21 minutes ago, JM7 said:

All of the “fake optimism” by the club will be revealed in the next few games. Beating Southampton, Copenhagen and Leicester is not a true test of anything.

Let’s see if Marcesca can beat Arsenal and Brentford away before giving it large.

Does anyone honestly expect us to get any points from those games?

9 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Stats don't tell you everything. We barely tested the keeper and I can't think of any moment where we created a proper chance.

Ironically, the stats back you up.

1.77 xG - of which 0.76 belongs to Palmer's penalty.

Just 1.01 goals expected against the third-worst team in the league. That means that of the remaining 19 shots we took, they averaged a 5% chance of scoring. That's insanely bad.

28 minutes ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Ironically, the stats back you up.

1.77 xG - of which 0.76 belongs to Palmer's penalty.

Just 1.01 goals expected against the third-worst team in the league. That means that of the remaining 19 shots we took, they averaged a 5% chance of scoring. That's insanely bad.

Fitting, as we are Insanely bad.

Put Madueke and Colwill in the place of Salah and Van Dijk and Liverpool would not be the same. The difference a couple of world class players makes is huge. Even though I hate Arsenal with a passion, I can't be a fool and not admit they have a top, settled back line and a solid midfield with Rice and Odegaard there. But even so, they fell into a million pieces the moment Saka got injured and they also had no other goalscorer up top.

I'd judge Maresca after he gets some top players in key positions. Get a world class defender next to Fofana and Colwill, a scoring winger and a top centre forward next to Palmer and things will surely change.

23 minutes ago, petre ispirescu said:

Put Madueke and Colwill in the place of Salah and Van Dijk and Liverpool would not be the same. The difference a couple of world class players makes is huge. Even though I hate Arsenal with a passion, I can't be a fool and not admit they have a top, settled back line and a solid midfield with Rice and Odegaard there. But even so, they fell into a million pieces the moment Saka got injured and they also had no other goalscorer up top.

I'd judge Maresca after he gets some top players in key positions. Get a world class defender next to Fofana and Colwill, a scoring winger and a top centre forward next to Palmer and things will surely change.

These things won’t happen because we won’t pay the wages. Remember last summer when we strung Osimhen along all summer and then told him to take a paycut to fit in our £150k/w ceiling? No world class player is taking a paycut to move to Stamford Bridge.

On 08/03/2025 at 18:34, The Rising Sun said:

I posted before that I'd read that Enzo has been striving to achieve this slow, controlled possession based football all season .

We are actually playing the way Enzo wants us to play. I had dismissed Leicester fans criticism of Enzo as being ridiculous after our entertaining, winning run of games, but it looks like they were correct.. That first half was as coma inducing I've seen in a long time.

And to unarguably prove you are 100% spot on, this is a direct quote from Maresca on the BBC website yesterday in answer to a question about the match day fans booing the slow build up and backwards passing;

"When addressing the situation in his post-match comments, the Italian added: "People have to understand this is our way, our style, and this is the way we are going to play. When a team creates the number of chances we created today you have to be happy."

#Pepiliniout#

27 minutes ago, just said:

And to unarguably prove you are 100% spot on, this is a direct quote from Maresca on the BBC website yesterday in answer to a question about the match day fans booing the slow build up and backwards passing;

"When addressing the situation in his post-match comments, the Italian added: "People have to understand this is our way, our style, and this is the way we are going to play. When a team creates the number of chances we created today you have to be happy."

#Pepiliniout#

Or as Klaus Schwab might say ... "you will have no entertainment and you will be happy !"

Btw when coaches talk to media you have to seek out (be antenna's up) whether they are talking the talk they NEED to talk to players in terms of motivation, self belief, grounding them or guiding them OR the talk to everyone else that is in place to take off pressure from them or himself. That is never the same.

For example Enzo says to media that his team is very young because he doesn't want everyone else putting the pressure of old Chelsea (Drogba, Lampard, Cech, Terry) on the shoulders of these actually young players.

But he probably doesn't say to his players you are young so don't worry because the very players need to learn and perform here and now and get points under a lot of pressure. They neef to be motivated and told they are excellent and can win anyone so they actually learn to win anyone.

It is a balancing act.

We could sign Prime Ronaldo and this folicilly challenged wet wipe would have him looking like a 3rd rate nobody.

The system isn’t designed to be entertaining or even win, it’s there to limit the time the opponent has on the ball and thus (illogically) increase your chance of a win.

It’s the worst football I’ve ever seen a Chelsea team play, it’s not even the worst group of players I’ve ever seen Chelsea have that’s the depressing thing.

https://x.com/CFCZeno/status/1898830790110146868

"Fernandez knows if he doesn't pass back I will change him, if Keeper plays long, I will change him"

The bloke is a complete weirdo, how is he managing a top team lmao Fernandez was one of the most progressive passers in football and he wants him recycling the ball to our defenders for slow build up. We're truly finished.

2 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

https://x.com/CFCZeno/status/1898830790110146868

"Fernandez knows if he doesn't pass back I will change him, if Keeper plays long, I will change him"

The bloke is a complete weirdo, how is he managing a top team lmao Fernandez was one of the most progressive passers in football and he wants him recycling the ball to our defenders for slow build up. We're truly finished.

Wow!

That surely confirms players must be weary of passing forward for fear of getting dropped by EM.

This isn’t the Italian league, trying to win single football match 1-0 is a daft plan and will never lead to the success we are ultimately after.

Just get rid of thjis f**king clown.

1 hour ago, ducavis said:

These things won’t happen because we won’t pay the wages. Remember last summer when we strung Osimhen along all summer and then told him to take a paycut to fit in our £150k/w ceiling? No world class player is taking a paycut to move to Stamford Bridge.

Or Michael Olise, that was a chance to get a top player with Premier League experience but wouldn’t we pay the wages.

No wonder it’s called project 2030, that’s probably the year the board except us to have a competitive team.

We've been quite spoilt for managers over the years but I'm really struggling with this bloke. He seems absolutely devoid of any charisma or personality, and we see that reflected in the team. And that's before you even start on the dodgy selections, the bizarre takes on "best" roles for certain players, and the boring "anti-football" tactics ...

Anyone noticed he had Caicedo again as the only one sitting in midfield and Enzo in some right channel position between Cole and Sancho.

All match you could see it wasn’t working.

19 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

We've been quite spoilt for managers over the years but I'm really struggling with this bloke. He seems absolutely devoid of any charisma or personality, and we see that reflected in the team. And that's before you even start on the dodgy selections, the bizarre takes on "best" roles for certain players, and the boring "anti-football" tactics ...

It's a pity that these days it is all season ticket holders and tourists. Back in the day, I would go more often than not with mates but it was turn up on the day and pay the entrance fee. If that was now, I wonder how many supporters would think "no f**k that, the boring football we play, think I'll give it a miss". Be great to see a half-empty Stamford Bridge because of Maresca and his oh so dull football.

Edited March 10, 20251 yr by Nibs

53 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

https://x.com/CFCZeno/status/1898830790110146868

"Fernandez knows if he doesn't pass back I will change him, if Keeper plays long, I will change him"

The bloke is a complete weirdo, how is he managing a top team lmao Fernandez was one of the most progressive passers in football and he wants him recycling the ball to our defenders for slow build up. We're truly finished.

Have you ever studied/watched things of Pep? Enzo is just doing what Pep is doing. Pep is a lunatic.

5 minutes ago, evissy said:

Have you ever studied/watched things of Pep? Enzo is just doing what Pep is doing. Pep is a lunatic.

Pep is successful.

Pep can break down a deep block.

Pep can keep clean sheets.

Pep can improve players.

Saying Enzo is like Pep is like saying Dyche is like Mourinho.

35 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Pep is successful.

Pep can break down a deep block.

Pep can keep clean sheets.

Pep can improve players.

Saying Enzo is like Pep is like saying Dyche is like Mourinho.

At the same time Pep is 'usually' supported by the board with quality signings. Big difference, in my opinion.

I think it says a lot that we’re 4th in March and have a decent chance of finishing in top 4 if we manage to go on a good run but everybody still wants Maresca out, including me.

I hate our football at the minute.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Pep is successful.

Pep can break down a deep block.

Pep can keep clean sheets.

Pep can improve players.

Saying Enzo is like Pep is like saying Dyche is like Mourinho.

I kind of expected you go this dumben down route. I wasn't comparing those two as managers in terms of their success. Enzo is first season Premier League manager.

Enzo's worked under Pep and naturally he has soaked up every little detail from Pep's philosophy as he is a smart man. Managers his age all love Pep and naturally study him.

That line where Enzo said he would not play Jorgensen if he went long is from Pep playbook. His delivery wasn't good there especially when both of our keepers have done nothing but go long half a season.

Comparing Pep to Enzo at this point is like comparing treble winning City squad to ours.

9 minutes ago, evissy said:

I kind of expected you go this dumben down route. I wasn't comparing those two as managers in terms of their success. Enzo is first season Premier League manager.

Enzo's worked under Pep and naturally he has soaked up every little detail from Pep's philosophy as he is a smart man. Managers his age all love Pep and naturally study him.

That line where Enzo said he would not play Jorgensen if he went long is from Pep playbook. His delivery wasn't good there especially when both of our keepers have done nothing but go long half a season.

Comparing Pep to Enzo at this point is like comparing treble winning City squad to ours.

Lazy analysis. Ten Hag spent 2 years working under Pep too, how did he do in the Prem? Slot didn't study under Pep and he seems to be doing alright.

Pep play book? Ederson was signed for his passing range. Ederson has 6 assists in the PL as a GK, do you think these were from passing short only?

Comparing Enzo to anything remotely successful is bordering on football terrorism.

2 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Lazy analysis. Ten Hag spent 2 years working under Pep too, how did he do in the Prem? Slot didn't study under Pep and he seems to be doing alright.

Pep play book? Ederson was signed for his passing range. Ederson has 6 assists in the PL as a GK, do you think these were from passing short only?

Comparing Enzo to anything remotely successful is bordering on football terrorism.

Enzo works under Pep and learns, mimics, studies, applies to his work. You don't need to take anything else from my post. Take nothing of my posts is also fine.

1 hour ago, RMH said:

At the same time Pep is 'usually' supported by the board with quality signings. Big difference, in my opinion.

He's usually backed with a single world class signing, the rest of the signings are pretty average/unknown players that he improves.

Last season he signed Gvardiol. Outside of that it was Nunes, Kovacic and Doku. Nunes and Kovacic don't get in our team and if we don't like Madueke god we'd hate Doku.

Season before outside of Haaland he signed Kalvin Phillips, Akanji (pretty average at Dortmund) and Sergio Gomez.

Season before he got Grealish then Alvarez who was an unknown on the cheap from River Plate and Scott Carson.

We've signed Enzo Fernandez and Caicedo who were the best young midfielders arguably in the world at the time. Took on the most exciting young attacking mid in world football and has him starting the build up from the back. Lets not act like Maresca is coming into a sh*t squad, the players are regressing under him.

9 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Lazy analysis. Ten Hag spent 2 years working under Pep too, how did he do in the Prem? Slot didn't study under Pep and he seems to be doing alright.

Pep play book? Ederson was signed for his passing range. Ederson has 6 assists in the PL as a GK, do you think these were from passing short only?

Comparing Enzo to anything remotely successful is bordering on football terrorism.

Quite. Maresca is Pep minus the imagination (amongst other things). A carbon copy using expired carbon paper. Remember carbon paper? He has latched onto one single element of Pep's playbook. Keep the ball. Except Pep will mix things up, Ederson's sidewinders being only one example. Of course that requires a GK capable of such. But that's another bucket of past-their-use-by-date prawns.