No matter how much people try to put all the blame on Maresca, it still does not change the fact that if you think about our situation with a clear head and leave the hatred aside, you will understand that no other manager would do that much better with the current set of defensive options.

Another manager would probably make the team score more? Probably. But would anybody make this team look half decent at the back? I absolutely think nobody would. The current set of center backs are a complete joke and there is only one defensive midfielder to protect them (Caicedo) and he looks like he is alone to protect that area all the time. The lack of a quality player to complement Caicedo in midfield is shocking, after all the money invested.

The sporting directors and the owners must understand that you can't build a block of flats on top of a foundation made of toothpicks... You can have the best talent in the world up front, nothing can be done to progress when Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile and Fofana are the heart of your defence. Trully embarrassing set of center backs.

I'd sell ALL of these clowns at the back next summer. ALL of Chalobah, Fofana, Tosin, Badiashile and Disasi and get Guehi on a free first. Colwill will be back as well and with the money we get on all those clowns I would concentrate on a couple of really quality center backs. I'd also sell Delap while his stock in English football is high and look for a really good striker. The guy is simply a 1970 type of striker that has nothing to do playing for a big club in this era of football. Enough with the experiments in that area, I know the market in that position is not as good as it has been before, but surely there are some good strikers out there that can do the job. And finally bring somebody like Wharton, Tonali, Guimaraes or others to complement Caicedo in midfield. A fit Lavia would have been amazing but that f**ker can't stay fit for five minutes...

His public complaints about a lack of experience in the squad, failure to turn up at the press conference and the clueless performances all add up to big trouble behind the scenes.

The owners maybe looking how Arteta has learned on the job over 3 to 4 seasons but I don't remember Arsenal having the above mentioned problems.

The first time I saw Maresca talk to the press as Chelsea manager he was all laughs and smiles and telling jokes. He's not serious enough. I bet he let's things slide in training. The discipline problem is a big clue to how tight his grip on the team really is. I think his lack of managerial ability is much more to blame for the poor results than the squad ability or depth. Get Lavia and Colwill back playing and we are good. We should be top 4 now.

There's really no point in continuing with him if he's not committed to the current squad and turning up to press conferences. JT and JM now!

He’s the first in a long line of dominos that have to fall to get us back to being a serious football team.

People can complain about the recruitment, and yes, on the whole it hasn’t been good enough at all BUT we’ve enough World Class players in a strongest XI to easily breeze into the Top 4.

For the record, I view Reece James as the best RB in football, Cole Palmer as someone who would walk into any other PL XI & Caicedo as 1a/b as the best PL CM alongside Declan Rice. That’s basically a 1/3rd of a starting lineup being the best in their position in the league/world.

Our issue at the moment is

a) Maresca refuses to line up our best available XI together

b) Maresca refuses to adapt his formation/tactics to suit said World Class players and instead shoehorns them into a side built around Gusto, Enzo & Neto

c) STOP with this inverted bullsh*t and start overlapping the fullbacks which in turn will make our below par wingers better as they aren’t isolated 1v1 in every attacking phase of the game.

Injuries aside lining up as below is a team EASILY good enough for Top 4, which is down to the manager not the recruitment (Eghbali, Winstanley & Stewart also need to go but that’s a different thread)

Sanchez

James Levi Fofana Cucu

Caicedo Santos

Palmer JP Estevao

Wacko or Delap

Edited December 31, 2025Dec 31 by The Boehly Babes

2 hours ago, petre ispirescu said:

No matter how much people try to put all the blame on Maresca, it still does not change the fact that if you think about our situation with a clear head and leave the hatred aside, you will understand that no other manager would do that much better with the current set of defensive options.

Another manager would probably make the team score more? Probably. But would anybody make this team look half decent at the back? I absolutely think nobody would. The current set of center backs are a complete joke and there is only one defensive midfielder to protect them (Caicedo) and he looks like he is alone to protect that area all the time. The lack of a quality player to complement Caicedo in midfield is shocking, after all the money invested.

The sporting directors and the owners must understand that you can't build a block of flats on top of a foundation made of toothpicks... You can have the best talent in the world up front, nothing can be done to progress when Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile and Fofana are the heart of your defence. Trully embarrassing set of center backs.

I'd sell ALL of these clowns at the back next summer. ALL of Chalobah, Fofana, Tosin, Badiashile and Disasi and get Guehi on a free first. Colwill will be back as well and with the money we get on all those clowns I would concentrate on a couple of really quality center backs. I'd also sell Delap while his stock in English football is high and look for a really good striker. The guy is simply a 1970 type of striker that has nothing to do playing for a big club in this era of football. Enough with the experiments in that area, I know the market in that position is not as good as it has been before, but surely there are some good strikers out there that can do the job. And finally bring somebody like Wharton, Tonali, Guimaraes or others to complement Caicedo in midfield. A fit Lavia would have been amazing but that f**ker can't stay fit for five minutes...

Sorry, I disagree.

Prior to our past 3 games where we have conceded 5 goals we had the 3rd best defence in the league, granted Sanchez has played a big part in that but it’s no different to Donnarumma at City or Raya at Arsenal. Bear in mind we also achieved this while constantly swapping our defenders around.

Our CBs are not elite by any means but they are still good enough to achieve the goal of top 4. No one is telling Maresca to play Badishille ahead of Acheampong, he’s doing this to himself.

The defensive midfielder situation and resulting massive gaps in midfield and where Cucu/gusto should be are also his down to his own making by turning our fullbacks into attacking mids and instructing Enzo to attack the box. Yes Lavia is gone but you can achieve the same set up just by using Santos instead.

I think we would look better overall with another manager simply cause they would keep things very simple and just play the players in their best positions. If Maresca himself did this I am 99% certain we will improve but he seems too stubborn so get someone who will.

We have a good foundation, no thanks of course to Clearlake. The foundation we are relying upon now are either cobham graduates or players bought by Bohley. Vast majority of players bought by Clearlake are simply chipping away at this foundation rather than contributing which is why we are where we are now.

4 minutes ago, Remodez said:

Sorry, I disagree.

Prior to our past 3 games where we have conceded 5 goals we had the 3rd best defence in the league, granted Sanchez has played a big part in that but it’s no different to Donnarumma at City or Raya at Arsenal. Bear in mind we also achieved this while constantly swapping our defenders around.

Our CBs are not elite by any means but they are still good enough to achieve the goal of top 4. No one is telling Maresca to play Badishille ahead of Acheampong, he’s doing this to himself.

The defensive midfielder situation and resulting massive gaps in midfield and where Cucu/gusto should be are also his down to his own making by turning our fullbacks into attacking mids and instructing Enzo to attack the box. Yes Lavia is gone but you can achieve the same set up just by using Santos instead.

I think we would look better overall with another manager simply cause they would keep things very simple and just play the players in their best positions. If Maresca himself did this I am 99% certain we will improve but he seems too stubborn so get someone who will.

We have a good foundation, no thanks of course to Clearlake. The foundation we are relying upon now are either cobham graduates or players bought by Bohley. Vast majority of players bought by Clearlake are simply chipping away at this foundation rather than contributing which is why we are where we are now.

Ive been amazed this season that the defenders are being asked to risk playing the ball between each other to suck in a press. Ive lost count of how many goals and chances it has led to. If Sanchez can go from bozo to decent keeper by simply doing goalkeeper things and not being asked to play out all the time from the back, why can this extend to defenders who's job it is to stop players and balls going in the net. Beyond me.

10 years ago, a ball playing centre back would literally pick the ball up and play a simple pass to a player. Terry had an ability to launch a ball both feet. Now they have to be able to play keep ball for 10 yeards between themselves slap bang in the midfield area in front of goal. Everything as a young geezer we were told not to do.

4 hours ago, petre ispirescu said:

No matter how much people try to put all the blame on Maresca, it still does not change the fact that if you think about our situation with a clear head and leave the hatred aside, you will understand that no other manager would do that much better with the current set of defensive options.

Another manager would probably make the team score more? Probably. But would anybody make this team look half decent at the back? I absolutely think nobody would. The current set of center backs are a complete joke and there is only one defensive midfielder to protect them (Caicedo) and he looks like he is alone to protect that area all the time. The lack of a quality player to complement Caicedo in midfield is shocking, after all the money invested.

The sporting directors and the owners must understand that you can't build a block of flats on top of a foundation made of toothpicks... You can have the best talent in the world up front, nothing can be done to progress when Chalobah, Tosin, Badiashile and Fofana are the heart of your defence. Trully embarrassing set of center backs.

I'd sell ALL of these clowns at the back next summer. ALL of Chalobah, Fofana, Tosin, Badiashile and Disasi and get Guehi on a free first. Colwill will be back as well and with the money we get on all those clowns I would concentrate on a couple of really quality center backs. I'd also sell Delap while his stock in English football is high and look for a really good striker. The guy is simply a 1970 type of striker that has nothing to do playing for a big club in this era of football. Enough with the experiments in that area, I know the market in that position is not as good as it has been before, but surely there are some good strikers out there that can do the job. And finally bring somebody like Wharton, Tonali, Guimaraes or others to complement Caicedo in midfield. A fit Lavia would have been amazing but that f**ker can't stay fit for five minutes...

This is difficult to prove one way or another, with little empirical data to draw comparisons from. Except possibly, for Lampard's first stint with us having to score three a game just to get a draw, Rudiger like Bambi on ice, so much that Frank couldn't risk putting him on the pitch.

And then Tuchel took over and for the rest of that season and we conceded 16 goals. Up until the West Brom game, his 15th in charge, we had conceded 2 goals.

There is a lot to be said for organisation and structure.

Edited December 31, 2025Dec 31 by WhiteWall

2 hours ago, Remodez said:

Sorry, I disagree.

Prior to our past 3 games where we have conceded 5 goals we had the 3rd best defence in the league, granted Sanchez has played a big part in that but it’s no different to Donnarumma at City or Raya at Arsenal. Bear in mind we also achieved this while constantly swapping our defenders around.

Our CBs are not elite by any means but they are still good enough to achieve the goal of top 4. No one is telling Maresca to play Badishille ahead of Acheampong, he’s doing this to himself.

The defensive midfielder situation and resulting massive gaps in midfield and where Cucu/gusto should be are also his down to his own making by turning our fullbacks into attacking mids and instructing Enzo to attack the box. Yes Lavia is gone but you can achieve the same set up just by using Santos instead.

I think we would look better overall with another manager simply cause they would keep things very simple and just play the players in their best positions. If Maresca himself did this I am 99% certain we will improve but he seems too stubborn so get someone who will.

We have a good foundation, no thanks of course to Clearlake. The foundation we are relying upon now are either cobham graduates or players bought by Bohley. Vast majority of players bought by Clearlake are simply chipping away at this foundation rather than contributing which is why we are where we are now.

That team had lots of experience to begin with and some really top players as the core. Azpi had won a league title with Conte playing as RCB, Thiago Silva was still at the top of his game and not just a washed up legend, Chilwell had just come from Leicester as one of the best full backs in European football, James was probably the best young right back in Europe and they all had Kante and Jorginho at their peak years in front of them.

Rudiger, I agree, looked like a clown and it was Tuchel's magic that transformed him into a top player.

Who in this team apart from Cucurella, James and Caicedo can a new manager build his core on? I mean the defensive structure. Two full backs and a defensive midfielder. That's it. If you think any manager can make Badiashile, Disasi, Chalobah, Fofana and Tosin look like decent players, it's fine. But I do not see it. Azpi, Thiago Silva, Chilwell, James, Kante, Jorginho were having a hard time under Lampard, but at least they had a history of being top players, won big things, Tuchel just had to use some mind tricks and steady the ship by changing the formation.

Here I just don't see it in Chalobah, Fofana, Tosin, Badiashile and Disasi to ever be top players, no matter the manager they have.

Chelsea insider🕵️‍♂️ who was at the game tonight:

“Enzo Maresca’s position is under review, and Chelsea owners Clearlake Capital are already speaking to a potential new manager who is currently managing another club”

16 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Chelsea insider🕵️‍♂️ who was at the game tonight:

“Enzo Maresca’s position is under review, and Chelsea owners Clearlake Capital are already speaking to a potential new manager who is currently managing another club”

Are you seriously posting from this bloke again? I thought you learned the first time! 😂

Scraping CL qualification with the lowest possible points total is probably all part of some grand BlueCo plan to minimise the player bonus payments while still getting on the CL gravy train ... not quite sure where having no front of shirt sponsor fits into the financial model though LOL.

Just now, timetowaste said:

Glasner won't come here to work under these directors. He genuinely almost walked out of Palace if they sold Guehi.

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Glasner won't come here to work under these directors. He genuinely almost walked out of Palace if they sold Guehi.

And fell out with his sporting director at Frankfurt, Markus Krosche, for the exact same reason, experience over kids. Granted it is AI sourced but:

26 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Glasner won't come here to work under these directors. He genuinely almost walked out of Palace if they sold Guehi.

Hopefully, wouldn't particularly want Glasner but it's better than having Maresca.

Sky Sports reporting he could be gone if results don’t improve in January.

I think he’s already gone, which leaves a big concern in who dumb and dumber employ next!

I’d hope there’s some lessons learnt and the next coach gets a little more say and a couple of experienced heads in the team, but Christmas has been and gone 😣

5 minutes ago, DukesOfHazard said:

Sky Sports reporting he could be gone if results don’t improve in January.

I think he’s already gone, which leaves a big concern in who dumb and dumber employ next!

I’d hope there’s some lessons learnt and the next coach gets a little more say and a couple of experienced heads in the team, but Christmas has been and gone 😣

Watch us go for Marco Silva

1 minute ago, loz said:

Watch us go for Marco Silva

Wouldn’t put it past them.

1 hour ago, JM7 said:

Chelsea insider🕵️‍♂️ who was at the game tonight:

“Enzo Maresca’s position is under review, and Chelsea owners Clearlake Capital are already speaking to a potential new manager who is currently managing another club”

Welcome Liam Rosenior! ;)

12 minutes ago, DukesOfHazard said:

Sky Sports reporting he could be gone if results don’t improve in January.

I think he’s already gone, which leaves a big concern in who dumb and dumber employ next!

I’d hope there’s some lessons learnt and the next coach gets a little more say and a couple of experienced heads in the team, but Christmas has been and gone 😣

If and when they replace Maresca it will be with somebody who is willing to work under the constraints of their project and with the existing Sporting Directors. So that would rule out most serious candidates. I am pretty sure that Maresca has effectively dug his own hole out of the club with those comments earlier in December about not being backed. Under Blueco, I think that was more damaging to his future at the club than the current run of results.

9 minutes ago, DukesOfHazard said:

Sky Sports reporting he could be gone if results don’t improve in January.

I think he’s already gone, which leaves a big concern in who dumb and dumber employ next!

I’d hope there’s some lessons learnt and the next coach gets a little more say and a couple of experienced heads in the team, but Christmas has been and gone 😣

City will smash us and Fulham away is a tricky one. Charlton away I think we will do just fine and then Arsenal in the EFL semis and you would expect Arsenal to rest some players as they play a lot of important matches in January.

Even if we don't beat Fulham and get a draw, I think the board will give Maresca the Arsenal semi and if in that case they knock us out, they will sack him because everything will be way too toxic at the club after that.

4 minutes ago, petre ispirescu said:

City will smash us and Fulham away is a tricky one. Charlton away I think we will do just fine and then Arsenal in the EFL semis and you would expect Arsenal to rest some players as they play a lot of important matches in January.

Even if we don't beat Fulham and get a draw, I think the board will give Maresca the Arsenal semi and if in that case they knock us out, they will sack him because everything will be way too toxic at the club after that.

Hard to know for sure, but with games coming thick and fast (9 in January) there wouldn't be much of a gap anywhere to allow a new manager to settle in anyway. In the past we often navigated these situations because the squad was full of leaders. With this young, fragile group I think there is a high risk the season goes to trash regardless of replacement unless Maresca manages to turn things around. If we have a poor January we could be out of both domestic cups, out of contention for top 4, and throwing all our hopes into progress in the Champs League via playoff. Similar to how things looked under Potter/Lampard.

I've always maintained that if they sack Maresca they wouldn't go for anyone better. That being said, whoever comes in now will at least try his very best to impress and will probably want to play his best players in their best positions to get results.

Sounds basic but we don't even get that with Maresca.

He seems to want out and isn't bothering about getting a win anytime soon.

39 minutes ago, loz said:

Watch us go for Marco Silva

He's actually a decent coach to be fair, wouldn't mind seeing what he could do with top players