Chelsea have just played out their first game of the Premier League season – a disappointing 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.
The Blues weren’t terrible – and could have won the game late on – but in possession they were slow and laboured, and barely tested Palace keeper Dean Henderson.
Papers critical of “sluggish” midfielder who looks slow after long summer
One player was emblematic of that slow play in midfield – Enzo Fernandez didn’t bring the energy we needed in midfield.
The ratings online from CaughtOffside and the Chelsea Chronicle show the general feelings online:
“Enzo Fernandez – 4/10 Was the Chelsea player who looked as if the short pre-season had impacted the most. Enzo Fernandez struggled to get into the game, and looked sluggish when he was in possession.”
“Enzo Fernandez – (5/10) – Looked a little off the pace and sluggish, failing to really deliver when Chelsea needed him in a tight game, but it’s perhaps just rustiness from the Club World Cup schedule.”
What’s worrying is that if these guys are tired now (and we’d totally understand if they are, they’ve basically played non stop for a year), just imagine how they’ll be looking by Christmas?
One pundit praises “industrious” midfielder
However it wasn’t all negative – Dom Smith of the Evening Standard was far more generous in his assessment of how the Argentine had played:
“Enzo Fernandez 7 Put in a really industrious performance, getting across the pitch tirelessly on a warm Sunday afternoon in which Chelsea had things far from all their own way.”
It’s just an example of how different people can see the same game in different ways. We have to say we were more aligned the the lower ratings than the higher, but each to their own…
Let’s hope there’s a better showing next Friday when we face West Ham.
Enough hoping?!?! Let’s start doing and delivering for a change!!!!
Here we go again … Pairing of caceido and Fernandez is readable of any opposition he needs to play two pivot Caceido and Santos or Lavia and play Fernandez in advance and put Palmer at left wing and Neto at right but maresca don’t learn his lesson . This is premier league not a hush hush tournament . Palmer is man mark every opponent knows his quality . Play 3 man midfield. Premier league is tough physical . Delap is much stronger to hold up the ball and link up and scorer too . Jao is much on number 10 . The best formation for the team are 4411 invert it on 4222 when attacking . Other formation is 433 and 343. How I wish Chelsea FC sign sesko for 3 rotation of striker. Even they can play two strikers . Plus they need a CBs cover for Colwill due to some of the players are prone to injuries . Maresca should trust Anselmino the way he trust Acheampong . Good luck on the next game and I hope much needed three points .