13 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Tuchel would have been that man for us, but the new owners made sure we go 10 steps back.

Tuchel was ultra negative for us - and had us playing terrible football towards the end.

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

As I said in my post a while ago, it is not manager. Spuds has hired mou, Conte same thing.

The key is the gap between manager is so much smaller to gap between player.

Hiring pep won't make us title contender, but getting prime Messi on the other hand will transform our team.

Nonsense. A manager has a huge impact on the team. A new right winger is a player who can decide what he should do for himself on any given situation. A new manager can impact 25 players, the pace of how we play, the style, the risk we accept etc - things a new winger will never do.

Prime mourinho, at that time, had a huge impact on Chelsea. By the time he was at spurs, the game had moved on and others had adapted - but don’t underestimate how much impact a genuinely good manager has.

2 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

We are the only team in the world who thinks young players will improve in a vacuum. No need for experience, mentoring or proper coaching.

Absent injury, a player will always be better at 25 than he is at 20. The problem is that without experience, mentoring or coaching, their "better" doesn't necessarily mean they will be "good".

Whoever came up with the ‘don’t buy any players above 24 years old rule’ should be sacked immediately for lack of football knowledge.

It’s obviously prohibiting and why wouldn’t you be interested if the right player became available for the right price even if he’s 26 or 27.

That just shows we’ve got a bunch a yes men and a board who care more about resale value than their actual value to the team on the pitch.

Edited September 22, 2025Sep 22 by 2211

Whoever came up with the “pass it 4375 times between the cb’s, sub off all our attackers, select George up front, play slowly and take no risks” deserves to be sacked.

About time he isn't talking absolute rubbish. This isn't excusing Maresca in the slightest, but worth remembering that at the end of the day, Maresca is a bad apple growing from a rotten tree.

2 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Nonsense. A manager has a huge impact on the team. A new right winger is a player who can decide what he should do for himself on any given situation. A new manager can impact 25 players, the pace of how we play, the style, the risk we accept etc - things a new winger will never do.

Prime mourinho, at that time, had a huge impact on Chelsea. By the time he was at spurs, the game had moved on and others had adapted - but don’t underestimate how much impact a genuinely good manager has.

There's no doubt we would be playing better football under Enrique (Funnily enough this is the same manager most people here didn't want as they said he was too rigid/boring as well) but I think a lot of people here are overestimating the quality of this team.

A manager is only as good as the players at his disposal. A very good one might be able to squeeze out more than others but no manager is going to come in and turn this team into title contenders.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

About time he isn't talking absolute rubbish. This isn't excusing Maresca in the slightest, but worth remembering that at the end of the day, Maresca is a bad apple growing from a rotten tree.

Well he's right, wtf is going on at Chelski - who appointed the prat manager and how do we end up GK like Sanchez (c/f Chech) a Striker like Jackson (c/f Drogba) a CB like Chaloba (c/f Terry) ... not to mention the fat guy!

3 hours ago, bluelightening said:

If you could keep one and tell the other to F-orf... who would it be....

Enzo "cant set up a team" Maresca or Todd/ the entire board/ clearlake or whoever they call themselves?

All a bit deja vu isn't it - just having played Man Utd....

Are clearlake the new Glazer Bros ?

Just now, Bebe1980 said:

All a bit deja vu isn't it - just having played Man Utd....

Are clearlake the new Glazer Bros ?

No idea really, but we are having trouble scoring... that in turn leads us to pressure being placed on defenders who havent done that badly this seaosn so far. Despite the criticism, (OTT IMO) still a big fan of what Chalobah brings to this side. But its not a settled defensive line. the system overcomplicates roles, and wingers are not creating or scoring. yeah, Dejavu to last season post december for me.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

About time he isn't talking absolute rubbish. This isn't excusing Maresca in the slightest, but worth remembering that at the end of the day, Maresca is a bad apple growing from a rotten tree.

Chelsea’s strongest starting XI and subs

GK: Sanchez £25m

LB: Cucurella £60m

CB: Colwill free, Chalobah free

RB: James, free

CM: Caicedo 115m, Enzo 106m

AM: Palmer 42m, Neto 54m, Estevao 30m

ST: Pedro 60m

SUBS: Jorgensen 20m, Gittens 60m, Santos 18m, Hato 37m, Delap 30m, Gusto 30m, Lavia 58m, Fofana 70m, Tosin free, Badiashille 35m, Acheampong free, George free.

That squad alone cost 850m which is crazy, especially considering how many academy players we have in the squad.

We’ve wasted sickening amount of money on dross. Mudryk, Sterling, Disasi and more.

I didn't watch the game on Saturday, thankfully. Goalkeepers get sent off sometimes, they're usually the last line of defence so it's always a risk, but the usual reaction is to take off an attacker and send on the backup keeper. Bringing off two attackers is blatantly throwing in the towel. To then not correct that when Casemiro got sent off and wait 20 minutes to rebalance the team, and then to bring on a fullback and a kid (I'm assuming he was played out of position as well at ST?) ahead of the expensively assembled attacking talent (if you can refer to Garnacho and Gittens in that way... the jury's out for me) we had on the bench is mind-boggling. I can't remember ever seeing such a poor sequence of decisions by a coach during a match. The annoying thing is, he probably thinks he was being really smart... too smart for the likes of us plebs, who just can't comprehend his genius.

The way we ended last season and the way we were playing in the summer made me believe this team and coach had real potential to push on and carry on improving this season, but I can't see it anymore. I'm sick of the managerial merry-go-round and was hoping Maresca might be the one to put a stop to that, but I'm starting to suspect he might not be the genius coach he thinks he is.

Edited September 22, 2025Sep 22 by bluedave

I worry when we get to December.

1 hour ago, bluedave said:

I didn't watch the game on Saturday, thankfully. Goalkeepers get sent off sometimes, they're usually the last line of defence so it's always a risk, but the usual reaction is to take off an attacker and send on the backup keeper. Bringing off two attackers is blatantly throwing in the towel. To then not correct that when Casemiro got sent off and wait 20 minutes to rebalance the team, and then to bring on a fullback and a kid (I'm assuming he was played out of position as well at ST?) ahead of the expensively assembled attacking talent (if you can refer to Garnacho and Gittens in that way... the jury's out for me) we had on the bench is mind-boggling. I can't remember ever seeing such a poor sequence of decisions by a coach during a match. The annoying thing is, he probably thinks he was being really smart... too smart for the likes of us plebs, who just can't comprehend his genius.

The way we ended last season and the way we were playing in the summer made me believe this team and coach had real potential to push on and carry on improving this season, but I can't see it anymore. I'm sick of the managerial merry-go-round and was hoping Maresca might be the one to put a stop to that, but I'm starting to suspect he might not be the genius coach he thinks he is.

I hated majority of last season, but like you and others, the way the season ended, the CWC and some of the new arrivals, made me think we could push on and I had big hopes for this season.

But I now remember why I detested Maresca so much - possibly more than any other CFC manager (even the likes of Benitez). Maresca has already distinguished any optimism I had for this season and although like you, I hate the constant hiring & firing of managers and want stability, Maresca is NOT the coach to deliver so I want him gone and the sooner the better.

ditto

Week after week it’s the same lifeless, sideways football. No tempo, no creativity, no urgency. We look predictable and toothless. When we do finally get a lead, we usually look shaky....that’s on him.

And the team selections? Last season he loved Jackson...Utter madness. This season he keeps playing George, who after almost getting sold is now getting picked (out of position) ahead of players like Gittens, Garnacho, or even Guiu. Why recall Guiu from loan if you’re not even going to give him a chance. We have Reece James (best RB in the world) played in the centre. Some players rushed back from injury too early. Others over used to the point they get injured. Bomb squads and discontent all around. Baffling subs (ala utd game)....its all mad!

And what are we treated to every week? All we see is game after game of sterile possession, negative football and wasted talent. This isn’t progression, it’s regression. The squad is better than this – but under him it’s boring, predictable, and getting us nowhere.

For me, Maresca out. The sooner the better.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I worry when we get to December.

Am worrying now and we haven’t even finished September yet.

4 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

About time he isn't talking absolute rubbish. This isn't excusing Maresca in the slightest, but worth remembering that at the end of the day, Maresca is a bad apple growing from a rotten tree.

Edited September 22, 2025Sep 22 by OTL
Jamie Who?

5 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

About time he isn't talking absolute rubbish. This isn't excusing Maresca in the slightest, but worth remembering that at the end of the day, Maresca is a bad apple growing from a rotten tree.

The goalie is just a mystery to me; I don't get it and likely never will. He's right, it's a weird choice esp considering the amount of money the club has spent... to say the least.

I also don't understand Tosin signing, very much like I did not understand Disasi signing. My problem with Chalobah is him being a starter--would be a good rotation/backup option as he at least has some pace. Tosin, and Disasi before him, are outdated CBs IMO.

Fofana is another head scratcher; do they ignore injury proneness entirely? Yes, he's got skill esp for a CB, but he looks very frail esp leg muscle mass.

At this point I just hope Colwill will not lose too much from this terrible injury (ACL).

Edited September 22, 2025Sep 22 by acaeus

11 hours ago, Bob stark said:

We had Hazard, Kante, Courtois, Costa + Fabregas

And? None of that is prime Messi, my point is that this group of players doesn't win the league that year without Conte implementing his system.

9 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

About time he isn't talking absolute rubbish. This isn't excusing Maresca in the slightest, but worth remembering that at the end of the day, Maresca is a bad apple growing from a rotten tree.

Yup he is spot on.

I mean I am a fan of trevs but I admit he is no better than being our 4th or 5th choice CB. And Tosin is not good enough for a top club. And they are our starters!

7 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

Chelsea’s strongest starting XI and subs

GK: Sanchez £25m

LB: Cucurella £60m

CB: Colwill free, Chalobah free

RB: James, free

CM: Caicedo 115m, Enzo 106m

AM: Palmer 42m, Neto 54m, Estevao 30m

ST: Pedro 60m

SUBS: Jorgensen 20m, Gittens 60m, Santos 18m, Hato 37m, Delap 30m, Gusto 30m, Lavia 58m, Fofana 70m, Tosin free, Badiashille 35m, Acheampong free, George free.

That squad alone cost 850m which is crazy, especially considering how many academy players we have in the squad.

We’ve wasted sickening amount of money on dross. Mudryk, Sterling, Disasi and more.

Yup. But some justify their ways because they are "handicapped by Stamford bridge"

Why does our small stadium mean we need to have a squad filled with bang average players?

3 hours ago, acaeus said:

The goalie is just a mystery to me; I don't get it and likely never will. He's right, it's a weird choice esp considering the amount of money the club has spent... to say the least.

I think that entirely down to Ben Roberts. As long as he's at the club he won't allow us to sign a better keeper so Sanchez remains our number 1.

There’s lots of criticisms but having calmed down from the weekend, I think we have to annoyingly cut Maresca some slack.

He has got stuff wrong, no doubt. He’s frustrating. However He’s got some big long term injuries to deal with. Plus tiredness from last season is to be expected.

I feel like we're sleepwalking into a sh*t season to be honest. Injuries, lack of pre-season along with the late finish of last season and the poor backline recruitment are all contributing factors but I think that Maresca is going to be our downfall. Barring the game against an awful West Ham team we haven't played well once this season and the Man Utd game showed just how out of his depth he is.

4 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

I feel like we're sleepwalking into a sh*t season to be honest. Injuries, lack of pre-season along with the late finish of last season and the poor backline recruitment are all contributing factors but I think that Maresca is going to be our downfall. Barring the game against an awful West Ham team we haven't played well once this season and the Man Utd game showed just how out of his depth he is.

Don't think there is any real argument about pre-season, the club knew how it was going to be and had a plan to respond to the situation accordingly as it didn't come out of the blue that the team will play the Club world cup, the team played a bunch of Brazilian clubs till the final.

PSG played Bayern and Real Madrid, they are not talking about the lack of pre-season... PSG has 5 wins 1 loss, same pre-season as Maresca but Maresca has 2 wins.

If Maresca doesn't win any match out of the next 3 in the league (Brighton, Liverpool, N. Forest) I doubt you could make him look better than Tuchel at the time when Tuchel was sacked.