11 hours ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Can we have another of this graph but without taking into account Enzo's minutes? Feel like we could shoot straight to the middle of the graph by doing so 🥲

I said before the season started he could be gone by Christmas, the signs were there last season when at least two players made it clear they hated his possession style football, Palmer openly admitted he took it on himself to stop the pissing around passing it sideways and backwards in the Conference league final, then a change of style of play in the CWC final against PSG, because we weren’t expected to win so he had nothing to lose, most people were fooled into thinking Maresca had realised we didn’t need to pass the opposition to death, the owners were happy because most of the fans were happy and believed that they had quelled any rebellion against them, but he then hid behind the players haven’t had a proper rest and so he needed to rotate the squad, so lets go back to the pass pass football so the players dont have to run around so much believing because we are the World champions we can beat anybody , he was told (supposedly) that top 4 is the priority, so to me it looks like he is concentrating on winning a cup and scrapping top four, BUT after a few dodgy results earlier in the season, supporters were unhappy and rumours circulated that the owners were looking for a new Manager, the sheep were then briefed to put it about that it was not true, we then won a couple of games to calm the storm and came back after the international break and beat Burnley (with a reserve team) then beat Barcelona and drew with 10 men against Arsenal, everyone believed Maresca had turned a corner, until he then returned to his stupid idea they we could just heavily rotate, disrespect Leeds (because we were Chelsea and only needed to turn up) and win, well we lost and Maresca was called out, again he hid behind tiredness ( ask Crystal Palace about tiredness they are in a schedule where they play a game every 2 and a half days with a squad less then ours), then to Bournemouth a team ravaged with injuries (none of their main midfielders played) yet the players looked disinterested and were more concerned with passing the ball backwards more times then ever, Palmer looked like he is still injured, Cucurella looks knackered (cant be rested because Hato looks crap), We have no striker (Delap is not PL quality) because the owners refuse to pay the wages (for the money we payed for Delap, Kittens and Pedro we could have got Osimhen) lose to Everton and Cardiff and Coco the clown will be on very thin ice and the owners will have to make a decision

16 hours ago, andy said:

Another very disappointing result in a week we should be expecting 6 points from these two games especially as we go into the Christmas period when we are traditionally poor

I would say this with all due respect to my fellow Blues…. Blaming the manager is very lazy, although I understand it for Leeds not today. We simply dont have a journey man player who can pick the game up by the scruff of the neck. We have loads of examples but one that springs to mind is Drogba at home to West Ham when we went down to 10 men. He didn’t go into anything spectacular but he was as good in defence as in attack.

I feel we still need that journey man, experienced player that is the glue. Think John McGovern under Brian Clough at Derby.

it’s hardly the end of the world and we still got loads to play for but we need that strong leader to take us to the next level

KTBFFH

I don’t disagree Andy, I thought Reece might have been that leader. Apart from the recent Arsenal game we haven’t seen much leadership on the field as I anticipated when he was made Captain. The only real leader we had after JT was an aging Silva. There really is no modern day leader within in this squad or many of the other squads that would compare to the likes of JT, Drogba or Lampard.

I’m sick and tired of hearing how we have a young inexperienced squad, most are full international players yet rarely perform to their full potential, most of the time their application to the game stinks and only put in a performance when they think it’s necessary for their own good. But you’re right, there is no real leadership within this team, no one that can, on a consistent basis pick up this team and drag the other 10 to a higher level when it matters. Let’s hope the club break their stupid age rule and bring in some leadership and experience especially in the CB role.

18 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

This lot ain't getting top 4 this season. We know they are going to crumble this month, just as they did last season, and unlike last season, we don't have enough of a gap to between us and the rest.

One day you can be in the top 4, lose one game and other results go against you and you’re mid-table. Unless this twat changes his ways and we bring in experienced CBs I don’t expect we are anywhere near the top 4 this season. Any team from 3-11 who can put a run together will make the top; we are just not capable of being consistent due to this clowns teams selection and game plan.

11 minutes ago, CFCCAN said:

I don’t disagree Andy, I thought Reece might have been that leader. Apart from the recent Arsenal game we haven’t seen much leadership on the field as I anticipated when he was made Captain. The only real leader we had after JT was an aging Silva. There really is no modern day leader within in this squad or many of the other squads that would compare to the likes of JT, Drogba or Lampard.

I’m sick and tired of hearing how we have a young inexperienced squad, most are full international players yet rarely perform to their full potential, most of the time their application to the game stinks and only put in a performance when they think it’s necessary for their own good. But you’re right, there is no real leadership within this team, no one that can, on a consistent basis pick up this team and drag the other 10 to a higher level when it matters. Let’s hope the club break their stupid age rule and bring in some leadership and experience especially in the CB role.

I hope Santos can establish himself, as he is one player in the squad that I think DOES have leadership qualities.

Unfortunately I think Enzo Fernandez needs to get sold for that to happen, as Eghbali was too emotionally invested in the Fernandez acquisition for Enzo to be dropped in favour of Andrey.

19 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

Can't blame Palmer for that, he's clearly distracted by that ferret somebody left on his head

Comments like this is what makes this forum so good, it takes the sting out of the dross we have to endure every week.

On 07/12/2025 at 11:06, CFCCAN said:

Comments like this is what makes this forum so good, it takes the sting out of the dross we have to endure every week.

Football was much more fun before we all started taking it so seriously.

Didn’t watch the game, didn’t even check the score til Sunday.

Coincidentally I had a lovely Saturday. Thanks.