Ben Chilwell

[Jase 43,479]

Chilwell on adapting to be a LWB...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/03/22/ben-chilwellchelseas-england-contingent-hoping-thomas-tuchel/

“My whole career, I’ve been more used to playing left-back than left wing-back. You know, the formation we’re playing suits a lot of players and it’s working for us very well. So if I want to play I have to adapt my game to be able to play left wing-back as well as left-back. 

“I’m working hard in training and, coming into games, I’m asking a lot of questions, where I can be positionally, so I can improve and get more opportunities to play in that role. But on the other side of things when you’ve got two or three players in each position that can do different roles and have different strengths, it makes everyone train a lot harder, which is creating a good buzz around the place.”

“The main thing is when you’re playing wing-back, you’re already a lot higher up the pitch. When you’re playing left-back, you’re running on to things, using your speed to get up and down the pitch, which is my strength. Whereas left wing-back, you’re predominantly just in the attacking third, which I’ve had to adapt to. Against Sheffield United, I got a dubious goal and assist, so on the attacking side of things I’ve shown that I can play there as well as left-back.”

[Blue Armour 4,436]

18 hours ago, Jason said:

Chilwell on adapting to be a LWB...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/03/22/ben-chilwellchelseas-england-contingent-hoping-thomas-tuchel/

“My whole career, I’ve been more used to playing left-back than left wing-back. You know, the formation we’re playing suits a lot of players and it’s working for us very well. So if I want to play I have to adapt my game to be able to play left wing-back as well as left-back. 

“I’m working hard in training and, coming into games, I’m asking a lot of questions, where I can be positionally, so I can improve and get more opportunities to play in that role. But on the other side of things when you’ve got two or three players in each position that can do different roles and have different strengths, it makes everyone train a lot harder, which is creating a good buzz around the place.”

“The main thing is when you’re playing wing-back, you’re already a lot higher up the pitch. When you’re playing left-back, you’re running on to things, using your speed to get up and down the pitch, which is my strength. Whereas left wing-back, you’re predominantly just in the attacking third, which I’ve had to adapt to. Against Sheffield United, I got a dubious goal and assist, so on the attacking side of things I’ve shown that I can play there as well as left-back.”

Interesting that he played as the WB, while Emerson played as the left CB in the last FA cup game.

IMO, Emerson is the most clueless defender we have (even more than Alonso) and he failed to play the Sheffield United attackers offside during the 2nd half, when they kept trying to play the long ball over his head.

Neither Emerson or Chillwell are dominant in the air, but at least Chillwell has more defensive nous to play an offside trap correctly. Conversely, I think Emerson is better in attack.

[Jase 43,479]

4 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Conversely, I think Emerson is better in attack.

Where has that narrative come from?

He has only 9 assists in his entire club career so far.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

16 hours ago, Jason said:

Where has that narrative come from?

He has only 9 assists in his entire club career so far.

More so because of his positioning on the pitch as an attacking outlet, unlike Chillwell who still doesn't get into advanced areas as often as he should.

And this is strictly about their performance as a WB. I think Chillwell trumps Emerson as an outright FB. If Chillwell improved his positioning (just like he said in the article above) he would be the best option for us.

[MoroccanBlue 5,375]

Yeah it’s just a matter of positional awareness. Got into relatively attacking areas all the time at LB. 

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Just an awesome individual goal that gets better every time you see it. the first three touches are just perfection. to get the ball  away from Corona and into space but not too far, then past the defender but not too close to the goalie and then past the goalkeeper but not too close to the other defender just brilliantly executed.

[Jase 43,479]

Already contributed 10 goals this season, after his 7th assist of the season yesterday. One of 7 players to have contributed at least 10 goals this season.

That tally of 10 is also his personal best in a season so far in his career.

For (random) comparison, Reguilon has managed 6 assists and yet to score this season.

[Milan 17,955]

Finally played the ball with first touch and made an assist immediately. Before that he had like 3 similar situations and took way too many touches and way too much time before playing it to team mates.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

On 25/04/2021 at 09:40, Milan said:

Finally played the ball with first touch and made an assist immediately. Before that he had like 3 similar situations and took way too many touches and way too much time before playing it to team mates.

Yeah it is infuriating at times.

The best fullbacks know when to go first time, when to take a touch and put it on or when to recycle it. 

Chilwell is guilty of taking too many at times, his delivery is usually not bad but the extra touch or two ruins the momentum of our moves and allows people to close him down.

Have been impressed with how hes bounced back though, Alonso at the beginning looked like he would be more regular out of the two but Chilwell is slowly growing into the wingback role.

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, OneMoSalah said:

Yeah it is infuriating at times.

The best fullbacks know when to go first time, when to take a touch and put it on or when to recycle it. 

Chilwell is guilty of taking too many at times, his delivery is usually not bad but the extra touch or two ruins the momentum of our moves and allows people to close him down.

Have been impressed with how hes bounced back though, Alonso at the beginning looked like he would be more regular out of the two but Chilwell is slowly growing into the wingback role.

That's a common problem with most players in the team really. A lot of them tend to take too long to play the final pass or allergic to passing forward to speed up the buildup play/provide penetration.

[NikkiCFC 8,286]

 

[OhForAGreavsie 6,057]

On 26/04/2021 at 16:42, Jas said:

That's a common problem with most players in the team really. A lot of them tend to take too long to play the final pass or allergic to passing forward to speed up the buildup play/provide penetration.

I'm afraid I want the club to go shopping for a left back once again this summer. Leicester fans' assessment of Chilwell had me worried when he was linked. It is now clear that they were right and that it was right to take their opinions seriously.

After Ben's first game I commented that, unlike Marcos, he was prepared to use his right foot so that at least was an improvement. I spoke too soon however. I am totally fed up watching professional footballers having to turn down easy forward passes, and opt for momentum destroying backwards ones instead, because all they can do with their weaker foot is stand on it. From now, we must only sign two footed full backs. With the modern method, one-footed full backs are even more of a hindrance than they have always been. Ben is not the solution for us.

By the way, the women play their Champions League Final tonight. The regular left back is, in my opinion, a weak link when we have the ball because she's not great with it at her feet and is also hopelessly one-footed. We are always better in possession when either Blundell or Charles deputise for her. Those too are among the best ball players, and passers, in the squad. Barcelona are favourites tonight but, in my opinion, our chances improve a lot if Blundell or particularly Charles start. Indeed I'd play 3-4-3 with both of those in the side as wingbacks. Easily doable since both of them are fully two footed.

Edited May 16, 2021 by OhForAGreavsie

[Mário César 1,232]

You guys are happy with chilwell saeson??

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

hace 5 minutos, OhForAGreavsie dijo:

I'm afraid I want the club to go shopping for a left back once more this summer. Leicester fans' assessment of Chilwell had me worried when he was linked and it is now clear that they were right and it was right to take their opinions seriously. After Ben's first game I commented that, unlike Marcos, he was prepared to use his right foot so that at least was an improvement but I spoke too soon. I am totally fed up watching professional footballers having to turn down easy forward passes, and opt for momentum destroying backwards ones instead, because all they can do with their weaker foot is stand on it. From now, we must only sign two footed full backs. Ben is not the solution for us.

I think some of this is harsh, although granted he isn’t always brilliant at times/hasn’t been this season but he has certainly improved with Tuchel after a initial dodgy start when he was deservedly out of the team. 

His relationship and insistence on only passing to Mason at times is sometimes infuriating though. I feel that at times he and Mason sometimes overplay when there are good opportunities of trying to spread the play or look at more progressive options. Or as we seen in some games particularly v Fulham that overindulging of Mason drifting to the left to get the ball from Ben, gave Gilmour a lot of work against 2 CMs when BG had initially started the game badly also. Its not the worst thing they obviously have a good understanding and chemistry on the pitch but also at times I just want to see Ben drive at someone, take them on, but he turns inside or goes backwards. As a wingback you’d think he would be more encouraged and thats why I can see the Benjamin Mendy links as far fetched as they may be because the guy just gets the ball and drives at folk or arrives in positions to make an impact where he can deliver the ball very often. 

This is also what I really admire and like about Luke Shaw when I have seen him this last season and a half or 2 seasons with Ole. At times he is just motoring past people when there is space available, physically he is very strong and he just picks the ball up and drives forward and it also relieves the pressure and allows for them to bring the whole team up the pitch 10-15 yards. He obviously has refined his game and particularly his end product after a few disappointing seasons at United also which helps. He looks like he is going to be England’s number 1 LB for a good while at this rate.

I do agree regarding the one footed thing, it is infuriating at this level for any player. Cahill was a bad example of it under Conte in his second season particularly also. Not exactly for Chilwell but its a pity that Rudiger isn’t naturally left footed for the LCB role although he does use his left a lot and well we seen Zouma’s role in the build up to the Arsenal goal also. The lack of trust in his weaker side when he had Chilwell and Gilmour on really accountes towards that shambolic goal. I really would of maybe liked to have seen Tuchel or even Conte experiment with Alonso as a left sided CB as he played there briefly in Italy although he does have his short comings. No doubt having a more natural left footed CB may allow us to build better and utilise those passing angles more. Im sure Tuchel used Emerson there in the FA cup in a back 3 too.

[Tomo 21,751]

On 16/05/2021 at 17:06, OhForAGreavsie said:

I'm afraid I want the club to go shopping for a left back once again this summer. Leicester fans' assessment of Chilwell had me worried when he was linked. It is now clear that they were right and that it was right to take their opinions seriously.

After Ben's first game I commented that, unlike Marcos, he was prepared to use his right foot so that at least was an improvement. I spoke too soon however. I am totally fed up watching professional footballers having to turn down easy forward passes, and opt for momentum destroying backwards ones instead, because all they can do with their weaker foot is stand on it. From now, we must only sign two footed full backs. With the modern method, one-footed full backs are even more of a hindrance than they have always been. Ben is not the solution for us.

By the way, the women play their Champions League Final tonight. The regular left back is, in my opinion, a weak link when we have the ball because she's not great with it at her feet and is also hopelessly one-footed. We are always better in possession when either Blundell or Charles deputise for her. Those too are among the best ball players, and passers, in the squad. Barcelona are favourites tonight but, in my opinion, our chances improve a lot if Blundell or particularly Charles start. Indeed I'd play 3-4-3 with both of those in the side as wingbacks. Easily doable since both of them are fully two footed.

He's a weird one.

I absolutely love his personality within the locker room and he's a lot better defensively than I expected but attacking wise he's just as meh as I feared, the lack of aggression going forward compared to the two Scots to name two prime examples is stark and he doesn't seem to have any real working relationship with the players infront of him (he didn't really work with Harvey Barnes either who's developed relationships with Castagne and Thomas very quickly). 15 years ago that could have probably been worked around but in the present era consistent attacking presence from fullback is crucial to successful teams.

He's not bad by any stretch of the imagination but I just can't help but feel we need at the very least a different profile of player to rotate with him depending on opponent.