Not sure what the issue is recalling a Chelsea player back from loan. Is he an improvement on Desasi, Badesheille, Forfana. 100% upgrade. Is his replacement Tosin better? no, i can see why Fulham let him go. I cant remember those three not making a mistake or being a sick note. We need to move those three on in january. The fact that we had to let the better more committed defender out of the club to accommodate those three players tells you everything you need to know about the management who run the club. 

Folk also didnt rate Gallagher, thought Felix would be better, Enzo would finally do something other than upset team mates and the club, we had Casadei etc etc who were better. Turns out, none of them were and we were forced to buy YouTube baller so we could push the club captain out the club to the current La Liga topping champions league side. 

The grass isnt always greener and we're desperate for some experience and the club are pushing Chilwell out to be replaced by what? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48 minutes ago, evissy said:

Okay...some journalists are going overboard with this.... everybody is concerned over lil-old-Trevoh...he is employed by Chelsea FC - one of the biggest clubs in the world. If he'd play better, convince his coaches he should be a starter or part of the squad, he'd be there. He wouldn't be out on loan but he is. Fabric of the loan deal is he could be called back or so on. Trevoh knows this perfectly well...why feel bad for him ..? 

That would be fine if we hadn't also side-lined Chilwell, Chukwuemeka and Sterling. All of these decisions had a financial basis behind them and were nothing to do with player ability, because that quartet (those three plus Trev) would be all here and playing their share of minutes if it was anything at all to do with ability, as would Conor Gallagher !

Would rather Trev back now than Guehi on a permanent. I just don't rate Guehi at all and that 60-70M fee is laughable if you ask me. Based on skill and value alone, truth is Chalobah would never have been put on the transfer list and later loaned out if he did not mean important pure profit in the financial books. He is better than Disasi and Badiashile in every single aspect. 

21 minutes ago, bluetrooper said:

Not sure what the issue is recalling a Chelsea player back from loan. Is he an improvement on Desasi, Badesheille, Forfana. 100% upgrade. Is his replacement Tosin better? no, i can see why Fulham let him go. I cant remember those three not making a mistake or being a sick note. We need to move those three on in january. The fact that we had to let the better more committed defender out of the club to accommodate those three players tells you everything you need to know about the management who run the club. 

Folk also didnt rate Gallagher, thought Felix would be better, Enzo would finally do something other than upset team mates and the club, we had Casadei etc etc who were better. Turns out, none of them were and we were forced to buy YouTube baller so we could push the club captain out the club to the current La Liga topping champions league side. 

The grass isnt always greener and we're desperate for some experience and the club are pushing Chilwell out to be replaced by what? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even if we ignore the fact you're severely overrating him, bringing in players because "they can't be worse than X player" isn't a recruitment policy. 

And in the context of Marescas system James (when fit) and Josh are options for that RCB berth, and they're much better options.

18 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

That would be fine if we hadn't also side-lined Chilwell, Chukwuemeka and Sterling. All of these decisions had a financial basis behind them and were nothing to do with player ability, because that quartet (those three plus Trev) would be all here and playing their share of minutes if it was anything at all to do with ability, as would Conor Gallagher !

Sterling can barely even get off the bench at Arsenal and this is playing for a manager who (according to reports) pretty much made him his pet project when assistant at Man.City.

Sancho and Neto have been clear upgrades on that side.

5 minutes ago, Argo said:

Sterling can barely even get off the bench at Arsenal and this is playing for a manager who (according to reports) pretty much made him his pet project when assistant at Man.City.

Sancho and Neto have been clear upgrades on that side.

Let's see what numbers they can put up by the end of the season, because at the moment they're both way behind track to even match let alone improve on what Sterling delivered last season in terms of G+A.

 

1 minute ago, Sexyfootball said:

Let's see what numbers they can put up by the end of the season, because at the moment they're both way behind track to even match let alone improve on what Sterling delivered last season in terms of G+A.

 

As a fanbase who enjoyed Hazard and Drogba (and even Willian to an extent) we should be the last to look at the top line like that.

Not to mention half his G/A came against the bottom 4.

16 minutes ago, Argo said:

As a fanbase who enjoyed Hazard and Drogba (and even Willian to an extent) we should be the last to look at the top line like that.

Not to mention half his G/A came against the bottom 4.

That comes across as a pretty desperate response LOL. Madueke and Sancho have 5 of their 7 goals in the two games against Wolves and Southampton, if that's the clear upgrade in winger productivity you were talking about ! I'll be kind and avoid bringing Neto's G+A into it, because, well, there isn't much to discuss !

As I said, let's see where we are at the end of the season. I'd love our wingers to outdo Sterling, I really would, but I'm not seeing it at the moment. 

Just now, Sexyfootball said:

That comes across as a pretty desperate response LOL. Madueke and Sancho have 5 of their 7 goals in the two games against Wolves and Southampton, if that's the clear upgrade in winger productivity you were talking about ! I'll be kind and avoid bringing Neto's G+A into it, because, well, there isn't much to discuss !

As I said, let's see where we are at the end of the season. I'd love our wingers to outdo Sterling, I really would, but I'm not seeing it at the moment. 

Fair enough but as I said, if we just look at the top line without context they'd be many wingers better than Hazard, many forwards better than Drogba, Gerrard would be better than Iniesta and Xavi combined, to name a few examples.

Also both of them give much more value off the ball than (our version of) Sterling did.

5 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

That comes across as a pretty desperate response LOL. Madueke and Sancho have 5 of their 7 goals in the two games against Wolves and Southampton, if that's the clear upgrade in winger productivity you were talking about ! I'll be kind and avoid bringing Neto's G+A into it, because, well, there isn't much to discuss !

As I said, let's see where we are at the end of the season. I'd love our wingers to outdo Sterling, I really would, but I'm not seeing it at the moment. 

I think all wide players can be frustrating, and boy have Chelsea had their fair share in recent times (oh to have Pat Nevin back)!

But I don't care what the numbers say, Sterling was one of THE most frustrating / annoying players I have see play for us, so would take ANY of the current crop over him - even Mudryk! Whatever Sterling gave us in numbers he lost any credit by just being a f**king annoying **** with countless wrong decisions and falling over the ball!

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Nibs said:

I think all wide players can be frustrating, and boy have Chelsea had their fair share in recent times (oh to have Pat Nevin back)!

But I don't care what the numbers say, Sterling was one of THE most frustrating / annoying players I have see play for us, so would take ANY of the current crop over him - even Mudryk! Whatever Sterling gave us in numbers he lost any credit by just being a f**king annoying **** with countless wrong decisions and falling over the ball!

Could make for an entertaining thread LOL.

"Your Most Annoying and Frustrating Chelsea XI" 🙂 

4 hours ago, Argo said:

Even if we ignore the fact you're severely overrating him, bringing in players because "they can't be worse than X player" isn't a recruitment policy. 

And in the context of Marescas system James (when fit) and Josh are options for that RCB berth, and they're much better options.

OK. I dont think Chalobah is a bad player. Certainly better than our current two recently signed ones. we can beg to differ but the club has absolutely scored an own goal. Also, if chalobah is a better player than the other two, that is actually improving the squad on what we have. you can also argue we weakened the squad sending him out on loan. I agree with both these things. 

When was the last time James was fit? Sadly, as much as I love James, want him in the side, he hasnt played enough football or remained injury free to be conisdered an option.  Josh? seriously, yes, a talent, yes, to be given minutes, but my word, everyone is jumping the gun here given Colwill gets a bad press around these parts and is 3 years older right? I'd take experience currently over youthful exuberance as that will get you top four. 

 

 

4 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

That would be fine if we hadn't also side-lined Chilwell, Chukwuemeka and Sterling. All of these decisions had a financial basis behind them and were nothing to do with player ability, because that quartet (those three plus Trev) would be all here and playing their share of minutes if it was anything at all to do with ability, as would Conor Gallagher !

Financial? Aren't we still paying Chillys massive wages even if he doesn't play?

59 minutes ago, evissy said:

Financial? Aren't we still paying Chillys massive wages even if he doesn't play?

Well yes ; it backfired because they couldn't shift him, but no doubt that was the strategy. 

17 hours ago, bluetrooper said:

OK. I dont think Chalobah is a bad player. Certainly better than our current two recently signed ones. we can beg to differ but the club has absolutely scored an own goal. Also, if chalobah is a better player than the other two, that is actually improving the squad on what we have. you can also argue we weakened the squad sending him out on loan. I agree with both these things. 

When was the last time James was fit? Sadly, as much as I love James, want him in the side, he hasnt played enough football or remained injury free to be conisdered an option.  Josh? seriously, yes, a talent, yes, to be given minutes, but my word, everyone is jumping the gun here given Colwill gets a bad press around these parts and is 3 years older right? I'd take experience currently over youthful exuberance as that will get you top four. 

 

 

If we're looking for fitness reliability Chalobah isn't exactly super reliable either, he missed over half the season last season (which partly caused us to sign Disasi in the first place).

You say Colwill gets a bad press round these parts, and that's despite as @petre ispirescusaid he's basically leading an inexperienced defense playing a demanding style of football (for defenders). Do you honestly think Chalobah will be taking this defense up a level with this system? (I mean like with Petrovic they'll probably be a lot of pretence he is due to the desperation to never see the alternatives again but in reality he won't). And it's also got to be noted Chalobah was rarely exposed in the system we played when he was here and the few times he was we saw errors like the ones vs Liverpool and Madrid and others that luckily didn't lead to goals (all of which Disasi and Badiashille would have been chased out of London for).

And he's most certainly not better than Fofana atleast in possesion, we're missing his ball carrying out of the back terribly.

@Argo 

just a question of what you would rather play in defence. Forfana has played so little in a chelsea shirt I dont really consider him a chelsea player. 2300 minutes in three seasons come the summer. Chalobah has played 2600 minutes in the past two. Statistically, one player is far more likely to play than the other and that makes them more reliable. 

I love colwill, he does get a bad press. 

As for ball carrying, why sign the DnB and Tosin if they cant play a pass. 

 

Just now, bluetrooper said:

@Argo 

just a question of what you would rather play in defence. Forfana has played so little in a chelsea shirt I dont really consider him a chelsea player. 2300 minutes in three seasons come the summer. Chalobah has played 2600 minutes in the past two. Statistically, one player is far more likely to play than the other and that makes them more reliable. 

I love colwill, he does get a bad press. 

As for ball carrying, why sign the DnB and Tosin if they cant play a pass. 

 

If the 4 months we got of Fofana this season is as good as we're going to get I'd rather we source an option in the market or promote from within.

39 minutes ago, Argo said:

If the 4 months we got of Fofana this season is as good as we're going to get I'd rather we source an option in the market or promote from within.

If chalobah comes back, big if given how badly the club treated him, then that is a promotion from within. Doesnt cost any moreny, and we know that he is a premiership defender. Personally, I hope he stays at palace and sticks his fingers up to the board and he goes on to have a superb premiership career. 

I also think it would be a huge mistake to go for Guehi, I like him, I think he's a very good player, but will probably cost too much given we have talent available in the club. Its on Maresca to find it, work with it which im starting to think he might not be so good at doing. 

On 07/01/2025 at 14:14, Argo said:

Sterling can barely even get off the bench at Arsenal and this is playing for a manager who (according to reports) pretty much made him his pet project when assistant at Man.City.

Sancho and Neto have been clear upgrades on that side.

If Sterling had Neto's minutes he'd have missed a lot of chances but i'd put money on he'd have doubled his numbers. 

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

If Sterling had Neto's minutes he'd have missed a lot of chances but i'd put money on he'd have doubled his numbers. 

Come on man, thats nonsense and you know it. At best they would be fairly equal.

14 minutes ago, dkw said:

Come on man, thats nonsense and you know it. At best they would be fairly equal.

Neto's averaging a G/A every 334 minutes in the league.

Last season Sterling got a G/A every 165 minutes and the season before he was averaging one every 211 minutes. 

You'd have to go back to 2012 to find a season where Sterling scored less league goals than Neto's best ever season. 

Edited January 9, 20251 yr by Ukraine Bolt

2 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Neto's averaging a G/A every 334 minutes in the league.

Last season Sterling got a G/A every 165 minutes and the season before he was averaging one every 311 minutes. 

You'd have to go back to 2012 to find a season where Sterling scored less league goals than Neto's best ever season. 

Ah, last seasons statistics, marvellous.

Neto isnt going great, but he has more for this team than Sterling would have, main being he actually passes in decent positions.

Edited January 9, 20251 yr by dkw

9 minutes ago, dkw said:

Ah, last seasons statistics, marvellous.

Neto isnt going great, but he has more for this team than Sterling would have, main being he actually passes in decent positions.

Neto also does a lot of running off the ball and defensive work.  Raheem did very little in terms of defensive covering.

20 minutes ago, dkw said:

Ah, last seasons statistics, marvellous.

Neto isnt going great, but he has more for this team than Sterling would have, main being he actually passes in decent positions.

Okay use this season then, Sterling contributes a G/A every 146 minutes. 3x as many as Neto in the league. He's barely played so it made sense to use stats from his previous full seasons with us. 

Neto clearly doesn't get in decent positions then. Don't think by any means am i saying Sterling was good or i want him back but right now Neto hasn't improved us as of yet.

13 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Neto also does a lot of running off the ball and defensive work.  Raheem did very little in terms of defensive covering.

You know its a lost cause when we're praising an attacker for their defensive work. 

Confirmed, he’s coming back now. The right move imo.