So, people are saying “Chelsea were going in a good direction, but now they’ll have to  bed in a completely new system… again”

But is that true? This will sound like a conspiracy theory, but I really don’t think it is: We knew we wanted to play with a system like City’s. We did not like how things were going at mid year. We recalled Casadei from a successful loan under  Maresca for seemingly no reason. We have a history of using players to get information about coaching candidates.
 

We had people in the building that could have suggested the very basics of a system like Maresca’s in place already. It looked like we tried to implement something like it in preseason last year, and as soon as the season came around Pochettino squashed it for HIS 4231.

I think Poch was a Dead man walking from January on. I don’t think he wanted to get fired, and I don’t think Chelsea wanted the optics of replacing a coach mid season  again, so everyone pretended like everything was normal. They pretended Poch completely changing the way he plays mid season is something he does.

 

And I think it was January  that we started heading toward Maresca being our manager and playing his style.

I think the “bedding in” is farther along than people would think, and the ease of the friendly win only attests to that.

This is not to suggest that Maresca was actively managing us in secret: just that we knew what direction we were headed in and were integrating aspects of the system, like the fullback inversions, in advance … and most likely without much regard for Poch’s input.

All early indicators suggested that Pochettino was going for a similar system/style as Maresca, it's just that he for some reason ditched everything that they appeared to be working on in pre-season

On 13/07/2024 at 16:09, The Rising Sun said:

But Roman didn't replace sacked managers with managers from the likes of Brighton or a  Championship side.

 

 

He replaced Mourinho with Avram Grant lmao 

13 hours ago, Bluelion7 said:

just that we knew what direction we were headed in and were integrating aspects of the system, like the fullback inversions, in advance … and most likely without much regard for Poch’s input.

No chance Pochettino was somehow convinced by the owners to invert to fullbacks in preparation for the new manager they would hire after they gave him the bullet. No chance.

It's obvious to everyone that he was late in inverting Cucurella. That move got the best out of him, Caicedo and several others and that was why we were the fourth best team for the last half of the season. Why he waited so long to do it is a mystery but serious injuries to Cucurella and James played a part i'm sure. He he still waited far too long to do something about the dysfunctional midfield first and foremost and in the end he can probably thank himself for losing his job.

Maresca will be measured against Poch's Top 4 form for the 18 games of the season though so he's going to need to deliver from the get-go. And as for a new system it will be a new system. Maresca will also employ the 3-2 foundation that Poch ended the season with but beyond that there is a world of difference in their philosophy and style of play.

I'm actually glad we have Man City first game up. Gives Maresca a chance to set down a marker and make a huge statement in his first match. Much the same as Jose did against United.

Reading what the Leicester fans have had to say about him, I'm worried he could be a cross between Maurizo Southgate and Gareth Sarri. Hope the Leicester fans are wrong.

54 minutes ago, just said:

I'm actually glad we have Man City first game up. Gives Maresca a chance to set down a marker and make a huge statement in his first match. Much the same as Jose did against United.

Reading what the Leicester fans have had to say about him, I'm worried he could be a cross between Maurizo Southgate and Gareth Sarri. Hope the Leicester fans are wrong.

It is good to face City first as they are usually a slow start. And Maresca knows exactly how they play. 

I think we should at least go for a draw there.

1 minute ago, evissy said:

It is good to face City first as they are usually a slow start. And Maresca knows exactly how they play. 

I think we should at least go for a draw there.

The game is at our place. I'd hope he'd be going all out for the win!!!!

15 minutes ago, evissy said:

It is good to face City first as they are usually a slow start. And Maresca knows exactly how they play. 

I think we should at least go for a draw there.

Are they? 😄 

Last season they won their first 6 league games and even season before, don't think they lost their first game until like 2 months in.

Usually they start strong and look the part. 

 

8 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

I've seen a few of these vids now compared to one of poch, so my views may be skewed but I feel he's so much better, so much more tactical. 

I can't wait for the season to start.

17 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

Looks like he still expects to put himself if not in the 11 at least on the bench. 

27 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Looks like he still expects to put himself if not in the 11 at least on the bench. 

That was my first thought as well LOL

No idea why, but im totally invested in the new season already im looking forward to it. 

Week 2 of preseason and no injuries. 😀

20 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

OMG! That is hugely worrying!! A really long video clip. I counted 4,768 passes, and 4,732 of them were sideways! And just 3 shots on target and none of those was from Jackson. "Marescaball".

46 minutes ago, just said:

OMG! That is hugely worrying!! A really long video clip. I counted 4,768 passes, and 4,732 of them were sideways! And just 3 shots on target and none of those was from Jackson. "Marescaball".

You obviously missed Jamie Vardy loitering on the edge of frame.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Week 2 of preseason and no injuries. 😀

Its like they want to be there!  I'm with you though - each new video I am wondering who will be missing.

Behind the scenes at Cobham:

 

4 hours ago, bluetrooper said:

No idea why, but im totally invested in the new season already im looking forward to it. 

I've always felt like that before the season, even the one's when we went down !

But yeah, from not being on board with the new manager and new players, somehow Chelsea always trick me into believing!

 

3 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Week 2 of preseason and no injuries. 😀

That's it, you've jinxed it !

6 hours ago, bluetrooper said:

No idea why, but im totally invested in the new season already im looking forward to it. 

Cold Turkey effect. First hit against City and you wish it was 2004. 😅

Between the awful home shirt and the Enzo fiasco, maybe it’s a sign that this season is going to be a terrible one. Not exactly started well

3 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Between the awful home shirt and the Enzo fiasco, maybe it’s a sign that this season is going to be a terrible one. Not exactly started well

Or we get the bad stuff away and done with in pre-season, and go on to have an invincible season!

First big test for Enzo now having to deal with what Enzo did. 

I suspect Enzo will outlast Enzo.

Bet Enzo was thinking its been a solid first week, no new injuries and players will come back from International football soon, then Enzo decided to post something stupid and made Enzo think again🙄