I'm very encouraged by what we have seen in the early days.  They'll be difficult moments ahead, bad decisions, emotions, red cards, etc, but so far he has taken all in his stride.  There is a plan on and off the pitch, and Poch is front and center in restoring a winning culture.

I also really like where our player profile is going.  Lighter players like Pulisic, Mount, Jorginho, Ziyech etc replaced with hungrier, powerful athletes.  We are returning to a physical presence on the pitch, and will serve us well.

there is a completely different atmosphere around the team

and we actually had some moments where we start to look good, quick transitions and combinations, direct forwards passes 

Not only at Chelsea, but every club in general, you can recognise when the environment is suited for performance.

The feel good factor is back and the performance on the pitch yesterday showed that. The Bridge is buzzing again, Pochettino and his staff are doing their thing and the board has done a brilliant job in the transfer market (I'm counting the Caicedo and Lavia transfers, too).

Now looking over our next fixtures, I think the next seven are absolutely winnable. West Ham away and Villa at home are the so called tough ones.

I know we are not the finished product yet, nor a flawless machine like City, but the brilliant atmosphere at the club and the squad filled with young, top, hungry players can win difficult football matches.

And then there is Arsenal at the Bridge where Pohettino and the boys can make a statement. Reckon if whe are in the region of 23-25 points after Round 9 we'll have no problems making top four.

With the addition of Caicedo and Lavia and no European football, this squad is too good not to make top four or go deep into both FA and EFL Cup.

On 11/08/2023 at 01:04, axman2526 said:

After his issues with Levy not investing I wonder what Pochettino is now thinking with his first choice midfield targets lining up for PSG and Liverpool rather than his side?

Ooooops....

1 minute ago, chelseablueboy said:

Ooooops....

Well, I didn't expect the gazumper being gazumped, did you?

1 minute ago, Valerie said:

Well, I didn't expect the gazumper being gazumped, did you?

Never in doubt ....... Lol..

 

24 minutes ago, chelseablueboy said:

Ooooops....

What? Like I have never been wrong on here before, don't act like it is something special lol.

I am not @BordeauxBlue!

Edited August 14, 20232 yr by axman2526

I'll be happy to eat my words but I've been on the Porch train since he was sacked at PSG. The man turned Spurs into a contender, with a competent club behind him he's going to win trophies. I haven't been this optimistic since Jose returned. 

47 minutes ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

I'll be happy to eat my words but I've been on the Porch train since he was sacked at PSG. The man turned Spurs into a contender, with a competent club behind him he's going to win trophies. I haven't been this optimistic since Jose returned. 

At some point he was very overrated by the British Press, but I think his tenure at Spurs has aged really well when you look at what the likes of Mourinho and Conte couldn't do with the team he built.

I'm very much on the Poch train, not sure if he's the man to take us to the elite level but I think he's perfect for the here and now. But I agree I think his job at Spurs was fantastic and I feel it's unfairly looked down on by rival fans because he didn't win a trophy. Taking Spurs into a Champions League final is a ridiculous achievement within itself. 

The only time I ever feared playing Tottenham was when he managed them, other than that, I've always been confident in us getting a result against them. 

Edited August 15, 20232 yr by Victor90

Line up for West Ham would be interesting..

 

Sanchez

Reece Thiago Colwill Chilwell

Enzo Caicedo

Sterling Gallagher Mudryk

Jackson

i like this.. but time for Mudryk and sterling to deliver now..

5 hours ago, Jangz said:

Line up for West Ham would be interesting..

 

Sanchez

Reece Thiago Colwill Chilwell

Enzo Caicedo

Sterling Gallagher Mudryk

Jackson

i like this.. but time for Mudryk and sterling to deliver now..

Sterling delivered v Liverpool. 

 

2 hours ago, dermott said:

Sterling delivered v Liverpool. 

I thought he combined well with James at times but his final ball was poor at most occasions .. he needs to much better on that front.

7 minutes ago, Jangz said:

I thought he combined well with James at times but his final ball was poor at most occasions .. he needs to much better on that front.

FFS. What game were you watching? In the first half alone he twice set up Jackson with crosses and Jackson's inexperience let him down.

37 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

 

Good analysis. Thanks for posting @RIP Mourinho

2 hours ago, dermott said:

FFS. What game were you watching? In the first half alone he twice set up Jackson with crosses and Jackson's inexperience let him down.

Didn't do a huge amount in the second half though

Have to remember Sterling is meant to be one of our top 3 players. 

Liverpool was one of his better performances but is anyone giving that more than a 7/10? That should be his baseline every single week.

5 hours ago, dermott said:

FFS. What game were you watching? In the first half alone he twice set up Jackson with crosses and Jackson's inexperience let him down.

i wish i had the time and skillset to do a few clips but first half a lot of attacks broke down especially first 20-30 mins with him.. he improved as the game went on.. but apart from one moment of skill dont remember much from him..

I think I remember reading Pochettino being quoted as saying he does not want a large squad, only around 25 players including keepers.

So with that in mind I wonder who will make the cut?

 

Keepers: Sanchez, ????? And Marcus Betts

Defenders: James, Gusto, Cucurella, Chilwell, Disasi, Silva, Badiashile and Colwill.

Defensive and central midfielders: Enzo, Caicedo, Lavia, Santos and Gallagher.

Wingers, wide forwards and attacking midfielders: Nkunku, Olise, Madueke, Sterling, Mudryk and Carney.

Center forwards: Jackson, Broja and Burstow.

 

Maatsen depends on him signing a new deal imo, and sadly I think we are looking to ship off Trev. If Maatsen does sign a new deal maybe Carney or Santos goes out on loan.

Where can I watch the full Chelsea Liverpool game?

1 hour ago, guddy69 said:

Where can I watch the full Chelsea Liverpool game?

5th Stand app. Or maybe even the official site.

7 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I think I remember reading Pochettino being quoted as saying he does not want a large squad, only around 25 players including keepers.

So with that in mind I wonder who will make the cut?

 

Keepers: Sanchez, ????? And Marcus Betts

Defenders: James, Gusto, Cucurella, Chilwell, Disasi, Silva, Badiashile and Colwill.

Defensive and central midfielders: Enzo, Caicedo, Lavia, Santos and Gallagher.

Wingers, wide forwards and attacking midfielders: Nkunku, Olise, Madueke, Sterling, Mudryk and Carney.

Center forwards: Jackson, Broja and Burstow.

 

Maatsen depends on him signing a new deal imo, and sadly I think we are looking to ship off Trev. If Maatsen does sign a new deal maybe Carney or Santos goes out on loan.

What i don't understand is that don't we have a development squad as well and don't the majority of players qualify for that as well. If so, in your first position i would have Sanchez and the Newbie, bomb off Bettinelli and have either Bergstrom or Cumming as part of the development squad and draft him in the the first team squad when necessary.

That is still a thing nowadays isn't it? Its not like the CL is it where we name the 25 when the window closes and can't draft anyone in internally until the next window opening.

Granted most of those in your post are seniors but is the answer with Burstow first team, loan or sell? Is there no other option?

8 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I think I remember reading Pochettino being quoted as saying he does not want a large squad, only around 25 players including keepers.

So with that in mind I wonder who will make the cut?

 

Keepers: Sanchez, ????? And Marcus Betts

Defenders: James, Gusto, Cucurella, Chilwell, Disasi, Silva, Badiashile and Colwill.

Defensive and central midfielders: Enzo, Caicedo, Lavia, Santos and Gallagher.

Wingers, wide forwards and attacking midfielders: Nkunku, Olise, Madueke, Sterling, Mudryk and Carney.

Center forwards: Jackson, Broja and Burstow.

 

Maatsen depends on him signing a new deal imo, and sadly I think we are looking to ship off Trev. If Maatsen does sign a new deal maybe Carney or Santos goes out on loan.

Gallagher to west ham once paqueta goes to city (especally now KDB down for 4 months).

15 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

What i don't understand is that don't we have a development squad as well and don't the majority of players qualify for that as well. If so, in your first position i would have Sanchez and the Newbie, bomb off Bettinelli and have either Bergstrom or Cumming as part of the development squad and draft him in the the first team squad when necessary.

That is still a thing nowadays isn't it? Its not like the CL is it where we name the 25 when the window closes and can't draft anyone in internally until the next window opening.

Granted most of those in your post are seniors but is the answer with Burstow first team, loan or sell? Is there no other option?

I'm sure that Bergstrom was on the bench last Sunday, so I guess Bettinelli is probably not going to be included.

26 minutes ago, RMH said:

I'm sure that Bergstrom was on the bench last Sunday, so I guess Bettinelli is probably not going to be included.

Bettinelli is injured.

25 minutes ago, RMH said:

I'm sure that Bergstrom was on the bench last Sunday, so I guess Bettinelli is probably not going to be included.

Bettinelli is currently injured, but I imagine the thinking is he is a nailed on #3. Question is whether Bergstrom (or Cumming) is deemed good enough for #2. Big call from Ben Roberts probably, who already has a lot riding on the Sanchez transfer being successful. If we don't buy another keeper than we have our answer !