Jose Boswinga produced another assist in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Bolton, bombing down the flank and crossing for Anelka to head Chelsea into the lead.
This was Bosingwa’s fourth assist of the season, which in addition to his two goals give a phenomenal return from a full back. In Fantasy Premierleague, the doyen of fantasy football games, he is the highest scoring player overall, and the first to hit 100 points.
Bosingwa was Scolari’s first signing as Chelsea manager. Indeed, Big Phil reputedly sealed the deal on his first day in the job – obviously a prime target.
Since the days of Carlos Alberto and that famous goal you see everywhere (this one)- probably before that, my knowledge doesn’t stretch to pre-tv – Brazil have played with adventurous, marauding full backs, who get beyond the midfielders to cross, and as in that example, score.
Scolari has managed all through the Brazilian league, and the Brazilian national side, famously winning the World Cup in 2002. WIth Brazil, Scolari had literally the perfect players for those full back roles – Roberto Carlos and Cafu. Pacy, direct, skilful, proper ‘footballers’ with touch, skill, and a great final ball (also, in Roberto Carlos’ case, a fearsome strike).
Part of the methodology that allows you to play such attacking wing backs is to have a defensive midfielder who can drop in to become the third defender when they are released – Scolari, with Brazil, had Dunga, one of the best. 4-4-2 fluidly became 3-5-2, Dunga dropping in alongside the centre backs and Cafu and Carlos overlapping.
He enjoyed unprecedented success with this style, elsewhere as well as with Brazil – and clearly wanted to introduce it to Stamford Bridge from day one. Scolari identified, before he had even arrived, that he needed someone for the right back slot – an attacking, pacy wing back who can carry the ball and deliver tellingly (more importantly, isn’t Paulo Ferreira) – hence the purchase of Bosingwa. Fortunately, he already had a tailor made midfielder in Jon Obi-Mikel, who arguably will be – if he’s not already – the best defensive midfielder in the world.
With Ashley Cole on the left and Bosingwa on the right, and Mikel as the holding player, Scolari has put the Brazilian stamp on Chelsea – with samba tactics, if not quite samba style quite yet. Bosingwa, (and Fantasy Football managers), have reaped the benefits.
Its also interesting to note that Chelsea’s away form is considerably better than their home form – when they sit and hit teams on the counter attack, using the pace of their full backs, they’ve reaped substantial reward.
When sides have sat back and defended as they do at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have found it harder to break them down.