38 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Why does the strategy need to change?

If that is what they think should happen, then I am fine with it. We are buying some seriously talented players....good players. Potential best in class.

The issue is the way the manager is playing them, which from what I can see plays to none of their strengths (perhaps with the exception of cucurella and jackson)

If you think that the strategy is fine, then you should accept that Maresca is the right coach. They are buying potential in both cases. For every Maresca, you've got a Jackson.

33 minutes ago, RMH said:

If you think that the strategy is fine, then you should accept that Maresca is the right coach. They are buying potential in both cases. For every Maresca, you've got a Jackson.

No - I think the issue is Maresca.

I think we have some world class players . The likes of James, Caicedo and Palmer are all top top players. We then have others who, when used correctly and fit and also very good (Fofana, Nkunku), and a supporting cast of adequete players to support (Colwill, Cucu, Enzo, Madueke, Neto, Chalobah).

The squad that has been assembled by the SD's is more than good enough to compete and push towards the top of the league. You dont have to like the structure, but the fundementals of the squad are decent.

The problem is that Maresca is coaching them very poorly, and he has us playing in a slow, stagnent and predictable manner which is easy to play against. It is the style and snails pace of our predictable play that is the biggest problem. Not the profile of the players we have.

I think in every functioning and successful club every part of the club needs to work in the same direction and every part of it needs to work well.

We don't have this.

Sort of an easy fix is the football side works but I personally don't see us being a top side until the age profile and experience-levels in the Premier League are where they need to be.

This is why I don't necessarily see changing the coach being the solution here. It can evolve to something better with Enzo and many of these young lads. Under him the worlds most expensive midfield pairing has been better. It has actually worked for the first time. Either it is due to the system or those two are playing better together with time.

It remains to be seen I guess.

Enzo's work would be easier if the fans backed the young side and what he is trying to do instead of what we have. Again this is not criticism towards fans just a simple fact.

1 hour ago, The Boehly Babes said:

It was ‘Shag your Sisters mind in your Mums body or Mums mind in your Sisters body’ around here. I promise I don’t live in Alabama.

Why not both?

3 minutes ago, evissy said:

I think in every functioning and successful club every part of the club needs to work in the same direction and every part of it needs to work well.

We don't have this.

Sort of an easy fix is the football side works but I personally don't see us being a top side until the age profile and experience-levels in the Premier League are where they need to be.

This is why I don't necessarily see changing the coach being the solution here. It can evolve to something better with Enzo and many of these young lads. Under him the worlds most expensive midfield pairing has been better. It has actually worked for the first time. Either it is due to the system or those two are playing better together with time.

It remains to be seen I guess.

Enzo's work would be easier if the fans backed the young side and what he is trying to do instead of what we have. Again this is not criticism towards fans just a simple fact.

hey Evissy,

See Sir Lamps words in this article from the time before on the BBC... Not a long time ago. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65407430

Lampard is Chelsea's third manager this season, after Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, and the fans' frustrations at an expensively assembled squad losing while once again barely laying a glove on their opponent was apparent as the few still in Stamford Bridge at full-time greeted the whistle with boos.

"I've no problem with that, completely understand it," Lampard told BBC Sport, of the Chelsea supporters making their feelings known.

"I know these fans very well and they stick by their team. They feel down because they are used to success and they want that success all the time as we all do. I absolutely understand it, we as players and staff have to take it on the chin because they want results.

======

For his sp*rs sins, Poch got us playing some ball. We were moving in a direction that culminated in his departure and we have fallen off a cliff form wise since Maresca got his ideas 100 percent across.

Goals make fans happy and we're struggling to score again. What a difference four months make from second to where we are. I think that is the cause for fan disillusionment.

We have backed this side. Even sang we got our chelsea back... but what has happened since December is a pretty epic decline in standards this group of players set. We know they can play, we saw them move to 2nd in the league, now, those same players are having a torrid time. That's where we're at.

Enzo needs to correct the slump in form... if he does that he might win the fans back. who knows, but from CL certainty to potentially no european football at all.

44 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

No - I think the issue is Maresca.

I think we have some world class players . The likes of James, Caicedo and Palmer are all top top players. We then have others who, when used correctly and fit and also very good (Fofana, Nkunku), and a supporting cast of adequete players to support (Colwill, Cucu, Enzo, Madueke, Neto, Chalobah).

The squad that has been assembled by the SD's is more than good enough to compete and push towards the top of the league. You dont have to like the structure, but the fundementals of the squad are decent.

The problem is that Maresca is coaching them very poorly, and he has us playing in a slow, stagnent and predictable manner which is easy to play against. It is the style and snails pace of our predictable play that is the biggest problem. Not the profile of the players we have.

Fair enough, you're willing to give more slack to a lazy twat as Nkunku but are on top of Jackson all the time when he at least cares. And are happy with the mediocrity of our team, but don't accept mediocrity on the coach. At least you're consistent in your inconsistency.

We'll have to agree to disagree, because I don't think that the team the SDs have assembled is good enough to push towards the top of the league, and the last three seasons' league positions don't lie. And we are not lower in the league because the top teams have been very inconsistent this season.

"I've no problem with that, completely understand it," Lampard told BBC Sport, of the Chelsea supporters making their feelings known.

"I know these fans very well and they stick by their team. They feel down because they are used to success and they want that success all the time as we all do. I absolutely understand it, we as players and staff have to take it on the chin because they want results.

I 100% agree with this however the circumstances are not what they were. Lamps, Mikel, Cole and others that work for mouthpieces for the media are the children of Roman era. They are not pre-Roman era or post-Roman era products. They also know you (us) well. We are used to having a top side with top EXPERIENCED players. We don't have that. We have BlueCo with a plan to develop top young players to hopefully a top side. But it takes time.

Either we live with the idea or use all our energy here shouting and bickering about it.

Enzo seems to be a bit or a watershed here. Some would give him time and mostly this forum won't. I'd like to see a post-Roman era decision here to stick with the coach and let time do its job. Maybe we crash and burn next season or we hopefully evolve.

He said he has no ability to play any other brand of football which to me is a ballsy statement. We also implemented his style later on in the season which can't be easy for him or the players. I think it was a calculated risk and a decision made with the board and directors. Again it is in line with the talks he gave about not having a concrete target for the season.

Just now, evissy said:

"I've no problem with that, completely understand it," Lampard told BBC Sport, of the Chelsea supporters making their feelings known.

"I know these fans very well and they stick by their team. They feel down because they are used to success and they want that success all the time as we all do. I absolutely understand it, we as players and staff have to take it on the chin because they want results.

I 100% agree with this however the circumstances are not what they were. Lamps, Mikel, Cole and others that work for mouthpieces for the media are the children of Roman era. They are not pre-Roman era or post-Roman era products. They also know you (us) well. We are used to having a top side with top EXPERIENCED players. We don't have that. We have BlueCo with a plan to develop top young players to hopefully a top side. But it takes time.

Either we live with the idea or use all our energy here shouting and bickering about it.

Enzo seems to be a bit or a watershed here. Some would give him time and mostly this forum won't. I'd like to see a post-Roman era decision here to stick with the coach and let time do its job. Maybe we crash and burn next season or we hopefully evolve.

He said he has no ability to play any other brand of football which to me is a ballsy statement. We also implemented his style later on in the season which can't be easy for him or the players. I think it was a calculated risk and a decision made with the board and directors. Again it is in line with the talks he gave about not having a concrete target for the season.

that wasnt really my point, nor was I bringing Roman into this. Seeming as you have... At no point did Roman sack as many managers as Blue co have in the past three years unless my aging brain is forgetting something. So, blue co are currently more trigger happy than Roman ever was.

The real point i was trying to make was fans were right behind this team, even sang Marescas name, We were second, we were flying, we were beating teams in the division and scoring lots of goals and were being super competitive despite having a dodgy defence... Now, were looking at another pretty abject season and potentially finishing worse off than last.

We have seen Blue co do not stick to their own plans... from signing players on big wages and handing out contract extensions to farming said players out on loan to offering huge contracts to managers and then sacking them or letting them go.

Love the optomism but feel its slightly misplaced.

Hi everyone, just popping in after a long time away, though don't expect to be remembered as I didn't post much...

Anyway, the current state of CFC is once again quite concerning, so I just want to say my piece on the Head Coach.

First off, I'm not a massive fan of Pepball and the dozens of clones it has spawned. I think I've been overexposed to it for years now. I just think it's overdone, quite boring and I believe the signs are starting to show in terms of it having had its day in the sun. I'm quite neutral on Maresca himself. Don't love him, don't hate him. Hasn't been helped by our inconsistent transfer strategy, but he hasn't helped himself either. He's got his Plan A and that's it, and the issue with said Plan A is that it exposes all of our major weaknesses when it goes wrong. We have only got one style of play from what I am seeing.

This is Chelsea Football Club. For a club of our size, for the transfer fees we dish out, and the wages EM is most definitely on, we should be able to play in whatever style a game might call for at any given moment. Both the players and the Head Coach should be more than comfortable with a switch up in play style at any given time - this is Premier League football halfway through the 2020s. I appreciate that it's looking likely he'll be able to get us back into the top six, and call me entitled, but that's not good enough for this club. Nothing against him but I'm not sure if he should be our long term answer. Hope he proves me wrong.

He's not the only problem but he is far from blameless.

20 minutes ago, evissy said:

"IWe have BlueCo with a plan to develop top young players to hopefully a top side. But it takes time.

Either we live with the idea or use all our energy here shouting and bickering about it.

Enzo seems to be a bit or a watershed here. Some would give him time and mostly this forum won't. I'd like to see a post-Roman era decision here to stick with the coach and let time do its job. Maybe we crash and burn next season or we hopefully evolve.

He said he has no ability to play any other brand of football which to me is a ballsy statement. We also implemented his style later on in the season which can't be easy for him or the players. I think it was a calculated risk and a decision made with the board and directors. Again it is in line with the talks he gave about not having a concrete target for the season.

• Some would argue that he also has no ability to play THIS brand of football.... He has failed to get us playing well.....

24 minutes ago, evissy said:

"I've no problem with that, completely understand it," Lampard told BBC Sport, of the Chelsea supporters making their feelings known.

"I know these fans very well and they stick by their team. They feel down because they are used to success and they want that success all the time as we all do. I absolutely understand it, we as players and staff have to take it on the chin because they want results.

I 100% agree with this however the circumstances are not what they were. Lamps, Mikel, Cole and others that work for mouthpieces for the media are the children of Roman era. They are not pre-Roman era or post-Roman era products. They also know you (us) well. We are used to having a top side with top EXPERIENCED players. We don't have that. We have BlueCo with a plan to develop top young players to hopefully a top side. But it takes time.

Either we live with the idea or use all our energy here shouting and bickering about it.

Enzo seems to be a bit or a watershed here. Some would give him time and mostly this forum won't. I'd like to see a post-Roman era decision here to stick with the coach and let time do its job. Maybe we crash and burn next season or we hopefully evolve.

He said he has no ability to play any other brand of football which to me is a ballsy statement. We also implemented his style later on in the season which can't be easy for him or the players. I think it was a calculated risk and a decision made with the board and directors. Again it is in line with the talks he gave about not having a concrete target for the season.

My issue is of all the coaches we have had under these new owners, Enzo is the last one I would want to give time to.

2 hours ago, The Boehly Babes said:

It was ‘Shag your Sisters mind in your Mums body or Mums mind in your Sisters body’ around here. I promise I don’t live in Alabama.

That's just plain wrong!!

Prefer the lest incestuous one - half woman / half fish (mermaid). Would you rather shag the one with fishes upper body & head or fishes lower body?!

He can big up being in Top 4 for half of the season but to completely bottle it and drop out where we could end up finishing 8th is down to him as well.

1 hour ago, evissy said:

I think in every functioning and successful club every part of the club needs to work in the same direction and every part of it needs to work well.

We don't have this.

Sort of an easy fix is the football side works but I personally don't see us being a top side until the age profile and experience-levels in the Premier League are where they need to be.

This is why I don't necessarily see changing the coach being the solution here. It can evolve to something better with Enzo and many of these young lads. Under him the worlds most expensive midfield pairing has been better. It has actually worked for the first time. Either it is due to the system or those two are playing better together with time.

It remains to be seen I guess.

Enzo's work would be easier if the fans backed the young side and what he is trying to do instead of what we have. Again this is not criticism towards fans just a simple fact.

We dont need to be a top side right away....just need to see some progress on the pitch, and a coach who is working to get the best out of the top talent he has at his disposable (even if they are not all quite world beaters yet).

This is why the coach needs to change... Enzo has not shown any ability to get them to change this slow and stagnant football, nor does he want to change (he has admitted it). Therefore ...get rid.

28 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

He can big up being in Top 4 for half of the season but to completely bottle it and drop out where we could end up finishing 8th is down to him as well.

Being in the top 4 most of the season actually makes bottling it way worse!

It really isn't the flex he thinks it is.

38 minutes ago, Nibs said:

That's just plain wrong!!

Prefer the lest incestuous one - half woman / half fish (mermaid). Would you rather shag the one with fishes upper body & head or fishes lower body?!

Def fish head, ladies body combo. All of the fun...but with none of the talking back....

Edited April 17, 20251 yr by nonotnowjim

Maresca - "I'm not going to change."

If it wasn't easy already to defend against us, now he's made it even more.

3 hours ago, Nibs said:

Jesus, that's like when you were with your mates when you were kids and it would be "would you rather lose and arm or a leg or would you rather be deaf or blind"!!!

although Jackson often plays like he’s deaf, blind and missing limbs I’d rather him than maresca ball. He only ever should have been a back up striker, he can be a handful and cause problems anywhere up top off the bench and is still young enough to gain composure but I can’t do maresca ball. 25 passes just to get it out ur box is utter nonsense.

1 hour ago, Nibs said:

That's just plain wrong!!

Prefer the lest incestuous one - half woman / half fish (mermaid). Would you rather shag the one with fishes upper body & head or fishes lower body?!

1 hour ago, Remodez said:

My issue is of all the coaches we have had under these new owners, Enzo is the last one I would want to give time to.

This is exactly it. Poch is the one I would have given time to, other than Super TT of course. Poch ended his season strongly, is a proven project builder, and in my opinion he deserved a crack at the Europa Conference. It just seemed to be clicking when he was sacked.

The way it's looking, I don't think binning him off has helped us make any progress.

1 hour ago, AlienX said:

This is exactly it. Poch is the one I would have given time to, other than Super TT of course. Poch ended his season strongly, is a proven project builder, and in my opinion he deserved a crack at the Europa Conference. It just seemed to be clicking when he was sacked.

The way it's looking, I don't think binning him off has helped us make any progress.

Poch didnt show sufficient progress either. Sure, results at the end of the season had picked up, but that only ever told half the story. Go and watch Chelsea vs Forest. We won the game - but it was some of the worst football we had seen. This was a consistent issue. The players dragged us through those final games, despite Poch, not because of him.

Yeah get him the f*ck out of this club.

We have Fulham away and we decide to put out all of our best players here in a dead rubber, only to play awful and likely lose anyway, completely bottling any chance of CL football at this rate.