Chelsea have “backwards trend” in key area – but there is an easy solution

Chelsea had another nice win on Saturday, and we’ve already been through a lot of the positives.

But it wasn’t all good. The goal we conceded was from a corner, continuing our set piece frustrations from the season.

After initially looking like we’d made strides in that area, we seem to be struggling again. The London is Blue podcast discussed that issue.

Chelsea backsliding on set piece dominance – but there’s a solution

Chelsea defend a set piece at the Club World Cup. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“It is another goal from a set piece opportunity where we let our keeper get crowded, and it just gets bundled in. It’s really odd that this has become kind of a backward trend for us in the defence,” presenter Dan Dormer pointed out.

“I would send at least two players up to the halfway line in every single set piece now,” his fellow presenter Nick Verlaney said.

“If the opposition are not able to crowd the goalkeeper in the same way that Arsenal and many others try to crowd the goalkeeper, you just have a much better chance with a Rob Sanchez sized person, to claim the ball [with players left up the pitch]. Claiming the ball just becomes really difficult when there’s 20 players trying to go for it in the box at one time.”

We’d have to agree – Sanchez can claim and punch well, if you give him space. It’s time to leave players up and give him the best chance possible of doing his job.

In other news…

Cole Palmer scored three against Wolves, but one journalist pointed out that it was actually another Blue who had been their outstanding attacker in the game.

Palmer shone against Wolves with 3 goals, and the London is Blue podcast discussed how important it was going to be to have him back to his best for the rest of the season.