Chelsea banter 2

15 Feb 2026 09:06:59
Were the officials on the Aston Villa/ Newcastle game last night trying to make us fans like VAR?

{Ed001's Note - that was my thoughts watching the games on Friday night and Saturday. Every referee seemed to be deliberately making bad decisions, as they were so comically bad that it was not possible they could get them all wrong in one day imo. It is telling that VAR requires extra officials at Premier League pay level.....}

15 Feb 2026 09:33:06
Possibly the worst refereeing performance I've seen in long time.

The other thing I noticed was that nearly all the bad decisions went in favour of the home team. I guess VAR can't be accused of being a "homer. ".

15 Feb 2026 10:44:38
The performances were really abysmal by the officials and really should be sacked but we all know they won't.

16 Feb 2026 09:43:42
Appalling refereeing and reason why VAR should and will be retained for key decisions like penalties - including whether foul committed in or oustide the area of course - red cards, and offsides if leading to a goal.

14 Feb 2026 10:21:33
We lost Rio Ngumoha to red scouse but gained Jesse Derry from Cyrstal Palace as a replacement, both play in the same position and both look to have exciting futures ahead of them. Be interesting to see who proves to be the better player.

14 Feb 2026 22:12:39
I was gutted about Rio, Greenaway, if only because the group of coaches at the team my son trained with knew him and his family, and were part of his development. Khalil Mitchell's the next one I'm hoping gets somewhere (hopefully with us) – used to watch him play futsal with kids five or six years older than him and absolutely boss it. The chances of making it as a top-level pro are so insanely small – easy to forget that when we're all commenting on players and how good or bad they are.

Any kind of decent career in the game is really an achievement; talent, work and not a small amount of luck. (Whilst I write that, thinking of Marco van Ginkel, who I saw had just retired at thirty-four the other day. )

15 Feb 2026 09:28:33
EdW, I could agree more about how good a professional footballer has to be to make a living. The amount of hard work they have generally had to put into making a successful career isn't recognised by some and even when the work has been put in it doesn't guarantee success. Of course similar things happen in other walks of life.

13 Feb 2026 21:40:07
Obviously the opposition and the pitch have to be taken into consideration but there were some good performances tonight.

Neto understandably will be most fans MOM but I was impressed by Sarr, Santos, Estavaoa and Hato.

Good substitutions. My son tells me Derry is pure class so it was good to see him given a cameo.

One other good performance and that was from our amazing away fans.

13 Feb 2026 13:52:01
Roberto Rosetti, Uefa’s managing director for refereeing: “Eight years ago, I came to London and we discussed what VAR stands for. We spoke about clear mistakes, because technology works so well in factual decisions. In objective decisions, it is fantastic. Subjective evaluation is more difficult. That’s why we started to speak about clear and obvious mistakes: clear evidence. I believe that we need to speak about this again in our meetings at the end of the season. We cannot go in this direction of microscopic VAR intervention. We love football like it is [. ] When you are watching the situation with the super-slow motion, you can find a lot of things. ”

Do I dare to dream?

13 Feb 2026 18:45:04
EdW, I think most fans would accept goal line technology and automatic offside and perhaps for penalties a review of whether the foul was committed inside the box. As for the rest, too many lengthy reviews which spoil the game. However, I doubt whether the present system will be abandoned.

15 Feb 2026 08:12:29
EdW, regarding VAR, watched the Villa v Newcastle game-no VAR there were some terrible decisions by the officials particularly the handball which was undeniably inside the box. One commentator made an interesting point; they suggested that the officials are used to having the comfort blanket of VAR, and have lost focus on making live decisions.

15 Feb 2026 16:32:17
I think that's probably right, Jimbo. As anyone would if they'd spent time not having to do a job properly. That handball inside the box (which was genuinely shocking) would absolutely fall under the remit for 'clear and obvious', though.

I think what the guy was talking about isn't scrapping everything, but getting rid of most of the replays-based decisions on upgrading yellows/tiny touches/handballs etc. The super slow-mo, watch twenty times over five minutes-type decisions.

13 Feb 2026 13:19:04
Maybe we can loan Delap out this summer for £15m. Jackson to come back, anyone?

(Tongue-in-cheek question, because I don't think he wants to, but although he did miss a lot of chances he also added a hell of a lot more to the team in attacking impetus than Delap currently does, didn't he? )

13 Feb 2026 15:22:05
EdW, I haven’t seen enough of Delap to make a judgement but we must also remember that we have the lad from Strasbourg joins us in the summer.

I rate Jackson, I would have him back but as you say he supposedly made his choice very clear last summer.

13 Feb 2026 16:22:04
Delap is simply not at the level and Jackson has bolted but as Tom rightly says we have Emegha joining in the summer who can provide an alternative to Joao Pedro who, now settled, is looking the real deal and may well be that consistent 20 plus goals a season striker we have lacked since Costa.

The way he links with Palmer is telepathic and the two of them are big mates as well so along with Estevao that is a promising group and is a match for most strike forces in the premier league.

13 Feb 2026 17:04:08
I agree, he has made it quite clear his CFC career is over regardless if BM sign him or not.

My guess is that BM will try and low ball us but we must resist this, another German club have form for this, Dortmond.

13 Feb 2026 18:47:06
Neither of them are good enough and I certainly don’t want Jackson back particularly if he is forced to return.

13 Feb 2026 21:37:52
I'm in agreement with all of you – feel like his decision to force an exit due to competition was disappointing, and that ship has now sailed. Greenaway, good point about Emegha. Haven't seen him play, but hopefully he's an upgrade. There have been some decent strikers come to the PL from Ligue 1.

14 Feb 2026 10:27:51
Jackson is horrendous. i'd like to give delap some time honestly. We'll see how he is with a second season under his belt and another option like Emegha.

13 Feb 2026 07:39:40
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 25 - Quick Round Up

12 Feb 2026 16:36:33
Sterling agrees to play for that well known London team Feyenoord “Orient” for the remainder of the season.

13 Feb 2026 09:05:21
Don't tell me we have a London derby vs Feyenooed now Tom.

13 Feb 2026 10:56:18
Bill, we must have!

12 Feb 2026 15:42:29
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 25 - Quick Round Up

11 Feb 2026 22:56:49
How good is Joao Pedro? 15 goals now this season, he is great friends with Cole Palmer, the two of them have a real telepathic relationship, he was a 10 but Liam has made him a 9, he looks like he could be our answer to a proper striker, a great signing by the club. Who has done better as a striker bar Halland? Sorted.

12 Feb 2026 08:49:18
Think that was partly marescas problem- JP was never a 10 and looked out of place, been brilliant in this last run.

12 Feb 2026 09:24:11
Obviously well pleased he is playing well but there were lots of posters who believed him to be a 10 rather than a CF when Maresca did ask him to play there.

12 Feb 2026 13:33:48
Quality player revitalised. Hoping he continues to shine.

11 Feb 2026 21:23:43
Thomas Frank gone at Spurs. Spurs in relegation fight. I seem to remember one or two on here bigging up Spurs as a bigger club than us not that long ago in some sort of an agenda led dig at our owners. Maybe our owners are not as stupid as some like to make out? I actually think our owners really want to challenge at the top table but that is the great thing about this page, throw a comment out and start a debate.

City just won as well, will they chase the red half of north london down?

12 Feb 2026 08:51:54
i would exactly use spurs as an example of our owners not being stupid. you're not getting paid by the club, Greenaway - don't have to constantly dig others out (usually with statements no one remembers anyone making) to defend our ownership whilst they continue to get plenty wrong- most recently their meddling in the women's side.


Winstanley shields and stewart out would be a good start for the ownership to prove they know what they're doing.

12 Feb 2026 09:16:52
Kazblue, I have not got a clue what the owners “meddling” in the women’s side is referencing?

Also, your suggestion that sacking the SD’s would in some way gives the owners credibility is the very point Greenaway is making.

12 Feb 2026 09:29:21
But it's fine for you to constantly attack the ownership Kaz?
Pipe down and let people have their own opinions, all our welcome.

12 Feb 2026 09:39:37
Greenaway

I made the point about Spurs but it was related to financial rather than playing.

They have a brand new stadium, multi revenue streams including NFL and guess what, they havea FOS.

12 Feb 2026 11:26:51
Bill, I am just assuming that we will never get a new stadium and we will never get a FOS sponsor in my lifetime any my guess is the spuds will not finish above us in my lifetime.

12 Feb 2026 13:16:44
Tom

That is a sad assumption at the moment if it was meant but sadly at present it's true.

12 Feb 2026 14:36:22
Nothing sad about the spuds not finishing above us in my lifetime.

12 Feb 2026 17:24:34
oh shock Tom jumps in on defence. and im digging the ownership out because there's plenty to dig out and its almost cult like the defence they get despite making huge blunders repeatedly. twitter tacticos seem to have convinced a large section of people that these guys are doing. a great job.

12 Feb 2026 18:39:33
Tom

Agreed Tom

But sad about us not having a new stadium or FOS.

12 Feb 2026 19:06:12
I’m pleased you’re so certain of everything and as I’ve said, if you think sacking the SD’s will be prove they know what they are doing that’s up to you but it’s perfectly reasonable for other fans to think it would be the most stupid thing our owners could do. If you also think that having a different opinion is “cult like” so be it.

As always, I will be critical when I think it’s deserved and praise when it’s deserved.

My opinion on the things I think they have got wrong will probably be different from a lot of fans. I also recognise that my opinion of our owners performance, good or bad, is mainly based on guesswork.

12 Feb 2026 19:50:31
Kaz, you are perfectly entitled to dig out the ownership if that is your opinion but don't get all flustered if others defend them on certain points or even think they are doing a good job. It is all about opinions and that is what makes this site so good. Try to chill out and enjoy the banter.

12 Feb 2026 20:08:54
Bill, when I talk to my Chelsea mates about a new stadium or even a SB upgrade, I am pretty much alone with my opinion on this subject.

I have no proof for my opinion and to a certain extent it goes against logic but I don’t think these owners will build or upgrade SB. I also don’t think we will find a site away from SB. I will be very happy to be wrong!

13 Feb 2026 09:08:41
Sadly I think you are correct Tom and not us but future generations of CFC will suffer due to the lack of funding coming into our club. I'm not even confident on the owners ever obtaining FOS never mind a new stadium.

11 Feb 2026 09:23:26
Five league games unbeaten.

11 Feb 2026 11:25:50
Yes thank goodness J poartivcularly after we hadn't won in previous 5. But these were not against top teams of course but Brentford, Palace, West Ham, Wolves and Leeds.

Great not to have lost any but failing to beat Leeds a blow to our ECL qualification push given fixtures ahead - beyond Burnley at home on 21 Feb which has to be a three pointer. We will still have likes of Villa and Arsenal and Liverpool away to negotiate as well as City, United and Newcastle at home.

But given average points gatherd on results to date we are on course to finish on 64 points. If we average 2 points per game over last 12 we finish on 68. But hard to know what's enough. I'd think we need to win at least 8 of our final 12 games and not lose more than 2 to be sure but others will doubtless have other calculations and perhaps we can get 5th place say with 68? Certainly rivals will be dropping points as well and lots of big games between these challengers and with us.

11 Feb 2026 11:49:04
My hot take, top five will get UCL qualification, Liverpool, United and us will all overtake Villa (who don’t have a midfield) and finish in the top five.

11 Feb 2026 13:25:11
You may be right J. hope so!

11 Feb 2026 16:03:25
I think Chelsea are a good watch atm. The intent is good, less square passes across the back with more fizzed passes into midfield or to Juan P, to breaks the lines. some really clever stuff in the final third as the team grows together.

I think good work has been done by the coach. Do agree with the Delap comments. The lad should be doing much better V the bottom half of the division.

12 Feb 2026 10:23:38
Agree with you Londonscot.

12 Feb 2026 11:37:40
Also agreed Londonscot. I'm much preferring the football at the moment.