1 hour ago, El regreso said:

Crystal Palace squad isn’t better than us and look what their manager is doing. A better manager gets FAR MORE out of this squad period.

Maresca has an ideology about football and way of playing he will never change THIS is our downfall.

Glasner and Iraola gets more out of this team.

Why do we keep thinking we have a relegation squad.

I’m not disagreeing with you as I both feel another manager could do better with these players whilst not knowing for sure.

And there are one or two other factors beyond players and coach that could well be factors for us that Palace and others don’t have.

Nobody else has invested 2 billion quid in three years, certainly not Palace, as they tend to sell their best stock. And perhaps even more than that, nobody expects anything from Palace. Nobody would bat an eyelid if they were relegated. We have two European cups and piles of other honours in recent times and right now are World Club Cup champions after smashing PSG. For almost any coach and for these juvenile players we have, that is a pressure and especially expectation that Palace could only try to imagine.

I still think Maresca is pants, but I also don’t think only a change of coach is between us and world domination in 2026.

2 hours ago, Mod said:

I'm with Ax and picked on the fence due to this! ^^

Enzo makes some weird decisions, but it seems he can only work with what he's got or what he's told to do!

We played good direct football during the CWC and even the week before the season, playing those friendlies! Then just one week later, we return to our new default premiership settings of slow possession, boring, non-direct, sideways and back passing sh*t! Surely no professional manager thinks this is the best way to play after wiping big teams off the park before the season! I think Enzo is instructed by the board on much more than what we realise. The last few months with Poch told us that, and with Enzo speaking out more, it looks like it'll go the same way! These "coaches" can't pick players from the market for the benefit of the team, and only get players that are given to them by the SD's. There is no way Enzo has the only input to what happens on the pitch; he's still even playing Poch's inverted system, but one step further!

Should he go? Probably, but we'll just get a few months run with a new manager bounce, to return to the same questions again until the manager speaks out, loses a dressing room (no doubt from board pressure) and is told to go! Rinse and repeat again and again!

The next 2 games will be huge for Enzo. Can he fill the injured player slots easily, or will he have to play one of two LWs out of position that he didn't even want or need?

It's what we have been conditioned for the better part of two decades mate.

Right from Claudio the stand was set. Many of us thought it to be a great season. Second place, and a CL semi final. Building. Roman thought different and installed a winners mentality.

So we are used to a club set up to win. Only winning mattered. Managers, for the most part, got top players on top wages. If we fell short the manager got chopped and it fixed all our problems, for a while, and we won more trophies.

So many still think getting shot of the manager fixes things. It does not. Still the same owners and directors that do not prioritize winning, and focus on their project. This cycle will just keep continuing. We will be back here with the next manager, and the one after, and the one after him etc...

On the fence for me, for the reasons that @axman2526 eloquently explained. It doesn't matter who is in the dugout as long as Winstanley and Stewart are still here. Nearly 4 years in and they are yet to make a single positive transfer contribution, other than bringing in Joe Shields and outbidding for blindingly obvious targets. There is no strategy for the squad and Cobham is being left to rot as well, everything is scarily like Bartomeu's running of Barcelona.

On Maresca himself - I think he has the potential to be a good coach but I am outright concerned he doesn't have the humility to want to change. He knows the problems in the squad, he knows the football is slow and stagnant but I think he genuinely believes he is right and everyone else is wrong. It's now to the extent he blames everything - the players, the squad building, the niche roles of players, the refs, the red cards, the weather - but himself for a malaise. He carries on like Conte or Mourinho when it all goes wrong, without the history of success to show for it, and I think managers like that are outdated and outclassed in the modern game.

Jesus nearly £2 billion in 3 years...

Apart from a few of the players we've bought we're no better now than we were with boys from the academy and the remains of the old guard when Frank first took over.

Probably worse cause they were already a team and wanting to play for the club.

Glad it's not my money Winstanley, Stewart, Shields and Jewell have been pissing up the wall - the good news (for them) is they've all got extended contracts until 2031!!!

I personally dislike Maresca but at the end of the day it doesn't matter.

He is just a HC and he has no control of the makeup of the squad.

1 hour ago, Bebe1980 said:

Jesus nearly £2 billion in 3 years...

Apart from a few of the players we've bought we're no better now than we were with boys from the academy and the remains of the old guard when Frank first took over.

Probably worse cause they were already a team and wanting to play for the club.

Glad it's not my money Winstanley, Stewart, Shields and Jewell have been pissing up the wall - the good news (for them) is they've all got extended contracts until 2031!!!

But I believe we broke the record most transfer revenue ever this summer

Edited September 29, 2025Sep 29 by Bob stark

11 hours ago, axman2526 said:

So many still think getting shot of the manager fixes things. It does not. Still the same owners and directors that do not prioritize winning, and focus on their project. This cycle will just keep continuing. We will be back here with the next manager, and the one after, and the one after him etc...

Disagree. I think a new manager can change things and that the owners and environment would support it.

As I have said a few times - it is the mentality that has to change. We don’t need to win now (something which I think the SDs and owners agree with) but we do need to see evolution.

A new manager has the chance to rip up the rule book and install a new philosophy and style. Maresca had that chance. Poch had that chance. Potter had that chance- but none of them have been sufficiently brave to implement a new style of play. All of them have to some extent relied on variations of Sarriball.

We need a brave manager who comes in and stops the slow and stagnant play. I don’t care if we lose 4v3 week in week out. But develop a style and identity of our own, to hell with results for a period, and let the young lads learn and grow.

Once established, that new identity and style can then be refined and evolved - and results can then follow. But all the time the players are plying this slow and risk averse football - we will continue to plod along but without ever really evolving into an elite club.

Edited September 29, 2025Sep 29 by nonotnowjim

Its funny people saying they dont see how a new manager can make a difference, while also wanting Glasner in, who went to Palace and made a massive difference 😅

5 hours ago, Bob stark said:

I personally dislike Maresca but at the end of the day it doesn't matter.

He is just a HC and he has no control of the makeup of the squad.

He chooses the team. He sends them out to play in a particular style. The way we play is on him.

21 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

He chooses the team. He sends them out to play in a particular style. The way we play is on him.

Yeah not buying it either.

He and Pochettino are like apples and oranges, two totally different ways of playing, this is his way of playing.

I can definitely believe he wanted a CB and GK as a priority and didn't want the likes of Gittens and Garnacho, and all the other endless youth we sign. But nobody is telling him to play this sideways passing bull sh*t.

So yeah... While I also see people's point that the people in charge are the problem, and getting rid of Enzo won't fix it. But we can definitely get a better manager, even if he has to put up with utter nonsense from the board. Enzo just isn't adaptable and makes bizarre decisions every game. I would rather us just get some naive f**ker who loves to get us on the attack, at least that gets the best out of an exciting young team. Otherwise, you end up with this painful bull sh*t.

39 minutes ago, dkw said:

Its funny people saying they dont see how a new manager can make a difference, while also wanting Glasner in, who went to Palace and made a massive difference 😅

Not to mention on two occasions we've changed managers mid season and ended up winning a champions league, with one of those occasions having Mount, Werner and Havertz to lead the line.

49 minutes ago, dkw said:

Its funny people saying they dont see how a new manager can make a difference, while also wanting Glasner in, who went to Palace and made a massive difference 😅

It's incredible what Glasner has done at Palace.

Won the FA Cup, won the Community Shield (beating Man City & Liverpool to do so). Now on an 18 game unbeaten run despite having to sell their best players.

I fully expect their form to drop off and for them to start sliding down the table but think they will still finish above us and they are so much better to watch, and that is all down to Glasner.

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

It's what we have been conditioned for the better part of two decades mate.

Right from Claudio the stand was set. Many of us thought it to be a great season. Second place, and a CL semi final. Building. Roman thought different and installed a winners mentality.

So we are used to a club set up to win. Only winning mattered. Managers, for the most part, got top players on top wages. If we fell short the manager got chopped and it fixed all our problems, for a while, and we won more trophies.

So many still think getting shot of the manager fixes things. It does not. Still the same owners and directors that do not prioritize winning, and focus on their project. This cycle will just keep continuing. We will be back here with the next manager, and the one after, and the one after him etc...

I agree with you on the board and SDs, who first and foremost interest in Chelsea is to make money, not to win. But, I also think that, with a proper coach, this team could get top 4 and have a decent run in the CL and domestic Cups. Both things are not exclusive. As things stand, with Maresca we won't get top 4 and I don't see us getting through the league stage in Europe or beating Wolves in the league Cup.

The key is who the SDs would target as a coach, they've got to be on low wages and be content to work with what they give him, no matter how unbalanced the squad is. And there's the problem.

1 hour ago, dkw said:

Its funny people saying they dont see how a new manager can make a difference, while also wanting Glasner in, who went to Palace and made a massive difference 😅

Is this the same team that struggle to create anything last season vs us after they lose olise? Until they signed sarr n nketiah

Edited September 29, 2025Sep 29 by Bob stark

It is crazy to see how fans cannot see what we are doing.

Which of the title contender team sign a gittens, Garnacho, Hato? None.

Arse signed Gyokeres, Madueke n eze.

Pool signed isak, ekitike, kerkez, wirtz, frimpong

City signed reijnders, donaruma

Where are all the kids?

Poch looked like a fool when he has to play jakcson, madueke, mudyrk, gusto

Maresca looked like a genius when the board gave him neto, Sancho, Tosin. Now when he has to play kids, he looked like a fool.

Edited September 29, 2025Sep 29 by Bob stark

57 minutes ago, Nibs said:

It's incredible what Glasner has done at Palace.

Won the FA Cup, won the Community Shield (beating Man City & Liverpool to do so). Now on an 18 game unbeaten run despite having to sell their best players.

I fully expect their form to drop off and for them to start sliding down the table but think they will still finish above us and they are so much better to watch, and that is all down to Glasner.

It is however more a symptom of what a well run structure can bring.

Palace are like Bournemouth and Brighton. The underlying structure is so good it doesn't matter who the manager is, who gets sold, they still punch above their weight.

Maresca might be the problem, but there's definitely other factors at play.

25 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

It is crazy to see how fans cannot see what we are doing.

Which of the title contender team sign a gittens, Garnacho, Hato? None.

Arse signed Gyokeres, Madueke n eze.

Pool signed isak, ekitike, kerkez, wirtz, frimpong

City signed reijnders, donaruma

Where are all the kids?

Poch looked like a fool when he has to play jakcson, madueke, mudyrk, gusto

Maresca looked like a genius when the board gave him neto, Sancho, Tosin. Now when he has to play kids, he looked like a fool.

Who says the fans can't see what we are doing? You can see it and still be frustrated/vent about it.

There's a very small minority who actually expect us to be title contenders, majority just want to see better attacking football. You could argue we could potentially get less points as a result of this type of football but that's another debate entirely.

I can count on 1 hand the amount of times Maresca has genuinely looked like a genius so your bolded comment is quite a reach and is actually part of the complaints against him, even if I agree with the overall point of better/experienced players > kids.

Edited September 29, 2025Sep 29 by Remodez

2 hours ago, dkw said:

Its funny people saying they dont see how a new manager can make a difference, while also wanting Glasner in, who went to Palace and made a massive difference 😅

A good old fashioned coach that isn't reliant on a single system to win football matches. Been a while since we had that.

38 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

A good old fashioned coach that isn't reliant on a single system to win football matches. Been a while since we had that.

And maybe someone marking the back post... and a man up front with legs that can run when we're down to 10.

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

It is crazy to see how fans cannot see what we are doing.

Which of the title contender team sign a gittens, Garnacho, Hato? None.

Arse signed Gyokeres, Madueke n eze.

Pool signed isak, ekitike, kerkez, wirtz, frimpong

City signed reijnders, donaruma

Where are all the kids?

Poch looked like a fool when he has to play jakcson, madueke, mudyrk, gusto

Maresca looked like a genius when the board gave him neto, Sancho, Tosin. Now when he has to play kids, he looked like a fool.

Start listening….

It’s not about the results for me….its about HOW we play.

The manager can set the team up to have a go and attack - with whatever levels of player he has. But Maresca chooses to play slow and negative football.

Even Lincoln played quickly and got at us!

So the news from the club is..

there are no concerns even after the 3–1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, which club officials believe was just the latest example of how factors beyond Maresca’s control have impacted the team. Injuries have caused problems all season and red cards have proven to be a frequent issue. Indeed, Chelsea have only lost five games in the past six months, and four of those saw the Blues go down to 10 men.

Decision-makers inside Stamford Bridge have been satisfied with what they have seen from Maresca when it’s 11 vs. 11 and believe their faith in the boss was rewarded last season, when Chelsea endured a far worse slump and still ended up qualifying for the Champions League alongside Club World Cup glory.

There is said to be “complete confidence” in the Italian tactician to turn things around, with owners and sporting directors alike all aligned in their commitment to the under-fire boss.

Chelsea’s goal this season is to finish in the top four of the Premier League and enjoy a deep cup run, with the plan currently to review Maresca’s success at the end of the season.

so finish in the top four and thats it, no trophy..nothing

I for one dont believe it, an Everton victory tonight pushes us down to ninth, we have heard maresca has been moaning about not getting a CH, rumours about Palmer wanting Maresca gone and most of the squad thinking Maresca is too Arrogant, (he proved it again against brighton, "im always right, and have learned nothing from the week before, im just going to take off all our pace and put on more defenders"), the owners and Colwill were seen hugging DE ZERBI in the tunnel on Friday night, nothing in it? maybe not, but there is talk that the owners are impressed with Ireola and Glasner and are tired of hearing Marescas complaints, HE KNEW BEFORE HE TOOK THE JOB HE HAD NO SAY IN TRANSFERS, my advice to Maresca is if you want to keep your job (i think he wants the sack) is to keep your gob shut and get on with it, oh and swallow your pride and bring back Disasi (i dont think hes good enough BUT he is needed), last season TREV was brought back so why not use DISASI (at centre half NOT rightback) we are paying him 100k a week so why not use him?

Ive been saying since before the season started, Maresca is a lucky manager and is not good enough and will be gone by christmas, i stand by that and if he was to lose to Benfica and Liverpool he could go in the international break 🤞

Take how we played against PSG.

Instruct the players to play like that every game.

Let the players grow and learn - even if they lose consistently.

That would be far better than defensive rubbish, which we still end up losing

24 minutes ago, Bebe1980 said:

And maybe someone marking the back post... and a man up front with legs that can run when we're down to 10.

teams started doing this after Shawn Dyche done it at Christmas, he obviously realised we never have a tall person at the backpost its normally Gusto and not only cant he defend, he is useless in the air. Maresca has still not changed it, his idea is that if they win the header the ball will be headed back across goal and one of our taller players will head it away....

Neville highlighted this yesterday in the Newcastle game, Trossard was left unmarked loads of times from freekicks and corners and on two occasions it nearly led to a goal, i hate to think how we will defend against Arsenal, they will have a field day

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Is this the same team that struggle to create anything last season vs us after they lose olise? Until they signed sarr n nketiah

Imgflip

You missed the point!

1 hour ago, bisright1 said:

It is however more a symptom of what a well run structure can bring.

Palace are like Bournemouth and Brighton. The underlying structure is so good it doesn't matter who the manager is, who gets sold, they still punch above their weight.

Maresca might be the problem, but there's definitely other factors at play.

So why did the previous 2 managers at Palace not called Roy Hodgson do so badly in comparison to Glasner? One did so bad that they had to drag Hodgson out of retirement to save them from relegation, Ive no idea where you can pull a statement like that from.