In recent times, teams who dominate possession have been made to ‘suffer’ on the ball when facing opponents who are willing to surrender possession.
Limiting space between the lines by setting up in a compact structure often a 5-4-1 shape off the ball with a low defensive line isn’t easy to break down but managers have deployed several tactics to find a solution.
One of these principles is the use of width to disrupt compactness by playing around in one area of the pitch and switching play, often creating 1v1 situations where the fullback or winger holding width can drive at opposition fullbacks and shoot or cross to create chances.
Apart from attacking, the team with the ball has to be wary of the opposition’s counterattack by ensuring compactness on the ball to limit running space and deploying players who are willing to track back when the ball is lost.
Few teams in the English Premier League can boast of a disruptive winger in attack with high workrate in defense like Noni Madueke.
The importance of Noni Madueke
The fullback role has been reinvented over the years and modern fullbacks act as auxiliary wingbacks in attack which requires wingers to act as auxiliary fullbacks when the ball is lost.
Noni’s willingness to support his fullback has been undoubtedly crucial to Chelsea’s defensive shape this season and one of the reasons why he’s currently undroppable by Enzo Maresca.
Apart from the defensive balance he brings, Noni has the ability to turn defense into attack by taking on opposition players and running long distance with the ball.
This may sound ordinary to the average person but invaluable to coaches who understand the importance of a progressive runner in football.
In attack, Noni Madueke has been Chelsea’s most threatening winger this season and arguably their most efficient attacker after Cole Palmer. With Jadon Sancho, Chelsea have a winger who retains possession more whilst creating chances for others.
Sancho’s ball retention is vital but shooting is a key aspect to breakdown low blocks. The highest scoring teams are the ones who shoot and miss the most chances.
Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson are currently recording 0.2 and 2.7 shots per90 respectively. Having such profiles across attack with midfielders (Enzo & Caicedo) who barely shoot isn’t enough to break a low block.
You can’t score goals if you don’t shoot.
Player traits vary and while others are voluminous passers, you need voluminous shooters. Mixing these profiles is what brings balance to the team hence the reason why Chelsea flourish in attack this season.
Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer currently lead Chelsea’s shooting stats with 3.7 and 3.4 shots per90 respectively, making them pivotal in Chelsea’s quest to success this season as they’ll face more low blocks as the season progresses.
‘Selfishness’-Funny as it sounds.
Taking responsibility and doing your best to help the team achieve victory is seen as selfishness amongst modern-day fans who care more about their opinions than facts especially on social media
Understanding player strengths and weaknesses is key to knowing how to analyze a player’s decision-making in crucial moments.
Before the 23/24 season, Noni’s right foot was a liability in attack as he often got lost once the defender forced him to the right.
This season, he has shown considerable progress by scoring multiple goals and laying passes to his teammates, unfortunately he’s not registered an assist from any.
His equalizer against Nottingham Forest and his first goal against Wolves came from unfavorable angles with the former being a deflection off the Wolves fullback.
A willing passer instantly passes from such scenarios leading to recycling which is what the defending team wants.
His composure, decision making and shooting efficiency in the final third needs improvement just like his other teammates who are young and still developing.
Noni’s progress hit a wall multiple times due to his injury woes at PSV but his development trajectory has been rapidly surging since his move to Chelsea.
Despite being a target of constant abuse and negative comments on social media from Chelsea fans, Noni has kept improving and shutting his critics including the board who were close to selling him before the end of the summer window.
Noni will have bad games as expected and there will be games Chelsea need Neto or someone from the bench to help out but it’s high time Chelsea fans accepted the fact that he’s currently the most threatening winger against low blocks and dropping him creates imbalance in the way Enzo Maresca sets his team.
“Wingers are there to make the process with the ball and dribble one vs one and two vs one”
–Pep Guardiola.
Comments