Ideal stolen from one of the Chelsea podcasts I listen to (I think Straight out of Cobham but not sure).

Basically it's an open prediction game where you post a prediction on the forum and then check it later. There is no scoring or anything, just for fun. Ideally predictions will be specific, a little bit adventurous and with a clear end date.

I will share one below

Prediction: Chelsea to get a better result (win or draw) against Brighton this weekend (compared to the FA Cup loss last weekend)

Reasoning: I suspect Chelsea are concentrating on getting top 4/5 to achieve Champions League qualification and weren't too bothered (even happy) to be out of the FA Cup in a time when the squad is stretched and players are looking leggy/tired. I think we will see a more proactive, motivated, higher energy Chelsea on the weekend and Chelsea will win (but or at least draw, but I think we'll win).

Think we'll get a point but reckon there will be wins for Man City and Bournemouth to have all 3 joint of 44 points. These next two fixtures feel huge. 4 points would be a decent haul. Can't afford to lose either of them really. 

6 hours ago, Qaz said:

Prediction: Chelsea to get a better result (win or draw) against Brighton this weekend (compared to the FA Cup loss last weekend)

Reasoning: I suspect Chelsea are concentrating on getting top 4/5 to achieve Champions League qualification and weren't too bothered (even happy) to be out of the FA Cup in a time when the squad is stretched and players are looking leggy/tired. I think we will see a more proactive, motivated, higher energy Chelsea on the weekend and Chelsea will win (but or at least draw, but I think we'll win).

I think if you don’t want to win in the FA cup (which of course is a route to Europe), put out a clearly “b” team augmented by youngsters.   On the basis we did not do that, it’s hard to now argue we just weren’t motivated or trying. 
Brighton were better team on Saturday and will be better team again this weekend because (nkunku / Jackson aside) our players will likely not change and nor will our tactics. 
I am going for Brighton win and this forum being an unhappy place. I would like to think it would lead to boardroom scrutiny of maresca but I prefer to keep my predictions grounded in reality!! 

Edited February 10, 20251 yr by jaffaboy

Prediction 2: Enzo Maresca makes it to next season but is sacked by the start of the following season

Reasoning: I think while we only have Premier League and some tin pot second squad games in the European 3rds to play, Enzo with his small squad tactics will get by. But once we get back into Champions League the team his lack of adaptability, versatility and squad management will be exposed with the additional fixtures next year and it will ultimately cost him his job.

Everyone feel free to add your own predictions, this thread isn't just for me

1 hour ago, Qaz said:

Prediction 2: Enzo Maresca makes it to next season but is sacked by the start of the following season

Reasoning: I think while we only have Premier League and some tin pot second squad games in the European 3rds to play, Enzo with his small squad tactics will get by. But once we get back into Champions League the team his lack of adaptability, versatility and squad management will be exposed with the additional fixtures next year and it will ultimately cost him his job.

Everyone feel free to add your own predictions, this thread isn't just for me

Agreed with you on this one. We managed to coast through the European Conference League group stage with an almost totally different squad to that playing in the league. But no way we could do that in the Champs league. We already have numerous key players who spend more time in the treatment room than they do on the pitch. At best we would probably be looking at something similar to the way Villa have struggled in the league for much of this season.

10 hours ago, Qaz said:

Prediction 2: Enzo Maresca makes it to next season but is sacked by the start of the following season

Reasoning: I think while we only have Premier League and some tin pot second squad games in the European 3rds to play, Enzo with his small squad tactics will get by. But once we get back into Champions League the team his lack of adaptability, versatility and squad management will be exposed with the additional fixtures next year and it will ultimately cost him his job.

Everyone feel free to add your own predictions, this thread isn't just for me

Prediction: We won't make Champions League this season.

20 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Prediction: We won't make Champions League this season.

Considering a 5th placed finish will probably do it, that would be quite the tragedy

4 hours ago, Qaz said:

Considering a 5th placed finish will probably do it, that would be quite the tragedy

True. Still pinning this though? I'm happy to be wrong 😀

5 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

Prediction: We won't make Champions League this season.

Double Down: We won't make Champions League next season either 🙂

On 10/02/2025 at 12:40, Qaz said:

Prediction: Chelsea to get a better result (win or draw) against Brighton this weekend (compared to the FA Cup loss last weekend)

Reasoning: I suspect Chelsea are concentrating on getting top 4/5 to achieve Champions League qualification and weren't too bothered (even happy) to be out of the FA Cup in a time when the squad is stretched and players are looking leggy/tired. I think we will see a more proactive, motivated, higher energy Chelsea on the weekend and Chelsea will win (but or at least draw, but I think we'll win).

With Jackson ruled out, I am significantly less confident now.

On 10/02/2025 at 12:40, Qaz said:

Prediction: Chelsea to get a better result (win or draw) against Brighton this weekend (compared to the FA Cup loss last weekend)

Reasoning: I suspect Chelsea are concentrating on getting top 4/5 to achieve Champions League qualification and weren't too bothered (even happy) to be out of the FA Cup in a time when the squad is stretched and players are looking leggy/tired. I think we will see a more proactive, motivated, higher energy Chelsea on the weekend and Chelsea will win (but or at least draw, but I think we'll win).

I am happy to take an L on that one.

I made the prediction thinking Jackson would be back in time, but even so, I thought that we'd give a better showing in the second game as we'd be more motivated (in the league) and iching to prove the fans wrong for being so negative after the FA Cup result. 

To be wrong on this one is disheartening.

Prediction: We will finish in the bottom half of the table. Maresca will still start next season as Chelsea manager. 

The missus always complain I struggle with premature adjudication so i'll stay out of this thread! 

We won't win more than 5 more games this season.

2 hours ago, Zeta said:

We won't win more than 5 more games this season.

I assume you mean Premier League games yes?

 

 

2 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Prediction: We will finish in the bottom half of the table. Maresca will still start next season as Chelsea manager. 

Ouch, that's dire. 

I don't think we will finish that low, however, if we did, I think Maresca would go and the sporting directors would go with him

3 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Prediction: We will finish in the bottom half of the table. Maresca will still start next season as Chelsea manager. 

Glass half full then !

11 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Glass half full then !

I like to consider myself a realist