Player Report Cole Palmer & Noni Madueke

Their link-up is strong.

Cole Palmer & Noni Madueke - Luxemborg (A) - 11/09/2023 - ColePalmer 90 Mins/ Noni Madueke 77 Mins

These two have a connection that just seems so natural on the pitch, they know how each other likes to play, when and where they want the ball and what the other is going to try and do with it.

Cole Palmer:

With 1 goal and 1 assist Palmer run the show for ENG U21s. He played as a 10/ advanced 8, he dropped deep to get the ball on lots of occasions but also occupied the pockets in between the lines and receive the ball well.

He showed lots of signs of intricate footwork and being incredibly comfortable on the ball under pressure, he made an excellent assist for Delap’s goal with a perfectly weighted slide rule pass. This guy is a creator and a finisher, just what we need.

His goal was outstanding, a late timed run in to the box before a powerful first timed finish in to the top left corner of the goalkeepers goal.

CP Stats:

G/A: 2

Touches: 97

Pass completion 87% (61/70)

Key Passes: 4 (1 Big chance created)

Shots on target: 5!!

Dribble percentage: 66.67% (4/6 completed)

Match rating: 8.7/10

Noni Madueke:

A slightly quieter game for Noni than Palmer, but he was as lively and direct as he usually is, he took on his man on a few occasions to find crosses into the box, he also was very intelligent with some of his give and go movements, a lot of these linking up with Palmer.

He drove down the outside of his man and put an excellent low and powerful cross through the penalty area which fell to Doyle who smashed it home, a deserved assist for Noni.

NM Stats:

G/A: 1

Touches: 48 (77 mins)

Pass completion: 74% (24/27)

Key passes: 2 (1 big chance created)

Ground duels won: 5

Dribble percentage: 50%

Match rating 7.0

Summary:

We do have to take into consideration the opposition they were playing against, but it was an excellent showing of the potential these two have. We need to give them all of the tools to play with this kind of freedom in the PL, it won’t happen overnight, but there is a massive chance of this connection growing and benefitting Chelsea massively in the future.

Something that stats will never tell the story is a connection and understanding between two players and these two have it, it seems so natural and if we can get them doing this consistently our attacking numbers and goals will fly up.

Link up for Delap’s goal -

https://twitter.com/yjv2_/status/1701276341432180895

Palmer’s goal -

https://twitter.com/England/status/1701290789052227730

Hopefully we see them start together in blue very soon (Bournemouth👀)

Luke Rushbrook