Dean

I hope you’re right. I haven’t written off the squad yet, am just kind of thinking aloud. Wasn’t going to post at all, and probably shouldn’t have. The only quibble I have about your reply is your comment about Man U’s back 4 costing £190mn. This would imply you agree with me on a key concern ,which is the quality/calibre of our squad not measuring up to our competition and that the transfer ban in this respect is a major handicap?

I do think it will make a difference. Just not enough of one to be challenging for top four. Rudiger for Zouma is crucial I think. But this still leaves unanswered the problem of our attack.

I’m surprised at and also somewhat disconcerted by the levels of optimism on here. This is admirable and I honestly hope you guys are right and I’m wrong. I just can’t see the positives. This match reminds me of the FA cup final vs United (94?) when we looked good for a while but lost 4-0. I fear that on a relative basis Chelsea may be back to where it was around about then. I get that we have injuries, and this wasn’t a full strength team. But I fear the reinforcements aren’t going to move the needle anywhere near enough. This is a seriously weak squad, people. The biggest problem / question I have is: where are our goals going to come from? How would you rank our front line vs rest of premier league? I honestly think our front line is kind of mid-table at best (possibly even relegation zone). Still, it’s very early in the season and once again - am dying to be proven wrong ...

Wouldn’t bet against it

I’ve gone for mid table (10th - I see few grounds for optimism, and could well see the likes of wolves and Leicester finishing ahead of us). Obviously I hope Lamps and the team prove me very wrong and that I never hear the end of it on here.

I’ve gone for mid table (10th - I see few grounds for optimism, and could well see the likes of wolves and Leicester finishing ahead of us). Obviously I hope Lamps and the team prove me very wrong and that I never hear the end of it on here.

Harder with a large portion petulant fans booing in your face. Perhaps you could man up a bit and admit you were wrong about Sarri? I’m going to say now I believe this is a disaster. I hope I’m wrong and if I am I will have no problem admitting it.

Ok.got it

I disagree with this view. Can’t form an opinion based on one match, and a cup final at that. It’s just way too random. Anything can happen.

Any of the many evidently world class managers on this forum?

Fair enough. I guess a difference between Chelsea and Apple or Mitsubishi is those are majority-owned by the public. Shareholders, activist investors have the power to effect change, get management replaced etc etc. With Chelsea, we’re very much at the mercy of the owner, kind of stuck with the management that we have, and there’s little you or I can do about it. I hate to say it, but Liverpool is a much better- run business than Chelsea right now, and Man City has more money. There’s nothing we can do about that. In light of those disadvantages, I think Sarri has done well.

It’s not me that’s lowering the benchmark. I’m just commenting on what I take to be the current reality.

It’s not me that’s lowering the benchmark. I’m just commenting on what I take to be the current reality.

Your “standards” and “norm” may be based off an unrealistic benchmark: the most successful period in the club’s history. Things come and go.

Your “standards” and “norm” may be based off an unrealistic benchmark: the most successful period in the club’s history. Things come and go.