Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
The Shed End - Chelsea FC Forums

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Xabi Alonso - New Chelsea Manager

Jezz
in General Chelsea FC

Featured Replies

On 14/06/2026 at 03:38, C3blue said:

Enzo!

Nah, in 343 the one that is usually responsible for opp dm is the 3 attacker as in 343 the front 3 tend to be narrow defensively

Edited by Bob stark

Watching the CL and World Cup this year, I can't help but think @acaeus is right. Old Man Modric had a quiet game vs England but required Declan Rice's full attention.

Our midfield is technically limited. Everyone has a flaw that makes them unlikely to move the ball quickly, creatively or in combination:

  • Caicedo - great running on the ball, can beat the press, not great at passing or combining in midfield

  • Lavia - best at keeping the ball under pressure, can pass and combine, but can't run with any speed and never actually plays.

  • Fernandez - best long passer, bad short passer & can't run with the ball. Plays in role that requires little of the former and most of the latter.

  • Santos & Essugo - too young and unknown, but neither are particularly technically gifted

I think the temptation is to try and go for physically dominant midfielders but I just don't see any top side other than Arsenal doing that, and Arsenal are a terrible example because they are a poor side from open play. I'd rather have athletic and skilful midfielders than can burst past the press, or reliably pick a pass to start the counter-attack.

    •
    • Author
    15 minutes ago, GarnachoCheese said:

    I wouldn't say there's any hugely difficult periods here. Couple of difficult games back to back but a pretty nice fixture list overall.

    Most difficult stretch is early to mid-December with Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

    5 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

    Watching the CL and World Cup this year, I can't help but think @acaeus is right. Old Man Modric had a quiet game vs England but required Declan Rice's full attention.

    Our midfield is technically limited. Everyone has a flaw that makes them unlikely to move the ball quickly, creatively or in combination:

    • Caicedo - great running on the ball, can beat the press, not great at passing or combining in midfield

    • Lavia - best at keeping the ball under pressure, can pass and combine, but can't run with any speed and never actually plays.

    • Fernandez - best long passer, bad short passer & can't run with the ball. Plays in role that requires little of the former and most of the latter.

    • Santos & Essugo - too young and unknown, but neither are particularly technically gifted

    I think the temptation is to try and go for physically dominant midfielders but I just don't see any top side other than Arsenal doing that, and Arsenal are a terrible example because they are a poor side from open play. I'd rather have athletic and skilful midfielders than can burst past the press, or reliably pick a pass to start the counter-attack.

    To be fair, Barco can carry the ball very well.

    Those traits aren't mutually exclusive either. Hjulmand at Sporting is a very strong DM with a very good passing range. Almost Alonso esq which begs why we aren't scouting him.

    So over the past few years,

    Moisés Caicedo had his car impounded for driving without a license.

    Ex bomb squad player Stirling is up on dangerous driving

    Fofana banned for being a total dick and potential murderer. Should be in prison not doing community service...

    The russian drug mule was a potential car killer losing his license and then his car driving without a license.

    Fernandez couldnt remember who was driving his car through south Wales, or the 9 previous points for being a bell end

    DD forfana only a chelsea player in spirit, collected 8 points.

    Now, this is from our "top" players off the pitch and this season we saw 11 red cards. The worst of any club in the PL..

    1. 8 were in the Premier League (players).

    2. 1 was in the UEFA Champions League (João Pedro).

    3. 1 was in the EFL Cup (Liam Delap).

    4. 1 was shown to then-head coach Enzo Maresca, bringing the club's total to 11 dismissals.


      Only players I want to remain on this list are Caciedo and Chalobah. The rest I want to see out the door, bottlers and over paid and over hyped dogsh*t. Neto is a particularly viralent floater both for Protugal and us, no wonder Ronaldo cant score.

    1. Robert Sánchez

    2. Trevoh Chalobah

    3. Malo Gusto

    4. Moisés Caicedo

    5. Marc Cucurella

    6. Wesley Fofana

    7. Pedro Neto

    8. João Pedro

    9. Liam Delap

    This is predominantly the senior team acting like dicks.
    The fist thing I want from Alonso is him to literally flog or beat the sh*t out of Chelsea players and bring their discipline into line. Anyone not bothered dont deserve to wear the shirt.

    What all this suggests is just how out of control our senior players actually are and as such bring the club into disrepute.

    Im sick of it. Alonso, see it, say it, sort it and use a cattle prod to bring these manchildren into the real world.

    Edited by bluelightening

    On 20/06/2026 at 20:30, bluelightening said:

    So over the past few years,

    Moisés Caicedo had his car impounded for driving without a license.

    Ex bomb squad player Stirling is up on dangerous driving

    Fofana banned for being a total dick and potential murderer. Should be in prison not doing community service...

    The russian drug mule was a potential car killer losing his license and then his car driving without a license.

    Fernandez couldnt remember who was driving his car through south Wales, or the 9 previous points for being a bell end

    DD forfana only a chelsea player in spirit, collected 8 points.

    Now, this is from our "top" players off the pitch and this season we saw 11 red cards. The worst of any club in the PL..

    1. 8 were in the Premier League (players).

    2. 1 was in the UEFA Champions League (João Pedro).

    3. 1 was in the EFL Cup (Liam Delap).

    4. 1 was shown to then-head coach Enzo Maresca, bringing the club's total to 11 dismissals.


      Only players I want to remain on this list are Caciedo and Chalobah. The rest I want to see out the door, bottlers and over paid and over hyped dogsh*t. Neto is a particularly viralent floater both for Protugal and us, no wonder Ronaldo cant score.

    1. Robert Sánchez

    2. Trevoh Chalobah

    3. Malo Gusto

    4. Moisés Caicedo

    5. Marc Cucurella

    6. Wesley Fofana

    7. Pedro Neto

    8. João Pedro

    9. Liam Delap

    This is predominantly the senior team acting like dicks.
    The fist thing I want from Alonso is him to literally flog or beat the sh*t out of Chelsea players and bring their discipline into line. Anyone not bothered dont deserve to wear the shirt.

    What all this suggests is just how out of control our senior players actually are and as such bring the club into disrepute.

    Im sick of it. Alonso, see it, say it, sort it and use a cattle prod to bring these manchildren into the real world.

    Yeah it's not a coincidence. No leadership means no accountability, but we also have an inexperienced management who do not want leadership because it threatens their ill-gotten authority. The club has the culture of an American frat-boy start-up, not a serious or competitive sporting institution. Were this mob in charge in the early 2000s, they would have continued with Jody Morris as their poster boy and sent the careers of Terry, Lampard and Gudjohnsen down with his in the toilet.

    •
    On 20/06/2026 at 18:30, bluelightening said:

    So over the past few years,

    Moisés Caicedo had his car impounded for driving without a license.

    Ex bomb squad player Stirling is up on dangerous driving

    Fofana banned for being a total dick and potential murderer. Should be in prison not doing community service...

    The russian drug mule was a potential car killer losing his license and then his car driving without a license.

    Fernandez couldnt remember who was driving his car through south Wales, or the 9 previous points for being a bell end

    DD forfana only a chelsea player in spirit, collected 8 points.

    Now, this is from our "top" players off the pitch and this season we saw 11 red cards. The worst of any club in the PL..

    1. 8 were in the Premier League (players).

    2. 1 was in the UEFA Champions League (João Pedro).

    3. 1 was in the EFL Cup (Liam Delap).

    4. 1 was shown to then-head coach Enzo Maresca, bringing the club's total to 11 dismissals.


      Only players I want to remain on this list are Caciedo and Chalobah. The rest I want to see out the door, bottlers and over paid and over hyped dogsh*t. Neto is a particularly viralent floater both for Protugal and us, no wonder Ronaldo cant score.

    1. Robert Sánchez

    2. Trevoh Chalobah

    3. Malo Gusto

    4. Moisés Caicedo

    5. Marc Cucurella

    6. Wesley Fofana

    7. Pedro Neto

    8. João Pedro

    9. Liam Delap

    This is predominantly the senior team acting like dicks.
    The fist thing I want from Alonso is him to literally flog or beat the sh*t out of Chelsea players and bring their discipline into line. Anyone not bothered dont deserve to wear the shirt.

    What all this suggests is just how out of control our senior players actually are and as such bring the club into disrepute.

    Im sick of it. Alonso, see it, say it, sort it and use a cattle prod to bring these manchildren into the real world.

    I read the same post when Rosenior got appointed, the same post when Maresca got appointed. Bring more discipline, yet same $h!t. 😂😂😂

    Our transfer strategy is literally to sell older player and keep bringing kids in, how do you expect discipline.

    We saw Dave after his last game for the club, it happened randomly. A couple of hours after our/his last game of the season at the bridge we had been for a munch and a few beers the streets were almost clear still a few fans here and there and he came along in a lovely Bentley. Everyone immediately recognised him and started singing Azpelaquta (excuse the spelling I just called him Dave)we want you to stay, he opened his window and was literally in tears saying I wish I could but it’s time to go home. For me he is a club legend.

    •

    Create an account or sign in to comment
    Go to topic listing

    Recently Browsing 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.
    Background Picker
    Customize Layout

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.