Please delete this thread so that Juventus and Celtic don't read it

2 hours ago, markpitts said:

very interesting..

One did it with a transfer ban and utilising academy products too, not a billion pound super squad..

15 hours ago, Valerie said:

Use Italian please!

Ci sono allenatori peggiori di Maresca e giocatori peggiori di Gusto.

7 hours ago, markpitts said:

very interesting..

It went downhill pretty rapidly for Frank after that point, but a nice soundbite for now regardless !

For the amount spent, a return of 83 points in 47 games is pitiful ... Mediocre FC basically ... at far too many levels ...

I'm hoping with Colwill back and Achempong perhaps we can tighten up more.

Think Arsenal without either of Gabriel or Saliba last year fell away and can see that happening this season again though this time are in a better position.

21 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

I'm hoping with Colwill back and Achempong perhaps we can tighten up more.

Think Arsenal without either of Gabriel or Saliba last year fell away and can see that happening this season again though this time are in a better position.

Bournemouth lost Kerkez, Huijsen and Zabarnyi and are second in the league.

Using an injury to Colwill to excuse the pitiful showing we see week in week out is beyond embarrassing. Stop excusing failure.

Spending big money helps only if you improve with what you buy.

We haven't. We have spent near 2 billion and to show for it we have:

Sanchez as our number 1, and the worst keeper in the league as our number 2.

Our best centerback is an academy player who is good but not great. our second best is an 18 year old academy player.

a midfield held together by our record signing, who are lost without him.

Our marquee wingers are Garnacho, Gittens and Neto. Which again means we are left to rely on an 18 year old.

We have two natural strikers. one got crocked right away the other is a not ready 19 year old.

2 billion... not well spent at all.

Brendan Rodgers left Celtic 🤔 I haven't kept up with him having acquired a bit of an aversion (you know: the teeth, Liverpool...), but at least he has a (by now distant) Chelsea background and ample top level experience. A candidate if we overlook the teeth?

12 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Brendan Rodgers left Celtic 🤔 I haven't kept up with him having acquired a bit of an aversion (you know: the teeth, Liverpool...), but at least he has a (by now distant) Chelsea background and ample top level experience. A candidate if we overlook the teeth?

Hes got great character.

41 minutes ago, OTL said:

Hes got great character.

Oh god, that's an unwelcome flush down memory drain 🤮

10 hours ago, strider6004 said:

I'm hoping with Colwill back and Achempong perhaps we can tighten up more.

Think Arsenal without either of Gabriel or Saliba last year fell away and can see that happening this season again though this time are in a better position.

Colwill won't be back until March / April.

Found this on Reddit journalists asked him a question and his answer is well ……..

Asked Enzo Maresca earlier about adapting to play against a back five and how it impacts Chelsea's preparations. Here is the lengthy answer he gave:

"This is a very good question. When we have some difficulties, we like to analyse. So in these days, we are trying to analyse all last season's games against teams that they sit back to see results, to see the game, how we can do better, how we can improve. Because we are always looking to improve.

“And probably, unless a deep switch where we drop points, all the rest [of the] teams, Leicester, Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Brentford, we won both games or we won one and we drew the other one. For sure, it's something that we need to do better.

“The thing that we need to improve and we need to learn, and it's something that I'm saying to the players every day, is now that teams, probably because of what we achieved last season, teams have changed against us. Sunderland, nine games in the Premier League, they never played with a back five from the start. Never.

"They played nine games, I watched all the nine games from Sunderland before our game. Never. They finished with a back five, they were winning 1-0, so to defend the last 10 minutes, they had a back five. But from the start, never.

“So we prepared a Sunderland game against a back four. So before the game, in the changing room, before the players go out for a warm-up, I need to tell the players, ‘Guys, all the Sunderland preparation, do like this, tac-tac-tac-tac, and put in the rubbish.’

“That's why it's so difficult. The plan for today, now, is this. In 10 minutes, we need to change the plan. So it's different when we know that team, they are [always playing with a] back five, and we prepare with back five. And it's completely different when a team is back four every time.

“So just to tell you one thing, that is a nice thing: Four weeks ago, I was in London for the LMA award. I was with Ange [Postecoglou], before he took the job with Forest. We were speaking, and I said, 'Ange, I've never seen your team play back five, apart from the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against United.'

“He started to laugh, and he said, 'I hate to play back five, but because it was the last 10 minutes, and we need to win the title. I said, OK, I don't care, we play back five.'

“We played Forest, it was a back five. And I prepared the game against a back four. So in the warm-up [they are setting up with a back five], guys, all the plan, rubbish, back five. This is difficult for the players. It's not when you know that you play against a team, that they always play a back five. OK, we prepare all week, or two, three days, for how we can win the game. And we know how to win the game.

“The problem is when you face a team, that they are back four, arrive here, back five, sit back. It's more complicated. This is the only difference.”

4 minutes ago, El regreso said:

Found this on Reddit journalists asked him a question and his answer is well ……..

Asked Enzo Maresca earlier about adapting to play against a back five and how it impacts Chelsea's preparations. Here is the lengthy answer he gave:

"This is a very good question. When we have some difficulties, we like to analyse. So in these days, we are trying to analyse all last season's games against teams that they sit back to see results, to see the game, how we can do better, how we can improve. Because we are always looking to improve.

“And probably, unless a deep switch where we drop points, all the rest [of the] teams, Leicester, Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Brentford, we won both games or we won one and we drew the other one. For sure, it's something that we need to do better.

“The thing that we need to improve and we need to learn, and it's something that I'm saying to the players every day, is now that teams, probably because of what we achieved last season, teams have changed against us. Sunderland, nine games in the Premier League, they never played with a back five from the start. Never.

"They played nine games, I watched all the nine games from Sunderland before our game. Never. They finished with a back five, they were winning 1-0, so to defend the last 10 minutes, they had a back five. But from the start, never.

“So we prepared a Sunderland game against a back four. So before the game, in the changing room, before the players go out for a warm-up, I need to tell the players, ‘Guys, all the Sunderland preparation, do like this, tac-tac-tac-tac, and put in the rubbish.’

“That's why it's so difficult. The plan for today, now, is this. In 10 minutes, we need to change the plan. So it's different when we know that team, they are [always playing with a] back five, and we prepare with back five. And it's completely different when a team is back four every time.

“So just to tell you one thing, that is a nice thing: Four weeks ago, I was in London for the LMA award. I was with Ange [Postecoglou], before he took the job with Forest. We were speaking, and I said, 'Ange, I've never seen your team play back five, apart from the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against United.'

“He started to laugh, and he said, 'I hate to play back five, but because it was the last 10 minutes, and we need to win the title. I said, OK, I don't care, we play back five.'

“We played Forest, it was a back five. And I prepared the game against a back four. So in the warm-up [they are setting up with a back five], guys, all the plan, rubbish, back five. This is difficult for the players. It's not when you know that you play against a team, that they always play a back five. OK, we prepare all week, or two, three days, for how we can win the game. And we know how to win the game.

“The problem is when you face a team, that they are back four, arrive here, back five, sit back. It's more complicated. This is the only difference.”

But this is what a lot of fans begging our manager to do. They want manager to have a clear and detail tactical gameplan before a game.

10 minutes ago, El regreso said:

Found this on Reddit journalists asked him a question and his answer is well ……..

Asked Enzo Maresca earlier about adapting to play against a back five and how it impacts Chelsea's preparations. Here is the lengthy answer he gave:

"This is a very good question. When we have some difficulties, we like to analyse. So in these days, we are trying to analyse all last season's games against teams that they sit back to see results, to see the game, how we can do better, how we can improve. Because we are always looking to improve.

“And probably, unless a deep switch where we drop points, all the rest [of the] teams, Leicester, Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Brentford, we won both games or we won one and we drew the other one. For sure, it's something that we need to do better.

“The thing that we need to improve and we need to learn, and it's something that I'm saying to the players every day, is now that teams, probably because of what we achieved last season, teams have changed against us. Sunderland, nine games in the Premier League, they never played with a back five from the start. Never.

"They played nine games, I watched all the nine games from Sunderland before our game. Never. They finished with a back five, they were winning 1-0, so to defend the last 10 minutes, they had a back five. But from the start, never.

“So we prepared a Sunderland game against a back four. So before the game, in the changing room, before the players go out for a warm-up, I need to tell the players, ‘Guys, all the Sunderland preparation, do like this, tac-tac-tac-tac, and put in the rubbish.’

“That's why it's so difficult. The plan for today, now, is this. In 10 minutes, we need to change the plan. So it's different when we know that team, they are [always playing with a] back five, and we prepare with back five. And it's completely different when a team is back four every time.

“So just to tell you one thing, that is a nice thing: Four weeks ago, I was in London for the LMA award. I was with Ange [Postecoglou], before he took the job with Forest. We were speaking, and I said, 'Ange, I've never seen your team play back five, apart from the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against United.'

“He started to laugh, and he said, 'I hate to play back five, but because it was the last 10 minutes, and we need to win the title. I said, OK, I don't care, we play back five.'

“We played Forest, it was a back five. And I prepared the game against a back four. So in the warm-up [they are setting up with a back five], guys, all the plan, rubbish, back five. This is difficult for the players. It's not when you know that you play against a team, that they always play a back five. OK, we prepare all week, or two, three days, for how we can win the game. And we know how to win the game.

“The problem is when you face a team, that they are back four, arrive here, back five, sit back. It's more complicated. This is the only difference.”

What a load of old tosh.

Bloke's an imbecile if this is his excuse for the Sunderland result.

Edited October 29, 2025Oct 29 by Sexyfootball

42 minutes ago, El regreso said:

Found this on Reddit journalists asked him a question and his answer is well ……..

Asked Enzo Maresca earlier about adapting to play against a back five and how it impacts Chelsea's preparations. Here is the lengthy answer he gave:

"This is a very good question. When we have some difficulties, we like to analyse. So in these days, we are trying to analyse all last season's games against teams that they sit back to see results, to see the game, how we can do better, how we can improve. Because we are always looking to improve.

“And probably, unless a deep switch where we drop points, all the rest [of the] teams, Leicester, Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Brentford, we won both games or we won one and we drew the other one. For sure, it's something that we need to do better.

“The thing that we need to improve and we need to learn, and it's something that I'm saying to the players every day, is now that teams, probably because of what we achieved last season, teams have changed against us. Sunderland, nine games in the Premier League, they never played with a back five from the start. Never.

"They played nine games, I watched all the nine games from Sunderland before our game. Never. They finished with a back five, they were winning 1-0, so to defend the last 10 minutes, they had a back five. But from the start, never.

“So we prepared a Sunderland game against a back four. So before the game, in the changing room, before the players go out for a warm-up, I need to tell the players, ‘Guys, all the Sunderland preparation, do like this, tac-tac-tac-tac, and put in the rubbish.’

“That's why it's so difficult. The plan for today, now, is this. In 10 minutes, we need to change the plan. So it's different when we know that team, they are [always playing with a] back five, and we prepare with back five. And it's completely different when a team is back four every time.

“So just to tell you one thing, that is a nice thing: Four weeks ago, I was in London for the LMA award. I was with Ange [Postecoglou], before he took the job with Forest. We were speaking, and I said, 'Ange, I've never seen your team play back five, apart from the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against United.'

“He started to laugh, and he said, 'I hate to play back five, but because it was the last 10 minutes, and we need to win the title. I said, OK, I don't care, we play back five.'

“We played Forest, it was a back five. And I prepared the game against a back four. So in the warm-up [they are setting up with a back five], guys, all the plan, rubbish, back five. This is difficult for the players. It's not when you know that you play against a team, that they always play a back five. OK, we prepare all week, or two, three days, for how we can win the game. And we know how to win the game.

“The problem is when you face a team, that they are back four, arrive here, back five, sit back. It's more complicated. This is the only difference.”

I stopped reading after "...we are always looking to improve."

Fraudo.

33 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

But this is what a lot of fans begging our manager to do. They want manager to have a clear and detail tactical gameplan before a game.

No, where have you read that? We want the bloke to have the ability to adapt and change the tactical plan as the game changes. He hasn't got it. And I don't know where you got the idea that we want him to have ONE gameplan before the game.

What most of us want is for him to have a plan to break teams that sit back. If every team that plays us sits back, and they've been doing so since last season, why hasn't he got a plan to break those defences? He prepares every game as if it was going to be against a back four, but the bloke acknowledges that Sunderland, Forest, Wolves, etc change their game plan against us, why hasn't he anticipate it and prepare it for that? Is he just a one-trick pony?

34 minutes ago, RMH said:

No, where have you read that? We want the bloke to have the ability to adapt and change the tactical plan as the game changes. He hasn't got it. And I don't know where you got the idea that we want him to have ONE gameplan before the game.

What most of us want is for him to have a plan to break teams that sit back. If every team that plays us sits back, and they've been doing so since last season, why hasn't he got a plan to break those defences? He prepares every game as if it was going to be against a back four, but the bloke acknowledges that Sunderland, Forest, Wolves, etc change their game plan against us, why hasn't he anticipate it and prepare it for that? Is he just a one-trick pony?

Nail on Head.

He's paid f**k knows how much to just sit there scratching his (bald) head.

1 hour ago, El regreso said:

Found this on Reddit journalists asked him a question and his answer is well ……..

Asked Enzo Maresca earlier about adapting to play against a back five and how it impacts Chelsea's preparations. Here is the lengthy answer he gave:

"This is a very good question. When we have some difficulties, we like to analyse. So in these days, we are trying to analyse all last season's games against teams that they sit back to see results, to see the game, how we can do better, how we can improve. Because we are always looking to improve.

“And probably, unless a deep switch where we drop points, all the rest [of the] teams, Leicester, Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Brentford, we won both games or we won one and we drew the other one. For sure, it's something that we need to do better.

“The thing that we need to improve and we need to learn, and it's something that I'm saying to the players every day, is now that teams, probably because of what we achieved last season, teams have changed against us. Sunderland, nine games in the Premier League, they never played with a back five from the start. Never.

"They played nine games, I watched all the nine games from Sunderland before our game. Never. They finished with a back five, they were winning 1-0, so to defend the last 10 minutes, they had a back five. But from the start, never.

“So we prepared a Sunderland game against a back four. So before the game, in the changing room, before the players go out for a warm-up, I need to tell the players, ‘Guys, all the Sunderland preparation, do like this, tac-tac-tac-tac, and put in the rubbish.’

“That's why it's so difficult. The plan for today, now, is this. In 10 minutes, we need to change the plan. So it's different when we know that team, they are [always playing with a] back five, and we prepare with back five. And it's completely different when a team is back four every time.

“So just to tell you one thing, that is a nice thing: Four weeks ago, I was in London for the LMA award. I was with Ange [Postecoglou], before he took the job with Forest. We were speaking, and I said, 'Ange, I've never seen your team play back five, apart from the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against United.'

“He started to laugh, and he said, 'I hate to play back five, but because it was the last 10 minutes, and we need to win the title. I said, OK, I don't care, we play back five.'

“We played Forest, it was a back five. And I prepared the game against a back four. So in the warm-up [they are setting up with a back five], guys, all the plan, rubbish, back five. This is difficult for the players. It's not when you know that you play against a team, that they always play a back five. OK, we prepare all week, or two, three days, for how we can win the game. And we know how to win the game.

“The problem is when you face a team, that they are back four, arrive here, back five, sit back. It's more complicated. This is the only difference.”

£105,000 a week he's paid and he's bamboozled at the prospect of a team changing their game plan lmao.

God forbid he has to prepare for multiple eventualities and the team we're playing doesn't roll over with his death by 1000 passes.

Incredibly hairless fool.

20 minutes ago, GarnachoCheese said:

£105,000 a week he's paid and he's bamboozled at the prospect of a team changing their game plan lmao.

God forbid he has to prepare for multiple eventualities and the team we're playing doesn't roll over with his death by 1000 passes.

Incredibly hairless fool.

You have to give him credit for getting as far as he has in his management career, given the self-stated limitations of his tool set !

Or alternatively you can simply laugh at the ineptitude of the fools that hired him.

Truly a case of mediocrity surrounding itself with "unthreatening" mediocrity ...

3 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

You have to give him credit for getting as far as he has in his management career, given the self-stated limitations of his tool set !

Or alternatively you can simply laugh at the ineptitude of the fools that hired him.

Truly a case of mediocrity surrounding itself with "unthreatening" mediocrity ...

Its impressive that just being being around Pep for a year can guarantee you a career for life no matter how poor you are.

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

But this is what a lot of fans begging our manager to do. They want manager to have a clear and detail tactical gameplan before a game.

That’s not true. We are aware of his tactical game plan, and nearly everyone absolutely hates it. Back four or five, it’s sideways pass backwards pass tiny bit forward, repeat ad nauseum.

3 hours ago, RMH said:

No, where have you read that? We want the bloke to have the ability to adapt and change the tactical plan as the game changes. He hasn't got it. And I don't know where you got the idea that we want him to have ONE gameplan before the game.

What most of us want is for him to have a plan to break teams that sit back. If every team that plays us sits back, and they've been doing so since last season, why hasn't he got a plan to break those defences? He prepares every game as if it was going to be against a back four, but the bloke acknowledges that Sunderland, Forest, Wolves, etc change their game plan against us, why hasn't he anticipate it and prepare it for that? Is he just a one-trick pony?

Amazing isnt it, he just basically showed the world of football that he sets up to play one way, and if the opposition somehow change their way he has absolutely no f**king idea how to adapt to it. Hes just openly admitted to being an inept idiot

6 minutes ago, dkw said:

Amazing isnt it, he just basically showed the world of football that he sets up to play one way, and if the opposition somehow change their way he has absolutely no f**king idea how to adapt to it. Hes just openly admitted to being an inept idiot

I still remember when Glasner even said it’s easy to defend against us. Does Maresca change anything? Not at all, as Palace go on 3 matches on the trot taking points off us.

Like I said, this is Maresca’s ceiling and it’s simply a matter of how long BlueCo want to persist with him.

On 28/10/2025 at 05:00, SydneyChelsea said:

Please delete this thread so that Juventus and Celtic don't read it

Too late.

Spalletti new Juve manager.

5 hours ago, El regreso said:

Found this on Reddit journalists asked him a question and his answer is well ……..

Asked Enzo Maresca earlier about adapting to play against a back five and how it impacts Chelsea's preparations. Here is the lengthy answer he gave:

"This is a very good question. When we have some difficulties, we like to analyse. So in these days, we are trying to analyse all last season's games against teams that they sit back to see results, to see the game, how we can do better, how we can improve. Because we are always looking to improve.

“And probably, unless a deep switch where we drop points, all the rest [of the] teams, Leicester, Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Brentford, we won both games or we won one and we drew the other one. For sure, it's something that we need to do better.

“The thing that we need to improve and we need to learn, and it's something that I'm saying to the players every day, is now that teams, probably because of what we achieved last season, teams have changed against us. Sunderland, nine games in the Premier League, they never played with a back five from the start. Never.

"They played nine games, I watched all the nine games from Sunderland before our game. Never. They finished with a back five, they were winning 1-0, so to defend the last 10 minutes, they had a back five. But from the start, never.

“So we prepared a Sunderland game against a back four. So before the game, in the changing room, before the players go out for a warm-up, I need to tell the players, ‘Guys, all the Sunderland preparation, do like this, tac-tac-tac-tac, and put in the rubbish.’

“That's why it's so difficult. The plan for today, now, is this. In 10 minutes, we need to change the plan. So it's different when we know that team, they are [always playing with a] back five, and we prepare with back five. And it's completely different when a team is back four every time.

“So just to tell you one thing, that is a nice thing: Four weeks ago, I was in London for the LMA award. I was with Ange [Postecoglou], before he took the job with Forest. We were speaking, and I said, 'Ange, I've never seen your team play back five, apart from the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against United.'

“He started to laugh, and he said, 'I hate to play back five, but because it was the last 10 minutes, and we need to win the title. I said, OK, I don't care, we play back five.'

“We played Forest, it was a back five. And I prepared the game against a back four. So in the warm-up [they are setting up with a back five], guys, all the plan, rubbish, back five. This is difficult for the players. It's not when you know that you play against a team, that they always play a back five. OK, we prepare all week, or two, three days, for how we can win the game. And we know how to win the game.

“The problem is when you face a team, that they are back four, arrive here, back five, sit back. It's more complicated. This is the only difference.”

Blaming the opposition for not playing the way he expected them to play ?