Going to be a fun season and we'll score tons, but once again the usual suspects in full swing right from the very first match. Gusto is just a bang average full-back, Sanchez is dog sh*te and sorry to say it but as much as I try to find any reasons to believe he is that future superstar in defence, I just can't see that being Acheampong...

Up the Chels! Exciting days ahead.

Good start to the season.

Glad to see a return to a more transitional style, and the front 3 look devastating, especially with Palmer back to his best.

Midfield bit concerning, Caicedo makes a big difference and i thought things settled down when Enzo came on. James and Lavia functional, but didnt control the game as i think Alonso wouldve preferred.

Colwill really poor today, Gusto and Hato not our best options at wing back, Josh did okay.

Lacroix was outstanding, really showed what we have lacked in the department.

Sanchez did his best for us to drop points, he is such an average goalkeeper, I 5hink Penders will push him this year.

3 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

39% possession in that game for us

Possession with purpose. The front 3 are amazing. A goal each,assisting each other.

A new keeper is a must but over all I enjoyed watching them play forward. Play with energy, play for the manager and each other and we also got the win.

We will improve, let’s just keep winning while we learn.

Palmer was excellent.

I'll take 37 more of those, please and thank you.

The way we were flying into challenges was a real concern early on, Colwill was on a yellow and he was shoving people to the ground, can see discipline being an issue again.

Why oh why are we demanding £100m for Neto, we should be accepting anything! Absolute lunacy.

Couple of things that really got me excited, outside of the obvious attacking threat:

When Hato broke through and was stopped, Fulham countered and Joao sprinted back in, but also screamed at the defence to shuffle across and cover.

When Neto wasn’t found by Steve down the right, he didn’t track back. Rhys gave him the biggest bollocking I think I’ve ever seen him give anyone.

Hoping they are signs of some of the leadership and on field game management issues being resolved.

7 minutes ago, Term_X said:

The way we were flying into challenges was a real concern early on, Colwill was on a yellow and he was shoving people to the ground, can see discipline being an issue again.

Why oh why are we demanding £100m for Neto, we should be accepting anything! Absolute lunacy.

We're asking £100m for Neto, where you got that from?

14 minutes ago, petre ispirescu said:

Going to be a fun season and we'll score tons, but once again the usual suspects in full swing right from the very first match. Gusto is just a bang average full-back, Sanchez is dog sh*te and sorry to say it but as much as I try to find any reasons to believe he is that future superstar in defence, I just can't see that being Acheampong...

Up the Chels! Exciting days ahead.

Acheampong could maybe do with a loan and some regular starts. Gusto wouldn't have been starting if Palestra was available and will hopefully be offloaded before the window closes. If we do sell Enzo we should use some of the funds to sign a better keeper.

14 minutes ago, C3blue said:

Possession with purpose. The front 3 are amazing. A goal each,assisting each other.

A new keeper is a must but over all I enjoyed watching them play forward. Play with energy, play for the manager and each other and we also got the win.

We will improve, let’s just keep winning while we learn.

Palmer was excellent.

Cole looked back to his best which is very encouraging. That front 3 of Cole/Pedro/Rogers is very exciting

15 minutes ago, C3blue said:

We will improve, let’s just keep winning while we learn.

This.

A lot of people are assuming we will defend like this all season.

A lot of people are pretending this bad performance from Colwill is a regular thing.

A lot of people are forgetting that not one top club bar Arsenal (who had their 2nd easiest game all season), performed well.

15 minutes ago, petre ispirescu said:

sorry to say it but as much as I try to find any reasons to believe he is that future superstar in defence, I just can't see that being Acheampong...

Our centre backs by numbers today :

Josh was pretty decent I'd say !

5 minutes ago, dkw said:

We're asking £100m for Neto, where you got that from?

I believe Ben Jacob’s was the first to report it, then BBC/Telegraph/Athletic and the rest jumped on it. Earlier on in the window Ornstein reported Al-Halil wanting him for £60m.

8 minutes ago, WeatherMan said:

I still think he's a very decent shot stopper but useless with his feet

🙄🙄🙄

26 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

I like the cut of Lacroix's jib. And great to see Lavia make an appearance without a season ending injury.

He did get turned really easily like in the world Cup.

The Fulham striker could easily have scored. Apart from that he was really good.

They were closer to 100% fitness than we were.

That wasn’t even close to Alonso’s preferred line up.

I’m already looking forward to seeing us go with 2 CB’s which allows Estevao or Quenda to play with our front 3.

3 points and move on.

Penders has to play against Luton.

Good result but we wont come close to being title challengers.

We have several passengers in team like Gusto and a horrific goalkeeper.

After such a good start, once again we drop off and allow the opposition to gain composure.

I like that we are not so possession heavy, doing nothing with the ball but we must find away to block out direct play and our gaps being exposed.

4 minutes ago, 19seventyone said:

They were closer to 100% fitness than we were.

That wasn’t even close to Alonso’s preferred line up.

I’m already looking forward to seeing us go with 2 CB’s which allows Estevao or Quenda to play with our front 3.

3 points and move on.

Penders has to play against Luton.

Yes let’s see Penders vs Luton please because we have bought so many next best thing teenagers who have disappeared yet we are suffering Sanchez because Penders IS the next best thing….. ffs buy a decent keeper!

If Penders has a mare against Luton, then I give up.

Edited August 24Aug 24 by Sconnie Blue

How can everyone, ex players, fans, pundits, reporters all see we need a new keeper.

XA is the manager he knows Sanchez could well undermine everything he is building. He has insisted on players like pep and a xhaka/ hendo experienced midfielder, these are clearly his choices. Don’t tell me he ain’t thinking £10m for Martinez isn’t a big upgrade. We’re all thinking it even those who like/pity Sanchez.

Well Palmer, Rogers and Pedro were terrific up front. A goal apiece is promising stuff. Could easily have thrown it away though. Pity Caicedo and Palestra were injured. At least we know what the midfield looks like if Caicedo is missing. Pleased for Lacroix who managed to keep his composure amidst the chaos. Good to get off to a winning start and Alonso will have learned a lot about his players and tactics, so there’s that.

Anyone else watch youness tonight do his review with bugle all round his hooter. Haha.

Great to start the season with a win. Biggest positive is our attacking prowess was great.

Really hopeful that Palmer is going to have a big season ahead. MOTM for mine.

Sanchez is a disaster waiting to happen. We need a new GK.

4 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

39% possession in that game for us

It's also not a coincidence that our attack looked vastly improved. By Chelsea ceding possession, Fulham couldn't use a low block or their pace on the counter-attack. We had far more control when we actually ceded possession. Fulham's strongest period was in the lead up to and around the King goal, where we were trying to counter-press, and that faded out in the second-half where the team settled off the ball.

5 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

39% possession in that game for us

This is fine. But I don't like the lineup at all. Very Tuchel result oriented lineup

New manager, many new signings, away derby, haven’t won first league game for 3 years - not a bad result at all!!

Start with the positives. On the ball a joy to watch at times. The front three (although Roger’s was quieter) feel like they could score at any moment. Lacroix is solid - when it’s infront of him he’s excellent - just have to watch on the turn. Josh was terrific also. Credit to Alonso for the timing and use of subs - didn’t overthink it. Away fans also - some great effort there!

I don’t know what makes me more nervous - a Chelsea side without Caicedo or a side with Sanchez, which brings me to the concerns

Sanchez is an accident waiting to happen every moment. I can’t do this every time the ball goes near him - hopefully there is something to Penders and we can ease him in. Beyond that, soft yet again - a little too easy to break thru and concede soft goals. Fulham went long and that gave us a few problems.

Great win. Glimpses of what we are capable of. Got to get more solid.

and thank goodness inverted full backs are out of this side!

Was just able to sit and watch it. Sanchez is horrific. Josh king is a f**king loser can’t stand him, but seems like a future welbeck who has his best games against us. (Scored his first last year but had it called back)

Hope we keep that momentum going. Was so much easier to watch than maresca ball. Breath of fresh air