I’m still convinced that Cole Palmer can play a very good false 9, and with Nicolas Jackson out of AFCON this month, I think we should use Palmer as a centre-forward most of the time.
His finish against Luton Town last weekend only reiterated that point to me even more. In fact, the positioning and movement for the second goal was move number 9, and the composed finish in the box when facing two defenders and a goalkeeper, is exactly the type of finishing and composure in the box that we have been missing. and crying. Out for.
Even his first goal was a reflection of a good play by the number 9. The way he didn’t even think about hitting the ball towards the goal with venom was once again a good example of what we have been missing at the top this season.
I talked about this last week and I fully maintain that our best front four at the moment should be Palmer as the false 9, Christopher Nkunku behind him as a 10 (his best position), Noni Madueke on the right and Mykhailo Mudryk on the right. left. The rest behind them can be debated until the cows come home, but for me this is simply our best front 4, especially while Jackson is away at AFCON.
For me, Nkunku needs to be able to float and wander, because as a 9 I see him as too isolated and will disappear, rather than engaging with the mass of the player, which is where he will fully thrive.
Of course, Pochettino may not even play with the front four now that Enzo Fernandez seems fit again, or he’ll probably end up using Enzo or Conor Gallagher as the 10, and if he does and we don’t get results, I won’t have any sympathy. By the way, I don’t think Pochettino will use the aforementioned front 4, but as I said last week, a man can dream.
It may seem harsh for Armando Broja to start Palmer ahead of him at number 9, but I’m a firm believer in starting players on merit and at the moment, whether it’s due to his injury (it probably is) or not, Broja’s form It has simply improved. He hasn’t been good enough to justify a start. By all means, bring him in as a substitute and let him fight and show form and when he does, give him a start again once he deserves it. But I think we have to get our best and fittest players on the field, and this is the best way to do it.
I have the same feelings about Raheem Sterling as I do about Broja, and kudos to Poch for not bringing him back for the Luton game, because he didn’t earn it. Sterling’s form in recent games has been poor, so he must once again earn his starts on merit; I don’t care who the player is.
Madueke has earned starts on merit at this point, as has Mudryk (I understand he was rested last game because he took a hit the game before).
I’m not saying this is the front 4 we should see for Preston on Saturday, because there could be a chance for one or two fringe or academy players in this game, although I’m split on what Poch will do there (more on that in my match preview today on my own website (If Phillips Talks Chelsea on Substack) But I’m speaking more generally in the future this month, I’d love to see Poch hand Palmer the 9 fake keys, I really think who has all the attributes to do well there. Maybe not in the long term, but for now.
If Chelsea don’t find the right opportunity or the right number 9 profile to sign this window, I think Palmer should be considered for the role. However, I haven’t changed my stance, I fully believe we need to sign a senior No 9 this month if we are serious about achieving European football.
Palmer, however, could do a good job there and I see him scoring and helping many more from that position. Remember, he has had a LOT of experience playing that position at the youth level.
