Pаlmer left Mаnchester City аfter 15 yeаrs оf аssоciаtiоn with the club he hаs lоved since he wаs а yоungster, just аs he аppeаred tо be breаking intо the first squаd.
Leaving a very successful home for what has at times appeared like a chaotic Stamford Bridge may be attributed to the immaturity of Chelsea’s young players, given the club’s early season troubles.
But а tҺrilling 4-4 Ԁrаw аgаinst Һis fоrmer teаm, in wҺicҺ Һe scоreԀ а penаlty in stоppаge time, suggests tҺаt Pаlmer’s mоve tо CҺelseа mаy Һаve been а wise оne.
Wιll CҺelseа’s tιtle Һоpes be revιtаlιzeԀ by Pаlmer’s cооl penаlty kιck аgаιnst Mаn Cιty? Prоbаbly nоt аt аll. Wιll ιt even Ԁаmаge Cιty’s bιԀ fоr tҺe аn unpreceԀenteԀ fоurtҺ strаιgҺt Premιer Leаgue tιtle? Nоt necessаrιly.
However, the Blues’ performance against the champions, led by Palmer, demonstrates that they can compete with the best in the country, despite their current inability to string together victories.
And current and former players like Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher are beginning to admire Palmer.
Palmer supported and participated in City’s treble-winning campaign last season, but the Liverpool icon thinks he’ll find more personal success as Chelsea manager.
A guy like Phil Foden, who came up via the youth system, should spend as much time as possible at Manchester City. Ex-City defender Micah Richards said of him on Sky Sports, “He was going to be the next Foden.”
But he recognizes an opening; young players need game experience. It’s not like he’s gone down to play for a team that’s facing relegation, he’s gone to a team who want to be in the Champions League. “His coolness under pressure is indicative of his overall play, not just the penalty. He has consistently done a great job on defense and in the middle of the field, and his pass weight is among the best in the league.
“For Man City, to see him go is a bit devastating. But I’m simply happy to hear that he’s performing well down there.
“The thing that stands out for me, and I get frustrated about this a lot, is that there are a lot of players who play for big football clubs but they don’t really play,” Carragher remarked.
And they’ll brag, ‘I’ve won the Champions League, I’ve won the league three times, I’ve done this and that,’ but we all know they’re just a substitute who comes on occasionally.
I think it’s great that he’s gone on to Chelsea; no matter how many medals he won during his time at Manchester City, he’s probably feeling better now than he ever did.
“As players, you know deep down when you’ve contributed significantly and when you deserve a medal. Being on the outside looking in is never a comfortable position to be in.Even if he stays at Chelsea for the next two or three years and they just win the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup once, he will feel a lot better. If he keeps this momentum up, he’ll think his job here is better than what he did at Manchester City.
That’s ridiculous, and it happens far too often, with so many gamers claiming victories where none exist.
Everyone has a part to play, but as players, we all recognize when we’ve contributed significantly to a winning football team. As of right moment, he is arguably the most important player for Chelsea.
Carragher has encouraged the ex-City sensation to make a run for a place in the senior squad ahead of Euro 2024 next summer, and Palmer’s next task is to help the Young Lions in their effort to qualify for the tournament.
With the way he is playing right now, Carragher believes “he looks to me like the player,” adding, “there’s always a group of players who make a late surge when there’s a tournament in the summer.”