I have been pondering, as a result of watching my own team, Chelsea, what is the point of playing a centre forward if you don’t give them chances, or even the ball!!

 

I have been busy working out if the central strikers are underperforming or whether it’s the way the team plays!

 

I am not trying to tell a professional like Tomas Tuchel his job, but rumours of Haaland coming to solve a scoring problem seem fanciful if he never touches the ball!!

Are the current centre forwards, Abraham and Giroud, missing loads of chances or are they simple not being provided with the ball in the right areas (or provided at all?)

So replacing these with a great goal scorer will not provide a solution necessarily!

 

In a previous coaching session I relayed the story of when coaching a boy who said “the other players in the team are better than me”, I asked him who is better WITHOUT A BALL, Lionel Messi or me (fat old Tim Richens)?

They always say Lionel Messi instinctively but then it dawns on them that I said “without the ball” and they say - “you’re the same”!!

 

This is relevant to this “Chelsea” situation!

If your main striker, no matter how good they are, doesn’t get the ball they won’t score!!!

If the fans could have a choice of signing Haaland or Tim Richens they would all say they want Haaland, but if neither of us (Haaland or myself) ever get the ball then that makes little sense!!

 

So, what could Chelsea do in this circumstance? 

They could adapt their style of play to include all eleven players on the pitch based on a traditional centre forward, or they could play with a “false nine”!!

 

If they play with a false nine I suggest the team could look like this

(Playing 3-4-1-2)

Mendy;

Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Silva;

James, Kante, Kovacic, Chilwell;

Mount;

Werner, Pulisic:

And for flexibility they would have

• Abraham to replace Werner

• Hudson-Odoi to replace Pulisic

• Zayech to replace Mount

• Havertz to replace Kovacic

• Gilmore to replace Kante

• Alonso to replace Chilwell

• Loftus-Cheek to replace James

• Tomori, Zouma & Guehi to replace the three defenders

• Kepa to replace Mendy

 

So, in essence 2 players for every position - with Christiansen, Emerson, Connor Gallagher, Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud left to be in squad, or sell!!

 

So, how does the “false nine” work in this case?

It is crucial that the most forward midfield player (the “number 10”, Mason Mount in this instance, interacts with the inside forwards (when your centre forward is not available, as in this system)

In this situation, I would play two centre midfield players (Kante and Kovacic) alongside a deeper lying forward (the “false nine”) setting up just in front of them (like a triangle) but fluidity is needed to maximise this strong unit!

 

Defensively, I expect these three centre midfield players to interact throughout and for all three to protect the centre of the park and the central defence especially, when out of possession.

 

But, when the “false nine” drops back to get the ball (as they often do, with this player being a skilful, technical player) we need them to interchange with one of the central midfielders. This allows the shape to be retained in attack AND defence.

 

The attacking threat should also be provided by the wide players (the wing backs) and they should be encouraged to keep wide and create partnerships, to make overloads with

• The two inside forwards

• A flexible midfield (of the two central players and the false nine)

 

Also, the team need to be encourage to try shots early from the edge of the box and also whip in EARLY crosses, as this will stop opposing defences, dropping too deep and “flooding the box”, therefore not allowing the striker any room to work in!

 

In the same way the team needs to play some long passes with the expectation that, sometimes, the ball will be lost! 

But this long ball needs to be played into the channels between opposing centre backs and full backs, as this is where your strikers are likely to be attacking (Werner and Pulisic)!

 

By doing this and “compomising” the possession stats, you create uncertainty in the minds of the defenders, and create more spaces to move the ball forward quickly and accurately!

Not only will it create opportunities for space, occasionally a long shot may find the net, an early cross may find the head of your attackers (before they are marked) or a long ball may be something for Werner and Pulisic to use their pace to run onto!

 

If you don’t do this, or it doesn’t work, simply refocus the side to get the ball to your centre forward where they can get and convert chances!

 

But whatever you do try to do the following at all times

• receive the ball on the half turn ready to progress forwards

• Pass the ball for the receiver to move on to, not behind them as this disrupts the movement of the attack

• Look to make your first pass a forward one in every instance (keeping the opposition defence off balance), and only use sideways or backwards as a last resort. Defenders want time to reorganise and get “goal side” at every occasion so DON’T LET THEM!!