6 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

 

If Maresca is a success with us he will either get paid a lot more or be the first choice replacement for every top club in a year's time. There is no cost saving by going for a less-experienced manager.

The plan is clearly to hire a young talented coach for the small cost of about 10m and put him on a long cotract. The board is clearly hoping he does well and shows signs of being the next big thing. They can then sell him to Real Madrid for 500m.

Genius.

 

51 minutes ago, El regreso said:

We all know which Enzo will leave the club first.

I am giving this guy 8 months max before the heat reaches the co-🤡🤡s and they have to sack him and do this sh*t all over again.

Lampard in as interim in Jan/Feb I reckon.


Hope I'm wrong obviously, but I don't see this going well.


It's all very well wanting a long-term project, but they've already ripped one of those up, and now the fans face a 3rd successive season of being asked to be patient. If results slump early I think it gets ugly fast.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Do you think change happens over night? Do you think Rice would have signed if the leg work that Edu and Arteta had put in wasn't bearing fruit? You're downplaying their achievements once again, without the Pep juggernaught in the league they would have 2 back to back league titles. I don't really understand why anyone wouldn't want to strive for that with what we've witnessed at Chelsea since the CL win. We've got the money to sign the superstars, we've got the structure signing the best upcoming talent, now we need a tactical manager to dominate games. 

I'll take a manager from the school of Pep any day because there are no other options out there.

There is never a secure guarantee that everything will work out but Maresca getting this chance could prove to be the winning move.

He already worked with Palmer and he ticks all the boxes for someone that could be the next great manager.

I am sure that De Zerbi isn't that guy, Maresca is not figured out and he has now a similar trajectory as other former midfielders that turned into good managers.

A risky move yet his pedigree looks good.

5 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Maresca is not figured out

I'm far from an expert, but didn't Leicester get figured out to the point they nearly lost a ~15pt lead at the top of the table last season?

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

As an attacker maybe but as midfielder he is horrific. 

I don't think Chilwell is relevant. He can be used as defensive LW against certain opp. 

Presumably if Chilwell is playing then the RB, James or Chilwell is the inverter and Chilwell plays traditionally. For the three games a season that he is fit for!

15 minutes ago, cfr95 said:

I'm far from an expert, but didn't Leicester get figured out to the point they nearly lost a ~15pt lead at the top of the table last season?

That's what some Leicester fans are/were complaining about. Stubborn manager, no plan B, etc. The reality is that, by Championship standards, they had the most talent in the comp (and by far the highest wage bill). A bunch of players who struggled at PL level the season before but, relegated, well above the average Championship level. Doesn't bode well but we'll see.

Edited May 29, 20242 yr by dermott

6 minutes ago, dermott said:

That's what some Leicester fans are/were complaining about. Stubborn manager, no plan B, etc. The reality is that, by Championship standards, they had the most talent in the comp (and by far the highest wage bill). A bunch of players who struggled at PL level the season before but, relegated, well above the average Championship level. Doesn't bode well but we'll see.

Conversely, trying to play that style with players who aren't as suited as ours and winning the league is still a decent achievement. It's definitely a step up but if he can get a tune out of some of those players then there's a good chance it can be implemented even more effectively with our squad.

As it looks highly likely, being reported everywhere usually a sure sign. 

I am massively underwhelmed by this appointment, however while he is Chelsea Manager (or head coach or what ever they call it these days) he will have my full support. 

Looks like a change of direction, think Liam made the point, taking a manager and building them up to the desired level is the motivation not take a proven manager.  I don't think it is a bad idea but got risks attached in terms of moving forward. we were definitely moving forward under Poch and frankly fans and owners will lose patience quickly...... so makes it a bad idea as well.

Sit on the fence, but not going to get uptight about results or lack of progression as he beds in   

I think he is Potter mk2. Potter had too much sh*t to deal with, and was sacked just after sorting the midfield and defence. Poch dealt with most of the sh*t, but even he took far too long to get into a winning situation. I think Maresca is coming in to continue Potter's work, with the bad sh*t out of the way. Hopefully it works out, and is either a fantastic coup, or a total disaster. Pray for the first.

As some have mentioned here already it seems our Sporting Directors didn't have any sort of control/natural authority over Pochettino so they decided to part ways with him. Now we hired someone who is more willing to listen to them and take part in managing the team. 

I understand it would be ideal everyone working tightly together but again the role of the directors seem to drive everything. Okay they are directors and directors direct by definition but is their role a bit big thinking about their track record. 

Maybe this is why City is so successful. Everyone works tightly together. Don't know...

8 minutes ago, evissy said:

As some have mentioned here already it seems our Sporting Directors didn't have any sort of control/natural authority over Pochettino so they decided to part ways with him. Now we hired someone who is more willing to listen to them and take part in managing the team. 

I understand it would be ideal everyone working tightly together but again the role of the directors seem to drive everything. Okay they are directors and directors direct by definition but is their role a bit big thinking about their track record. 

Maybe this is why City is so successful. Everyone works tightly together. Don't know...

What you have to ask yourself, i suppose, is where does their authority end.

I read that after Poch leaving they were pushing ahead with Olise. That immediately raised alarm bells with me regarding any recruitment of Amorim because it has been widely reported that Madueke and Mudryk would be major casualties in an Amorim formation.

So are we saying that our sporting directors are defining how we play football by the players that they are interested in buying and therefore their choice of manager is also being driven by this.

Fair enough if you are Arsenal and you have Edu as your SD. Someone remind me of the lofty heights of footballing excellence that these two idiots reached during their illustrious playing careers.

4 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Please tell me this is a fake 

Out of the frying pan, and into the fire ... and it's deja vu time for Maresca, all over again LOL

https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/28/enzo-maresca-sacking-parma-explained-ahead-chelsea-move-20923953/ 

In his own words, Enzo Maresca said: ‘Managing in Italian football is difficult. But I am sure of one thing, I will be back as a manager one day. My family and I loved Parma. My daughter Maia was even born there. I will carry it forever in my heart.

‘I regard my experience as Parma manager as a positive one. By nature, I am a positive person and I take the good out of all my experiences. But I have one regret. I was only starting my managerial adventure when it was ended.

‘We were on the right track, the problem was that we had to try and construct a new team and that takes time. We needed to have the patience and strength to believe in something and over time I am certain we would have succeeded.

‘We were at 17 points after 13 matches – three points from eighth place and with a completely new team. But listen in football, we all make mistakes and so did I. Parma gave me a three-year contract. And when you accept a multi-year contract it’s because there’s a project idea behind it.

‘In those three years, the target was we had to reach Serie A. Nobody ever told me that we should have gone to Serie A in the first season, especially as there were about 15 players arriving at the club.

‘But I repeat, we were definitely on the right track. I can’t say why I was fired. Perhaps they thought with the squad we had, we should have been top of the table. I agree … But just not right away. With a little more time and some corrections, we would have got there.

‘I had identified three signings in January and I am certain we would have made the play-offs. It’s gone now. I look ahead.’

-------------

Italian football journalist Marco DeMicheli told Sky Sports: ‘It was not because of him. The problem at Parma is that they had been relegated and there had been a change of ownership because an American businessman had bought the team.

‘There were a lot of problems, many players coming and going from abroad. It was such a mess.

 

 

You couldn't make it up LOL

When ill the board simply cut out the middle man and appoint Stewart and Winstanley joint managers? Cleary that's what they want.

24 minutes ago, evissy said:

As some have mentioned here already it seems our Sporting Directors didn't have any sort of control/natural authority over Pochettino so they decided to part ways with him. Now we hired someone who is more willing to listen to them and take part in managing the team. 

I understand it would be ideal everyone working tightly together but again the role of the directors seem to drive everything. Okay they are directors and directors direct by definition but is their role a bit big thinking about their track record. 

Maybe this is why City is so successful. Everyone works tightly together. Don't know...

Pep and Txiki are like brothers. Two peas in a pod in how they view football. Add in City's scouting network and coaching/development infrastructure, they are a well run organization despite the 115 charges looming over them. 

In an ideal world, Maresca carries the same coaching principles and forms a great relationship with Shields, Winstanley, and Stewart. 

2 hours ago, Gol15 said:

There is never a secure guarantee that everything will work out but Maresca getting this chance could prove to be the winning move.

He already worked with Palmer and he ticks all the boxes for someone that could be the next great manager.

I am sure that De Zerbi isn't that guy, Maresca is not figured out and he has now a similar trajectory as other former midfielders that turned into good managers.

i'm of the exact same opinion, worth the risk with what's available out there currently 

On 28/05/2024 at 12:30, WhiteWall said:

I think that the difference though is that Cucurella inverting under Poch allowed for overloads in attacking areas and created opportunities which Palmer, particularly, was able to exploit.

The concern here is that being as risk averse as he appears from the evidence so far, these overloads will be in the central midfield areas without the attacking penetration. So we will have more control and more possession, but it will be in the middle third where the majority of teams will let us have the ball next season. Pochettino's biggest failing throughout last season and, arguably throughout his career, is his inability to combat a low block. How will Maresca do this if we are constantly passing the ball around the centre circle with no pressure from the opposition, because they are all camped twenty yards on, protecting their box. I have no problem with a possession heavy tactical approach, providing there is danger, penetration and the ability to unlock a low block. The evidence from last season, confirmed by numerous Leicester fans is that is not the case here.

To be fair, I would not listen that much to what Leicester fans say. Is there really any fan base to not get butthurt when one of their own players/managers jump ship to a better club? Bet you that if Cole Palmer was to leave next week, tons of Chelsea fans would find reasons to downgrade him, although deep inside they know it is not true. Happens everytime with each and every departure. 

What were Leicester fans expected their team to look like? Barca in their prime? Just because Maresca worked under Guardiola? Leicester fans should not forget they were in the Championship because their players were not good enough for PL football. Even if they were to be managed by Guardiola himself, they could not expect to suddenly have 85% possession and put 5 past everybody. In the end they had an average squad, playing in the Championship and even if the manager implemented revolutionary tactics, for me it is hard to believe those average players were going to look like world beaters all of a sudden.

Let's see what Maresca can do with way better players. For me personally the 3-2-4-1, inverted full back tactics are perfect for our squad and PL football. Pochettino only implemented it as a last resort to save the season and it fitted the squad as a glove. And the truth is this tactic was not his go to one, he mostly experimented with it. Maresca seems to have built his entire philosophy around this tactic so he must have ways to set the team up even better than Pochettino.

I think Chilwell is redundant now. 200kpw for a bloke that is never fit and would only be realistically used as a defensive LW?

No thanks. LB is a must this summer. 

10 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I think Chilwell is redundant now. 200kpw for a bloke that is never fit and would only be realistically used as a defensive LW?

No thanks. LB is a must this summer. 

I agree but we need to shift some of the dead wood before signing more players.

Lukaku, Kepa, Sterling, Chilwell, Broja etc all need to go.

 

As for inverted left back - were we perhaps a little quick to bin off young Lewis Hall...? He's a midfield / left back combo by nature...

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

Out of the frying pan, and into the fire ... and it's deja vu time for Maresca, all over again LOL

https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/28/enzo-maresca-sacking-parma-explained-ahead-chelsea-move-20923953/ 

In his own words, Enzo Maresca said: ‘Managing in Italian football is difficult. But I am sure of one thing, I will be back as a manager one day. My family and I loved Parma. My daughter Maia was even born there. I will carry it forever in my heart.

‘I regard my experience as Parma manager as a positive one. By nature, I am a positive person and I take the good out of all my experiences. But I have one regret. I was only starting my managerial adventure when it was ended.

‘We were on the right track, the problem was that we had to try and construct a new team and that takes time. We needed to have the patience and strength to believe in something and over time I am certain we would have succeeded.

‘We were at 17 points after 13 matches – three points from eighth place and with a completely new team. But listen in football, we all make mistakes and so did I. Parma gave me a three-year contract. And when you accept a multi-year contract it’s because there’s a project idea behind it.

‘In those three years, the target was we had to reach Serie A. Nobody ever told me that we should have gone to Serie A in the first season, especially as there were about 15 players arriving at the club.

‘But I repeat, we were definitely on the right track. I can’t say why I was fired. Perhaps they thought with the squad we had, we should have been top of the table. I agree … But just not right away. With a little more time and some corrections, we would have got there.

‘I had identified three signings in January and I am certain we would have made the play-offs. It’s gone now. I look ahead.’

-------------

Italian football journalist Marco DeMicheli told Sky Sports: ‘It was not because of him. The problem at Parma is that they had been relegated and there had been a change of ownership because an American businessman had bought the team.

‘There were a lot of problems, many players coming and going from abroad. It was such a mess.

 

 

You couldn't make it up LOL

This is a joke right now way this is true 🤣🤣

13 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

I agree but we need to shift some of the dead wood before signing more players.

Lukaku, Kepa, Sterling, Chilwell, Broja etc all need to go.

 

As for inverted left back - were we perhaps a little quick to bin off young Lewis Hall...? He's a midfield / left back combo by nature...

I don't think we binned him off ... he pretty much wanted to leave, similarly to Livramento and Lamptey.

Hall's comments at the time the move was announced:

"To now be here at Newcastle, the club that I've supported since I was a kid, I'm honoured and very proud to wear this shirt," Hall said.

"Me and my family are Newcastle fans, and for me and my brother growing up, it was drilled into us that we were Newcastle. It's a big club and I can't wait to get started."

 

Winstanley and Stewart did quite well shifting deadwood last summer, so hopefully they'll be able to repeat that again. I'm expecting double figures of player departures again (mainly from the loan army ; time must surely be up at CFC for the likes of Vale, Rankine, Anjorin, Humphreys, Cumming, Burstow etc etc). 

7 minutes ago, El regreso said:

This is a joke right now way this is true 🤣🤣

I'm 100% behind the guy now, as I'd hate for all this crap to happen to him again LOL. 

 

16 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I don't think we binned him off ... he pretty much wanted to leave, similarly to Livramento and Lamptey.

Hall's comments at the time the move was announced:

"To now be here at Newcastle, the club that I've supported since I was a kid, I'm honoured and very proud to wear this shirt," Hall said.

"Me and my family are Newcastle fans, and for me and my brother growing up, it was drilled into us that we were Newcastle. It's a big club and I can't wait to get started."

 

Winstanley and Stewart did quite well shifting deadwood last summer, so hopefully they'll be able to repeat that again. I'm expecting double figures of player departures again (mainly from the loan army ; time must surely be up at CFC for the likes of Vale, Rankine, Anjorin, Humphreys, Cumming, Burstow etc etc). 

Agreed they did well shifting some deadwood - helped by Saudi of course. Hoping that's an avenue down which we might find success again.

As for Hall I think his comments were mostly PR. He'd had some good games, looked a real prospect and the Chuckle Brothers decided to cash in. Hasn't pulled up any trees at Newcastle thus far mind you. 

Just now, Gordon Bennett said:

Agreed they did well shifting some deadwood - helped by Saudi of course. Hoping that's an avenue down which we might find success again.

As for Hall I think his comments were mostly PR. He'd had some good games, looked a real prospect and the Chuckle Brothers decided to cash in. Hasn't pulled up any trees at Newcastle thus far mind you. 

Are you saying we may have overhyped an academy graduate? Nah I'm not having it...

1 hour ago, petre ispirescu said:

To be fair, I would not listen that much to what Leicester fans say. Is there really any fan base to not get butthurt when one of their own players/managers jump ship to a better club? Bet you that if Cole Palmer was to leave next week, tons of Chelsea fans would find reasons to downgrade him, although deep inside they know it is not true. Happens everytime with each and every departure. 

What were Leicester fans expected their team to look like? Barca in their prime? Just because Maresca worked under Guardiola? Leicester fans should not forget they were in the Championship because their players were not good enough for PL football. Even if they were to be managed by Guardiola himself, they could not expect to suddenly have 85% possession and put 5 past everybody. In the end they had an average squad, playing in the Championship and even if the manager implemented revolutionary tactics, for me it is hard to believe those average players were going to look like world beaters all of a sudden.

Let's see what Maresca can do with way better players. For me personally the 3-2-4-1, inverted full back tactics are perfect for our squad and PL football. Pochettino only implemented it as a last resort to save the season and it fitted the squad as a glove. And the truth is this tactic was not his go to one, he mostly experimented with it. Maresca seems to have built his entire philosophy around this tactic so he must have ways to set the team up even better than Pochettino.

The notion that Winstanley and Stewart are a couple of clowns may well be true.  However thinking about it if the squad is perfectly suited to the inverted fullback formation maybe just maybe this is by design and not just luck.  Maybe Poch was reluctant to use it even though all the preparations were put in place for this formation?  Maybe Maresca is the final piece in the puzzle, a manager on the same page?  Maybe just maybe I’m talking bollocks just to convince myself we have a plan and everything is going to be okay.