Chelsea vs Newcastle

After conceding 5 to the European Champions Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea now face Newcastle, a team which held Barcelona to a stalemate after conceding a penalty late in the game. Robert Sanchez replaces Filip Jorgensen in goal after the latter gave away a goal to PSG in which they scored 3 goals without reply after Enzo Fernandez equalized to make the score 2-2. Since Gusto is at right back, Reece James joins Caicedo in the midfield. For Eddie Howe, he made 6 changes. Ramsdale the number 1, while Anthony Gordon, with his good Champions League form, starts in the middle.

Chelsea have early control of the game with Newcastle trying to hit the 2025 World Club Champions on the break. The Chelsea defence has been leaky with only one clean sheet in their last 13 league games. One benefit of Ramsdale is that he is far more comfortable with the ball at his feet than his predecessor Nick Pope. A well taken corner by Reece James matched with a great jump by Fofana ends with the ball going high of the post. Part of Chelsea’s plan is to get Malo Gusto wide and get Palmer in the half-space between the lines which was well executed in the twelfth minute. One concern is Eddie Howe playing Nick Woltemade in a midfield position which isn’t want he was bought for. To be honest, the same thing happened for Joelinton. Palmer found himself in the half-space in the thirteenth minute and he really should be tucking that chance away. However, even with the early spells of Chelsea’s dominance, it was Newcastle who took the lead. It just comes to show that football is a game of moments and chances. Like Jess Glyne in the song Rather Be, if you gave Newcastle a chance, they will take it. Newcastle took their chance with a poor Chelsea line and Willock passing an easy goal to Gordon who has been poor in the Premier League in terms of his goal output. Cucurella and James seem to support Moises Caicedo in the midfield while Gusto stays out wide and Palmer inside. Newcastle sometimes surrendered possession and just built themselves in a low-block which made it difficult for Chelsea to penetrate as they moved the ball from side to side, as if it were haram to play through the middle.

The formation was sometimes a 3-2-5 for Chelsea, but if Enzo Fernandez dropped deep, it created an almost 3-3-4 formation. A more direct approach would have helped Chelsea get the ball into the box, but it is good to remember the height of the Newcastle players, even with the absence of defenders like Dan Burn. In summary, Chelsea have had the lion share of possession in the first half, while Newcastle especially after the goal, were content to form a low-block and deal well with anything aerially that Chelsea threw at them. Chelsea have been poor in this half with very few chances created.

The second half began with striker Liam Delap, who hasn’t had a good start at the Blues, come in for right-back Malo Gusto, which meant that Reece James slotted into his familiar right-back position. Garnacho was seen as an wide option when Chelsea had the ball, but he was lacking in end product at times in this game. It’s more of a 3-2-5 for Chelsea in possession, with the five being Garnacho, Cucurella, Joao Pedro, Palmer and Reece James from left to right. Enzo and Moises Caicedo being the two in midfield.

Newcastle, however, have been dogged defensively, going with a back four, or one of the players forming a back five if necessary. Nick Woltemade comes off for Joelinton: the tale of two strikers brought in who now find themselves playing in midfield positions. Gordon in the sixty-ninth minute had a chance to give the Magpies a 2-0 lead but was brilliantly denied by Robert Sanchez.

Burn and Elanga were introduced in the seventy-seventh minute to see the Magpies through with a win. Chelsea had a number of corners, but were unable to make any of them count as the game wore on. Chelsea were dull, insipid at times, and although they have had enough possession, they have been unable to make it count for anything.

Newcastle, especially Ramsdale have been time wasting and the goalkeeper even picks up a yellow card in the eighty-fifth minute. Another yellow card ws brandished to former Blue Lewis Hall for the same offence. After regulation time, Chelsea were awarded eight minutes to salvage at least a point from the game.

Reece James had a chance to equalize in the ninety-third minute, only to graze the post and go out. It’s also good to note that Garnacho has moved to the right side with the prior substitutions.

In summary, Newcastle United have just scored a goal and from then on, defended comfortably by being compact as a unit and allowing Chelsea to have the ball, but without much worry. Chelsea, in the other hand, have been uninspiring and should have been more adventurous as a team.