Chelsea Banter

26 Apr 2026 06:27:40
Chelsea U21s are League Champions.
Chelsea U18s are League Champions.
Chelsea U16s are League Champions.

Our academy is in a fantastic place and well done to all the players, coaches and staff for their success.

Foundations are firmly in place.

25 Apr 2026 13:18:03
'Those in charge wanted to do business differently from Abramovich. They've certainly managed that, spending over £1.5B to make Chelsea less successful, less feared, less respected and less profitable. A trophy-winning machine transformed into an expensive, failed football experiment'. Source: The Telegraph

Harsh words but hard to argue with at present.

25 Apr 2026 17:25:52
I wonder if the same reporter made a similar statement last season? I assumed, after making progress last season, we would kick on this season, but we haven't, and that is very disappointing. But I expect the majority of this squad to show huge improvements next season.

25 Apr 2026 17:45:47
Depends what coach we have, Tom, and what top players we sell.

25 Apr 2026 18:35:18
Bill, a good coach would help, and don't forget we need to sign a few as well.

25 Apr 2026 19:31:24
Agreed, Tom, so many variables.

25 Apr 2026 22:42:10
Tom, we won the Conference League and a summer friendly comp, beating one decent side, who then put 8 past us recently... Talk about overrating achievements, gosh.

26 Apr 2026 04:45:35
Kazblue, it's up to you how you see last season. As I said, my expectations were met and maybe surpassed, as I didn't think we would win the CWC. Unfortunately, this season my expectations haven't been met.

I think most sports media people, at the end of last season, were in agreement that the club was moving, albeit slowly, in the right direction. Sadly, that progress has stopped, and we are now having a disappointing season.

These things/seasons have happened in the past, and will no doubt happen again in the future. I think fans' expectations for this season (including mine) have made it so difficult to accept.

I also believe that, with the right management appointment and a decent transfer window next season, we will be back on track.

24 Apr 2026 21:42:10
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new player profile about, Andy Robertson

24 Apr 2026 13:50:21
I was out last night with a CFC ST holder who went completely ballistic about all things Chelsea. Other than being a supporter he has no history in football coaching, business management or football finance.

Along with virtually every other fan I’ve spoken to recently, certain players, the SD’s and the owners should all be told “to do one.”

Nothing wrong in that, it’s perfectly reasonable for him to have those views.

Strangely he went very quiet for a while when asked if he could guarantee any new owner would be better? He then said those never to be forgotten words “well they couldn’t be worse.”

24 Apr 2026 14:31:23
Other than new owners who are openly and actively trying to destroy the club... I'm not sure it could get worse than we have rn, Tom.

24 Apr 2026 15:21:42
The owner issue is out of the equation at the moment, but we can certainly get rid of the SDs.

24 Apr 2026 16:00:08
Why on earth would they want to destroy their investment? By all means, believe they are not doing what you consider to be an adequate job, but they are definitely not trying to destroy Chelsea Football Club.

{Ed001's Note - didn't it happen recently in the NBA? I seem to remember one franchise owner got in a strop over something and literally trashed it. Traded away the best players for junk. I can't even think how I could look that up but I will see if I can find out what happened as now I think about it, that would make an interesting article.}

24 Apr 2026 16:09:04
Bill, virtually every team's page has a group of fans blaming the SDs for not signing the players "they" want. It seems like they are the people that clubs' supporters across the Premiership belly ache about.

Again, like owners, if we sack our SDs, is there a guarantee we will get better?

I have no idea if we truly need five, and I have no idea if one of the five has ultimate responsibility.

In my opinion, there should be an ultimate decision maker.

24 Apr 2026 16:11:35
Tom, we are stuck with the owners. All we can do is hope that they see the error of their ways. The new coach appointment will be interesting: I fear we will be disappointed.
As for the ST holder not having experience in coaching, etc, most independent football commentators have raised concerns about the club, both off and on the field, including finances.

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

24 Apr 2026 17:16:31
yeh was a joke Tom, no one actively destroys their own investment. However, successful businessmen occasionally crash and burn when trying something new, thinking the fact theyve done well somewhere completely unrelated means they have the skills to do something else.

24 Apr 2026 17:35:01
Jimbo, most independent commentators have an agenda and have little experience of being an SD. When any football team is struggling, those same football commentators criticise the SDs of that club.
You don't have to be Einstein to have an agenda, as proved by most football commentators.
They are rarely constructive individuals.

24 Apr 2026 16:46:00
Yeah ed you're correct. I believe you're speaking of the mavericks. Massive downfall.

I understood tom and co defending the club last year and a couple years ago saying 'have some patience they're building something' but I truly cannot understand how people are still defending the project. Baffles me.

{Ed001's Note - yes that's it, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.}

24 Apr 2026 18:06:16
Standard, other new owners have taken over clubs, and it has taken years before some sort of success has been forthcoming.
I have never looked at the stats, but the likes of an RA becoming an owner and getting immediate success would seem to be the unusual occurrence.

24 Apr 2026 18:14:25
Tom, come on - don't need instant success, but what we've had has just been awful start to finish.

24 Apr 2026 18:27:24
I have already laid out my expectations when the new owners (not my choice) took over CFC. This will be the first season they have not met my expectations.

So, as far as I'm concerned, the club's achievements have not "been awful from start to finish."

I have no idea how many trophies the current Arsenal, Spuds or the Utd owners have put in their cabinet under their ownership, or even how long they have owned their respective clubs.



All fans can have their own expectations. I personally do not feel entitled to any success.

24 Apr 2026 18:53:47
I wouldn't sack the sporting directors. They've actually done a strong job of signing talented young players with high sell-on value, and the squad has been managed relatively effectively. In my view, Maresca was moving things in the right direction.
What's been missing is ownership with the right football structure around them. Firstly, they need smart advisors with two things: real football acumen and genuine football experience. Secondly, ownership needs to be willing to step in and make clear footballing decisions based on that advice.
If that structure is in place, you get the right balance - a squad built on young talent, supported by experienced players in key positions (goalkeeper, centre-back, midfield, and striker). Having 3-4 experienced leaders in that spine is essential if you want to compete for titles.


Experience develops over time, players leave legacies, and a clear football identity and culture begin to take hold. Success is usually the by-product of all of that.
We're not far off, but immediate action is needed. Right now, there are too many playing assets that could quickly lose value, which would put the club under serious pressure - especially with no new stadium on the horizon and no Champions League next season.
It's frustrating because the club doesn't seem to recognise this. The whole place feels politically charged, and there's a clear disconnect somewhere.
One thing I'm unsure about - I saw an interview with a Chelsea fan claiming that during Roman Abramovich's time, the club paid a living wage across staff, whereas now many roles are closer to minimum wage. Does anyone know if that's actually true?

24 Apr 2026 19:06:31
Dadubliner, I wouldn't have a clue about staff wages, but it wouldn't, sadly, surprise me.
I'm a bit like you, I do not think a massive change of direction is needed to change things.

24 Apr 2026 19:12:00
Tom, you are obsessed with agendas.I am not interested in other clubs or entitled about Chelsea. I am concerned about our decline : not winning trophies is okay but not being contenders is a different thing.

You said I have no idea if we need 5 SDs. None of us do: but you could have an opinion or put forward an argument as to why we need 5.You say you didn't want the owners: so who did you want?

24 Apr 2026 19:35:34
Jimbo, I have said many times that "I" believe we all have agendas and biased opinions. As always, I just say it as I see it.

I repeat, I have no idea if we need five SDs. I have no idea what their individual job descriptions are. At some stage, I assume the owners have decided it is a requirement. My big concern about there being five SDs isn't the headcount, it's whether there is one of them in charge who ultimately takes responsibility for them all as a group.
I am not sure how many times I have posted this, but here we go again.

I do not like "funds" as owners of football clubs. Out of all the interested buyers I wanted none of them, but as I also keep saying, we were caught between a rock and a hard place.
I am now not going to say, like some (CST), that I want Blue Co out, because the alternative could be a lot worse, and I don't know who else would be interested in buying CFC. I also repeat, yet again, I have no problems with state ownership.

24 Apr 2026 21:07:13
Tom, I have no problem with so-called state owners. As I said in a recent post, if a Saudi group had bought the club, they would have accepted their lack of knowledge and would have appointed a serious SD and a top coach as first steps. The writing was on the wall when TB appointed himself as interim SD. I still believe there would be interest from many sources to buy the club.

However, that will diminish if our decline continues.
Anyway, back to football, I'm really not confident about the semi-final; Leeds will be up for it, and our lack of mentality worries me. If we get to the final, who knows: a one-off game, anything can happen.

24 Apr 2026 21:26:48
As I said many years ago, mistakes were made and acknowledged. They did bring SDs onboard, four of whom I know nothing about.
The SDs and the owners have to take responsibility for a series of poor manager appointments.
It will be interesting to see if they have the nerve to put up the price of STs.

25 Apr 2026 07:59:54
Tom, I think ST prices will go up. They've run out of things to sell.

25 Apr 2026 08:47:38
That could activate my protest. My ticket went up by 15% last year.

25 Apr 2026 09:32:48
Tom,

I suggest you get your fingers ready on your keyboard.

25 Apr 2026 10:01:53
I could sort of understand last season, with so few price increases over the years, mostly RA years, but I can see no justification in "any" price increases this year.

23 Apr 2026 17:06:46.
Chelsea have not yet formally spoken to any candidates to replace Liam Rosenior. However, Andoni Iraola is expected to be one of the leading names approached.

Julian Nagelsmann formed part of the process that saw Mauricio Pochettino appointed. At the time, Chelsea sources said he wasn't viewed as a fit. Nagelsman side indicated he wasn't sold on the model as well.

Luis Enrique is set to extend at PSG and has interviewed with Clearlake-Boehly in the past. No expectation he is a candidate or available. PSG confident a new deal is agreed by summer.



Eddie Howe, Francesco Fariola, Filipe Luis and Edin Terzic (also a candidate for Athletic Club) all have admirers within the club and have come up in discussion for previous vacancies.

Cesc Fabregas is focused on trying to qualify Como for Europe but has long-term ambitions to manage in England.

Marco Silva is yet to extend at Fulham and Oliver Glasner is a free agent. Neither have formed part of previous Chelsea manager searches.

Talks with potential options will now take place as Chelsea put together a shortlist. The above is from Ben Jacobs.

23 Apr 2026 17:23:47
Thanks for the summary, RPD.

23 Apr 2026 18:04:02
Thanks, RPD. I hope Silva and Glasner remain off the list of Chelsea searches.

24 Apr 2026 08:21:01
Ireola is the only realistic one for me.

Enrique won't come. Luis and Fibreglass are inexperienced. Terzic is going to Athletic. Naglesmann was not considered last time, and Silva and Glasner are definitely not for me.

24 Apr 2026 08:30:41
I know the Ipswich manager was spoken to when we hired Maresca, and he had a lot of support from within Chelsea.

24 Apr 2026 10:07:02
Tom, Keiran McKenna, the Ipswich manager, would be a similar appointment to Maresca. I think we need someone with Premier League experience, playing or managing, and a history of success. Bill, Iraola's teams work incredibly hard, press with intensity, and are super fit, the total opposite of our players, so if he got the job we would need 3 or 4 sets of revolving doors! Alonso has that pragmatic style, which has historically been our set-up, bar the period under Carlo, and he would be a good fit unless he is waiting for the Liverpool job.

24 Apr 2026 12:14:02
McKenna shouldnt be considered for any job at the club. Forget manager - the way to fix this mess is not to drop standards further.

24 Apr 2026 13:30:55
He is not my choice, but I absolutely know the club talked to him and was very impressed. I would only be guessing, but I wouldn't be surprised if we had offered him the job before Maresca.