WELL DONE YOU CLOWN

Palmer should not have played against Manchester United at the weekend as a result of this further pain, sources have made that clear.

“Sources have heard that Palmer has a new tear in the same groin and we are looking at around 3-6 weeks out. This is as a result of further aggravation to the groin in the Bayern game."

It has also been claimed that surgery is an option. Of course, that would be the worst-case scenario for Chelsea but if that is the only way to deal with the issue in the long-term than it has to be considered as soon as possible

24 minutes ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

WELL DONE YOU CLOWN

Palmer should not have played against Manchester United at the weekend as a result of this further pain, sources have made that clear.

“Sources have heard that Palmer has a new tear in the same groin and we are looking at around 3-6 weeks out. This is as a result of further aggravation to the groin in the Bayern game."

It has also been claimed that surgery is an option. Of course, that would be the worst-case scenario for Chelsea but if that is the only way to deal with the issue in the long-term than it has to be considered as soon as possible

That's not Maresca's call to make.
Chelsea has a very expensive medical team to handle these things.

I've known of cases where players played thru injuries, but we'd be talking about a final and the entire staff as well as the player would OK it. Anything other than that means heads should roll.

Sports hernia then. May need surgery to finally get rid like Enzo

2 hours ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

WELL DONE YOU CLOWN

Palmer should not have played against Manchester United at the weekend as a result of this further pain, sources have made that clear.

“Sources have heard that Palmer has a new tear in the same groin and we are looking at around 3-6 weeks out. This is as a result of further aggravation to the groin in the Bayern game."

It has also been claimed that surgery is an option. Of course, that would be the worst-case scenario for Chelsea but if that is the only way to deal with the issue in the long-term than it has to be considered as soon as possible

Of course, all young players want to play in the big games against big teams like Manchester United but as you imply it's the manager's job to assess the situation, with the medical team, and make the final decision for each one.

Given how important Palmer is to the team and the other options Maresca had available, it's criminal that he let Palmer play and just plain daft that he didn't take the opportunity to sub him off as soon as Sanchez was red carded given that he knew Palmer wasn't 100%.

Rightly or wrongly Maresca, a chocolate teapot if ever there was one, is here until May 2026 - can't come quick enough for me.

1 hour ago, acaeus said:

That's not Maresca's call to make.
Chelsea has a very expensive medical team to handle these things.

I've known of cases where players played thru injuries, but we'd be talking about a final and the entire staff as well as the player would OK it. Anything other than that means heads should roll.

The coach always indirectly influences the outcome. Medical calls are always "player-led" but the coach's culture sets expectations and in footballer, players and their coaches expect to play through injury.

I've worked with a lot of Australian sports scientists and coaches who, having risen to prominence in AFL, NRL and athletics, were headhunted by EPL clubs only to quickly leave disillusioned at the culture of injury management in professional football. It seems in total contrast to American and Australian sports where injury prevention is the goal and clubs view their players as assets to be managed and maintained for longevity - the Ferrari is pointless if it lives in the garage. Here, the medical staff, not the player, make calls on injury management.

From what I understand there is no clear chain of command at most clubs. The medical or sports performance staff might make recommendations, present data but ultimately the coach has the final call. What usually happens there is the coach then outsources to the player, but here's where it gets tricky. Most players will want to play through injury, they are constantly worried about being replaced, losing minutes etc. so they will almost always opt to play through injury where there is the slightest opportunity even against the recommendations of performance staff. Coaches want their best players available, so they are happy to "risk" it knowing that in outsourcing the decision, they can show all care and take no responsibility. Coaches, physios or doctors who speak out get punished and don't get future jobs and it's also important to recognise that apart from the heads of department at a top 10 club, these jobs don't pay any better than the NHS let alone private practice. It is a toxic culture of convenience.

The exception is where a coach implements a strong injury prevention policy and takes responsibility for the decision themselves, but apparently that is extremely rare at the elite level in football. Given how spineless Maresca seems to be, and the overall culture of management including the SDs, I doubt very much that we have a culture that favours prevention over reaction.

This is why a few of us have been so critical of managers like Pochettino, who employs his son as the head of fitness/performance; the power imbalance and politics are just too great for any health professional to manage.

2 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

The coach always indirectly influences the outcome. Medical calls are always "player-led" but the coach's culture sets expectations and in footballer, players and their coaches expect to play through injury.

I've worked with a lot of Australian sports scientists and coaches who, having risen to prominence in AFL, NRL and athletics, were headhunted by EPL clubs only to quickly leave disillusioned at the culture of injury management in professional football. It seems in total contrast to American and Australian sports where injury prevention is the goal and clubs view their players as assets to be managed and maintained for longevity - the Ferrari is pointless if it lives in the garage. Here, the medical staff, not the player, make calls on injury management.

From what I understand there is no clear chain of command at most clubs. The medical or sports performance staff might make recommendations, present data but ultimately the coach has the final call. What usually happens there is the coach then outsources to the player, but here's where it gets tricky. Most players will want to play through injury, they are constantly worried about being replaced, losing minutes etc. so they will almost always opt to play through injury where there is the slightest opportunity even against the recommendations of performance staff. Coaches want their best players available, so they are happy to "risk" it knowing that in outsourcing the decision, they can show all care and take no responsibility. Coaches, physios or doctors who speak out get punished and don't get future jobs and it's also important to recognise that apart from the heads of department at a top 10 club, these jobs don't pay any better than the NHS let alone private practice. It is a toxic culture of convenience.

The exception is where a coach implements a strong injury prevention policy and takes responsibility for the decision themselves, but apparently that is extremely rare at the elite level in football. Given how spineless Maresca seems to be, and the overall culture of management including the SDs, I doubt very much that we have a culture that favours prevention over reaction.

This is why a few of us have been so critical of managers like Pochettino, who employs his son as the head of fitness/performance; the power imbalance and politics are just too great for any health professional to manage.

I mostly agree with your points. I've had enough contact with professional footballers, one was even called up for Brazil once, so I know how it works. Players are always carrying some niggling thing. If they were not going to play because of any pain, they wouldn't play very often.
However, there are injuries and injuries; a groin pull isn't something people mess with at all. In my early twenties, a groin pull kept me away from football for over a year, and I was never the same after that. Thankfully no great loss because football was never my calling. 😅

I also have a hard time seeing Maresca as both the yes-man people claim he is, and at the same time a dominant and influential figure at the club who will make a player like Cole play thru a groin injury in a CL group stage match. I don't think Cole would be worried about losing his spot either.

Maybe I'm being naive here, but I expect Chelsea--being at the top of the chain--to have a very special medical staff matching the amount of money spent at the club. By comparison, Brazilian first division club physios are heavily criticized when players aggravate an injury and end up missing a lot of games--many losing their jobs in the process.

Edited September 24, 2025Sep 24 by acaeus

If Cole’s out for very long Maresca is exposed he has minimal input on the trophies Cole won him both

All Maresca does keep ball without meaningful purpose, Lincoln had minimal possession first half but reared havoc in our box, Cole pops up and good things usually happen his stats back that up

2 hours ago, acaeus said:

I mostly agree with your points. I've had enough contact with professional footballers, one was even called up for Brazil once, so I know how it works. Players are always carrying some niggling thing. If they were not going to play because of any pain, they wouldn't play very often.
However, there are injuries and injuries; a groin pull isn't something people mess with at all. In my early twenties, a groin pull kept me away from football for over a year, and I was never the same after that. Thankfully no great loss because football was never my calling. 😅

I also have a hard time seeing Maresca as both the yes-man people claim he is, and at the same time a dominant and influential figure at the club who will make a player like Cole play thru a groin injury in a CL group stage match. I don't think Cole would be worried about losing his spot either.

Maybe I'm being naive here, but I expect Chelsea--being at the top of the chain--to have a very special medical staff matching the amount of money spent at the club. By comparison, Brazilian first division club physios are heavily criticized when players aggravate an injury and end up missing a lot of games--many losing their jobs in the process.

Your expectation is correct and the club has, for years, had a fantastic medical and sports performance setup. The problem, which isn't unique to Chelsea, is that the medical teams don't make the final decision on playing. Whether Maresca is a dominant dictator or a shameless yes-man actually amounts to the same outcome, only in the latter scenario the player is given the illusion of choice when in reality players are too scared of being replaced (in no small part because our transfer strategy targets young players trying to establish themselves) to take needed breaks or request managed minutes. The only exceptions have been the well-publicised, high-profile situations of James and Fofana, where we're at the point of a career last-straw.

This is completely different to sports like AFL, NRL, NBA where players are usually 'minutes-managed' independently of the coach. Because football relies on permanent substitutions, rather than interchange subs, there is an extra degree of politics involved in terms of managing playing time.

Our manager situation is pretty clear. Our owner/SD want a manager who is willing to work under their plan/program.

Maresca has proven in the last two seasons that he doesn't complain much on press about transfer and he is willing to back our SD transfer with bs.

As long as he is willing to do that and the result doesn't go south too much, he will be our manager for foreseeable future.

Edited September 24, 2025Sep 24 by Bob stark

Almost fell off my chair laughing last night when I realised he'd picked Fofana to play, and simultaneously had zero centre back cover on the bench. Lucky he got away with that.

Did he brought Cucurella in to play in midfield?

13 minutes ago, RMH said:

Did he brought Cucurella in to play in midfield?

Yes he did, and to be fair he changed the game. We were much better at attacking.

It just shows how f*cking sh*te Enzo is. Embarassing.

12 hours ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

WELL DONE YOU CLOWN

Palmer should not have played against Manchester United at the weekend as a result of this further pain, sources have made that clear.

“Sources have heard that Palmer has a new tear in the same groin and we are looking at around 3-6 weeks out. This is as a result of further aggravation to the groin in the Bayern game."

It has also been claimed that surgery is an option. Of course, that would be the worst-case scenario for Chelsea but if that is the only way to deal with the issue in the long-term than it has to be considered as soon as possible

Here’s Maresca and Beavis and Butthead get out clause this season. We have injured players like Cole and Delap so we may not perform and we as fans should accept low performance!!

With some of the new signings, I didn’t think we were going to have to rely so heavily on Cole Palmer this season, but I think it is clear that just as Sarri-Ball was no good without Hazard, ditto Maresca-Ball with no Palmer.

I know we put 5 past West Ham without Palmer, but that was a weird game and they were shocking and look like relegation candidates (although still caused us a few issues), but when Palmer doesn’t play, we look void of any spark and creativity. The worrying thing is, the injury niggles won’t seem to go away and if he is missing for any length of time, I think we are seriously f**ked.

Really could have done with Xavi Simons....

Howe, Glasner, Iraola, Hurzeler, Marco Silva even Le Bris at Sunderland are all doing a lot more with a lot less.

Too many apologists for Maresca on here. It is the single worst brand of football I’ve seen played by a Chelsea side since AVB. The bloke has 0 charisma or charm to hide the fact his tactics are poo poo.

We can blame the SD’s for not giving us a PL quality GK NOW (Penders looks to be a talented young man) and not solidifying a Centre Defence decimated by injuries for the NOW (Sarr & Anselmino both look very good prospects that should take minutes from Trev & Tosin when Fofana/Colwill need rest)

However look at what we’ve spent and what we have in attacking areas, there’s absolutely 0 excuse besides being set up so piss poorly for not scoring a sh*t tonne more than we have. We play scared from the 1st minute and that is solely down to such a rigid outdated managerial style.

Every single goal keeper these directors brought to the club have been an absolute flop. And I am supposed to believe that Penders is the exception? 😂

Do the right thing. Get Maignan in January and explore the Antonio Silva situation.

Wrong thread.

Edited September 24, 2025Sep 24 by Scott Harris

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Every single goal keeper these directors brought to the club have been an absolute flop. And I am supposed to believe that Penders is the exception? 😂

Do the right thing. Get Maignan in January and explore the Antonio Silva situation.

Same thing with left wingers. If anything, they have been worse than the goalkeepers. Our best left winger is a right winger, and even he isn't that good.

2 hours ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Howe, Glasner, Iraola, Hurzeler, Marco Silva even Le Bris at Sunderland are all doing a lot more with a lot less.

Too many apologists for Maresca on here. It is the single worst brand of football I’ve seen played by a Chelsea side since AVB. The bloke has 0 charisma or charm to hide the fact his tactics are poo poo.

We can blame the SD’s for not giving us a PL quality GK NOW (Penders looks to be a talented young man) and not solidifying a Centre Defence decimated by injuries for the NOW (Sarr & Anselmino both look very good prospects that should take minutes from Trev & Tosin when Fofana/Colwill need rest)

However look at what we’ve spent and what we have in attacking areas, there’s absolutely 0 excuse besides being set up so piss poorly for not scoring a sh*t tonne more than we have. We play scared from the 1st minute and that is solely down to such a rigid outdated managerial style.

Honestly think its the managers style, not the players. Nearly the same group were scoring for fun with poch ball, even Jackson was finding the net.

Some rumours…and hope:

According to #cfc sources:
▪️ Cole Palmer unsatisfied with his tactical role for Chelsea
▪️Certain player find Enzo Maresca ‘arrogant’
▪️Chelsea owners are aware of concerns from the players
▪️ Andoni Iraola has big admirers at @ChelseaFC

The #Chelsea board insists on supporting Enzo Maresca, but they recognise that results need to improve soon. The project was built on big investments and there is no room for another inconsistent season.

(@fichajesnet)

I personally don’t see the board changing Enzo unless things go badly. From a club perspective, he’s done a great job in his season.

17 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Some rumours…and hope:

According to #cfc sources:
▪️ Cole Palmer unsatisfied with his tactical role for Chelsea
▪️Certain player find Enzo Maresca ‘arrogant’
▪️Chelsea owners are aware of concerns from the players
▪️ Andoni Iraola has big admirers at @ChelseaFC

The #Chelsea board insists on supporting Enzo Maresca, but they recognise that results need to improve soon. The project was built on big investments and there is no room for another inconsistent season.

(@fichajesnet)

I personally don’t see the board changing Enzo unless things go badly. From a club perspective, he’s done a great job in his season.

SACK HIM

2 hours ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

please.... SACK HIM

6 hours ago, JM7 said:

Some rumours…and hope:

According to #cfc sources:
▪️ Cole Palmer unsatisfied with his tactical role for Chelsea
▪️Certain player find Enzo Maresca ‘arrogant’
▪️Chelsea owners are aware of concerns from the players
▪️ Andoni Iraola has big admirers at @ChelseaFC

The #Chelsea board insists on supporting Enzo Maresca, but they recognise that results need to improve soon. The project was built on big investments and there is no room for another inconsistent season.

(@fichajesnet)

I personally don’t see the board changing Enzo unless things go badly. From a club perspective, he’s done a great job in his season.

If we are going to replace Maresca with an under-contract manager, it needs to be this season where we can count on the CWC cash injection to balance the books

Liam Rosenior

Already a Blue Co. man

Cost to change shouldn't be restrictive.

Knows how to operate to their rules / criteria.

Is enjoying success with Strasbourg.

Has worked with several of the players / future players

No stranger to European football.

Unlikely to rock the boat.

Why wouldn't they ?

I wouldn't be surprised if they could show this as a positive on the balance sheet.

I think his style of football might be described as more entertaining than Maresca although that is neither here nor there in a Blue co world.

Doubt he will have a negative impact on investment for Clearlake folk.

SD' probably believe he is under their control already.

Surely, every chance this could happen at some point in the future.

Edited September 25, 2025Sep 25 by OTL