishes it. 5-0 easily.

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This series we do only cover for Athletic Bilbao and Strasbourg for you guys to have proper idea on what I'm trying to do with those guys with different sets of wingers used on different matches.

So the rest of the friendlies we'll try to cover on the next series.

See ya!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

🔵 Chelsea Preseason Friendlies – Summer 2023 Summary

Results Overview

Chelsea 3-0 Plymouth: Palmer (2’), Jackson (13’, 39’)

Chelsea 3-0 Huddersfield: Jackson (43’, 85’), Fernández (80’)

Chelsea 3-0 Real Betis: Caicedo (15’), Jackson (61’, 83’)

Chelsea 4-1 Villarreal: Fofana (28’, 40’, 69’), Palmer (66’); Pedraza (35’)

Chelsea 1-1 Lazio: Madueke (90+1’); Castellanos (90+5’)

Chelsea 4-1 PAOK: Lavia (27’), Neto (45’), Madueke (57’, 63’); Colley (38’)

Overall Performance Metrics

Attacking Evolution

Chelsea displayed progressive improvement in shot creation throughout the pre-season, culminating in 20 attempts against both Villarreal and PAOK. The 3.46 xG against Villarreal represents the peak of their attacking efficiency, though the finishing efficiency (converting 1.13 xG into 3 goals against Huddersfield) showed clinical finishing ability.

Possession & Passing Quality

Chelsea maintained consistent ball dominance, with possession percentages ranging from 58-69%. Their passing accuracy showed impressive consistency across all matches, with an upward trend culminating in the PAOK match with 97% defensive passing accuracy.

Defensive Solidity

The defensive statistics show excellent tackle success rates, particularly against Huddersfield (87%). The progressive improvement in aerial duels won (peaking at 65% against Lazio) demonstrates the team’s physical development throughout pre-season.

Key Individual Contributions

Goal Scorers

Nicolas Jackson: 6 goals (2 vs Plymouth, 2 vs Huddersfield, 2 vs Real Betis)

Datro Fofana: 3 goals (all vs Villarreal)

Noni Madueke: 3 goals (1 vs Lazio, 2 vs PAOK)

Cole Palmer: 2 goals (1 vs Plymouth, 1 vs Villarreal)

Pedro Neto: 1 goal (vs PAOK)

Romeo Lavia: 1 goal (vs PAOK)

Enzo Fernández: 1 goal (vs Huddersfield)

Moisés Caicedo: 1 goal (vs Real Betis)

Creative Hub: Passing & Chance Creation

Enzo Fernández: Consistently excellent passing metrics (87-100% completion) with 16+ key passes across matches

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 7 key passes in a single match vs PAOK, showing significant creative potential

Cole Palmer: Versatile contribution with key passes and high xG (1.0 vs Plymouth, 1.2 vs Villarreal)

Noni Madueke: Developing playmaker with 5 key passes and 2 clear-cut chances vs PAOK

Moisés Caicedo: Consistent midfield presence with 90%+ pass completion in most matches

Defensive Standouts

Tosin Adarabioyo: Elite defensive numbers including 12 tackles (66% success) vs Plymouth and 107 passes (94% completion) vs PAOK

Levi Colwill: Excellent ball-playing defender with 96% pass completion vs Plymouth and 100% tackle success vs Villarreal

Benoit Badiashile: Strong defensive contribution with 12 tackles (75% success) vs Lazio

Trevoh Chalobah: Versatile defender showing 80% tackle success vs Real Betis and PAOK

Harrison Murray-Campbell: Promising display with 7 tackles (100% success) vs PAOK

Crossing & Wide Play

The crossing statistics show tactical versatility, with different players taking primary crossing responsibilities in each match. The completion percentages (peaking at 24% vs Villarreal) suggest calculated improvement rather than random crossing.

Tactical Evolution

Formation & Pressing

High-Intensity Sprints: Progressive increase from 98 (Plymouth) to 129 (Villarreal) shows improving fitness and pressing intensity

Fouls Pattern: Higher foul counts in middle matches (15-17) with reduction in later games (8-9) suggests more controlled pressing

Discipline Management: Yellow cards reduced from 4 (Plymouth) to 0-1 in later matches

Ball Progression Approach

Dribbling Focus: Key dribblers emerged across matches:

Palmer: 6 dribbles vs Plymouth

Enzo Fernández: 5 dribbles vs Huddersfield

Mudryk: 4 dribbles vs Real Betis & Villarreal

Madueke: 6 dribbles vs PAOK

Tactical Passing Shifts: Increased midfield passing accuracy (86% → 92%) with slight decrease in attacking third passing (86% → 80%) suggests more methodical build-up

Playing Time Management

Chelsea utilized the pre-season to distribute minutes effectively:

Core defensive players (Colwill, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella) received substantial minutes

Attackers rotated strategically to manage fitness (Jackson, Palmer, Madueke, Neto)

Midfield core of Fernández and Caicedo featured prominently

Emerging talents given platforms (Fofana, Lavia, Murray-Campbell)

Injury Concerns

Levi Colwill: Injured at 42’ vs Villarreal

Pedro Neto: Injured at 68’ vs PAOK

Nicolo Rovella (Lazio): Injured at 78’ in the Chelsea match

Gerard Moreno (Villarreal): Injured at 60’ in the Chelsea match

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Conclusion

Chelsea’s pre-season campaign demonstrated methodical progression, with players adapting to tactical demands and showing increasing physical conditioning. The consistent possession-based approach yielded 18 goals across 6 matches while conceding just 4, suggesting a well-balanced team.

Nicolas Jackson emerged as the primary goalscoring threat with 6 goals, while a variety of other players contributed to the scoring. The midfield control was orchestrated primarily through Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo, with various attacking options showing creative capabilities.

The defensive unit showed excellent chemistry, with particularly strong performances from Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill. The progressive improvement in expected goals and shooting volume suggests increasing attacking cohesion, while the disciplinary record improved throughout the pre-season.

This comprehensive preparation positions Chelsea strongly for the competitive season, having tested various tactical approaches while maintaining core principles of possession and pressing.

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That's all for our friendlies now.

Next series would be how we try to thrive on first half of 2023/2024 season further using those guys at the limited squad size until January transfer window

See ya!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

Let's see how does it goes for the first few matches upon new season here.

Let's get through it!

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Chelsea vs Fulham (Away) : 3 - 0

Chelsea vs Bournemouth (Home) : 4 - 2

Chelsea vs Spartak Trnava (Home) : 6 - 0

Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest (Away) : 4 - 0

Chelsea vs Spartak Trnava (Away) : 4 - 0 (Aggregate 10 - 0 overall)

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There could be some interesting highlights we can see from each matches above here. Let's get through below.

1. Attacking Evolution:

Possession & Passing Quality:

Chelsea has consistently dominated possession in all matches, ranging from 60% (Fulham) to 77% (Spartak Trnava Home), showcasing their ability to control the tempo of the game.

Passing Quality has been top-tier, with Chelsea completing between 89% (Fulham) and 93% (Spartak Trnava Away) of passes, indicating efficient build-up play across all areas.

Defensive Passing: 96% (Spartak Trnava Home)

Midfield Passing: 93% (Spartak Trnava Away)

Attacking Passing: 80% (Bournemouth)

Defensive Solidity:

Tackles Won: Chelsea’s tackle success rate was consistently high across matches:

71% (Fulham) to 94% (Bournemouth), showing solid ball-winning in midfield and defense.

Headers Won: 55% (Fulham) to 57% (Bournemouth), maintaining good aerial control, especially against teams like Fulham.

Chelsea’s ability to intercept passes and win duels contributed to their strong defensive setup, limiting their opponents’ clear-cut chances.

2. Key Individual Contributions:

Goal Scorers:

Fulham: Enzo Fernández, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Nicolas Jackson contributed to Chelsea’s 3-0 win.

Bournemouth: Moisés Caicedo, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Cole Palmer (2 goals, including a penalty), played vital roles in the 4-2 win.

Spartak Trnava (Home): Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku (2 goals), and Cole Palmer (2 goals, including a penalty) helped secure the 6-0 win.

Nottingham Forest: Cole Palmer (penalty), Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, and Moisés Caicedo contributed to the 4-0 win.

Spartak Trnava (Away): Tosin Adarabioyo, Noni Madueke, and Cole Palmer scored to ensure a 4-0 win.

Creative Hub: Passing & Chance Creation:

Enzo Fernández emerged as a key creative force in Chelsea's midfield, consistently contributing to key passes and chance creation:

Against Bournemouth, Fernández contributed 3 key passes.

Cole Palmer also had an important role in attacking build-up and created 2 assists against Bournemouth.

Christopher Nkunku played a crucial role in creating opportunities, providing 2 assists and scoring 2 goals against Spartak Trnava (Home).

Defensive Standouts:

Tosin Adarabioyo has been the standout defender, contributing significantly in all defensive aspects:

15 successful tackles (Bournemouth) and consistently high pass completion.

Benoît Badiashile also contributed with 6 tackles in the Bournemouth match and solid passing.

Marc Cucurella played a crucial role in both defense and attack, contributing with 100% dribbling success.

Crossing & Wide Play:

Crossing Success: Chelsea’s crossing completion rate was variable:

13% (Spartak Trnava Home) and 11% (Bournemouth) indicate a shift towards less wide play in favor of more direct approaches, with crossing less of a focus.

Malo Gusto, however, contributed effectively in wide areas, completing 100% of his dribbles.

3. Tactical Evolution:

Formation & Pressing:

Pressing Approach: Chelsea exhibited a more high-pressing style, with 64 high-intensity sprints (Spartak Trnava) and 123 sprints (Bournemouth), showing an evolution in their pressing game.

Formation Adaptation: While the formation remained generally stable, there was flexibility in attacking positioning, with Cole Palmer operating in multiple forward roles, allowing tactical fluidity.

Ball Progression Approach:

Midfield Dominance: The Caicedo-Fernández partnership has been crucial in ball progression, consistently completing high pass success rates (91%-94%) in the midfield.

Shorter Passing Game: Chelsea has shifted towards a short-passing game with high pass completion, emphasizing ball retention and controlled build-up from the back.

Playing Time Management:

Squad Rotation: There was effective rotation of players across competitions to manage playing time. Key players like Christopher Nkunku and Mykhaylo Mudryk were substituted or rotated in to maintain freshness while maintaining a strong starting lineup.

Impact Substitutes: Players like Mykhaylo Mudryk and Jadon Sancho made important impacts off the bench, scoring and assisting in key moments.

Injury Concerns:

Injury Issues: Chelsea faced several injuries during the period:

Filip Jørgensen (Fulham) and Marc Cucurella (Fulham) were injured, though their absences did not affect the team’s strong performance.

Reece James and Malo Gusto were also marked with injury concerns but managed to contribute effectively when fit.

Conclusion:

Chelsea’s attacking evolution has been highlighted by dominant possession, high pass completion, and clinical finishing. Key individuals like Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, and Nicolas Jackson have played pivotal roles in both offensive creation and finishing, while Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoît Badiashile ensured defensive solidity. The team has shown tactical evolution through high pressing and ball progression, demonstrating a well-rounded, adaptable style. The effective playing time management has kept players fresh, while injury concerns were addressed with squad depth. Chelsea’s strong start across domestic and European competitions points to a balanced and efficient approach moving forward.

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Such an interesting insights for a few early matches here. 

But how does our players contributing towards the build-up play?

What build-up formation do our players consistently doing so across matches? 

Is it their own creativitiy, off-the-ball movement, blindside runs or maybe crashing aboard through half-spaces that those goalscoring chances has been created?

We shall see on the next series further with extensive formations onwards.

See ya!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

In this series, we would analyse how our players react on build-up play shape, how they interact and counteract through different teams, thus shaping how they exploit spaces further.

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In Chelsea vs Fulham here, they play on 3-2-4-1, with Gusto played as Inverted Fullback (Defend) to form as the third centerback on the right, while Cucurella inverted to the midfield besides Caicedo to form double no 6 occupying spaces left by Enzo which has pushed up beside Palmer

From here actually that they tend to build-up through the middle due to dominant numbers in the midfield. While Madueke and Sancho tends to go wide to stretch the fullbacks more wide than usual to give Palmer and Enzo some spaces in front of them to underlap to the zone 14.

For first goal scored, from wide, Madueke dribbles the ball while Palmer underlap through the space created by Madueke upon stretching wide earlier. While Sancho can make blindside runs easily due to Caicedo // Enzo // Jackson forming triangular shape which located nearby triangular defensive shape made by Wilson, Tete and Andersen. While Tete covers for Enzo, he mismarked Sancho on his behind here.

From the snapshot above, still the back 3 form with Caicedo as the main pivot still maintain. Cucurella gain the ball and pass to Palmer for potential counter-attacking phase.

Back 3 still intact, but now in front of them would be the midfield box shape has been formed consists of Enzo // Caicedo // Palmer // Jackson, while Madueke, Cucurella, and Sancho still standby for counterattacking.

From here, Madueke try to go wide to stretch the defensive line more expanded, providing space for Caicedo to exploit while Sancho, Jackson and Palmer to counter through.

More midfield box at the middle of zone 14, trying to circulate the ball here.

All of the sudden, Badiashile jump out of back 3 to overlap from the left-side

Badiashile passes to Sancho to carry the ball into penalty box, ended up being cleared by Cairney and picked up by Leno

Caicedo got the first ball, with almost flat backline with Cucurella shadowmark Wilson from afar.

Enzo passes to Jackson while getting ready to make blindside runs here.

Palmer, Jackson and Enzo can make blindside runs on multiple lanes at the same time here.

Still 3-2-4-1 but with almost asymmetrical shape on back 3

Palmer tried to cross into the box but got deflected by Antonee Robinson, got to Jackson, Enzo got ready to receive the pass from Jackson and make first-time shot, 1-0 to Chelsea

Same here again, back 3 with midfield box of Cucurella // Caicedo // Enzo // Jackson in front of zone 14

Caicedo crossing wide to Madueke, drag along Antonee Robinson wide as well, and Palmer dragging along Cuenca on the same direction to provide the space to Jackson here.

Madueke provide flat cross here to space occupied by Jackson, and Jackson finishes it, 3-0 to Chelsea

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Match with Nottingham Forest also reflects quite interesting movements from our players that make them won this match easily 4-0

This is from throw-in from Gusto. Back 3 quite asymmetrical due to Odoi dropped down and Campbell tightly marked.

Caicedo tighly marked by Elanga, same goes to Neto-Yates, Enzo-Milenkovic and Morato, Jackson - Moreno and Sancho - Ola Aina, while Dominguez were the one left to guard as last man defense here.

Gusto passed to Neto, one-two with Caicedo beside him, passed to Caicedo while Gusto stayed wide to attract Yates while giving the lane to Neto for space exploitation.

From here Caicedo have chance to pass to Neto since Gibbs-White is a little bit far to track.

Pedro Neto receives the pass from Caicedo, attracting both Gibbs-White and Morato along as he's dribbling inside

And from here, with a small percentage of shot from small space, Pedro Neto shoots rightaway, give Chelsea lead 2-0

Dominguez tries to make long ball to the front, with Awoniyi tightly marked by Badiashile here, Caicedo already standby on the front foot to grab the second ball

Got to Awoniyi, which accidentally make the second ball to Gibbs-White which quite far, thus Gibbs-White unable to grab the loose second ball with 4 players surrounding the ball with Murray-Campbell and Badiashile behind, and Enzo - Caicedo on the front.

Got to Caicedo here, with Enzo clearly unmarked, passes to him, with Sancho and Jackson got ready to make runs in-behind, with Pedro Neto also clearly can make deadly counter-attacking from his side as well.

This can be considered as build-up phase on nearby zone 14, with clear back 3 with Murray-Campbell and Caicedo as double pivot, Enzo freely dribbles forward while Sancho stretches more to the wide.

Build-up shape still intact with Enzo freely dribbles at half-space

And BOOOM!!! Far right corner here, Enzo scores cheekily, 3-0 to Chelsea for larger lead

Here Enzo drop deeper than usual, his Trequartista role as instructed to. With back 3 intact, with Murray-Campbell confidently single marked Elanga here. Front three gone flat line as above.

Madueke dropped deep, Enzo releases the ball to him. Guess who's going upfront? 

That cheeky Caicedo with large space left wide open

Madueke making high lob-pass to the open space for in-run Caicedo towards the carved space by Jackson intentionally pull it open by dropping deeper and deeper since the first snapshot above.

There's nothing Milenkovic and Ola Aina can do here since Caicedo able to muscle both of them easily, and scores the game-ending goal 4-0

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There you go. Fuuuhhh!!!!

Multi-dimensional and multi-angle that our players can swish and swush their opponents to create chances, carved open those space much wide to exploit, with short and longggg passes made towards the penalty box that we can see here.

Feels like there's high chance that we can go deeper into the season to see whether they can achieve something more extraordinary. Perhaps so?

We'll wait on the next series on how does it fare to us up until January transfer window further.

See ya!!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

Let's see how does it goes after we go through the last matches that we covered on previous posts so far for upcoming matches until January Winter transfer window here.

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SEPTEMBER 2023

🔵 Chelsea Match Summary 

Chelsea vs Man United (Home): 1–0

Chelsea vs Liverpool (Away): 3–0

Chelsea vs Panathinaikos (Away): 3–0

Chelsea vs Arsenal (Home): 4–1

Chelsea vs Ipswich Town (Away): 5–0

⚔️ Attacking Evolution

🔹 Possession & Passing Quality

-Possession was consistently dominant across all matches, indicating Chelsea's tactical control:

-Man Utd – 50%

-Liverpool – 55%

-Panathinaikos – 52%

-Arsenal – 56%

-Ipswich – 68%

-Passing Accuracy (ATT/CMP):

-Ranged from 89% to 91% overall across matches.

-High midfield and attacking third completion:

-Panathinaikos: 90% (Mid), 85% (Attack)

-Arsenal: 91% (Mid), 82% (Attack)

-Key passing stats:

-Chelsea vs Liverpool: 500/558 (90%)

-Chelsea vs Arsenal: 544/595 (91%)

-Chelsea vs Ipswich: 575/640 (90%)

🔹 Defensive Solidity

-Tackle Success Rates (KEY):

-Man Utd: 81% (26/32)

-Panathinaikos: 82% (23/28)

-Ipswich: 77% (20/26)

-Headers Won:

-Strong aerial duels in key games:

-Man Utd: 65% (22/34)

-Ipswich: 52% (22/42)

-Panathinaikos: 47% (15/32)

-Interceptions (ITC) & Clearances (CL):

-Consistent contributions from defenders like Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, and Malo Gusto across all games.

-Chelsea maintained compact defensive lines with minimal CCC conceded (e.g., 0 clear-cut chances conceded vs Liverpool, Arsenal, and Panathinaikos).

🌟 Key Individual Contributions

🔹 Goal Scorers

-vs Man Utd: Malo Gusto ⚽️

-vs Liverpool: Cole Palmer ⚽️, Tosin Adarabioyo ⚽️, Noni Madueke ⚽️

-vs Panathinaikos: Trevoh Chalobah ⚽️, Nicolas Jackson ⚽️, Marc Cucurella ⚽️

-vs Arsenal: Enzo Fernández ⚽️, Marc Cucurella ⚽️, Jadon Sancho ⚽️, Cole Palmer ⚽️

-vs Ipswich: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ⚽️⚽️, Christopher Nkunku ⚽️, Trevoh Chalobah ⚽️, Mykhaylo Mudryk ⚽️

🔹 Creative Hub: Passing & Chance Creation (KEY, CCC)

Enzo Fernández:

Multiple key passes and assists across matches.

Arsenal: 2 assists, 3 key passes, 2 CCC (Man of the Match).

Cole Palmer:

Liverpool: 1 goal, 2 key passes.

Ipswich: 4 key passes, 1 assist.

Marc Cucurella:

Contributed key passes, crosses, and a goal (vs Arsenal and Panathinaikos).

Noni Madueke:

Ipswich: 4 key passes, 2 assists, 1 goal.

🔹 Defensive Standouts

-Tosin Adarabioyo:

High clearance, 100% tackle success vs Panathinaikos and Liverpool.

-Trevoh Chalobah:

Goals + defensive contribution (e.g., 3 key tackles vs Ipswich, 100% tackles won vs Panathinaikos).

-Caicedo & Fernández:

Anchored the midfield with above 90% passing accuracy and strong interceptions.

🔹 Crossing & Wide Play

Cross Completion ranged:

Highest: 35% vs Arsenal (6/17)

Lowest: 13% vs Panathinaikos (3/24)

Consistent threat from wide areas: Malo Gusto, Madueke, Cucurella all active crossers.

🔄 Tactical Evolution

🔹 Formation & Pressing

Chelsea operated with a dynamic 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3, with fluid transitions.

High-Intensity Sprints:

Man Utd: 106

Liverpool: 138

Arsenal: 157

Ipswich: 100

Shows consistent pressing intensity, especially vs top teams.

🔹 Ball Progression Approach

-Strong reliance on:

Fernández + Caicedo for vertical progression.

Wing overloads through Madueke, Cucurella, and Gusto.

Short, high-accuracy passing chains emphasized over long balls.

🔹 Playing Time Management

-Substitutions and rotation were efficient:

Regular sub appearances from Nkunku, Mudryk, Sancho, Murray-Campbell, James.

Cup matches (Ipswich, Panathinaikos) were used to rotate squad while keeping shape intact.

🔹 Injury Concerns

-Levi Colwill & Filip Jørgensen marked with injuries during the span.

-Benoît Badiashile subbed early in Ipswich match due to possible knock.

-Depth effectively managed, no red cards across matches.

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OCTOBER 2023

🔵 Match Series Summary:

Chelsea vs RC Lens (Home) – 2-1

Chelsea vs Leicester (Away) – 3-1

Chelsea vs Brentford (Home) – 2-0

Chelsea vs TSC (Away) – 3-0

Chelsea vs Southampton (Away) – 3-0

⚔️ Attacking Evolution

🔹 Possession & Passing Quality

Chelsea’s control of possession was outstanding, averaging ~65% across all matches.

Their passing across all thirds was elite, with midfield passes exceeding 90% and attacking passes staying above 82%, showing well-coordinated progression and retention.

🔹 Defensive Solidity

Chelsea’s defensive block has been reliable, conceding only 2 goals across 5 matches and 0 clear-cut chances in 4/5 matches.

Tackle efficiency consistently high, especially vs Brentford and Leicester.

Aerial performance slightly varied, particularly lower vs Southampton.

🌟 Key Individual Contributions

🔹 Goal Scorers

Christopher Nkunku stole the show with a hat-trick vs Leicester and another goal vs Brentford.

Moises Caicedo scored twice (RC Lens & TSC), adding end-product to his ball-winning role.

Mudryk, Palmer, and Jackson maintained offensive consistency.

🔹 Creative Hub: Passing & Chance Creation

Palmer and Fernández are key progression players in midfield and half-spaces.

Madueke offers width, dribbling, and final third penetration.

🔹 Defensive Standouts

🔹 Crossing & Wide Play

Crossing accuracy peaked vs TSC (35%) and dropped vs Southampton.

Wide players (Madueke, Cucurella) remained consistent threats on overlaps and underlaps.

⚙️ Tactical Evolution

🔹 Formation & Pressing

4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 hybrid, with flexibility between Palmer as CAM or RW.

High-intensity sprints confirm a pressing identity:

vs Leicester: 135 sprints

vs TSC: 108

vs Southampton: 103

🔹 Ball Progression Approach

Relying on short passing triangles in midfield:

Fernández and Caicedo progressing from deep.

Palmer dropping in between lines to link up.

Frequent switches to wide overloads via Cucurella or James.

🔹 Playing Time Management

Heavy use of rotation: consistent subs like Nkunku, Madueke, Murray-Campbell, and Mudryk.

TSC and Southampton fixtures used to manage minutes ahead of tougher PL games.

🔹 Injury Concerns

Badiashile and Lavia were subbed off early in some matches, signaling possible knocks.

No red cards; discipline well-managed.

✅ Summary Table

🔚 Conclusion

Chelsea continues to demonstrate tactical maturity, squad depth, and a versatile attacking structure. The integration of pressing intensity with technical buildup has allowed them to dominate both weaker and stronger opponents. With Nkunku hitting form, Palmer controlling the rhythm, and Fernández & Caicedo anchoring, Chelsea look well-balanced heading into the next phase of the season.

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NOVEMBER 2023

🔵 Match Series Summary:

Chelsea vs Brighton (Home) (Carabao) – 3-1

Chelsea vs Aston Villa (Home) – 2-0

Chelsea vs TSC (2nd leg) – 8-0

Chelsea vs Ipswich Town (Away) – 4-0

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (Home) – 3-0

Chelsea vs Panathinaikos (2nd leg, UECL) – 2-0

⚔️ Attacking Evolution

🔹 Possession & Passing Quality

Chelsea's possession remained high across all matches, averaging ~65% with the highest at 77% against Crystal Palace.

Pass completion rates were consistently strong, with 92% in matches like Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.

Midfield passing also showed great precision, averaging 89–92% across games, demonstrating their strong ball circulation.

🔹 Defensive Solidity

Chelsea's defense remained solid, with minimal clear-cut chances conceded across all matches.

Tackling success was high, especially against Brighton (82%) and Ipswich Town (80%), showing a well-organized backline.

Headers won were decent, peaking at 58% vs Brighton and 53% vs Crystal Palace, though improving slightly in the aerial duels could make Chelsea even more dominant.

🌟 Key Individual Contributions

🔹 Goal Scorers

Nkunku and Palmer were key contributors in several matches, with Nkunku scoring a hat-trick against TSC.

Cole Palmer had multiple impacts, scoring in games against Brighton and Ipswich.

Enzo Fernández continued to be a regular goal scorer, as well as an assist provider, notably scoring in Ipswich and Crystal Palace.

🔹 Creative Hub: Passing & Chance Creation

Nkunku continues to be the focal point of attacking movements, linking play and creating scoring opportunities.

Palmer and Madueke have become vital for creating width and generating key passes and assists.

🔹 Defensive Standouts

🔹 Crossing & Wide Play

Cucurella played a key role in wide play, contributing crosses and assists.

Palmer and Gusto provided excellent support on the wings, while Madueke continued to make an impact with his direct dribbling and crosses.

⚙️ Tactical Evolution

🔹 Formation & Pressing

Chelsea used a flexible 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 formation, with Nkunku, Palmer, and Madueke rotating in attacking roles.

Pressing intensity remains high, especially in matches like TSC (2nd leg) (124 high-intensity sprints), Ipswich Town (137 sprints), showing that the team presses aggressively when out of possession.

🔹 Ball Progression Approach

Chelsea’s ball progression remained fluid, with a blend of short, quick passes and occasional long balls.

Fernández and Caicedo are key players in moving the ball through midfield, while Palmer and Nkunku provided link-up play in the final third.

🔹 Playing Time Management

Rotation of players like Mudryk, Jackson, and Palmer ensured key players stayed fresh across competitions.

Substitutions like Mykhaylo Mudryk, Trevoh Chalobah, and Jadon Sancho provided important contributions when called upon.

🔹 Injury Concerns

Filip Jørgensen, Colwill, and Gusto faced minor injury concerns but managed to play through most games.

No major injuries reported post-match.

✅ Summary Table

🔚 Conclusion

Chelsea’s evolution in attacking and defensive play has been impressive. The team's high pressing, combined with fluid ball progression from midfield to attack, has resulted in consistent victories. Nkunku, Palmer, and Fernández have been pivotal in the attacking setup, while Caicedo, Adarabioyo, and Colwill have ensured defensive stability. The tactical flexibility, combined with effective squad rotation, has kept Chelsea competitive across domestic and European competitions.

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DECEMBER 2023

🔵 Match Series Summary:

Chelsea vs Wolves (Away) – 1-0

Chelsea vs West Ham (Home) – 4-0

Chelsea vs Newcastle (Away) – 2-0

Chelsea vs Lens (UECL Away) – 2-0

Chelsea vs Man City (Home) – 5-1

Chelsea vs Brentford (Away) (Carabao Cup Quarter Final) – 2-1

Chelsea vs Everton (Away) – 3-1

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspurs (Home) – 2-1

Attacking Evolution

Possession & Passing Quality

Possession: Chelsea maintained control in most matches, with the highest being 69% vs Newcastle.

Passing Accuracy: Consistently high, with a range of 86% to 92% across all matches, indicating efficient ball retention and playmaking in the midfield.

Defensive Solidity

Tackles & Interceptions: Chelsea’s defensive metrics were strong, winning a high percentage of tackles and interceptions. The team's defense kept clear-cut chances at a minimum, allowing very few opportunities.

Headers Won: The highest success in aerial duels came in the Man City (55%) and Newcastle matches.

Key Individual Contributions

Goal Scorers:

Nicolas Jackson, Nkunku, and Mudryk were central in attack across these matches, each scoring key goals and playing an essential role in creating chances for teammates.

Creative Hub: Passing & Chance Creation

Mudryk, Nkunku, and Palmer were the main contributors in the attacking third, either scoring goals or creating key passes. Enzo Fernández helped with midfield progression and orchestrated attacks.

Defensive Standouts:

Crossing & Wide Play

Marc Cucurella and Reece James played vital roles in providing width and crosses into the attacking zone. James was particularly effective in wide areas.

Tactical Evolution

Formation & Pressing

Formation: Chelsea maintained a 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 setup in most of these games, with Nkunku, Mudryk, and Palmer providing flexibility in attack.

Pressing: Chelsea pressed high in matches against Man City, Tottenham, and Brentford, winning the ball back quickly and exploiting counter-attacking opportunities.

Ball Progression Approach

Midfielders like Enzo Fernández and Caicedo were key in linking defense to attack, progressing the ball effectively through short and long passes.

Wide Players like Mudryk and Palmer helped stretch opposition defenses and delivered crosses and key passes.

Playing Time Management

Rotation and fresh legs were crucial, with key players like Nkunku, Mudryk, and Sancho making impacts from the bench in certain matches.

Chelsea rotated well in Carabao Cup and UECL matches to keep players fresh for important Premier League games.

Injury Concerns

Nkunku’s injury was a concern, but Chelsea’s squad depth, including Jackson and Mudryk, ensured that they could still produce strong performances.

Mudryk’s flexibility helped in adjusting to different attacking roles as needed.

Conclusion:

Chelsea’s attacking play has evolved into a dynamic and potent force. With strong midfield play from Fernández and Caicedo, and creative contributions from Nkunku, Palmer, and Mudryk, Chelsea has consistently maintained control in matches. Defensively, Colwill and Badiashile have proven essential in organizing the backline, while Sánchez’s goalkeeping has ensured the team stays resolute. The tactical approach has been flexible, shifting from high pressing to maintaining control in midfield. Despite Nkunku’s injury, Chelsea has effectively rotated their squad, ensuring performances stay consistent across multiple competitions.

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After we have provide the brief summary and tactical analyses of matches for the first half of the season up until 31st December 2023, the next series we would take a look on what key analyses, fixation and improvisations that we can further improvise our team in terms of dynamism, formations, dominant side of pitch when we attack, game rotations and build-up play so that we can make some tweaks for the second half of the season afterwards.

See ya!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

In this post we shall see the key analyses that we can retrieve from first half of our season that we can try to fix, improvise and enhance further

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1. Dynamism

Analysis:

Chelsea's style of play across these matches has evolved in terms of dynamism. They demonstrated quick transitions, particularly in games like Chelsea vs Fulham (3-0) and Chelsea vs Tottenham (2-1). The counter-attacking style was prominent, but so was their ability to switch to a possession-based approach when required. Their pressing intensity was high, especially against Tottenham and Fulham, allowing them to win back possession quickly and exploit spaces behind the opposition.

Fixation:

Chelsea's offensive dynamism largely relies on quick transitions, exploiting the width of the pitch and the pace of players like Mudryk and Palmer. However, in some matches, they became predictable in terms of attacking patterns and sometimes lacked creativity when facing deep defensive blocks.

Improvisation:

To improve, Chelsea should add more variation in build-up play. This includes not only relying on fast transitions but also working on patient possession and tactical switching of play to drag defenders out of position. Chelsea could look to create more triangular passing lanes in midfield to increase their offensive dynamism.

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2. Formation

Analysis:

Chelsea predominantly used a 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 formation in these matches, with Nkunku, Mudryk, Madueke, and Palmer rotating in attacking roles. This formation allowed them to maintain control in the midfield, provide width from the full-backs (e.g., James, Cucurella), and create overloads in the wide areas. Against teams like Tottenham and Fulham, the 4-2-3-1 shape was effective in breaking down compact defenses, while the 4-3-3 offered more fluidity for Nkunku and Palmer to interchange positions.

Fixation:

The 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 formations are working well for Chelsea in terms of attacking balance, with Nkunku’s flexibility allowing him to drop deep and create overloads in midfield while also acting as a central attacking threat. However, Chelsea can sometimes struggle when forced to break down deeper defensive setups, relying heavily on wide crosses or fast breaks.

Improvisation:

To enhance flexibility, **Chelsea could experiment with a more fluid 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-2-1 when facing deeper defenses. This would allow Caicedo or Fernández to provide more protection at the back while letting the wingers (e.g., Madueke and Mudryk) invert more and provide additional central passing options. This would help stretch the defense vertically and create more direct attacking threats.

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3. Dominant Side of the Pitch When Attacking

Analysis:

Chelsea's primary attacking focus has been down the wings, especially through Mudryk on the left and Palmer on the right. Cucurella and James provide the width, while Nkunku and Madueke look to exploit the spaces between the opposition's full-backs and center-backs. Chelsea vs Fulham (3-0) saw their left flank being particularly potent, with Mudryk’s pace and Cucurella’s overlaps creating several dangerous situations.

Fixation:

While the left flank is typically more dangerous for Chelsea, especially with Mudryk, James on the right could be further utilized by having Palmer and James creating combinations for more central penetration. Nkunku's ability to play as a false 9 allows for flexibility, but Chelsea sometimes focuses on predictable attacks down the wing, which can be neutralized by compact defenses.

Improvisation:

Chelsea could further centralize their attack, using Nkunku and Madueke to play combination passes through the middle to draw in defenders, allowing for better penetration. Playing more diagonal passes from the flanks into the middle could allow James and Mudryk to move inside and challenge the center-backs directly.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Game Rotations

Analysis:

Chelsea has displayed a good rotation system across these matches, which is essential for maintaining fitness throughout the season. The rotation of players like Madueke, Mudryk, and Jackson has given Chelsea flexibility in attack. However, players like Nkunku and Palmer have been heavily involved in almost every match, leading to possible fatigue in tight fixtures.

Fixation:

While Chelsea’s rotation has been solid, over-reliance on certain players like Nkunku and Palmer could lead to burnout in the long term. Mudryk, Madueke, and Caicedo have also seen relatively consistent game time, showing the importance of keeping the squad fresh.

Improvisation:

Chelsea should rotate key players like Nkunku and Palmer more frequently in non-crucial matches (e.g., Carabao Cup, UECL) to ensure their top players are rested for bigger matches. Also, incorporating more youth players like Malo Gusto or Harrison Murray-Campbell in these fixtures can help maintain momentum.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Build-up Play

Analysis:

Chelsea has generally used a combination of both tiki-taka and counter-attacking styles. Against teams like Man City and Fulham, they showed quick counter-attacking football to exploit high defensive lines. However, against more compact defenses, Chelsea found success with tiki-taka — short, quick passes in tight spaces — especially in games like Tottenham and West Ham.

Fixation:

In games where counter-attacking was required (e.g., Man City), Chelsea did a good job exploiting wide spaces and utilizing the pace of Mudryk and Palmer. In games where tiki-taka was needed (e.g., Tottenham), the team relied on midfield triangles and quick passes between Caicedo, Fernández, and Nkunku to move the ball forward.

Improvisation:

To improve, Chelsea could balance their style further by using counter-attacks more selectively and focusing more on tiki-taka when facing deep-lying defenses. Implementing more fluidity in central passing lanes can help break down more organized teams. Mudryk and Palmer should be given more freedom to cut inside and challenge defenders with central dribbles rather than just relying on wide crosses. Enzo Fernández can be a key orchestrator in this, as his ability to move the ball quickly and break defensive lines is crucial.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:

Dynamism: Chelsea has shown dynamic attacking play, mixing counter-attacks and tiki-taka effectively. However, further variation in build-up play can keep opposition defenses guessing.

Formation: The 4-3-3 system is working well but can be more fluid with occasional switches to a 4-2-3-1 to allow better midfield dominance when facing high pressing teams.

Dominant Side of the Pitch: The left side (Mudryk + Cucurella) remains Chelsea’s most potent, but more emphasis on the right side (Palmer + James) could help balance the attack.

Game Rotation: Chelsea’s rotation system works but needs further focus on managing Nkunku and Palmer’s game time.

Build-up Play: A combination of counter-attacking and tiki-taka is effective, but incorporating more central play and varied attacking movements can further improve their offense.

This analysis shows that Chelsea’s attacking system is evolving into a more balanced and dynamic one, but they can further improve by introducing more central movements and ensuring key player rotation for long-term success.

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After we have analysed the trends of the key analyses for the first half of the season, we shall go through our tactical notebooks further to make further improvisation so that we can continue dominate the game further.

In the next series, we shall see how we can further dominate for the second half of the season, perhaps winning all the cups we compete, who knows right?

Alright, we'll meet you guys at the next series.

See ya!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

2ND HALF 2023/2024 SEASON : JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW

After making impressive progress throughout the first half of the season, in January transfer window we do receive extra transfer war chest of £52m for my disposal to top-up any players necessary for squad depth.

With due necessities to focus on long-term youth development, I've bought the players below;

Although not so much as we do focus on adding squad depth, but those players were important as anytime soon our players can be pickup by any European teams with highest fees possible, so those players here may do have reasonable future (perhaps) to give some challenge to readily available players in our disposal.

Also, at the same time I do decide to loan out some of our youth players to seek for more game time to garner their development process as well

And one of them that I truly appreciate the most is Abbosbek Fayzullayev, Uzbek player bought from CSKA Moscow for 8.25m pound.

As you can see here, Abbosbek is truly a hidden gem that release much of the burden that Palmer currently carrying for Chelsea in our save.

And I'm currently planning for him to go straight to the senior team on summer window to adapt the Premier League demands before slowly implementing him into our system for next season, thus further twist and turns may be expected on next season to further solidify Chelsea's dominance to replicate Roman Abramovich's era.

The next player worthwhile to be discussed a little bit is Pau Prim, bought from Barcelona Atletic (formerly known as Barcelona B team) 

This guy has good technique, impressive vision and good passing, worthwhile to mention his determination and flair that may contribute towards possible last piece of puzzle to be a backup behind Enzo Fernandez.

I'm not so sure yet how it can be implemented here, but I already put him to train under Segundo Volante (Attack) role, which complements the same role as Enzo Fernandez in our system further.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Only a short one here as I did not plan much of the winter transfer window here due to most of our players are already recovered from their injuries, only buying them to top-up this and there so it may act as emergency cover for the time being.

So we'll continue further our dominance on the second half of the season on next series.

See yaa!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

2ND HALF 2023/2024 SEASON : CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY OF DOMINANCE FOR SECOND HALF

In this series, we would provide the summary of what is happening on matches faced during January 2024

Key Insights from the Statistical Analysis:

1. Attacking Evolution:

Possession: Chelsea averaged 58–66% possession, with their highest at 69% vs Newcastle. This shows strong ball control and midfield dominance, particularly in their home fixtures. Their passing accuracy remained consistently high across all matches, ranging from 86% to 92%.

Clinical Finishing: Chelsea's clinical finishing was notable, particularly against Bournemouth (4 goals from 11 shots) and Watford (4 goals from 10 shots). Nkunku and Mudryk were crucial in their attacking performances, contributing both in scoring and creating chances.

Key Players in Attack: Nkunku, Mudryk, and Palmer were key goal scorers, with Nkunku providing a penalty against Man City and goals in Fulham. Mudryk also added goals and assists, showing his flexibility in attack.

2. Defensive Solidity:

Tackles & Interceptions: Chelsea's defensive actions were strong, with 80% tackle success across matches. Caicedo, in particular, made important interceptions in midfield, while Colwill and Badiashile were dominant in aerial duels (e.g., 70% headers won vs West Ham).

Clearances & Defensive Structure: Chelsea’s defensive structure allowed them to limit clear-cut chances for the opposition (with no CCC conceded in most games), especially against teams like Fulham and Liverpool.

Key Defensive Players: Levi Colwill was especially important in matches like Tottenham and Liverpool, helping to clear dangerous balls in high-pressure moments.

3. Creative Hub: Passing & Chance Creation:

Midfield Control: Enzo Fernández was instrumental in dictating the tempo of the game, consistently registering key passes in almost every match. His connection with Caicedo ensured Chelsea's midfield dominance and ball retention.

Wide Play: Mudryk, Palmer, and James were vital in exploiting the width of the pitch, with Cucurella providing strong support on the left. Despite some inconsistency in crossing accuracy (around 20–30%), the team's overall offensive system was fluid and effective.

Key Playmakers: Mudryk’s dribbling and Palmer’s creativity were essential in unlocking defenses. Cucurella and James used their pace to get to the byline and deliver crosses into dangerous areas.

4. Tactical Evolution:

Formation & Pressing: Chelsea employed a 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 formation across all games, with fluidity in attack. Nkunku’s role as a false 9 in several matches helped link the midfield to the attack. The pressing strategy was highly effective in regaining possession quickly, especially in games like Liverpool and Tottenham, where they won the ball high up the pitch.

Ball Progression Approach: Chelsea balanced quick counter-attacks (especially against Brentford and Man City) with more possession-based play when needed. Their quick transitions from defense to attack were key to creating overloads in wide areas, particularly with players like Mudryk and Palmer.

Playing Time Management: Effective squad rotation was visible, especially in non-league matches like the Carabao Cup. Players like Mudryk and Madueke contributed off the bench, keeping the intensity high. However, the injury to Nkunku showed the need for careful management of key attacking players.

Injury Concerns: Nkunku’s injury affected Chelsea's offensive depth but was managed well with Mudryk stepping up. The rotation system, particularly for wide players like Mudryk and James, will be key to maintaining fitness and avoiding burnout.

Conclusion:

Chelsea has continued to evolve tactically, with improved ball progression, a more dynamic offensive setup, and solid defensive performances. Nkunku, Mudryk, and Caicedo have been the standout performers, while Fernández continues to provide the creativity in midfield. Chelsea’s high pressing and possession-based play have allowed them to dominate most matches, though crossing accuracy and defensive transitions remain areas for improvement. Player rotation and injury management will be crucial as they compete across multiple competitions.

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

2ND HALF 2023/2024 SEASON : INVINCIBLES, DOMINANCE AND QUADRUPLE

So far as we go through the second half of the season, after we altering our tactics and instructions based on the suggested improvements and enhancements from previous posts, fortunately we have easily dominate until the end.

Injuries, sudden drop of form and also challenges by our opponents, we fortunately able to face those strides using players' intelligence to navigate better on the pitch here.

For further highlights of the second half of the season, we would cover the key matches that shows the strides that we have faced, especially on the competitions we joined this season.

FEBRUARY 2024 

KEY FIXTURES :

Chelsea vs Man United (Away) : 1 - 0 (3rd Feb 2024)

Chelsea vs Liverpool (Home) (EPL) : 3 - 1 (10th February 2024)

Chelsea vs Arsenal (Away) (EPL) : 3 - 1 (17th February 2024)

Chelsea vs Man United (Away) (Carabao Cup Final) : 3 - 0 (24th February 2024)
 

📊 Chelsea Match Statistics – February 2024

🔵 February 2024 – Tactical & Control Overview

Possession steadily increased across the four matches, peaking at 63% in the Carabao Cup Final vs. Man United.

Pass Accuracy was consistent and elite at 90–91% in all matches, highlighting control and technical proficiency.

xG rose match by match, reflecting more effective attacking setups (from 1.31 to 2.43).

Shots & On Target also increased, especially in the Carabao Final (18 shots, 6 on target), suggesting growing attacking confidence and clinical execution.

🔵 Attacking Evolution

1. Possession & Passing Quality

Possession Control fluctuated between 46% (vs Man United, away) and 57% (vs Arsenal, away), averaging around 52.5%, suggesting Chelsea were not obsessed with dominating possession but focused on efficient ball use.

Passing Accuracy stayed high across the board, averaging above 89%, with standout midfield metrics (up to 92% vs Arsenal). The side prioritised short, secure passing, particularly through midfield trios like Fernández–Lavia–Caicedo.

2. xG & Shot Efficiency

Chelsea’s xG consistently outperformed the opponent:

1.33 vs Man Utd (A),

1.45 vs Liverpool (H),

1.09 vs Arsenal (A),

2.02 vs Man Utd (Final).

This reflects growing shot quality and chance creation efficiency, with an average of 1.47 xG per game, despite relatively low shot volume (mostly under 10 shots per match).

🛡️ Defensive Solidity

1. Defensive Compactness

Chelsea allowed no more than 1 clear-cut chance in any match, including 0 shots on target allowed vs Man United (Carabao Final), indicating excellent defensive shape.

High interception and clearance counts by Badiashile, Colwill, and Caicedo, especially when under pressure.

2. Discipline

Despite defensive solidity, fouls averaged 13.25 per match, suggesting aggressive pressing. Several bookings (e.g., 6 yellow cards vs Man Utd in league) may require caution in high-stakes games.

🌟 Key Individual Contributions

1. ⚽ Goal Scorers

2. 🧠 Creative Hub (Passing & Clear Cut Chances Created)

Enzo Fernández and Reece James led key passes and Clear Cut Chances Created

Enzo: 2–3 key passes per game, 2 Clear Cut Chances Created vs Liverpool.

Reece James: consistent wide distribution and crossing threat, also MoM vs Man Utd (A).

3. 🛡️ Defensive Standouts

Levi Colwill & Badiashile: Reliable in aerial duels (60%+ win rate), key ITC (interceptions) and CL (clearances).

Caicedo and Lavia: Strong in tackles and pressing in midfield zone, recovering second balls and initiating counters.

4. 🎯 Crossing & Wide Play

Wide delivery remained low-percentage but persistent:

Cross completion rates: 6%–38%.

Palmer and Mudryk provided most width, with Mudryk averaging 2–3 successful dribbles per game and high pressing energy.

⚙️ Tactical Evolution

1. Formation & Pressing

Base formation resembled a 4-3-3, with hybrid press:

Compact mid-block vs stronger teams (Man Utd, Arsenal),

High press and fast transitions vs Liverpool.

Back four remained stable, with rotations at fullback and some injury-enforced changes (Reece James, Caicedo).

2. Ball Progression Approach

Blended short build-up through Enzo & Lavia, then vertical switches to flanks via Palmer/Mudryk.

Nkunku dropped between lines to link, while Jackson stretched defenses with off-ball runs.

3. Playing Time Management

Minutes were well distributed:

Nkunku, Sancho, and Madueke were rotated in front 3,

Midfield was rotated with Pau Prim and Mudryk off the bench,

Depth was tested, especially during Cup final after James and Caicedo injuries.

4. Injury Concerns

Reece James and Caicedo suffered injuries vs Man Utd in the Cup Final. This affects defensive cover and midfield intensity going into March fixtures.

Squad depth is being utilized well, but replacements (e.g., Malo Gusto, Pau Prim) must step up.

📌 Summary Table

MARCH 2024

KEY FIXTURES :

Chelsea vs Lille (Away) (UECL R16 First Leg) : 1 - 0 (6th March 2024)

Chelsea vs Lille (Home) (UECL R16 Second Leg) : 3 - 0 (13th March 2024)

Chelsea vs Newcastle (Away) (FA Cup Quarter Final) : 3 - 2 (ET) (16th March 2024)

Chelsea vs Aston Villa (Away) (EPL) : 3 - 1 (20th March 2024)

📊 Statistical Summary Table

🔵 March 2024 – Tactical & Control Overview

Possession was even higher vs. Lille (66–67%) but dipped to 52% against Aston Villa, showing flexibility.

Pass Accuracy remained high at 89–90%, indicating continued control in build-up.

xG peaked at 2.43 vs Newcastle (FA Cup QF), pointing to a tactical setup creating high-quality chances.

Shots & On Target remained productive, with double-digit shots in all games and 6–7 on target in top matches.

🔵 Attacking Evolution

🔸 Possession & Passing Quality:

Maintained dominant possession in all games (52–67%).

High pass accuracy (89–90%), showing a well-controlled midfield, largely due to Fernández, Palmer, and Dewsbury-Hall.

Transition phases remained smooth and progressive.

🔸 Shot Creation & xG:

Averaging 15+ shots per game, Chelsea became more clinical in March.

xG increasing across matches — 2.43 vs Newcastle and 2.16 vs Villa signal Chelsea’s capability to generate high-quality chances consistently.

Clear cut chances created in every game except Lille (A).

🛡️ Defensive Solidity

Strong tackling and intercepting duo: Chalobah and Adarabioyo recorded >90% success rate.

Against Newcastle and Lille, Chelsea limited opposition shots significantly (only 3 for Lille both legs).

Defensive line’s positioning improved — minimal goals conceded and zero clear chances allowed in both UECL legs.

🌟 Key Individual Contributions

⚽ Goal Scorers:

Pedro Neto vs Lille (1st leg)

Palmer (2), Adarabioyo vs Lille (2nd leg)

Madueke, Enzo (2) vs Newcastle

Palmer, Sancho, Pau Prim vs Villa

🎯 Creative Hubs:

Cole Palmer: Direct involvement in multiple goals, several key passes, assists.

Enzo Fernández: Central creative outlet with long switches and progressive passes.

Marc Cucurella & James: Strong full-back support roles, steady in crosses and passing from deep.

🧱 Defensive Standouts:

Trevoh Chalobah & Adarabioyo: Dominated aerial duels, clearances, and blocks.

Marc Cucurella: Valuable in both transitions — tackled consistently and assisted attacking flow.

⚔️ Crossing & Wide Play:

Cross accuracy remains low (5–18%), but wide players like Mudryk, Madueke, and James stretch play efficiently, allowing central midfielders to create.

⚙️ Tactical Evolution

🔹 Formation & Pressing:

Mix of 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1, adjusted based on opponent.

Pressing intensity remained consistent (high intensity sprints >120 each game).

🔹 Ball Progression Approach:

Combined approach: short passing to control, but capable of counter-attack bursts, especially seen in goals vs Newcastle and Villa.

🔹 Playing Time Management:

Rotation managed well:

Rested Nkunku, Jackson, James in some fixtures.

Substitutes (Mudryk, Madueke, Chalobah) frequently contributed in second half.

🔹 Injury Concerns:

Reece James and Caicedo had previous knocks but returned effectively.

No new major injuries recorded during March.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

APRIL 2024

KEY FIXTURES : 

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur (Home) (UECL Quarter Final 1st Leg) : 2 - 0 (10th April 2024)

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur (Away) (UECL Quarter Final 2nd Leg) : 2 - 1 (17th April 2024)

Chelsea vs Newcastle (Home) (EPL) : 3 - 0 (27th April 2024)

📊 Statistical Summary Table – April 2024

🧠 Narrative Insights & Statistical Summary

⚔️ Attacking Evolution:

xG Output: Consistently strong with 2.28 (Spurs Home), 1.17 (Spurs Away), and 1.76 (Newcastle) — confirming Chelsea’s clinical finishing and sustained threat.

Shots & Accuracy: High shot volumes (15–17 per match) with good on-target rates (7 each in wins over Spurs Home & Newcastle).

Efficiency: Even with moderate xG at Tottenham (Away), Chelsea converted their chances—demonstrating a sharp edge in transition phases.

🧠 Possession & Passing Quality:

Control vs Spurs (Home): 61% possession and 88% pass accuracy showed dominance in midfield.

Reduced Control vs Spurs (Away): Only 47% possession, yet maintained an 86% pass accuracy—highlighting composure under pressure and vertical penetration.

Vs Newcastle: Outstanding 91% pass accuracy and 58% possession — Chelsea dictated tempo.

🛡️ Defensive Solidity:

Tackles Won: Rose steadily across all matches, peaking at 78% vs Newcastle.

Headers: Still a weakness with percentages hovering around mid-40s, though Newcastle were kept to minimal aerial threat.

Clean Sheets: 2 clean sheets in 3 — solidified by compact backline and excellent pressing triggers.

🧑‍🎨 Key Individual Contributions

🎯 Goal Scorers:

Cole Palmer: Continues to be the clutch finisher, scoring in both legs vs Tottenham and Newcastle.

Levi Colwill & Caicedo: Surprising but impactful contributions, each netting vital goals against Spurs.

Christopher Nkunku: Bright return, scored and assisted vs Newcastle — impactful in central spaces.

🎩 Creative Hubs:

Enzo Fernández & Pedro Neto: High KEY passes, especially Enzo (5 vs Spurs Home) and Neto (multiple dribbles and crosses).

Nkunku vs Newcastle: Registered 4 key passes and 2 chances created — true playmaker role reestablished.

🛡️ Defensive Standouts:

Trevoh Chalobah & Tosin Adarabioyo: Excelled in interceptions and clearances, showing excellent anticipation.

Marc Cucurella: Despite bookings, aggressive pressing and aerial battles were instrumental.

↔️ Crossing & Wide Play:

Low Accuracy: Cross completion around 10–11% — highlighting room for improvement in flank deliveries.

High Volume vs Newcastle: More attempts but low conversion. Suggests opportunity for more cut-backs or inverted movement.

🧭 Tactical Evolution

📐 Formation & Pressing:

High Press Triggers: Noticeable in matches like Newcastle — recovered high and transitioned quickly.

Compact Midfield: Fernández, Caicedo, and Enzo rotated efficiently — providing cover and link-up.

🧱 Ball Progression Approach:

Hybrid Build-up: Effective blend of direct passes (Palmer’s vertical runs) and short combinations (Nkunku, Enzo).

Counter-attack Exploits: Especially away to Spurs — capitalized on spaces left behind with just 47% possession.

⏱️ Playing Time Management:

Consistent Core: Palmer, Enzo, and Tosin remain vital.

Rotation: Sancho, Nkunku, and Jackson rotated effectively, keeping squad fresh across UEL and EPL.

🚑 Injury Concerns:

Minimal Disruption: Key players are consistently involved, and rotation appears proactive rather than reactive to injuries.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

MAY 2024

KEY FIXTURES : 

Chelsea vs Braga (Home) (UECL Semi Final 1st Leg) : 2 - 0 (1st May 2024)

Chelsea vs Braga (Away) (UECL Semi Final 2nd Leg) : 1 - 0 (8th May 2024)

Chelsea vs Leeds United (Neutral) (FA Cup Final) : 1 - 0 (ET) (25th May 2024)

Chelsea vs Bologna (Away) (UECL Final) : 3 - 1 (29th May 2024)

📊 Statistical Summary Table – May 2024

🔄 Attacking Evolution

🔹 Possession & Passing Quality

Maintained >90% passing accuracy across all matches.

Dominated ball progression especially in the Braga home leg and Leeds final, dictating tempo.

Showed versatility in adjusting possession-based build-up (short passes) with effective verticality when needed.

🔹 Final Third Penetration

High shot volume vs Braga 1st leg (24) and Leeds (12).

xG consistently high showing good quality of chances, especially in finals.

Crossing still inefficient (<30% in all), showing over-reliance on inside channels.

🛡️ Defensive Solidity

Conceded 0 goals in 3 out of 4 matches.

Braga and Leeds limited to 0 clear cut chances.

Chelsea averaged >75% tackle success and showed strong compact shape.

⭐ Key Individual Contributions

⚽ Goal Scorers:

Braga 1st Leg: Cucurella, Cole Palmer (pen)

Braga 2nd Leg: Cucurella

Leeds Final: Nicolas Jackson (ET 118’)

Bologna Final: Palmer, Fernández, Madueke

🎯 Creative Hubs:

Caicedo: Most key passes (6) vs Braga (1st leg), controlled midfield transitions.

Enzo Fernández: Assisted Palmer and created 2 Clear Cut Chances Created vs Bologna.

Mudryk & Palmer: Constant threat on wings and half-spaces.

🛡️ Defensive Standouts:

Cucurella & Colwill: Consistently high tackling %, clean aerial work, and forward passing.

Moisés Caicedo: Dominant in interceptions and tackles, especially in cup finals.

Gusto vs Braga (2nd leg): 100% tackle rate, minimal fouls.

🧠 Tactical Evolution

⚙️ Formation & Pressing

Continued 4-3-3 base with fluid transition into 3-4-2-1 while in possession.

High pressing effective vs Braga and Bologna, forcing errors near final third.

🧭 Ball Progression Approach

Combination of short-passing buildup and explosive forward play via Palmer, Madueke, and Mudryk.

Cole Palmer often dropped deeper to link midfield to attack effectively.

⏱️ Playing Time Management

Smart rotation across Braga legs: Nkunku, Jackson, Madueke, and Lavia all rotated in and out.

Palmer played majority of big games, showing fitness and tactical importance.

🏥 Injury Concerns

Nkunku injured vs Braga 1st leg, did not return for rest of May.

Madueke injured vs Bologna, potential concern moving forward.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Comparisons in between February - May 2024 matches so far

🔵 Attacking Metrics (Top Chart):

Goals Scored: Peaked in February with 2.5 average goals per match, showing sharp finishing.

xG (Expected Goals): Highest in February, consistent drop into April and May.

Shots: April was the most active shooting month (avg. 14), showing greater offensive pressure.

Shots on Target: May had the highest accuracy, reflecting more clinical finishing in fewer attempts.

🟠 Tactical & Control Metrics (Bottom Chart):

Possession %: Stable across months (around 53–56%), suggesting consistent midfield control.

Pass Accuracy %: Strong throughout, highest in February/March (~90%).

Tackles Won %: Highest in March, indicating more aggressive pressing.

Crosses Completed %: Significant rise in May (20%), showing increasing wing play contribution.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

⚽️ Chelsea 2023/2024 Season Performance Summary

🔄 Overall Trajectory

First Half (Aug–Dec 2023): Mixed results, inconsistency in finishing, loss of control in midfield against higher pressing sides. Mid-table standing at times.

Second Half (Jan–May 2024): Significant improvement in attacking efficiency, game control, and tactical identity, culminating in three major trophies (Carabao Cup, FA Cup, UECL).

📈 Attacking Evolution Comparison

🔹 Summary: In the second half, Chelsea increased shot volume and quality, resulting in better finishing and chance conversion, especially during February and May.

👥 Key Individual Contributions Shift

🔍 Tactical & Control Metrics Comparison

🔹 Summary: Chelsea transitioned from a team with unstable midfield control and transitional vulnerability to one with stable build-up, pressing structure, and attacking fluidity.

🧠 Tactical Evolution Across Halves

🔧 Metrics Improvement Overview

⚠️ Metrics to Improve for 2024/25

Consistent Shot Conversion in Tight Games
→ Especially when facing low blocks or in away games.

Injury Management & Squad Rotation
→ Nkunku, Mudryk, and key defenders missed critical periods.

Discipline (Fouls, Cards)
→ High foul counts in big matches (e.g. FA Cup Final vs Leeds).

Sustained Creativity
→ Create more clear-cut chances from central midfielders (not only Palmer).

🏁 Conclusion

Chelsea’s second half of the 2023/24 season marked a resurgence in form, driven by clear tactical structure, improved team chemistry, and standout performances. The team evolved from a mid-table outfit to a dominant force in knockout football, securing three trophies and solidifying an upward trend.

With further enhancements in finishing efficiency, injury depth, and discipline, Chelsea could emerge as Premier League title contenders in the upcoming 2024/25 season.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

That's the end of the second half of 2023/2024 season. Seems that we able to achieve domination throughout the season despite 1st half deficiencies as explained above.

But however it doesn't made it as a barrier to strive further with improvisations and tactical tweaks to dominate thus gaining 3 points in every match.

On the next series, we'll focusing on overall performance of every single of our players to check if there's any improvisations in terms of incoming transfers whether to increase squad depth or to strengthen our team more as we have confirmedly qualify for Champions League next season.

Nevertheless, there's something surprising that I would do for incoming transfers by which Brentford and Brighton has done in recent times. That's only just a hint for now. We'll see on the next series further.

See yaa!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

END OF SEASON : SQUAD ANALYSIS.

As promised on previous posts, we would analyse on how our players performing throughout the whole season.

And we'll be using Mustermann scale, while bides Moneyball approach upon deciding how are the performance levels of our players.

For you guys to know how Mustermann can justify your transfer needs (especially for those on 2nd season in your saves), feel free to surf those videos I provide the links below;

That's all for the Mustermann and Moneyball references that I prefer to refer, so let's go into it!!

________________________________________________________________________________

So first of all, we would see how our goalkeepers fare us fairly throughout the season.

So the goalkeepers that we have used for this season are;

Robert Sanchez

Filip Jorgensen

Gabriel Slonina

Lucas Bergstrom

Narrative Insight for Sanchez:

Sánchez has been consistent in goal, contributing to Chelsea's solid defensive record with 12 clean sheets across 19 appearances. His average rating of 7.26 indicates a reliable presence between the sticks. Despite not being heavily involved in progressive passes, his excellent passing completion (96%) shows his reliability in distribution. He has an outstanding saves-per-game rate and minimal goals conceded, demonstrating his ability to stop shots effectively while maintaining excellent positioning.

Narrative Insight for Jorgensen:

Jörgensen has shown himself to be one of the most reliable keepers in Chelsea's roster this season. His consistent form is reflected in his 20 clean sheets, and with only 14 goals conceded across 33 matches, his defensive contributions have been pivotal. His high pass completion (93%) also highlights his efficiency with the ball, often aiding in ball progression. His average rating matches Sánchez's at 7.26, showing his consistency over a larger number of appearances.

Narrative Insight for Slonina:

Slonina's short stint in the first team has been promising. With 7 clean sheets from 11 appearances, he has proven to be a solid backup to the more experienced keepers. His low goals conceded per match (0.44) and strong passing accuracy (94%) highlight his potential to contribute significantly when given the opportunity. Slonina’s ability to command possession and keep a high save rate showcases his suitability as Chelsea's future long-term option.

Narrative Insight for Bergstrom:

In the limited appearances he made, Bergström has been flawless, keeping two clean sheets and maintaining a perfect passing completion rate (100%). His high average rating of 7.60 reflects his solid performance when called upon, even in a small sample size. Although not heavily involved in ball progression (no progressive passes), his shot-stopping ability has been key to his clean sheets. Bergström’s performance in a backup role shows great promise for the future.

Overall Insights:

Defensive Stability: All four goalkeepers have contributed to Chelsea's defensive strength. Jörgensen, with the most appearances, was instrumental in maintaining a solid backline, while Sánchez's experience provided a dependable presence in the team.

Pass Distribution: Sánchez, Jörgensen, and Slonina were proficient at distributing the ball, with Slonina standing out in passing efficiency. This is crucial for Chelsea’s tactical approach, emphasizing build-up play from the back.

Clean Sheets & Saves: Jörgensen and Sánchez contributed the most to Chelsea’s clean sheets. Slonina’s performance, though limited, was impressive with 7 clean sheets in 11 appearances, reflecting strong potential. Bergström also delivered an unblemished record with a 100% clean sheet rate.

Key Strengths:

Sánchez's high save rate and distribution efficiency.

Jörgensen's consistency and leadership in goal with high clean sheet numbers.

Slonina's rising potential as a reliable backup.

Bergström's flawless outings, showing maturity in limited opportunities.

Next Steps:

Areas of Improvement: The focus should be on maintaining a high level of consistency, especially for Slonina, who has shown promising stats. His passing accuracy and shot-stopping need to remain at high levels to make him a future contender for the number-one spot.

Increased Game Time for Young Goalkeepers: Slonina and Bergström should be integrated more into the starting lineup to build their experience and challenge for the top spot.

________________________________________________________________________________

Next we take a look on our backlines used and the centerbacks we've recruited for free transfers for next season to give some big picture of what he able to contribute to us next season.

Analysis and Narrative Insights:

Malo Gusto:

Gusto has shown his strengths on the defensive side, particularly in Tackles Won (2.80) and Headers Won (2.17).

He also shows great ball progression with 6.98 Progressive Passes per match and an impressive Pass Completion Rate of 92%.

While he only scored 1 goal and contributed 2 assists, his overall Defensive Metrics and high work rate are evident. However, there is room for improvement in offensive contributions such as Shots (0.29) and Expected Assists (0.07).

Marc Cucurella:

Cucurella has contributed heavily to both attack and defense, with 5 goals and 9 assists across 40 appearances.

His Progressive Passes (8.50) and Pass Completion (88%) stand out, highlighting his ball-playing ability from full-back.

He has also been consistent in Defensive Contributions, reflected by his high Tackles Won (3.07) and Headers Won (5.63), though his Yellow Cards (13) indicate some discipline issues.

Cucurella’s Crosses Completed (10.40 per match) shows his ability to provide wide support in attacking situations.

Levi Colwill:

Colwill has been a rock at the back, contributing offensively with 5 goals and 2 assists, alongside excellent Defensive Stats such as Possession Won (12.07) and Headers Won (5.05).

His Progressive Passes (6.15 per match) and high Pass Completion Rate (94%) have helped Chelsea move the ball effectively out from the back.

His solid Average Rating of 7.13 reflects his consistency and ability to maintain defensive solidity. He is one of the most well-rounded defenders for Chelsea.

Benoît Badiashile:

Badiashile offers great Aerial Presence, with Headers Won (6.24 per match) and Tackles Won (2.16 per match) being standout metrics.

He has been effective in progressing the ball from defense, with 7.69 Progressive Passes per match.

His contribution in the air and his Defensive Work make him a key player in Chelsea’s backline.

Trevoh Chalobah:

Chalobah’s Defensive and Offensive contributions are quite balanced, with 4 goals and 3 assists, and 2.19 Tackles Won per match.

He leads the defense in Headers Won (6.57), but his Yellow Cards (8) suggest he might need to improve on discipline.

With a Possession Won average of 15.07 per match, he’s been vital in recovering possession for the team.

Reece James:

James has been a key figure for Chelsea with his Progressive Passes (8.59 per match) and Tackles Won (2.54 per match), reflecting his attacking and defensive contributions.

With 2 goals and 5 assists, James also brings offensive output, though his Crosses Completed (13.43 per match) highlight his significant role in delivering from wide positions.

His Disciplinary Record (9 Yellow Cards) remains an area for improvement.

Aaron Anselmino:

Anselmino’s Defensive Stats are solid, with a high Pass Completion Rate of 95% and Progressive Passes (4.86).

He has contributed 2 goals and 1 assist, making him a useful option in the attack, but his overall offensive contribution can be improved in terms of Shots (0.43) and Expected Assists (0.06).

His Tackles Won (0.86) suggests that he could become more effective in disrupting opposition play.

Jonathan Tah:

Tah has been solid defensively, with Progressive Passes (4.58) and Pass Completion Rate (93%) standing out.

His Defensive numbers are good, but he has limited offensive output with no goals and just 2 assists. However, he provides a lot in terms of Defensive Presence with Headers Won (4.61) and Possession Won (14.51).

He has maintained a solid Average Rating (6.93), but like others, his attacking stats can be improved.

Conclusion:

Defensive Contributions: All defenders show strong Defensive Stats. Players like Chalobah, Badiashile, and James stand out in Tackles Won and Headers Won. Colwill and Badiashile excel in ball recovery and progressing the ball forward.

Offensive Contributions: Cucurella and Colwill lead in offensive contributions, with both providing goals and assists. Badiashile and Chalobah can improve their offensive output, especially in creating chances and contributing to goals.

Key Metrics for Improvement:

Discipline: Players like Cucurella and Chalobah need to improve their discipline, reducing yellow cards.

Attacking Contributions: Tah, Anselmino, and Fofana need to increase their offensive contributions, especially in terms of goals and assists.

Crossing: Improving crossing efficiency (for example, Gusto and Cucurella) could add more width and creativity to Chelsea's attack.

This combination of defensive solidity and offensive support positions Chelsea's center-backs to have a more well-rounded contribution to the team, though improvement in attacking stats and discipline will be key for next season.

________________________________________________________________________________

After we've covered for backline performances, let's take a look as well our midfield clockwork cogs that help transitioning balls freely throughout the season on middle of the park.

Brief Statistical Analysis:

Kieran Dewsbury-Hall (DM, M/AM):

Strong offensive presence with 8 goals and 3 assists.

High shots/90 (2.29), showing his involvement in attacking plays.

Solid passing (84% completion) and defensive contributions (1.64 tackles/90).

Narrative:

Dewsbury-Hall has been a consistent offensive threat with 8 goals, indicating his strong contribution in attack, including a notable shot rate of 2.29 shots per game. His ability to progress the ball (4.88 progressive passes/90) has been crucial in facilitating offensive plays.

His Defensive Work: 1.64 tackles per 90 minutes is solid for a central midfielder, and his Pass Completion at 84% demonstrates effective passing ability.

Pau Prim (DM, M (C)):

Contributed defensively with 1.51 tackles per 90 and progressive passing (6.91 per 90).

Pass Completion: 88% shows his solid passing ability.

Narrative:

Pau Prim has been a key figure in Chelsea’s midfield, contributing defensively and offensively. His passing stats are strong with 88% pass completion, and his progressive passing at 6.91 per 90 minutes adds a creative aspect to his game.

He has also been aggressive defensively, winning 1.51 tackles per 90 minutes.

Christopher Nkunku (M (C), AM (RLC), ST):

Outstanding offensive stats with 16 goals and 8 assists.

Shots/90: 2.88 and xG: 17.95, showing a high goal-scoring threat.

Contributed to build-up with 3.16 progressive passes per 90.

Narrative:

Nkunku’s offensive output has been outstanding with 16 goals and 8 assists. His xG (17.95) highlights his ability to create scoring opportunities. Additionally, his Shots/90 at 2.88 per game and Pass Completion at 87% underline his involvement both in front of goal and in build-up play.

He has contributed significantly to the team's attack while maintaining solid passing and tackling metrics.

Cole Palmer (M (C), AM (RLC)):

Consistent contributor with 3 goals and 6 assists.

Strong progressive passing (3.16 per 90) and decent shots per 90 (2.43).

Narrative:

Palmer has provided key support offensively with 3 goals and 6 assists, demonstrating his contribution to the attacking third. His solid Shot statistics and decent pass completion (82%) show his ability to link up play and create scoring opportunities.

His Progressive Passing (3.16 per 90) also reflects his capability in advancing the ball and initiating offensive plays.

Enzo Fernández (DM, M (AM)):

Key playmaker with 6 assists, pass completion at 91% and progressive passes/90 at 6.80.

Strong defensive presence with 1.49 tackles per 90.

Narrative:

Enzo has been highly effective with 6 assists and a solid passing rate (91%). He has also contributed defensively with 1.49 tackles per 90 minutes.

Progressive Passes (6.80 per 90) indicate his importance in facilitating Chelsea’s ball movement from deep, while his xG and Shot stats show he could potentially add more goals next season.

Moisés Caicedo (DM, M (C)):

Defensively strong with 2.56 tackles per 90.

Limited offensive output with 1 goal and 0 assists in 40 appearances.

Narrative:

Caicedo’s ability to recover possession (2.56 tackles per 90) and his solid pass completion rate (89%) have been critical for Chelsea defensively. However, his offensive contributions are minimal, scoring 1 goal in 40 appearances. He has room for improvement in his attacking output.

Roméo Lavia (DM, M (C)):

Defensive reliability with 2.56 tackles per 90, but limited offensive contributions (0 goals, 0 assists).

Excellent pass completion (93%) and progressive passing (5.86 per 90).

Narrative:

Lavia has been excellent defensively, winning 2.56 tackles per 90 minutes and completing 93% of his passes. However, like Caicedo, his contributions in terms of goals and assists have been limited.

Dário Essugo (DM, M (C)):

Contributed defensively with 1.35 tackles per 90.

Strong pass completion (90%), but limited offensive stats.

Narrative:

Essugo has provided depth to the midfield with excellent pass completion (90%) and progressive passing stats (10.26 per 90). He has room to improve his offensive contribution but has performed solidly in limited appearances.

Estevao Willian (M (C), AM (RC)):

Impressive offensive stats with 1 goal and 2 assists in limited appearances.

Shots/90: 3.52 and progressive passes/90: 4.25 indicate potential for more contributions.

Narrative:

Willian has had a promising start with solid attacking contributions, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists in limited appearances. His shots per 90 minutes (3.52) and progressive passing stats (4.25) show potential for the future, especially in advancing the ball and contributing offensively.

Conclusion and Insights:

Top Performers:

Nkunku, Palmer, and Fernández have been the standout performers with their consistent goals and assists. Nkunku, in particular, has been crucial with 16 goals and 8 assists.

Dewsbury-Hall has been a workhorse in midfield, contributing 8 goals and solid passing metrics.

Caicedo and Lavia have demonstrated defensive prowess but need to improve on offensive output next season.

Areas for Improvement:

Defensive Depth: While some players like Lavia and Caicedo provide defensive stability, Chelsea could benefit from more attacking midfield contributions.

Offensive Output: Some players like Essugo and Willian need to improve their offensive contributions, whether through goals, assists, or chances created.

Consistency: Players like Roméo Lavia and Dewsbury-Hall need to maintain their form and consistently produce offensive outputs.

In summary, Chelsea's midfield and attacking players have shown great promise in terms of offensive and defensive balance, but further improvement is needed in terms of goal-scoring and assist creation across the board for the upcoming season.

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After we've covered our midfield clockwork cogs above, let's have further insights on how our front threes can make the goal contributions further

Statistical Summary Table for Chelsea's Frontline (2023/24 Season):

Analysis & Narrative Insights:

1. Jadon Sancho:

Strengths: Sancho has been a strong playmaker for Chelsea, with 5 assists across 29 appearances. His dribbling is impressive (3.89 per game), and he has consistently contributed to the team’s offense.

Areas for Improvement: Despite the positive metrics, Sancho's shooting accuracy remains a weak point. His goals per game (7 goals) and xG (0.25) suggest that while he gets opportunities, he could be more clinical in finishing.

Suggestions for Improvement: Sancho could benefit from working on finishing under pressure, with a potential addition like Mohamed Salah to complement his creative style and bring in more clinical finishing.

2. Pedro Neto:

Strengths: Neto has shown solid form with 9 goals and 10 assists across 37 appearances. His dribbling skills and progressive passes per game (4.89) help him create key chances.

Areas for Improvement: While Neto contributes well to the attack, his shot conversion could be improved. He has 9 goals from 1.31 shots per game, indicating that he misses chances that he should ideally convert.

Suggestions for Improvement: Neto could refine his finishing, and adding a consistent goal scorer such as Raphinha could enhance the team’s wide play and goal-scoring ability.

3. Mikhaylo Mudryk:

Strengths: Mudryk’s stats show his effectiveness as a winger with 10 goals and 16 assists. His progressive passes per game (5.27) highlight his key role in facilitating the team’s offense, while his dribbling (4.74 per game) keeps him unpredictable.

Areas for Improvement: Mudryk's finishing remains inconsistent with only 10 goals from 1.57 shots per game. With his ability to create opportunities, becoming more clinical would elevate his contributions significantly.

Suggestions for Improvement: Mudryk could work on his goal conversion. A potential addition could be Bukayo Saka, who has a strong combination of creativity and finishing ability.

4. Noni Madueke:

Strengths: Madueke has been a key player for Chelsea with 14 goals and 17 assists. His ability to dribble (3.93 per game) and create progressive passes is commendable, making him a key figure in the attacking third.

Areas for Improvement: Like other attacking players, Madueke’s shooting efficiency (14 goals) could be more consistent. His xG of 0.40 per game suggests he misses some opportunities to increase his goal tally.

Suggestions for Improvement: Madueke needs to be more clinical in front of goal. A potential addition like Raheem Sterling could help improve finishing while providing more pace and directness.

5. Nicolas Jackson:

Strengths: Jackson has had an impressive season with 16 goals and 13 assists. His ability to find the back of the net (xG of 0.42 per game) makes him a consistent offensive threat.

Areas for Improvement: While Jackson is a solid goal scorer, his passing and all-around playmaking (assists per game) need improvement. He should work on becoming more involved in creating chances for his teammates.

Suggestions for Improvement: Jackson could benefit from a playmaking addition, such as Kai Havertz, who has the ability to link up play and create opportunities for others.

Key Takeaways & Suggestions:

Finishing and clinicality remain the most common areas for improvement across the front-line players. Increasing shots on target and converting more of the chances created will help Chelsea become more potent in front of goal.

Playmaking and creativity are already strong, especially with players like Madueke, Mudryk, and Sancho providing assists. However, bringing in players like Salah or Saka could help balance out the squad's creativity and clinical finishing.

A more consistent goal scorer like Sterling or Mahrez would complement Chelsea’s current wingers and forward players by adding further attacking depth.

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I think this should be enough as we have covered on the performances of all our players for this season. 

On the next post we shall see how we can find the suitable players based on our needs to complement with the available ones..but not without using Moneyball methods and based on my intuition as well.

See yaa!!!

🔵 Blueprint to Blue Glory: Rebuilding Chelsea Under Boehly to Echo the Roman Empire 🔵

The moment where everyone's waiting for every season during football break - summer transfer window

Where every single team will analyse their squad players, deciding which would stay as key players, which would need to leave the club to balance the book, which would stay as backup for squad depth, and which one that would consider as dispensable by the football club itself.

Where every single team want to offload heavy-loaded wage players that nearly made no contributions due to injuries, off-form on the pitch etc., where every single team want to attracts their key targets with heavy-loaded cash of wages while presenting their football projects to build the team around that specific key targets to unleash and unlock every one's potential.

Where every single team's managers would decide whether to stick and twist via tactical changes for next seasons that made the transfers in-and-out are unavoidable, or whether want to made major changes to reduce the age of the squad among players, or maybe managers want to prioritize older players with leadership skills as main key strength to execute.

All in this summer transfer window

Roll out!!

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So the first one that we would prioritize first in the summer transfer window is the backline.

Why we would not prioritize for goalkeepers unlike others?

So far I'm not worried yet for goalkeepers since we do have loads of goalkeepers to choose from. As if there's other teams outside there want to bid, as long as it meets our demanded price tag, we'll let them go and take the money to reinvest into our squad.

So what's our addition to the backlines so far?

JONATHAN TAH

For this one, I pick him up for free due to expiring contracts with Leverkusen.

Maybe you would see there's no such attributes that can be impressed here.

How about last season's stats?

Superior in passes completed, clearly justifies himself as ball-playing defender, complements our style of play from the back (66.06 passes completed per 90 with 93% completion rate)

Superior in regaining the ball (14.51 possession won per 90) and less error on-ball possession (2.86 possession lost per 90 minutes)

With 90k p/w for 4 year contract expired on 2028, I do see this is kind of jackpot-like acquisition to complete with Tosin Adarabioyo, or perhaps mentoring him long-term

TAYLOR HARWOOD-BELLIS

Why this guy's the chosen one here?

Besides for homegrown players, the statistics below were quite attractive;

51.79 passes completed per 90 with 91% completion rate

2.14 interceptions per 90 (useful for dismantling counter-attacks)

0.40 key tackles per 90

6.34 defensive actions per 90 (refer here on why defensive actions is useful)

4,2 headers won per 90 (useful for defending set pieces and attacking set pieces)

Before I forgot here, we do pickup Taylor here around 23m only from Southampton

Next…….

JORREL HATO

I do get it, somehow somewhere most of them do think Jorrel Hato is totally overrated due to wonderkid status he carries for a few years now.

Also, for the rumours linked to Chelsea as well (here , here , here , here and here), for me it's quite possible for Hato to join Chelsea at least for now. (Extra note : I do also buy Hato on every 2nd / 3rd season transfer window for the past FM versions)

Jorrel Hato has been picked up from Ajax for 79m, which is quite heavy amount of money spent but for long-term investment, I do think this amount no need to worried about, for now.

To reflect on Boehly's regime practice of giving long-term contract, I do give him exceptional 10-year contract, 100k p/w

What's his stats tho? Let me tell you now……

58.33 passes completed per 90 with 92% completion rate.

14.05 possession won per 90

5.47 defensive actions per 90 (with his nature of playing as leftback by Ajax manager in this save tends to make sense as most of the opponents Ajax are facing will targetting Hato's left-out space in behind)

0.38 fouls per 90 (can be kept in mind for half-space bursting forward to be fouled later on)

Worthwhile for now….I hope so!!

NATHAN ZEZE

“For the future” signings made for buy-now mode.

Has high potential but still have high re-sale value when it matters.

Picked up for 6m (can be increased to 6.25m with add-ons)

He already played 27 times for Nantes with stats as such;

7.50 defensive actions per 90

60.35 completed passes per 90 with 92% completion rate

0.23 key passes per 90

3.73 progressive passes per 90 (more on playsafe through the back when considering Nantes is kind of playsafe for Ligue 1 survival)

But for this season, for further adaptation, we have sent him on loan to Bristol City for one season before adapting him into the squad on the next seasons.

OUSMANE DIOMANDE

More like on rotational basis to complement and strengthen the backline further.

Jackpot deal due to 41m release clause, with high ceiling in potential

8 year contract to 2032 contract expiry with 145k p/w in wages, seems reasonable enough.

Stats also not bad for us;

64.39 completed passes per 90 with 93% completion rate

19,27 possession won per 90 with only 1.97 possession lost per 90 as well (truly elite defensive skills for me)

3.76 xG with 2 goals scored, quite high for a centerback to get the level of xG here.

1.71 key interceptions per 90

ANTONIO SILVA

The most reasonable steal of the season.

40.5m release clause being paid for his elite attributes, high ceiling of potential.

20.44 possession won per 90, with 2.05 possession lost per 90

65.93 completed passes per 90 with 94% completion rate, 5.05 progressive passes per 90 (I assume this would be the laser pass that we seek for next season)

1.88 key interceptions per 90

0.44 fouls per 90

The highlight of the season here, he got 2 goals and 6 assists from centerback position itself, which reflects his completed passing range is truly impressive

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Next, let's focus on the midfield additions here.

Actually here, so far we do made only 2 additions so far, in form of Rokas Pukstas and Youri Regeer only.

ROKAS PUKSTAS

So-so squad addition so far to complement on No 10 and No 6 positions, so expected to have more minutes rotating between those two positions.

Cheap addition, 3.4m only.

Stats? 

42.66 completed passes per 90 wit 87% completion rate

6 goals out of 12 xG

3.14 progressive passes per 90 (quite compatible with his young age here)

2.2 headers won per 90

0.13 goal contributions per 90

That's all

YOURI REGEER

I bought this guy just for one reason. 

His ultra-utility player as an Ajax player.

But based on what I remember in this save, Regeer mostly played as right back, so it would be much suitable to rotate for playing in cup competitions to give some rest for both Gusto and Reece James further.

But instead I do loan him back to Ajax just in case I'm unable to loan to any of England division clubs

But it's okay, it's reasonable enough for me to get ultra-utility player with 5.5m price tag picked up.

His stats also on modest side;

40.9 completed passes per 90 with 88% completion rate

3 headers won per 90

5.78 progressive passes per 90 (tallied with his 5 assists in 44 appearances for Ajax last season)

1 goal in 3.46 xG recorded.

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Next, the front line attackers