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24 Apr 2024 13:30:58
Does any of the Ed's know what's going off with the Americans and Poch do they still have faith.
{Ed002's Note - A decision will be made at the end of the season and perhaps July 1 will prove to be an important day.}
24 Apr 2024 16:39:01
Apologies if this is a stupid question, but why July 1st.
{Ed002's Note - It is the start of the new year.}
24 Apr 2024 16:43:57
Thank you Ed,
Much appreciated.
24 Apr 2024 13:28:52
Imo Chelsea should not sign young talents for the first team anymore. Any new player must be proven experienced players or we will be remembered as a one time European giants. History had it that forest once won ucl. It's silly to change what made great. The core of great Chelsea team has been quality proven experienced players but boely and Co ownership came in and forced out all who had mastered the art and brought in clueless staff to change things that will never work in this generation. Chelsea whose best player is a player who left a rival team for lack of opportunity, can never be at the top level.
I also think boely and Co are working to rip off the gains made by the roman era by buying young players so that they sell them when they improve for profits. The will make us like old arsenal where they sold their best players Henry vp, fab, etc and have their fans gnashing for lack of success.
I have always believed that politics should never interfere with sports. It has killed our beloved club in forcefully taking roman out of Chelsea. Match day fans must make things difficult for the club to follow the roman polices or we may never recover the roman forcefully removal for non football reasons. Chelsea have been hijacked.
24 Apr 2024 15:23:59
If Bellingham if Fodan we wouldn’t be able to sign them because they are to young?
I would like us to sign the CH from Sporting Lisbon and he is young.
I would like us to sign leaders (whatever that really means) but I’m certainly not going to define that by age. I think JT was only about 22 when he became our captain/ leader.
24 Apr 2024 15:35:23
It’s ok to sign youngster but Bellingham and Foden are world class. We have Washington, Jackson, Madueke, Mudryk, Chukuuemeka and co who are all just potential.
As Tom stated Terry was 22 and also Lampard was young. You have to blend them in with experience and youth together not just signing loads of kids. The whole project is a joke.
I do think a good manager comes in and changes things though like Conte did after Mourinho and Tuchel after Lamps. Poch just ain’t it but it stems from the owners and Winstanley and Stewart first.
24 Apr 2024 13:15:42
Some posters on here did nothing but moan about Pulisic and Havertz, look how well they are now doing. They moaned about RLC and Jorginho, look how well they are both doing. They now moan about this player and that player on here. And when those players move on and the next ones come in the whole cycle will start again. Not everyone on here but certainly 2 or 3.
24 Apr 2024 15:14:09
Normally I agree with you in lockstep G8, but have to push back on this.
Pulisic for AC Milan: 45 games, 13 goals, 8 assists in 3168 mins.
Pulisic for Chelsea (21/ 22): 38 games, 8 goals, 5 assists in 2208 mins. No marked improvement, he's just stayed fit compared to last season.
Havertz for Arsenal: 47 games, 12 goals, 5 assists in 3467 mins.
Havertz for Chelsea: 47 games, 9 goals, 1 assist in 3256 mins. No marked improvement, but he's playing in a much better team.
No one was begging for RLC to be sold as far as I recall. Can you point to Jorginho playing better this season than he did for Chelsea? Is he playing any better for Arsenal than Enzo is for Chelsea?
24 Apr 2024 15:16:52
G8, they had a right to moan…. those players never lived up to the hype for us, they had plenty of chances but failed.
Time for people to start accepting the reality that half of this squad will not live up to the hype for us and some will, some already have.
24 Apr 2024 15:28:14
Some players will be successful at Chelsea and some will not. It will always be that way.
I think it was Ed001 who said that sites get busier after a defeat than a win.
I wouldn’t have a clue statistically but maybe more people just like to moan. I certainly “enjoy” the occasional moan!
24 Apr 2024 12:51:19
Poch is being reported as saying to the owners "that painful decisions need to be made. " While I guess this could mean a lot of different things, I'm hoping that any end of season review looks at more than just what I fear may happen.
24 Apr 2024 15:35:18
Tom
Everything needs to be looked at from the very top down to Gladys the tea lady.
24 Apr 2024 15:42:15
Hope Stamford the Lion will pass the examination.
24 Apr 2024 15:51:56
I hope the away fans get moved to the East Stand.
24 Apr 2024 15:59:46
Stamford the Lion has one year left on his contract and his agent is at loggerheads with the club. He came through the academy as a cub; sell him : 100% profit for PSR.
I read it that Poch said the club need to make ruthless/ clinical decisions, I agree and I know what would be the first one I would make.
24 Apr 2024 16:22:34
I think Poch will be rather upset if they keep him in charge.
24 Apr 2024 12:24:23
Reading the united page on interested players and about Madrid may be willing to swap Tchouameni with Chelsea for a player. Whether it's James or Enzo I'd get it done our midfield has always needed a big enforcer a la Matic Or Mikel and we currently are getting walked over.
Tchouameni and Caicedo would be like Kante and Matic again. Two ball winners in a midfield. Can't rely on injury prone players forever that goes for James and Fofana. Lavia, Nkunku and Carney will be the same if it's similar again next season.
24 Apr 2024 12:40:32
Barnet, a long time ago he was my first choice ahead of the player playing for the gooners.
Quality player who I think would have been a perfect partner for Kante and now Caicedo.
24 Apr 2024 13:37:26
That and many more of that will be steps in the right direction. Not buying young and unproven players for resale will kill the club. Board members with such skills should be brought in to bring the club back to the part we have been and going. American owners always try to exploit clubs and kill or slow clubs development to their advantage. United glaziers, Liverpool pre klop, Milan etc.
24 Apr 2024 13:47:34
The club really messed up thinking he was not ready when Tuchel wanted him which made us end up with Saul.
James is the best right back in the world for me but he’s exactly like Jack Wilshere we can’t wait forever.
24 Apr 2024 15:17:17
Surely you have to give James a chance to show he can return to fitness following his surgery? It would be insanity to sell him now - like you say, he's the best RB in the world when firing. He even played well this year while managing the injury.
24 Apr 2024 15:36:51
I agree now he’s had surgery RBD but it’s got to be his last chance. Fofana and others the same. I’d give Nkunku, Lavia, Carney another season as it’s basically their first season but James and Fofana have been troubled for years.
24 Apr 2024 15:41:02
I wouldn’t want James to leave under any circumstances and that includes us signing my previous No1 choice as a DM.
I’m also not happy about sweeping nationalistic statements such as “Americans owner always try to exploit clubs. ” Maybe Everton would have preferred an American owner? Or maybe Reading. My guess is there is an argument that Newcastle and City owners have there reasons for investing in Premiership football clubs. In my humble opinion the majority of premiership clubs are run as a business.
This may come as a shock but even we have had some owners that took us to the brink.
24 Apr 2024 16:18:05
I’m not sure how people can say James is the best right back in the world. Surely to get that accolade you need to be performing consistently at the highest level. James has hardly played for two seasons. I agree that he has the potential to be a top class RB but only if he can stay fit.
24 Apr 2024 10:13:44
I'm with Dan in one of tthe threads below terms of including Gallagher and Chalaboa as among the very few players I would definitely wish to keep along with Palmer, Gusto and Colwill.
The five you listed dan are not only players who give their all every game but have also performed the best this season. To sell two out of the five would seem to be madness if this is planned. I would add Enzo to the list if he can get and remain fit and still think Caicedo if he can not be too reckless and focus for all 90 mins can psove to be a good acquisition too.
In terms of those to sell, and we cleraly need to sell many beyond quite a few out on loan who will definitely go, the jury is still out for me on some of them. BB on recent form has to be one of them having been so promising in early performances. But he has been absolitely shocking since his injury, I'd reckon at least one error per game that led to a goal. Perhaps Mudryk under right manager and in right team would be quite a player as I have feared Havertz might become at Arsenal. I am not sure on him. Madueke has the skills but does he have the head on him to use them every game and for 90 mins, I'm also not sure on him though as he has looked in games before last night's to be one of our biggest threats. Cucurella has had some decent and more solid games including the semi v City. With BC he is certainly good enough when fit but it's the endless injury problems, so who would buy him? Disasi has usually played with spirit at least, and chipped in with a couple of goals, but has also been error prone but he is yet another on my 'not sure' list. Sterling has had a few good games, a couple of v good ones, yet more often than not is too easily budled off the ball, or runs into players or makes wrong decisions like shooting when someone in better position. He is on v high wages, had been benched at City and would sell if one could. But given those high wages I am not sure who would buy him though it could be one of the sides coming up from the Chamionship perhaps.
I would end by saying that we - and so I include myself in this - have often been too depressed after a bad result and too optimistic after a good one this season. I have said a few times that at its beginning I didn't know where we would finish between 5th and 17th and more recently adjusted this to between 7th and 14th. I still don't know. What most of us do kn ow is that main weaknesses remain a consistent no 9 taking most chances, Which doesn't mean that Jackson won't get etter and could be really useful as left side attacker in moble front free. Plus at least one world-class centre back to replace ageing Silva. And possibly a world-class goalie too though would keep Petrovic as he been excellent in some games is young and could also improve. Might be hard though getting what we want in all of these positions in one transfer window and if we are not in Europe, or only in the Conference League.
24 Apr 2024 10:39:58
JBS, I enjoyed your very well balanced post.
I would just add and emphasis just one more point about our ongoing injury issues. We have not been able to rotate or just rest certain players regardless of form because of those injuries. So on that score alone I will give Poch more time.
24 Apr 2024 10:43:11
JBS, your post makes a lot of sense. Leaving aside the problems up front, our defence has been awful all season True some of the problems relate to tactics and coaching but whatever combination we use is generally ineffective. I exclude AG and Silva from these criticisms. Petrovic has been okay but he is not top class. James and Chilwell cannot be relied on due to their absences because of injury. How can you work up tactics and build a cohesive defensive unit if you are relying on James and Chilwell- I wonder how many times they have played 90 minutes together in the last two seasons. Unfortunately, I have no suggestions on how to sort this mess out.
24 Apr 2024 12:12:45
Yes Tom our injury problems have made it diffuclt for the manager and for us fans to even be able to have an opinion on how much a properly fit - and for good length of time - a Nkunku or Lavia could add to our side though we got a glimpse of this in term of Nkunku in his v promising pre-season debuts. Then there is Fofana forever it seems in the treatment room with James and Chilwell, and all of those if fully fit for a season would make a huge difference. I wonder too whether their total time on piytch together is more than 200 minutes or so this season, and then it's possible that one or the pther still wasn't fully fit. Will RJ's op have solved his consistent problems? I don't know.
So as you say Jimbo, will they ever both be reliably fit enough for a whole season? And it's the Defence that has probably been even more consistent in its leakiness than the attack has been in its wastefulness. Ans a strong defense is so crucial for any title winning side and we can but recall with immense nostalgia that we only conceded (still a record surely? ) 15 goals in the 2004-5 season in the EPL. Yes, and this means we also need a goalie who is at least somewhere near to being at a Peter Cech level. It has been worrying that Petrovich has now been beaten at is near post a few times and his ditribution though better than Sanchez (let alone Mendy after first season) is not top class or at least not yet.
24 Apr 2024 08:21:12
Don't want to see Jackson start again, not seeing a striker scared to head a ball, it's unacceptable.
24 Apr 2024 08:46:49
Matt, like a lot of players his confidence looks to be very low but I can’t see any alternatives.
24 Apr 2024 09:11:52
Agreed Tom which is why the decision let let Broja go out on loan was as stupid as is our medical and recruitment teams.
24 Apr 2024 10:52:12
Bill, if I remember correctly around the time of the decision to loan out Broja, Nkunku was almost match fit. I think the loan was a genuine attempt to get the player some more minutes. Unfortunately it hasn’t worked out for the lad at Fulham.
24 Apr 2024 13:21:43
Tom
There was no guarantee Nkunku would play any more than 10 minutes for the rest of the season therefore Broja should have been kept at least he would have helped with the pressure Jackson is under. Decision making Poch is a total shambles as will be a search for a new coach in the summer.
It will be another trip to the south coast a day before the season starts for De Zerbi paying Brighton even more millions.
24 Apr 2024 14:06:01
We will only see the best of Jackson when he plays with a more traditional central striker.
He would be far more effective than Sterling/ Mudryk and has the pace to play left side of the three and the energy to defend as well.
24 Apr 2024 15:48:06
Bill, maybe a search/ review for a manager will take place in the summer but I still thin Poch will be our manager at the start of the season.
I’m only guessing that one of the reasons the
club let Broja go out on loan was because they believed Nkunku would be fit for the remainder of the season. I’m not sure we can blame them for not knowing Nkunku was going to get another injury. There is nothing to say Broja wouldn’t have got another injury if more had been asked of him. The club can’t use hindsight.
Drog, I would like us to sign Osimhen. I’m not sure what position Jackson would play if that happens but I’m sure, as you say, he could play out wide. ’.
24 Apr 2024 08:19:09
Ill try to not come across reactionary,
That's the last time I'll defend poch, whatever reasons from individuals to tactics, results like this are defining. Deafening, the change is only a few games away. Total humiliation,
From the selection,
Players scared to head a ball
To not working
Not pressing
Not being able to pass 5-10yards
To being beaten at your near post
To crumbling
To showing no fight for the fans.
Not hitting the target from 5 years out
Tomorrow will be briefing day, or linked to players to get fans excited, likely kids and u22 years olds,
5-6 players could / should be moving on after displays like this,
24 Apr 2024 08:51:47
Matt, I think about ten players will be leaving in the summer.
I’m not going to make excuses about our performance last night. We got stuffed by a much better TEAM.
In my opinion it’s reasonable to say injuries haven’t helped this season. We have virtually had to play with out of form players and some who look tired.
24 Apr 2024 08:15:00
Just don't really seem up for it, lacklustre in defence and closing down, pressure, too many 5/ 10's out there,
These games answer a lot of questions though,
Badiashille
Disasi
Cuccurella
Petrovic
Mudryk
Madueke
And now havertz scores and celebrates, the pain.
24 Apr 2024 08:55:41
Very generous 5/ 10 for some players!
24 Apr 2024 07:48:39
Oh my god why we didn't let Arsenal get Mudryk?
24 Apr 2024 08:57:00
It would appear two sets of club recruitment teams have seen a player that we have yet to see.
24 Apr 2024 11:31:59
Maybe he has a twin brother!
24 Apr 2024 07:49:31
Having re-watched the game, I'm even more disgusted at some of the individual performances. I know it's highly unlikely but Disasi, Badiashelle, Enzo and Mudryk should be banished to the reserves.
No fight, no desire, didn't care at times. Enough enough. At least some of the others tried, as poor as they were they still tried.
This summer is going to be the most important in probably the last 20 years. We've got to get rid of a lot of these players and our recruitment has to be spot on. Otherwise I can't see how we come back from this for at least 5-10 years.
Sell: Sanchez, Disasi, Badiashelle, Cucurella, Mudryk, sterling, chilwell, madueke. I'd even sell Enzo if I thought we'd recoup and money.
Build the team around Colwill, Trev, Gallagher, Palmer and Gusto. They clearly play for the badge.
24 Apr 2024 08:10:17
Dan, Basisshelle has been very poor since his injury and I have seen very little to suggest that Disasi is any better than Chalaboa. Enzo has been carrying an injury for some time and I would suggest he has the required surgery asap. Mudryk has been average at best for some time, we might be better off loaning him out.
I gave my list of the ten players I think will be leaving the club some time ago and that list unfortunately included both Gallagher and Chalaboa.
24 Apr 2024 08:38:05
I know I keep drumming on about ot but our injury record this season is nothing short of atrocious and whatever has been done about it this season has clearly not worked.
As for Poch, I was one who thought he would be ideal to work with this group of young players, how wrong I was. Total defeatist attitude and now with his team selections seems to have given up and wants out of the door pronto.
The morale of the team will be shattered and he is not the one to pick them up.
Who's idea was it to let Broja go out on loan just to get splinters sitting on the Fulham bench when quite clearly we have no option up front but Jackson who keeps getting hammered.
24 Apr 2024 09:03:44
After performances like that you want to take a breath and not batter the manager but it’s so difficult as some of the blame has to go on him. I’m not forgetting Clearlake, the transfer strategy is awful, the medical department seems to be a shambles and I’m not sure what the recruitment team do.
I don’t like seeing people sacked but sometimes it’s for the good of the cause. I’m not entirely sure where we go from here though. It feels a bit like the club as a whole needs to change their strategies before a new coach comes in.
Be interesting to hear the EDs views on it all….
24 Apr 2024 09:10:45
Bill, I wanted Potter as our manager and to show how stubborn I am, I still think it was a mistake to sack him.
I wouldn’t have started Mudryk or BB but other than that I don’t think Poch had many alternatives with his team selection. I guess he could have picked Silva and played Disasi at RB.
Putting aside his small error for there first goal I didn’t think Gilchrist was to bad.
24 Apr 2024 10:50:48
Dan I share some of your views, especially your point about the overall strategy needing to be reviewed. I've felt since Xmas that Poch was going at the end of the season and since then there have been too many performances like tonight for him to survive.
Personally, I think the only way the squad as it currently is can compete is to go with something resembling the below:
Jackson
Nkunku/ Carney-Palmer
Chilwell/? -Enzo-Caicedo-James/ Gusto
Colwill-Disasi-Fofana
Petrovic
Ideally you'd keep Chalobah and Maatsen, but we all know they're gone.
Is a true upgrade on Jackson going to be available and want to actually sign with us? No idea but I seriously doubt Gyökeres is the answer.
24 Apr 2024 15:39:36
RBD
How many drom the team you mentioned will stay fit for more than 5 minutes?