The Premier League recently announced its best XI for the middle of the season, and one player whose name almost everyone took for granted was Chelsea’s central midfielder Cole Palmer. Although he hasn’t been able to score in the last few games, his overall performance has still been excellent, scoring 14 goals and dishing out 6 assists. With Chelsea having an up and down season, Palmer’s performances have brought a lot of stability to the team.
When it comes to Palmer’s technical traits, not only is he an accurate passer, but he’s also smart in the head and knows how to make the right decisions in a game. This makes him more than just an ordinary attacking midfielder, but more like someone who controls the rhythm of the game. It can be said that he is one of those “all-round” players in modern soccer who can both score and organize attacks.
Let’s go back to a game last September. That game against Brighton was a big moment in Palmer’s career. In the face of strong defensive pressure, he scored four goals in the first half, breaking the record for the fastest “big four” in the Premier League. In this game, he not only showed excellent shooting ability, but also very strong spatial judgment. When the opponent tried to compress the defense, he used three long-distance shots to directly break the goal; when the opponent’s goalkeeper stood a little off, he ended the game with a light pick shot. This ability to seize opportunities at critical moments reminds one of Lampard back then, but Palmer plays with more finesse and elegance.
Of course, the statistics do not fully reflect Palmer’s value to the team. For example, in a crucial match against Newcastle, he sent a long pass from the back, which looked as if it was just a random kick, but it was actually very precise. The ball flew 63 meters before skirting right around three defenders and finding its way directly to a teammate who stepped forward to help his team score a wonderful goal. This kind of passing style is both traditional English style and incorporates the delicate techniques of the European continent. After the match, manager Mauricio Pochettino said, “Palmer’s vision is like a navigation device, he can always find the weakest point of the opponent.”
However, soccer matches never go smoothly. By March of this year, as the season entered a critical phase, Palmer’s form fluctuated a bit. A run of ten consecutive games without a goal made some fans start to worry about his form. But in fact, even during these downturns, Palmer still made a lot of contributions on the field. According to data analysis, he still created 2.7 key passes per game during this period, and his success rate against the run of play was only slightly lower than usual. That said, even if he’s not scoring, he’s still an integral part of the team. His back-to-the-ball, sudden changes of direction, and lateral breaks are constantly disrupting opponents’ defensive formations.
Next up is the international week, which is a nice break for Palmer. What makes Chelsea fans even happier is that their striker Nicholas Jackson has returned from injury. When the two played together before, the team’s attacking efficiency was significantly improved. Statistics show that Chelsea create more scoring chances on average per game when they are both on the pitch. This kind of cooperation has been in a game against Liverpool in the first results: Palmer back to receive after the sudden send straight, Jackson quickly offside success, although the last shot was pounced, but the whole process of the attack is very smooth, showing the tacit understanding between the two.
Perhaps many people don’t know that Palmer was not a talented youngster as a child. He came from an ordinary family, and step by step as he grew up he got to where he is today through hard work. Now, he has become one of the most popular players at Stamford Bridge. Statistics show that whenever Palmer starts, Chelsea’s winning percentage is much higher. Compared to last season, this figure has improved by a full 22%. His style of play is very much in line with modern soccer: capable of delivering deadly passes at crucial moments, as well as controlling the ball to get away in tight spaces. One commentator said, “Watching Palmer play is like watching a well-choreographed dance, where every movement is clear and purposeful, yet at the same time incredibly comfortable.”
Now that the season is entering its most crucial phase, Palmer faces an even greater challenge. Chelsea need him to find his scoring touch in important games and he himself wants to retain his place in the best XI. The real test for the midfielder, who is only 25, will be to turn pressure into motivation. Just like the four goals he scored in that game, it looks like a flash of brilliance, but behind it is actually his accumulation and preparation in countless training sessions.
Overall, Palmer is not only a technically brilliant player, but also the hope for Chelsea’s future. His calmness, intelligence and creativity make him stand out in the Premier League. No matter what kind of difficulties he will encounter in the future, I believe he can continue to surprise the fans in his own way.
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