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.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur (Pre-Season) Saturday 1st August 10:45 GMT

Featured Replies

26 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

That keeper of ours won't be going far.

He was in the bottom quartile for shot-stopping on loan in League One last season, so no surprise he looked well below the required standard.

6 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

He was in the bottom quartile for shot-stopping on loan in League One last season, so no surprise he looked well below the required standard.

His positioning throughout was terrible. He doesn't cover his goal well at all.

I mean it's a shame losing to a spunky goal against Spurs and we are clearly rusty as hell but we should retain some perspective. We finished the game with kids on the pitch. Literally for four of them, Watson, Walsh, Nichol-Jazuli and Satpaev. We then had Sarr, Anselmino, Kellyman on who haven't played along with the hopeless Delap and Tosin. Oh and a keeper that isn't good enough for the level we want.

2nd pre season game with half the squad missing. Results kind of irreverent. It’s getting minutes in legs and starting to divide the squad up and see who is upto the required level.

Alonso isn’t thick, although I sincerely hope once the season begins he’s in a suit for match days.

  • Author
5 minutes ago, dan_cfc said:

Desperately hope we sign a decent keeper can’t be going into the season with Sanchez and that shower of sh*te Sharman Lowe

Penders is joining the squad for pre-season in Hong Kong.

My only real concern that I had was that Palestra looked as stiff as Marcos Alonso used to. I'll qualify that. Arriving at the back post, wand of a left foot, creaming free kicks to top bins. I loved it all. But defensively I often felt that Alonso was so stiff and laboured he looked as if he'd had a stroke down one side of his body and one half was stiff as a board.

I kind of got that vibe at times over Palestra. If there isn't going to be a dramatic improvement in his levels it speaks volumes about the standard of Serie A football if he was the best defender last year.

Estevao and Joao Pedro should have scored those very easy chances, but other than that it's all about fitness at this point.

The best thing is that now that Caicedo has joined as well, a big chunk of the core gets to be doing most of the pre-season, especially the ones in the attacking area. Having Palmer, Estevao and Joao Pedro all fresh and fully fit and ready to go from day one is a blessing. Caicedo will be up to speed in a very short time, too.

6 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

My only real concern that I had was that Palestra looked as stiff as Marcos Alonso used to. I'll qualify that. Arriving at the back post, wand of a left foot, creaming free kicks to top bins. I loved it all. But defensively I often felt that Alonso was so stiff and laboured he looked as if he'd had a stroke down one side of his body and one half was stiff as a board.

I kind of got that vibe at times over Palestra. If there isn't going to be a dramatic improvement in his levels it speaks volumes about the standard of Serie A football if he was the best defender last year.

He's definitely a product of his environment. Serie A is full of these stiff players. It's the reason why older players can go over there and find success, they don't need the same mobility required to succeed in other leagues.

39 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

There are just as many question marks on most of those players. Gusto is capable of being as sh*t as anybody on that pitch today. Quenda is raw, he won't have much impact. Jackson, we know all about him, sh*t. James, a constant injury risk and barely runs these days. Welbeck and Henderson, too old. Enzo, I don't think he wants to be here and he disappears in most games. Barco is another raw player and looks like he will be bullied in the Prem.

Lacroix still needs to convince me that he is good enough for the top level. Rogers I rate, but he's not elite levels yet, he needs to become more consistent. Caicedo concerns me because I haven't seen him play well in a long time now, the guy is completely burnt out.

Mostly accurate but not many teams have a bench full of superstars. Early days still for Alonso but a good manager usually pushes the average players to the next level. Alonso needs to filter out the crap he doesn’t want then work on improving the players we have.

This is still Rosenior/Enzos Chelsea. Feels like it’s going to be a while before we see the full Alonso Chelsea. Plus hopefully there’s some quality signings to come. Friendly at all that I’m not going to let it dampen my slight optimism for the new season.

1 hour ago, The Rising Sun said:

Didn't get to watch it. Any good points or concerns?

Gittens doesn’t look totally useless, other than that same old sh*t really.

Our midfield looks lightweight without Caicedo. Everybody keeps banging on about central defence problems but I literally have no faith in any of our CMs apart from Moises. Enzo is not dynamic enough and too weak without the ball, Lavia spends 99% of the season out injured and Essugo probably needs a loan to play regularly and develop.

What we should have done is gone for someone like Bruno G, don't know if it was doable but we need someone like that. One injury to Caicedo and we're f**ked.

1 hour ago, abramovich said:

Our midfield looks lightweight without Caicedo. Everybody keeps banging on about central defence problems but I literally have no faith in any of our CMs apart from Moises. Enzo is not dynamic enough and too weak without the ball, Lavia spends 99% of the season out injured and Essugo probably needs a loan to play regularly and develop.

What we should have done is gone for someone like Bruno G, don't know if it was doable but we need someone like that. One injury to Caicedo and we're f**ked.

For this reason I think Hendo will play a lot more than people think/hope

2 hours ago, dan_cfc said:

For this reason I think Hendo will play a lot more than people think/hope

I agree. Lavia is unreliable, and Essugo/Barco need more development.

I'm struggling to understand how both Alonso and the directors can look at our midfield and come to the conclusion that Alex Scott is the answer. We need a physical midfielder who covers ground intelligently.

Create an account or sign in to comment

Recently Browsing 1

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.