Insider stated this first week of preseason training was more difficult than the entirety of last preseason. 

40 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

Not to worry just, I have used the power of AI and science to compile this objective matrix. 

Unfortunately even the world's most powerful AI was unable to categorise Di Matteo - the pants-sh*ttingly tense CL run, the indifferent league form at the tail end of his first season, and the hilarious but leaky Hazard/Mata/Oscar league form the following year simply did not compute. 

 

Love the Gene Hackman / Scolari lookey-likey photo!!! 😁

1 hour ago, just said:

Love the Gene Hackman / Scolari lookey-likey photo!!! 😁

In about 5 seconds I've grown extremely fond of the word "sufferball" 😂

2 hours ago, Valerie said:

What did Carlo do to deserve this 

Being Italian, he can say "Romelu Lukaku sleeps with the fishes" with the right intonation !

10 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

We're also a fanbase that has become accustomed to charismatic coaches that have a connection with the fanbase. So when we have somebody like Sarri as manager, it feels weird, like something is missing.

Agree, I don't think sarri is a good manager for a big club. His football is very methodical and as you said he lack charisma to sell it to his player and to the fans. 

13 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Being Italian, he can say "Romelu Lukaku sleeps with the fishes" with the right intonation !

The other day we received word that my father's ashes have scattered in the North Sea. I could only just refrain myself from making the same joke 

52 minutes ago, Valerie said:

The other day we received word that my father's ashes have scattered in the North Sea. I could only just refrain myself from making the same joke 

A good sense of humour is often quite useful in adversity ! RIP to your dad 🙂 

21 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

Not to worry just, I have used the power of AI and science to compile this objective matrix. 

Okay, but you need to do one for interim managers. I need to see where Ray Wilkins compares to Bruno Saltor, Steve Holland or Rui Faria's hat.

On 10/07/2023 at 16:12, Sconnie Blue said:

Insider stated this first week of preseason training was more difficult than the entirety of last preseason. 

Good, I can see why Lukaku doesn't want to come back.

2 hours ago, El regreso said:

Good, I can see why Lukaku doesn't want to come back.

He must be so torn between Pochettino's BBQ and being subjected to pre-season

Not really excited for the new season but I'd be more than happy to give Pochettino a chance. His presser was at least uplifting and has hints of a fire in the belly 

Hope the squad responds in kind and those who aren't should just be sold. Lots of rebuilding in the next season

Anyone agree with Simon about us not being the most successful club in England over the last 10-15 years, as Pochettino suggests? I do agree, we could have been way more successful but Roman balls'ed it up to be honest. The last decade has been poor from us, despite CL win. We should have won more and been more dominant after those league wins. 

do ag

If Ange does do better it would be quite the achievement. It's only a bit about the coach. By far the highest relationship is between player wages and results. That doesn't mean that paying players more will improve results it means that the players earning the most money are typically the best one, not every player not every season, but most of the time. 

The market for players is large and global and although there are lots of stupid clubs that under and over pay on average its a deep and open market and therefore the prices tend on average to be a good reflection of relative value.

All you need is  a coach that doesn't stuff it up and mostly results will follow. That's why so many average coaches actually survive.

All that said I actually do think, despite the lack of statistics to back it up, that coaches do matter for a season or two. Generally though the team will last a lot longer than the coach.

So the question really is do we have better players than spuds. Normally the answer is an automatic yes but since our squad is currently so incredibly young there is a bit of a suck it and see thing. I do think Pochettino therefore has a good opportunity to shape a new team, much like Mourinho did in 2004.

Pochettino has told Ian Maatsen he will get a chance to impress on preseason, and he is training with the main group.

He has also told the board not to sell Gallager unless our full price of 45mill is met as he feels he is a useful squad player.

Seems like this is the squad Pochettino wants in preseason. 

That is a weak as f**k midfield.

1 minute ago, Zeta said:

That is a weak as f**k midfield.

I mean is it any drastically weaker than our rivals? (mind you we only have one match a week)

 

Chelsea - Enzo/Caicedo/Nkunku/Cherki/Carney/Santos/Hall

City - KDB/Rodri/Kovacic/Foden/Phillips/Perrone

Liverpool - MacAllister/Fabinho/Szoboszlai/Elliot/Henderson/Jones

United - Fernandes/Casemiro/Mount/Eriksen/Fred/McTominay

Arsenal - Odegaard/Rice/Havertz/Jorginho/Smith-Rowe/Elneny

Newcastle - Joelinton/Guimaraes/Tonali/Longstaff/Hendrick/Hayden

 

Yes.

Especially considering we don't actually own 2 of those players. And Santos is unlikely to be ready for first team football. And Hall seems better at LWB.

Just now, Zeta said:

Yes.

Especially considering we don't actually own 2 of those players. And Santos is unlikely to be ready for first team football. And Hall seems better at LWB.

And three are 10s and Pochettino wants a double pivot which means they aren't options.

5 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Yes.

Especially considering we don't actually own 2 of those players. And Santos is unlikely to be ready for first team football. And Hall seems better at LWB.

Like I mentioned that is probably the squad he wants for preseason. He'll likely assess during and afterwards if there needs improvements. 

Forgot to add Casaedi. 

5 minutes ago, OriginalS said:

And three are 10s and Pochettino wants a double pivot which means they aren't options.

Considering Enzo and Caicedo's fitness levels in a one match a week season until January I am not sure how much they are prioritizing the CMs. 

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I mean is it any drastically weaker than our rivals? (mind you we only have one match a week)

 

Chelsea - Enzo/Caicedo/Nkunku/Cherki/Carney/Santos/Hall

City - KDB/Rodri/Kovacic/Foden/Phillips/Perrone

Liverpool - MacAllister/Fabinho/Szoboszlai/Elliot/Henderson/Jones

United - Fernandes/Casemiro/Mount/Eriksen/Fred/McTominay

Arsenal - Odegaard/Rice/Havertz/Jorginho/Smith-Rowe/Elneny

Newcastle - Joelinton/Guimaraes/Tonali/Longstaff/Hendrick/Hayden

 

Definitely, 

2 hours ago, Zeta said:

That is a weak as f**k midfield.

Inexperienced, but Santos is a gem and Hall has a lot of potential.

15 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Considering Enzo and Caicedo's fitness levels in a one match a week season until January I am not sure how much they are prioritizing the CMs. 

That would be a mistake then. Not to mention Caicedo isn't close either.

And wasn't half the point with Pochettino that he would come in early and get a full pre-season with "his" squad to give us a proper foundation for the new season? Well, now the team is flying out and there's basically holes absolutely everywhere except defence.

Unless something happens quick we are in for another shambolic season. All of our competitors are getting their ducks in a row, we are just faffing about or buying 15 year olds from South America.

 

27 minutes ago, OriginalS said:

That would be a mistake then. Not to mention Caicedo isn't close either.

And wasn't half the point with Pochettino that he would come in early and get a full pre-season with "his" squad to give us a proper foundation for the new season? Well, now the team is flying out and there's basically holes absolutely everywhere except defence.

Unless something happens quick we are in for another shambolic season. All of our competitors are getting their ducks in a row, we are just faffing about or buying 15 year olds from South America.

 

Easy tiger ...

We're probably only a couple of players short of a full squad, so "his" squad is at least 90% on board ... and they're already hard at work in pre-season. Don't really understand what you are complaining about. Exciting times ahead for Chelsea fans if you ask me !

7 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Easy tiger ...

We're probably only a couple of players short of a full squad, so "his" squad is at least 90% on board ... and they're already hard at work in pre-season. Don't really understand what you are complaining about. Exciting times ahead for Chelsea fans if you ask me !

More like minimum 4 but ok.

As of right now you could argue Leicester last season had a stronger midfield and attack than we currently have, and they got relegated. Not saying we'll get relegated as our defence is strong but we are in no shape to compete at the moment. 

Edited July 13, 20233 yr by OriginalS