19 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

If we get rid of Maresca and finished 4th or 5th next year, I'd regret it.

But thankfully we aren't getting rid of him. He will get next season to show if he's worth a 3rd.

2 big things he will be critiqued on.

How well he adapts against certain opposition now.

How well he manages both the league and Champions League.

He’s going to do it isn’t he’s!!!

Really don’t have any major disagreement with the notion that Maresca is not a top manager, but I also don’t think he was hired as such.

I strongly disagree with the idea that strikers struggle in his system. The simplest explanation is that both Jackson and now Delap aren’t good enough to start for us (for different reasons) which Joao Pedro showcased perfectly with his display against Palmeiras.

Most managers frustrate us - let’s stick behind him. We’ve got an ounce of continuity for the first time in a long time when new players join, and he’s adapting his tactics a little now. I hope it sticks - we’ve been far more assertive against Benfica and Palmeiras

17 hours ago, acaeus said:

Really don’t have any major disagreement with the notion that Maresca is not a top manager, but I also don’t think he was hired as such.

I strongly disagree with the idea that strikers struggle in his system. The simplest explanation is that both Jackson and now Delap aren’t good enough to start for us (for different reasons) which Joao Pedro showcased perfectly with his display against Palmeiras.

J.Pedro with his 0.09 xG against Palmeiras btw. He played well but the system creates very little for the striker.

2 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

J.Pedro with his 0.09 xG against Palmeiras btw. He played well but the system creates very little for the striker.

His hold up play was miles ahead of Delap’s who’s been showing nothing but heavy touches tbh. The team really improved once JP got in.

Careful to not get stuck in the narrative… 😉I too wanted a different striker, but so far, early days I know, Joao Pedro looks like our starting 9 no context.

I do expect Delap to improve, because so far he looks a lot worse than Jackson for me.

14 hours ago, acaeus said:

His hold up play was miles ahead of Delap’s who’s been showing nothing but heavy touches tbh. The team really improved once JP got in.

Careful to not get stuck in the narrative… 😉I too wanted a different striker, but so far, early days I know, Joao Pedro looks like our starting 9 no context.

I do expect Delap to improve, because so far he looks a lot worse than Jackson for me.

I don't disagree that he looked better against the tired team, but did he score? Did he come close to scoring? The system doesn't create much for the strikers. What striker do you know that wants to wait half an hour for the ball to come forward against a set defence?

I think we have versatility among our strikers. At least much more than this season. Delap hopefully is the player that can make the smart runs and finish off chances we create to him. Pedro is a tireless presser and versatile 9/10.

We also need the backup and Jackson is that now clearly.

Not sure if our strikeforce sets the world alight but it is better than last season.

As things stand, it’s another season battling for Top 4.

I think expectations should be 3rd-4th, but any hope of bridging the gap between Liverpool is long gone with Sanchez between the posts for a 3rd consecutive year.

Pros: Midfield depth a big boost. Defence looks more locked in. Delap + Pedro along side Jackson a big bonus.

Cons: Wingers. No improvements. Gittens feels like he’s somewhere between Mudryk and Sancho. Estevao too young to make any immediate impact. Going to heavily rely on Palmer yet again.

We have to be serious in the cups.

Just watching the press conference.

Regardless of what I think of the man's football tactics, just hearing the Italian man conversing fluently and seamlessly in English and Spanish fills me with considerable envy and a fair amount of respect for the guy.

EDIT: I'd like to actually see the translated transcript of the full press conference. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the questions posed by the Spanish press are far more relevant and educated than the drivel from the English press. Kaveh Solekhol more interested in trying to find an angle on Madueke's move (the night before the game) and Ben Jacobs getting shut down immediately.

Edited July 7, 20251 yr by WhiteWall

8 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

I'd like to actually see the translated transcript of the full press conference. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the questions posed by the Spanish press are far more relevant and educated than the drivel from the English press.y.

Call it an empanada and suddenly it’s refined, artisanal, and bursting with “culinary heritage.” But call it a Cornish pasty and it’s just something you eat on a rainy day at a service station.

A headline grabbing journo is the same the world over...mostly scum

Edited July 8, 20251 yr by nonotnowjim

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

Call it an empanada and suddenly it’s refined, artisanal, and bursting with “culinary heritage.” But call it a Cornish pasty and it’s just something you eat on a rainy day at a service station.

A headline grabbing journo is the same the world over...mostly scum

Possibly. However, even within the English contingent I would much rather listen to the tactical, football related questions posed by Sariah than the arse gravy peddled by the likes of Kaveh Solekhol, Ben Jacobs and Matt Law

22 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

I don't disagree that he looked better against the tired team, but did he score? Did he come close to scoring? The system doesn't create much for the strikers. What striker do you know that wants to wait half an hour for the ball to come forward against a set defence?

Agree the current system doesnt offer much for strikers, but a rusty Pedro ( hasnt played since march/april) was able to collect the ball and take players on with some nice touches and a scuffed shot or two. Pedro could be a significant player, tbf so could Delap if he learns to control himself and develops a bit more savvy, hes at the top level now not with the tractor boys.

1 hour ago, WhiteWall said:

Possibly. However, even within the English contingent I would much rather listen to the tactical, football related questions posed by Sariah than the arse gravy peddled by the likes of Kaveh Solekhol, Ben Jacobs and Matt Law

Karveh Solekhol speaks_with_gaps_between_every_word_in_an_attempt_to_make_himself_sound_very_informed_and_relevant. Unfortunately the online stuff from twitter and instagram is usually about half a day ahead of him.

50 minutes ago, OneTommyLangley said:

Karveh Solekhol speaks_with_gaps_between_every_word_in_an_attempt_to_make_himself_sound_very_informed_and_relevant. Unfortunately the online stuff from twitter and instagram is usually about half a day ahead of him.

Bang_on. Its become a bit of a meme in our household now. Every time he is on I always say to the wife.

"Why does this prat have_to_talk_like____that."

Its cathartic in two ways, as it helps me vent and i also live to wind the wife up. After 30 odd years of marriage its one of the things that we can still share

Edited July 8, 20251 yr by WhiteWall

Doing the rounds on social media:

Maresca: "We come here having played 63 games, how many have the Brazilian team played in the same time...?"

Brazilian journalist: "70 games, which is more than 63"

I'm not very sure where the 70 games figure comes from, I can only find that Fluminense has played 11 games of this season's Brazilian league, but Maresca was left speechless.

3 minutes ago, RMH said:

Doing the rounds on social media:

Maresca: "We come here having played 63 games, how many have the Brazilian team played in the same time...?"

Brazilian journalist: "70 games, which is more than 63"

I'm not very sure where the 70 games figure comes from, I can only find that Fluminense has played 11 games of this season's Brazilian league, but Maresca was left speechless.

Brazilian league starts with the calendar year. If you look at it as a calendar year from now until last August, then they have played more.

Just another case of Maresca not being very good in front of the media. Either lies or doesn't know what he's on about.

1 minute ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Brazilian league starts with the calendar year. If you look at it as a calendar year from now until last August, then they have played more.

Just another case of Maresca not being very good in front of the media. Either lies or doesn't know what he's on about.

I'm not sure, from what I'm finding, the Brazilian Serie A has started around May, and in the table it says they've played 11 games this season. I don't follow South American football so I don't know how their leagues, Cups etc work or when they start, that's why I'm asking.

20 minutes ago, RMH said:

I'm not sure, from what I'm finding, the Brazilian Serie A has started around May, and in the table it says they've played 11 games this season. I don't follow South American football so I don't know how their leagues, Cups etc work or when they start, that's why I'm asking.

Since their game on 12/07/2024, they have played 70 games: https://www.flashscore.co.uk/team/fluminense/EV9L3kU4/results/

Same time period, we've played 68: https://www.flashscore.co.uk/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/results/

16 minutes ago, RMH said:

I'm not sure, from what I'm finding, the Brazilian Serie A has started around May, and in the table it says they've played 11 games this season. I don't follow South American football so I don't know how their leagues, Cups etc work or when they start, that's why I'm asking.

From what I can tell, it goes like this. State league between January and the beginning of March. Then they have a month off before starting the Brazilian Serie A which is played between end of April to the end of December. They also have cup competitions in between too.

So from what I can tell, they have been just as busy as European teams and we can't really use the excuse that they have had it easier than us.

1 hour ago, RMH said:

Doing the rounds on social media:

Maresca: "We come here having played 63 games, how many have the Brazilian team played in the same time...?"

Brazilian journalist: "70 games, which is more than 63"

I'm not very sure where the 70 games figure comes from, I can only find that Fluminense has played 11 games of this season's Brazilian league, but Maresca was left speechless.

More great man management from the daft sod, tell the players they are likely to be more tired than the opposition....they will feel more tired than the opposition.

Is he already trying to make excuses for losing before a ball is kicked? Really?

The guy needs to go. Absolutely useless.

3 hours ago, dkw said:

More great man management from the daft sod, tell the players they are likely to be more tired than the opposition....they will feel more tired than the opposition.

He has made me feel shattered for ages 😡

4 hours ago, RMH said:

Doing the rounds on social media:

Maresca: "We come here having played 63 games, how many have the Brazilian team played in the same time...?"

Brazilian journalist: "70 games, which is more than 63"

I'm not very sure where the 70 games figure comes from, I can only find that Fluminense has played 11 games of this season's Brazilian league, but Maresca was left speechless.

Have to defend Maresca here: this was either a lie, or a lost in translation situation with the journalist.

The journalist implied that Fluminense has played 70 games this season, which is not true. They played 70 games at the end of LAST SEASON, or if you count an arbitrary period until today ignoring vacation, which in Brazil takes place in December-January. The players were on vacation by the end of December and started their season playing the silly state championship (against lower div sides) in late Jan.

Maresca is right in his assessment that form wise, Brazilian teams are mid-season while European teams are at the end of the season with too many games played.

Edited July 8, 20251 yr by acaeus

Tbf, nobody will remember any of that sh*t 👆, so COME ON CHELS!