God what a hard watch that was yesterday...

I've been somewhere inbetween giving Maresca time and sacking him for quite a while, but I just can't see us competing in CL or PL as long as he's here. There were some rare great matches under him but I guess that just came down mostly due to individual moments of brilliance and a highly-motivated matchups. Tactically, he really seems out of his depth, lost with no real shape or idea.

Real Madrid seem to have the same issue with Xabi Alonso, but of course they have much more individual quality so perhaps it doesn't show quite as much as for us.

But then there's another question... IF we could sack him tomorrow - which jobless manager would we want to bring? There's no good options out there at the moment.

Also, why are we pretty much the only big club that keeps giving 5-year contracts to new managers???? I will never understand that.

My two cents. (sorry for my english)

There are good individualities in Italian teams, almost all foreign, but Italian soccer has neither quality, nor pace and nor intensity. It no longer even has that tough defensive phase that once distinguished it.

So losing to an Italian team at this historic stage, more or less, is equivalent for a team like Chelsea, to having lost to a Belgian team like Malins (Mechelen) thirty or more years ago.

Why do I say this? Because our defeat yesterday is probably the result of a presumptuous attitude that led us to play at a low level. And when you stoop too low to your opponent's level (it's also a rule of life) he defeats you with his experience playing at low levels.

I have always defended Maresca but surely the biggest fault of what happened yesterday is his.

But it's also true that the players go on the pitch and not him.

I can't forget about Atalanta's second goal, when a player (very good) like Cucurella stepped back into the penalty area, giving De Keteleare the chance to shoot unopposed.

Evidently, ours is still an immature team, and this is not related to the age of the players.

Last year the crisis came when, having started without any objectives, and we found ourselves in second place.

This year the crisis came after "walking" with Barcelona, and a great match played with Arsenal.

Now Everton is coming...and we need to unite because the season is still long and very open and it's not a given that our players emerge from the torpor that has enveloped them, and return to give us so much satisfaction.

21 hours ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

Notts forest?

No such team, just saying 😉

23 hours ago, Chippy said:

Taking Trev off because of a yellow card without putting Reece into the RB slot and Josh in at CB was strange, gittins coming back on for the second half equally so.

Neto subbed off without Estaveo coming on? Loads of options but Maresca chose to go with Gusto to win us the game.

I really find no excitement watching this team under this manager and it's got me feeling like I'm struggling through the Benitez era again.

Everton must be rubbing their hands about now.

He is Benitez all over again. His ceiling is Benitez at Liverpool, all cup runs and maybe a half-season challenge for the league, and endless excuses blaming everyone and everything except himself.

23 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

I am surprised that the horrendous miss from Reece James at the beginning of the second half, when their defence suddenly froze, hasn't been wheeled out as a difference maker. But realistically, how many other testing attempts did we have in that second until the end of the game and desperation took over. Shocking management

Jason Cundy mentioned it immediately after the miss in commentary on the club website.

Agree with you, we didn’t exactly ‘bombard their goal’ in any shape or form.

I went on holiday for the week because I thought surely after drawing, the players would be up for it and Maresca's gonna pull off a win despite me hating his football philosophy

I was wrong and f**k Maresca

38 minutes ago, Deino said:

I went on holiday for the week because I thought surely after drawing, the players would be up for it and Maresca's gonna pull off a win despite me hating his football philosophy

I was wrong and f**k Maresca

@Deino I'm shocked! Surely you know better than to be hopeful!

1 hour ago, Valerie said:

@Deino I'm shocked! Surely you know better than to be hopeful!

I know!!! Too much hard liquor does that 😂😂😂

On 09/12/2025 at 17:42, loz said:

No we don't!

We have quality in Caciedo, Palmer and James, some attitude and effort in Cucurella and potential in Estevao and Acheampong.

The rest are largely squad fillers. Fofana maybe slightly better than that.

This squad is nowhere near challenging for major trophies. Far too many also rans in it.

But they're not totally squad fillers are they? I mean they are young players included in the World Cup squads of Brazil and Argentina and France, highly regarded in the footballing world. No doubt we are doing our best to ruin their careers, but the players we are bringing in are players highly regarded outside of our club. Players keenly respected in the football coaching world. What happens when they get here - is another story.

50 minutes ago, Deino said:

I know!!! Too much hard liquor does that 😂😂😂

I would argue not enough hard liquor!

Edited December 11, 2025Dec 11 by Valerie

On 10/12/2025 at 08:04, bornAblue said:

God what a hard watch that was yesterday...

I've been somewhere inbetween giving Maresca time and sacking him for quite a while, but I just can't see us competing in CL or PL as long as he's here. There were some rare great matches under him but I guess that just came down mostly due to individual moments of brilliance and a highly-motivated matchups. Tactically, he really seems out of his depth, lost with no real shape or idea.

Real Madrid seem to have the same issue with Xabi Alonso, but of course they have much more individual quality so perhaps it doesn't show quite as much as for us.

But then there's another question... IF we could sack him tomorrow - which jobless manager would we want to bring? There's no good options out there at the moment.

Also, why are we pretty much the only big club that keeps giving 5-year contracts to new managers???? I will never understand that.

Crystal Palace manager

Sunderland manager.

Aston villa manager..

They will all be much better..

17 hours ago, guddy69 said:

Crystal Palace manager

Sunderland manager.

Aston villa manager..

They will all be much better..

Crystal Palace manager, for one, won't wear the management structure at Chelsea. The Yes man syndrome.

On 11/12/2025 at 19:23, guddy69 said:

Crystal Palace manager

Sunderland manager.

Aston villa manager..

They will all be much better..

True, but I was asking about managers that are free at the moment. Also, I doubt Glasner and Emery would even want to come. Can't blame them, honestly.

Definitely!! Good shout!

On 09/12/2025 at 18:17, Sexyfootball said:

Fully expecting this line up :

Sanchez

Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella

James, Caicedo

Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho

Joao Ped

I reckon this will be a tough game for us. We need to put our best side out and make sure we get all 3 points.

51 minutes ago, josh31 said:

I reckon this will be a tough game for us. We need to put our best side out and make sure we get all 3 points.

Check the date @josh31 😃

6 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Check the date @josh31 😃

Oh dam! I thought this was the Cardiff game thread!! Apologies! My bad 😬😂

33 minutes ago, josh31 said:

Oh dam! I thought this was the Cardiff game thread!! Apologies! My bad 😬😂

Chill. @Valerie let you off lightly.

54 minutes ago, dermott said:

Chill. @Valerie let you off lightly.

I'm a sweetie.