Chelsea Banter

01 May 2024 15:54:37
Big ange said his injuries not good, Werner and left back out.

Chelsea have 14 (fourteen) first team players out for spurs, lol but we should be competing.

Poch needs to lay off on the intense training cos this is getting longer not shorter,

01 May 2024 16:49:55
Matt, I have no idea if the majority of our injuries this season are as a result of “intense training, ” whatever that really is?

Remember both JT and Lamps saying the training and practice match sessions were FULL ON and made games seem easy.

Maybe, just maybe the trading isn’t intense enough. Or, maybe it’s just bad luck.

01 May 2024 15:02:29
If Nkunku and Levi are out tomorrow that's 12 players missing through injury!
A chance for some academy players maybe?

01 May 2024 15:34:50
G8, I may well be wrong but I think it’s 13/ 14 players out for tomorrow and that is just about our worst injury total for the season.

You are correct about opportunities. I would like to see the RB position filled with one of academy players.

01 May 2024 16:11:29
It is utter madness Tom, half the squad missing! I guess Alfie will play RB with BB and Big Trev at CB and Marc C at LB. Conor and Moises in the pivot with Noni, Palmer and Mudryk behind Jackson leaving a bench of academy players.

29 Apr 2024 21:19:16
I thought Noni was brilliant against Villa, the boy gets stick from some but just look at the talent. Yes, he made a mistake with the penalty fiasco, yes, he needs to work harder in defence but he is a talent, big, strong, quick and direct with a goal in him as well. About time he got some praise.

30 Apr 2024 08:17:09
Has had some really good games recently will be interesting to see how he develops has an eye for goal good dribbler to my mind he doesn't have his head up enough to view his options but undeniably a talent.

30 Apr 2024 08:43:06
He has certainly improved throughout the season. I’m still not totally convinced but I think it was Ed001 who sad that the lad needs good coaching.

Another player who has improved throughout the season.

30 Apr 2024 09:09:01
Good player but my only concern with him is is attitude.

30 Apr 2024 09:51:45
Were you concerned about Ballacks attitude when he tried to take a penalty instead of Lamps? All a bit unseemly from my recollection and he was an experienced player, but it didn't affect his attitude going forward.
Likewise Noni infact he's played well since Wembley/ Pen incidents.
And he is still a kid coming to terms with playing for a big club so he should be cut some slack.

30 Apr 2024 10:51:29
Love Noni too, G8. Thought he was stand-out during the tailend of last season. He's worked really hard to improve on the defensive aspect during the last few months, which was my main concern about him, because he's obviously massively skilful going forwards – if he can keep working on his game and decision making he's going to be some player. These are young kids with very few seasoned pros in the dressing room to guide them – I think Poch should get no little credit for this aspect of the situation.

30 Apr 2024 10:54:13
The penalty argument that stands out for me was between Drogba and Lamps. It was also an important pen as we were going for the title and Drogba wanted the golden boot. Eventually aLamos took it and scored but Drogba had the right hump. I would add that at no stage did JT or Carlo get involved in the on field argument.

30 Apr 2024 11:02:04
EdW. I agree Poch should be given credit for players performances improving throughout the season.

I can only think of 2/ 3 players who’s play hasn’t generally improved throughout the course of this season.

30 Apr 2024 15:08:28
You'right EdW and as have saiud myself not sure more than a hadful of managers could have done much better and many would have done perhaps a good deal worse.

30 Apr 2024 18:20:18
Which does not mean Poch cannot be criticised in terms of getting line-ups or substitions wrong - which he has on occasions. Yet in terms of odd line-ups, and some substitutions, this might be a matter of trying obver his first season to look at all the players properly, give them game time, so that the right decisions can be made about swho should stay or who should go - subject to this being possible! - in this coming transfer window. Who should stay, from what Poch and we have seen, should surely include, CG, CP, MG, TC, Enzo, MC, CC, NJ (as winger), and assuming head right NM. Quite a lot of others in the should probably keep too column. RJ if ever regains proper fitness should be an easy must keep but one worries about his fitness as most of us do, along with that of BC.

A manager can also be criticised perhaps for being seemingly unable to get players off to fast starts at start of games or after intervals, or to be entirely focused for whole of game. But players also responsible for this as they most certainly are for obvious blunders in front of goal or at the back.

01 May 2024 08:41:30
I think Poch will be given another chance but he needs to improve his half time team talk.

01 May 2024 13:50:32
Agreed Bill – we've often been shocking after half time.

And with JBS (although I've personally not seen anything from him that suggests we should keep Cucurella! ) – line-ups might have been an aspect of trial and error with a squad that was seemingly built with no sense of coherence. But one can also question why for example, if the goal was to learn about the players, he never tried Maatsen in his natural position?

Anyway, although I've found many of Poch's decisions baffling and have seen obvious negatives, I don't believe we can keep cycling between managers, and don't want to keep cycling between managers. To change that culture, as the new owners said they would, at some point you have to show some steel. If we continue to fire and hire a potential long-term manager will simply not look at the club as a viable place to pitch up.

29 Apr 2024 16:43:20
When I saw the badiashile nudge I thought it would be given as foul by ref,
Ref was right there, he saw it, no obstruction and yards away. He saw it and didn't think it was a foul, var obviously said we think you got this wrong we suggest he takes a look, cancelled goal almost instantly, my gripe with this was the sterling push in back v Brentford not given as it was shoulder > to back, then I was suggested would that of been a penalty the other way around and I don't think that would be given,

Then there was Michael Oliver yesterday. 5 yards and actually waved his arms to say definitely not a penalty when rice absolutely booted Davies,

The level of refereeing is at all time low, referees don't want to make calls, there just waiting for VAR to do there job for them, and they can't be trusted as they are
Looking for reasons rather than anything " clear and obvious, and once they do make a decision or let it go on, as soon as VAR suggest otherwise they almost always change there mind, there's no consistency across the league with referees,

29 Apr 2024 17:19:45
Agree with you Matt.

29 Apr 2024 17:57:37
Couldn't agree more .

I would change VAR have automated offside like they are going to then give each team a challenge per half on non offside decisions, when they challenge the ref goes to the monitor to look with nothing said to him by stockley park, if the team is correct you keep your challenge if wrong you lose it.

29 Apr 2024 20:11:25
I think when a referee allows the play or goal to stand, VAR should ask the referee, did you see the contact between badishille and Carlos, if so are you happy to allow, then referee can say I saw and it stands or I didn’t see, or I saw, was 50/ 50 I’d like to look again, let these refs ref the game and be accountable, and limit the VAR as much as possible,

30 Apr 2024 07:25:49
Completely agree Matt, although the Grealish hand ball that was on target until it hit his away from his body arm was deemed "not a foul" by VAR. This is where ref's should be Mike'ed up with VAR and available to the fans in the stadium and on TV, so instead of one person deciding there was nothing, everybody would be accountable. This is where
technology is heading, and, if refs are going to abide, rather than make a tough decision, then our premier league is in a spot of trouble.
Whilst we admonish our referees for bad decisions, our VAR advisors ( who hold far much more power) go unpunished! These people (very well paid I might add) produce one bad decision after another, they need to be made accountable along with the referee's.

30 Apr 2024 13:05:36
100% agree Matt. VAR should be asking ‘did you see the incident’ if yes, they should ask the ref to describe what they saw. If they say the defender got the ball and they didn’t, send them to the monitor etc but if the ref has said I saw a shoulder barge then there’s no need for it to be referred to the monitor unless it’s a red card offence imo.

The handball in the city game, the ref gave a corner, so the contact wasn’t seen so they should have gone to the monitor, it should be down to the ref whether it was accidental or on purpose, the decision shouldn’t be made by VAR.

The whole point of VAR is to ‘not re-referee’ incidents. So if a ref has seen it and makes a subjective call it should stand.

30 Apr 2024 22:11:27
it was a clear and obvious foul and a good decision in my opinion the ref should of spotted it in real time do.

01 May 2024 05:33:20
The wonderful experience of celebrating a goal with your own fans within a stadium has now become a time when fans hold back on that emotion.

VAR for me has become a technology that sucks the life out of game.

{Ed025's Note - im with you Tom..

28 Apr 2024 21:54:43
Another loan player who seems to have had a productive season in the lower divisions with Bristol is Harvey Vale. Played over 40 games. I'm sure he will progress and have a good football career.

29 Apr 2024 01:12:35
He’s done well but probably not done enough to get a chance in the first team. Omari Hutchinson on the other hand is some player in his first full season. We really are blessed from the right wing with Palmer and Hutchinson but Kendry Paez is the player I can’t wait to see join. He looks like an Endrick level talent.

29 Apr 2024 11:46:33
Hutchinson is very inconsistent has games where he's anonymous and others where he is a game changer.
He certainly wouldn't be ahead of Palmer/ Noni and wouldn't be happy on the bench.
He left Arsenal due to not getting enough starts so another loan period would be best for him next season ideally in the PL if he would be a starter.

29 Apr 2024 12:16:41
KDrog think you're probably right re OH at the moment.

28 Apr 2024 15:03:03
Watching the Spurs game, their fans booing them off at Half time. Havertz with another goal, just shows what patience from a manager does and nice when the fans unite behind the team. I'm hoping we have patience with our young squad and the manager, be it Poch or whoever shows the same patience and care that Arteta is doing at the gooners.

28 Apr 2024 15:44:51
Spot on G8.

28 Apr 2024 17:52:22
Stick with a manager with a losing mentality who would prefer to go to penalties in a cup final against liverpools kids? Yeah right get a grip almost as bad as you betting against your own team. Proper bandwagon fan.

28 Apr 2024 18:18:01
Blimey, I want Poch as our manager for the start of next season. I suppose that must mean I’m a “bandwagon fan, ” whatever that is?

Maybe we could arrange for “bandwagon” meetings/ p@ss ups on a regular basis to discuss the good old days!

Out of interest, what is the longest term Jose has ever been a manager at any of his clubs?

28 Apr 2024 19:12:21
Nothing against you Tom. Just this poster seems to cause trouble on this site and bets against his own team. Think he goes on most sites doing the same. Not sure what his problem is. Not a Chelsea fan by the sounds of it.

28 Apr 2024 19:18:31
Looks like Frank is back! 😉.

28 Apr 2024 19:19:38
Barnet, I never assumed for one moment that you had anything against me. I just like the idea of being a “bandwagon fan. ”.

28 Apr 2024 20:14:41
G8. What are you talking about fans, support and patience? Arsenal (going for the league btw) literally emptied to a man last week when 2-0 down! As for Havertz? Arsenal will NEVER get the return on Havertz that Chelsea got. He scored the winning goal in the CL final, and then got their money back. Brilliant investment.

28 Apr 2024 22:55:36
Keep Poch for the start of next season needs a fully fit squad changing manager all the time is madness I would of kept Potter if they do get rid of Poch please not Jose

As for betting on or against one's own team generally don't like betting on Chelsea games I am nervous enough anyhow but I can see the attraction of betting against them if you lose you are happy that Chelsea won if you win you get compensated for a Chelsea defeat if that makes sense.

29 Apr 2024 08:28:11
It looks like most on here are in favour of Poch carrying on and if reports are to be believed so are the players.

I think it would make sense to see what he makes of this talented squad providing the injury record vastly improves next season and we have somewhere near a constant 11 first teamers to choose from.

29 Apr 2024 08:40:05
Bill, I’m not sure about a majority but there are a few of us who would like Poch to start as our manager next season.

To be honest Bill I’m never a fan of players saying they like or support the manager, that should be done on the pitch. Also, that sort of sentiment almost confirms my pre appointment assessment of him as being “to nice. ”

Anyway, nothing has really happened this season that I personally wasn’t anticipating other than a “shed” load of injuries and I’m gutted not to have really seen Nkunku or Lavia playing in Chelsea blue.

29 Apr 2024 09:06:38
I’m 50:50 on Poch. I can see both sides. He should have won the LC, but tbh it was the players who fluffed their lines at Wembley. The injuries have been wretched for the guy, the inconsistency of “which Chelsea will turn up? ” is, (in the main) to do with being such young players. Looking from the outside for next season here would be my moves, sign a WC CB and CF. That’s poss (£200m) . If possible, sell Sterling (20m), Murdyke (30m) Reece (40m), Chillie (30m), Sanchez free. I’ve got those five at around £110m. Hall is going Newcastle, so a few quid there to be had. Do not be selling CG, TC. What are the chances? Probably next to zero.

29 Apr 2024 10:01:50
Of course they are bill1995. Paid millions to have a manager who is very nice and kind to them even though they need a bollocking.

Bring Jose back.

29 Apr 2024 15:59:29
Bill Poch developed Palmer, Gusto, Gallagher and Caicedo are looking better and better. He is good in developing young players. But if we want trophies and better league position we need some more experienced addition as well as clinical no. 9.

29 Apr 2024 20:04:38
I think it’s a fallacy that Poch has developed young players: Gusto, Palmer and Caicedo were “developed “ at their previous clubs and what about our other young players? Colwill hasn’t developed by being played out of position.

29 Apr 2024 20:33:44
I don’t. Good point Blue.

30 Apr 2024 10:56:27
Jose now would be the worst for this young squad imo. Jose first time around was a different guy, serious and hard but also playful. He seemed to change a lot when his father died, became bitter. Plus, I can't forgive the way he used to bully certain players. I feel like he's a toxic vibe, and would absolutely stick with Pochettino because, as others have said, he's not had a season with a first-choice squad, and was basically handed a mishmash of a team to work with. Patience is usually rewarded in football, but it's not something we've seen a lot of as Chelsea fans – sure, short-termism gets you results for a time, but ultimately it's diminishing returns, as we started to see towards the end of the Abramovich era.