Matt Miazga off to predictably shaky start at Chelsea
Matt Miazga was always going to have a tough time at Chelsea. The jump from MLS to one of the biggest clubs in England -- even one having a rough season -- is gigantic and would pose a challenge to anyone, let alone a 20-year-old.
So Miazga is struggling two matches into his Chelsea career. That is to be expected.
The American got his first runout in a Chelsea shirt last week against Aston Villa and did decently. He was excellent in the air, which is no joke against Rudy Gestede, and calm on the ball. He was also a mess positionally, first coming up to try to cut plays out much too early, then dropping way too deep and flirting with keeping Villa onside.
Thankfully for Miazga, it was Aston Villa. They couldn't make him pay for any mistakes, and it was the perfect match to get dropped into the Premier League.
Swansea City aren't a great side by any means, but they have some talent and could safely be called a competent soccer team. That alone makes them miles better than Aston Villa, and Miazga struggled.
Miazga lasted only 45 minutes against Swansea.
Miazga picked up a yellow card and spent much of his time on the pitch spinning in circles, trying to figure out what was going on. Then, he failed to head a cross out for a corner kick or even toward safety. Instead, he nodded it right into the path of Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored what would prove to be the only goal of the match. Guus Hiddink subbed Miazga off at halftime, but the damage was done.
It's been an exciting couple of weeks for Miazga, whose turn in the starting lineup came after he played for the United States U-23's in their Olympic qualifiers, but it hasn't gone as planned. The Americans failed to qualify for Rio and Miazga has shown that right now, the Premier League is a step too high for him.
Miazga is still spectacularly talented, but a lot is being asked of him. He made the move from the New York Red Bulls to Stamford Bridge in January and by the time he saw the field for the Blues, it had been more than four months since he played first team soccer. Asking someone to do that, and then dropping him in the Premier League for the first time is brutal.
When Chelsea signed Miazga, most everyone figured he would need to go on loan before long. He is a young player and needs some time for those prodigious skills he flashed against Aston Villa to be complemented by more mature defending that would make him a well-rounded centerback capable of playing against the best.
Chelsea are playing many of their kids to get a sense for where they are, and it's clear that Miazga isn't ready. But that doesn't make Miazga bad. It makes him a 20-year-old in need of a bridge from MLS to the Premier League. He should get that with a loan next season. But right now, it's a struggle.
