6 hours ago, forbzy said:

One of the funniest things I've read in a while. As if he would agree to work with our project and SD's:

Transfer News Live on X: "🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is emerging as the favourite to become Chelsea’s next manager. (Source: @TheSun) https://t.co/CA28RHnvZH" / X

Would be worth it to see his reaction if the impotent Eghbali entered the Chelsea dressing-room after a defeat.

1 hour ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Would be worth it to see his reaction if the impotent Eghbali entered the Chelsea dressing-room after a defeat.

I don't think even Roman would entice him to leave Atletico. He has a kings ransome as a salary there and is treated like a God

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I don't think even Roman would entice him to leave Atletico. He has a kings ransome as a salary there and is treated like a God

Agree. Although our new pay masters Ares Capital Management have a minority stake (~34%) in Atletico Madrid, so maybe they can see fit to inflate another one of their assets.

HA HA KEOWN IS SO DELUDED

Unlike some, I don't see any scenario where this continues and the investors don't pull their money out. There is nothing stable about this football club and by all accounts it seems that Eghbali is facing pressure (his comments and the fact he's at EVERY game now).

Fmr Everton CEO Keith Wyness: 🗣️" "I see Chelsea dropping back to mid-table or worse. I do see some storm clouds gathering off the pitch financially as well, so I’m really quite concerned about them."

He is right, and the signs are there. I know some fans feel like 3 signings (some experienced) will fix the issue, but I feel there are structural issues that only a massive clear out (say 10-12 players), and 4-5 smart/sensible signings would fix the issue.

Read something online over the weekend, and you can take any position and it still applies.
“Clearlake’s Chelsea are a great case study for how bad decisions can compound into more bad decisions. I can even argue that several current issues have some root cause from the illogical decision to spend £70m on Wesley Fofana straight after a major injury. Other (not good enough) CBs were signed after that to cover for Fofana’s issues and even contributed to Maresca’a departure. Every single decision counts.”

I was watching the pundit panel on NBC Sports after the United game. Every single one of them agreed that for Chelsea to turn things around we will need to change this strategy and basically abandon the project. It is not working.

10 minutes ago, markpitts said:

Fmr Everton CEO Keith Wyness: 🗣️" "I see Chelsea dropping back to mid-table or worse. I do see some storm clouds gathering off the pitch financially as well, so I’m really quite concerned about them."

He is right, and the signs are there. I know some fans feel like 3 signings (some experienced) will fix the issue, but I feel there are structural issues that only a massive clear out (say 10-12 players), and 4-5 smart/sensible signings would fix the issue.

Read something online over the weekend, and you can take any position and it still applies.
“Clearlake’s Chelsea are a great case study for how bad decisions can compound into more bad decisions. I can even argue that several current issues have some root cause from the illogical decision to spend £70m on Wesley Fofana straight after a major injury. Other (not good enough) CBs were signed after that to cover for Fofana’s issues and even contributed to Maresca’a departure. Every single decision counts.”

I agree. And similar poor decisions in other positions. For example signing an injured Lavia meant that we have had to sign other mids to cover. Taking a massive gamble on Mudryk when he hadn't even completed 1 full season at Shaktar led us to having to pursue more wingers....

Another game where we wAS outrun by our opponents.

That's every single game this season we we have run less than our opponents - 33 times on the trot!

That's an unbelieveable stat!

What happens in training??

Are they told by the SD's not to bother tracking runners because of some data that have come up with??

It's almost like as a club policy the don't believe in running or putting in the hard yards makes any difference to the outcome of a match.

25 minutes ago, 2211 said:

Another game where we wAS outrun by our opponents.

That's every single game this season we we have run less than our opponents - 33 times on the trot!

That's an unbelieveable stat!

What happens in training??

Are they told by the SD's not to bother tracking runners because of some data that have come up with??

It's almost like as a club policy the don't believe in running or putting in the hard yards makes any difference to the outcome of a match.

We’ve been playing pedestrian speed football for years now. We don’t break at pace, close down the opposition with any semblance of rapidity.

24 minutes ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Even under Poch we were ranked 18th in total distance covered.

This philosophy of laziness stems far from the manager.

21 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Even under Poch we were ranked 18th in total distance covered.

This philosophy of laziness stems far from the manager.

To cover any distance we need to run with the ball at feet.. none do it- Caicedo don’t / enzo doesn’t- out wingers don’t try to run at people- stoker and palmer doesn’t - we have zero ball carriers -

40 minutes ago, Jangz said:

To cover any distance we need to run with the ball at feet.. none do it- Caicedo don’t / enzo doesn’t- out wingers don’t try to run at people- stoker and palmer doesn’t - we have zero ball carriers -

Mudryk

8 hours ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Mudryk

Yeah only problem is that he hasn’t been able to contribute for 18 months.

12 hours ago, 2211 said:

Another game where we wAS outrun by our opponents.

That's every single game this season we we have run less than our opponents - 33 times on the trot!

That's an unbelieveable stat!

What happens in training??

Are they told by the SD's not to bother tracking runners because of some data that have come up with??

It's almost like as a club policy the don't believe in running or putting in the hard yards makes any difference to the outcome of a match.

The counter argument they came out with about this was that this would be expected in a high possession based team.

That left me scratching my head and I was surprised that the reporter didn't respond with the obvious follow up point that surely if we are possession based, having the ball more and slowly passing measured passes amongst ourselves surely the opposition aren't running then either. Surely they are holding their defensive positions. Yet they are all still outrunning us.

12 hours ago, 2211 said:

It's almost like as a club policy the don't believe in running or putting in the hard yards makes any difference to the outcome of a match.

Running? That is dinosaur football.

16 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

The counter argument they came out with about this was that this would be expected in a high possession based team.

That left me scratching my head and I was surprised that the reporter didn't respond with the obvious follow up point that surely if we are possession based, having the ball more and slowly passing measured passes amongst ourselves surely the opposition aren't running then either. Surely they are holding their defensive positions. Yet they are all still outrunning us.

City had more possession and still outran us, and their midfield is only slightly younger than I am

One of the surprising things is just how much prime tiki-taka Barcelona outran Man U in their CL final clashes. Xavi outran United's wide players. The difference between effective possession football and losing possession football is how much you move, really.

Edited April 21Apr 21 by SydneyChelsea

25 minutes ago, SydneyChelsea said:

City had more possession and still outran us, and their midfield is only slightly younger than I am

One of the surprising things is just how much prime tiki-taka Barcelona outran Man U in their CL final clashes. Xavi outran United's wide players. The difference between effective possession football and losing possession football is how much you move, really.

Nail on head. People should look how Messi moved in Pep's system. He barely ever stopped

55 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Running? That is dinosaur football.

Imagine the over 50s walking football squad we’ll have in about 30 years when this lot are about half way through their contracts!

2 hours ago, Munkunku said:

Imagine the over 50s walking football squad we’ll have in about 30 years when this lot are about half way through their contracts!

So much potential there!

4 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

The counter argument they came out with about this was that this would be expected in a high possession based team.

That left me scratching my head and I was surprised that the reporter didn't respond with the obvious follow up point that surely if we are possession based, having the ball more and slowly passing measured passes amongst ourselves surely the opposition aren't running then either. Surely they are holding their defensive positions. Yet they are all still outrunning us.

I’m surprised it hasn’t been brought up more at press conferences.

Plus I’m sure other possession based teams haven’t been outrun in every single match.

Obviously not, as we’ve played Man City twice, Arsenal twice and Liverpool once and they have all outrun us so the possession based argument doesn’t even stand up.

It’s got to be something daft where the club think the amount of running a team does or fitness isn’t important.

We’re not an intense pressing team, we don’t bust a gut on transitions or bust a gut to track runners, and our passing is sloppy most of the time.

We are average or below average in so many basic attributes of playing football you actually wonder what goes on in training sessions.

Edited April 21Apr 21 by 2211

4 hours ago, Munkunku said:

Imagine the over 50s walking football squad we’ll have in about 30 years when this lot are about half way through their contracts!

Imagine the over 50s walking football squad if the bulk of our forum members turned out.

7 hours ago, Jangz said:

Yeah only problem is that he hasn’t been able to contribute for 18 months.

Blame the FA for spiking him to stop us from competing

1 hour ago, dermott said:

Imagine the over 50s walking football squad if the bulk of our forum members turned out.

It's called a Shed End piss up.