WeatherMan

I agree completely and think there's no need for any overreaction.
It was a brilliant window all in all, and we can't let the final day be the judge of the entire summer. For as awful as they've been so far, I'll be the devil's advocate and say BlueCo have done a great job this time. Most likely with Alonso as the main driver, but they actually listened and delivered. We got rid of most of the dross and brought in quality difference-makers.
Yes, the midfield is a concern and of course it would've been ideal to deal with it on time, but what can the club really do if there were no bids for Enzo earlier? It was the right move to sell him now - I think his price would've only kept going down as time went on, plus he would not have played even if he stayed anyway. So, selling a disgruntled player and making hefty profit from it seems like a good deal to me.
At the moment, midfield concerns are really only based on the "potential" for Reece or Lavia to get injured. Who knows, they might stay fit, and if so, we will be fine.
Now, if we don't strengthen in January, that's a whole other conversation. Even if we do, we all know what the prices will look like then compared to now.
Time to put it behind us and back Alonso and the lads, I think top 4 is a realistic target.

Never been a massive fan of Neto but attacking wise, Alonso does seem to be getting the best out of him. I won't be too upset if he does leave, but happy for him to stay as a handy squad player and 100% prefer to see him playing over Gusto.

I don't think the mistake was that bad and to be honest we already messed up before he did that and there was lots after that could have been done to prevent it.
Had a good game overall imo.

We shouldn't even be in a position where we have to panic buy. They've known Enzo situation all summer and they've failed to properly replace him. This is pure incompetence.

Disagree completely. Lavia hasn't completed 90 minutes in three years, Caicedo is out injured, Reece is not a midfielder and Barco is a lightweight youngster. Not going to even mention Henderson, he is a hundred years old and is there for dressing room atmosphere.
If we don't sign a midfielder before the window closes, we're worse off in the middle of the pitch than we were last season. They really f**ked up at the end of what looked like the best window they've had so far.

Aa transfer windows go this has been tge best example of selling sh*te products since Andrex during COVID

You can't ban the Chelsea.

As mentioned earlier I attended the Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST) AGM on Saturday. I'll post my comments on the meeting later but in the meantime here is the Chair of the CST's report.
https://chelseasupporterstrust.com/wp-content/uploads/CHAIRS-REPORT-2025-26.pdf

If it's from Australia, the cheque will bounce.

Under Roman we had FoS sponsorship from solid companies that were household names (Emirates, Samsung, Yokohama, Three) and had products that you'd actually use directly.
BlueCo have served us up Infinite Athlete, Damac, IFS.ai and Circle Jerk USDC or whatever they are called. I guess you can't blame the big boys for not wanting any association with Clearlake and Boehly LOL

So I have to spend a fair amount of time in this world IRL. Stablecoins are relatively uncontroversial in the crypto world

They are essentially a mechanism to utilise the benefits of crypto (24/7 settlements, instant transfers etc) without the risks of the price going up and down, as the price of a stablecoin is pegged to the US dollar. It's used by people and banks to move money quickly. (E.g. If I need to send someone in Brazil £100,000 today in their Brazilian bank account, it might not arrive until Tuesday, Stablecoins are a mechanism to mean that could get there instantly - that is an oversimplified explanation).

If you compared them to OKX (Man City) and Kraken (Tottenham) who both rely on consumers to trade crypto to make money. That's where the controversy is. Circle don't play in the "get rich quick" world. Maybe more so the "industry lobbying Trump" world.

They are also massive, 600m+ revenue business. So it's the type of thing they could feasibly do unlike Infinite Athlete.

Basically, this is a solid get.

They’ll have us warned off ‘Chelsea Alouette’ next I tell you 😂

Some of the Paddy Power reels are brilliant. This one included. Prefer it when they take the piss out of Spurs or man Utd, but you have to laugh.

The latest email newsletter from the Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST). As I've already mentioned I hope to attend the CST AGM on 29 August and will report back.
"After an extraordinarily difficult campaign last year, particularly during its closing months, there is something especially welcome about the prospect of a new season and a fresh start.
There is plenty to update you on from the Trust, particularly around the significant ticketing changes now coming into effect. But first, to matters on the pitch.
 
Welcome, Xabi
On behalf of everyone at the Chelsea Supporters' Trust, I would like to welcome Xabi Alonso to Chelsea FC and wish him every success as our new manager.
His pedigree as both a player and manager speaks for itself, and he arrives at Stamford Bridge following a hugely disappointing season for everyone associated with Chelsea.
After so much change and upheaval, I hope Xabi is given the opportunity and support required to bring stability and, ultimately, success back to our football club.
Whatever concerns supporters may have about matters away from the pitch, we all want to see Chelsea competing at the level this club should expect. We wish Xabi and the team all the very best for the season ahead.
 
Ken Bates
The summer also brought the very sad news of the passing of former Chelsea owner and chairman Ken Bates.
Ken was undoubtedly one of the most significant figures in the modern history of Chelsea Football Club. He took charge during one of the most precarious periods in our history and played a defining role in securing the club's future at Stamford Bridge, while helping lay the foundations for much of the success that followed.
Ken was a character who generated strong opinions throughout his time at Chelsea. What cannot be disputed is the scale of his impact on our club and his importance to its history.
His place in Chelsea history is assured, and our thoughts remain with his wife Susannah, his family, friends and all those who knew him.
Thank you, Ken.
 
Ticketing: Welcome Progress, But Concerns Remain
There was welcome news earlier this summer when Chelsea confirmed that general admission season ticket and match-by-match prices would be frozen for the 2026/27 season.
The CST had consistently made clear that affordability must remain central to Chelsea's ticketing policy. After such a challenging season, the decision to freeze prices was significant and positive, and demonstrated what can be achieved when the club listens to supporters and its recognised supporter bodies.
Unfortunately, our concerns about several of the wider ticketing changes remain.
Most notably, the CST and a significant majority of matchgoing supporters strongly opposed the introduction of the new ticket application window and ballot process when it was proposed at the end of last season.
Our concern was never opposition to change for the sake of it. We support measures that tackle touting, fraud and the misuse of tickets.
Our concern was much simpler. Despite repeatedly asking, we saw no evidence that balloting would result in more tickets reaching genuine Chelsea supporters.
We also felt strongly that the club should fix the fundamentals first.
Last season was an extremely difficult one for supporters attempting to buy tickets. Confidence in the ticketing operation was badly damaged. With new leadership now in place within the ticketing team, our preference was to give that operation time to improve, embed new processes and demonstrate that the basics could be delivered consistently before introducing a large number of further changes.
Chelsea chose a different approach.
Unfortunately, the first ticket application process, for Brighton at home, did little to reassure us. The allocation and distribution of tickets was plagued by problems, with supporters receiving outcomes considerably later than originally planned.
The first operation of the new Automatic Cup Scheme also caused significant frustration. A scheme intended to make the process easier instead left a number of supporters who had opted in having to purchase their own tickets.
These may prove to be teething problems, and we sincerely hope they are. But they also illustrate why the CST cautioned against introducing so many significant changes at once.
Our focus now is on ensuring the new arrangements work as fairly and effectively as possible for Chelsea supporters.
Central to that will be transparency.
If Chelsea is going to operate a ballot system, supporters should be able to understand how it is performing. The CST will therefore continue to push the club to publish meaningful, fixture-by-fixture data, including the number of applications received, the number of tickets available and the resulting success rates.
Other clubs operating similar systems provide this information to their supporters. Chelsea should do the same.
We will also be asking our members and the wider fanbase for feedback after the first month of the season. That will allow us to assess the changes based on supporters' actual experiences and take a clear body of evidence back to the club.
The CST will always support sensible changes that make ticketing fairer, safer and more accessible. Equally, where supporters raise legitimate concerns, we will continue to challenge the club robustly and constructively until those concerns are properly addressed.
 
CST Annual General Meeting
Finally, I am looking forward to welcoming members to the Chelsea Supporters' Trust Annual General Meeting at 12pm on Saturday 29 August.
As previously announced, this year's AGM will take place online via Zoom.
In previous years, the Trust has been able to hold its AGM at Stamford Bridge without a venue hire charge. This year we were quoted a substantial fee to use a room at the stadium and, as a member-funded organisation, the Board did not believe it would be responsible to spend that level of members' money on a single meeting.
I appreciate that some members would have preferred to attend in person, and I share that disappointment. However, we will make the AGM as open and inclusive as possible, with opportunities to submit questions in advance and participate on the day, while a full recording will also be made available afterwards.
This is not a move away from face-to-face engagement. The new CST Board will hold informal matchday drop-in sessions during the season and we remain committed to arranging an in-person Special General Meeting at the earliest suitable opportunity.
Full joining details for the AGM can be found below, and I hope as many members as possible will join us.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Trust. As always, I am keen to hear directly from as many members as possible. If you’d like to meet before a match or arrange a call, please do get in touch with me directly. The CST is at its strongest when it properly reflects the experiences and views of Chelsea supporters."

I think "England" covers it quite nicely LOL

At which point does this sh*t get called out for lies that it has to be.
What can the possibly have to talk about to be speaking every day. I don't even speak to my own children every bloody days. Total bullsh*t.

Based on a tweet by that Indy kalia f**kwit who works in kfc in Slough, for f**ks sake.

Have you not realised that Bob is an all knowing oracle at this point?

That is the correct law, but it was incorrectly applied in this case. That's the law for accidental handball. But they failed to give any attention to Maguire's handball, which came about after he moved his hands towards the ball. They were not in what refs normally consider in a natural position by his side, so the ref and VAR should not have ruled it to be accidental.
Still, it was Old Trafford aka Howard Webb's home ground, where dodgy refereeing interpretations are routine.

Still, one of the worst and most stupid rules in football.

This must be the most pathetic excuse for letting a goal stand. Ball went it after a blatant handball, why does it matter the shot was deflected or not? Absolute disaster of a rule.

What a bo**ocks rule. Handball, clear as day, but not given because it's an own goal. Only the PGMOL could come up with something so ludicrous.

That’s absolute bo**ocks. It’s handball!

At today's game.