Paul Merson has advised Chelsea star Cole Palmer to refrain from dropping deep to get the ball for the side. Speaking about the English playmaker in a recent discussion on SkySports, the pundit said:
“Palmer also has to have a bit of faith in the team. He needs to stay as high up the pitch as he can because when he gets frustrated, he gets deeper and deeper. He goes shorter and shorter to get the ball and it’s so difficult to hurt a team from inside his own half. It’s hard for Palmer. You’ve got to have runners around when you get the ball and for me, he hasn’t got those.”
“It’s not just all on Palmer because the coach has to come up with solutions, too. He has to work out a way to get him the ball in areas where he can hurt teams. But for Palmer, patience is key. He has to wait for the ball a bit more instead of dropping deep to come and get it. You cannot hurt anybody on the halfway line. He needs the ball in and around the box where he’s special.”
Palmer has been a fine addition to the Chelsea team since he arrived, bagging 43 goals and 29 assists in 98 games for the Blues.
Cole Palmer expected to miss out-of-favor striker
Paul Merson has predicted that Chelsea star Cole Palmer will miss Nicolas Jackson when he leaves the club. The pundit shared his opinions on Sky Sports, where he pointed out:
“Palmer will miss Nicolas Jackson this season. Jackson was a willing runner for Palmer, and he created so much space for him. I know he was a bit messy with his play and he missed chances, but he was game. He had an ability to take defenders the other way and when you do that, it opens space for Palmer.”
“When you play like Palmer, you want as much space as you can, and Jackson helped provide that. Now, Joao Pedro isn’t really an out-and-out centre forward. He likes to come short too and that’s not helpful for Palmer. If the middle of the pitch is suffocated, then it takes Palmer out of the equation. I am not sure the decision to potentially move on Jackson is the right one. You have to remember how good Palmer was with Jackson. Jackson made Palmer and Palmer made Jackson.”
Jackson has been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, with Aston Villa and Newcastle reportedly keen on his signature. The Senegal international has bagged 30 goals and 12 assists in 81 games for the Blues.