We’re into the international break now, giving a bit of time and space for some more detailed and thoughtful pieces covering all manner of things from Chelsea’s first quarter of the season.
The data has accumulated to the point where we can make conclusive judgments on some things, and you can always trust the Athletic to do an ultra deep dive – and in the case of their tactics writer Michael Cox, an ultra deep dive on something very nerdy and specific.
This time he’s chosen Chelsea’s offside trap. It sounds boring, but bear with us. Cox has identified a ton of examples, and has even traced its history.
He claims that the rather off offside line we play has its origins with none other than Manuel Pellegrini, the former Man City and West Ham boss who coached Enzo Maresca in the later years of his career at Malaga when they went deep in the Champions League.
Static Chelsea defenders allow Gent players to attack the back post.
The Arsenal goal at the weekend was perhaps the best example as it’s so fresh in the mind. It did seem odd that Gabriel Martinelli had time to take a touch and advance on goal following Martin Odegaard’s pass over the top, given the whole defence was on hand and should have been tight to him.
Cox claims that while Levi Colwill was at fault for playing Martinelli onside, the team would have been better off had they all been holding the line deeper with him, reducing the space between goalkeeper and defensive line.
He then goes on to show many more examples of it – from the winner we conceded against Liverpool to others against Newcastle and a couple in the Conference League.
