10 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Was out smoozing with the other high rolllers.....

or i might have fallen asleep at 8pm

1 of the above is true.

Gotta be the first one.

Game kicked off at 730, line up out at 630, so you had 90 minutes to post about your joy for Nico not starting if the fallening asleep one was true.

Just watched a replay. Great win, love the depth and attacking options we have. Took chances tonight, yet could have scored many more. Plenty to build on - still a little too open but attribute that to the changes. 

Second in the table - we’d have all taken that 13 games ago! 

Fantastic win given we started a b team plus a couple.

 

 

 

Strange game. We started a bit iffy but always looked like we could step up a couple of gears at any point. Early on we made Walker-Phillips look like prime Messi and looked equally likely to concede. Great win with no-one really standing out and the goal difference is looking good.

More of the same Sunday please but tighter at the back.

 

8 hours ago, petre ispirescu said:

Not this season, no. There's bags of talent in this squad (probably the squad with the highest ceiling of all the clubs in the PL), but little to no experience at all, which Liverpool, Arsenal and City have in abundance. 

Yeah, you'll never win anything with a bunch of kids 😁

8 hours ago, El regreso said:

100% I saw it today he stopped tracking back and was complacent so many times. Neto and Sancho should be our starting wingers.

No he didn't. OK, you don't like him. We get it. You are not alone on here, but try not to make things up.

He can be criticised for not finishing more of the chances that came his way, but so could Palmer and Tosin. And Jackson could get the same criticism in practically every game he plays!!

Hell forgot about this match being mid-week still a nice surprise this morning.

So Maresca changes the team and says he has to tell the players around the 15min mark to change their pressing.

Nice to see a ref act on pulling Cucu's hair.

Nice also to see a mix of different scorers including Sancho who had been absent for ages it seems.

 

1 hour ago, Nibs said:

Strange game. We started a bit iffy but always looked like we could step up a couple of gears at any point. Early on we made Walker-Phillips look like prime Messi and looked equally likely to concede. Great win with no-one really standing out and the goal difference is looking good.

More of the same Sunday please but tighter at the back.

 

If we can win games kike this while switching in several players for our starters then we are in a very good position in my opinion. In the past we have had very little useable depth in the squad, now we have players coming in that can actually impact in the game rather than hinder. 

1 hour ago, just said:

No he didn't. OK, you don't like him. We get it. You are not alone on here, but try not to make things up.

He can be criticised for not finishing more of the chances that came his way, but so could Palmer and Tosin. And Jackson could get the same criticism in practically every game he plays!!

Thought Noni had some very good moments last night @justbut he was also frustrating at times and rightly subbed.

He's a good lad and I like him a lot, but sometimes his body language isn't the best and he looks a bit "half-arsed". Maresca won't stand for that and will hopefully iron it out of his game.

 

 

Wow... like 2nd... long time since we've been there... feeling a bit dizzy

Mornin' all...just a few quick points while having a break.

- Maresca has balls. He did the absolute right thing by mixing the "teams". I was worried about how many started but the Gaffer* knows best. He won't get them all right, but he deserves the support as he learns and perfects his trade.

- Journalists/ITK/muppets/etc...all over the UK deleting drafts of criticism they pre-wrote regarding how "team B" are upset they haven't played in the PL, integration issues, players unhappy or other types of clickbait rubbish to create a divide between our players, club, owners and fans.

- I don't like how some were playing in 2nd gear at times while others put more effort in. But from what he said about Noni, in the boss I trust, to iron that sh*t out.

- I love the team "harmony" and attitude when it comes to the squad. They all look happy and together. The way Palmer was happy for sancho scoring, and then running upto him at the final whistle was brilliant.

 

*yep, I've done it. I really like maresca snr. From flowing/dynamic tactics to having faith and trust in the kids to everything else he's done for our club in the 4 or 5 months he's been here. He's our gaffer/boss and deserves it.

 

14 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

No way, every man would fly to the floor with a hair tug lol

You'd be surprised at how low the male tolerance is for hair pulling compared to women. This isnt a sexist comment btw, its actually a scientific fact. There was a paper written on it that i read back in the naughties, and also an article or two in "The New Scientist" back in the day iirc.

 

13 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Nah he would only pay for the first goal, goals 4 6 and 8 in a 1 to 8 win don't count, his rules.

Lmfao

Errrr...if we are second on GD, then EVERY goal wacko scored is relevant. Poor Jim, he just has to wait till end of season and just tally up ALL his Goals and Assists.

🤣 

 

13 hours ago, Munkunku said:

Get Jackson on, need a proper striker on!

13 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

Nkunku is miles worse than Jackson

Oh I think Jackson would have had a field day if he was on yesterday. Easily see a hat-trick for him. But it's good, hopefully it will be a reminder to stop collecting yellows and keep him hungry for spuds. All part of the learning curve.

Nkunku is not a #9 but he's a decent backup for now when we need to rest Jackson, and he fits into other formations better when the boss uses a different setup. I still see him behind palmer and felix in the second #10 position though (when that formation is used).

 

12 hours ago, TheBeard said:

Brilliant, 1-5, but the complacency and cynicism from those watching really takes the gloss off. I really think we should try harder, maybe even try to have some respect for what our players and staff do. Best way to do that is to stop watching the game from behind your sofas (figuratively and metaphorically).

Grow a pair ya feeble minded wallies. lol. 😇😂

 

Oh, I put my hand up for this one. I did want him to mix and match. It does so much for the team, especially when he has to make the really hard decisions on selection when they are all doing brilliantly in training. But I was soo worried about how many he started with from the subs. Surprisingly even at 1-1 my fear was disappearing a bit. Maresca snr was brave and had faith in the kids and himself. I really love and respect that. 

Oh, special mention to Jonathan Pearce (bbc commentator) who sounded soo distraught at Chelsea winning. With every goal I felt he was burning even more inside.

Good! Long may it continue, you absolute biased w**ker.

 

 

P.s. I might actually send him a link to this post. Lol

Edited December 5, 20241 yr by Simplymo

2 hours ago, just said:

No he didn't. OK, you don't like him. We get it. You are not alone on here, but try not to make things up.

He can be criticised for not finishing more of the chances that came his way, but so could Palmer and Tosin. And Jackson could get the same criticism in practically every game he plays!!

I actually like Noni so I don’t know what you are talking about. I am pointing out multiple occasions where is just let his man run off him and it got worst as the game went on. He stopped tracking back. There is a reason Maresca called him out post game.

8 minutes ago, El regreso said:

I actually like Noni so I don’t know what you are talking about. I am pointing out multiple occasions where is just let his man run off him and it got worst as the game went on. He stopped tracking back. There is a reason Maresca called him out post game.

I've posted similar in other games too.

Sometimes he doesn't track back or just jogs back. The kid has fk loads of potential but needs to put the effort in for his defensive duties 100% of the time, not just when he's in the mood.

For some games he's brilliant going forward and defending. But there's been a few now he just can't be arsed at the defending part. It's normal for his age, to try and get the easy way out (maybe how they were coasting in that game has something to do with it) but once that is worked out, maresca is 100% right, he will be much much better.

 

 

Oh and also, still work on when to shoot and when to pass. I've noticed its getting better, much better but still needs more work.

Edited December 5, 20241 yr by Simplymo

If only Madueke could shoot with his right foot, we might have had 8.

14 hours ago, CFCCAN said:

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has lashed out at Noni Madueke, despite the fact the Blues winger bagged a goal during his side’s 5-1 thrashing of Southampton on Wednesday evening. Madueke returned to the starting line-up and netted his side’s third goal of the evening as the west London giants ran riot on the south coast.

But the 22-year-old was guilty of missing a string of chances in the second half when his team were well out of sight.

And he was replaced by Jadon Sancho midway through the second period, with the Manchester United loanee adding the final goal of the night.

“Noni can do much more,” Maresca explained after the match. “When he scores and assists and is happy, he starts to drop a little bit. The reason he was not playing is because of the way he was training. When he scores one, he needs to keep trying to score and assist. Noni needs to understand he has to work more and he can be much, much, much better.”

Respect. That's quality from Enzo

3 hours ago, Nibs said:

Thought Noni had some very good moments last night @justbut he was also frustrating at times and rightly subbed.

He's a good lad and I like him a lot, but sometimes his body language isn't the best and he looks a bit "half-arsed". Maresca won't stand for that and will hopefully iron it out of his game.

 

 

I found the no look passes that he did on a few occasions (that were not completed b the way) immature and disrespectful.  He's a talented player, just wish he would cut out these types of antics.

Felix similarly, who i really like, spent the evening playing as if he was on some 5 aside astro in a Power League somewhere. A more professional approach form a number of players and that was a double digit game. We had 13 shots on target and i can remember at least 4 horrendous blunders completely missing the target. Exhibit number 1, a lovely move cutting through them , an overload at the back post with Felix and Palmer stood with the goal gaping before them and Felix decides to do a backheel to Palmer rather than a simple side foot into the goal, which of course gets mopped up by their flailing defence.

4 hours ago, Nibs said:

Thought Noni had some very good moments last night @justbut he was also frustrating at times and rightly subbed.

He's a good lad and I like him a lot, but sometimes his body language isn't the best and he looks a bit "half-arsed". Maresca won't stand for that and will hopefully iron it out of his game.

 

 

I feel exactly the same way about Jackson, Nibs.

Can't be arsed to compete for headers most of the time, switches off at key moments, like the pass on the edge of the box straight to their defender last Sunday, misses too many chances etc. Sometimes he will chase back, sometimes he won't. I'd have a lot more respect for Maresca if he also said the same to Jacko when he sees these things happening.

Reminds me a bit of how Jose used to target our old favourite, Joe Cole at times.

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Gotta be the first one.

Game kicked off at 730, line up out at 630, so you had 90 minutes to post about your joy for Nico not starting if the fallening asleep one was true.

Lol - I am in the UAE at the moment....was a 11:30pm kick off for me!

3 minutes ago, just said:

I feel exactly the same way about Jackson, Nibs.

Can't be arsed to compete for headers most of the time, switches off at key moments, like the pass on the edge of the box straight to their defender last Sunday, misses too many chances etc. Sometimes he will chase back, sometimes he won't. I'd have a lot more respect for Maresca if he also said the same to Jacko when he sees these things happening.

Reminds me a bit of how Jose used to target our old favourite, Joe Cole at times.

Maybe Maresca knows that Noni has more in terms of natural ability than Jackson.

Great call re Jose & Joey Cole. As much as many think Jose made Cole a better "all round player", I'm one who thought his treatment of Joey was poor and he kinda coached out some of that flair when players like Joey Cole are there to entertain and do their stuff - ditto Hazard. Glad Jose isn't coaching Cole Palmer now.

 

12 minutes ago, just said:

I feel exactly the same way about Jackson, Nibs.

No you don't. For one, you don't like Jackson. You and Jim have a race to the Jackson thread the moment he f**ks up. 😂

18 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Nah he would only pay for the first goal, goals 4 6 and 8 in a 1 to 8 win don't count, his rules.

Ahem...where did this come from?

I am paying for every goal The Donkey scores.  Not just the ones that matter.... To be fair, he has scored more important goals over the last few months, wheras last season it was goal 14 and 15 in a 16v0 win (for example).

But...regardless...for Mods retirement fund, I am contributing a tenner for every goal - even if they dont matter.

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

No you don't. For one, you don't like Jackson. You and Jim have a race to the Jackson thread the moment he f**ks up. 😂

Jackson deserves it. He is a c**t. A rubbish one at that.

46 minutes ago, just said:

I feel exactly the same way about Jackson, Nibs.

Can't be arsed to compete for headers most of the time, switches off at key moments, like the pass on the edge of the box straight to their defender last Sunday, misses too many chances etc. Sometimes he will chase back, sometimes he won't. I'd have a lot more respect for Maresca if he also said the same to Jacko when he sees these things happening.

Reminds me a bit of how Jose used to target our old favourite, Joe Cole at times.

He's definitely treating players differently from others and it's been noticeable since he arrived. Just listen to how he speaks about Sanchez.

Edited December 5, 20241 yr by Scott Harris

 

56 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

He's definitely treating players differently from others and it's been noticeable since he arrived. Just listen to how he speaks about Sanchez.

I don't think that's bad though.

Like a good teacher, mentor, coach he will be able to see and understand what each individual wants or needs. That's a good thing.

Noni last time got a kick up the butt and in the next game was 100x better. In an interview he said sancho is the type of player that needs love. I'm guessing mudryk too, also sanchez was love and trust (he performs better when we trust him, something like that). He's mentioned a few.

And it makes absolute sense. Each one of us is different, different triggers, views, motivations, etc.

What's good is he knows and recognizes all that in each of his players in the relatively short time hes been at Chels. How many of us have had sh*t teachers, bosses, managers, etc...lol

 

On a side note...Add the above to all the work Maresca has done in 4 or 5 months. I'm even more impressed with the boss btw.