🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 10. Cole Palmer

[nyikolajevics 2,698]

10 hours ago, Fulham Broadway said:

19 goals and 12 assists

Already a better first season than Hazard

In Premier League, Hazard reached 16 goals in two seasons(16/17 and 18/19), never above. So one more goal from Cole and he surpasses, which is crazy.

 

[James 5,314]

 

[Fulham Broadway 17,312]

If Palmer isn't already a household name, the onus is on the household to get with the times. We're looking at a man who could play a defining role in the next decade of English football and beyond. 

Not many 21 year olds brush aside Man Utd, but Palmer does what he likes. His hat-trick  against the Red Devils on Thursday night once again saw him stray into the headlines. 

Who is this seemingly shy, matter-of-fact chap, and what are his origins? Players like this don't just spawn out of the ether. 

As a child, Palmer wasn't running around in a Chelsea shirt or a City one - that would've been sacrilege. No, for him, the only shirt he wanted was wreathed with red. 

A photo from his childhood shows Palmer in one of United's old AON-sponsored jerseys. His idol at that age was Wayne Rooney. 

He said: 'What a player. When I was growing up I used to watch all the football and the one that sticks in my mind is Rooney.

'Ever since I was a little kid he has been my footballing hero.'

Something had to give when Palmer was scouted by Manchester City at the age of eight. Now he was behind enemy lines - but he still found a way to sneak in a tribute to his beloved club.

As grandfather Sterry said: 'When he first joined City, he used to wear a United shirt or some sort of United garment under his sky-blue shirt.

'He was a United fan but City offered the better set-up, they had the better training facilities and were able to better nurture his talent.

'The fact that he did support United never held him back, though. When City played against them at junior level, he used to absolutely smash them.

'Ever since he was knee-high, he's been mad keen on football and he'd run rings around the other kids. We knew he was special even back then.

'But he's worked hard, trained hard and just kept at it. But what you've seen from him now, just watch...there's more to come!'

Touching family videos show Palmer as a toddler bouncing and picking a ball round Wythenshawe's Hollyhedge Park as well as a couple of blistering goals taken during his schooldays.

In an interview in 2022 Palmer told how his first memories were about football.

He said of his daily trips to the park with his father: 'We would do that every single day whatever the weather - and my dad's family is from St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. He hates going out in the cold. But he'd do it for me anyway.'

He also remembered his dad taking him to watch him play for his Sunday League team.

He said: 'He used to sit me down on the bag of balls on the sidelines, wrapped in one of his rain jackets. I would just take it all in - the crunching tackles, the shouting, the arguing.

'Dad doesn't play anymore since he done his knee, and I don't really remember any specific games, but he'll tell you how good he was!

'He fixes dental equipment as his real job, but to listen to him you'd think he'd had a 20-year career in the Premier League!'

[NikkiCFC 8,319]

On EURO Southgate should take Palmer, Saka, Foden, Gordon and maybe Bowen. Really no place for guys like Rashford and Grealish. Sterling and Mount not even worth mentioning. 

[LAM09 7,051]

1 hour ago, NikkiCFC said:

On EURO Southgate should take Palmer, Saka, Foden, Gordon and maybe Bowen. Really no place for guys like Rashford and Grealish. Sterling and Mount not even worth mentioning. 

Southgate will be loyal to players regardless of how they're playing, if at all. Maguire & Henderson are probably two names on the team sheet that really should have no place in going to Germany.

[manpe 10,861]

On 05/04/2024 at 23:15, nyikolajevics said:

In Premier League, Hazard reached 16 goals in two seasons(16/17 and 18/19), never above. So one more goal from Cole and he surpasses, which is crazy.

 

Biggest difference between Eden and Cole is that Cole shoots on sight. Haz was a shy shooter which was the most frustrating part of his game. Would be interesting to compare their shooting stats.

[NikkiCFC 8,319]

Never missed penalty but still has to fight every time with Sterling, Madueke... I blame Poch. He should make it clear our best player is pen taker!

[King Kante 1,643]

5 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

Never missed penalty but still has to fight every time with Sterling, Madueke... I blame Poch. He should make it clear our best player is pen taker!

Honestly think Poch is just a Spurs agent. How this is still being allowed to happen when Cole has buried every pens this season is beyond a joke. Feel like he just throws the team out there and says 'do your best'. 

[Vytis33 1,270]

 

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

Feel really sorry for the guy, ended up here with this bunch of losers when he could of gone to or stayed at a successful club.

[lucio 5,418]

8 minutes ago, bigbluewillie said:

Feel really sorry for the guy, ended up here with this bunch of losers when he could of gone to or stayed at a successful club.

He’ll be gone before long if we don’t sack poch and sell the trash 

[LAM09 7,051]

1 hour ago, lucio said:

He’ll be gone before long if we don’t sack poch and sell the trash 

I think he actually likes Poch, tbh. It has more to do with our performances on the pitch that would see him leave, and rightfully so.

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

We are a one man team.

Chelsea FC is nothing without Cole Palmer.

Edited April 9, 2024 by bigbluewillie

[King Kante 1,643]

On 09/04/2024 at 04:18, bigbluewillie said:

We are a one man team.

Chelsea FC is nothing without Cole Palmer.

Tbf, Gusto is a good player and I still think there is a lot more to come from Colwill, James and Lavia. That said, we are dire in numerous areas and way overspent on far too many players. 

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

1 hour ago, King Kante said:

Tbf, Gusto is a good player and I still think there is a lot more to come from Colwill, James and Lavia. That said, we are dire in numerous areas and way overspent on far too many players. 

The problem is our naturally more talented players (apart from palmer) are the ones ravaged by injuries. Based on natural ability alone I would consider Lavia, Carney, Malo, James, Nkunku, Chilwell and even Fofana far superior to their current back ups. So being without them (or them owing perma wrecked but still blocking a spot) for the majority of the season has probably cost us 15+ points. 

[robsblubot 3,595]

9 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

The problem is our naturally more talented players (apart from palmer) are the ones ravaged by injuries. Based on natural ability alone I would consider Lavia, Carney, Malo, James, Nkunku, Chilwell and even Fofana far superior to their current back ups. So being without them (or them owing perma wrecked but still blocking a spot) for the majority of the season has probably cost us 15+ points. 

True, with the caveat that Gusto and James play in the same position.

The right side is loaded, esp considering Palmer plays right wing or CAMp -- still unsure where I'd put him against better opposition. CAMs have a big target on their backs at all times.
He does seem like the complete package tho; he even reacts well to sliding tackles by not having his feet planted down hard when the tackle comes.

Nkunku, James, and Fofana (signing the latter esp for that amount made no sense) have a history of injuries, so it's not really a huge surprise. Some of the other players are so young that they don't have any history yet.

[MoroccanBlue 5,381]

Wouldn't even say Palmer was playing at CAM. Looked like a ST or second striker. 

We can get away with playing a 4-2-4 against lower opposition but I've seen Palmer enough to say this was an anomaly. He usually struggles when playing centrally as opposed to RW. 

[robsblubot 3,595]

1 hour ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Wouldn't even say Palmer was playing at CAM. Looked like a ST or second striker. 

We can get away with playing a 4-2-4 against lower opposition but I've seen Palmer enough to say this was an anomaly. He usually struggles when playing centrally as opposed to RW. 

Agreed. His best position in my book is on the right wing.

I'd actually describe his position today as a free role. He was free to roam, but played more centralized, and changed positions often. The danger when playing him so close to the opposition goal is to lose his creativity, which is something we do not have in abundance atm.

Edited April 16, 2024 by robsblubot

[TheHulk 2,444]

Hope Cole keeps arresting the ball 😍

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

I sometimes read these KDB comparisons. And I get it, both are key players and the history with us giving the ginger away basically for free to bite us back is too obvious an analogy. But they are totally different players. Where KDB is a straightforward, driving force from midfield Cole palmer is more of a free roaming attacker. Yeah his passing too is spot on and he is creative but more of an artist than the crafter KDB. For me Palmer is way more exciting. A bit of a modern cruyff. A breed of footballer I thought had gone extinct. Unrestricted by a fixed single position he can exploit spaces and also thread it through the needle with his vast technical arsenal. A flick here, a backheel there but always with a purpose in mind. Hence most importantly he scores and makes goals. That is what will get the attention and bring us forward. He is a player we can build a team around if he stays fit.