We aren’t far away from being an excellent team.

I hope Jorgensen is a much better keeper than Sanchez because Sanchez needs sold.

Jackson will score goals but we need a more reliable option and Osimhen should be that.

Other than that we probably need an option at left back to push Cucu but the rest of the squad is very strong even for Premier League standards.

Our season could depend on finding a position for Enzo. He’s not a 10 that’s for sure but I refuse to believe he can’t play anywhere else other than a deep lying playmaker. It’s a big season for him especially as Lavia looks nailed on to start most weeks. 
 

Im hopeful Felix will be better than what we have too.

If we play a 4-2-3-1 then only 2 from Caicedo, Enzo and Lavia should start and I’d probably have Palmer as a 10 with Neto or Noni right and Felix or Nkunku on the left with Osimhen as the 9.

Same back 4 as Sunday with a fit James challenging Gusto.

I wonder if we asked about Oblak during the negotiations with Gallagher.?
 

Edited August 21, 20241 yr by 19seventyone

The man's got balls, I'll give him that.Hopefully he'llbe able to back it up with performances and results.

This whole thing has potential to either be a start of something very special or an absolute disaster.

3 minutes ago, abramovich said:

The man's got balls, I'll give him that.Hopefully he'llbe able to back it up with performances and results.

This whole thing has potential to either be a start of something very special or an absolute disaster.

Yeah Im still on the fence about his tactics but I'm glad there's someone with character at the touchline. I don't think we've had that since Conte. Hopefully this translates to the team mentality which has been pretty much weak in the past few seasons

2 minutes ago, abramovich said:

The man's got balls, I'll give him that.Hopefully he'llbe able to back it up with performances and results.

This whole thing has potential to either be a start of something very special or an absolute disaster.

Does he? Everything he says is 'I will swallow and regurgitate publicly whatever the twats in charge force upon me if it means keeping my job'.

Even Pochettino, (one of the most agreeable top managers in club football) f**ked off rather than putting up with more of BlueCo's sh*t.

There's a reason they had to look as far down as the Championship before finding a stooge willing to take over at this circus.

13 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

Does he? Everything he says is 'I will swallow and regurgitate publicly whatever the twats in charge force upon me if it means keeping my job'.

Even Pochettino, (one of the most agreeable top managers in club football) f**ked off rather than putting up with more of BlueCo's sh*t.

There's a reason they had to look as far down as the Championship before finding a stooge willing to take over at this circus.

I don't know about that, but we'll find out soon enough if he's the real deal. As much as I feel bad about certain players leaving due to their connection to the club, at the end of the day it's all about success or failure on the pitch. If Maresca does well, the fans will love him and forget about tough transfer decisions.

It does seem like he learned the ruthlessness from Pep.

 

He is clearly saying it is impossible to keep happy and work with 40 plus  players so has had the balls to select 21 and hopefully will no longer be asked this question by media. He considers rightly that now out of his hands and up to club what they do with with these 20 players.  Will be interesting to see what happens. It will be a buyers market and doubt anybody is going to match the wages and contracts these players are on.

How on earth have we got in a position where we have players earning £200k plus a week on long contracts with no hope of playing a game for us.

 

Held my opinion on him for a while until maybe a week or so  ago when I expressed frustration at how he was parroting official lines and was probably out of his depth, a yes man and playing favouritism in pre-season.

Most of my frustration isn't directed at him, it is the ownership. They have not been true to their words to the fans and players they have signed. They don't seem to have a coherent strategy, except of course, the strategy is to be flexible and change as they seem fit which in any case is not too reassuring as there should first and foremost be a long term strategy which they have clouded even if there was)is any but their constant chopping and changing. 

They came in and nearly lol the criticism they levelled at the previous management, they haven't done any better....but anyway that's not what I came on here to post.

I like Maresca and it's because of I like how he's tried to play the terrible hand they've handed him. Since this ownership came in I don't think they've had a manager that has shown himself to be decisive and brutal, but honest to the players and I like that about him. 

Better to lay the cards on the table and cut out the fringe (fringe to him) players and get to work with the rest. I saw the conference and I think the attitude and disposition will serve him well.

I wish him the best because it's for our own good and benefit if he does well. As for that ownership, l echo the sentiments of @El regreso. I hate them.

Personally I’m going to reserve judgement on the coach and the owners for another two weeks. Never know, they might pull it out the bag, make a couple of hundred million in sales, seriously reducing the squad number, shifting some dead wood and brining in a proper number 9.

Redemption is only days away, just a lot of hard work to be done first.

 

 

 

then finally drop Sanchez too. 

12 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

Are they counting the sticks and trees too? Lol

I don't see 45 there...thats the first team (the 21-22 he's training with) I think. Can't zoom in on this phone properly for faces.

Even chelsea fans are adding to the mass hysteria on social media. It's been crazy since the last press conference but also I sense the media is pacing themselves too, only 2 or 3 negative articles on chels per day atm. Hahaha

 

 

*edit: yep, that's definitely Badiashile profile on the right. Never seen maresca in shorts yet though.

Edited August 22, 20241 yr by Simplymo

20 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

It also helps that he's Italian as the Italian corporate business culture is very much that whatever the senior guy in the room says goes, and isn't challenged. Basically he's likely to go along with whatever the Directors decide on without any complaints. Obviously there are always exceptions like Conte LOL. 

It make more sense everyday why maresca is our board pick. 

He is really good with press and he is willing to do what our board want. Not many manager will be willing to do what maresca did to Sterling. 

 

6 hours ago, SimonH said:

Personally I’m going to reserve judgement on the coach and the owners for another two weeks. Never know, they might pull it out the bag, make a couple of hundred million in sales, seriously reducing the squad number, shifting some dead wood and brining in a proper number 9.

Redemption is only days away, just a lot of hard work to be done first.

 

 

 

then finally drop Sanchez too. 

Enzo just said he is working with 20-21 players. The final group will probably be 25-28 players. Everyone else is training outside this group. Enzo has the peace to work with the ones he wants. For a Chelsea fan, that should be the main info of that. I am pretty sure everyone else is still treated fairly and helped on to find a new club on loan or to be sold. 

The owners are people who know their way around money and have 3 transfer windows in their books for experiece. They should know what to expect of these remaining days. I think 1 or 2 players will be left to an undesirable situation but otherwise people will get good loans and exits. This is the hope anyway. 

I think the squad is shaping up pretty well. Felix for me is massive question mark. Osimehen would bring fear to opponent defences. 

11 hours ago, abramovich said:

I don't know about that, but we'll find out soon enough if he's the real deal. As much as I feel bad about certain players leaving due to their connection to the club, at the end of the day it's all about success or failure on the pitch. If Maresca does well, the fans will love him and forget about tough transfer decisions.

None of these are maresca decision. We have tried to sell Gallagher and Chalobah since last year. The same thing with Felix, we tried to get Felix last season but poch didn't want him. 

Sterling was also part of maresca squad, Maresca himself said he is an important player. 

Right now Maresca is doing his job which is to be the front for our sd. 

 

 

 

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/video/maresca-press-conference-21-08-2024

 

Watched the whole press conference finally...

I agree with most of you, I really do like him, I like he's a strong character and boss. Yes poch was perfect for hugs and cuddles and nurturing the kids. Now one season in its time for fkn discipline. Fk I sound like my dad! Lol

They need to fight for their places and positions, fight for the shirt. I really hope he does it as he comes across as capable.

 

I also especially liked the part at around 16mins. When he was asked about his current squad. "We still have 10 days for anything, unfortunately still have 10 days for anything to happen..." lol

Just more evidence to not judge the guy so quick imo. Wait till after the transfer window shuts and he knows his squad to set his tactics/philosophy in motion. Then judge him a month or 2 later.

He's purely a "Head coach", he gets given a large group of players to pick 21-25 (whatever it is in the end, 30?) from and train and setup for games. He's said as much as that and more in the press conference above. And those ppl in the grp can change at any time till the window shuts.

Any anger really should be aimed at the SDs and their lack of communication with the fan base at least.

Support the team, support the gaffer...but if you ever come across laurel and hardy or dumb and dumber or whatever you want to call those 2 muppet SDs, think about expressing your "love" for them in your own way...lol

Edited August 22, 20241 yr by Simplymo

13 hours ago, abramovich said:

The man's got balls, I'll give him that.Hopefully he'llbe able to back it up with performances and results.

This whole thing has potential to either be a start of something very special or an absolute disaster.

No need to bring my marriage into it.

8 minutes ago, dermott said:

No need to bring my marriage into it.

Nothing can top your marriage in terms of horror and soul destruction, dermott.

Nothing.

6 hours ago, Bob stark said:

It make more sense everyday why maresca is our board pick. 

He is really good with press and he is willing to do what our board want. Not many manager will be willing to do what maresca did to Sterling. 

 

He just needs to be able to shape the squad into something that wins and gets us into title challengers. Otherwise, it doesnt matter what he says or does, he'll just look a bigger mug when fired and given our recent turnovers of managers who fit the owner's profile, probably won't last long if results dont improve. 

2 hours ago, abramovich said:

Nothing can top your marriage in terms of horror and soul destruction, dermott.

Nothing.

Other than his second marriage....

1 hour ago, bluetrooper said:

He just needs to be able to shape the squad into something that wins and gets us into title challengers. Otherwise, it doesnt matter what he says or does, he'll just look a bigger mug when fired and given our recent turnovers of managers who fit the owner's profile, probably won't last long if results dont improve. 

Agree, winning cure everything. 

 

Probably in the minority here but his press conference yesterday actually increased my respect for the man. None of this fancy mincing of the words to give a non answer. Told it how it was, called out the Journo’s on their sensationalised headlines and got on with it. Was a breath of fresh air from the usual non events these pressers are.

16 hours ago, yaz said:

It does seem like he learned the ruthlessness from Pep.

 

Boom. Great post.

37 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Probably in the minority here but his press conference yesterday actually increased my respect for the man. None of this fancy mincing of the words to give a non answer. Told it how it was, called out the Journo’s on their sensationalised headlines and got on with it. Was a breath of fresh air from the usual non events these pressers are.

I don't think you're in the minority.

What i want to see now is some bollox form our own Press officers running these conferences rather than just leaving him out there to constantly be baited. There is a fella who organises who asks the questions and in what order. So let a couple of these player and club questions run but then wade in. "This is a pre match press conference, from this point on we are only accepting match related questions." Then is one of the press, like that smarmy fcker Gary Cotterill on sky starts asking questions and then turns the topic, cut him short, no more questions form him, and on to the next one.

One of the things that i did feel sorry for Poch over and also Tuchel actually, is how the club's representatives just stand by whilst a feeding frenzy takes place at the manager's expense.

Fair play to Maresca on his conduct so far. I would have told one of them to go fck themselves by now

Edited August 22, 20241 yr by WhiteWall

I thought his press conference is great, and totally disagree Bob on your interpretation. He pretty much says, guys are a Chelsea player until they are not, Sterling was important until he wasn't. But Maresca didn't rate any of the wingers that went to the US, there's a good chance thats why the Omorodion deal fell through. Maresca saying I don't need another project striker, I need a winger upgrade. Remember where Sterling fell out of favor was Man City, it's not like Maresca hasn't seen him play in that system, he knows his flaws. Also how many starts did Sterling get in the US? The SD's didn't take Sterling from Maresca, Maresca didn't want him.

"Sterling was also part of maresca squad, Maresca himself said he is an important player.

Right now Maresca is doing his job which is to be the front for our sd. "

Trying to guess the squad he's working with going forward.

GK: Sanchez, Jorgensen, Kepa, Bettinelli (HG), Petrovic, Bergstrom

Full backs: Cucurella, Chilwell (HG), James (HG), Gusto, Veiga

Centre backs: Colwill (HG), Disasi, Badiashile, Fofana, Tosin (HG), Chalobah (HG)

Midfielders: Caicedo, Lavia (HG), E.Fernandez, KDH (HG), Chukwuemeka (HG), Casadei

Wingers: Palmer (HG), Nkunku, Kellyman (HG), Anjorin (HG), Sterling (HG), Mudryk, Neto, Madueke (HG), Angelo, Felix, 

Strikers: Jackson, Lukaku, Broja (HG), D.Fofana, D.Washington, Guiu

 

Leaves a 23 man squad assuming we chop the players crossed out.

9 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Trying to guess the squad he's working with going forward.

GK: Sanchez, Jorgensen, Kepa, Bettinelli (HG), Petrovic, Bergstrom

Full backs: Cucurella, Chilwell (HG), James (HG), Gusto, Veiga

Centre backs: Colwill (HG), Disasi, Badiashile, Fofana, Tosin (HG), Chalobah (HG)

Midfielders: Caicedo, Lavia (HG), E.Fernandez, KDH (HG), Chukwuemeka (HG), Casadei

Wingers: Palmer (HG), Nkunku, Kellyman (HG), Anjorin (HG), Sterling (HG), Mudryk, Neto, Madueke (HG), Angelo, Felix, 

Strikers: Jackson, Lukaku, Broja (HG), D.Fofana, D.Washington, Guiu

 

Leaves a 23 man squad assuming we chop the players crossed out.

I think Chukwuemeka is still in the fold, but otherwise I'd agree with that.

Add Osimhen or Toney, and possibly one more centre back (looking like Gomez if the media speculation is correct) and I think that will be where we end up.