Victor Moses
It’s taken some time, but the novelty of Victor Moses at wing-back
has finally worn off. There is no denying that it has been fascinating
to watch an inconsistent, somewhat apathetic, injury-prone player
reinvent himself as a blue collar grinder pounding up and down the wide
area.
That, though, is a double-edged sword.
With the sense of wonder now slowly dissipating, the bare minimum,
which seemed the extent of popular expectation, is no longer enough. It
sufficed that, playing in an unfamiliar position, he was not a liability
in any overt way. Now, with over a season under his belt, it is perhaps
time to eliminate all caveats and consider his contribution on its own
merits.
It is in doing this that his limitations stand out unmistakably.
This writer suggested that he was the most readily upgradable part of
what was an efficient winning machine last season, and that it would be
counterproductive to return to the Champions League without a proper
specialist.
Wednesday’s defeat at the Camp Nou brought an end to their European
adventure, and seemed to aptly sum up just how much the Nigeria
international limits the Blues’ attacking play.
Chelsea gave as good an account of themselves as is possible, but
what proved the difference between the teams was the degree of
efficiency at crucial times and in vital positions…well, there was Messi
too!
With Eden Hazard less effectual than usual, the busy Willian seemed
the chief conduit of menace for Chelsea. However, his attempts on the
night to combine with and play in Moses down the right frequently led to
any attacking impetus breaking down.
It seemed, in fact, that the 26-year-old was never certain of what
to do with the ball once he received it. Weak crosses in the general
direction of the penalty area, dribble attempts lacking in any
conviction or intensity, and safe passes backwards were the order of the
day.
It is not simply a question of form either. For much of last
season, even while his conversion remained a source of wonder, there was
a concern over his lack of decisive contributions, both in goals and
assists. Indeed, if asked which of Moses or left wing counterpart Marcos
Alonso looks like a converted forward, without prior knowledge, one
would more readily select the Spaniard.
This term, Alonso has scored seven times and laid on a further
three for Chelsea. Last season, it was six goals and three assists.
Moses’ numbers pale in comparison: this season, he has scored three
times and assisted twice.
It is not simply about the output even. On the whole, Alonso is
just a much more tangible influence on the team’s overall style and
build-up, bringing greater individual flair and interpretation to his
role, and more actively getting into areas where he can more directly
affect proceedings. He took four shots on Wednesday, while Moses
mustered none.
Davide Zappacosta, on as a substitute in place of the Nigeria international for a fraction of his time, at least got one off.
Granted, there is a bit of a left-sided focus to Chelsea’s
attacking play, which naturally means Alonso gets on the ball more.
Still, this skew, in theory, allows Moses to actually get into advanced
positions on the far side unmarked. He should, in fact, be finishing off
more moves.
Interestingly, this attacking underperformance can be explained, paradoxically, by the very fact that he is an attacker.
Perhaps not being a natural in the role had bred more caution into
Moses’ game. Being so acutely aware of his own limitations seems to be
causing him to overcompensate and emphasize on his weaknesses rather
than his strengths. This would explain why he seems so inhibited in
attack, but is increasingly steady in defence.
This is in stark contrast to Alonso, who is a specialist, and so
has inherent confidence in his ability to interpret his
responsibilities, thereby allowing him greater room for expression.
There is also an element of balancing risk and reward. Having taken
a place in the team, after being frozen out for so long, by dint of his
application and hard work, rather than ability in the role, there is
greater risk than reward in experimenting. There is safety in doing what
one is told, and little else; and so, Moses has become the ultimate
safety-first footballer within this Chelsea set-up.
It may be keeping him in the side, of course, but by acting like a
caretaker rather than making the position his own, Moses increasingly
runs the risk of being once again thrust into the cold.
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