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24 May 2026 23:49:32
My mate, the pro gambler who cleaned up on Alonso as our manager, has had a bet on Slot being the Scousers manager at the start of next season. He has also “layed”, whatever that means, City to win the Premiership, but backed them to win all the cup competitions next season. I hope that makes sense.
24 May 2026 23:07:30
Obviously couldn't get to sleep and so tortured myself for another 65 minutes. There is a rot within this playing group. It's been around a few years but got worse under Maresca with an insane amount of red cards as well as yellows for dissent. We need a clear out. There isn't a single French lad I'd keep, and the Spanish speaking group can kick rocks as well. We buy youth and then have people like Enzo as role models. Make them captains. Meanwhile a large continent of the youth we have bought and play are black. Boggles the mind.
Thankfully whoever has been in charge of recruitment now goes through Xabi. You know we have a designated SD for research on players backgrounds? How that bloke still has a job with the utter disgrace of a team we have, weak in, weak out, pun intended. I blame the owners for using our club as a money laundering mechanism but I also blame the players for the consistent disrespect they show the badge. Burn it all down and let's go again.
Corrupt British government stole my club and handed it to American investment flogs. Now the soul has left the club. God hope Xabi can find it again.
24 May 2026 23:54:13
I'm not sure how the club has become a "money laundering mechanism", but whatever.
It was just a disappointing season. We just go again.
25 May 2026 01:01:57
Tom, BlueCo have bought a load of barber shops in South London- keep up!
25 May 2026 01:24:50
Agreed, Tom. Money launderers do it to keep and clean the money... Our clowns have just burnt through it.
24 May 2026 23:27:26
I have no problems admitting I have an agenda or biased opinion.
So, maybe this is just me but I think we looked better without Gusto and Fofana and that includes us playing with ten men.
25 May 2026 01:05:03
Tom, that is not an agenda, but a fact. Those two should be out of the door in the summer. They are examples of what I have been saying about a lack of mentality in our squad.
24 May 2026 23:03:21
This time last season Man United were done, a bottom half team with no European football and an inability to make big signings. They operated well in the market, finally got rid of a coach who wasn't working go for them and ended up having a decent season.
They said we'd never get another top coach in, we got arguably the best coach available on the market. They're going to say a lot about us over the coming days, weeks and months, until the start of next season when the slate will be wiped clean.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, "reports of Chelsea's death have been greatly exaggerated".
24 May 2026 23:20:57
J, spot on, mate. Next season cannot come soon enough.
24 May 2026 23:25:23
J, well said. This season is now water under the bridge. The slate is clean. We start again. It will be really interesting to see who our starting eleven will be on the first game of next season.
24 May 2026 23:32:24
Just to add, if any of the players in this squad can't look Alonso in the eye and convince him that they want to be part of his project, his Chelsea, then they need to be sold.
24 May 2026 23:55:02
J, absolutely mate.
24 May 2026 18:42:02
I do remember Ed once saying that clubs sites get busier when a team gets beat.
I do wonder if some fans devices actually only get found when we lose or go mysteriously missing when we win. 🤣😇.
24 May 2026 19:11:42
Tom, it's nothing to do with losing a match; it's about the season and the direction of the club.
24 May 2026 19:20:31
Jimbo, I think you are missing my point, but I personally think it's just funny.
24 May 2026 20:13:58
I totally agree with you, Tom. They seem to get a buzz out of it. My mates refer to them as lurkers and trolls, but like you, I just find it hilarious.
24 May 2026 20:53:05
Greenaway
You find it hilarious the way the season has gone for us? Maybe that's the attitude within the club, and I do wonder why we finished the season where we did.
Can I ask why you are happy with how things panned out?
24 May 2026 21:13:01
Bill, lighten up, mate, it's just a bit of banter about posters who only post when we lose. Check out the no posts when we beat the Spuds. It's just funny and obvious.
It makes me laugh anyway!!!
24 May 2026 21:18:47
Bill, you been on the sherbert? If you read Tom's comment and my reply, you will see that what I find hilarious is the people on here who only tend to find their tablets and phones to make comments after we lose, and rarely comment after we win.
24 May 2026 21:30:08
Greenaway, beating Spurs is hardly anything to get excited about. Most posters are more concerned about the decline of the club and the dreadful football. It's not about results either way. Nobody has gone ballistic about losing to Sunderland: most of us expected it: that's the problem.
24 May 2026 22:17:13
Onwards and upwards, fellas. Hopefully next season will be better, which I think it will be, as Alonso will steady the ship.
Bill, maybe pour yourself a very large glass of wine, and thank your lucky stars the season is done, and we're not gonna get served up that dross for a few months.
Then again, we have got to go through the torment of watching England this summer. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, all.
24 May 2026 22:39:40
You too, whitey97, good post, mate. Bill, I told you long ago that the grass is not greener. When you started calling Maresca, who did ok for us, "Leicester Maresca", you eventually got your wish, but as I told you, he was better than you thought, mate.
24 May 2026 22:58:54
Jimbo, it's not winning against the Spuds, it's about any positive result and who doesn't post when that happens. That is what's funny.
24 May 2026 18:28:28
That loss to Sunderland more or less sums up why we have had such a poor season. Our umteenth player sent off for stupid foul and a tap in for Sunderland's second by Gusto. or seemed almost deliberately stupid!
A draw would have got us Europa League and reckon that may have been ok compared to Conference League. But having failed badly to. make Champion League havin no European football may suit us and - it's rumoured this is what Alonso wanted.
Ok so since Blueco took over our points tallies have been 44, 63, 69 and 52. Surely, surely we can and must get well into the 70s next season. And Chamions league place a minimum aim.
24 May 2026 18:46:48
Jbs, as you point out in your post, we looked to be slowly improving, but this season we have, probably for a few reasons, taken a step backwards.
I doubt Alonso didn't want European football, but he now has time to work with his players, and that should be an advantage.
24 May 2026 18:52:28
Well, we have ended up where we deserve to be: mid-table mediocrity, as most of us predicted when LR was appointed. What I find galling is that qualifying for the Champions League this season should have been a doddle. Next season will be a crossroads for us. The owners have made a positive step by appointing Alonso, who imo was the best available candidate.
However, they must continue with change by allowing the manager significant influence in signings. I can't see Sanchez suiting Alonso's style of play, and I am not sure if Penders is ready for the no 1 spot.
There could be a lot of ins and outs in the summer, but tbh I really don't care who leaves: this squad has no mentality. Alonso has got his work cut out.
24 May 2026 19:05:59
Jimbo, I agree. Alonso has to work on players'
attitude and mentality. I think he will bring about massive improvement, and, like you, I am very positive about next season.
24 May 2026 19:13:37
Tom, I am more positive for next season than for a while, but the ins and outs will be interesting.
24 May 2026 19:22:14
Jimbo, yes, this window could end up being our most important for many a long year.
24 May 2026 20:51:40
Tom, Jimbo, I'm with you both in feeling good about next season. Alonso was a great pick up, and making him manager rather than head coach is a big plus. JBS, I think you might be right that no European football might help us next season. Onwards and upwards we go.
24 May 2026 18:08:43
I know we have been linked with the Sunderland keeper and I have to be honest, I haven’t seen a lot of him but on today’s performance, he didn’t impress me!
24 May 2026 18:05:18
Total culling. I do not want to see most of those losers in a Chelsea shirt next season.
24 May 2026 10:37:56
Think I saw a post saying this is the least amount of Chelsea players in a World Cup since before Abramovic. Quite indicative of the quality of this Chelsea team that has been (expensively) assembled.
24 May 2026 12:11:50
Or, it could simply be down to Carlo not picking an in-form Joao Pedro, leaving Santos out, Estevao injured, TT leaving Palmer and Trev and Levi out, and the list goes on. But if it fits your agenda, fella, then good for you.
24 May 2026 15:17:02
My guess is it's more to do with the team having a poor season, that some have not been chosen to play for their respective countries. I would suggest that if the World Cup had been at the end of last season, we would have had more of our squad going to a World Cup. The majority would have been the same players.
24 May 2026 16:57:01
To be fair, Palmer has been trash all season bar 10 minutes here and there recently. Santos hasn’t set the world alight, although hopefully he finds his feet. Pedro has 9 or 10 games from Brazil with 0 goals. Levi has played twice. Estevao is injured and 19. There are no superstars that have been left out. One good season doesn’t mean much.
We can look at it and say they were hard done by, but the only argument that can be made is for Joao Pedro, who floats in and out of games, which isn’t what’s required at the World Cup and has never performed for the national team.
Endrick puts in a shift once every few months, so also not sure how he got in, but he is a much more recognizable name in Brazil.
24 May 2026 17:01:43
Well said, Melbourne. This team is about to throw away European football to Sunderland. No disrespect, but that's how far we've fallen, and shows the poor calibre of squad assembled.
24 May 2026 17:03:52
As I say, players have to perform in a WC season, so many of ours haven’t.
If it had been a WC season last year, they may well have been picked.
They should have no complaints, but how Gusto is in the France squad doesn’t say a lot about them.
24 May 2026 18:09:46
Many of ours are not anywhere near as good as we think is the real point.
24 May 2026 18:34:04
Appointing Rosenior is the reason we are here. When Maresca left....
We were 5th. Instead of hiring that cringeworthy LinkedIn bloke, any other half decent manager would have kept us in a European place. I get that him leaving was unexpected, but surely one of those 5 sporting directors could have drawn up a better contingency plan. The players knew it, as did most fans as well. Then, to go with Callum, who is equally clueless, just compounded the matter.
The grass was never going to be greener, but hey ho, it is what it is. The season finishes, revolving doors are open, the rumours will be flowing, the moaners will be moaning, but nothing stops our love for our football club. Over to you Alonso, what a cracking pick up that is as well, work your magic and take us back to where we want to be. I can't wait for the new season to start. Happy summer, and France will win the World Cup.
24 May 2026 18:34:52
Time will tell. I certainly believe we will be looking at a different squad next season. I think Alonso will get good performances out of the majority of this squad.
24 May 2026 18:38:30
Greenway, mate, you gotta let Maresca go...We'd won 3/12 of his last games, things werent great with him either. Take the blinkers off, the problem is far bigger than just the coach...The players are not good enough and the SDs dont have a clue about what theyre doing.
24 May 2026 18:51:47
Greenaway, the appointment of LR was a mistake, but as far as I can tell, Maresca brought it on himself with his secret meetings with a rival club.
In my opinion, we have some talented players who, with a better manager, will prove it to some doubting supporters next season. 🤞
24 May 2026 20:04:55
Kaz, Maresca's last 12 games were not 3/12 at all. They were played 12, won 5, drawn 4 and lost 3, so please quote facts when trying to support your view. No blinkers whatsoever from me. The club got it wrong in pushing Maresca away, and that started this whole mess.
That said, everyone is entitled to a view, and I respect yours and others' even if I disagree with them. That is what makes this banter site so good.
24 May 2026 21:30:43
Ok, 5/12, and with some easy games in there... Point stands: he wasn't pulling up any trees, and was a miserable, complaining get... Actually, maybe that's why you liked him.
24 May 2026 22:52:10
The strange thing is, the "complaining git" you mention got criticism and then forgiven at the end of last season when we qualified for the Champions League and won two cups.
On top of that, we were commended as a "unique" club.
Being accurate, ish, we seem to be fair.
24 May 2026 06:50:18
If we can get $125m plus for Enzo and Xabi can use the funds how he'd like, I'd bite Citeh's hand off. Enzo has been fantastic for 3-4 months but was hot and cold before that. He was almost never incredible playing under Maresca. Obviously the worry is we are strengthening a rival, however it can also easily strengthen us. Enzo was never good in the 6 and had his best games in a kind of 10. Citeh have Cherki and Foden. If Cole recovers, plays more central and Moises gets a world class partner, I think it's a positive.
In my estimation we need a starting GK, CB, CM and left sided attacking player. We also need to tapper expectations as funds aren't endless. I think that with the sales of Garnacho, Delap, Disasi, Jorgensen, Fofana and Badiashile we'd be lucky to get 100-150m. If we sell Enzo and Cucu that number increases closer to 300m. Sell Jackson and we are looking at 350m+.
We have a horrible squad in terms of return on investment. Although Enzo and Cucu have been two of our best players, I think having a lot of money at Xabi's disposal outweighs keeping two players that want to leave and we could bank handsome fees for.
Barco, Quenda and Emegha are already arriving. Quenda is 100% an upgrade out wide. Emegha was wanted by a lot of clubs last year and with any luck with injuries can't be any worse than Delap. Barco is a utility player who can fill in for the loss of both Enzo and Cucu.
We're skint, but have a decent opportunity to build a strong squad for Xabi, within one window.
24 May 2026 10:06:38
Melbourne, am I right in thinking Alonso likes to play a back 3, with the wingbacks giving width and two 10's? If so, we won't need any more wingers and the ones we have can be either offloaded or converted into wingbacks.
Quenda is a wingback and can give cover for Reece on the right, Barco can give cover for Cucurella on the left, we have Enzo (one of our best players, who must stay), Palmer and Estevao who can play as 10's, as can Jaoa Pedro, so we are well stocked there. Hato will excel on the left of a back 3 and Levi can play in the centre, so our priority must be an experienced world class right sided centre back in my opinion, and a striker to take the pressure off Jaoa Pedro.
Moises, Santos and Essugo to compete for those 2 places in midfield, plus one more? No doubt Alonso will have someone in mind. Then add a keeper or give Penders a chance.
The list of outgoings is long...
Jorgensen... Who knows.
Disasi... West Ham and Leeds want him.
BB... Who knows.
Tosin... Might stay as Palmer's mate.
Trev... Might stay as cover.
Fofana... Wants to leave.
Lavia... Who knows.
Neto... Liverpool and Barcelona interested.
Garnacho... Who knows.
Gittens... Loan.
George... Everton interested.
Mudryk... Who knows.
Delap... Newcastle want him.
Jackson... Alonso may keep him.
Guiu... Coventry want him.
24 May 2026 10:35:21
I agree, Melbourne. Return on investment is horrific and we've practically burned a large sum of the money spent on players. I imagine they will recoup by selling the players that will actually generate a return on investment, but the list isn't long.
24 May 2026 10:54:34
Largely agree with your well considered post, RPD.
24 May 2026 11:06:52
I never watched Leverkusen under Xabi, but it is widely reported he prefers a back three. Although I have read he is adaptable to his squad. I would prefer to hold onto Enzo as he seems to be hitting his prime, however, it costs more to hold onto an unhappy player than to sell at or around their peak and have a new manager reinvest how he sees fit.
I think the priorities prior to sales are GK and CB. I have very high hopes for Penders but think he's a year or two away. If we can get Maignan, who will be 31 when the season starts, I think it would be amazing. Have Penders hold the number two spot this year and understudy, or go out on loan for one more year and return to fight for the spot.
I agree on Hato and Levi for CB, so we need someone on the right. Maybe Reece plays next to Moises, Gusto competes with Quenda? If we sold Cucu we'd need someone to compete with Barco, but I personally think Neto/Gittens could do the job. Bring in Yildiz and we have Palmer, Estevao, Yildiz, Quenda and Neto who can fight over the two 10 spots?
Fortunate that Xabi is in control, as I haven't a clue how much we will have to spend or how expensive it would be to build to compete once more. It is fun to play fantasy manager though.
Hoping we don't get a European spot tonight as I think having a week in between games will benefit the squad massively.
24 May 2026 11:09:41
Thank you, JBS. I think the recruitment has been mixed, as it always is with nearly every club on the planet, but the nucleus is certainly there, and now Alonso is in. I'm very hopeful moving forward.
24 May 2026 15:21:17
I have no idea if we will get a return on any player investment. My guess is some we will and some we will not, but I would be very confident that, overall, we will get a positive return.
As far as players leaving are concerned, I can think of eight that I think will leave, but that could well be on the low side.
24 May 2026 18:26:58
RPD, is the nucleus actually there? Genuinely, what's your nucleus?
We have:
a poor keeper.
a collection of centre backs, of whom the only one that's capable of playing at the top level is 2 games back from an ACL.
A centre mid contingent that's extremely unbalanced, and again only Caicedo is 'good enough' and available.
Wingers, an utter disaster with very minimal output - again Palmer the only one that's done anything and he's been crap all season.
Joao Pedro is decent but can't be shouldering the goal scoring burden alone, and his backups are all terrible.
In addition to this, we just have an endless list of players simply not good enough to play for a club that wants to be in the UCL as a minimum. I'd list them here but it's a list of 15+.
We are not Brighton or Bournemouth, and the only way to take back our spot at the top is to raise standards and start believing we're a big club.
24 May 2026 18:39:08
Managers can get huge improvement from players.
I think the vast majority of supporters believed we were moving in the right direction at the end of last season. This season has been a huge disappointment, but I think our new manager will get a lot more out of these players than we have seen this season.
24 May 2026 18:54:34
That's a hypothetical, Tom. I'm more focused on what we have seen and have evidence of. Take Neto and Garnacho; both have played a lot of football now, yet offer minimal output. Will that change? Possibly, but history suggests not.
24 May 2026 19:11:51
Kazblue, of course this season has not been good enough, but we now have a proven manager who has won almost everything as a player and a manager.
History also suggests that players can have a bad season and bounce back to form, particularly under the leadership of a new manager.
The facts are we are making season on season improvement, but this year was a step backwards. We go again.
24 May 2026 21:31:19
Bounce back to form.... Issue being, most of them have never shown any form.
24 May 2026 23:14:15
Thankfully your usual negativity is not shared by my season ticket mates and maybe the majority of posters on this site. Now we have a manager who has a proven winning history as a player and manager.
We have had a bad season, it happened under Roman's ownership and ownerships before that.