'ROASTED': But was he really? Chalobah vs Mitoma
Trying to actually analyse instead of hurling with the wolves
This is the thread I posted on Twitter about Chalobah’s first half in Chelsea’s 1-2 defeat to Brighton H&A on Saturday 15th of April.
Football is a game of opinions, anyone is entitled to his.
Some opinions happen to be wrong.
There’s a difference between casual fan banter “my winger roasted your fullback” and masquerading it as analysis.
There is no need to hurl with the wolves.
Yes, I don’t care *you* were at Stamford Bridge, not everything is about *you*
The general idea behind this breakdown is to offer an insight as to how professional player analysis works. What do people in the game look at, what are the easy to grasp coaching points to look at to evaluate how a player handled things he’s actually able to control.
Of course, there’s a spirit of redundancy in the situations presented here; because Chelsea’s central control meant that Brighton often found Mitoma in 1v1 isolation out wide.
This is very much my point to show how Chalobah did a good job by showing a consistent level of quality defending in a dozen of very similar (but not identical) plays.
He’s not a chancer, half guessing and tangling his own legs.
In terms of observation, there’s a level of second guessing that tends to disappear when you more or less know what to look at.
These are tweets copied / pasted (and lightly edited).
As for yungchalobah, Mitoma this that
Elite wingers are elite because they've got 50-70% dribble success
(not Pulisic's 42%)
Savant points at the moon, don't look at the finger
How double/triple team act is key.
Brighton expert at finding 3rd man
Chalobah did well today
[3'] Chalobah is facing a 1v2
Adopts the right posture, lowering his body, footwork
Points at requiring a double team who'd handle Mitoma Chalobah needs to pick up the deepest runner
That's textbook fullback in crisis (1v2) situation Has a touch on the cross
[7'] Handle the double acceleration
Narrows down the distance
Lowers his body, gets on toes Mitoma is a piece of work, has the deadly "double acceleration" Only "does" Chalobah once he turns pace
Chalobah sligthly flat footed and caught Enzo initially double team, sleeping
[15'] Match up the double acceleration
Chalobah comes out, points at double team to have his back covered
Adopts right defensive posture - low on toes
yungchalobah is 192 -6ft4. Taller than Alonso / Ivanovic
Right turn of pace to catch up
Tackles
[18'] Show him inside for a change
Chalobah comes out, closes down standard But instead of showing him wide where he's been on the line
Shows him inside because Zakaria is close
Good situational adaptation Mitoma lays back
Back in to MacAllister, draws a cheap foul
[19'] Delay, don’t lunge in
This one's allright, footwork is okay. Dynamic, shoulders over toes, eyes on the ball Pulisic probably doesn't close down well enough out of the double team on the passback
[20'] Poor team sync to pick runners
This one isn't so great but more on the team sync than Trevoh per se
Not sure why Pulisic tracks that deep (does he want to play right back?)
Deepest defender ought to pick up farthest runner Should've been Chalobah if him, Zaka, Pulisic made contact
[23] (Not defensive management)
But I thought Chalobah did allright in the opposition half, nothing special. But still able to get involved in basic moves This one was decent, feed Sterling + Pulisic run in behind Cobham trained backup defender able to be decent at everything
[24] This is where I felt Chelsea was lacking Not application, not structure but intensity to be able to sustain something decent. Let's be clear, it's not good enough. But Pulisic, Zakaria (more minutes for
in 2023) were not sharp enough to get in position to triple team
[25] Trying to stop a counter
Zakaria often tangles his legs (right-right). Puts himself into trouble. No foul.
Chalobah decides to squeeze.
But too flat (Caicedo has 2 good options).
Fofana does bare minimum.
Mitoma does what dribblers should do: DIAGONAL run
Badiashile minimum too None tight enough.
[26] Don’t provide a clear angle in the box
Previous play wasn't good Give ball back after stoppage is fair play But either shithouse + press charity turnover But don't improvise a high press Thought Chalobah did well Very dynamic footwork without offering a clear option in or out. Mitoma gambled a toe poke, wide
This is good posture On toes to stay dynamic Body balance leaning forward (shoulders over toes) Arms to balance Eyes on the ball (and not on shoulder drops like bad defenders do) Quite isolated, so hasn't a clear team mate to show toward for a trap So forces Mitoma to gamble
[30] Brana, is that you?
Rubbish it if you want, but one thing I like about Lampard is that - post Wolves presser - he doesn't discard build up options
Big boy Chalobah up for a flick on goalkick like vintage Ivanovic Ends up with Sterling-Gallagher link up and decent delivery across the face of goal.
[31] Reading and recovery pace
Reading of the diagonal is slightly Mathieu Debuchy-esque (mis-timing drop point and direct route to get under) Trevoh quite off Mitoma on his first touch But good recovery pace, and good timing to make a good tackle with his left leg without a foul Keeps it in play
[37] Wide combination play
Interchange between Pulisic and Chalobah, to end up with Trevoh as "HaLf sPaCe oPeRaToR"
If that one pulls out, Pulisic goes through It doesn't, Chalobah gets clattered (maybe not a good idea afterall) Brighton break away Zakaria should've slid across as cover/support
[39] Handle 1v1 + tag the run
Chalobah does well to squeeze in, and adopt the right posture
Somehow ends up sort of jumping out of the duel
But re "magnets"
himself to Mitoma's run
Play recycled backwards Job done by Trevoh
[39] Invite him inside for a change
Chelsea drawn pressing high (why?); B&HA bypass with a chip for Mitoma
Trevoh once again inviting Mitoma inside
Defensive posture good: toes, balance leaning forward, shoulder over toes
Zakaria too late to double team inside "Good" reactive recovery effort by Enzo
The Manchester Stamford Bridge Pelé
Biggest "error" = Fofana's footwork.
Mis-judging great delivery (Badiashile is excellent at it), defenders need to face the crosser (and the touchline)
Lock the (here) left leg on the 6 yard box Go up to challenge when cross is kicked
Trevok OK, can't go through Welbeck
[42] Back post clearance
Not /much/ better than the goal previously But can't fault Trevoh for closing at the back post like a commited Branislav Ivanovic (under-rated feature of fullbacks game) Fofana gets in the way here Chalobah possibly the one getting the flick to clear it, hard to see
[45] Double team coming up late
Mitoma iso Chalobah doing okay to close down
Swivelling shoulder drop Mitoma times well his drag inside
Question mark over Zakaria
Drawn to press MacAllister allright
Qu'est ce que tu fous
How come he ends up behind both instead of getting in Mitoma's path?
[45] Back post clearance
Chalobah heading the ball clear at the far post like a good Branislav Ivanovic in disguise Job done
[46] Excellent 1v1 management
Mitoma iso Chalobah doing good
Third one is very important to figure out if you didn't in real time (it's okay)
Chalobah dynamic on toes, SKIPS BACKWARDS so that still invites him outside Proactive posture Angle to feed the 9 is still hard to play
Intercepts
That's it for Trevoh Chalobah's 1st half
If you believe he was "roasted" by Mitoma
You're entitled to your terrible football opinion, which is factually wrong.
He did a pretty good job. Often called upon because Chelsea did a good job blocking Brighton's central penetration
All things considered I thought he did great. Coming out the cold to play one of the SIX positions he might be asked to play at EPL level with good technique and application. Between lack of support and game state he was often left isolated and held his own. Should be every clubs dream. Credit to the player himself of course but also to his teachers.