Buying another CB will make it too crowed unless you are getting rid of two CB’s and I suspect it would be Trev

4 minutes ago, El regreso said:

Buying another CB will make it too crowed unless you are getting rid of two CB’s and I suspect it would be Trev

Colwill won’t be registered for UEFA. So the new CB could take his place then sell Badiashile/Fofana next season.

Is Laporte still good? Still hasn’t signed for anyone.

1 hour ago, Clown Lake said:

We are still stacked in defense. Why are few freaking out? Yes, we lost our best CB, but we have adequate backups. Fofana is back, if he stays fit for 10 games, thats an extra unaccounted backup for me. In case of emergency throw in Veiga back to the squad.

Veiga seems to be set to leave. He has reportedly said he wants to move to somewhere he has a regular spot. Not sure how reliable that is.

If I was him I do my best to break into this young and exciting squad we have.

8 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Colwill won’t be registered for UEFA. So the new CB could take his place then sell Badiashile/Fofana next season.

Fofana in my opinion is still our best defender if fit. And the key here IF fit. If he stays fit for the rest of the season we will be alright in defence but we all know both of us have a better chance of winning the Euro millions than Fofana staying injury free.

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Is Laporte still good? Still hasn’t signed for anyone.

His legs are wrecked.

16 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Is Laporte still good? Still hasn’t signed for anyone.

He's one of the best in the world - except I doubt he has a full half of football in him at the top level these days. We'd be signing him to keep Fofana company.

1 hour ago, SydneyChelsea said:

He's one of the best in the world - except I doubt he has a full half of football in him at the top level these days. We'd be signing him to keep Fofana company.

Id rather get Thiago back on loan for a few months as cover. doesnt the Brazilian league finishing soon?

1 hour ago, SydneyChelsea said:

He's one of the best in the world - except I doubt he has a full half of football in him at the top level these days. We'd be signing him to keep Fofana company.

I don't think he is fast enough.

Whoever play lcb for Chelsea has to be fast because either you have to play as wide cb (has to be fast) or you have to cover for cucu

Edited August 12, 2025Aug 12 by Bob stark

Is it me or the way we are playing lately is not that Maresca-ball, sideways passing, bore you to death type of football? It looks like the team is not so obsessed with keeping the ball at any cost, and we are attacking much faster, with the goalies (Sanchez on Sunday often) going for long balls for our runners. It looks more like the beginning of last season, let's hope that Maresca keeps it that way.

14 minutes ago, RMH said:

Is it me or the way we are playing lately is not that Maresca-ball, sideways passing, bore you to death type of football? It looks like the team is not so obsessed with keeping the ball at any cost, and we are attacking much faster, with the goalies (Sanchez on Sunday often) going for long balls for our runners. It looks more like the beginning of last season, let's hope that Maresca keeps it that way.

Thought the exact same thing since the Flamengo loss at the CWC, Maresca seems to have really opened the playbook up and played to our players strengths, hoping it’s a sign of things to come and he has adapted for the upcoming season!

I think our attacking play is so far removed from the boring sideways back recycle start again dross we've watched previously and its great to watch ,but our defending

seems a bit of an issue ,tighten that up and we'll be flying .COYB

32 minutes ago, RMH said:

Is it me or the way we are playing lately is not that Maresca-ball, sideways passing, bore you to death type of football? It looks like the team is not so obsessed with keeping the ball at any cost, and we are attacking much faster, with the goalies (Sanchez on Sunday often) going for long balls for our runners. It looks more like the beginning of last season, let's hope that Maresca keeps it that way.

Because the way our opp defend is very different. I have just watched our game vs leverkusen, 5 min in, Palmer was free between the line again and again.

Edited August 12, 2025Aug 12 by Bob stark

5 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

Because the way our opp defend is very different. I have just watched our game vs leverkusen, 5 min in, Palmer was free between the line again and again.

Yes, but we are going for long passes between the lines, not only for Palmer but for Joao Pedro and the wingers too, Sanchez and Jorgensen were going long more often (after Maresca said last season that if they went long he'd sub them), and our wingers are less risk averse and are trying to dribble past their defenders, even if they loose the ball, rather than stopping and going backwards. It seems like they are either not taking into consideration what Maresca tells them or it is the coach letting them more free. Hopefully, they'll keep it up in the PL, where the defensive set up of teams will be more intense.

2 min in, we have two player free in the middle.

Again, Palmer get the ball without nobody marking him, simple move and we are attacking.

Yes that is George free

3 minutes ago, RMH said:

Yes, but we are going for long passes between the lines, not only for Palmer but for Joao Pedro and the wingers too, Sanchez and Jorgensen were going long more often (after Maresca said last season that if they went long he'd sub them), and our wingers are less risk averse and are trying to dribble past their defenders, even if they loose the ball, rather than stopping and going backwards. It seems like they are either not taking into consideration what Maresca tells them or it is the coach letting them more free. Hopefully, they'll keep it up in the PL, where the defensive set up of teams will be more intense. A

I have just posted few screenshot of our game vs leverkusen. No pl team defend like this.

A simple example of last season. I picked this shot because Newcastle played 343 same as Leverkusen. As you can see here they have their lcb marking Palmer all the way in Chelsea half.

1 hour ago, RMH said:

Is it me or the way we are playing lately is not that Maresca-ball, sideways passing, bore you to death type of football? It looks like the team is not so obsessed with keeping the ball at any cost, and we are attacking much faster, with the goalies (Sanchez on Sunday often) going for long balls for our runners. It looks more like the beginning of last season, let's hope that Maresca keeps it that way.

Last season wasn't "Maresca ball". This whole forum judged Maresca on half a season of football. I took a few months off and came back to everyone here had lost their marbles.

Last season was putting the framework in. This season is when "Maresca ball" can be judged.

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

2 min in, we have two player free in the middle.

Again, Palmer get the ball without nobody marking him, simple move and we are attacking.

Yes that is George free

First screenshot the pass isn't on, so not relevant.

Second screenshot he's got a player right next to him, with two more around him.

Third screenshot is George in his own half in a none threatening position.

What is the meaning of this?

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

A simple example of last season. I picked this shot because Newcastle played 343 same as Leverkusen. As you can see here they have their lcb marking Palmer all the way in Chelsea half.

I agree and don't think we will get the same amount of space in most of these games. That being said, with the likes of Gittens/Palmer/Estevao/Neto we have attacking midfielders and wingers who are very good at beating their man. Pedro loves dropping deep, pulling CBs out of position and Delap is a good old fashioned CF who will be fighting for anything coming his way.

Last season we had Jackson/Nkunku/Guiu who didn't worry defenders nearly as much, resulting in tighter marking in the midfield too.

Well, good luck to you Maresca. No doubt heading into the season with a disrupted backline.

26 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Well, good luck to you Maresca. No doubt heading into the season with a disrupted backline.

I'm not sure Colwill is that far ahead of any potential deputy at left centre back that our whole defence is suddenly compromised by his unfortunate absence ... ?

2 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I'm not sure Colwill is that far ahead of any potential deputy at left centre back that our whole defence is suddenly compromised by his unfortunate absence ... ?

We’ll see.

Milan showed how disorganized our back line can be and I felt Colwill, for months, held the reins pretty well.

Fofana and Badiashile I just simply pretend aren’t in the squad given their availability, so we are going to rely on Chalobah + Tosin and a 19 year old this first half of the season.

I’m calling a spade a spade. Our defence is thin.

27 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

We’ll see.

Milan showed how disorganized our back line can be and I felt Colwill, for months, held the reins pretty well.

Fofana and Badiashile I just simply pretend aren’t in the squad given their availability, so we are going to rely on Chalobah + Tosin and a 19 year old this first half of the season.

I’m calling a spade a spade. Our defence is thin.

410M spent on defenders so far, we should be fine with one injury. Maresca has the tools at his disposal.

10 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

410M spent on defenders so far, we should be fine with one injury. Maresca has the tools at his disposal.

Bookmarked.