Sign a defender permanently and you lose Achempong. Simple as that.

Keep faith with Josh

7 minutes ago, bluelightening said:

Signing a replacement for Colwill is simply the manager being greedy. I'd support a loan (T.Silva if he fancied it) but paying out for another defender is just silly given he'll return to fitness.

There are plenty of players at the club who can do a job - Badishille is fine for me, Fofana will be back at some stage, if we can get another 15 games out of him before his legs fall off great.

But paying to sign someone isnt sustainable given the ever increasing size of the bomb squad.

For context. Stirling isnt even listed in Fantasy football this year, neither is disasi/ Chilwell. Getting these players off the books is the clubs priority... not signing anyone new.

Badiashile had less minutes for the club last season than Disasi, who left in January. I don't trust Fofana to tie his boots without getting an injury. 3 seasons we've relied on him and 3 seasons he broke down.

We have 2 very fragile depth options at the moment. The alternatives are two 19 year olds fresh to the league, and neither of whom are ready to do what Colwill did for us. Nor do we know if they even can.

It's strange given we spent weeks going after Huijsen, so adding another CB always seemed a necessity to the club even before Colwill's injury.

21 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Sign a defender permanently and you lose Achempong. Simple as that.

Keep faith with Josh

But Josh plays on the right, doesn't he? And we'd be looking for a LCB. If anyone should go is Badiashille and we should try to develop Acheampong.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Badiashile had less minutes for the club last season than Disasi, who left in January. I don't trust Fofana to tie his boots without getting an injury. 3 seasons we've relied on him and 3 seasons he broke down.

We have 2 very fragile depth options at the moment. The alternatives are two 19 year olds fresh to the league, and neither of whom are ready to do what Colwill did for us. Nor do we know if they even can.

It's strange given we spent weeks going after Huijsen, so adding another CB always seemed a necessity to the club even before Colwill's injury.

If you spend 1.5 billion or whatever it is we have, there really should be enough strength in depth in a squad. It is that simple. If Chelsea and Maresca cannot find a solution for a season, something is radically wrong.

Badiashile needs minutes if he isnt going to be sold, Fofana needs to play if he's fit. But how about this for an option. Renato Veiga is already on our books. Done.

3 hours ago, bluelightening said:

If you spend 1.5 billion or whatever it is we have, there really should be enough strength in depth in a squad. It is that simple. If Chelsea and Maresca cannot find a solution for a season, something is radically wrong.

Badiashile needs minutes if he isnt going to be sold, Fofana needs to play if he's fit. But how about this for an option. Renato Veiga is already on our books. Done.

You’re speaking as if you’re an outside fan. Have you seen where that £1.5bn went?

I’m just wondering if fans like yourself fully grasp the risk involved in relying in what we have. Colwill is a huge miss and our depth contains 2 kids and 2 vastly injury prone players.

3 hours ago, bluelightening said:

If you spend 1.5 billion or whatever it is we have, there really should be enough strength in depth in a squad. It is that simple. If Chelsea and Maresca cannot find a solution for a season, something is radically wrong.

Badiashile needs minutes if he isnt going to be sold, Fofana needs to play if he's fit. But how about this for an option. Renato Veiga is already on our books. Done.

Something is radically wrong? Yeah, it's called spending stupid money on rubbish players. Badisahille and Disasi are two of those players.

Maresca on whether Fofana/Badiashile are internal solutions:

"Wes played 45 minutes in that position. It was the first half against Bournemouth away. Probably one of the worst halves since we started. Benoit playing in the middle, the Conference League final, first half, we were losing 1-0. We changed with Levi and won 4-1. It's not the same." [@kierangill_DM]

Maresca definitely wants a new CB then.

It’s a tough decision for WinStewart. it creates a problem in the medium/long term.

6 hours ago, JM7 said:

Maresca on whether Fofana/Badiashile are internal solutions:

"Wes played 45 minutes in that position. It was the first half against Bournemouth away. Probably one of the worst halves since we started. Benoit playing in the middle, the Conference League final, first half, we were losing 1-0. We changed with Levi and won 4-1. It's not the same." [@kierangill_DM]

Maresca definitely wants a new CB then.

It’s a tough decision for WinStewart. it creates a problem in the medium/long term.

The solution is in theory quite simple but pulling it off is another matter entirely.

Colwill (hope he isn’t ruined by the injury)

Chalobah (keep

Tosin (keep)

Fofana (replace with a more reliable player)

Disasi (absolutely sell)

Badiashile (sell)

Veiga (maybe keep this season for squad rotation)

If Fofana is replaced by someone who can play the ccb role then James and acheampong at right back can form the back 3.

8 hours ago, JM7 said:

Maresca on whether Fofana/Badiashile are internal solutions:

"Wes played 45 minutes in that position. It was the first half against Bournemouth away. Probably one of the worst halves since we started. Benoit playing in the middle, the Conference League final, first half, we were losing 1-0. We changed with Levi and won 4-1. It's not the same." [@kierangill_DM]

Maresca definitely wants a new CB then.

It’s a tough decision for WinStewart. it creates a problem in the medium/long term.

Good confidence booster for Wes and Badi lmao

Maresca said Fofana was out for a long time and Fofana replied saying he’d be back in 2 weeks. Rushed his return and then was out for the season + needed surgery.

Can’t help but feel their relationship is a little sour.

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Maresca said Fofana was out for a long time and Fofana replied saying he’d be back in 2 weeks. Rushed his return and then was out for the season + needed surgery.

Can’t help but feel their relationship is a little sour.

Obviously Maresca cares about Fofana but Fofana himself is too emotional imo, he keeps rushing himself and then gets sent back to the ER

Jack Wilshere/Luke Shaw levels at this point

1 hour ago, Deino said:

Obviously Maresca cares about Fofana but Fofana himself is too emotional imo, he keeps rushing himself and then gets sent back to the ER

Jack Wilshere/Luke Shaw levels at this point

Fofana should go on loan for a season at Marseilles. Maintain fitness in a weaker league, look after himself in a warmer climate, his home, and spend a season working with de Zerbi who plays a baited press on steroids. Then we can see this time next season whether we have a player or not.

Breaking: Sources at Chelsea confirm their stance has not shifted on centre back. Three main factors inform the decision: confidence in the depth that has been amassed in this squad, a lack of suitable options available in this window, and full faith in Maresca and his coaching staff to work with and improve the talent at his disposal. (@liam_twomey)

2 hours ago, JM7 said:

Breaking: Sources at Chelsea confirm their stance has not shifted on centre back. Three main factors inform the decision: confidence in the depth that has been amassed in this squad, a lack of suitable options available in this window, and full faith in Maresca and his coaching staff to work with and improve the talent at his disposal. (@liam_twomey)

Which translates to:

“We bought too many crock/sh*t CB’s that we can’t sell so you’re just going to have to suck it up.”

On 15/08/2025 at 22:37, Sconnie Blue said:

You’re speaking as if you’re an outside fan. Have you seen where that £1.5bn went?

I’m just wondering if fans like yourself fully grasp the risk involved in relying in what we have. Colwill is a huge miss and our depth contains 2 kids and 2 vastly injury prone players.

As an "outside fan" who has been going to the bridge off and on when I could or can afford to, I see a club Ive supported spend 1.5bn on a scattergun transfer policy that hasnt made much sense to me. What I have seen is the club sign players simply for the sake of signing players to force others out of the club. Its been absolutely reckless and consequently we have a bomb squad............ Is there another team in the Premeirship with so many players in limbo?

I notice you havent actually addressed the massive elephant in the room of Viega that I suggested could come in and do a job for 12 months. He's still a chelsea player right? From 12 million to a valuation of 40 million. Imagine how much better off the club would be if he played and was a massive success?

Whats your soloution besides throwing more money at the situation that the club doesnt have unless it offloads players?

Entertain me.

On 15/08/2025 at 23:04, Scott Harris said:

Something is radically wrong? Yeah, it's called spending stupid money on rubbish players. Badisahille and Disasi are two of those players.

I really dont disagree. But at some point the funds dry up. I think we're at this stage now. Last season the club sold Gallagher to pay for Felix who 12 months later isnt a chelsea player. Make it make sense.

@nonotnowjim is recommending Jackson as a new centre half. Says whenever he goes near the ball it never ends up in the net.

I don't think.anyome can deny our transfer policy has been scattergun and not focused on creating a balanced squad.

We have more up top than Katie Price but still have defensive frailties and a bang average goalkeeper. Which of those issues are getting fixed by Garnacho is anyone's guess.

18 minutes ago, bluelightening said:

As an "outside fan" who has been going to the bridge off and on when I could or can afford to, I see a club Ive supported spend 1.5bn on a scattergun transfer policy that hasnt made much sense to me. What I have seen is the club sign players simply for the sake of signing players to force others out of the club. Its been absolutely reckless and consequently we have a bomb squad............ Is there another team in the Premeirship with so many players in limbo?

I notice you havent actually addressed the massive elephant in the room of Viega that I suggested could come in and do a job for 12 months. He's still a chelsea player right? From 12 million to a valuation of 40 million. Imagine how much better off the club would be if he played and was a massive success?

Whats your soloution besides throwing more money at the situation that the club doesnt have unless it offloads players?

Entertain me.

Outside fan as in a neutral fan. Seeing how much we spent and concluding 2+2=4, where we should already be well equipped at CB when we really aren’t if we want to be challenging or closing the gap. Disasi/Badiashile are among the worst defenders I’ve ever seen play at this club and Fofana has less starts than Tosin despite being here for 2 more seasons.

The fans that don’t want to bring another body in have a confidence that both Acheampong and Hato will perform, yet I question if those fans will actually have that patience for them to settle in. Wasn’t impressed with Hato at CB for A**x and this is a huge step for Acheampong.

Veiga I’ve honestly never seen perform outside the club so I haven’t the slightest idea how good he is or isn’t as a CB.

2 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Outside fan as in a neutral fan. Seeing how much we spent and concluding 2+2=4, where we should already be well equipped at CB when we really aren’t if we want to be challenging or closing the gap. Disasi/Badiashile are among the worst defenders I’ve ever seen play at this club and Fofana has less starts than Tosin despite being here for 2 more seasons.

The fans that don’t want to bring another body in have a confidence that both Acheampong and Hato will perform, yet I question if those fans will actually have that patience for them to settle in. Wasn’t impressed with Hato at CB for A**x and this is a huge step for Acheampong.

Veiga I’ve honestly never seen perform outside the club so I haven’t the slightest idea how good he is or isn’t as a CB.

Perfectly put. It's somewhat frustrating that people ignore the most obvious situation currently plaguing our defence

6 minutes ago, Deino said:

Perfectly put. It's somewhat frustrating that people ignore the most obvious situation currently plaguing our defence

You mean the owners? They’ve plagued our defence with 300m worth of ass.

29 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

You mean the owners? They’ve plagued our defence with 300m worth of ass.

Aside from Hato, Cucurella, Trev, Colwill, Tosin, (maybe Gusto) pretty much.

Tbf to them, they've rectified most of the mistakes in midfield and attack.

31 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Outside fan as in a neutral fan. Seeing how much we spent and concluding 2+2=4, where we should already be well equipped at CB when we really aren’t if we want to be challenging or closing the gap. Disasi/Badiashile are among the worst defenders I’ve ever seen play at this club and Fofana has less starts than Tosin despite being here for 2 more seasons.

The fans that don’t want to bring another body in have a confidence that both Acheampong and Hato will perform, yet I question if those fans will actually have that patience for them to settle in. Wasn’t impressed with Hato at CB for A**x and this is a huge step for Acheampong.

Veiga I’ve honestly never seen perform outside the club so I haven’t the slightest idea how good he is or isn’t as a CB.

Perhaps as a fan you could take more interest in our players who go out on loan, given this is the club's model of development.

Did you ever watch Papy Djilobodji, maybe before your time... As much as I loved him, and is an early club icon from my young days and is a top geezer, Frank Sinclair was actually spectacularly awful and spectacular brilliant for us in equal measure, difference then to now, we didnt have the funds to buy ourselves out of it and the league was as aweful as some of the players in it. I could name other worse players than the two on the books currently at chelsea.

Anyhow, up the Chelsea, 3 points today and despite the defensive shortfalls, let's grab a clean sheet.

23 minutes ago, Deino said:

Aside from Hato, Cucurella, Trev, Colwill, Tosin, (maybe Gusto) pretty much.

Tbf to them, they've rectified most of the mistakes in midfield and attack.

Jury is out on Hato until he plays, the rest are either mainly academy players or free transfers. Sad indictment.

Returns early April. Even then I still wouldn't risk it given what's happened with Rodri.

Apparently the club will reassess in January and recall Sarr or Anselmino if needed.

On 16/08/2025 at 04:04, Scott Harris said:

Something is radically wrong? Yeah, it's called spending stupid money on rubbish players. Badisahille and Disasi are two of those players.

Badi and Disasi were fine. Badi were great then he was constantly injured.

Disasi was an emergency signing because we had no dm nor fb who can play cb and our two CB were 1000 years old and 20 years old.