BBC: What Reece James did last week to try and repair “destabilised dressing room” – it didn’t work | OneFootball

It’s worrying times at Chelsea after defeat to Aston Villa last night.

Nizaar Kinsella’s piece for the BBC today points to some scary signs in terms of body language and behaviours from the player which we’re all seeing too.

“Many at Chelsea will know that a turbulent last two-and-half years under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have left an often-destabilised dressing room without a clear club culture,” Kinsella wrote.

Well if many of them knew that, why on earth did they allow the wholesale changes to happen? The accumulated wisdom and experience that had accumulated at the club was cleared out without a second thought, and rebuilding it may be the work of decades.

Social gathering has no effect on fraying tempers

Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku complain about a decision.

So what’s the solution to these terrifying, deep-rooted and pernicious problems? A nice meal, of course!

Kinsella reports in the piece that captain Reece James organised “a social gathering” last week which took the form of “an informal meal out” to try and get everyone on the same page after 2 wins in 9 games. Evidently it didn’t work too well – we lost yesterday and the signs of frustration on the pitch continue to grow.

Kinsella does see some positives – “this season there have been signs that young players like James can lead and there has been a brotherly spirit fostered among many players behind the scenes.”

But like the rest of us, he’s concerned with Cole Palmer, who he describes as “looking a frustrated figure during matches and displaying poor body language… while mistakes are also becoming more prevalent.”

The worst case scenario, as outlined by Jamie Carragher a few weeks ago, is that Palmer eventually pushes to leave the club if he doesn’t see this project heading in the right direction.