Big puff piece for Sanchez on the club website today, presumably an attempt to marginalise the sale of Petrovic on the same day ...

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/the-reasons-behind-robert-sanchez-golden-gloves-award

What is the key of the so called press resistant and genius of Maresca?

Sanchez.

When his kicking game is on as we saw in this game we can escape press easily but when it is not on as we saw many times last season, you basically gave opp easy goal.

19 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

What is the key of the so called press resistant and genius of Maresca?

Sanchez.

When his kicking game is on as we saw in this game we can escape press easily but when it is not on as we saw many times last season, you basically gave opp easy goal.

Yeah but this is exactly the difference with him under Potter vs De Zerbi.

Potter loved him because of his ability to kick long into the channels, and promoted him because in Potter's eyes he was "good on the ball" in that more direct, counter-attacking system.

On the other hand De Zerbi dropped him because he didn’t consider Sanchez to be "good on the ball". In that slower, press-baiting system, Sanchez was way more exposed because his role was less about passing long and more about clean first touches and accurate short passes in tight situations, which of course is his Achilles' heel.

So, Sanchez is always going to suit these situations where he is not required to show patience in distribution and where there is a clear imperative to get the ball forward. But in Maresca's normal slow-paced system he is a liability.

43 minutes ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Yeah but this is exactly the difference with him under Potter vs De Zerbi.

Potter loved him because of his ability to kick long into the channels, and promoted him because in Potter's eyes he was "good on the ball" in that more direct, counter-attacking system.

On the other hand De Zerbi dropped him because he didn’t consider Sanchez to be "good on the ball". In that slower, press-baiting system, Sanchez was way more exposed because his role was less about passing long and more about clean first touches and accurate short passes in tight situations, which of course is his Achilles' heel.

So, Sanchez is always going to suit these situations where he is not required to show patience in distribution and where there is a clear imperative to get the ball forward. But in Maresca's normal slow-paced system he is a liability.

Not sure this is about counter vs possesion.

It is about can the gk find the free man with his passing. None of what Sanchez is doing here is any different to what he is being asked to do all year.

8 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Not sure this is about counter vs possesion.

It is about can the gk find the free man with his passing. None of what Sanchez is doing here is any different to what he is being asked to do all year.

Did you watch us at all this year?

BBC Sport

Chelsea news: Enzo Maresca gives support to Filip Jorgens...

Chelsea news: Enzo Maresca gives support to Filip Jorgensen after Southampton win

"My message to Filip was if you play a long ball, I will change you."

Sanchez went long 26 times against PSG, Maresca has clearly changed his style when it comes to goalkeeping.

Sanchez is a fine keeper until we add in playing out from the back.

If we had Delap and Pedro last season then Sanchez’s mistakes carry much less gravitas as we’d be already ahead or have the tools to score two.

The biggest problem we had last season is relying on Sanchez at one end and Jackson at the other.

Sanchez at least is a very good shot stopper whereas Jackson is Jackson.

Edited July 17, 20251 yr by 19seventyone

59 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Did you watch us at all this year?

"My message to Filip was if you play a long ball, I will change you."

That was my "sack that bald fraud now" moment. If he reverts back, he loses me yet again 😠

2 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Did you watch us at all this year?

BBC Sport

Chelsea news: Enzo Maresca gives support to Filip Jorgens...

Chelsea news: Enzo Maresca gives support to Filip Jorgensen after Southampton win

"My message to Filip was if you play a long ball, I will change you."

Sanchez went long 26 times against PSG, Maresca has clearly changed his style when it comes to goalkeeping.

I was going to write something very similar, the fact that he switched it up. Went long when he had to through danger or he saw a pass.

I thought it was madness when I read the keepers weren’t allowed to go long last season,thankfully it seems that’s changed.

It’s a relief the manager may not be as set in his ways as first thought. Keep learning, adapting, improving and we’ll be alright.

14 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Not sure this is about counter vs possesion.

It is about can the gk find the free man with his passing. None of what Sanchez is doing here is any different to what he is being asked to do all year.

Have to disagree here, because we know Maresca told his GKs to keep it short and also none of our players were making the runs for Sanchez to exploit. From at least December onwards it was no longer just about finding the free man, it was specifically engineering opportunities to pass the ball to Madueke/Neto around the halfway line.

Instead of looking to pass to the wingers deep in our half he was targeting long balls for Neto, Pedro and Gusto to chase in the channel, we have not seen that sort of counter-attacking intent for a very long time, especially with Gusto being required to play as a midfielder for most of the year.

I really enjoyed the MHL serenading the AC Milan keeper with "You're just a S**t Robert Sanchez" on Sunday. Nice to hear a bit of appreciation after the CWC final

Sanchez had decent distribution in the final and he also made an amazing reflex save.

i think he is not bad a goalkeeper :0I

I think he will be decent this season.

Hes had a few howler free games made some great saves, just what you would expect from a Chelsea keeper. I doubt hes the next Gordon Banks but long may this form continue.

On 18/07/2025 at 00:14, SydneyChelsea said:

Have to disagree here, because we know Maresca told his GKs to keep it short and also none of our players were making the runs for Sanchez to exploit. From at least December onwards it was no longer just about finding the free man, it was specifically engineering opportunities to pass the ball to Madueke/Neto around the halfway line.

Instead of looking to pass to the wingers deep in our half he was targeting long balls for Neto, Pedro and Gusto to chase in the channel, we have not seen that sort of counter-attacking intent for a very long time, especially with Gusto being required to play as a midfielder for most of the year.

And that is an element of Sanchez's game that is good, so we should use it. If you remember the Palmer lob over Jose Sa at Wolved, it came form a worldy sidewinder into Jackson's run for the assist.

His issue has always been speed of thought and alack of appreciation of diminishing space. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with his technique. He'll have brain farts, they all do, but forcing him out of his comfort zone into short baited press pass is never going to end well.

Sanchez Issue isn’t his shot stopping it’s his decision making especially with the ball at his feet.

I would say he’s definitely in the top 3 of shot stoppers

Said it once, Said it a thousand times. As a Goalkeeper Sanchez might even be the best in the league, as a Footballer he legitimately might be the worst. Unfortunately they weigh each other out to making him middle of the pack.

Not too concerned giving him this season after the way he ended the last and played in the CWC.

Will be keeping a keen eye on Penders at Strasbourg to see if he does develop how we all predict.

Bit weird Slonina is our 3rd choice keeper it seems going in. Surprised we haven't done the standard thing and got an older hand as 3rd choice.

5 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Bit weird Slonina is our 3rd choice keeper it seems going in. Surprised we haven't done the standard thing and got an older hand as 3rd choice.

Is Slonina homegrown, because that's the reason some clubs have an older keeper as 3rd isn't it?

2 hours ago, dkw said:

Is Slonina homegrown, because that's the reason some clubs have an older keeper as 3rd isn't it?

He's young so he doesn't count towards the squad rules.

We're actually very healthy on the HG rules because we have such a young squad. It's not about how many HG you register, but how many over 21s who aren't HG you register. I think we'd have about 11-12 when you're allowed a max of 17

We're totally f**ked if he doesn't get replaced, with Donnarumma available if there's no reason to keep the faith in this guy.

2 hours ago, timetowaste said:

We're totally f**ked if he doesn't get replaced, with Donnarumma available if there's no reason to keep the faith in this guy.

From the highlights video the club released from today, more low lights than high really but, the Chelsea commentator said of the free kick "no keeper in the world saves that".

Err pretty sure most competent keepers save that, it was right at him!

He's going to cost us so many vital points this season.

On 18/08/2025 at 01:02, axman2526 said:

From the highlights video the club released from today, more low lights than high really but, the Chelsea commentator said of the free kick "no keeper in the world saves that".

Err pretty sure most competent keepers save that, it was right at him!

Couldn’t agree more, it’s a really interesting one given how willing our owners are to splurge the cash on almost every other position and bring in players with extremely high potential and quality it’s really odd to me that we seem steadfast on not improving Sanchez. He seems like a nice bloke but he’s a bang average keeper and you can’t really afford that if we want to compete for titles and in the CL.

I thought he should have saved the disallowed goal against Palace and he should have saved Paquet’s shot against West Ham. We got away with both but we won’t be that fortunate forever. I suspect we wouldn’t pay Donnarumma’s wages but we need to bring someone in as we’ll struggle if he’s our no.1 for the season.

Mike Penders is the reason.

SD’s genuinely believe they’ve unlocked the next Petr Cech and think Sanchez is ‘capable’ enough til MP joins the squad next year.

18 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Mike Penders is the reason.

SD’s genuinely believe they’ve unlocked the next Petr Cech and think Sanchez is ‘capable’ enough til MP joins the squad next year.

And even if Penders isn't the guy, who would we actually sign this year who is an upgrade?

Donnarumma is not an option with our structure