25 minutes ago, Bebe1980 said:

What a clown this manger is - it was obvious Pedro and Pedro were both having a bad day - so what's Maresca do ?

Takes off our goalscorer Garnacho and then Guiu - who'd had practically zero service all game!

When is this idiot going to stop playing his favorites and start picking a winning line up ?

And Enzo... I dunno... first name on the team sheet - why - what is it he does ?

Another 3 points down the drain for me because of Maresca.

Credit to Sunderland - came with a game plan and executed it to perfection.

What did Chelsea do - put on a team that shouldn't have lost ffs...

Wrong formation - we played more of a 4-3-3 against A**x and we should have stuck with that today. We didn't need Enzo Fernandez today - Fernandez is a technical player better suited to European games and the "bigger clubs". He is also a leader on the pitch - he is our vice captain for a reason.

I like Marc Guiu good lad - but he was awful today - he only touched the ball 6 maybe 7 times - not good enough. So he goes off and you push J.Pedro further up which is fine. But then before that idea even has a chance to do anything Maresca takes off J.Pedro puts on George as no.9 - i mean wtf. What was - what is - Maresca thinking?

11 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

Is this not offside? Unlike the free kick that was given offside by the pathetic ref

Edited October 25, 2025Oct 25 by DarkMata

1 minute ago, DarkMata said:

Is this not offside? Unlike the free kick that was given offside by the pathetic ref

it is offside.

we deserved a draw.

[how sad is that - that we probably deserved a draw at home to sunderland - best case scenario]

10 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Wrong formation - we played more of a 4-3-3 against A**x and we should have stuck with that today. We didn't need Enzo Fernandez today - Fernandez is a technical player better suited to European games and the "bigger clubs". He is also a leader on the pitch - he is our vice captain for a reason.

I like Marc Guiu good lad - but he was awful today - he only touched the ball 6 maybe 7 times - not good enough. So he goes off and you push J.Pedro further up which is fine. But then before that idea even has a chance to do anything Maresca takes off J.Pedro puts on George as no.9 - i mean wtf. What was - what is - Maresca thinking?

I have heard this 'leader on the pitch' thing one or two times before but I have never seen it. I don't remotely see him as being a leader in the pitch. Quite the opposite. Largely invisible as the game passes him by. Is he a player you'd want by your side when the chips are down and you need dragged up to standard? Not a chance for me. Isn't remotely fit to be picked let alone wear the armband.

2 minutes ago, loz said:

I have never heard this 'leader on the pitch' thing one or two times before but I have never seen it. I don't remotely see him as being a leader in the pitch. Quite the opposite. Largely invisible as the game passes him by. Is he a player you'd want by your side when the chips are down and you need dragged up to standard? Not a chance for me. Isn't remotely fit to be picked let alone wear the armband.

I understand that you and many many other Chels don't like him. I disagree. I think he is good player. But I also do not think that he should have played today. AND today was more about the failings of our manager Enzo than any of our players in particular. Maresca's tinkering is incoherent - Maresca doesnt really make any tactical changes - he just makes some bizarre personnel changes.

Just now, TheCeleryKing said:

I understand that you and many many other Chels don't like him. I disagree. I think he is good player. But I also do not think that he should have played today. AND today was more about the failings of our manager Enzo than any of our players in particular. Maresca's tinkering is incoherent - Maresca doesnt really make any tactical changes - he just makes some bizarre personnel changes.

We can agree to disagree on Enzo.

And agree to agree on Maresca! Not sure I'd let him take my dog for a walk, he would probably come home with a different one.

Just now, loz said:

We can agree to disagree on Enzo.

And agree to agree on Maresca! Not sure I'd let him take my dog for a walk, he would probably come home with a different one.

The dog he brings back will be the substitute dog.

1 hour ago, Hensi said:

A manager with just 8 games of top flight experience has managed to nullify everything Maresca threw at him. How long is this gonna go for, dear Lord.

2029 apparently 😢

1 hour ago, SydneyChelsea said:

As much as I rag on some of these players, it's truly impossible to fairly judge when they are instructed to play at literal walking pace

I'll be the first to admit that I can't say with my hand on my heart that I would have the answer for unlocking a 5 man defence with 4 deep lying midfielders. One thing I do know, though, and this without having spent any time in Pep School of Boredom, is that walking around, playing 5 yard passes at a snail's pace, with no movement off the ball, will get you fck all. This tactic would get you fck all against Rotherham let alone clubs with the organisation and structure of a Sunderland

I was looking forward to this game

It's the hope that kills you.

I don't think we can pile in on the players. Admittedly there were some poor decisions and mistakes were made.

In a perfect world I would hope that Chelsea fans would support our players, in particular given their youth, and the high probability that they can't resist checking out online.

At the very least could we agree not to call them c**ts?

Our main problem is obviously the system the players are asked to play, in particular the blanket instruction to take no chances. It is clear that the only way to penetrate a low block is if players are allowed to express themselves. None of our players attempt to turn on the ball when their back is to the play, for fear they might lose the ball and be subjected to endless video analysis on Mondays. Equally, given that our centre halfs have most of the ball, should they be brave enough to try and progress they are likely going against intruction. Josh did it once in the first half and it led to one of the few times we broke the lines. I am guessing his substitution was to guard against him having the audacity to try that again, as Maresca kept one eye on the point we had.

I can't remember the exact words used, or the specific game, but Cole did say once that he got fed up and decided to try something. He can afford to take those chances but most of the rest either don't have the talent or the balls to emulate him. I praised Enzo for his captaincy when giving the ball to Estavao for the pen. Perhaps he could set an example and break the odd rule as he clearly plays to instructions and consequently rarely influences a game.

Is it too much to hope that today might mark a turning point for Maresca? Surely he can see the difference when we play against teams who have a go at at us and our players look like the talents they are, and a game like today when we look toothless.

We can only hope (which of course will kill us again).

Never looked like scoring honestly could still be playing now and the centre backs would still be passing it to eachother. No purpose, second to every ball and no creativity.

32 minutes ago, Liam said:

I was looking forward to this game

It's the hope that kills you.

I don't think we can pile in on the players. Admittedly there were some poor decisions and mistakes were made.

In a perfect world I would hope that Chelsea fans would support our players, in particular given their youth, and the high probability that they can't resist checking out online.

At the very least could we agree not to call them c**ts?

Our main problem is obviously the system the players are asked to play, in particular the blanket instruction to take no chances. It is clear that the only way to penetrate a low block is if players are allowed to express themselves. None of our players attempt to turn on the ball when their back is to the play, for fear they might lose the ball and be subjected to endless video analysis on Mondays. Equally, given that our centre halfs have most of the ball, should they be brave enough to try and progress they are likely going against intruction. Josh did it once in the first half and it led to one of the few times we broke the lines. I am guessing his substitution was to guard against him having the audacity to try that again, as Maresca kept one eye on the point we had.

I can't remember the exact words used, or the specific game, but Cole did say once that he got fed up and decided to try something. He can afford to take those chances but most of the rest either don't have the talent or the balls to emulate him. I praised Enzo for his captaincy when giving the ball to Estavao for the pen. Perhaps he could set an example and break the odd rule as he clearly plays to instructions and consequently rarely influences a game.

Is it too much to hope that today might mark a turning point for Maresca? Surely he can see the difference when we play against teams who have a go at at us and our players look like the talents they are, and a game like today when we look toothless.

We can only hope (which of course will kill us again).

Yup agreed. Felt confident for the first time this season in a meaningful game. Well I guess the game vs the cleaners I was as well.

This one was deflating. won't trust this lot anytime soon again.

44 minutes ago, Liam said:

IIs it too much to hope that today might mark a turning point for Maresca? Surely he can see the difference when we play against teams who have a go at at us and our players look like the talents they are, and a game like today when we look toothless.

We can only hope (which of course will kill us again).

Not so sure about that ... he's missed about 40 "turning points" already in his brief Chelsea management career ... 😎

Beating Spurs will make up for this loss. Its just so frustrating how we are so far away from being challengers.

Everything is just to predictable, to the point it’s tedious to watch and play and easy to play against.

We all know Maresca ain’t it. He’s very very far from it. We are treading water while he’s at the club. We should be looking for a replacement right now. Someone who can use this squad correctly and move us forward.

Keep him until the replacement is ready then make the change. His tactics are ridiculous, his motivation none existent, players constantly played out of position, his substitutions are mind boggling and some people call him a genius but I’m calling it, the emperor is clearly starkers.

Honestly, did we expect it to finish any differently than it did ? I’m full of cans and just think f**k it, it’s a Chelsea thing welcome to my world.

KTBFFH

1 hour ago, KonaKai Blue said:

Beating Spurs will make up for this loss. Its just so frustrating how we are so far away from being challengers.

Lose to Wolves and then Tottenham and he will get fired

Brentford's goal keeping coach is a better first team manager than Maresca.

Usual crap from Coco the clown after the game

“The second goal we conceded, I said already many times, when you are not able to win, it’s important that you don’t lose.”

“They told me this morning that before today’s game, we had exactly the same points as last year, after eight games. Dropping points today [makes it worse]… I think we are still in October. We need to improve many things and see where we are in March, April, May and then decide.”

Then mumbled his usual “we will learn from this defeat”

WILL HE LEARN THOUGH?

I dont think so, until he ditches his boring approach nothing will change, all teams (apart from Liverpool, City and Arsenal) will be happy to try and stick 11 behind the ball and hit us on the break…

HOPEFULLY YOU WONT GET PAST CHRISTMAS MATE

3 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

I'll be the first to admit that I can't say with my hand on my heart that I would have the answer for unlocking a 5 man defence with 4 deep lying midfielders. One thing I do know, though, and this without having spent any time in Pep School of Boredom, is that walking around, playing 5 yard passes at a snail's pace, with no movement off the ball, will get you fck all. This tactic would get you fck all against Rotherham let alone clubs with the organisation and structure of a Sunderland

Unlocking a 9-man defence has two simple solutions- limit their time to organise, and/or dominate set piece situations. We are actually decent at the latter but don't win nearly enough opportunities given both the delivery and target options we have. We are famously horrible at the other.

When Estevao came on he was immediately double-teamed by Reinildo and the spare midfielder. Estevao is easily able to hold off both defenders and play into a midfielder or fullback but the option just isn't there. Fernandez is instructed to get in the box to be a target so he isn't available to support the winger, and James is instructed to hold position so he isn't either.

We have three of the quickest players in the league at LW (Neto, Garnacho, Gittens) but instead of having them chase balls into the channels they receive the ball into feet at half way. They then face the same problem as the RW, and although Cucurella provides support well, this is at the expense of his defensive coverage.

It's a mess of a system, based on a stubbornly stupid ideology. Maresca claims he is obsessed with control but all of our actions in a game are invariably reactive.

I missed the game and just watched the full replay without knowing score. Same as I did with Brentford.

What a waste of time. No way we should be losing these games. So slow on the ball. Just low block Chelsea - that’s all it takes.

I admire Trev and Tosin but neither are good enough - mid table at best. Enzo, and the attackers (all of them) offered so little. We missed Palmer today for sure, but we shouldn’t need him today.

Very frustrated. We’re the gift that keeps on giving.

Just 3 days back I said "We have good run of fixtures all the way until Barca visit us. Hope we continue to cruise and do not f**k up in between."

Looks like bald twat f**ked it up on very first opportunity 😡🥵

2 hours ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

Lose to Wolves and then Tottenham and he will get fired

If that's the case, I won't miss him. Ive always believed in him after a loss after early on his reign, he emphasised the word 'learn'. How much learning does he have to do.

Ive resigned myself to Arsenal winning the Prem. Them winning the CL will break me.

50 minutes ago, PhilH930 said:

I missed the game and just watched the full replay without knowing score. Same as I did with Brentford.

What a waste of time. No way we should be losing these games. So slow on the ball. Just low block Chelsea - that’s all it takes.

I admire Trev and Tosin but neither are good enough - mid table at best. Enzo, and the attackers (all of them) offered so little. We missed Palmer today for sure, but we shouldn’t need him today.

Very frustrated. We’re the gift that keeps on giving.

You must've been so excited when we went 1-0 up.

To me, Maresca seems to want everyone to know he is the "manager"...

Personally, I'd prefer a manager that simply starts our best 11 on a regular basis... and takes a more hands off approach.