Football can and should be so simple. I understand why some managers want to play with inverted full backs, especially those who wish to control possession.
When in possession of the ball, it creates an extra man in the middle in order to be an option to receive the ball and help keep it in key areas. Marc Cucurella is actually a very fine example of a player who plays this role very well, and we have seen him score some important goals by playing in this role as well.
But when you are asking a midfielder to play that role, for me it does not work as well.
Nobody is saying that Moises Caicedo has been bad playing at right back. Caicedo is a class player and will do a job wherever you put him on the pitch. People who claim that we are only moaning because we lost are missing the point. I for one have never been happy to see Caicedo play as an inverted right back. I think he did well there in the last two games before Newcastle, but if you want the very best out of your players, especially those that cost north of £100m, then you need to play them in the best position that is suited for them.
Caicedo is the best ball winner and the best interceptor in the league, maybe even in Europe, so you want him doing that job getting the best out of his assets in a CENTRAL position in and OUT of possession. It’s really that simple. Anyone who can’t see that this is what we are actually saying here, absolutely baffles me.
Yes, Caicedo will always do a job wherever he is, but we NEED him in those central areas, and the Newcastle game proved that. Chelsea were being walked through in midfield and nobody was putting in a challenge, and that is because out of possession, our best ball winner was out wide on the right chasing Anthony Gordon around all game rather than doing what he does best.
And add to this, we have the best right back in the world, arguably, Reece James sitting on the bench watching. He’s also the club captain. Maresca will clearly start this Xl as his best, regardless of James’ injuries. He is not ‘protecting James’ at this point, it’s clear he wants Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer, and Enzo Fernandez on the pitch when they are all available, and this means James drops out. He’s made this clear.
Don’t tell me James is too injury prone to play right back. Maresca doesn’t allow freedom to his full backs to dart up and down so it’s not like it would be a taxing role for him physically. Besides, James has proven his fitness in recent games. It’s always a risk with injury prone players anyway, but he is taking said risks with Lavia right now, no?
I understand the role of an inverted full back but it’s not something I personally want to see regularly. I get this is vital for how Maresca plays though, even if I don’t agree with it.
But I absolutely don’t agree with shoehorning Caicedo into a role just to get him on the pitch. We need him centrally, and we need him there desperately against sides like Newcastle who want to play and attack. We need Caicedo in the middle to break play up, I don’t know how anyone can’t see that.
