Couldn’t decide between Reiss, Rally and Drive and Rise, Rally and Drive
Asked the editor of the newsletter, turns out it’s also me so oh well.
The best project in World Football (source: themselves) has been unable to create a pathway for RRAD, Chelsea’s double-double-barrelled do it all midfielder.
A collection of notes on a midfielder who doesn’t really take the spotlight for some reason when it comes to mentioning players ready to make the step, but well known from the circles who watch Academy football.
In my opinion, worth what it’s worth, one of the most unique players I’ve seen at this level in recent years for how good he is both sides of the ball.
Reiss-Russell Alexander-Denny (or RRAD):
That’s an eye catching masked pass vs Colchester U21s. Yes, levels permitting, but you still don’t see it every week
Where am I going? For a start - give credit which is on brand to talk about someone who gave the most assists for his team to win the U18 Premier League South
I captured a lot of clips (in view to write this down the line, done the same with Ishe, Kiano, Golding and everyone they haven’t signed therefore will sell any moment now) but this season compilation encompasses the things I only saw on film:
Useful introduction, as I’m not gonna embed every play.
Another perspective from Analyst footage:
Side pitstop to throw a rotten tomato, as I’m reminded of this game.
Where are the Chelsea links to Warren Zaïre Emery, Odobert, Kari, Xavi Simons?
That’s right. Oscar Bobb, Roméo Lavia, Nico O’Reilly.
Score 1-3 PSG, Score goals > inverting fullbacks.
Best project in World Football - but only if you’re in the loop. Liam Delap soon dw
Amougood? or Amounotgood? We shall see.
Both players play taller than they are. This is two different views of player development, albeit one reached the U17 World Cup final (and scored in it).
These two players open an interesting discussion: Reiss’ game is very good from a holistic point of view (professional craft)., Some of Amougou’s highs might create a wider scope - but so does his cheap turnovers, the odd shanked pass or general clarity of thought when going to ground.
Both players are interesting to follow and as far as I’m concerned, caught my eye in the past year - France made it to the U17 WC and U17 Euros final.
Unpredictable maverick put on show in Ligue 1 (losing 11 in 15) to drum interest and balance the books, vs signing players (KDH) to replace players who signed injured (Lavia) whilst you’ve got the top end of reliability at home if you’re that badly in search for a “fourth midfielder”. Or just fucking addicted to use club resources to make more transfers that rainfall on stakeholders.
There is not 12 million difference between the two players.
Players will get their career going and the goalposts hardly move especially between New Malden and Norbiton. It’ll be interesting to see how their journey develops.
Commenting on Academy players in their career defining years before making the step is a game of navigating vacuums and caveats, given the amount of information at disposal. The more you watch, the more you sample with more certainty what was a 8/10 performance, what was a 5/10 and how often it differs from a general performance ballpark.
Both on an individual level : assuming you watch a competition that you know as for what degree of adversity you expect.
And collectively, with a chance to grasp the degree of chemistry that can exist between said players, and their better (or not) team mates. In other words, can you play with good players, and bad players and how does that impact your game and output.
I watch a lot of games, and I have a framework for analysing midfielders (always updated and refined). The simple way to look at it is that Reiss Russell Denny ticks almost all the boxes I’d expect a good player to tick, in both penalty areas and in between.
“Someone should be there”, and he’s there; or “can this pass filter though” ; it does.
I knew from reputation Reiss Russell-Denny had a goal in him and got his in the “everybody eats” game vs New Caledonia at the U17 World Cup (10-0) on penalty.
As a geography undergrad and geopolitics nerd, it’s always amusing to know that New Caledonia (just like Scotland) is part of France (like Scotland the UK). Can’t vote, but still compete in International tournaments on their own flag and colors. I coached a player who played the U17 World Cup for them
Reiss then equalised against Iran which I remember reacting to in apt fashion on social media.
I always have a lot of time for non nominal forwards who regularly get on the scoresheet. “you’ve got a goal in you” is something you wish you can say about players and can never take for granted
The other thing that caught my eye on that goal was the deception to play a masked pass. Always thinking about the clusters I often mention. One of them is “players who connect play can’t score” and “players who scores aren’t bothered with linking up”
Because they’re wired differently: take a shot over squaring it is the obvious giveaway. But there’s more granular, incremental decision making when it comes to which pass can be played (and how!) and what can be the likely follow up (namely: who gets the shot). Players have an empirical possible chain of events in mind.
Overhitting a pass 3v2 towards the corner flag? That’s not lack of agility, you just really want the cutback in a second. These are the nuggets I learned during ad breaks on television when former internationals talk about their war stories and that support attacker who made sure the pass was going back.
Something I’ve then seen Reiss do with the U21s
or U18s in the U18 Playoff Final, failing to connect with Chelsea’s tangling blonde hair extraordinaire winger - this one is eligible to play a game.
Two footed left footer
There’s 10% of left footed people in the world but 20% of left footed footballers.
A righty can work and be two footed: Guéhi, Tomori are good examples
A lefty will often have a better strong foot than a right footer’s; but will struggle to get the same level of two footedness: both because lefties are put on the left in teams anyway, and also maybe because they’re wired differently when it comes to brain hemispheres and nerve commands.
Literature isn’t definite but this is still some empirical scouting tidbits to be mindful of.
Ishe Samuels-Smith (background) has a functional (not preferred) right foot which is good for a lefty.
RRAD has a very good right foot to shoot or pass, which is very unusual for a lefty and evidence (by the repeatable and clean motion) the amount of work that came to bring him to this point.
Aina, Tomori, Guéhi, Humphreys didn’t become two footed by being shown tactical softwares and PowerPoints.
When it comes to weight of passes, Reiss Russell Denny is one of the best I’ve seen in recent seasons at academy level, for connecting in the path of forwards running into space
Set piece taking:
Unsurprisingly (based on his weight of pass from open play) ; RRAD’s set piece delivery is also one of the best I’ve seen at Academy level
level; with more dishes in 90’ in that FAYC game at Crystal Palace than most teams will produce in a calendar month.
There’s a handful of free kicks in there, always top bins
Decision making in final third
And on a general note when it comes to final third, which is the real truther for dribbling box to box - this is elementary but do compare players based on clusters - many of them tumble between both boxes, fewer of them consistently make good decisions
My reaction to the opening goal at Crystal Palace was “of course that’s you”.
Interception and carry, then play a through pass for JJ Morgan to Chase (sorry)
It’s funadmental to carry diagonally on fastbreaks:
When RRAD shifts to drive, if he goes straight (along the band of grass), his options at the end of the run are:
Heading to the corner flag (are you dumb)
Cutting inside (easily defended)
Brushing off the tackle with a well timed extra touch
Priority here isn’t to escape defenders, it’s to commit defenders so that a team mate can receive in space. Hence why RRAD drives straight at 6 to force him to make a decision
Shoulder check to see Golding on his right. Perception / action / affordance
Fullback marks out the opponent, the affordance is: he can’t receive into feet, can he receive into space. Michael Golding. Speed. (he’s still very good and quicker than your favourite Academy CM)
The idea is to commit the space between the two defenders, so that they look at each other guessing who’s gonna get drawn first
JJ Morgan runs it by the book: diagonal run across opposite to the direction of the carrier, so that he can end up seeing both the passer and the goal - yes he could do the same opposite side then block George’s path.
This is the utmost textbook 3v2 situation that players get better at when training with waves (not hampered with “play der play der” and “we don’t like counter attacks” charlatans)
Reiss’ technical timing to get two quick touches in succession disrupts the flow of the defenders’ footwork (he gets 3 actions when they make 2 steps, Robben was brilliant at having players tangling their feet, Saka is exceptional with his artificial change of gear to time the release)
Last regular touch of the carry
Shortening the next one to release it against the flow, and in the defenders’ heel
JJ Morgan lets it roll across his body to delay the defender the opportunity to set his footwork according to the direction of the first touch
I think RRAD is sometimes unfairly at the receiving end of “he’s one paced” criticism, a bit like Rodrigo Bentancur (who I also like a lot).
Whilst neither has the Ramires turbo turn of pace, their change of gear still exists pushing their technical execution to the maximum with very few lose touches, ball close to feet and quick touches in succession. The deception (delaying the pass) also works to commit opponents and open the pocket behind them. Timing is key, that’s a Saka vibe to know exactly when to release (he’s on another level obviously)
Mega turn of pace for a garbage final pass isn’t better than:
technical / timed turn of pace in the playable space for quality output.
Running fast is useless if the brain doesn’t follow along.
Who played the quick free kick to set up Tyrique George?
Some of it comes down to composure, 2-0 down 20 minutes to go with a track record of scoring Toni Kroos goals around a forest of legs between him and the goal, this could easily have been a volley in the Jimmy Seed Stand
Trivela pass. Do we have time for a trivela pass in final third?
Yes. We do. Style meets function, right foot can do, outside of the boot for a lefty goes around the corner and provides Stutter with good conditions to receive (left foot would end in his toes and slowing him down)
No chip on shoulders, but that’s a fine chipped pass. Fàbregas approves.
Doesn’t do up and down, full of snow taking three days to corkscrew in the air and reach the receiver’s achille’s heel.
Diagonal carry for a diagonal pass, slightly behind his team mate.
Ideally, a small shoulder drop opposite side can commit defenders the wrong way before releasing it: go slightly left (so go back straight) to bend with the left foot. Or go slightly right (90° to the goal) to bend it with the right foot to make the pass end up in the receiver’s path
Willian (he hates Tott’num) was key to retain the ball in final third until there was an opening for another attacker. Top teams retain the ball in attack, average teams with average players (who don’t press) revert to playing on the counte (and their success comes down whether they embrace reality or not).
Reiss is also a fine crosser of the ball which adds up,
Picking up channel runners
From the FAYC report at Crystal Palace where Reiss gave the two assists
One player who stood out is Reiss Russell-Denny.
Sport doesn’t transform character, it reveals it.
Players’ reaction to fires to put out outside their zones tell a lot.
LWB Boniface pinned, LCB Samuels-Smith commited, Russell-Denny was keen to pick up the runner but also pounce on the second ball to bring it forward.
Mourinho used to have his CBs defending the central band of the pitch and CMs picking up runners in the channels. This is a tactical defensive set up; but relies on players actually being capable of it.
That play seems un-noticeable but is a very valuable observation snippet which is
not possibly random; once you get it you do it, you don’t happen to feel a runner beyond and tracking them.
not isolated (as I saw him doing it at Palace months before from the other side of the pitch)
Winning a goalkick out of it on top of that. Could’ve been a 2v2 inside the box
I couldn’t catch the start of the move but that’s RRAD tackling in the channel after having tracked a runner
Players are skillsets, not positions. They also have a brain to process their environment.
Reiss slots in as makeshift situational CB as Esapa Osong drags Billy Gee in the channel (trying to stay alive). The Isle of Man channel of course.
Setting the defensive position sideways, one foot in front / behind to see runners, the goal and the crosser (which you can’t do if you watch your goal, you’ll only kick the ball in your own net)
Backtracking diagonally to end up in line with the near post whilst checking 3 times for runners (pick the most dangerous runner in the box)
He’s not a CB, so that’s alright defending (bit rooted) and a CB would use his arm to feel / block the striker
Still can intervene with agility without fouling the striker (another classic in these situations)
At top level (Van Dijk) or academy level, crosses are better cleared either in the T on halfway, or passed back on the side of the cross. Usually the fullback (who didn’t go to ground) or a side CM is ready to pick it up whilst ball side opponents are out of position
It’s better than a slow rolling pass half clearance in the D
setting up this:
Finishing skill
Spinning to face goal (see the passer and the target)
Look at Kiano Dyer. Players see players, celebrating before the ball is kicked.
There’s a few things to look at when it comes to finishing
can you get shots off without decelerating : whether a run or a carry
how fast is your last before last and final touch sequence (shift and shoot)
can you aim for the corners
Reiss has scored a fair amount of goals, at some point last season he was scoring most games from midfield in the U18 League Chelsea won (South).
Reiss’ last goal for Chelsea; which tells you eveything you need to know.
English / London based “pausa”, “masked pass”, and finish from outside the box
These “passes in the bottom corner” seem easy until you try it and realise you need to nail the area to connect with the ball to keep it low but powerful, with still enough swerve to bend it like Reiss does here
Right foot balance spot on, using arms for technical balance.
Room for improvement would be to keep the hand on the opponnt’s chest before shooting to prevent him pushing to keep opponent away, and even more strength to maintain a strong set position
The small jump at the end of the shooting motion creates a loss of energy which can be valuable (in the grand scheme of things) to relive the strain on tendons/knee, but diminishes the shooting power.
Like the best example I’ll ever think of these shots slightly across the body (coming from an angle) after brusing off Oscar.
Support foot stays planted toes pointing, shoulder over the ball, both arms for balance and transfer of weight and shooting toes pointing to the corner
Also (that’s 2013-14 training gear). RRAD in his U8 season, Terry in his U35 (he was 34)
Too many tourists filming games in football stadiums, that’s why the 150 £7.50 a ticket Kingsmeadows matchgoers can’t create an atmosphere. This one legit ran out of storage space right when Reiss connected with Acheampong’s cross to equalize against Everton.
The full play to see RRAD’s stealth late run on a cross, very Ballack-esque
Or this one: ghosting around the box and able to trigger a shot quickly
Reacting quicklu to get on toes and adjust to the trajectory (could’ve started skipping sooner)
Balance slightly backwards (shoulders behind the ball) and unlucky to see JJ Morgan deflecting his attempt.
You don’t need “play der play der” coaching to help players read the room and attack available space. The cancerous “positional play”/ “stay in your plastic hoop” is a mind polluting (and career hindering) poorly interpreted gospel.
Play where the space is, crash the space in front, trust your team mates
RRAD triggers his run on the pass to the striker
Which is a shot that he’d like to smash in the back of the net, rather than “testing the goalkeeper”
Same as this one, shanked also because the angle (and technique) is somewhre between the Harry Kane shot (swing the leg very hard to shot across at 90°) and the Ronaldo (hammer it with shoulders facing goal) shot (at 45° to goal), does a bit of both and skews it.
On this one, there’s very little time between the last shift and shoot which is the most reliable way to scale up attackers to play at a higher level
Same here:
Seeecond ball!
When watching RRAD at Crystal Palace in the FAYC, not only I thought he was the catalyst of the good performance overal, but I was very impressed by his ability to feel second balls drop points.
Second balls favour players who are already on the move when the ball is in the air, and second guess potential drop points (who’ll come out on top, and where is the ball likely to drop) to protect the drop point
There’s nothing down to luck, you got to compute it, if not through a spreadsheet.
Reiss excels at dominating second balls, it’s not a matter o hospital flicking the ball with the shinpads between a team mate and an opponent. He’s genuinely enjoys finding creative technical solutions to keep possession alive for his side
A second ball harvesting machine.
Players who like a carry can like second balls too, as they won’t mind moving it from point A to point B anyway.
This isn’t “random”, this is systemic in a players’ game.
If they can do it, they will do it. If they do it, it’s because they value the dirty side of the game (it’s not dirty, it’s just all round).
If they stop doing it, it means something’s missing on the moment
(fitness, knock etc… this is an amber flag for coaches)
You don’t do football chores and decide to stop doing it, slackers don’t do it at all in the first place
Also because Reiss doesn’t really win the first ball, I’ve seen him connect with a few headers. But that’s fine. Look at Liverpool’s midfield. McAllister, Endo, Slowbozo are second ball harvesting machines.
Means Michael Edwards either has a strong data model, or empirical eye for the game.
Possibly after being cheekily taunted by Harry Redknapp to play the game with his computer against the other team analyst’s and see who wins.
Movement between the lines
Good players are skillsets, not positions
Good players find space on the pitch (that’s essentially the football version of survival instinct)
Reiss plays 6-8-10-winger.
Doesn’t matter where he starts from, but where he ends up impacting games.
You can see him picking the ball with the CBs, or letting Kiano Dyer doing it and being one step in front.
Sokoban ?
This is the niche-est reference. Basically pushing heystacks to create space.
Sprint to push back the CBs, then dropping off the front, then changing direction again. All done smoothly in space.
A look at the decision making:
CBs aren’t pinned back (by a / the striker), so let’s jump ahead of the ball and prevent them to squeeze in ; which creates space between the lines
RCB pushed back, Ishe receives
Reiss basically stands unmarked where the CB would stand if he didn’t make the previous move
Runham drops off to receive into feet, (committing the United RB)
Reiss immediately identifies and darts in the channel (albeit slightly off timing in terms of running mechanics, his left leg goes across his right ; to make up for upper body moving before lower body - this is MSc nitpicking)
Ishe (LB) drag the double team out of position, Reiss jumps on the edge of the CB’s field of vision.
That’s the one moment where Reiss has to make a decision, feedback is usually “back to the closest touchline” or in this case; back to the wall (that woud be the other CB closing in) so ideally ready to receive on the half turn, which is why he doesn’t make the most out of the reception
Even if the Cruyff Turn was a creative way to try to make up for his positioning
Small pitstop on the play described above
Players who roam into space are useful, the more unpredictable they are with changes of direction, the better. Özil Fàbregas Olise are brilliant. Palmer is just okay. Reiss does OK there, because there’s movement and change of direction
Play der play der coaching is worth jackshit vs perception action and identifying which space to hit according to environmental cues (and training that puts players in problem solving situations where they can build a library of cues that their brain can process).
Reiss did fairly well to read the situation and move accordingly (this isn’t “brilliant”, this is the floor expected at professional level. The basement is not moving) - then “making an impact at PL level” would be to make something out of the reception - think Palmer or Rogers
Ishe and Reiss’ movemet is what Azpilicueta (ISS) and Oscar (Reiss) were doing expertly to drag markers away from Hazard. They were the decoy for the main man. They weren’t showboating to create buildup triangles that are more boring than the RÅSKOG trolley I built during the first half of Brighton Chelsea (Jesus is Lord, it only required to plug the wheels on the frame). Equally boring as the first half.
A clip of nothingness, carry on. Soles on the ball, bait the press whatever.
Reiss captained Chelsea U18s in the Play Off final - quiet leadership.
Keeping attacking moves alive. Just on the play before the previous one: what does the game demand.
Overlap the carrier so he can come in diagonally (Diego goes diagonally but backwards, no wonder why he plays left back and… Dilane Bakwa plays RW) having dragged the double team out of position. Fabio Paim regen.
Fairly convinced it’s the game during which I shitposted that with a hidden CV and a trial match, Diegzy would end up as a Brexit Left back. Which he now is for Strasbourg. Shitposts and fortune telling, up to you to decide which is which.
This is a play I liked : “change the picture”
And which makes me think and believe it’s unfair to criticise RRAD on a supposed “lack of ability to change gear”
Diagonal reception from diagonal separation run (this is difficult to defend)
The delay to shift is spot on, slightly delayed on purpose to disrupt the defender’s footwork. Saka special. Defender reads that the player is sort of frozing, and defends reactively (waiting to see what the attacker does before reacting) and cements his position in fresh concrete
Brushing off the defender even if that needs to be stronger (players genuinely throw arms which hit the arm, aim isn’t to cause bruises but just windmill their way - sort of)
This is a separation movement to show for it, and split the box of 4 players
That’s a nice touch with the laces, carrying leg knee bent (which is aesthetics but more pleasing than players who play like stick men knocking the ball)
Lot of players get dizzy with the separation movement then fail upwards with longer touches because they get over excited and lose control (watch more French football lower tiers, carriers crashing into brickwalls makes you enjoy Carlos Baleba a lot)
Short touch still very much in control to avoid the tackle
That’s a good “chop” with the right foot for a left footer, doing it in an opposed situation with an effect is very good ball mastery
Shot mechanics not ideal, left arm is “chaotic” (not in a repeatable motion) and kinda drags the upper body off balance (lef), right foot lands ahead of the ball (half a shoe), toes not pointing to target, and ball is hit too early (because the right foot is too far ahead)
Some elements of solutioning are to vary the lentgth of touches for a purpose: this right foot shift is neither good nor bad, is probably too long.
Ideally: short shift and longer push (but diagonally) to set the footwork properly.
Or genuinely short shift + short touches and lashing out a strong shot on the go: either with power/swerve like Palmer or scooping it like Olise.
Cristiano barely shot at an angle (like Lampard Mbappé or Kane did), was often diagonally aligned with the goal to shoot with the shoulders facing goal.
Movement beyond the line
This is one of my favourite cognitive dissonance (with people who also know ball)
Assuming carriers don’t make runs, or retro-engineering that players who make runs are wingers. Reiss does both. Carry, pass and make runs.
Go above and beyond. Complete footballer who attacks the space available
In the mould of Pape Matar Sarr, clean passer who makes a lot of these channel runs
Activity off the ball
RRAD isn’t “per se” a ball winning midfielder but he’s key in the three layer defensive process
Player one shows in a direction, blocks the easy passes: the “Tammy Abraham stupid dance” for imbeciles with bandwidth and right to vote
Player two closes down to block one set of options to squeeze in the time/space available to make a decision; forcing the opponent to rush a pass
Player three actually wins the ball back with tackle or interception once the ball has been funnelled into a “pressing trap” set by the two players
All three have a role. You can’t build a team (or a defensive structure) when it’s dictated by failed Football Manager players in spite of everything football people know when it comes to creating a functional team.
Reiss mostly ranks in the category 2: players who close down
But is also competent in (3): screen and win it back
There’s still enough instances of RRAD getting stuck in and winning tackles, which is a professional skill to have. Players’s can’t forever be chaperoned by tacticoachs and absolved of doing 70% of the demands of the role.
Keep the player back to goal
This is second nature to Cobham educated players; when I visited in 2016 I was explained how every drill was inegrated, based on colors and constant transitions to ingrain habits.
Getting players to react on trigger isn’t a given, it takes nurturing from a player perception, athletic ability and sense of belonging (why would you bother when you can hire McKinsey consultants like you were taught in your fake ass MBA)
Sprint with calves in line with chest.
Cobham are very high level when it comes to S&C coaching and running mechanics, which is what you get when your staff are qualified Sport Science MSc’s
Strong stance to block the pass, with shoulders leaning forward.
This is a risk when players lean backwards, try to half arsedly block and get a point blank hammered pass in the top end of their foot and it strains their knee ligaments
Another piece of detail, Reiss makes sure to not clamp the opponent from behind with his left leg.
Also called the Caicedo Special. Moisés Caitsafoul
This is the difference between; “you’ll see the pitch at senior level” and “you’ll cost me my job, fuck off” because that shit foul in the EFL means a long ball at the far post on say the Tamworth CB, a flick and a goalscoring chance.
Change of direction. Nothing groundbreaking. Just a scouting cue: “can you move in all dimensions”
Block with the right leg, open the hip to land the left foot in the intended direction
Another strong stance to block whilst limiting the risk of a handball
This is a very unnoticeable play at the top level, because most players do it 80% of time correctly, the 20% where they don’t do it is taken advantage of by opponents who
filter through with a pass
draw a free kick
draw a free kick for handball
Academy level is the stage where you’re looking at gathering these cues to know who can make it.
Football is a weak link sport, before being a sport for individuals who win games.
Removing the former is equally important as finding (and keeping) the latter.
Can’t keep liabilities with matchwinners, you’ll lose anyway
Protecting the imaginary line between the ball and the goal, to create the space to close down forward
Fool proof way to not end up level and wrong side if you’re drawn to the ball initially
Defensive positioning
Referring to above:
RRAD is the second one, he has to close down and funnel dangerous options to force the opponent into a team mate.
Diegzy knocked off the ball (you’re not that guy, go play left back)
Midfielder ball side covering the channel, there’s an open player (15)
Option 1 is to show his ass, get drawn to 3, rush back to catch #15 wrong side (the Caicedo special)
Option 2 is to check shoulder and delay
Moving towards the line between goal / ball before intervening
Making the step to dissuade the pass back inside (which means a better possession, or a switch) is a valuable scouting tidbit.
Can you funnel counter attacks to mitigate danger
Diegzy is a nuisance here: pretends he defends and could foul 3 times, but just gets in the way and team mates can’t be drawn 2v1 and he has no chance to win it back.
From the Lucas Gournarticle:
One step a side to block the pass towards Matic’s team mate and show him wide
Rise, Rally And Drive
RRAD will play with Leo Black, Tyrese Hall which is an extremely talented trio of “what do they do exactly” footballers worth the train ticket to Stevenage to watch playing
One of my regrets in my coaching career is to not have been assertive as I should have when it comes to players that a. I’d see more often (than you), b. I benchmarked against some age peers (coming back to a.) c. I thought were quite good.
Impostor syndrome creeps in, you think you can’t be the one seeing it and that there must be better ones you’re not aware of. You’re still feet on the seat in the bandwagon, but kinda wish you gave it more traction early on (bar to people you share with)
Then a few years pass (2018 vs 2025) and your grassroots signings play against each other in Ligue 2 and will make the next continental competition for Algeria and France.
Players like Reiss are hardly playing under a rock, you’re not an international at Chelsea if you’re a dud. You’re at Chelsea because you’re good enough to be an international, and not the other way round.
But I’m quite intrigued to benchmark my last decade of coaching / observation (before, I was a teenage casual like everyone else. I liked Daniel Sturridge a lot).
Players who takes set pieces and not much else?
James Ward-Prowse, no change of gear but would send a corner kick in a postbox in a tax heaven far away (not London which is not a tax heaven. Move along.).
Or Championship journeyman like Lewis Baker
CM / AM / LW, Kiernan Dewsbury Hall was the best player in Championship and got himself a move to Chelsea. Yeah I know. But still.
And Reiss can win the ball back, and won’t be sent out wide to Strawberry Hill in a relegation dogfight because he’s too bad in a midfield 2.
Weight of pass and crossing, absurd technical consistency? Willian (he hates Tott’num)
Reiss Russell Denny has goals and these thing scale up.
He scored a handful of uncanny identical goals by tackling the ball in the bottom corner
If you score goals at any level, you give yourself chances to replicate it (levels permitting).
No one who could’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo becomes a goleador.
Some counter examples like Giroud and the Lewisham Ballack spring to mind; hardly prolific at academy level (I’ve seen Giroud since his Tours FC days in 2008), Ruben wasn’t a goal machine either and found some goalscoring form later on his career thanks to hard work.
Churros gun pointed to my head, “who do you pick out of Kiano or Reiss to win the next game”, I reckon I still pick Reiss.
Both players are the very best of the English Academy system: tactically versatile players who master small spaces, kick the ball about, getting around the pitch for a purpose.
when it comes to output, Reiss has it.
Go on Reiss: Rise, Rally And Drive
