Forget Palmer: Chelsea star who’s “out of this world” is their top player
Chelsea made their way to St James Park on Saturday afternoon to take on Newcastle United, managing to leave with a point. The West London team played out an exciting 2-2 draw against Eddie Howe’s side, demonstrating resilience to secure a point despite trailing 2-0 at half-time.
It was a challenging beginning for the reigning Club World Cup champions. Nick Woltemade found the net twice in the first 20 minutes, with both goals certainly appearing preventable. The first was a result of careless defending, while the second stemmed from a well-executed free kick.
Following a disappointing first half, Enzo Maresca’s squad returned for the second half and took control of the match for much of it. They took nine shots in the second half and found the back of the net twice. The opener was a stunning free-kick from captain Reece James in the 49th minute. Chelsea’s equalizer was scored by Joao Pedro with just under 25 minutes remaining. It was a clever piece of play by the Brazilian, who turned Malick Thiaw with a deft header and displayed composure when faced with Aaron Ramsdale before scoring.
Though the Blues were unable to secure a winning goal, coming back for a draw against Newcastle after being 2-0 down is commendable. This match also marked another step towards Cole Palmer’s complete recovery.
Palmer’s performance against Newcastle
With each match, Chelsea star Palmer inches closer to full fitness. Last weekend, he netted his first goal since returning and started a second consecutive Premier League fixture on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at St James’ Park.
It was certainly a challenging match against the Magpies for Palmer. His team struggled in the first half, leaving him with limited involvement, which was not due to his own shortcomings. His performance improved in the second half with more engagement, yet he was not quite at his best. Bobby Vincent, senior Chelsea writer for Football London, noted this, awarding the England star a 5/10 rating and describing it as a “frustrating” outing for Palmer.
Indeed, the statistics reveal that he wasn’t at his optimal level in the North East. Palmer recorded only 49 touches, which is lower than one might anticipate over 79 minutes. He created one chance and executed four recoveries. There’s no doubt he will regain his form soon. However, against Newcastle, he was eclipsed by a teammate who delivered an outstanding performance.
Chelsea’s standout player at St James’ Park
Although it wasn’t Palmer’s best display, when his team needed him the most, club captain Reece James rose to the occasion. He played in midfield before transitioning to full-back later in the match, showcasing some remarkable moments throughout the 90 minutes.
Naturally, his free kick that initiated the comeback was a crucial contribution. The Blues captain was a substantial 25 yards from goal, yet he managed to lift his strike over the Newcastle wall, which then crashed off the woodwork and into the net.
However, his contributions did not end there. At the opposite end of the field, Chelsea’s number 24 made a crucial goal-saving tackle on Harvey Barnes. The winger had broken free and appeared destined to score, but James made an impressive last-minute sliding challenge to dispossess him.
Such an impressive performance earned him an 8/10 rating from Vincent. The statistics support this high score, with James recording 64 touches of the ball, winning 100% of his tackles, and completing 84% of his passes.
James key stats vs. Newcastle
Stat
Number
Touches
64
Pass accuracy
84%
Passes completed
41/49
Duels won
3
Tackles won
2/2
Goals
1
Stats from Sofascore
It wouldn’t be unreasonable to claim that the Cobham academy graduate is Chelsea’s top player. While Palmer is also a valuable asset in Maresca’s squad, James stands out for his versatility, exceptional skill on the ball, and true leadership, providing quality on both ends of the field. His goal-saving tackle and free-kick essentially equated to two goals, demonstrating how he can impact matches with critical moments, something that Palmer, as an attacking player, cannot provide in the same way.
As football content creator Lyes Bouzidi stated, the 26-year-old is “out of this world.” He contributes immensely to the Chelsea squad and is an essential player for a variety of reasons. James could be viewed as their best player, especially in light of his comprehensive contributions against the Magpies.
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Published: 2025-12-21 06:40:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
