Chelsea Banter

13 May 2026 17:19:40
As we move to yet another final apparently with zero chance of winning, these are my thoughts on team selection.

Sanchez.
James-Chalaboa/Fofana-Colwill-Cucarella.
Santos-Caicedo-Enzo.
Palmer-Pedro-Neto.

I think that team has a good chance of lifting yet another trophy.

13 May 2026 18:48:47
We will be underdogs, but we have a chance in a one off game. That said, we are on a losing streak for Wembley finals: time to end it.

13 May 2026 21:20:57
I agree with 9 of those, Tom, but would start Lavia over Santos, move Cucu forward in place of Neto, and bring Hato in.

13 May 2026 21:21:58
Going to be hard, Jimbo, but fingers crossed. You got your ticket?

13 May 2026 21:31:17
I think if we don't play Santos, we play Hato and go again with three at the back.

13 May 2026 21:38:17
Greenaway, yes, got my ticket.

12 May 2026 21:14:02
I love all the rumours and as I have said before, I generally hate the fact. Anyway, my No2 choice doesn't appear to be a runner in our management race so that apparently leaves two runners, Alonso and Iraola.

Iraola has always been my No2 choice so I have him as my favourite to win this race.

I don't want my mate to lose his bet but I just think Iraola will be a better fit.

13 May 2026 06:17:59
As for I, Tom, who knows. While we fiddle around and the Bridge burns, other clubs will be after coaches.

13 May 2026 07:34:00
Bill, I'm not sure about "fiddle", but I am sure we will get our No1 target, I'm just not sure who that is!!

13 May 2026 07:46:52
That's the thing, Tom.

We won't get our main targets, therefore Silva was always going to be our no.1 target.

13 May 2026 08:09:39
The club will get their No 1 target, who will be the first person who accepts the post when all the top candidates have rejected it. The club will issue a statement saying "Xxx has always been our first choice as his coaching style aligns with our vision, strategy and ambitions." Which, of course, means mid-table mediocrity.

13 May 2026 08:51:51
We haven't appointed any manager yet FGS. Surely we can leave the moans about who it is until then.

Whoever the club appoints, there will be a percentage of fans who will be disappointed. They definitely can't win.

Also, if the club gets my No1 choice (Iraola now), there is no guarantee we will win trophies.

13 May 2026 09:05:40
If Iraola or Alonso were appointed, I think that the vast majority of fans would see that as a step in the right direction.

13 May 2026 09:32:21
The green green grass.

13 May 2026 10:00:44
Tom Jones has joined the site.

13 May 2026 13:19:32
More like Alan Titchmarsh. His green fingers make the grass that much greener.

12 May 2026 14:05:39
A lot of rumours about Alonso going to both Liverpool 4/6 with the bookies and Chelsea 2/5 with the bookies, ED01 is Alonso a top manager? and where do you think he will end up?

{Ed001's Note - it depends on how you view it. He is still very inexperienced in management terms but he had a couple of fantastic seasons with Neverkusen, rescuing them from relegation and then winning their first ever Bundesliga title while going unbeaten in the league. Impossible to judge the months with Unreal Madride as the players threw their toys out of the pram after being expected to work too hard and show respect to opponents. He has the potential to be top, at least, but a lot will depend on how he responds to his time at Madrid.

Where do I think? I did think Liverpool would show sense and sack Slot months ago to bring him in, as he was first choice over Slot initially. However, since then Dicky Hughes has decided to turn down the Saudi offer and I wouldn't trust him to pick his own nose, and to have him and that useless gimp Michael Edwards doing the negotiating is a real handicap for Liverpool's chances. So now I haven't got a club and wouldn't rule out Man City stepping in.}

12 May 2026 20:09:15
Thankyou ED01, Man City could be a dark horse but didn't you say Maresca was going there? or was that a poster? What do you think of Iraola? he seems to want to join us.

{Ed001's Note - he was in talks over the job, but they seem to be having second thoughts with regards to him. I love Iraola and would take him in a heartbeat at Liverpool. I actually think he is probably the best option for Chelsea as he does not want any part in recruitment. He just wants to coach the players. Excellent coach as well. His players will run and run and run for him and he plays very good football.}

12 May 2026 20:49:46
Thankyou ED01, I agree with you, Iraola is a bit special and I would think he is a brilliant fit, I also think he wants to join us whereas I imagine Alonso is a better fit for you? I think your decision on Slot will be the deciding factor on who gets who. Will Pep even leave?

{Ed001's Note - Pep has been wanting to go for a while, but they keep persuading him to give them one more year to find the right replacement. He seems revived this season though, rather than just going through the motions and it shows in the way they have looked so much better. I do wonder if he will now decide to continue at least one more year. Maybe that will depend on if they win the trophy or not? I think it would hurt his pride to lose it to Arteta.

As for who is a better fit, I think both our clubs have a bit of a problem in regards to overreaching sporting directors to be honest. I was hoping Hughes would take the Saudi offer, but he is saying publicly that he has turned down the offer, which is disappointing. If he stays, Iraola would probably be a better fit as he will just get on with it whatever he gets given, he will just find a solution within the squad. I think Alonso would clash with Hughes, as has Slot, over recruitment.}

11 May 2026 21:38:08
Some of the I have been told seems crazy to me but I was taking the Micky out of my mate who has had a big bet on Alonso being our manager. He is so confident, he has had an even money bet with me that Alonso will be in the stands at Wembley for the final.


I did point out that he could be the next City manager. 🤣

11 May 2026 22:30:32
Tom, Alonso, and Iraola would love to manage us. We are a huge club, mate, despite what the bed wetters try to make out, but if Scouse come calling, who would blame him for going home? Bit like us, if Lampard was up for grabs between us and Liverpool.

11 May 2026 22:42:43
Greenaway, I have to stick to my original choices, but I can see the Alonso logic.

I honestly cannot believe my mate is so confident. I just can't see him joining us over the Scousers, but I hope, for his bank balance, he is correct.

12 May 2026 06:29:47
The reports are pretty consistent that there's been zero contact between Liverpool and Alonso, with Ornstein confirming their intention to stick with Slot next season. Crazy decision, for me.

If a bit tentative, Ornstein's report yesterday gave me hope that a deal with Alonso could be done.

It seemed a step up from Si Phillips' earlier reports of contact between the camps. Almost as if we'd agreed to Alonso's conditions, which Phillips reported as potentially lethal sticking points.

Hopefully, your mate is right on all counts, Tom, and Alonso is at the FA Cup final.

12 May 2026 06:23:16
Have you talked about sectioning him yet Tom, on a bright note, at least GON won't be a shoe in after he lashed out at the owners for their reckless transfer policy at Strasbourg.

12 May 2026 07:16:22
Bill, I would hardly call it lashing out. He did what all managers do and said they need a greater depth of squad. Hardly a shock: "Manager wants more and better players."

12 May 2026 07:24:42
J, as I say, I just can't see Alonso joining us over Liverpool, but, like you, I would be happy enough if my mate is correct (think he is talking through his pocket) and the deal is agreed.

12 May 2026 08:18:59
Tom, of course, it isn't 100% certain that Slot will get the sack. If he stays, we would be in a strong position, although Man U might be sniffing around, as I don't believe that Carrick will get the job.

12 May 2026 08:46:38
It seems strange to me that the very people who believed that managers like Alonso and Iraola would be mad to join Chelsea now refer to Chelsea as a top European club. Obviously, those and similar negative comments apply to some of our own fans, but also the scouser gob s****!!

I still want Hoeness.

12 May 2026 10:49:16
Scouser gob s*****? Why do you label people as such?
What manager, with any self-respect, would manage the shambles that is Chelsea Football Club? I will tell you. One that is in for the money, knowing in a season or 2 they will walk away with a nice bit of compo.


Alonso, Hoeness and Iraola would indeed be mad to take on such a basket case, but strange things do happen. Whoever it is, good luck to him, as he will need plenty of it.

12 May 2026 12:56:42
RPD, exactly mate, and his latest quote is "Chelsea are a top team in European football."

12 May 2026 13:04:53
Sorry, RD and RPD. Maybe because he spat in the face of his own supporters.

12 May 2026 14:05:38
RD

I will always be totally honest about the club I support, good or bad.

If we are a basket case, what does that make your club, spending all that money and making last season's champions, also rans.

I believe what Tom was referring to was your lovely guy, Carragher, who loves spitting at fans.

12 May 2026 17:01:13
Hoeness is highly regarded by a lot of people, but never appears to be on Chelsea's radar for their frequent coach appointments.

12 May 2026 17:33:34
Nor anybody else's for that matter, Jimbo.

12 May 2026 21:03:06
Bill, spitting in someone's face equals scum as far as I'm concerned.

I personally never rated him as a player, he is awful as a pundit and that incident with a fan leaves a question about him as a person.

I also agree with you about being critical when it's due.

13 May 2026 06:56:08
Spending all that money, Bill? Are you serious, along with what Chelsea spend and have spent?
As far as Carragher goes, I agree, but that doesn't label every Scouser a gob S****!

13 May 2026 07:35:50
I'm not sure what part of that description of Carragher is wrong.

13 May 2026 18:20:04
Well, Rd, I agreed on your description of Carragher. And, for what it's worth, as much of a shambles Liverpool have been this season, you'd still fancy them to find a way to deal with it. Our clowns, however, seem determined to keep making the same errors repeatedly with no consequence.

11 May 2026 14:26:27
A lot gets said about our gross spend from lazy journo's, click bait pundits and bed wetting trolls. But very little is ever mentioned about the extraordinary amount of money that is made from player sales. Apparently Arsenal will pay Chelsea an extra £30M for Kai Havertz if they win the Champions League.

They
will pay another £20M for Madueke if they win both the UCL and EPL and
another £8M for Kepa if they also do the double.

That's incredible business by Chelsea.

11 May 2026 15:13:18
Except we sit in 9th and replaced both with players who are worse... Perhaps the club needs to focus on getting better players on the pitch for Chelsea.

11 May 2026 15:22:21
Greenaway. I will always give praise when it's due, but they (owners & SD's) have also made some awful signings.

I said a few seasons back that a lad I met, who works for the blooms betting/investment company, reckons about 20% of any club's signings do not work out. The problem is that doesn't take into account sequencing. You could sign ten and they are all duds.

Of course, you also have the issue with how long it can take a player to settle at a club.
We have had fans right off the likes of Caicedo, Cucarella and Hato after just a few games or even a season.
I personally try to give a player at least two seasons before I make a judgement. Gusto, I have given up on but I hope I'm wrong and it's just a season's blip from a young player.

11 May 2026 15:26:38
I would rather Pedro than Havertz every day of the week. Neto, I think, is better than Noni.

11 May 2026 17:11:01
Neto is not better than Noni. Both equally as bad, and neither cut out for top players.

11 May 2026 17:39:16
Kazblue, I agree about Neto: one-dimensional player not suited to possession football, lacks vision and creativity.

11 May 2026 17:39:55
Sorry, Tom, I have to agree with Kazblue. Neto has been a big disappointment.

11 May 2026 17:48:28
It's all about opinions. I would stick with Neto over Noni every day of the week. He works harder, and, thankfully, hasn't got the apparent disciplinary problems of Noni.
How about this: Gittens will be better than both.



Havertz being better than Pedro is off the scale bonkers as far as I'm concerned. Pedro has impressed me more and more as the season progressed. Again, it's all about opinions!!

11 May 2026 17:53:33
I was no fan of Noni. Gittens better than both: hardly a high bar. Gittens is awful; a poor man's Sterling.

11 May 2026 18:09:15
Time will tell about Gittens.

11 May 2026 18:21:51
Gittens has not even looked Championship ready yet.... We need to get serious. This isnt football manager. Need serious work to raise standards at this club.

Time for the owners to make a decision on where and who we want to be...

It's depressing to see Arsenal flying high on the verge of a double, and we're left arguing over who's better between Neto, Gittens and Subject 49.

11 May 2026 18:24:59
Tom,

I don't believe anybody said Havertz was better than Pedro, just that Neto was not better than Noni.

Gittens, the jury is still out, but will give him next season depending on if Silva wants to play him.

11 May 2026 18:52:13
Bill, maybe I misunderstood the word "both." The only two players I could see Greenaway referencing were Havertz and Noni, and their replacements are both worse.

I certainly believe Delap could ever be described as a replacement for Havertz. Totally different players.

Anyway, I don't care about Noni, Havertz or any other player who chose to leave.

11 May 2026 19:35:22
Agreed, Tom, and that goes for coaches as well.

11 May 2026 20:08:09
Bill, I 100% agree. We can learn lessons from looking at history, but we still have to focus on the future.

Next season, I will start off as a pessimist, and just before the first game I will be thinking/hoping we will win everything. It's been the same every year for 64 years now!!

11 May 2026 20:51:59
Bill, you are being a bit hard on Silva: we won't get relegated: he will steady the ship and get us to around 10th to 14th next season.

11 May 2026 21:36:46
Jimbo

If that is the height of our ambition, then it's very sad indeed.

11 May 2026 22:31:21
Bill, I was joshing, but if Silva was appointed, it would indicate the club's lack of ambition and ruin my summer.

11 May 2026 22:32:17
Bill, I told you many a time the grass was not greener, mate.

11 May 2026 22:26:56
Kaz, you really rate Havertz above Pedro? Wow, you remind me of your twin Standard and donkey's. Will now scroll past your future posts as I do her.

11 May 2026 23:22:06
I rate Pedro, very highly.

I dont rate Delap or Guiu or Jackson or Datro Fofana or Deivid Washinton (or Emegha n all that although will let him off as hes not got here yet). How about you add up the cost of all of them, and compare it to a couple extra pennies we'll get from Havertz winning a UCL at one of our rivals.

12 May 2026 05:46:22
So Pedro is better than Havertz.

My guess is, if we choose to sell Jackson, Delap, and Guiu, the profit would cover any loss on Fofana and Washington.

I will reserve judgement on Emegha for a couple of seasons.

12 May 2026 06:32:40
Is there much of a loss on Fofana? I'm sure his book value must have dwindled by now. He's been here four seasons.

12 May 2026 07:19:21
Bill, there have probably also been loan fees, but let's not count them!!

12 May 2026 09:53:41
Look at the state of us... talking about book values and loan fees... it's depressing.

12 May 2026 10:37:04
What I find depressing is people looking to create a negative from a positive just to somehow support their view.

Mistakes have been made. Let's just jog on and support the club when it needs its fans most.

12 May 2026 11:04:24
Support the club.
Question the clowns running it. So far, nothing to suggest anything has changed, more press briefings, no actual decisions made. But we should jog on and pretend it's all great... No thanks.

12 May 2026 13:02:30
Nothing changes, including my support for my club.

Your first comment fell apart under your own scrutiny. You then make claims that are financially wrong, and then you revert back to your real issue.

We all try and find things to support our arguments, but let's try and be close to accurate with our statements.

12 May 2026 14:39:19
Not really Tom.

12 May 2026 17:49:18
Obviously not.