Chelsea star Cole Palmer is a major talking point right now following England’s 1-0 defeat to Japan on Tuesday night.
Palmer started for the Three Lions but was not at his best before being taken off around the hour mark.
In his last game for Chelsea, a 3-0 loss to Everton, Palmer also struggled. He now faces a real fight to make England’s squad for the World Cup.
Chelsea fans convinced No.10 is Cole Palmer’s best position
Palmer has mainly played as a No.10 this season, with many Chelsea supporters feeling that the attacking midfielder role is his best position.
When The Chelsea Chronicle asked fans on TalkingPoints what Palmer’s best position is, that was the most popular response. If you want to have your say, you can comment below!
Settle the debate: What is Cole Palmer’s best position?
Join in the discussion down below!
England v Uruguay - International Friendly
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Palmer is Chelsea’s most dangerous attacker, so the Blues want him on the ball as often as possible and in areas where he can hurt the opposition.
It is logical, then, for Liam Rosenior to put him in the centre of the pitch. And Palmer can certainly do damage there, as he has shown this season and in the last one.
In contrast, on the flank, it is easy to get isolated and drift out of games. Yet that is where Palmer has actually played his best football since joining Chelsea from Manchester City nearly three years ago.
Cole Palmer’s best form has come on the right
Palmer’s best performance in a Chelsea shirt has arguably come against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Club World Cup final.
That day, the 23-year-old started on the right and tore the European champions apart. He scored two fantastic goals and set up Joao Pedro as the Blues went on to win 3-0.
To be more precise, it is probably the right half-space where Palmer has performed at his optimal level, as opposed to the right touchline. In that area of the pitch, he wiggles past the left-back and left central defender before picking out a teammate or getting a shot away.
This is Palmer’s third season at Stamford Bridge now and his most productive campaign was the first one. His time in the No.10 position and on the right flank was quite evenly split.
Cole Palmer’s positions played during 2023/24 season Total number of games
Attacking midfielder 21
Right winger 20
Centre-forward 7
Via Transfermarkt
Ultimately, what it shows is Chelsea probably need to use Palmer on the right for some matches, perhaps even all of them.
Whatever the case, the England international is a world-class footballer. “Palmer is a special player, and since I joined he has always tried to be around and help me,” Pedro told BBC Sport last month.
Rosenior and Thomas Tuchel both need to find a way to help him to reach his top level again. It will only benefit Chelsea and England.
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