4 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, speaking to BBC Sport: "Probably since I arrived that is the worst performance, especially in the moment we are in. We are fourth in the league and winning tonight you can go one point from third and make the gap to the rest bigger and the performance is not one you want to offer so we are very upset and sorry for the fans that were here.

"For half an hour I think we were in control but after this moment [Kaoru Mitoma's goal] we looked like we could concede chances easily and we struggled to create chances. The reason why is because of the injuries in this moment especially with the strikers...important players are out but we need to find a solution.

"It is difficult when you don't have a proper number nine. So you always have to find a different solution. In the last third we struggled doing things that until a week or two ago we were doing well.

"This is the worst moment since I arrived but we are still there and we need to finish in the best way."

 

I could pick apart what he is saying, especially when it comes to putting problems down to strikers being injured, but I just don't have the energy anymore. There are no excuses for the past 2 months, you f**ked up and you don't know how to get the team out of it.

You know what players would’ve been useful during the current injury crisis? A motivated Nkunku, Felix and Veiga. The fact that Maresca managed to alienate all three, so that two jumped ship half way through the season, while Nkunku looks like he doesn’t want to be here, says a lot about how poorly Maresca has managed the squad. 

22 minutes ago, Sunspear_88 said:

I didn't see much urgency at all. A team of young players and yet where was the energy and urgency? So frustrating. The feigning of injuries and complaining to the ref were pissing me off as well. Just get up and get on with the game. This is a team of inexperienced players, we desperately need some experience throughout this team because it's not good enough to rely simply on young players. We benefitted a lot last season from Thiago Silva's experience and leadership, especially at the back. This team is a far cry from the one which won the CL. We had experience then as well. 

Problem is an inexperienced team lead by an inexperienced manager 

Always difficult when you lose away in the FA Cup and then you have to play them straight away in the League and also away.

Before Mitoma scores Madueke crosses and Palmer misses, and gets defensive about it ( no longer cold Palmer). To be fair it was not the easiest cross as it was bouncing along the turf.

Mitoma is one of those players that when on form is a top player, Carragher called his first goal Messiesque it also made me think of Zola the way the ball drops over the shoulder and he controls it expertly with his first touch to finish smartly. Mitoma is a very good player yet seems to get injured once or twice a season.

Fernandez then has an equaliser ruled out due to a push in the box, Carragher thought that was harsh as Enzo hardly touched him. 

Very disappointing we could not hit the target and we now know it is not all about Jackson misfiring. 

8 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

Always difficult when you lose away in the FA Cup and then you have to play them straight away in the League and also away.

Before Mitoma scores Madueke crosses and Palmer misses, and gets defensive about it ( no longer cold Palmer). To be fair it was not the easiest cross as it was bouncing along the turf.

Mitoma is one of those players that when on form is a top player, Carragher called his first goal Messiesque it also made me think of Zola the way the ball drops over the shoulder and he controls it expertly with his first touch to finish smartly. Mitoma is a very good player yet seems to get injured once or twice a season.

Fernandez then has an equaliser ruled out due to a push in the box, Carragher thought that was harsh as Enzo hardly touched him. 

Very disappointing we could not hit the target and we now know it is not all about Jackson misfiring. 

Yes I must admit that goal ruled out ended up being the turning point as their 2nd came soon afterwards. Certainly harsh as they rarely ever give those as fouls. Ultimately no excuse for such a crap response

Edited February 14, 20251 yr by Petworth Chelsea Fan

Maresca clutching at straws, blaming it on having no strikers is crap, only for the last two games have we had none, he should have insisted we buy a striker at the start of January, BUT no he is just a puppet, HE HAS LOST THE DRESSING ROOM and its just a matter of time before hes gone, it will be him or Palmer, if the owners have an ounce of sense they will fire Maresca AND the sporting directors 

You might be right about him being forced out though don't think he has lost the dressing room.

I can safely say that we are at a level that is well below Lampards and Potters worst periods.

This Guy has to go. He has completely failed to manage a group of very talented and promising players. He has to take blame.

35 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

You might be right about him being forced out though don't think he has lost the dressing room.

I’m not sure the players believe in his tactics anymore. They seemed to give up on the game soon as they scored their first goal. Then it was just a matter of how many Brighton would score. Players looked dejected most of the second half. A half decent manager wouldn’t allow such a situation to develop. Worse, he seemed clueless to turn things around. Once players sense the manager doesn’t know what he’s doing, then it’s game up usually. 

1 hour ago, strider6004 said:

Always difficult when you lose away in the FA Cup and then you have to play them straight away in the League and also away.

Before Mitoma scores Madueke crosses and Palmer misses, and gets defensive about it ( no longer cold Palmer). To be fair it was not the easiest cross as it was bouncing along the turf.

Mitoma is one of those players that when on form is a top player, Carragher called his first goal Messiesque it also made me think of Zola the way the ball drops over the shoulder and he controls it expertly with his first touch to finish smartly. Mitoma is a very good player yet seems to get injured once or twice a season.

Fernandez then has an equaliser ruled out due to a push in the box, Carragher thought that was harsh as Enzo hardly touched him. 

Very disappointing we could not hit the target and we now know it is not all about Jackson misfiring. 

Yes agree with alot said but foook me....we had no plans b or c.....rinse repeat all night & last week.....under pressure, we just couldn't cope...play to keeper who has no one to play to....we couldn't do that to them... again half hearted press, they just played out through us & immediately we are on back foot.....no desire, no want to win 50 50 ball....go down at slightest touch looking free or rather ref to bail them out.....to runs in behind... Sancho & cucu only know how to play backwards...Neto couldn't beat lamptey all night..... Enzo & caicedo move forward to help out & get caught..... Colwell not Chelsea standard never mind international, Trev can only play ball to keeper or Colwell.... James no leader...... maresco can't blame having no proper centre forward...ffs we used Hazard there & still won games.......look at the desire of Brighton (or forest) to win back the ball...even welbeck, that wouldn't get in any top 10 team.........showed our future super stars how it's done........

Think it's time for another Roman decision.... remove the head cos I think he's lost the players 

7 hours ago, El regreso said:

Reckon they turn us over 3:0.

We will pass pass pass and not have a shot on target until the second half 

Wow, that's impressive Mr.Nostradamus ! But then I realized you're talking about Circus FC so that's pretty safe bet actually with us...

We have Villa away next so he might survive until we meet the Saints at home and they look like a side we could beat even in this slump.

Guess we will just have to wait and see how it turns out.

7 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

We have Villa away next so he might survive until we meet the Saints at home and they look like a side we could beat even in this slump.

Guess we will just have to wait and see how it turns out.

Agreed. If we lose at Villa and then fail to beat Saints the pressure will really mount. He could even find that his old club Leicester prove to be his final opposition for us as we play them after Saints. 

On the other hand if we find a way to beat Saints and Leicester, the owners may decide to ride it out the rest of the season.

5 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

0 shots on target but get the champagne out @nonotnowjim at least Jackson is injured! 

I celebrate the fact he isn't "playing football" for us at the moment  - not that he is injured. Nuance my dear brother.

Bloody awful game though

 

10 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

I celebrate the fact he isn't "playing football" for us at the moment  - not that he is injured. Nuance my dear brother.

Bloody awful game though

 

It was, Nico was bloomin invisible. So much so I did not see one comment form you during the match about his display! ;)

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

It was, Nico was bloomin invisible. So much so I did not see one comment form you during the match about his display! 😉

Too old for these midnight kick offs - i had to be up at 6am this morning. And with Nico confirmed to be not playing, I had nothing exciting to stay up and whinge about!

20 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

And with Nico confirmed to be not playing, I had nothing exciting to stay up and whinge about!

Give Jacko a rest while he is out and put that energy into Clownlake, there is plenty there to get your teeth into! I wouldn’t dare start a money pot for their f**k ups though!

5 hours ago, carrickblue said:

I believe Pep has been saying the game has now moved on, teams know how to nullify possession based play. That's his explanation for City's problems. Meanwhile we've invested in a manager who only knows one way of playing, the now outdated way.

Well said.. & Something to be mindful of Pep has already started a rebuild this Jan, and his new additions won’t mirror the old.

6 hours ago, carrickblue said:

I believe Pep has been saying the game has now moved on, teams know how to nullify possession based play. That's his explanation for City's problems. Meanwhile we've invested in a manager who only knows one way of playing, the now outdated way.

That is not really city's problem. In our first game vs city, I said savio is not city's level player and that is their problem.

City used to sign the like of b silva, Mahrez, kdb, Haaland all top quality player. Savio is super talented but more of a development player. 

 

 

 

Maresca: “In terms of the way we play on the ball, it wasn't our worst performance.”

Sounding more and more like Potter every day.

51 minutes ago, Mod said:

Give Jacko a rest while he is out and put that energy into Clownlake, there is plenty there to get your teeth into! I wouldn’t dare start a money pot for their f**k ups though!

I don’t actually have the same level of disdain for the regime or “project”.

I have been pretty consistent that I am willing to give the team a chance to grow and evolve - and would be happy to accept not winning for a few seasons - as long as I was seeing an identity being built. The problem is we are not seeing that clear evolution or identity.

That lack of evolution is not in the owners or SD’s, while although not perfect, are not the ones picking or training the team.

My problem is the managers. All of our recent managers have seemed unable or unwilling to move us away from Sarriball. The slow and stagnant football, sideways and backwards passes, and generally unprogressive football with no identity (other than being city lite).

The style and system is 100% on the manager, and that is what is killing us.

If the players are choosing to play slow and sideways/ backwards passes - then tell them not to.

If they still choose not to listen, then drop them. It is really that simple. 
 

I want to see us play a quick, progressive football, with the handbrake off. Sit back when they need to, counter attack when they need to, and overload and be adventures when they need to….different tactics for different phases of any given game.  Instead we get the same old slow rinse repeat ply we have seen for the last few years. It is killing the team

2 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

I don’t actually have the same level of disdain for the regime or “project”.

I have been pretty consistent that I am willing to give the team a chance to grow and evolve - and would be happy to accept not winning for a few seasons - as long as I was seeing an identity being built. The problem is we are not seeing that clear evolution or identity.

That lack of evolution is not in the owners or SD’s, while although not perfect, are not the ones picking or training the team.

My problem is the managers. All of our recent managers have seemed unable or unwilling to move us away from Sarriball. The slow and stagnant football, sideways and backwards passes, and generally unprogressive football with no identity (other than being city lite).

The style and system is 100% on the manager, and that is what is killing us.

If the players are choosing to play slow and sideways/ backwards passes - then tell them not to.

If they still choose not to listen, then drop them. It is really that simple. 
 

I want to see us play a quick, progressive football, with the handbrake off. Sit back when they need to, counter attack when they need to, and overload and be adventures when they need to….different tactics for different phases of any given game.  Instead we get the same old slow rinse repeat ply we have seen for the last few years. It is killing the team

Im little confused by your comments! You said it yourself: Three years to build the identity and show evolution...and all we have done in that time is regressed and won sh*t all! So you would be cool with another 3 seasons with those clowns and their project?

And who picks the managers for the club? 

We're literally spineless. Used to be Cech, Terry, Lampard, Drogba running through the side and never giving up. Now we have nobody. The club is an embarrassing shambles with office boys running things. We have no chance until somebody who actually understands football is in charge.

3 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

I don’t actually have the same level of disdain for the regime or “project”.

I have been pretty consistent that I am willing to give the team a chance to grow and evolve - and would be happy to accept not winning for a few seasons - as long as I was seeing an identity being built. The problem is we are not seeing that clear evolution or identity.

That lack of evolution is not in the owners or SD’s, while although not perfect, are not the ones picking or training the team.

My problem is the managers. All of our recent managers have seemed unable or unwilling to move us away from Sarriball. The slow and stagnant football, sideways and backwards passes, and generally unprogressive football with no identity (other than being city lite).

The style and system is 100% on the manager, and that is what is killing us.

If the players are choosing to play slow and sideways/ backwards passes - then tell them not to.

If they still choose not to listen, then drop them. It is really that simple. 
 

I want to see us play a quick, progressive football, with the handbrake off. Sit back when they need to, counter attack when they need to, and overload and be adventures when they need to….different tactics for different phases of any given game.  Instead we get the same old slow rinse repeat ply we have seen for the last few years. It is killing the team

We’ve almost forgotten how to break a ream down. How many times have I seen a player make a run in behind only for the ball to be retained and recycled. 
 

Somewhere, sometimes you have to make a chance and hopefully take that chance. We’re so fragile that even our best player missed a couple last night. They are getting narky with each other. No trust or belief, the confidence has been sucked out of them.

It was said we looked like a 5 a side team last night…. not a bad analogy except in 5 a side you would normally have a shot on target.

12 minutes ago, Carloseyebrow said:

We’ve almost forgotten how to break a ream down. How many times have I seen a player make a run in behind only for the ball to be retained and recycled. 
 

Somewhere, sometimes you have to make a chance and hopefully take that chance. We’re so fragile that even our best player missed a couple last night. They are getting narky with each other. No trust or belief, the confidence has been sucked out of them.

It was said we looked like a 5 a side team last night…. not a bad analogy except in 5 a side you would normally have a shot on target.

5 a-side team against an 11 a-side team. lol