Chelsea Banter
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09 Jan 2026 14:05:25
I really enjoyed our new managers first press conference. The phrase “it’s a privilege to have pressure” will stay with me for a while.
Of course a good press conferences doesn’t guarantee results but I got an initial good vibe from the bloke.
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09 Jan 2026 17:05:00
liam came across very well Tom. BTW have you watched the Simon Jordan video on TS talking to Jim White about Maresca, Blue. Co and Egbali? well worth a view particuarly his view on Egbali who he describes as one of the best football and commercial visionaries he has ever met.
Was very complimentary about him and thinks we will be challenging at that top table very soon.
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09 Jan 2026 17:26:57
Greenway, no I haven’t. With one exception, I try to avoid anything associated with talksport, particularly Simon Jordon. It’s a me thing!
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09 Jan 2026 18:10:01
For a while now Jordan has been saying that we will succeed and has been mocked by white.
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09 Jan 2026 09:02:40
A mate told me last night that Maresca is the 5th manager ever to be sacked after winning two trophies the previous season. Guess what the common denominator is?
I can’t believe it’s true bye the way.
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09 Jan 2026 10:00:44
It's us Tom but surely us are not comparing Maresca with CA.
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09 Jan 2026 10:48:30
It was a mistake to push Maresca out the door Tom and the grass is not greener. Anyway, those who wanted him out will soon start moaning about someone or something else🤣they just like a daily dose of moan and groan😇.
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09 Jan 2026 11:34:40
Greenaway
Correct me if I'm wrong but was it not Maresca who demanded to leave us, nothing to do with what fans wanted or didn't want.
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09 Jan 2026 11:35:01
I think it may be my fault as though I hadn't wanted Maresca in the first place and found him hard to warm to I had been won over by improvement in our play towards end of last season plus with CWC win. and then again by wins against LFC and Barcelona this season plus creditable draw v Arsenal.
Had said I wanted him at least to be given rest of the season and that was probably what made the woners decide to part ways with him!
But in fact it seems as likely that he wanted to leave because a) he decided he should have a greater say in terms of transfers/hadn't got all he wanted b) the City job may beclon come the summer?
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09 Jan 2026 11:49:06
The owners sacking score is 4-1 to RA using the two trophy parameters.
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09 Jan 2026 12:17:09
Sorry greensway. sorry greenaway i duppose everything is wonderful at the club atm and we should all spout positivity project nonsense.
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09 Jan 2026 14:01:59
We all see things differently.
Why is being positive nonsense? If that’s how any person wants to be, positive or negative it’s up to them.
The usual one thrown at positive people is they are not “objective” but surely “objective” can be both positive or negative.
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09 Jan 2026 14:22:13
Don't let the banter get to you Kazablue, it is all a bit of harmless fun and all and everyone can have a view and a say. As the scousers say "calm down lad, calm down".
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09 Jan 2026 17:48:03
not getting to me greenaway . watching us play is what's getting to me at the minute hahaha.
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09 Jan 2026 07:39:46
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 20 - Quick Round Up
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08 Jan 2026 22:00:27
Martinelli is a disgrace: should have been sent off. Gary Neville was right. If I was a Liverpool player, I would have taken a red card to punch him in the face.
{Ed001's Note - I was hoping Konate would butt him, mainly because he is dog muck and if he got sent off and banned it would do us a favour! ;-)
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09 Jan 2026 10:01:36
If thatcwas us, the ref would have given the player 3 red cards.
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09 Jan 2026 11:36:36
It was dreadful and he most certainly should have been sent off - cannot believe why he wasn't. Still far too much inconsistency of reffing in the EPL.
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09 Jan 2026 11:49:41
Love it Bill.
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09 Jan 2026 14:48:56
I'm going to offer a slightly different opinion here. Whilst I agree that Martinelli should have been sent off (and one of our players would have been), and it's not a good look, Bradley writhing in genuine pain genuinely did also look as though he was wriggling back on to the pitch to prevent the game continuing, something we've all seen many, many players do over the last few years.
I therefore don't really place the fault with Martinelli in this case – though perhaps with a bit more consideration he might have realised the ref would be adding on time regardless – but with all those players that feign injury to gain an advantage, which includes players from every single team in the Premier League.
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09 Jan 2026 16:36:42
It wasn’t a good look and I understand he has apologised to the player.
Very unsportsmanlike and a shame.
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09 Jan 2026 17:49:17
problem with that argument from arsenal fans EdW . is he was never actually off the pitch. poor lad you could tell instantly he'd picked up an injury, hopefully not bad one.
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08 Jan 2026 20:49:27
I can’t recall a Liverpool team ever having eight players defending across the box. I don’t watch them play much but they look like a team that’s scared to play!
It’s no wonder there fans are unhappy, surely they ain’t watching that sort of football every week?
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08 Jan 2026 21:25:57
The performance of our current champions in the first 20 mins of the second half has improved beyond belief. Showing how to player against the gooners.
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09 Jan 2026 10:02:39
Tom
Did we not show how to play against the Gunners, even with 10 men?
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09 Jan 2026 11:50:14
Very True Bill.
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08 Jan 2026 18:41:39
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 20 - Quick Round Up
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08 Jan 2026 15:08:46
Tusole has written an article entitled, Chelsea's New Direction Raises Doubts Over Ambition
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08 Jan 2026 15:35:19
Not a fan of the owners or our new manager. Apparently the owners can’t go anywhere for about another 7 years and I will personally judge our manager from game to game and then more thoroughly at the end of this season.
I wish nothing but the best for our very long list of ex managers, except when they play us! Other than that “The King is dead long live the King” is my motto.
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08 Jan 2026 17:19:24
Tom, as with most football fans we are stuck with the owners unless we can all chip in and buy the club- the new Football Regulator would probably allow fan ownership. As for LR, whatever happens he will be coach next season. The SDs would not admit to another failure: let’s hope LR is as good as he thinks he is.
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08 Jan 2026 18:02:18
You may well be right about Maresca being a brilliant and elite manager but what do you base that on Tusole? please enlighten me?
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08 Jan 2026 18:19:39
Jimbo, why have you made that last comment? To me he comes across as quite a humble guy. Mind you I don’t know the bloke.
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08 Jan 2026 18:40:37
Tom, obviously neither of us know him. I have read a lot of what he has said about his approach to the game. He is clearly intelligent and articulate: one of the things that concerned me was that he stated that Pep was his biggest influence: there are far too many want to be PePeps around.
He is clearly grateful to get the opportunity but he didn’t strike me as humble.
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08 Jan 2026 19:25:30
I seem to remember reading he was born in Wandsworth (Good start, South Londoner) and having just a normal upbringing.
I have only seen one interview when he expressed how grateful he is to be given this opportunity. So far, everyone who has anything to say about him has said positive things. Of course none of this means he will be successful but I just wish him well and he has my 100% supports.
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08 Jan 2026 20:25:55
Tom, even if you are right about him being humble I don’t see that as a strength being the manager of Chelsea. All reports and what I have seen give the impression that he is a decent man.
I do remember us appointing a 40 year old coach who had won the Champions League and Super Cup with an unfancied team and claiming he was”The Special One”.
So much for humility. That said, I prefer LR’s demeanour than Maresca’s and I wish him success.
As for South London, I wouldn’t care if Donald Trump decided to take it over.
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08 Jan 2026 21:14:59
All the best people come from South London.
The special one was undoubtedly the special one for Chelsea. I doubt we will ever see that sort of comment again from another manager.
Let me repeat. I don’t know him, I just thought he came across as a very humble guy. Only time will tell us his true temperament.
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08 Jan 2026 21:49:36
Tom, to be honest his demeanour and temperament are irrelevant as long has we are successful and play good football.
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08 Jan 2026 22:01:07
Jimbo, it wasn’t me who said “hope LR is as good as he thinks. ” I assume you were suggesting he is arrogant.
Maybe I misunderstood you.
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08 Jan 2026 23:26:25
Tom, perhaps not quite arrogant too much confidence for someone who has achieved nothing and a bit too much touchy-feely and emphasis on bonding with players rather than instilling a winning mentality. That said, we can’t expect too much, we still have the same areas of weaknesses in the squad which aren’t going to be addressed anytime soon.
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09 Jan 2026 06:26:55
My expectations for this season haven’t changed because we have a new manager.
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08 Jan 2026 14:25:10
Red card cost us but that was a decent 2nd half with 10 men and until they scored their 2nd we could of nicked that. We all thought he should of left Santos on the pitch and maybe taken Neto off. James was awesome and made a huge difference and Delap needed that goal. We were in the champions league places until Egbali sacked Maresca who had 95% of the away fans support and Egbali got a roasting to that effect as none of us wanted Maresca out.
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08 Jan 2026 15:05:33
Greenaway, it will be interesting to see how many fans protest at the Brentford game.
Strange thing is, win the game last night and the fans don’t vent their anger. A few positive results and it will all probably disappear.
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08 Jan 2026 15:14:00
Reckon your post is spot on about the Fulham hane Greenaway and I was dismayed when Dantos taken off as we were dominating midfield up to then. Only regained more control and cutting edge when James brought on as you say. Taking Neto off might have helped him get a bit of rest as has been below his best in last couple of outings.
Had the away fans spotted Eghbali next to LR in the stands or were they just venting their disapproval of Maresca sacking anyway?
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08 Jan 2026 17:13:36
disagree tom- the fans continued the chant just after we equalised too- win lose or draw this ownership is not popular and for very good reason.
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08 Jan 2026 18:17:26
Perfectly reasonable to disagree and as usual I am admitting to guessing. I think the protesters will have their day out at the Brentford game but if we win a few games just melt away. Of course if we don’t win then the chants will become deafening.
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08 Jan 2026 18:39:11
JBS, it was mainly a result of Maresca being sacked/resigning, the majority of the away fans have been around the block a few times and don't really give a toss who owns the club as long as the players give their all on the pitch and leave nothing behind but the treatment of Maresca with us in a champions league place, SF's of a cup, still going ok in the champions league and on the back of 2 cup wins hasn't gone down well. Expect a bit more singing anti-clearlake songs but we all except nothing will happen.
A lot of us were at the bridge that night when uncle Ken wanted to turn the electric fence on and shock us all! also remember his fall out with Mathew Harding not to mention the Mears family! all that matters to us lot is a few beers, a good sing, a lot of banter and hopefully limbs all over the place when we beat utd, west ham, liverpool. (you know the song) and of course spurs. The home tourists and their mobile phones and two team scarves are a bigger issue than who pumps billions of pounds of their money into our club.
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09 Jan 2026 11:39:39
I know the song (! ) and I know what you mean about limbs all over the place Greenaway as when one flaying next to me after Estevao goal v Barcelona lecft me limping for a day or two. Well worth it!
Thanks for another enjoyable post mate.
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08 jan 2026 11:46:06
Ok, that game over we move on.
i have a very strong feeling we will now go on a long unbeaten run and the match last night will be seen as a turning point.
Come on my mighty blues.
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08 Jan 2026 14:42:45
Agree Tom as long as we can keep eleven on the pitch. Even during this awful run I am not sure we are playing that badly am trying to think of one game which we got well beaten and deserved to lose and can only think of Leeds away although my memory is short term at the best these days.
The Arsenal semi finals will be interesting in terms of how much importance the teams put on it, one things for sure Liam will have enough games to give everyone he wants to play games.
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08 Jan 2026 15:15:45
We all will hope you're right Tom. A semi final win v Arsenal in Caraboa cup would lift moral eben if the EPL and ECL greater prioroties perhaps. and we would not like a 3rd round FA Cip exit v Cardiff!
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08 Jan 2026 16:06:18
JBS, not likely to happen mate, we are playing Charlton.
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09 Jan 2026 11:44:08
Of course Tom. oh dear v Cardiff game was last round in Carabao cup. Can't even put my mistake down to a glass too many just to idiocy.
What I have seen since looking up the Charlton game in terms of TV channel etc is that CFC have played Charlton 52 times in all competitions over the years with each side winning 20 games and the remaing 12 being draws. So whoever wins tomorrow goes ahead in those stats. for what it's worth. But going out in 3rd round - which I don't think has happened to us for many a year - would be a blow to morale!
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08 Jan 2026 07:39:34
{Ed's Note - Joyfull has posted a new article entitled, The Championship Drop and What It Means for West Ham United
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07 Jan 2026 13:19:24
I liked Liam R's first official. interview as CFC head coach. He cam across as very genuine, passionate but modest. Do hope he can preside over a successful second half to. our season.
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07 Jan 2026 14:36:31
JBS, I hope the grass is greener!
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07 Jan 2026 14:56:50
We all do Tom.
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07 Jan 2026 15:19:23
The grass is rarely greener Tom as I pointed out a few times to Bill who was always calling for Maresca to go.
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07 Jan 2026 15:40:31
We will just have to wait and see. It would be nice to have a period of stability but, of course, this is Chelsea. Also be good to get these charges resolved, one way or another.
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07 Jan 2026 16:20:23
Hope dread hope Tom!
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07 Jan 2026 16:47:00
Greenaway there is no guarantee in life but that does not mean that you do not strive for something better, hopefully LR is that but as I say, there are no guarantees.
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07 Jan 2026 21:18:09
Maresca was never going to work. Awful tactician. Everyone got well over excited after the club World Cup.
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07 Jan 2026 22:19:36
I’m easily pleased. I was well chuffed before that competition when we finished 4th and qualified for the champions league again.
Having said that, the CWC was a brilliant bonus.
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