Chelsea banter 2

02 May 2024 21:47:56
Is that the team to see out the season (injuries permitting)? Good chemistry, wanted it from start to finish.

Lovely to see Big Trev in there doing his thing. What a header.

That was probably the best I've seen Cucurella play. He still gives me a heart attack at times, but he put his body on the line again and again. Committed.

Mudryk showed quiet flashes. Better from him, though still a long way to go. Hopefully what looks like giving up after the first ball is just a lack of confidence, and that will improve. Madueke a constant threat - really loving the trajectory he's on.

Caicedo, brilliant. Gallagher fantastic. Not sure, there seems to still be a little conflict between Palmer and Jackson, couple of times they delayed passes to each other/ refused to play each other in, but overall fantastic from both of them too. Gilchrist keeps growing - fully committed. Shout out to Acheampong - did very well when he came on (he'll learn how to step up as he goes) . Baidashille couple of brilliant sliding tackles, not too dodgy on distribution today. Petrovich fairly solid - didn't get caught out at his near post today.

Well done Poch!

02 May 2024 22:05:49
Edw, I agree with the sentiments in your post. Just one small thing and I have been critical of Mudryk lately but that is the hardest I’ve seen him work.

02 May 2024 22:23:42
Yes EdW there werexa couple of first half runs and passes from Mudryk that were v encouraging if much work indeed still needed.

02 May 2024 22:39:13
Correct EdW. Caicedo was excellent absolutely excellent. Chelsea have been crying out for this type of player for years, he just keeps the tempo so effectively, just ticks it along makes it look easy, just brilliant, so please for him. Chelsea were literally purring. and Surely to goodness Chelsea can and will keep CG? I mean seriously? Who can possibly be sitting in the stands and want to flog this lad for what? £55m? Maybe £65m, Chelsea will never replace him for that dosh. Come on Chelsea work harder and shift the deadwood not the future.

03 May 2024 12:12:13
Hi Tom and JBS, yes, the hardest I've seen him work too, but still suffering from the issue that lads in my son's U12s team have where they do one thing and then stop. Like getting a toe on the ball as a player goes past, the ball spills free, but they just stand there, as though in their mind they've already done their bit. Or passing the ball and then not making the run for the return pass. So many times last night I saw him just do nothing when a little burst of pace, a little desire and he'd have had the ball.

Agree Londonscot – Gallagher was immense last night. Not a flashy player, which is perhaps why some are down on him, but carries the team in terms of energy. From his time at Palace, and a couple of times this season, we know that he's got an excellent long-range strike if we can just get him in the right positions, which is something we've lacked in our team for a number of years.

02 May 2024 21:43:08
its been such a tough season
but a heads up to trev, cucu and madueke last few games and caicedo and galagher in the 2 cm roles are outstanding well done jackson aswell never gives up deserved that goal

please don't sell trev and galagher love those guys.

02 May 2024 21:52:26
Poch, I hope we don’t sell either player but a lot may depend on Gallagher signing a new contract.

03 May 2024 07:53:02
Jackson may have scored a re bound, but how many times could he have played someone else in. Or passed the ball to spurs player.

02 May 2024 21:36:10
I talked up Noni a good few weeks ago and got the usual pelters on here from one or two. Tonight I'm going to talk up Marc C, he has been outstanding recently and deserves the highest praise. Let's get behind this very talented young squad of players.

02 May 2024 21:54:34
fair play g8 his defensive duties were outstanding tonite.

02 May 2024 22:14:21
MC superb tonight as were the whole side. Even if efforts tonight leas to falling of v Hammers on Sunday I agree that we saw what should be the core of our squad going forward and it should be under Poch again at start of next season.

02 May 2024 23:39:33
Good shout on cucurella. Ed1 highly rated him at Brighton and it looks like he's steadily improving. I honestly wouldn't sell him in the summer because we'd currently get a pittance back compared to the investment. May aswell use him.

03 May 2024 05:16:49
Apparently Utd are showing an interest in Cucarella and I have no idea if we will except an offer for him and I also have no idea what constitutes a “pittance. ”.

02 May 2024 21:34:43
Young Alfie Gilchrist going home with Son in his pocket tonight, we'll played lad. The whole back four were superb. Great performance! C'mon you mighty f'ing blues!

02 May 2024 22:15:29
Yes well done Algie and NM for helping out on defensively on that side too especially in second half.

02 May 2024 21:33:29
Super young team stuffs Ange's boys for a 2nd time this season.

Chalaboa brilliant performance and goal.

BB getting back to lasts seasons form.

Gallagher tireless.

Jackson ran himself into the ground.

Noni good in attack and defence.

Gilchrist still Son in his pocket.

Caicedo just keeps on improving.

Poch tactically sound with no cards to play.

Cucarella my MOM.

Clean sheet and two youngsters make there debut.

What a lovely night to be a Chelsea supporter, gutted I wasn't there.

02 May 2024 21:32:51
Top, top performance against the spuds! Cobham lads were all superb, so happy for Trev.

02 May 2024 19:58:59
What a header Trev and a great ball from Conor. Two players who should be in the starting line up and not sold.

02 May 2024 21:39:45
For several reasons one of the most pleasing performances and results of the season. Thought TC outstanding but Cucurella's best game in a Chelsea shirt perhaps and he didn't put a foot wrong. CG as superb as ever and Jacksonn fully deserved yo get his v well taken goal. NM excellent too. But all round great team performance none let side down.

02 May 2024 21:40:38
We must not sell TC or CG.

02 May 2024 21:47:04
Thought everybody had pretty good games the best part of the game for me was for once we showed really good game management and saw the game out pretty well.

02 May 2024 21:56:05
JBS, I agree Cucarella was my MOM.

02 May 2024 16:46:16
Again for those interested the Arsenal site has Ed giving a good and informative update on CF's.

Thanks for the info Ed.

02 May 2024 07:39:09
{Ed's Note - Dillinger has posted a new article entitled, POTENTIAL EPL SIGNINGS FOR LEEDS UNITED

01 May 2024 21:54:28
Ed 01 should chelsea change the policy to add more experienced players to help the young squad this summer, who do you think would be good signings
in and out

In- Guehi/ Ake- former acadamey player knows what it means to be at chelsea 1 that got away for sure

In-Diogo Costa maybe? not sure on the GK

In-Theo Hernandez

In- Issak

Out we shall see- but for me
Chilwell, too injury prone,
Mudryk- terrible signing
Broja- needs a move and to find his level maybe abroad to germany etc
Maatsen- Unfortunetly didn't get a chance 1 that got away for me
Cucurella- Another disaster
Silva- Legend of the game
Hutchinson- Loan again ipswich


All 4 are probably of 0 interest but just 4 who i think would boost the squad massively.

{Ed001's Note - I was just looking at your squad, you defo need a keeper, a solid first choice. Defence is not too bad in terms of experience, even without Silva, when you look at it. The issue is injuries and buying players like Fofana, who have little in the way of football brain and so lack positional sense. Far too many defenders bought for their physical attributes, rather than because they are good all round defenders. Disasi, for example, should be at his peak, or close to it, but he still plays like a kid who lacks any thought to his defending. So you do look to need one centre-back as well. And obviously you need a centre-forward who can be relied upon to stay fit.

Keeper is tough to find anyone, the two outstanding ones that are maybe possible are Oblak and Maignan. Not sure Oblak suits the style of play and Maignan would probably cost too much. So Diogo Costa looks the best option.

Bastoni would be the centre-back I would be wanting, but not sure if he would be an option. Seems unlikely. I am not sure I would be looking at any others, not that are attainable anyway. Might be best to just work on coaching them to be honest.

Instead, I think the money should be spent on an Isak, Vlahovic or maybe even Gyokeres. For me players like Osimhen, David, Toney and Watkins are all much of a muchness but I would have fears over Osimhen and David's first touches, which can be a bit heavy for the tighter marking in the Prem. Isak has that silky touch and can bring others into play, as can Vlahovic when playing well. Gyokeres is just a goalscorer, but not sure if he has the physical attributes to be as effective in the Prem, but still worth a gamble imo.}

02 May 2024 09:57:17
Thanks ED01 for your thoughts. I see Pickford has recently been linked as well? what do you think of that rumour? As for the centre backs I totally agree with you, the emphasis seemed to be on physique and a player like Fofana needs a Silva next to him for guidance. Maybe Fofana and Levi could work? I agree about I Isak and he would be my choice after Kane who is not going to happen.

{Ed001's Note - Pickford is nowhere near good enough, you may as well stick with Petrovic rather than go for an error-prone idiot with an unprofessional lifestyle and attitude. He is not someone you want around younger players. Also, having him there being erratic makes it difficult for defenders to move up the pitch and play a higher line. Everton make it work because they sit deep, Chelsea don't want to play like that.

I do like Colwill, just not sure he is ready to work with someone like Fofana. Not sure anyone is. He is not a good defender.}

02 May 2024 10:08:23
Thanks for your reply ED01. I agree about Pickford and was horrified to see that rumour! let's hope that was pure click bait journalism. Of the current crop of centre backs who would you pair with Levi?

{Ed001's Note - Chalobah. They should have an understanding there to build upon.}

02 May 2024 10:27:27
Great shout and would save the club money as well. let's hope Poch or whoever sees it that way. Thanks for your input ED01.

{Ed001's Note - for me it is obvious, if you have a pair of players at centre-back that know each other well, you should put them together. International teams so often miss out on that innate understanding by not picking defensive partnerships. So much of defending is about adjusting your position in accordance with the man next to you. If you have two people who have that basic knowledge of each other's game, it should make it so much easier to drill them together as a pair. They are a good combination on paper as well, one right foot, one left. It just seems to make sense to me. Though I do wonder if maybe the way to keep James fit might be to use him at centre-back where there is less distance to cover. Maybe long term that is the position for him?}

02 May 2024 11:02:13
Another good shout ED01, maybe James on the right of a back 3 with Big Trev and Levi?

{Ed001's Note - if you went back 3, that certainly looks a good combination, with plenty of ability on the ball.}

02 May 2024 12:28:02
I don't know if it's just me but I really don't like the entitlement views for colwill. I mean he hasn't done much to convince like say gusto, James, or even palmer but almost everyone is reserving a spot in the defence. From what we have seen in the recent seasons I would not make anyone of them a shoe in yet until when any prove himself. Colwill has proved nothing to guarantee the starting position over others. BB initially looked even more assured until he started losing concentration and became prone to errors. We need leaders at the back especially as silva is going. I don't know how much is left in rudigar contract but I wouldn't mind bringing him back. Get him and Bastoni and we solid at the back. Know both of them is unlikely but imo that's what we need to bring leadership for the young squad.

02 May 2024 12:51:23
Thanks for response and feedback ed should be an interestings summer at SW6,
What do you think in terms of the manager, should we stick or twist?
Id look at mou to tighten up the ship personally.

{Ed001's Note - personally I would bring in Mourinho. I know he is not everyone's cup of tea, but he has mellowed out in recent years. I certainly wouldn't have Pochettino anywhere near the club myself, he is not a winner. He doesn't offer enough discipline to provide long term guidance. You look at most of the kids he did bring through at Saints and Spurs and how many of them have reached their potential? I don't see any that have. Only Kane and he never broke through under Poch and I don't think that is down to any manager's influence anyway. That is him being very focused and driven as a person.}

02 May 2024 13:02:45
It’s always been my opinion that Rudi isn’t that good in a back four but his recent displays this season have proved my theory to be wrong.

Colwill was excellent last season for Brighton and has been largely asked to play out of position this season. In my opinion he is a lad of enormous talent and potential.

02 May 2024 22:19:00
In the premier league he isn’t.

02 May 2024 18:58:36
Hi Ed, always interesting to read your views on the squad, so thank you for that. Regarding GK, do you think Bulka could be an option for us? He's been playing really well as a starter at Nice, and used to show so much potential at Chelsea in the academy.

He's tall, is strong at coming for high balls, has great reflexes on his line and is not bad with his feet. I would hope the club look at him when identifying the future number 1.

{Ed001's Note - I can't say I have seen a lot of him play, but it would make sense as they should know him well.}

02 May 2024 21:41:55
really wondering when u watch games like this do ed 01 if poch is building a special relationship with these players.

{Ed001's Note - he did that at Spurs, but it always falls at the final hurdle because he does not give them enough discipline. It is all carrot with Pochettino and never any stick. You need both.}

01 May 2024 22:04:10
Poor Emma Hayes with a worst goodbye tour then klopp, gutted if she leaves without the title.

02 May 2024 08:37:38
Injuries to important players has not helped their cause together with the number of games played with a depleted squad.

Even if they finish empty handed, it has been a great season, and Emma can leave with her head held high and be proud of her achievements over the past seasons.

02 May 2024 10:27:29
Yes and the refereeing decisions in home tie v Barcelona were dreadful though Buchanan also dreadful performance on the day. Sad to see the women side emulating the men in the almost scompetitions in cup competitions. But injuries were in both cases factor and with the women the loss of Sam Kerr enormous.