Chelsea Banter

06 May 2024 12:59:44
A defence to my opinion on players needed to improve or maybe not being good enough

32 games - not good enough

3 games - really good, really seemed to have improved on what's expected

I wouldn't make 3 games out of 35 your ammo to come at people.

But yes. Been brilliant last few games, shading brilliant opposition, West Ham 15 goals conceded in 5 and Spurs 5 losses on the bounce,

06 May 2024 14:33:31
Matt, I’m told the last 10 home games have achieved 8 wins 1 draw and one loss.

Virtually every player and the team in general has improved throughout the season.

We have had a ridiculously high injury count and unfortunately we still can’t be sure how much talent we have got within the club.

It’s been an up and down season and my guess is that is common with a young squad. We are just about where I expected but I do expect us to improve next season.

06 May 2024 14:48:16
Since the start of the year we’ve played 24 games across all competitions. Won 14 of them, drawn 6 lost 4. Some terrible games such as the Arsenal one, the playing for penalties against Liverpool in the final and the Liverpool game in the league. A very respectable draw against City 1-1. Some poor draws against Brentford, Burnley and Sheffield. But great wins on the bounce now against Spurs and West Ham and were unlucky to draw against Aston Villa (which is still a respectable result)

Saw a stat that said if the league started in January we’d be 4th in the table. I think that shows clear improvement over the season. Yes in the past we’ve had managers come in and make an instant impact, but that was with a squad of players at their peak. Poch has come into a young, inexperienced and disjointed team which had relatively no experience of playing with each other. That alongside our massive injury list the entire season (which was mostly our experienced players) has delayed the progress. Maybe it’s too little too late but I’d be inclined to give him another year.

06 May 2024 09:09:21
Hutchinson has been nothing short of fantastic second half of the season. With Madueke getting better I really don't see any point in us signing any more players for the attacking midfielder/ winger positions.

Hopefully we leave Hutchinson another season at Ipswich in the premier league and see how he does. We also have Paez coming in a couple of years and he looks fantastic.

If Mudryk or Madueke don't progress one year down the line maybe one could be moved on for Hutchinson or Paez. But I really do think if we spend it needs to be on a quality ST, CB and goalkeeper not a winger or attacking midfielder.

06 May 2024 09:27:17
Barnet, if I remember correctly Hutchinson will only have one year left on his contract. So there is probably a choice to be made by all parties.

05 May 2024 22:45:19
I spoke about how much I rated Noni on here a while ago, most are polite but I got a few pelters from 1 or 2 on here. Why? Can I ask, as Chelsea fans we respect opinion's? I'm sure you didn't mean it Matt Martin?

05 May 2024 23:05:19
G8, we can all agree or disagree with other posters opinions. Surely that’s why it’s a banter page.

06 May 2024 08:43:44
Exactly my point Tom. But I'm asking for it to be done in a nice manner. The banter is great but it can be done in a nice way. that is all I'm asking.

06 May 2024 09:32:25
G8, that would be nice but let’s see how many people rush to defend the personal abuse of owners, management and players throughout the season. Criticism is ok in my opinion and that includes poster to poster.

06 May 2024 12:23:07
Bit rich G8, you've had countless unfair goes at me and stated that I'm a liverpool fan or something because I've stated my view that the board have wasted a collosal amount of money.

But yes agree, discussion shoukd be done in a nice way. Madueke has ability but he has a lot of work to do to continue improving.

06 May 2024 13:02:22
Couple things g8,

During the Tottenham game I tried posting, it was directed to you, I said how I’d be critical of noni for his off ball, his attitude at times and decision making, I said how his turned a corner and I was so impressed with his work rate - it wasnt posted, I’d say most what I post doesn’t come up actually, especially if I mention wonstanly / Stewart, but I was fully endorsing madueke’s improvement in recent weeks and his work rate and even complimentary of you who have always endorsed him


2) as usual you’ve directed at me likely smug.
It’s game week 35, you are smug for 2 weeks, I was critical and fair with it, for 32 games. Let’s not get cocky just yet hey, his had a lot more bad games than good, I hope in the end your right as it’s best for club, but. A West Ham that’s conceded 15 in 5 and spurs team who are getting thumped, could of been good for us when we were drawing to Forrest and Burnley or Everton when we lost 2-0, I believe he was injured posting videos in a nightclub….

05 May 2024 18:21:08
Ok, now home after a wonderful day at the bridge. The result and performance was good but so was the food on offer in the corporate hospitality.

Hats off to every player and Poch. Playing Cucarella in an inverted position is certainly paying dividends. He was very good today.

Palmer is just class and I was so pleased that Jackson's workrate got what it deserved.

Noni is proving to be a real handful and Mudryk gives us natural width.

This will sound odd but playing Chalaboa or Colwill as a RB allows Cucarella to be the extra man in midfield. It also means that playing a more defensive FB instead of Gusto stops Caicedo having to cover so many gaps.

OK, my MOM was Caicedo, another magical display of control and discipline. What a signing.

No better site than the West Ham supporters deserting there team at HT. They had there day out!

05 May 2024 21:56:27
Why on earth would you play Levi as a RB?

05 May 2024 23:06:45
Sorry, I meant Gilchrist.

05 May 2024 13:15:54
Wow got to say I’m surprised at our bench. Lots of players back but I do wonder how much time they’ve got in their legs. Hopefully we get no early injuries and they can just come on for 30 mins at the end.

04 May 2024 19:47:38
Hi all, hope someone could help, if Man City win the fa Cup and with Liverpool winning the league Cup and them both qualifying for the champions league what league positions are to qualify for Europe?
Thank you
UTC.

04 May 2024 20:52:52
The league cup becomes a league position qualification.

Spurs will probably take 5the spot and qualify for the Europa.

If City win the FA cup that would then revert to the 6th place as a Europa qualification.

So, there is every chance that 6th spot would be a good place to finish and hope Utd get beat by City.

I think that is the case if my explanation makes sense.

04 May 2024 21:32:20
Not sure I do follow.

04 May 2024 23:07:40
JBS, I’m sure it’s me and I’m not a 100% sure.

We have to finish no lower than 6th but that may not be enough if Utd win the FA cup.

05 May 2024 08:28:19
as far as i can tell 7th gets you in to a european conference league spot as long as Man utd don't end up 8th or worse and win the FA cup.

05 May 2024 09:24:12
Thanks Tom and seymns I think I've got it now!

05 May 2024 09:37:28
Seymns, you may well be correct but I seem to remember that there were two places for the Europa League.

6th and 7th would have qualified if we had got the 5th Champs league spot.

I’m beginning to think this is a bit like getting involved in FFP or PSR discussions. That in my opinion should be avoided.

05 May 2024 15:46:05
It is very very simple. Top 4 will get Champions League, 5th place will get Europa league and the winner of the FA Cup will also get Europa league, if City win it that place will go to the team who finish 6th in the league. If Utd win it and finish outside the top 6 they will get it. The conference league place went to Liverpool but as they appear bound for the Champions league that place reverts to the league. We need to finish 6th to qualify for Europe or 7th if City win the FA Cup.

05 May 2024 20:26:28
Hi G8 I thought EPL got two automatic Europa league places not just one?

05 May 2024 20:53:54
JBS. Again I may well be wrong. So, I think we do get two Europa league places but one would go to the FA cup winner unless the winner of the Fa cup have qualified for the champions league or Europa league via there Premier league position.

In essence, it should help if City win the FA cup.

06 May 2024 08:50:41
Hi JBS, you are correct in saying the EPL gets 2 Europa places, 1 for the FA Cup winners and one for league position. The FA Cup one will revert to the league position if City win it this season as they will play in the Champions League.