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