If Jackson scores I bet we sign him!

Match Day!

Come On Chelsea!!

So we lose this and Marescas gamble on Saturday has backfired, a gamble that didnt need to be made as it should be almost impossible not to qualify in this league format.

I honestly think Bayern are absolutely terrified of us. The mind games on Nico Jackson, and now Kompany talking about how well he knows Enzo Maresca.

Says a lot about their mentality. We must take advantage of that.

Reckon we'll lose about 2-1 or something. Score line won't have a lot in it, but the performance will be pants and depressing. Yet we'll stay in it long enough to have some slimmer of hope, only to be dashed.

So, standard really.

I see Estevao scoring in this. A scrappy goal which will get all the hypemen and pundits talking him up as god's gift and all that. 0-2 Chelsea.

Gotta stay optimistic

Took us 2 seasons, players need to have fun and fight hard. Will be the first time for most of the current players

Back where we belong! A great growth moment for a young group of players. Go get a result!

3 hours ago, dkw said:

So we lose this and Marescas gamble on Saturday has backfired, a gamble that didnt need to be made as it should be almost impossible not to qualify in this league format.

I'm glad you said almost as Qarabag & Union G both won their first games - these would have been two prime non qualifying candidates - and may still be.

If we are scrambling for 3 wins and a draw to scrape into the middle 16 we probably don't deserve much.

So we could be facing Jacko at some point.

Just read a story on the BBC that Jose may be going back to Benfica so we may also be facing him. (At the Bridge 30th September)

Nothing more exciting than being back in the Champions League.

This is a great moment for our young squad to shine on the biggest stage.

3 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

I honestly think Bayern are absolutely terrified of us. The mind games on Nico Jackson, and now Kompany talking about how well he knows Enzo Maresca.

Says a lot about their mentality. We must take advantage of that.

Definitely feels like they are trying to play mind games. I never see them talk about the opposition this much.

Either James or Santos will partner Caicedo.

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Either James or Santos will partner Caicedo.

You think Maresca will drop Enzo? Hope you are right.

20 minutes ago, Nibs said:

You think Maresca will drop Enzo? Hope you are right.

He won’t. 433

We will lose this. Two championship managers going head to head here and I don’t know which one is the best of a average two.

sky saying sanchez starts palmer might start delap and colwill still out

is he still not 100%?

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Either James or Santos will partner Caicedo.

Got to be Santos. I dont want to see Fofana at right back again. Or even Gusto, not for tonight at least.

2 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Definitely feels like they are trying to play mind games. I never see them talk about the opposition this much.

I dont think Bayern are quite as formidable as they once were, and mind games based on the thoughts attributes and tactics of Nico Jackson are quite remarkable. Long may it continue.

I hope we start with our best players on the pitch. No messing about.

Edited September 17, 2025Sep 17 by OneTommyLangley

1 hour ago, dansubrosa said:

Got to be Santos. I dont want to see Fofana at right back again. Or even Gusto, not for tonight at least.

Do not be surprised if Fofana starts.

2 hours ago, OneTommyLangley said:

sky saying sanchez starts

Really breaking news there. Our number 1 keeper starts against quality CL opponents.

Sky sports

8 hours ago, dkw said:

So we lose this and Marescas gamble on Saturday has backfired, a gamble that didnt need to be made as it should be almost impossible not to qualify in this league format.

Sadly we don't have the quality/experience in depth to deal with rotation for PL and CL as we did for the poor cousin that is the conference league.

When all are fit I'd argue for the depth of 2 from Caicedo, Enzo, Santos, Essugo and Lavia. Everywhere else the step down is too big.

Brentford are a poor team now and they showed our squad is not up to it. Which ever competition maresca rotates in we will suffer in imo.

Also, regardless of tonight's result, his gamble backfired in my opinion as we dropped 2 points.

Now if we make top 4 and win the CL, or heck if we end up 16th and win the CL, gamble well worth it. Or we just make top 4 is fine.

51 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Really breaking news there. Our number 1 keeper starts against quality CL opponents.

Sky sports

Especially considering Maresca explicitly said Sánchez was starting!

You can't underestimate UCL in players' perspective. They all want to play these games especially a massive clash like at Allianz. They consider this a massive game where as Brentford is just another League game. And I don't blame them one bit. We'll finally face a team that plays football in the biggest possible stage. Not congested deep sitting side in the Prem.

When this young squad has done this year after year for a while they start to understand the season as a whole.

Anyway I hope the lads continue like we did in the CWC and Conference League. They should be full of confidence to be able to beat anyone.

Going to be an interesting campaign meeting old faces. Already meeting Jackson , Luiz, Lukaku and Conte( if he lasts!) , looking like Jose next match too.