Chelsea banter 2

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.

01 May 2024 21:39:42
Watching the dortmund game Maatsen really is a great player just needs a chance. Never tried at left back with Poch.

If we get a new manager in who goes 3 at the back (Amorim linked) it wouldn't make a difference anyway. He would be perfect for that wing back role. We'd only regret selling him that's why I don't want Chalobah leaving also. Likes of Guehi and Tomori left over the years both arguably on par or better than both Disasi and Badiashile.

02 May 2024 10:30:03
Maatsen has looked great coming forward but have wondered about him defensively Barnet? Mind you I probably haven't seen enough if him. But probably yes a better wingback if we played three at the back than a LB?

01 May 2024 17:30:51
Just got an email from CFC saying there are tickets available for spuds and happy hammers games.

02 May 2024 10:35:28
Thanks Tom but they are only in Westview and vast processing.240 and 180 respectively I think. or that was what was being asked when first on sale Compare this with preBoehly pricing at 70 pounds .

Hardly surprising they struggle a bit to sell all out and would have hoped they could have thought of offering a concessionary pricing for members below general public/ tourist rate. though I can understand why they would want to compensate for is having a smaller stadium than rivals I suppose.

02 May 2024 17:21:08
That’s a shame and a ridiculous asking price. I’m at home watching it on TV, sadly!

01 May 2024 15:54:37
Big ange said his injuries not good, Werner and left back out.

Chelsea have 14 (fourteen) first team players out for spurs, lol but we should be competing.

Poch needs to lay off on the intense training cos this is getting longer not shorter,

01 May 2024 16:49:55
Matt, I have no idea if the majority of our injuries this season are as a result of “intense training, ” whatever that really is?

Remember both JT and Lamps saying the training and practice match sessions were FULL ON and made games seem easy.

Maybe, just maybe the trading isn’t intense enough. Or, maybe it’s just bad luck.

01 May 2024 17:17:23
Didn’t know we could attend and watch training sessions, need to pop along and watch sometime.

Looks like Disasi and Silva are out for tomorrow’s game too. So imagine the team will be:

Petrovic
Gilchrist Chalobah Badiashile Cucurella
Caicedo Gallagher
Madueke Palmer Mudryk/ Casadei
Jackson

Tough choice between Mudryk and Casadei. I’d probably start Casadei as Mudryk’s been poor but Spurs play such a high line, Mudryk’s pace could be good if we ping balls in behind.

Slight possibility we might see Colwill, Nkunku and James on the bench but think it might be a bit too early for James and Nkunku. Not sure if Sterling has recovered, think he was only ill and not injured on the weekend so he might be back.

01 May 2024 18:29:03
The club need to get to the notoom of the injuries, we can't have the same issue next season.

01 May 2024 20:51:36
The idea that Poch is jeopardising players by approaching training without any concern for already injured and Injury prone players is to be polite nonsense.
The club will be monitoring not only training but recovery and all medical aspects of players recovery given the unprecedented injuries this season.
The answer won't be one dimensional that much is certain.
To focus purely on the manager smacks of a major agenda.

01 May 2024 20:51:58
I think casadei should play central mid, great in the air. Hell of a shot too. I’d play mudryk up front.

01 May 2024 22:16:23
Reports / rumours are of intense training,
Ricky lambert when at Southampton has spoke about poch training sessions and how much running is involved. Danny rose has said how much running is involved, and that it’s the session before match day, Ricky lambert has even told a story of how he was asked as captain to approach poch and say how the boys are struggling with training. Poch was ah, ok I see, I see.

The boys went into training and they had double running. So this isn’t me attending training or presuming. It’s going off stories, ex players accounts reports and fact we have had 59 injuries this season.

And yes, some are knocks and contact and come are out of our hands, but in general. It’s been a massive concern. Ugochuckwu was 2 week injury, it’s been months. Sanchez and Sterling not played but picking up injuries. Nkunku meant to been back 4 weeks ago, lavia, set backs, disasi played 10 min, now injured, look how many games disasi missed for Monaco last 2 years. Chilwell come on for 19 min v city and he has been out since.

01 May 2024 22:27:34
I thought Caicedo was suspended for this game following his yellow card against Aston Villa? Happy to be wrong though!

01 May 2024 22:50:56
Steve, Caicedo isn’t suspended. There is a reset after 32 games.

Matt as I’ve already posted both Lamps and JT both said that training under Jose was very aggressive and combative. There seemed to be fewer injuries at that time.

It’s be said many times there will almost certainly be an end of season injury review. I very much doubt it will be just one thing. Other clubs also seemed to have had more injuries as usual as well. I think there should be a league review as well as a club review.

02 May 2024 01:15:47
Is Poch running training sessions for Liverpool? Or Newcastle? What’s to blame for their injuries this season?

The belief that Poch is ignoring medical advice and running players barely back from injury into the ground is farcical. I’m guessing Poch was also responsible for us having the highest amount of injuries in Europe from 2021-2023, despite not being our manager at the time?

02 May 2024 07:03:38
I think footballers are plying too much football. Needless country games and tournaments. They don’t seem to get a rest.

02 May 2024 08:26:27
I agree BLUEBOY1, the players do play a lot of football and the intensity is high as well but as Tom said the Jose players used to compete full on in training with no real issues? Maybe lifestyle plays a part? Also, buying players who have injury records? Fofana, Disasi certainly fall into that category. To put it on Poch with all the available data and advice he receives daily is a bit much to be fair.

02 May 2024 10:39:20
Nkunku also injured I think in season before we bought him and James and Chilwell serial injury probs too.

02 May 2024 12:03:33
Good point JBS, Nkunku as well. Maybe steer well clear of players recovering from injuries and also the players who like to party.

02 May 2024 12:16:47
Yes G8 and judging the character of a player, inner strength to resist all the temptations that wealth and fame brings if this likely to affect their game, and determination to be the very best they can surely as important as their skill level. Frankie Lampard an outstanding example here as of course has been Thiago Silva.

02 May 2024 18:53:30
JBS, Lampard didn’t start out as the most technically gifted player but improved season by season by hard work and having a football brain. A lot of young players think they have made it by 22 and don’t develop. We have have had and have some of these players. CHO was a prime example particularly after interest from BM. These type of players need strong management or failing that a kick up the a**e.