Still fuming at what we saw yesterday, and a little more time to unpack such basic mistakes from Maresca and the club overall:

1. Slow Starts
   Every game this season we have gone behind and offered next to nothing in the first period other than a response vs. West Ham. The way we start continues to put us in a place we have to recover. The below is not a coincidence but is a reflection of the poor tactics and approach Maresca takes to games

   • vs Palace: 1-0 down after 13 mins (ruled out for a reason few even knew existed)

   • vs West Ham: 1-0 down after 6 mins

   • vs Fulham: 1-0 down after 21 mins (ruled out)

   • vs Brentford: 1-0 down after 36 mins

   • vs Munich: 1-0 after 20 mins

   • vs. Utd: 1-0 down after 14 mins

2. Squad Rotation

   How can a manager rotate the squad in such a poor way week to week. Just take Brentford, Munich and Utd. Heavily rotates for Brentford, a stupid decision that somewhat started this rut. Makes 5 starting changes for Munich and 2 position changes for players that faced Brentford; for Utd another 3 changes, 2 positional changes. There is no base.

3. Slow Football

   Sideways football with so few passes in behind and into space. It is easy to defend against Chelsea as the majority of our play is infront of the defense and midfield, compounded by low blocks

4. Play to Opposition Level

   I can't recall the last time we just turned up and played at a level significantly higher than the opposition. While the league is more competitive than ever, it doesn't matter who we play, it becomes some war of attrition and narrow victories. We never just blow teams out of the water with a fast start and 2 or 3 goals by half time. We make any opposition look better than they are

5. Substitutions

   I will never understand what we saw yesterday with Estevao and Neto, and switching to a back 5 that early. Where was the out ball. This was then compounded by Palmers injury - all attackers, £150M+ worth of talent off after 20 mins. To make matters worse, the only attacker than comes on was Gittens, a player we all but sold, while £100M of wingers sits on the bench. What on earth was he doing with Gusto at RB - my next point. Its not limited to this game though - the timing and personnel decisions are poor

6. Wrong Positions

   I'm tired of going into games with CBs and full back, a bench stacked with rbs, full backs in midfield. Probably my single biggest frustration with Maresca - no wonder players struggle when their positions are so frequently rotated. Whatever happened to a standard starting role for a player and a deputy when needed. We have 3 of those for right back, yet he still played Fofana there against Brentford - does he not remember Bournemouth away

7. Lack of Leadership

   On the pitch, we have no real leadership. Tough to say, but there is a real lack of leadership and character

Yesterday was a wake up call. The CWC worked well as we had space to play and a slower tempo of games. PL is making fools of us for the above and many other reasons. Marescas approach to games is woeful right now, and while he can't control moments of madness from Sanchez, he is still responsible. From the very moment the whistle blew yesterday a moment was coming - just took 4 mins this time for a red card.

8 hours ago, TheSage said:

The fact that they've spent upwards of £2B and the team is still sh*te is all you need to know that the board and scouting team (and maybe the managers, if they have any say in the buys) are clueless. This summer, most of us were complaining about Liverpool's spending, but we've far outspent them over the last few seasons (granted, we've also made a lot of sales)

To be fair, a lot of us fans are also clueless, because before the season began, most of us were optimistic, and many people were saying stuff like "the plan is finally working" when in reality the team still has so many glaring weaknesses in the GK, defense and even attack. The midfield is the only area where we are strong, but even there, there are serious question marks

I’m really not sure why.

The amount of people on here telling me we should be challenging for the title this season just cause we finished 2 points away from a very poor City team and 5 points off an Arsenal team that had already given up. Not to mention other results going our way in the final games.

As I said from the start, 4th is the realistic aim.

I truly believe that with this squad a better manager has us challenging for the premier league. Conte, Inzaghi, Ancelotti, Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique would all have us challenging Liverpool this season but instead we're stuck with this fraud for at least another season. We saw yesterday the gaping hole in Maresca's managerial ability, unfortunately it was exposed by the sh*t goalie and CBs.

28 minutes ago, Zeta said:

He won’t be sacked this season. He’s their perfect yes man.

Ultimately, it’s just a matter of how long they want to persist with him. We’ve seen his ceiling and unfortunately he has a lot of credit in the bank with the directors given the past 6 months.

Not qualifying for the Champions League will see him gone. I am almost certain of that. The club have seen just how much revenue it brings by merely qualifying for the competition every year, so they will want to sustain that.

2 hours ago, JM7 said:

I was dismayed to see us passing the ball around on the halfway line in the 90th minute. Completely clueless.

People didnt like Poch but at least he got us competing against the big teams.

This is why I deprioritise Chelsea this season because this 🤡 has the players passing around the back like idiots when you need urgency to get a goal. It was the same thing against Bayern.

This is going to be a long and painful season as Beavis and butthead will not sack him.

Edited September 21, 2025Sep 21 by El regreso

1 minute ago, The Rising Sun said:

I've known for ages that with our transfer policy we are not looking to become and stay as a top club.

But that said, it doesn't mean we have to suffer this dreadful, soul killing football . Rooney said last night that Chelsea fans must be disappointed with our 2nd half, all our possession was side to side and across the pitch. He's correct. No point in everyone on here going wild about our "exciting" players when the manager is determined to put them in shackles and make them play a dull, pointless possession based game.

I thought Leicester fans were absolutely wrong about Maresca when we saw some great displays early last season . But now it's clear that the football they complained about is exactly what we are being tortured with now.

We have a squad of really great young players, but they totally lack experience. Therefore the manager needs to have experience. Maresca cannot provide that. Maresca has zero experience.

He will most likely be our manager for this season. Because Cole Palmer and some of the other lads will produce the goods in some games and save Enzo. They will take the initiative and Enzo will claim the credit. As they have done in the past - the last two finals.

Who should we get as our next manager? what are the viable options out there?

If we want to get back and stay as a top club again, we are NEVER going to do it with our current transfer policy . It's not what established top clubs do, let alone anyone wanting to be a top club .

It's what Brighton do .

1 hour ago, TheCeleryKing said:

We have a squad of really great young players, but they totally lack experience. Therefore the manager needs to have experience. Maresca cannot provide that. Maresca has zero experience.

He will most likely be our manager for this season. Because Cole Palmer and some of the other lads will produce the goods in some games and save Enzo. They will take the initiative and Enzo will claim the credit. As they have done in the past - the last two finals.

Who should we get as our next manager? what are the viable options out there?

Iraola plays some pretty good football imo, but no history of winning a trophy makes me doubt him.

If Carlo wins the world cup, BlueCo should tempt him to manage for us again.

2 hours ago, TheCeleryKing said:

We have a squad of really great young players, but they totally lack experience. Therefore the manager needs to have experience. Maresca cannot provide that. Maresca has zero experience.

He will most likely be our manager for this season. Because Cole Palmer and some of the other lads will produce the goods in some games and save Enzo. They will take the initiative and Enzo will claim the credit. As they have done in the past - the last two finals.

Who should we get as our next manager? what are the viable options out there?

They want managers who won't question the transfer policy, will except his players being sold and accept the young "raw " players bought for him, and who won't complain when he doesn't get the experienced centre half that he says he needs.

Mind you, apart from all that, if the new bloke lets us play some decent entertaining football, that'll do for me. 👍

19 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

They want managers who won't question the transfer policy, will except his players being sold and accept the young "raw " players bought for him, and who won't complain when he doesn't get the experienced centre half that he says he needs.

Mind you, apart from all that, if the new bloke lets us play some decent entertaining football, that'll do for me. 👍

This is why no elite manager will take this job. We will forever be stuck with yes men managers for now or managers who want to prove the are elite.

33 minutes ago, El regreso said:

This is why no elite manager will take this job. We will forever be stuck with yes men managers for now or managers who want to prove the are elite.

They don’t want elite, coach or players. They’re averse to paying wages and they prefer average players and coaches with average wages that they can shift for profit. They’re here to make profit out of Chelsea, not to build a costly team that can challenge for trophies.

2 minutes ago, RMH said:

They don’t want elite, coach or players. They’re averse to paying wages and they prefer average players and coaches with average wages that they can shift for profit. They’re here to make profit out of Chelsea, not to build a costly team that can challenge for trophies.

Look, Im not going to blame Maresca for the trafford sh*t show. That should be put down to Robert Sanchez who was all at sea reading the ball in terrible conditions. His red, so early, was a catalyst for United's momentum for their first.

After James shanked his clearance, any goalkeeper with a set of Kajones would have cleaned out the defence jumping through the blue and red in front of him knees and elbows out taking out players all over the shop either claiming the ball/ drawing a foul or punches it and the united players head out of the 18 yard box. He's on his line, the ball is dropping on the six yard line. Sorry, that was a howler from Jorgensen, given his reach and height.

Two goals entirely out of the calamity keeper school. No manager can legislate for that... But we've started every game so poorly this season I don't think much would have been different had the keepers had belters.

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

You told us so at the very beginning, when I was still young and innocent and didn’t believe you. Now I’m older and wiser, and I’m a believer, oh you almighty axman that showed us the true path! 😅

My concern with Maresca is PhilH930 says.

To not see either winger weve signed not get any game time is just really strange. Especially playing George who was nearly out the door last month.

Not using Guiu is again another odd one for me. The club nearly cancelled Jacksons transfer to Munich.

After 18 months, I still dont see patterns of play or any kind of shape to the team/ style of play, we look terrible. for all his faults, Poch had us gunning it and I want that style of football back.

I was thinking yesterday who could come in and give us an identity. Let players like palmer play. The highlights cut to Alllerdyce in the stands and I just thought this group need organising and playing to their strengths, he'd do that. As would Moyes... I would look at Glasner, but TBH, im sick to death of this pressing bo**ocks. I just want an identity. Lets see how Jose gets his side to line up against us next month. That will be the baromiter for me.

If Maresca cant give us an identity, or get us playing free flowing football with the wingers/ attackers and players we have, he needs to be moved on.

The biggest frustration here is everyone had seen the piss poor job he did at Leicester before he was appointed.

No one looked at the brand of football or the in game management and thought this is the kind of untapped potential in a manager that will take us to the top.

It’s not that anyone here is an ‘expert’ but every single fan you speak to can pinpoint the issues we have, not with the squad as that’s up for debate, but with the XI chosen every game.

It’s f**king preschool sh*t setting up against Amorim, like it is a well known joke how he’s going to line up every single game. Yet Maresca was out coached from the first minute.

It’s not good enough, but unfortunately so long as we continue to turn ‘profits’ the hedgefund that owns us see’s that as a win, trophies no longer matter.

11 minutes ago, RMH said:

You told us so at the very beginning, when I was still young and innocent and didn’t believe you. Now I’m older and wiser, and I’m a believer, oh you almighty axman that showed us the true path! 😅

Obviously everyone who is hoping/expecting Maresca to be sacked by the end of the season has to prepare themselves that his successor is going to be Liam Rosenior.

Just saying 😂

5 hours ago, Remodez said:

I’m really not sure why.

The amount of people on here telling me we should be challenging for the title this season just cause we finished 2 points away from a very poor City team and 5 points off an Arsenal team that had already given up. Not to mention other results going our way in the final games.

As I said from the start, 4th is the realistic aim.

I would agree. That is probably what owners are hoping for. Ideally staying in Champs League and keeping their assets in the shop window so they can make a profit on them.

2 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Obviously everyone who is hoping/expecting Maresca to be sacked by the end of the season has to prepare themselves that his successor is going to be Liam Rosenior.

Just saying 😂

Feels like a given that he would be lined up as next manager.

7 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Obviously everyone who is hoping/expecting Maresca to be sacked by the end of the season has to prepare themselves that his successor is going to be Liam Rosenior.

Just saying 😂

Liam Rosenior. Young and not Italian. Come on down.

He seems to know the system

players brought in at random

coping with an unbalanced squad

players shipped out also at random

and hes got Strasbourg into Europe and they currently sit at the right end of the table

6 hours ago, timetowaste said:

I truly believe that with this squad a better manager has us challenging for the premier league. Conte, Inzaghi, Ancelotti, Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique would all have us challenging Liverpool this season but instead we're stuck with this fraud for at least another season. We saw yesterday the gaping hole in Maresca's managerial ability, unfortunately it was exposed by the sh*t goalie and CBs.

You've been saying this for years mate. I keep hearing "We're just two signings away" from numerous folks on here.

It's all bo**ocks. We have a heavily injury prone team which any top quality gaffer will struggle with. We've not improved in width, Gittens & Garnacho are a downgrade from Madueke. Our center-backs are average, and our goalkeeper is a liability.

And to top it all off, it's just a squad full of kids, we're not challenging or winning any titles if we keep having to go through this ridiculous cycle of developing youth players every year.

All that pre-season optimism gone thanks to f**k-wit Maresca.

Bloke is an imposter. So want him gone but know it won't happen 'cos he's the perfect yes-man for our owners.

Just lost for words after that shambles yesterday.