Matchday thread for the Premier League Match vs Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge.

Win, lose or draw BlueCo Out!

Given the struggles of our wingers, can we give Derry a start at least?

Need some minutes for Colwill.

Whatever plan that is being constructed to try and deal with City need to be worked on in the final 4 league games.

Whoever Colwills partner will be they need minutes together. Whoever will start with Caicedo and Enzo play the 3 together.

Whichever 2 will start with Joao Pedro get them working together. If that is Hato Ala Ryan Bertrand OK do it. If it is Derry great start him here.

We need James fit, we need Colwill fit, we need our midfield 3 to have an understanding and our front 3 to have work ethic and carry a threat.

Only result that matters is winning that final. We have lost too many times in a row in Wembley finals we need the FA cup.

Any potential new owners need to see there is something left to salvage by buying us.

13 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Need some minutes for Colwill.

Whatever plan that is being constructed to try and deal with City need to be worked on in the final 4 league games.

Whoever Colwills partner will be they need minutes together. Whoever will start with Caicedo and Enzo play the 3 together.

Whichever 2 will start with Joao Pedro get them working together. If that is Hato Ala Ryan Bertrand OK do it. If it is Derry great start him here.

We need James fit, we need Colwill fit, we need our midfield 3 to have an understanding and our front 3 to have work ethic and carry a threat.

Only result that matters is winning that final. We have lost too many times in a row in Wembley finals we need the FA cup.

Any potential new owners need to see there is something left to salvage by buying us.

What? He has had about an hour total in (a) a behind closed doors game, and (b) an U21s game. He's nowhere near ready and why on earth risk it?

4 hours ago, dermott said:

What? He has had about an hour total in (a) a behind closed doors game, and (b) an U21s game. He's nowhere near ready and why on earth risk it?

Build him up for the FA Cup Final. Am hoping he can at least have 10 minutes.

Time to rest players and focus on the final. I honestly dont want us in the Europa or Conference league

30 minutes ago, KonaKai Blue said:

Time to rest players and focus on the final. I honestly dont want us in the Europa or Conference league

If we win the FA Cup Final, we are in next season's Europa.

On 27/04/2026 at 13:45, axman2526 said:

Build him up for the FA Cup Final. Am hoping he can at least have 10 minutes.

Why? Not like he’s a game changing forward, he’s a centre half who’s been out injured all season and he’s no JT either. Continue his rehab and get him ready for next season.

I think one of the biggest problems at our club is worrying too much about the players when we should only worry about the team as a whole.

As long as we avoid the conference that’s all that matters in the league. Oh and spurs going down, that game is now 19/05 the Tuesday after the cup final. Be nice to parade the cup then send spurs down.

On 27/04/2026 at 07:45, axman2526 said:

Build him up for the FA Cup Final. Am hoping he can at least have 10 minutes.

I suspect FA Cup Final is a long shot for him given how long he was out. Certainly unrealistic for him to start that game. But there is a decent chance he will get some minutes in the first team before the end of the season if he continues to make progress.

Got a ticket, dont realy want to go, but I do want to go and watch a fantastic midfielder run the show, So might go take a look at Anderson (a player any club with ambition should be in for) - we used to be that club).

Fully expect us to lose this one. Last time I saw Forrest in person we had Kevin Hitchcock in goal and they had Ian woan, John stones and Jason Lee up top.

Edited April 28Apr 28 by bluelightening

2 hours ago, C3blue said:

Why? Not like he’s a game changing forward, he’s a centre half who’s been out injured all season and he’s no JT either. Continue his rehab and get him ready for next season.

I think one of the biggest problems at our club is worrying too much about the players when we should only worry about the team as a whole.

As long as we avoid the conference that’s all that matters in the league. Oh and spurs going down, that game is now 19/05 the Tuesday after the cup final. Be nice to parade the cup then send spurs down.

Given how bad our defence is having Colwill back can certainly be game changing

13 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Given how bad our defence is having Colwill back can certainly be game changing

That sounds a bit like wishful thinking.

15 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Given how bad our defence is having Colwill back can certainly be game changing

Seems like McFarlane has simplified our play quite a bit, which makes defending easier. In this scenario I think we'll be fine using what we have for the rest of the season, and let Colwill rebuild slowly

Edited April 29Apr 29 by AndyDowsleftflank

Just now, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Seems like McFarlane has simplified our play quite a bit, which makes defending easier. In this scenario I think we'll be fine using what we have for the rest of the season

Seems to me he has just told Sanchez to stop faffing around at the back and hoof it.

3 minutes ago, dermott said:

Seems to me he has just told Sanchez to stop faffing around at the back and hoof it.

Pretty much, yeah

Can I first just ask that the right Chelsea arrives for the game? It is amazing how different the performance against Leeds was when compared to the five previous league performances. You could see the players were up for it. And I actually saw players communicating throughout, especially Chalobah and Tosin. I've never seen Trevoh so pumped up and communicative.

The other thing is the change in style of play. Rather than just knocking the ball around sideways until we made a mistake, we were playing more direct to get the ball up the field faster, which was such a refreshing change. I don't know if this is something McFarlane is looking to implement for the rest of the season but I certainly hope so. I'm so tired of seeing us invite pressure on the ball and then succumb to said pressure and then be left chasing back to defend a breakaway.

Having said this, Forest are on a roll. I don't for one minute believe we're just going to suddenly beat all and sundry. But six league games without a goal would be absolute murder. I mean, forget about the Titanic; this would take us back to the Middle Ages!

On 29/04/2026 at 03:18, dermott said:

Seems to me he has just told Sanchez to stop faffing around at the back and hoof it.

Maresca had seemingly come to that conclusion earlier in the season too, leading to probably the best spell Sanchez had at the club. It was pretty well known from Rosenior's time at Strasbourg that he liked to play out from the back, so it was no surprise that we reverted to the ball playing goalkeeper. Also no surprise when it quickly led to gaffes.

Well Aston Villa have shown it is perfectly fine to play a reserve side in the league when you have nothing left to fight for and focus on a cup.

So let's play our reserve and youth players and rest up for the FA Cup. Let forest be fresh for their semi final. We can say we were "trying out different options after our run of league losses"

Match Day!

Come On Chelsea!

I expect nothing and yet i will be still be disappointed

Oh no I’ll be in the car driving back from Wales I’ll have to give it a miss.

Game has a draw written all over it.

30 minutes ago, Munkunku said:

Oh no I’ll be in the car driving back from Wales I’ll have to give it a miss.

When is Gittens back? Has to be worth a risk right?

Reece James should be available today.