Excuses about the squad just don’t cut it. We’ve spent the money, we have the players.

What we don’t have is a competent coach, we’ve got a scared yes man.

That simply is all it is.

If we were getting these results but playing an entertaining brand of football, I presume a lot would look the other way and see it as progress.

But outside of CP going rogue we are the 2nd most boring team to watch in the PL, our results are mid table form and what is the f**king point spending a whole season ‘to get into next years CL’ when you’re going to set up and perform like that.

I’d say we’re in danger of slipping into mediocrity but on reflection we’re already there.

This isn’t Chelsea anymore, it’s a sad sad imitation.

22 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

I find it baffling that we aren't playing a midfield two of Santos and Caicedo.

His view that Santos is the Enzo backup is so confusing and James is the backup for Lavia/Essugo just hampers us further.

Enzo Caicedo Santos would be our best midfield. That at least gives us the structure that aligns with how he's trying to play.

IT MAKES YOU WONDER IF COCO THE CLOWN IS BEING TOLD TO PLAY ENZO IF FIT, WE LOOK A BETTER TEAM IF LAVIA OR SANTOS PLAYS ALONGSIDE CAICEDO, THE OWNERS ARE DESPERATE TO SELL EITHER OR BOTH OF SANTOS AND LAVIA.

20 minutes ago, Zeta said:

I'm just so tired. I have no enthusiasm for Chelsea any more. Maybe i'm just getting old. But I can't stop myself watching, because I have to watch. But then I just feel either nothing, or annoyed.

I said I would give him 10 games before I deprioritised Chelsea he’s actually done it quicker for me. I have switched off all football news I have zero interest in football now. Maresca has killed my passion for Chelsea.

I will continue to say this:

There is no version of Maresca football that wins us CL or PL, NONE!!

26 minutes ago, Zeta said:

I'm just so tired. I have no enthusiasm for Chelsea any more. Maybe i'm just getting old. But I can't stop myself watching, because I have to watch. But then I just feel either nothing, or annoyed.

Yep. If it wasn't for Cole Palmer, it would be 100 x worse. Palmer literally is the best thing about watching CFC at the moment. The worry is, he will wake up one morning and think "f**k this, I can do better".

We need a coach who can play to Palmer's strengths and get more out of this young squad. Picking the right side would be a start FFS.

56 minutes ago, El regreso said:

I said I would give him 10 games before I deprioritised Chelsea he’s actually done it quicker for me. I have switched off all football news I have zero interest in football now. Maresca has killed my passion for Chelsea.

I will continue to say this:

There is no version of Maresca football that wins us CL or PL, NONE!!

Well this is dramatic. Killing your passion for Chelsea off the back of 14 months in charge, when we've had plenty of sh*ttier 14 month periods isn't something I understand. I'll keep watching my team, it's near on impossible to switch off my interest and support of Chelsea after 30 years of following them through thick and then.

Bye-bye for now!

1 hour ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

IT MAKES YOU WONDER IF COCO THE CLOWN IS BEING TOLD TO PLAY ENZO IF FIT, WE LOOK A BETTER TEAM IF LAVIA OR SANTOS PLAYS ALONGSIDE CAICEDO, THE OWNERS ARE DESPERATE TO SELL EITHER OR BOTH OF SANTOS AND LAVIA.

No I don't think so. Enzo F is someone that coaches like more than fans. He runs, works hard, does what he's told. Maresca makes lots of selection decisions that conflict with what the SDs thunk, e.g. tyrique George, Chalobah.

My frustration is just that he thinks James is better in that role next to Caicedo, rather than Santos. That I don't understand.

Just now, Shweaves said:

Well this is dramatic. Killing your passion for Chelsea off the back of 14 months in charge, when we've had plenty of sh*ttier 14 month periods isn't something I understand. I'll keep watching my team, it's near on impossible to switch off my interest and support of Chelsea after 30 years of following them through thick and then.

Bye-bye for now!

It is a bit weird isn't it. We lost against one of the best sides in Europe in their backyard in September in a competition we haven't qualified for in quite a while now. We didn't play great, but we weren't humiliated.

And why you'd turn off Chelsea now when we've got the special one returning to the bridge in a few weeks makes no sense 😂

7 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

It is a bit weird isn't it. We lost against one of the best sides in Europe in their backyard in September in a competition we haven't qualified for in quite a while now. We didn't play great, but we weren't humiliated.

And why you'd turn off Chelsea now when we've got the special one returning to the bridge in a few weeks makes no sense 😂

By no means did I get any encouragement from last night's game. We were totally outclassed and other than Palmer's goal, had no positive take aways.

I just know come Saturday I'll be watching and cheering us on anyway. To me, that's part and parcel of being a fan. Oh, and it was definitely worse under the dreadful Potter/Frank period. And I despised the FSW. Still watched and supported Chelsea throughout those times, mind...

1 hour ago, El regreso said:

I said I would give him 10 games before I deprioritised Chelsea he’s actually done it quicker for me. I have switched off all football news I have zero interest in football now. Maresca has killed my passion for Chelsea.

I will continue to say this:

There is no version of Maresca football that wins us CL or PL, NONE!!

Its bad but its not thaaaaat bad. I think the bigger issue with Chelsea is off the pitch.

Signing injury prone and raw players for high fees who are not ready.

Maresca is not the worst coach we've had but if we lose to Man Utd, ill change my tune.

23 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

It is a bit weird isn't it. We lost against one of the best sides in Europe in their backyard in September in a competition we haven't qualified for in quite a while now. We didn't play great, but we weren't humiliated.

And why you'd turn off Chelsea now when we've got the special one returning to the bridge in a few weeks makes no sense 😂

When you play a similar style of football against every team and keep looking lifeless outside of flashes of individual brilliance, irrespective of their quality, it's a sign you've a problem in your playstyle. Defensive sloppiness gifting goals still happening a year, across lots of players, it purely down to coaching.

We play a stifling style of football that is a big leveller but in the modern game where this tactic has been around for decades, it's not going to win you the big competitions without a rock solid defence and clinical attacks. The flashes of 20 minutes or so where we look great and high tempo (usually after things have already gone wrong) before we settle back into our slow style shows that we have the potential for more effective, more exciting football but the players are held back by the tactics.

28 minutes ago, Shweaves said:

Well this is dramatic. Killing your passion for Chelsea off the back of 14 months in charge, when we've had plenty of sh*ttier 14 month periods isn't something I understand. I'll keep watching my team, it's near on impossible to switch off my interest and support of Chelsea after 30 years of following them through thick and then.

Bye-bye for now!

I am at point in life where I don’t waste time on things that will aggravate or annoy me and at this point Maresca and is boring stupid football is doing just that. For my happiness I can simply check the scores and move on. Nothing is going to change with this ideological manager in charge.

Don’t get it confused with not loving my club because that doesn’t change and It never will but I refuse to continually get annnoy and frustrated by this sh*t manager.

I know frustration and annoyance is part of football but this is different to me. During all our previous sh*t years I never switched off. We have a Pep lite manager who refuses to adjust or change his approach because “ my approach is best” and has only one way to play. He is blindly stubborn and will not shift his ways even when you see it’s struggling. He my adjust it once in a blue moon like against PSG then reverts to his standard style. This is why I didn’t get excited after that match because I knew he would go right back to his own stubborn ways.

Yesterday highlighted this clearly, 3-1 down and we are still doing this sh*te pass pass pass pass pass pass between all the defenders no urgency no appetite to increase the tempo and have a go at them.

23 minutes ago, El regreso said:

I am at point in life where I don’t waste time on things that will aggravate or annoy me and at this point Maresca and is boring stupid football is doing just that. For my happiness I can simply check the scores and move on. Nothing is going to change with this ideological manager in charge.

Don’t get it confused with not loving my club because that doesn’t change and It never will but I refuse to continually get annnoy and frustrated by this sh*t manager.

I know frustration and annoyance is part of football but this is different to me. During all our previous sh*t years I never switched off. We have a Pep lite manager who refuses to adjust or change his approach because “ my approach is best” and has only one way to play. He is blindly stubborn and will not shift his ways even when you see it’s struggling. He my adjust it once in a blue moon like against PSG then reverts to his standard style. This is why I didn’t get excited after that match because I knew he would go right back to his own stubborn ways.

Yesterday highlighted this clearly, 3-1 down and we are still doing this sh*te pass pass pass pass pass pass between all the defenders no urgency no appetite to increase the tempo and have a go at them.

There was a time I would have labelled you a fair-weather supporter, but not now. I totally get it and felt exactly the same at times last season. We have some great, talented young players but Maresca-ball is strangling the life out of them and is Dull with a capital D.

Maresca has to prove to me that he can manage these big games. So far, he’s proven that he can’t and bottles every big game. Way too risk adverse.

How many big teams have beaten? PSG? Liverpool were on the beach post league title. Outside of that, we been beaten badly by all the big teams.

Not good enough I’m afraid.

And, in the case of Madueke, it looks to be at our expense so far. (Quoting @just )

Predictable enough though, wasn't it. Now being described as "unplayable"

Edited September 18, 2025Sep 18 by Liam

So little pre-season due to Club World Cup, our first central defender crocked, Estevao crocked, Palmer and Joao Pedro just coming back from injury.

we had enough chances yesterday to draw just not clinical enough for me.

I am frustrated not to see more of Andre Santos yet perhaps he is poor in training or just not disciplined enough I am not sure.

4 hours ago, Nibs said:

There was a time I would have labelled you a fair-weather supporter, but not now. I totally get it and felt exactly the same at times last season. We have some great, talented young players but Maresca-ball is strangling the life out of them and is Dull with a capital D.

That's the thing mate. We know from early last season and in the CWC final that our team can play exciting, winning football . Now the team are playing the slow , possessions based game that Maresca insists is the ONLY way we will ever play , it's killing us .

He said that those early season exciting games last year were not to his liking , he wanted us to have more control. .

He must let our players have more freedom, f**k all the pointless, dull possession.

I dont rate Maresca, and have not from the start. I don't think replacing him fixes all our issues though.

We will still be left with a squad that is tired, paying the price for the cwc success and not having a proper break and proper pre season.

In addition to that we had yet another poor summer recruitment. Our options in Goal, central defence, left midfield/wing, number 10 and striker are not CL or Pl challenging level.

Also our cover for the players that are good enough to play CL/ challange for the PL, Cucurella, James and Palmer, are either not there yet or never are going to be.

The only area we have quality depth imo, when fit, is for central midfield. Unfortunately Maresca does not appear to rate Santos, which is another reason I don't rate Maresca.

lose our next couple of games and things will be heating up for Maresca, i said he will be gone by christmas and after watching his last two team selections i stick with it, sack Maresca and bring in Glasner or Iraola as soon as possible, rumours that Arsenal will move for Glasner if Arteta fails again, and Man Utd could be going for Iraola

7 hours ago, El regreso said:

I am at point in life where I don’t waste time on things that will aggravate or annoy me and at this point Maresca and is boring stupid football is doing just that. For my happiness I can simply check the scores and move on. Nothing is going to change with this ideological manager in charge.

Don’t get it confused with not loving my club because that doesn’t change and It never will but I refuse to continually get annnoy and frustrated by this sh*t manager.

I know frustration and annoyance is part of football but this is different to me. During all our previous sh*t years I never switched off. We have a Pep lite manager who refuses to adjust or change his approach because “ my approach is best” and has only one way to play. He is blindly stubborn and will not shift his ways even when you see it’s struggling. He my adjust it once in a blue moon like against PSG then reverts to his standard style. This is why I didn’t get excited after that match because I knew he would go right back to his own stubborn ways.

Yesterday highlighted this clearly, 3-1 down and we are still doing this sh*te pass pass pass pass pass pass between all the defenders no urgency no appetite to increase the tempo and have a go at them.

I understand what you mean, it’s not fair weather it’s total frustration. Your always going to check results and support the club but the actual 90min match is actually becoming painful to sit through and you say I’m not going to cancel plans cos the games on anymore cos I’d rather not sit through it when it mainly just pisses me off.

But then you do….

1 hour ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

lose our next couple of games and things will be heating up for Maresca, i said he will be gone by christmas and after watching his last two team selections i stick with it, sack Maresca and bring in Glasner or Iraola as soon as possible, rumours that Arsenal will move for Glasner if Arteta fails again, and Man Utd could be going for Iraola

Maybe they would accept the conditions of being our manager. Would be happy with either but doubt they would be considered. Too much experience.

I don’t see the board being impatient with him, on the contrary, I think that they’re happy as long as he doesn’t start being discontent in public. They wouldn’t tolerate a behaviour like Glasner with Guehi.

Not qualifying for CL likely the only factor that’ll sack him imo.

16 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Even without Badi n Colwil we have 4 cb in the squad.

Fofana, Chalobah, Tosin, hato

I haven't included aselmino, sarr.

You cannot carry 10 cb

But herein lies the issue Bob. Arsenal have two top CBs and still went out and took Hincapie on loan whilst we were dicking around over xavi Simons and Fermin Lopez.

16 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Even without Badi n Colwil we have 4 cb in the squad.

sh*t Injured

Fofana, Chalobah, Tosin, hato

biscuit, decent, cart horse, left back

I haven't included aselmino, sarr.

Loaned Loaned

You cannot carry 10 cb

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I dont rate Maresca, and have not from the start. I don't think replacing him fixes all our issues though.

We will still be left with a squad that is tired, paying the price for the cwc success and not having a proper break and proper pre season.

In addition to that we had yet another poor summer recruitment. Our options in Goal, central defence, left midfield/wing, number 10 and striker are not CL or Pl challenging level.

Also our cover for the players that are good enough to play CL/ challange for the PL, Cucurella, James and Palmer, are either not there yet or never are going to be.

The only area we have quality depth imo, when fit, is for central midfield. Unfortunately Maresca does not appear to rate Santos, which is another reason I don't rate Maresca.

Watching Newcastle at the moment. Can only dream of what Howe/Tyndall could do with the players with the talent we have and their high tempo, high intensity style of play.

27 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Watching Newcastle at the moment. Can only dream of what Howe/Tyndall could do with the players with the talent we have and their high tempo, high intensity style of play.

Play with too much emotion and be our own worst enemy? No thanks.