Conor GALLAGHER: Baller Extraordinaire
more like conor galla8her amarite
"u rate that bum gallagher"
BUT WHY ?
Conor Gallagher has been on the receiving end of criticism from large and lousy sections of the fanbase. Possibly for what he represents as Chelsea academy product, which is what it is, id est not something to pay attention to, let alone giving it any credence as a masquerade of football opinion it might pretend to be.
He however does a lot of little things that become glaringly obvious once highlighted; only putting more emphasis on the fact that football players are first and foremost about a “skillset” rather than a tactical position on the pitch.
Having a wide skillset allows to play different roles.
Being tasked with a role, doesn’t make magically appear the relevant skillset.
Chelsea have been f*ing around with that fallacy for a while, only to find out that after kicking that can down the road for too long; that they can actually end 12th with a minutes allocation putting forward quite a lot of players with a lot being written on the tin, with little substance over a league season.
This race to the golden bag at the edge of the rainbow overlapped a couple of managers and has been lasting pretty much since Chelsea was last seriously putting a title challenge. But remember, correlation isn’t causation. Losing Matic or over-relying on Kanté to hold onto the midfield for longer than a behind closed door tournament might have had consequences; just like refusing to add more numbers (and profiles) to that midfield.
This article is going to cover what Conor Gallagher represents in the football ecosystem in terms of profile, and how rare is it.
Then, because advertising for players profiles always has to be grounded in some sort of reality; there’ll be 15 aspects of Conor Gallagher’s game that are going to be broken down in forensic detail.
Amusingly, some of the clips date over a year, stemming from Tuchel’s inclusion of his all action modern 8 into the team; putting to bed the hypothesis that Gallagher turned into a magically better player by sipping apricot juice dipping his feet in a swimming pool in Ibiza during his twelve day holidays.
Conor Gallager, more like Conor Galla8her?
Everyone rates Gallagher, but do you?
Conor Gallagher and Cobham: creating separation
Yes, but what does Conor Gallagher actually do?
Third man runner
The Yin to Enzo’s Yang
Getting in people’s way
Pressure resistant (is usually said of every player but the ones who are)
Conor Gallagher, annoying(ly good)
Conor Gallagher at 8 against Dortmund?
15 key aspects of Conor Galla8her’s game
Conor Gallagher, more like Conor Galla8her?
Despite featuring in Youth League with a McEachran (George) and Gilmour midfield 3 (that wasn't played off the park nor over-run in midfield on the way to the 2019 final vs Porto), Gallagher’s definitely not going to deliver in a midfield two if not paired with an equally dynamic midfielder (to put it nicely).
Less running and dynamism mean less Gallagherism.
More Enzo (and less “if pigs had wings, they could fly”), opens up lots of different possibilities.
Everyone rates Gallagher, but do you?
The worst kept secret in football is that football coaches love Conor Gallagher.
From Frank Lampard to Patrick Vieira to Steve Cooper to Lee Bowyer to Sam Allardyce to Slaven Bilic to Gareth Southgate to Mauricio Pochettino to Thomas Tuchel.
This eclectic shortlist of managers covers such a wide scope that it could only put more ridicule on suggestions that Gallagher’s merely there to fill a quota or make the team look more English.
Even Maurizio Sarri, hasting to release himself from the contract he signed one year before (…a transfer ban was pronounced) as he was to dedicate Chelsea winning a trophy to Napoli fans; felt like including Gallagher, McEachran, Ampadu and Cummings on the bench in Baku back in 2019.
Another amusing takeaway from that table, is myth busting the suggestion that Gallagher would be running wild on a football pitch. Gallagher is in control of what he does, including when he clattered an Arsenal player at 0-3 down.
The only second yellow Gallagher picked in 261 games is down to a coaching staff on the verge of being sacked after an entire summer of taking the mickey; who couldn’t be bothered to switch a player on a yellow from stopping counter duties on a second ball set pieces.
Conor Gallagher and Cobham: creating separation
Just like many other Cobham academy products, Gallagher’s sense of separation (get away from markers) is acutely developed.
He always finds himself between three players, arriving at the right moment.
No matter how the team “sets-up” in terms of telephone number tactical system, he needs the team to be able to complete two passes at least in order to pop up as the third man.
If he’s the one playing these passes he’s not ubiquitous enough (despite his best efforts) to also be the one being the target player in pockets of space between/behind midfielders.
The eye test says he can pass the football, even if data say he can't.
When accounting for technical ability, stats are like swiss cheese
One can't possibly draw conclusions about skill/quality based things the data can't pick up.
High risk high reward, first time runners aren't low buildup stat-padders.
Percentages are on the opposite side of the volume/threat ratio.
A career average of 25-30 passes, and yet still completing more than 4/5 passes (81.2%) is fairly decent and is a good invitation to look lower down the divisions what 15 passes, 50% success budget Gallaghers do.
Can’t play in a possession based team
This season, Gallagher has made a mockery of the “can’t play in a possession based team” jibe with a 94% passing accuracy, making sure to leave a couple of stray passes like you would leave out the last jaffa cake in the box so that you don’t have to exhaust yourself throwing the packet in the trash bin. If you know, you know.
Gallagher's passes are fairly good from a technical standpoint, as the consensus between baiting defenders to close passing lanes and splitting them with zipped passes (slightly topped to zip on the grass). Sometimes with a first touch before him so that he can play the masked pass and wrong foot to split players.
His long play is also quite good when required
Many midfielders scale down their game to their frame, a 6ft runner with a knack for reading lose balls and flicks who still has the long passing in his archery isn't that frequent. Have a think about it.
Gallagher has 2.7 succesful long passes p90 (92%) in PL in 2022/23
However, at the exception of maybe Eriksen, Gundogan (both drilled movements), possibly Iwobi and H.Elliott; nobody goes beyond the ball and defences as often and naturally as Gallagher does (making runs in front of the ball carrier, in the box or down the channels)
Yes, but what does Conor Gallagher actually do?
Not many players so accurately reflect the
“what does he do exactly? Watch the game, nerd”
jibe like Conor Gallagher.
Third man runner
An ever running, second ball magnet with the ability to blur opponents’ vision with his hyper activity, he’s someone whose infectious presence adds dynamism to any football team.
Refer to the previous sentence as to how to quantify this.
The Yin to Enzo’s Yang
One of the topic of discussion on Chelsea twitter is Gallagher and Enzo’s respective roles. There’s an obvious Nkunku sized hole, as a connecting 8-10 able to score goals; which was looking to be filled in nicely by Chukwuemeka with a slightly different, more dribbly skillset.
However, football just doesn’t work as “put Gallagher close to goal he’ll score” and “Enzo needs to dictate from deep”.
For the simple reason that:
Deep build up doesn’t matter as much as tacticos pretend it does.
A good midfielder progresses the ball up the field, picking the ball between CBs is the easiest task a midfielder can do. What Gallagher does is more than good enough.
Creating danger around the box at the level Fàbregas or Enzo (you know, world class midfielders) do, not every midfielder can do with a pass.
You’d want to maximise Enzo being free roaming in a zone (and not 80 yards from goal playing five yarders that Lucas Leiva or Oriol Romeu, let alone Lewis Bate or Charlie Webster could also do)
Also, if you want Gallagher crashing the box as a second wave to clean up scraps and turn them into goals; best having him come from deep once defenders are ball watching and focused on other players.
There’s no more players roaming at this level (especially 120 million ones), unless there’s some sort of interchange that allows them to enter a zone where the supposed occupant has been dragged away.
The chemistry between Gallagher and Enzo is part of the process being implemented; and Enzo might have more work to do that the initial feeling.
As exemplified on the sequences below. Gallagher does his part of the movement by vacating space and dragging defenders away, that scream for Enzo to fill in accordingly.
There’s no pointing fingers here (there still is) but just a fair acknowledgement of what the process is, what stage is it at and who actually acts like making it work.
Getting in people’s way
Gallagher's defensive game, especially closing down and swarming epitomizes the good work done at academy level by Chelsea.
Again, if anyone thinks football players are naturally bulked up, and drilled to react to pressing triggers as a second nature in a wide variety of "tactical telephone numbers" base formations always keeping good defensive postures; that one doesn't know anything about anything, to quote a famous philosopher.
Engineering a player doing what Gallagher does without the ball is the goal of any football academy. This is not a "granted they all do that, let's nitpick on other stuff".
*Stuff* that not that many players accumumate in their repertoire once you think about it (on the ball and beyond, goals and pressing activity)
Academies are full of 103% passing accuracy regista who can't run, and sometimes run all over the place turnover machines who clatter opponents.
Sterling and David Silva were (are) super agile, yet they had 3-4 opposition half fouls per game for Manchester City.
Untimely glitch or clear intimidation tactics when required (stop counters, kill momentum)?
It's not a given to do all these things well. And when there's budget run around midfielders, they surely don't finish like Gallagher.
Benchmarking and actual "football knolly" helps to understand who sits a the good end of a bell curve (and who is one for failing to acknowledge these features).
Pressure resistant (is usually said of every player but the ones who are)
Gallagher's also strong enough not to be put off the ball, and again, perspective is required because usually, dynamic players are easy to dispossess.
He's not. Stands on his feet, uses his arms, turns, shields the ball, can hold under pressure to sustain possession in the attacking half. Willian stuff.
Again, rupture (= looking for flicks, incisive passes, shooting) attackers rarely have the football mind to read situations and be useful in both preparation and acceleration of attacks. He's not a burden in a possession-based team.
All the more that he's still 22.
Gallagher draws fouls. His career average nears 2 fouls suffered per game (150 games), which is twice what someone like Havertz, a taller and more exposed to contact 50/50s racks up (1 in 268 games)
Conor Gallagher, annoying(ly good)
Gallagher’s also gifted with two skills: the ability to score important top corner goals (at an enraging rate if one doesn’t like him) and the ability to find extremely smart flicks, disguised passes (the arrows that look like noise on his passmaps).
As well as elite trolling ability with that half smile and dangling hair that requires careful adjusting especially when the clock needs running down.
The early returns of Conor Gallagher’s contribution were promising because he was brought straight back in after a sending off one match ban by Thomas Tuchel (some managers would’ve kept him in the stands for that), but was also hampered by the lack of options to sit properly alongside him (some managers would also have addressed that particular issue at some point instead of letting it linger on to the point of no return).
He would be like a Darren Fletcher type of player for Chelsea: rotation option for a PL and CL winning team, standard bearer, all the more with 5 subs.
On a reported 20-40k a week, club trained, yellow cards here and there, can play centrally or out wide.
Happy to contribute for his boyhood club and not stink the place out when he doesn't play.
Perfect squad player, who's got that clutch ability. What's not to like?
Academy development: bit of perspective required, Gallagher (Mount) is probably the elite ceiling (in terms of ability) of what Academies can engineer.
Academies don't produce Bellinghams and Mbappés.
They knock at the door because they turn out to live next door.
Otherwise, Birmingham wouldn’t have shut their academy if these players grew on trees, wouldn’t they?
Conor Gallagher at 8 against Dortmund?
Now, let’s have a look at Gallagher’s sound performance against Dortmund in pre-season in a midfield two with Enzo
A fine form that he continued against Liverpool on opening day and the following games, being named captain in the starting lineup from mid September.
#1 SQUEEZE IN / JUMP OUT
Basic things you'd expect a CM to do:
You gain control in midfield by dominating the matchups.
Track runner with eyes on ball
- Match up to discourage the pass = carry
- Lose touch, immediate reaction
- Ready to absorb the block with strength
#2 SECOND BALL MAGNET
In the long list of things nobody gives a fuck about.
Second balls.
Ball is in the air: GET MOVING
See Gallagher *already* on toes, with the #21 (Malen?) ball watching
Gallagher gets to the drop point, Malen gets moving
Galla8er draws a foul
#3 SCREEN THE BACK 4
Un-noticeable stuff for the casual.
- Moukoko 1v1 with Silva, channel open.
- Shoulder check -
Small steps on toes to cut off the pass
- Move on to squeeze out-to-in
Game intelligence.
#4 SEPARATION / PRESS RESISTANT
Midfielder 101. Take notes
- Find the exact spot on the fringe of player' field of vision
- Get moving DURING the PREVIOUS pass
- Receive front foot *IF* closed down from behind
- Left arm to absorb and prevent Reus? to shove him off balance
#5 DYNAMISM & PROBLEM SOLVING
Why coaches all rate Gallagher?
Bundle of energy who can read the game!
- Same as #3. Preventinve screening of Reus
- Dynamic on toes
- Reaction time is so short
- Agility / problem solving to let the ball bounce and rainbow flick over him
#6 MASKED PASSES
When I think of Gallagher, I think of *THAT* masked pass
If Brighton doing the same warrants PhD lectures, so does Gallagher's game for YEARS
Tendency to kill the ball, but often to bait pressure
Deceiving shoulder, bamboozle Moukoko Split, done, Enzo receives
#7 SPLIT THE TRIANGLE
Cobham players (and great academies) master this Teach players to identify "triangles" to "split"
- shoulder check
- find the best location that ASKS QUESTIONS for 3
- on toes so that footwork is accurate for bounce
- ready to overlap Midfield 101
#8 TRIPLE TEAM AND CROWD MANAGEMENT
Un-noticeable stuff for casuals
For the intelligent CMs like Gallagher, it's second nature
Lavia is very good at this too (many are, pay attention)
- close to triple team
- who's the 10 to screen
- funnel Malen into 3v5 trap
- ball won back
#9 HE'S TROUBLE, HE GETS IN PEOPLE'S WAY
sure
1. is where Ballon d'Or extraordinaire Jorginho stops
2. "Gallagher is a liability, can't play 8"; but does a better job than your Man Crush Regista and most 6s
3. Blocks the volley with strength + bravery (no coward's deflection)
#10 GET OUT OF PRESSURE SITUATION
Problem solving Receive a
pass back
Gallagher hops to DOUBLE on the L foot so that his first touch is with the right, and pivot foot (L) in correct location (can't do L-R-L
Then quick/powerful to beat Dortmund’s players
#11 READ PRESSING TRIGGERS
Gallagher is 100% in control of what he does, I will die on this hill
- Jumping on potential receiver when the ball is hit
- Receiver sees him, so flicks him = inaccurate
Slows down, most shit players clatter the player = foul
- Nudge to cushion
#12 DEFEND CUTBACK CROSSES
Inhaler registas who can't run are liabilities "Gallagher, error prone 8" is better than most midfielders bar Casemiro
-
-
- slow down to avoid clattering Malen. Gallagher, in control? - the agility to clear with R (and not shit left flick into traffic)
#13 CREATE SPACE FOR TEAM MATES
Another mark of intelligent midfielders
Second nature for them
- Check where's Sterling
- Gotta drag Reus out = pocket opened
- Once he is (and can't see), dart to show up
- That pass, are you kidding me ?
(yes that's successful)
#14 TRIPLE TEAM & GET AWAY
That's Gallagher's bread and butter, there's some skill in that
-Reading the defensive cover he needs to do
-Get in between to muscle off and pick up the lose ball
-Smooth banana drag to get away
-Draw a foul
Could stop at 1: makes a foul, gets booked
#15 DEFEND LARGE SPACE & INTERCEPT
You can pigeonhole players, but the truth is and has always been
SKILLSET = ROLE
Not finding a role by elimination of what players can't do
Gallagher is quick, reads the game
Can play in a midfield 2. Never in doubt
#16 THE GALLAGHER TURN
Receives a pass from the twin brother of the guy who was trained at Barcelona + futsal (what the hell is this pass)
Not the best Gallagher turn (but this is a Galla8her thread so gotta mention it)
Ball mastery 1v1. 2 touches = 180° Just needs an actual professional level pass
That's it for the Galla8her thread
Every of these things are the utmost basics for midfielders
Gallagher has a very wide skillset and masters most of this things at a very good standard
Coaches / Analysts who can't spot any of this
Nor provide feedback to players are con artists
