JPH

I don't deny we'd be probably be better off getting Camara or someone else to partner Caicedo as we can't trust Reece/Lavia playing all the time, but people keep dismissing Barco as if Enzo was such a force of nature playing at the pivot. Put Barco in there and we'll pretty much have the same Enzo we signed back in 2023 and who hasn't improved one bit for us besides his goal record playing for a deluded Maresca. Barco even has more experience in Europe than Enzo did back then, already played a bit in the PL and all that.
Like I mentioned earlier in this thread, we've replaced Enzo's goals with Morgan Rogers, a far far better player for that role. We've now replaced Enzo's passing at the pivot (which isn't anything special really) with Barco, who's only 8cm shorter but puts up much more fight, has a better passing range and probably the same weaknesses, so I can't see how we've downgraded really.

It's not like Penders is a complete rookie. Two full seasons in the Belgian league and the French league, plus a Conference League semifinal. Give him the Luton match tomorrow and then a few PL matches in a row and let's see what the guy is all about. There is nothing to lose anyway, Sanchez has set the bar so low that even a lamp post as a GK has a better chance than Sanchez to randomly get hit by some balls and not cross the line for a goal.

Really hope Alonso drops Sanchez now and focuses on getting us a new keeper.

Lacroix is f**king brilliant, what a debut performance.

We need a completely new f**king back line and a goalkeeper pronto

I really don't know. We've spent a lot of money and hired a good manager, but the squad is still a bloated mess and too many people at the club seem to be hopeless at their jobs with zero repercussions.
I guess, like always, we will be targeting at least CL qualification, which seems feasible. I'll be satisfied if we can improve our league performance over last year and finish the season with the same manager we started. Selling Fernandez to City (or anybody with more money than sense) would be a nice bonus.

Herein remains our biggest issue.
If Penders is given the number 1 spot and shows himself to be that good, then great problem solved.
If he is not ready for it then we won't win a title or CL until we have a top, top keeper again, unless we build a team as unbelievably good as PSG have to compensate for an average keeper.
Cech, Tibo and that one amazing year of Mendy delivered for us our biggest achievements. Sanchez I dont see ever doing so.

Was Rodwell a nailed on starter? How many games did Turnbull start on our Champions League journey?
Each to their own and all that but I couldn’t disagree more with you.
I thought he did very well at a chaotic club and will do well at Madrid too. He’s had a very good World Cup and is nailed on starter for the World Champions and will likely be the starter at the biggest club in the world too.
Had he stayed at Chelsea I reckon he’d be a nailed on starter for us under Alonso.
Wherever he is he plays. Not bad for a footballer that’s not serious.
Good luck to the guy. He served us well

We still don't have a goalkeeper!

I have 0.00% confidence that that will happen, they will use it to buy another average 18 year old.

Gittens is rubbish.

Then why sell Cucurella 😂
I understand you really like the notion of throwing our youngsters in the deep end and seeing if they sink/swim, but I don’t. Especially when we’ve already experienced 4 seasons of this ownership doing it.
Hato/New backup LB is going to be weaker than Cucurella/Hato. Thats just the reality.

Don't worry, you haven't.

Worst season of football in my lifetime, both from a Chelsea perspective and an overall football one.

He has not been good enough to go.
Whether it is his injuries or his attitude he has been really poor this season.

Chelsea legend Cesar Azpilicueta announces retirement
Cesar Azpilicueta, one of the most successful players in Chelsea history, has announced he will retire from football at the end of the season.
Azpi became the first player to win it all during his eleven years at Stamford Bridge, lifting the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. His 13 major cup final appearances for Chelsea is also a club record.
Between 2012, when he signed from Marseille, and his departure in 2023, Azpilicueta featured 508 times for the Blues, the most by a non-English player in our history. He also spent four years as club captain, having been appointed ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.


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Final words from our skipper 💙
📺 Watch as Cesar Azpilicueta bids an emotional farewell to the club and fans upon his departure from the club after 11 years...

Azpilicueta, who won 44 caps for Spain, spent two years with Atletico Madrid after leaving the Blues. He has played for Sevilla this season, but will bring his storied career to an end this summer.
The 36-year-old posted an open letter on his social media channels confirming his decision. It read: 'Dear football, today, I want to share with you that this season will be my last as a professional footballer. After so many years living my dream, I feel it’s time to start a new chapter in my life.

'Being honest, even though I have been preparing myself for this moment, I found it hard to write this letter. After 20 seasons, many people have played an important role in my career.

'When I first kicked a ball as a child in Pamplona with my schoolmates, I never imagined the amazing journey ahead. I’m grateful for every moment: the wins, the tough losses, the challenges, and most of all, the people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made along the way.


Azpi captained the Blues to Champions League glory in 2021

'To my teammates, coaches, and every staff member at all the clubs I’ve been lucky to be part of, thank you for helping me grow as a person and a player every day. Wearing the shirts of CA Osasuna, Olympique Marseille, Chelsea FC, Atletico de Madrid, Sevilla FC, and representing my country at the biggest stages has been a true privilege. Every moment has meant so much to me.
'To the fans: your passion and support inspired me to give my best every day. Your belief in me, especially during tough times, made the good moments even better. I hope you saw a player who always gave everything for your colours, with pride and heart.


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César Azpilicueta | He won it all
Few players have left a legacy at Chelsea like César Azpilicueta...


'To my family: you have always been by my side and cheered me on through hard times, your love and support mean everything to me. I hope you feel proud. I could not have achieved any of this without you on this journey.
'Football has given me so much: it has taught me values like teamwork, sacrifice, humility, and respect.
It has granted me the opportunity to explore new countries, new cultures, and new languages. My heart is full of gratitude and memories I will carry with me into whatever comes next.
'With love, Cesar'

Don't care anymore, I really don't feel any connection with the team or any of the players, which is really sad.

Is that 0 a typo?

As much as I hate Carragher, I'm 100% with him on that one.

The Premier League allowing half of the league to be owned by billionaire Americans will destroy it. Fans barely make any noise anymore, tickets are sold to tourists and they are eroding the soul of every club they touch. All of this fuss about Arabs and Russians "ruining football", but it's the billionaire Americans that will do that, because at least the Russians and Arabs want to create a great football team, the Americans are only in it for the money. When it comes to atmosphere, the Premier League has gone from one of the best to one of the worst in world football. German fans are incredible, so are the French, fans from Brazil and Argentina are on another level entirely.
The way our club has been used by these pricks just wouldn't be accepted in any of the countries I mentioned above.

His work rate is abysmal. When he was at his best and he received the ball, he was always trying his hardest to make something happen. Now he does everything with an attitude like he doesn't give a sh*t. @dkw said that these players look like they have stopped trying and are holding themselves back for the world cup, and I believe it. They've given up on us. I would love nothing more than for them to not get picked, they don't deserve it.

Palmer shouldn't stand a chance to World Cup.

Zero attacking promise. Sideways sideways back sideways sideways.
Utter cr*p.

Funny bunch Arsenal fans. See them on the match bound tube. Chelsea generally in groups having the craic. Gooners, spotty IT geeks on their own with head buried in a book