3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

My opinion on Maresca hasn't changed. Purely from football pov, he is fine. I don't like his squad usage n lack of sub but he is fine.

Our biggest problem in term of football is not manager. Maresca is fine, poch is fine. It is whoever in charge of building our squad. As I said in the summer as the power of squad building shifted from manager to sd, sd importance is very high or even higher than manager.

Last season they gave poch a u-23 squad. Luckily we hit a jackpot with Palmer and that saved our season.

We only finished 6th last season so the room of improvement is very big yet we only made some sideway/incremental moved for this season. Is Sancho/Neto significantly better than Sterling? You can argue Fofana is our best transfer this season.

That is our problem. I am not sure whether this is more of sd/ownership problem, maybe both but as long as we continue doing recruitment based more on agent/financial than football need, we will go nowhere.

Been saying the same thing for months now. Nothing is going to change as long as the squad remains as unbalanced as it is now. If the summer targets are Delap, Guehi, Garnacho and some other 21-22 year olds and the board keeps their strict rules in terms of wages, then we should slowly accept our faith of becoming the new Arsenal, but the one post the building of the Emirates when they were skint and had to pay for the stadium debt. Still, that team was always guaranteed the 4th place and a marquee signing every once in a while, something that is harder to achieve nowadays given that all clubs have tons of money to spend and top players do not accept 100k per week wages anymore...

I can see Enzo is not the most favourite person here or among fans...

But when he says 'environment' look at the entire clip. He says we are better with fans (on our side) and he said the fans decide (whether to cheer them on or boo). And he said it is natural at 0-2 to react. If you take that as a criticism to you, you probably need to take a look in the mirror.

And as we all know (not so sure about this still) we have a very young squad. Environment created by the fans is another element that hits harder to young men than to experienced players. The lows can really effect the players as do the highs.

I'm not sure Maresca was the problem yesterday. We created enough chances to beat Ipswich. The main problem is that this team has been vastly overrated by our fanbase and the football media. Cole Palmer has been a revelation, but this is his second full season as player playing consistently. Jackson, despite being a decent enough striker, was never a 20 goal a season striker in La Liga. He came to us off the back of a 12 goal season. Madueke has never proven much in the Netherlands. The only real world class (or close to) player in our team is Caicedo. The rest of them are average or just above average. Although this goes back to poor recruitment from the powers above. We could have broke the wage structure for a player with experience and quality like Osimhen, but instead we are looking at Delap in the summer who I don't think takes us to the next level as he's pretty much another young striker with potential like Jackson was/is.

If we want to win trophies, you need to have some experience, along with top quality. Even PSG, despite being a young team like us, have some experience and quality sprinkled in. Not to mention the league this year has gotten more competitive, so the slighest slip up and there's other teams circling like sharks to overtake. Look at last season for e.g, Tottenham finished 5th, this season they are on course to finish outside the top 10. Then you have the likes of Notts Forest and Bournemouth who have been standouts, and Villa have continued their form from last season pretty much. Fulham also look better.

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

My opinion on Maresca hasn't changed. Purely from football pov, he is fine. I don't like his squad usage n lack of sub but he is fine.

Our biggest problem in term of football is not manager. Maresca is fine, poch is fine. It is whoever in charge of building our squad. As I said in the summer as the power of squad building shifted from manager to sd, sd importance is very high or even higher than manager.

Last season they gave poch a u-23 squad. Luckily we hit a jackpot with Palmer and that saved our season.

We only finished 6th last season so the room of improvement is very big yet we only made some sideway/incremental moved for this season. Is Sancho/Neto significantly better than Sterling? You can argue Fofana is our best transfer this season.

That is our problem. I am not sure whether this is more of sd/ownership problem, maybe both but as long as we continue doing recruitment based more on agent/financial than football need, we will go nowhere.

We all know recruitment is an issue and the SD's are clueless but this thread is about Enzo in particular.

The squad is not perfect but it is still more than good enough to play much better football than what we are currently getting.

7 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Trust the project. Good times will be here soon.

Edited April 14, 20251 yr by Ukraine Bolt

48 minutes ago, Sunspear_88 said:

I'm not sure Maresca was the problem yesterday.

f**ked around with the back line again which lead to the Ipswich opener for sure. 100% blame on him there.

1 hour ago, evissy said:

I can see Enzo is not the most favourite person here or among fans...

But when he says 'environment' look at the entire clip. He says we are better with fans (on our side) and he said the fans decide (whether to cheer them on or boo). And he said it is natural at 0-2 to react. If you take that as a criticism to you, you probably need to take a look in the mirror.

And as we all know (not so sure about this still) we have a very young squad. Environment created by the fans is another element that hits harder to young men than to experienced players. The lows can really effect the players as do the highs.

Who is stopping the fans being onside with the team? Maresca

Who is the key to whether or not the fans get behind the team? Maresca

Who is the worst manager we’ve had for a long long time? Maresca

Essentially Maresca is serving you a Pot Noodle at a Michelin Star Restaurant and then acting like you’re the issue.

Horrible odious man. Give me AVB or Big Phil any day of the week.

1 hour ago, carefree franco said:

It pains me that the board overlooked Luis Enrique for poch. Seeing PSGs frontline have creative freedom, full backs offering support out wide and we have Maresca ball is very hard to watch

Didn't overlook. Guy came in with a full presentation and a 5 year plan, using youth and fast free flowing football. They bombed that off for this clown. Look at the PSG way of playing football and compare it to the ar$e gravy this moron is serving up for us all.

1 hour ago, evissy said:

I can see Enzo is not the most favourite person here or among fans...

But when he says 'environment' look at the entire clip. He says we are better with fans (on our side) and he said the fans decide (whether to cheer them on or boo). And he said it is natural at 0-2 to react. If you take that as a criticism to you, you probably need to take a look in the mirror.

And as we all know (not so sure about this still) we have a very young squad. Environment created by the fans is another element that hits harder to young men than to experienced players. The lows can really effect the players as do the highs.

More defending of the fraud - and excuses (young team).

I will say it again - I don’t care if we lose, but I want to see Maresca let the players play and have a go….not the boring and predictable dross he is serving us up.

It isn’t about the score or losing that has made me/us lose faith in him - but instead the complete inability (or inclination) to change the way we are playing (slow and predictable)

1 hour ago, evissy said:

I can see Enzo is not the most favourite person here or among fans...

But when he says 'environment' look at the entire clip. He says we are better with fans (on our side) and he said the fans decide (whether to cheer them on or boo). And he said it is natural at 0-2 to react. If you take that as a criticism to you, you probably need to take a look in the mirror.

And as we all know (not so sure about this still) we have a very young squad. Environment created by the fans is another element that hits harder to young men than to experienced players. The lows can really effect the players as do the highs.

How about he gets the side playing fast flowing attacking football that wins matches... Its really simple. It brings fans onside... We'll happily support the team/ players and club when that happens. We had it earlier in the season and then a handbrake was applied and we've been turd since.

Clearly, Maresca has little to no understanding about Chelsea, they way we've played or what us fans enjoy. Its his way or no way and he aint a winner, but turning into a whiny looser. His brand of football is dead. That time of football is over and he needs to change or adapt or be unemployed sitting on his millions of pounds pay out. Maresca wins if he stays or goes, we fans miss out on being entertained and competing at the top of the table.

Please stop defeding mediocrity and we were going places before Roman before you use this as an excuse. the football pre Roman was more expansive and entertaining that current offerings at the bridge.

I will celebrate his last day at the club like we won a cup.

1 hour ago, petre ispirescu said:

Been saying the same thing for months now. Nothing is going to change as long as the squad remains as unbalanced as it is now. If the summer targets are Delap, Guehi, Garnacho and some other 21-22 year olds and the board keeps their strict rules in terms of wages, then we should slowly accept our faith of becoming the new Arsenal, but the one post the building of the Emirates when they were skint and had to pay for the stadium debt. Still, that team was always guaranteed the 4th place and a marquee signing every once in a while, something that is harder to achieve nowadays given that all clubs have tons of money to spend and top players do not accept 100k per week wages anymore...

Another manager who has the ability to play a formation that suits the squad would solve most of the issues regarding a perceived imbalance.

The imbalance exists purely and simply because of the manager imo.

His tactics suit maybe 3 or 4 of our players whilst the rest are shoehorned into a relatively complicated system. Excellent prospects have been signed and with the exception of Cucu, Caicedo, and Palmer who has come close to matching that potential? I’d say not one single player. Is that the players fault? Possibly with some of them but I believe Maresca must shoulder 80% of the blame.

Boring sideways football will never win the big prizes. The age of Pep is over and quick, aggressive counter attacking football by other clubs has shown this. I’ve witnessed some god awful football by Chelsea over the years especially pre Roman but this sh*te we’re witnessing now is worse than all of it and that’s with a really talented squad. Some will disagree and say the players are poor but what’s more likely? All of our squad bar 3 or 4 aren’t good enough or our manager is stifling this talent? I know which side I’m on.

Enzo Maresca out. I guarantee the Chelsea job is the biggest of his career and he’ll soon by managing a mid table side in Spain, Germany or Italy.

From my perspective, I think that there's a clear fracture between club and fans. But, importantly, there's no connection with the players (apart from James, Chalobah and Palmer). If any of this set of players was to be sold, would anyone get half as annoyed as with Connor's sale? Also, I don't think that the players feel anything playing for Chelsea, or the fans, their body language shows that they are not very emotionally invested. And that is a worry.

7 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

More defending of the fraud - and excuses (young team).

I will say it again - I don’t care if we lose, but I want to see Maresca let the players play and have a go….not the boring and predictable dross he is serving us up.

It isn’t about the score or losing that has made me/us lose faith in him - but instead the complete inability (or inclination) to change the way we are playing (slow and predictable)

I will defend points that I feel are worth defending. I don't like the style of play either. But in the summer when we talked about him coming in we knew his style is control. He wants his side to control games 'on the ball and off the ball' as he says all the time.

I personally prefer more 'footballsy' style where you are a bit more reactive to situations. The problem with that and this young squad is sometimes you have zero control of your faith. We saw that under Pochettino and early on this season. We were scoring freely but also you knew we will let in a few as well.

I am also sure Enzo has talked to the board and the directors he will adjust the style and I am sure he's got the nod. Enzo to me is the first coach in years that doesn't seem he feels the pressure as he knows he is doing at least what the board expects him to do. Results can always be better naturally but dictating your faith in a tough league like Prem is impossible (City, MU, Tottenham...).

Maybe there is pressure but it doesn't show on his face at all. We have seen tens of coaches in recent history squirming on these pressers waiting to be freed of their duty. And to be fair as fans we've done our job at that process.

I also want him to fix things and work things out for us to get results but is not very easy. Resetting everything we've done this season is again path backwards. If the players and the club turn on him he will go. So far there is zero evidence of it.

Again I have to reiterate we are not Chelsea FC Roman-era, we are something else. Manchester United for me is the biggest red flag in the footballing world of a club that clings into their past and isn't willing to move forward. Only then can something new and hopefully better come of all this. We are part of it as fans.

15 minutes ago, bluetrooper said:

How about he gets the side playing fast flowing attacking football that wins matches... Its really simple. It brings fans onside... We'll happily support the team/ players and club when that happens. We had it earlier in the season and then a handbrake was applied and we've been turd since.

Clearly, Maresca has little to no understanding about Chelsea, they way we've played or what us fans enjoy. Its his way or no way and he aint a winner, but turning into a whiny looser. His brand of football is dead. That time of football is over and he needs to change or adapt or be unemployed sitting on his millions of pounds pay out. Maresca wins if he stays or goes, we fans miss out on being entertained and competing at the top of the table.

Please stop defeding mediocrity and we were going places before Roman before you use this as an excuse. the football pre Roman was more expansive and entertaining that current offerings at the bridge.

I will celebrate his last day at the club like we won a cup.

Amended it....

Lets get an improvement in the style first..... THAT alone will get people onside and give us a platform to build on. The wins can come later...

35 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Essentially Maresca is serving you a Pot Noodle at a Michelin Star Restaurant and then acting like you’re the issue.

Horrible odious man. Give me AVB or Big Phil any day of the week.

Serving us pot noodle and then saying "it would taste much better if you pretended to enjoy it"

2 minutes ago, evissy said:

I will defend points that I feel are worth defending. I don't like the style of play either. But in the summer when we talked about him coming in we knew his style is control. He wants his side to control games 'on the ball and off the ball' as he says all the time.

I personally prefer more 'footballsy' style where you are a bit more reactive to situations. The problem with that and this young squad is sometimes you have zero control of your faith. We saw that under Pochettino and early on this season. We were scoring freely but also you knew we will let in a few as well.

I am also sure Enzo has talked to the board and the directors he will adjust the style and I am sure he's got the nod. Enzo to me is the first coach in years that doesn't seem he feels the pressure as he knows he is doing at least what the board expects him to do. Results can always be better naturally but dictating your faith in a tough league like Prem is impossible (City, MU, Tottenham...).

Maybe there is pressure but it doesn't show on his face at all. We have seen tens of coaches in recent history squirming on these pressers waiting to be freed of their duty. And to be fair as fans we've done our job at that process.

I also want him to fix things and work things out for us to get results but is not very easy. Resetting everything we've done this season is again path backwards. If the players and the club turn on him he will go. So far there is zero evidence of it.

Again I have to reiterate we are not Chelsea FC Roman-era, we are something else. Manchester United for me is the biggest red flag in the footballing world of a club that clings into their past and isn't willing to move forward. Only then can something new and hopefully better come of all this. We are part of it as fans.

Well - in that case, then let him die on his sword, and get the f**k out of the club.

If this is his "principle" then good for him. Slow, boring, predictable football is not a principle this clubs wants or needs for this current crop of players.

If the stupid c**t thinks that sideways passes between the CBs is controlling the game, then he is more stupid than I thought. It is not controlling anything....it is simply playing into the hands of the opposing team, who know that they can sit back, and score when we inevitably f**k up.

Blaming the fans for Sanchez's poor distribution, of all things, is the final straw for me.

I wasn't for sacking him because I had no faith in the SDs bringing in someone better, but it doesn't matter anymore. Bring in an even worse manager but who isn't this detestable. The bar is that low.

31 minutes ago, yaz said:

Blaming the fans for Sanchez's poor distribution, of all things, is the final straw for me.

I wasn't for sacking him because I had no faith in the SDs bringing in someone better, but it doesn't matter anymore. Bring in an even worse manager but who isn't this detestable. The bar is that low.

Where did he blame the fans?

2 minutes ago, evissy said:

Where did he blame the fans?

In his interview!

Honestly I wouldn't even mind the dreadful control football if it actually worked and won us games. We played some horrid stuff under Tuchel but most didn't really complain as we still won games.

And another thing. Man Utd and Spurs have had totally disastrous seasons but I can't even take the piss out of Utd & Spurs supporting mates, 'cos deep down I know we are just as bad.

And that's all on Maresca. He is systematically totally ruining my enjoyment of football.

17 minutes ago, evissy said:

Where did he blame the fans?

"I think we lost confidence because we conceded because of the environment. Our goalkeeper plays short and then he goes long for the second goal because of the environment".

4 minutes ago, yaz said:

"I think we lost confidence because we conceded because of the environment. Our goalkeeper plays short and then he goes long for the second goal because of the environment".

1:40 on until 3:30. He refers the fans and says it us up to the fans to decide. How is that slagging off fans? I think it is pretty clear it is much better to perform if your fans back you. Confidence of these young lads is not very high so environment inside the stadium is part of it. Naturally it has an effect. I don't see how that is blaming the fans. He basically told it like it is. He also said it is natural at 0-2 to not cheer for the lads.