Finally, one former Manchester City player has come out and said what the majority of the Chelsea fans are currently saying about Cole Palmer’s position after another international break.
Palmer started two matches for England this break, losing to Greece and beating Finland. Lee Carsley made some wild calls with his first lineup, and then completely changed it for his second lineup.
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Carsley is only the England interim boss and looks unlikely to be taking the role permanently, which to be honest I am pretty pleased about.
He started Palmer as a deep centre midfielder against Greece and although this was totally the wrong position for Palmer, he did OK there really.
And then against Finland, Palmer started as a right winger. This isn’t an unfamiliar position for Palmer of course, but to ask him to play as a touchline hugging winger, is just not it. Another fail from Carsley.
Thankfully though, it’s not just Chelsea fans who are saying this.
Richards says it how it is
Former Man City defender Richards has said what us Blues fans are thinking.
When speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast after England’s 3-1 win in Helsinki, Richards said:
“Playing Cole Palmer out on the wing, it just doesn’t work for me.
“I know Bellingham is the main man, or they’re making him the main man of this team, but I just think when you’ve got someone as talented as a Foden or a Palmer, in that number 10 free role, I think he’s better suited there.
“I’d put Bellingham further back, like we discussed during the Euros.”
I think this is all spot on. Palmer must play centrally to get the best out of him. He must not play too deep, and he must not play too wide. Let him be free and operate from a central position, he is your talisman.
