2 hours ago, RMH said:

 And they are not stupid, they haven’t become millionaires by not knowing their business.

Billionaires.

 

1 hour ago, The Rising Sun said:

I'm afraid I can't agree that the owners ' care about winning ' .

Oh they want to win. Filthy rich people always want to win. They want money, but they also want to win.  They want it all. Always.  As I said: They would love to win. All the ego and arrogance points that way. They are just so fcucking clueless and incompetent.

33 minutes ago, loz said:

I don't disagree that we have a management issue but it's not the only problem.  Other than the squads you mentioned it might be true that no others are materially better than ours from  an ability perspective but i could probably name another 7 or 8 who are mentally stronger than us. When results don't go our way we look like a squad of beaten players. Weak mentally and, in too many cases, no desire to battle for points.  That's why I say they aren't Top four material.

What I find strange is that end of last season we did seem to have some resilience, scoring late goals, battling back to get points in games where we went behind, etc etc.

It didn't look like we were quitters, and the players certainly still believed they could get into Europe long after most of the fanbase had given up on it.

Agree something seems to have changed, but it's all happened fairly recently, and is why I think something has happened behind the scenes causing the players to no longer believe in the manager, or maybe the latest episode of squad meddling/disruption from the SDs has simply tipped things over the edge ?

13 games to go, and hopefully we can get back on track, but I certainly wouldn't put any money on it though !

1 minute ago, Sexyfootball said:

What I find strange is that end of last season we did seem to have some resilience, scoring late goals, battling back to get points in games where we went behind, etc etc.

It didn't look like we were quitters, and the players certainly still believed they could get into Europe long after most of the fanbase had given up on it.

Agree something seems to have changed, but it's all happened fairly recently, and is why I think something has happened behind the scenes causing the players to no longer believe in the manager, or maybe the latest episode of squad meddling/disruption from the SDs has simply tipped things over the edge ?

13 games to go, and hopefully we can get back on track, but I certainly wouldn't put any money on it though !

We actually battled back to save some points in recent games against Bournemouth and West Ham. There have been some signs of fighting spirit in home games at least. Our away form has really gone off a cliff recently and worryingly the players looked totally disinterested against Brighton.

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

 

 

Calendar year of 2024, we were the 4th best side, and by quite some distance from 5th.

 

Surely we wouldn't have been able to deliver this if we only had three players at Top 4 level ?

Whether that Top 4 level is the same "heights" as Top 4 levels in previous seasons is a different matter, but you can only compete against what is in front of you !

 

The season is how you finish, not how you fare. It doesn’t matter that we were second in December, now we’re 6th and let’s see where we end up in May. You may be right and we’re top 4 material, we’ll see.

33 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Billionaires.

 

Oh they want to win. Filthy rich people always want to win. They want money, but they also want to win.  They want it all. Always.  As I said: They would love to win. All the ego and arrogance points that way. They are just so fcucking clueless and incompetent.

I don’t think that they’re clueless and incompetent, as they demonstrate by being billionaires (as you point out). They’re just working their business and if we win trophies it’s a bonus. But do not confuse them with Abramovich, they’re here for the business not as a hobby as Roman. That’s why anything less than contending for trophies every season was not allowed under Roman but it is ok under the new owners.

9 minutes ago, RMH said:

I don’t think that they’re clueless and incompetent, as they demonstrate by being billionaires (as you point out). They’re just working their business and if we win trophies it’s a bonus. But do not confuse them with Abramovich, they’re here for the business not as a hobby as Roman. That’s why anything less than contending for trophies every season was not allowed under Roman but it is ok under the new owners.

They are rather clueless in buying/selling players - but that isn't their project. They are not interested in making money buying and selling players. Because there isn't really a lot of money to be made doing that.  As investing capitalists - They want only to invest and yield high returns on Chelsea FC as a 'financial package' - as with all their portfolios assets.  But there is no BIG money to be made buying/selling players - that is where we disagree. Also, they would like to win trophies as that would improve their financial package - improve their asset (aka Chelsea FC) and as I say rich kunts always want to win. Bragging rights and boasting.  

I completely understand how this is different to Roman's era of ownership.

 

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

What I find strange is that end of last season we did seem to have some resilience, scoring late goals, battling back to get points in games where we went behind, etc etc.

It didn't look like we were quitters, and the players certainly still believed they could get into Europe long after most of the fanbase had given up on it.

Agree something seems to have changed, but it's all happened fairly recently, and is why I think something has happened behind the scenes causing the players to no longer believe in the manager, or maybe the latest episode of squad meddling/disruption from the SDs has simply tipped things over the edge ?

13 games to go, and hopefully we can get back on track, but I certainly wouldn't put any money on it though !

Selling Gallagher played a part, Caicedo-Gallagher was far more imposing than Caicedo-Enzo

 

I do think once Lavia comes back into midfield we'll look a lot better though, we need physicality

Maresca makes me miss AVB.

He used the Poch bounce to start the season and the longer he’s spent with the players imposing his style the worse they’ve become. It’s that simple. 

Awful tactics, awful man management. 

@FabrizioRomano: “Internally at Chelsea, they remain convinced that Enzo Maresca is the right man for the job. So there is no danger, no problem or issues. For the long term, they remain very happy with Enzo Maresca, the approach he has with the players, his tactical approach.
 

Chelsea are already having meetings for the summer transfer window with Enzo Maresca. So he’s 100% involved in the summer plan, preparing the signings”

 

To be honest, it feels like the beginning of the end to me. The players have lost confidence in Maresca. They haven’t down tools but they look fed up or bored. 
 

I don’t assume that we will “magically transform” into a top 4 team. My guess is results will worsen between now and the end of the season. The best we can hope for a Conference league win which will get us into Europa and probably a 7/8th finish. 
 

Personally I don’t think they will sack him. WinStewart chose him specifically. The club World Cup is also coming up. How they cope with bad results between now and then. 

Edited February 16, 20251 yr by JM7

17 minutes ago, JM7 said:

@FabrizioRomano: “Internally at Chelsea, they remain convinced that Enzo Maresca is the right man for the job. So there is no danger, no problem or issues. For the long term, they remain very happy with Enzo Maresca, the approach he has with the players, his tactical approach.
 

Chelsea are already having meetings for the summer transfer window with Enzo Maresca. So he’s 100% involved in the summer plan, preparing the signings”

 

To be honest, it feels like the beginning of the end to me. The players have lost confidence in Maresca. They haven’t down tools but they look fed up or bored. 
 

I don’t assume that we will “magically transform” into a top 4 team. My guess is results will worsen between now and the end of the season. The best we can hope for a Conference league win which will get us into Europa and probably a 7/8th finish. 
 

Personally I don’t think they will sack him. WinStewart chose him specifically. The club World Cup is also coming up. How they cope with bad results between now and then. 

I doubt much will improve in the next month or 2, especially while we have some key players out through injury. Maybe we can squeak a win or 2 against strugglers. But we also have the knockout stages of Conf League in early March. On current form that looks tricky, especially if we get Betis. 

Perhaps if Lavia and Fofana return and are able to stay fit we will see a bit of an improvement. But with both those 2 players, unfortunately that seems unlikely.

If Maresca has really been given these assurances he should take the opportunity to try some plan B's. If he sticks with plan A the outcome feels pretty predictable.

When are we playing Southampton again? That's one team I see us beat for sure 😁 I mean with a but of luck on the day, anything could happen on a given day. But given the way we been playing, hard to see us getting results consistently ( which we need to get back into top 4). Maresca is still the right manager for the owners, so far he hasn't said anything counter productive to the owners, and every transfer move they made, he followed without a complain.

10 hours ago, Drogba1 said:

Selling Gallagher played a part, Caicedo-Gallagher was far more imposing than Caicedo-Enzo

 

I do think once Lavia comes back into midfield we'll look a lot better though, we need physicality

Lavia is a mythical creature. 

Edited February 17, 20251 yr by Bob stark

10 hours ago, Drogba1 said:

Selling Gallagher played a part, Caicedo-Gallagher was far more imposing than Caicedo-Enzo

 

I do think once Lavia comes back into midfield we'll look a lot better though, we need physicality

Lavia, comes back 🤔 For how long, 35-40 minutes ???

On 15/02/2025 at 20:43, loz said:

I've not wanted something  out so much since I found a tick in my left testicle.

I am almost beyond the point of caring who it is.  Even a short term option using an established but available name who may be keen to prove a point and secure a longer term deal (and if they don't it won't cost a fortune when we look for a longer term option)

 

Someone like Allegri if he was interested might be a shout 

Allegri is close to unemployable here in Italy these days. Defensive, rigid, the game has passed him by.

57 minutes ago, dermott said:

Allegri is close to unemployable here in Italy these days. Defensive, rigid, the game has passed him by.

You could say the same about @loz to be fair.

19 hours ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Billionaires.

 

Oh they want to win. Filthy rich people always want to win. They want money, but they also want to win.  They want it all. Always.  As I said: They would love to win. All the ego and arrogance points that way. They are just so fcucking clueless and incompetent.

Hi celery! Thanks for your reply mate.

ClearLake is a consortium of loads of wealthy people and Corporations with investments in everything from finance , insurance, , businesses, companies etc etc all over the place.. The stated aim of ClearLake is to " provide suitable returns" to their investors . It's absolutely inconceivable to me that they care about a London football club other than how much wealth they can extract from our club. Football is littered with the " filthy Rich' who have ruined football clubs without caring about success , the club or fans..

Todd, as an individual may be different, who knows, but he brought ClearLake on board and he is a minority shareholder so everyone is driven by a quest to extract money from our club

Have to agree with your last sentence though 😂👍

9 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

When are we playing Southampton again? That's one team I see us beat for sure 😁 I mean with a but of luck on the day, anything could happen on a given day. But given the way we been playing, hard to see us getting results consistently ( which we need to get back into top 4). Maresca is still the right manager for the owners, so far he hasn't said anything counter productive to the owners, and every transfer move they made, he followed without a complain.

We play the saints on 25th February. The day of the fan protest.

17 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

We play the saints on 25th February. The day of the fan protest.

Somewhat ironic that when we beat Saints back in December, the chants of "We've got our Chelsea back" rang loud whereas this time it's a protest!

Let's hope at least the football has improved by the time we play them as I can't face watching the dross we have been dishing up in recent games.

Edited February 18, 20251 yr by Nibs

Wish I could have a personal meeting with Maresca to ask a few questions.

Do you think the players are good enough to buy into your system?

Are they mentally capable

Have you asked them all individually what they find difficult about it?

Have you asked them individually what they would like to be changed for them to flourish?

I don't know what goes on behind the scenes but no one is playing well and the guys don't seem to be enjoying their football.

5 minutes ago, KonaKai Blue said:

Wish I could have a personal meeting with Maresca to ask a few questions.

Do you think the players are good enough to buy into your system?

Are they mentally capable

Have you asked them all individually what they find difficult about it?

Have you asked them individually what they would like to be changed for them to flourish?

I don't know what goes on behind the scenes but no one is playing well and the guys don't seem to be enjoying their football.

What actually is his system?

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

What actually is his system?

I dont know because whatever it is, we clearly ain't seeing it work.

1 hour ago, KonaKai Blue said:

I dont know because whatever it is, we clearly ain't seeing it work.

We're playing anti football...

46 minutes ago, bluetrooper said:

We're playing anti football...

The football we are playing currently is as bad as anything I can remember in all my years following CFC. And that's such a shame when you consider we have one of the most watchable players in football right now in Cole Palmer.

It really has got that bad, we're now at the stage I would consider going shopping with the Mrs, rather than watch us bore everyone to tears.

13 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

What actually is his system?

Hope and pray..

I'm amazed how kind some people remember Pochettino! He improved towards the end, mostly because he was forced to leave Enzo out of the starting eleven due to injury, but my god he was an awful coach for most of the season. Not only he served some god-awful performances on the pitch, played players out of position, spursy in the final and semifinal, but he wasn't capable of instilling any discipline and thus we saw players fighting over penalties multiple times. I was shocked by the way that he was dismissed by the board, especially given that he was picking up towards the end, but I do not wish that he was back.

Edited February 19, 20251 yr by RMH