2 hours ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Fair and interesting points. I do think though, as we are getting to grips with a new shape and style, missing Caicedo and playing with what will probably be our backup wingbacks, the defensive issues were inevitable. I expect this to be less of an issue in just a couple of weeks time.

Most importantly for me though - for the first time in years I actually had fun watching Chelsea. Even with our defensive fragility I just enjoyed it, such a wonderful feeling after years of it almost feeling like a chore to watch us

Agreed. And I’m still hopeful we will get a replacement for Enzo Fernandez. Someone like Adam Wharton would be absolutely incredible in this team

Team shape was glorious.

Sanchez is going to undo all of his hardwork every match

14 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Team shape was glorious.

Credit to Reddit

For comparison, check out a prime Marescaball one from 24/25:

The first thing to notice is how perfectly organised and spaced that formation is. The second is the absence of thick passing lines amongst the defenders, and instead big, thick vertical arrows. The third thing to notice in the 24/25 map is...what the f**k was Neto doing when he was the RW?

Edited Wednesday at 01:205 days by SydneyChelsea

10 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Credit to Reddit

For comparison, check out a prime Marescaball one from 24/25:

The first thing to notice is how perfectly organised and spaced that formation is. The second is the absence of thick passing lines amongst the defenders, and instead big, thick vertical arrows. The third thing to notice in the 24/25 map is...what the f**k was Neto doing when he was the RW?

My ocd LOVES how perfectly Lines up our 3-4-3 is. Also - Fulham will go down if they continue their build up without anyone in the middle. Crazy stuff

HOPE!!!, I'LL can let clowns take of 1 piece of clothing from clown suit! TROUSERS, I say trousers you got to keep, boots, clown make up faces, and clown top, especially clown HAT! ME as fan can only THINK! AND HOPE! IM backing ALONSO! best profile of our twenty managers as A PLAYER won everything! and his 1st 2 years were top draw, EXCEPT at real Madrid, PLAYERS FAULTS MR MBAPPE and co in my EYES all about OPINIONS, your first job to go buy KELLERMAN at Brentford young, played for Liverpool under Klopp, played a champions league final got smacked by real madrid right dirty player, but won it all, grrrrr forget! we AINT got EUROPE top 4 was EVEN MONEY! to win was 12.0, I AINT EVER PUT MONEY ON US EVER, but did pennies! HOPE! PLEASE NOT ARGIE for keeper, arsenal did't play him for years, everyone hates, him Trafford look's NERVOUS I think, like sanchez, well martinez he played in a villa side that won europa league, and won WC he had messi fernanades mac allister etc a few good others and a second final with ageing! lot, so come on CHELSEA,if he dont make top 4 he gotta go

On 02/06/2026 at 21:40, JM7 said:

Someone convince me that Alonso isn’t all hype please.

I wonder if Jordan ( good in the changing room) Henderson had any effect on the team Monday night?

3 minutes ago, LEGSDIAMOND5 said:

HOPE!!!, I'LL can let clowns take of 1 piece of clothing from clown suit! TROUSERS, I say trousers you got to keep, boots, clown make up faces, and clown top, especially clown HAT! ME as fan can only THINK! AND HOPE! IM backing ALONSO! best profile of our twenty managers as A PLAYER won everything! and his 1st 2 years were top draw, EXCEPT at real Madrid, PLAYERS FAULTS MR MBAPPE and co in my EYES all about OPINIONS, your first job to go buy KELLERMAN at Brentford young, played for Liverpool under Klopp, played a champions league final got smacked by real madrid right dirty player, but won it all, grrrrr forget! we AINT got EUROPE top 4 was EVEN MONEY! to win was 12.0, I AINT EVER PUT MONEY ON US EVER, but did pennies! HOPE! PLEASE NOT ARGIE for keeper, arsenal did't play him for years, everyone hates, him Trafford look's NERVOUS I think, like sanchez, well martinez he played in a villa side that won europa league, and won WC he had messi fernanades mac allister etc a few good others and a second final with ageing! lot, so come on CHELSEA,if he dont make top 4 he gotta go

Bonkers and entertaining 😂

On 26/08/2026 at 03:15, SydneyChelsea said:

Credit to Reddit

For comparison, check out a prime Marescaball one from 24/25:

The first thing to notice is how perfectly organised and spaced that formation is. The second is the absence of thick passing lines amongst the defenders, and instead big, thick vertical arrows. The third thing to notice in the 24/25 map is...what the f**k was Neto doing when he was the RW?

Awesome, thank you for posting this!

The stark difference and improvement was obvious to the eye, but it's great to see it laid out like this just to make sure we were not imagining things, haha.

We look organised and play the ball with a bit more purpose and players appear to be playing in positions they understand. Hope it continues. please.

I know it is very early days but what a breath of fresh air Alonso has been already.

He's clearing out the deadwood quicker than I ever thought possible whilst getting us playing football the right way. Already love the bloke!

The most refreshing thing for me is that he understands players. You'd think a manager that has achieved as much as Alonso did in the game would have the 'i know better' attitude that came with Maresca.

Palmer's latest interview says it all, Alonso understands his talent and is giving him the freedom to showcase it. Maresca wanted to shoehorn him into his system. Our front 3 are going to be unstoppable.

At last, I'm enjoying watching Chelsea again. So early in the season and yet Alonso has got us playing some lovely football.

Very early to really judge, but I'm delighted with us do far

On 26/08/2026 at 03:15, SydneyChelsea said:

Credit to Reddit

For comparison, check out a prime Marescaball one from 24/25:

The first thing to notice is how perfectly organised and spaced that formation is. The second is the absence of thick passing lines amongst the defenders, and instead big, thick vertical arrows. The third thing to notice in the 24/25 map is...what the f**k was Neto doing when he was the RW?

It's funny to me to see how nobody is passing to Sanchez (and vice versa). It would be interesting to see how that compares to Penders against Luton.
Also interesting to see how James is the hub of the team in midfield on that right hand side, especially when I often notice people here complaining that he's not a midfielder.

1 hour ago, bluedave said:

It's funny to me to see how nobody is passing to Sanchez (and vice versa). It would be interesting to see how that compares to Penders against Luton.
Also interesting to see how James is the hub of the team in midfield on that right hand side, especially when I often notice people here complaining that he's not a midfielder.

With James, do you think that’s the player, the role, or a bit of both? When Caicedo is back I see him back on the right side of the pivot, so will be interesting to see across other samples of that pattern holds. Likely so.

For sure it has been a good start to competitive fixtures. He has us playing attacking (without it being careless), progessive, and far quicker than the muppets before him.

Fulham and Luton are one thing - so lets see if it continues against our bogey clubs over the next couple of weeks.

I wrote a few pages back that you need to be a top level player to be a great coach.. specially in today’s day and age.. instant respect from players and you seem legit.. or you come with a great track record and build ground up.

3 hours ago, Jangz said:

I wrote a few pages back that you need to be a top level player to be a great coach.. specially in today’s day and age.. instant respect from players and you seem legit.. or you come with a great track record and build ground up.

And he's both

I think our team lacks a controlling, assist/play-generating CM and a prime CB

If Hato can make the LWB position his own and Gusto overperforms, we can push for top 3 at least

On 28/08/2026 at 10:30, The Rising Sun said:

At last, I'm enjoying watching Chelsea again. So early in the season and yet Alonso has got us playing some lovely football.

Very early to really judge, but I'm delighted with us do far

I watched both games without once looking at my phone.

First time for 3 seasons 🙂

2 hours ago, guddy69 said:

I watched both games without once looking at my phone.

First time for 3 seasons 🙂

What's to look at?

30 minutes ago, dermott said:

What's to look at?

That's a good looking phone, you can't deny it.

2 minutes ago, guddy69 said:

That's a good looking phone, you can't deny it.

I agree entirely. Just need a very, very large pocket and a very, very, very long cable.

18 hours ago, Jangz said:

I wrote a few pages back that you need to be a top level player to be a great coach.. specially in today’s day and age.. instant respect from players and you seem legit.. or you come with a great track record and build ground up.

There is still plenty of room for managers that had a less than sterling playing career.

Even at the elite level we’ve had Ferguson, Wenger, Klopp, Jose and even Arteta in this country none of whom had elite playing careers.

It could be argued that many elite players have more of a struggle to succeed in management because their players can’t do what is asked of them technically.

Still plenty room for a great coach to make the grade as a top manager of top players.

On 25/08/2026 at 16:34, El regreso said:

Sanchez is going to undo all of his hardwork every match

Guess he saw the light very quickly and binned Sanchez !!