Chelsea Banter 2

24 May 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 37 - Quick Round Up

23 May 2026 14:09:54
Looking at the latest gossip and rumours, it appears Man City are preparing a mega-money bid for Enzo Fernandez. Disasi is wanted by Leeds and West Ham if they stay up, George is wanted by Everton, Guiu is wanted by Coventry, Cucurella is wanted by Ath.

Madrid and Delap is wanted by Newcastle.
Some reports say Chelsea would like Bernado Silva on a free transfer.

Source. Various X.

23 May 2026 17:42:50
When, if ever, will those 115 charges against City ever lead to them getting any penalty? Hugely hope EF does not go to them.

23 May 2026 20:02:09
As I said before, strong rumour we find out next week. Apparently they have already been informed.

23 May 2026 21:25:24
Tom, yes, they would already know; both sides would have received the draft judgment so that they can make representations as to any factual errors. TBH, I don't really care how it goes. I am only interested in the Famous Chelsea.

24 May 2026 10:56:50
Well, City are a rival and have got away with so much for so long, and have been able to lift trophies meanwhile. I would like justice to be done and be seen to be done!

24 May 2026 21:34:45
City are not a rival anymore! We seem to be focused on Brighton and Brentford.

23 May 2026 10:57:37
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 37 - Quick Round Up

23 May 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - Zephi2 has posted a new article entitled, Replacing Slot Is Not Liverpool's Real Fix

22 May 2026 21:43:01
Well done the U'18's, won the league and now won the national North/South play-off stuffing City 5-1. The guys who took over the academy have taken us to a new level, well done and thank you and a huge feather in blue. Co's hat. Onwards we march, tipple time now.

23 May 2026 10:23:26
Greenaway

It is a great achievement by all associated with the under 18s.

Not sure it's a huge feather for Blue Co; maybe more funds for them once they sell the players.

23 May 2026 10:41:21
Bill, what players from the academy has Alonso decided to sell? I would be surprised if he has made those decisions already?

23 May 2026 11:23:50
Seriously, Greenaway, so the owners are no longer going to sell academy players for profit, that's great news.

23 May 2026 17:39:33
Congratulations to the Under 18s. Hope to see some of them come through to the first team.

22 May 2026 20:07:24
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new video entitled entitled, C U Next Time - The Seamus Leaves A Nasty Taste Edition}

22 May 2026 17:50:43
So who wants Conference League or prefers to have no European football and to focus on EPL?

22 May 2026 18:43:41
J, let's win tomorrow and hope to better Brighton's result. We are in the Europa League and have a crack at winning it and qualifying for the Champions League via 2 routes.

22 May 2026 19:42:26
No Conference League for me; no money, no glory. I don't accept the argument that it gives squad players game time. The standard is so poor, we'd be better off playing League 1 sides. With a new manager, one game a week will be an advantage to develop a system of playing on the training ground.

22 May 2026 21:11:06
Whatever the competition, I want us to win.

I really have no problems with the Conference League. I'm sure there are lots of clubs who would love the opportunity to participate in any European competition.

22 May 2026 21:59:59
Tom, you are old school like me. We pay our money, support our team, and celebrate a pot. Lots on here downplayed our Conference League and CWC wins. You and I celebrated them. I would take a punt that you were at our Milk Cup Finals and celebrating.

I certainly was. I welcome the new supporters with open arms, but they don't know the fabric of what it is like to follow this great club of ours.

22 May 2026 22:54:32
Greenaway, I'm not a new supporter but I have no interest in the Conference League for the reasons I have already stated.

23 May 2026 07:48:54
The question was about whether it might be better for the club and squad only to have the league and domestic cups to focus on in terms of regaining Champions League qualification. UEFA league qualification does offer an alternative route to this if we win it. Conference League does not, and can entail much long-distance travel to tricky places to get to.

Obviously, once we are in a competition, we want to win it. But the question is about priorities, and, as Eden Hazard just said, surely our club must be about Champions League qualification, to be a regular in that European competition, plus top 4 or 5 in the league, and soon be able to mount a real challenge in both.

23 May 2026 09:09:38
J, as match going fans, we love the European adventure, new cities, vibes, cultures. Let's beat Sunderland tomorrow and better Brighton's result and we are in the Europa League.

23 May 2026 11:13:33
Greenawaty, I get that and have enjoyed those trips in the past, but just think that this is a key moment for CFC and last season unravelled partly cos of transfer business, partly cos of managerial problems and partly cos most of our squad were pretty knackered cos of no proper R&R and pre-season after last season. That's why I thought we could finish as low as 7th this season, though we had shown in the CWC final (albeit against an even more knackered PSG?) that we had the quality to be in the top 4 and perhaps as high as 3rd.

Like others, I am v sorry for some of our v best players who did not make their respective national World Cup squads, but some who really needed to, like Cole and Levi, can hopefully either get further treatment (op?) if needed, and/or get rest and then rebuild fitness properly.



But yes, the Europa League would be ok, as it does offer, if winning it, a route to the Champions League, and the teams in the competition will not include nearly as many unknowns — or hugely diminished erstwhile European greats like Ajax (don't want CFC to join that category!) — as the Conference League. So, I am personally not keen on Conference League participation again.

23 May 2026 11:28:14
I'm not keen and neither have I been in the ECL despite winning it all.

West Ham have won it, and Palace are in this season's final, so the tournament is no great shakes.

Man U showed that, despite being poor, more time on the training ground with the coach helps no end.

23 May 2026 14:19:38
The Europa Conference League is Europe's 3rd-tier competition, the equivalent of the old UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, a competition I so fondly remember us winning in 1998. Some clubs used to treat the League Cup with disdain, but thankfully that attitude has changed.

23 May 2026 17:55:35
RPD, The Cup Winners Cup surprisingly was for cup winners, and the standard of participants was higher. There are teams in the Conference League that would struggle in the National League.

23 May 2026 19:28:16
Like Noah FC or Shamrock Rovers.

22 May 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - Red_Flyer69 has posted a new article entitled, A Supporters Premier League End-of-Season Awards

21 May 2026 20:22:58
Levi and Palmer both miss out on the England squad which gives them a rest along with Pedro and Santos. Trev is included but he may well be sold this summer. James also included.

21 May 2026 22:39:14
Both need a complete break and a full pre-season with Alonso. I feel for them, it's great for next season.

22 May 2026 07:07:08
Palmer left out, surely, because for all his talent, he looks knackered, although I would have taken him. The World Cup starts really soon, and a break will do Palmer good. The squad, if the rumours are correct, looks short on flair. Is Trev included? I doubt it, we'll find out later.

22 May 2026 12:14:05
Probably good for us that Cole and Levi were left out, but I'm sure they're disappointed; only a few World Cups in a career. As Seymns said, a lack of flair. The only potential game changer is Bellingham. As for the CBs, absolute dross; Levi is head and shoulders above all of them.

22 May 2026 13:14:05
I personally would have taken Colwill over Stones, but I would have taken Gibbs White over Palmer.

We still have a lot of players going to the World Cup for their various countries. It will be interesting to see if Palmer has an operation now on his historic injury that they had to manage through the season.

22 May 2026 14:07:19
To be honest, I'm happy the players will get a rest.

My worry is to go to the WC and get injured.

21 May 2026 15:35:14
Have to say that I became extremely burned out as this season progressed, reaching the point of telling my wife on multiple occasions, as well as posting that I wouldn’t watch anymore this season (rarely happened).

It’s sad that three of our most consistent performers in Joao, Cucu and Enzo are looking for the exit, but for the first time in quite some time I am genuinely excited for the future.

While we played some decent football under Maresca, I was never a huge fan. I certainly didn’t feel that he had the makings of someone who could transform our club. The feeling with Xabi is different. The expectation of a culture shift amongst a playing group that has been disrespectfully lethargic at times is huge. Even if we sold all three, I have the belief that Xabi will quickly find solutions.

Hato has already shown himself to be a gem of a player. I love Andrey and think he will add a lot to his play next season, and while Joao has been our best player, he has also gone missing in many games. My preference would be to keep all three.

Obviously we all want to win and rediscover the glory years, but as someone that wakes up at silly hours often, just having them put in shifts for the badge is fulfilling enough at times for me. Nothing worse than having to rock up to work after 2 hours sleep on the back of another poor showing.

Hopefully BlueCo has actually shifted their policies and Xabi is afforded the support and time he may need. If so, I think the future may just eclipse some of the best of the past.

21 May 2026 17:48:53
Melbourne, I agree with the sentiments your post. As for Maresca, I never believed he could take us to the next level. It is now clear he was just using us as a stepping stone for the City job: good riddance. As for Cucurella, Enzo and Pedro, if they are determined to leave, they should go.

It might be a blessing in disguise if they are replaced by players who suit Alonso's style and want to play and fight for Chelsea. I am more hopeful for the future, and a good transfer window will make me even happier (including getting rid of deadwood ).

21 May 2026 20:20:44
Joao Pedro is not looking to leave, but I don't know about Enzo and Cucu, Melbourne. If those 2 do depart, that will be nearly £250 million (a quarter of a billion) in the bank for replacements.
Like both of you, I think the capture of Alonso is absolutely seismic and on a par with Jose coming in all those years ago, particularly now Blue.co have elevated him to manager with a far bigger say than our previous head coaches.

21 May 2026 22:04:56
Greenaway, I don't know if Pedro, Cucu and Enzo want to go, but there is plenty of noise surrounding them. As for Pedro, he hasn't put himself in a good light with his media campaign sulking about not being in the Brazil squad.

My point is, if players want to be at another club, I don't want them here.
I don't know how you think selling Cucu and Enzo would give us £250 million to spend.

21 May 2026 22:12:02
Ok Jimbo, we shall see.

22 May 2026 07:13:34
Transfer fee wise, think we would get £100m for Enzo, £35 M for Cucu and £70m for J Pedro.

I still think the basic squad is pretty good. Need a world class centre half and a top goalkeeper. Penders, that guy I haven't seen enough to judge. Agree with Hato, he looks a special player. Less sure on Santos. If only we could keep Lavia fit.

22 May 2026 07:50:19
We all obviously have no idea what the club value players at, and how determined, or otherwise, they would be to keep them, particularly as they all have long contracts, but as a guess, I would imagine any bidding on Enzo would start at £125 million, Cucu at £65 million, and Pedro at £115 million.

22 May 2026 08:00:39
If that is the case, Rpd, apart from Cucurella, the remaining two won't be sold as the Spanish clubs can't afford them.

22 May 2026 08:10:28
But, Bill, Man City and Arsenal can. I could see that happening as well. Man City need replacements in midfield, and Arsenal buy players off of us each season.

22 May 2026 08:29:34
Cucurella has only 2 years left on his contract, which is usually the point where you stick or twist.
Greenaway, just because you receive £250 million doesn't mean you can spend it on replacements: often fees are paid in instalments and you have to have regard to PSR, amortisation etc.

22 May 2026 09:00:14
Thank you, Jimbo, for pointing out how it all works.

22 May 2026 13:18:00
We may all have views on who should stay, who should go, and the players' value.

I think both Cucurella and Enzo will go, but only for substantial fees. I also think both are angling for new contracts. Over to you, boss!!

22 May 2026 17:57:41
Tom, if players have their minds set to leave, it usually happens. Cucu is in the strongest position with 2 years left on his contract. Nothing will happen before Alonso gets the whole squad together. I would like them all to stay, but if their heart isn't in the club, better they go.

22 May 2026 21:08:48
Jimbo, that is true, but an improvement in their current contracts would probably be enough to make them stay.

I'm always of the opinion that a club should never keep an unhappy player.

23 May 2026 10:28:27
Or coach Tom.

23 May 2026 13:21:28
Bill, of course.