Chris Waddle criticised the performance of Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher this evening against Newcastle United.
The Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat on Saturday in their final game before the World Cup break.
Graham Potter’s side are now winless in five consecutive Premier League matches, so continue to slip further down the table to eighth spot and lose more ground on the Champions League positions.
Chelsea don’t play again now until 27 December when they host Bournemouth in the league, so it’s now going to feel like a very long break around Stamford Bridge.
Conor Gallagher against Newcastle
Gallagher, who was a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup, had a very eventful game.
The 22-year-old played the first-half as part of a front three, with him and Mason Mount operating in pockets of space just behind striker Armando Broja.
However, BBC pundit Waddle says he really struggled during the opening 45 minutes and looked out of sorts.
“I saw Gallagher play for Palace last season and he was very impressive in that number 10 type role in midfield, backing up the strikers,” Waddle told BBC Radio 5 Live (6:15pm, 12 November).
“He’s given the ball away very cheaply. He’s not impressing at the moment. Tonight he is playing right of a three up front but he is not getting much joy.”
His second-half contribution was a turbulent one that saw him play in another two positions.
Gallagher played the opening 15 minutes of the second period in a right wing-back slot, which looked fairly alien to him and was an experiment that didn’t last long.
He then played the final half hour in a No.8 midfield position, which definitely suits his game most.
The England man did see one decent effort at goal saved by international teammate in goal, but it wasn’t to be for a Chelsea side that tried to threaten with an equaliser.
Gallagher worked tirelessly, like always, and wasn’t his side’s worst performer. He couldn’t find any kind of flair or magic touch, though.
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