Chelsea Banter 2

08 Sep 2026 20:39:10
I think we need to find a way to get Estevao into this side and also shore up the defence so a slight change in formation can sort that. 4-2-3-1 gives a nice solid back 4 and what a front 4 that would be as well. Moises and Lavia or James until January, when hopefully a new partner for Moises arrives. Any thoughts chatters?

08 Sep 2026 22:37:31
I have never been a fan of three at the back.
My preference is 433 or 4312. The problem at the moment is us getting outnumbered in midfield, and the front three not dropping to fill any midfield gaps. I think the manager will have to put on his big boy pants, and the decision he makes will not make fans happy. Mind you, making all us fans happy is impossible in my opinion.

09 Sep 2026 08:14:07
G8 I had also wondered whether Alonso might need to think again about formation to play at the back. Would also love Estevao to get more game time, though it may be that the club are being cautious about this after his serious hamstring injury last season.



Only concern, one I've raised before, about playing both Palmer and Rogers is that we would be wonderful in attack but possibly fragile defensively in midfield without a really strong double pivot. Though we would, of course, have more defensive lb and rb.

09 Sep 2026 17:04:59
It’ll happen in some games, starting as a 4-2-3-1 and switching to a 3-2-5 in possession. One fb pushing on and another tucking in to make up the back 3.

Been a lot of noise about Estavao’s minutes, but he’s come back a lot quicker from a bad hamstring injury than most thought possible.

Really important Alonso manages his mins, make sure there’s no repeat injury.

Defensively, we still need to get used to the system, which wasn’t put into effect until the tail end of pre-season, and we need our key cm back in the side.

09 Sep 2026 22:30:35
On current form, Neto is a far more complete footballer than Estavao anyway.

10 Sep 2026 20:05:37
Estavou has been disappointing, but he hasn't had a lot of minutes. Comparing an 18 year old with Neto as "complete players" is pointless. As for Neto, compared to his peers with similar experience, he is far from being a complete player.

11 Sep 2026 07:13:07
Jimbo, of course it's not a pointless comparison. Other players in the so-called Neto peer group do not play for our club, so that comparison is pointless, as the comparison mentioned on this thread was clearly about players playing for CFC.
At the "moment", Neto is a far more complete player than Estavao. Of course that may change over time.

08 Sep 2026 18:38:33
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 3 - Quick Round Up

08 Sep 2026 07:39:15
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Ratings v Birmingham City

07 Sep 2026 17:20:11
Hi ED01, do you think Gabriels kick to Martinezs head was deliberate and brutal and if so, should he have seen red?

{Ed001's Note - on first glance I thought he was just going for the ball, but on watching again it felt like even if it was just going for the ball, I think it has to be at least dangerous play as he could see Martinez's head there. It was, at the least, reckless, I thought and there was far too much force for it to be considered as a yellow. So I would have thought it should have at least been something they sent the ref to have a second look at on the monitors.}

07 Sep 2026 19:24:36
I agree the incident should have been referred and reviewed. My personal view is it was not a red card, but I have seen softer incidents given a red card. If that makes sense.

07 Sep 2026 21:21:31
Thanks ED01, also, what was your take on the foul on Morgan Rogers in the build up to Arsenals second goal? To me, it appears VAR and the refs are supporting those winkers yet again which will ruin the competitive nature of the league just as it did last season.

{Ed001's Note - I would need to look at that one again, as I can't remember now. I was splitting my time between editing and watching the game. I will watch it properly for the match round up, probably tomorrow as I am still getting through Saturday's games at the moment. I went to the footie here Saturday night, so wasn't able to watch any of them live so a bit behind this week.}

07 Sep 2026 21:45:19
Thanks, Trish. You still in Dubai?

{Ed001's Note - yes mate. How are things with you?}

08 Sep 2026 09:42:05
All good, thanks, Trish.

{Ed001's Note - that's great mate, good to see you back as well.}

08 Sep 2026 20:35:25
Thanks, Trish, great to be back.

{Ed001's Note - you're welcome.

07 Sep 2026 05:41:41
For lots of reasons couldn’t sleep so I just finished watching yesterday’s game again.
I’m personally never confident about giving match summaries after watching games on TV.
Firstly, Arsenal performed better than us. We could have nicked a point.

My impression after the game was Palmer wasn’t as influential as he can be, but that seems to happen a lot against strong teams. I also still think we should have played with a narrow three man midfield, but may have caused us more problems out wide.

So many times we had players being pulled out of position with significant gaps appearing all across the back line.

Also, the gap between the defence and midfield was far too big. I guess what I’m saying is, so far under Alonso we are not compact.

Obviously, Martinez should do a lot better for their first goal, but all players make mistakes, but when goalkeepers do, it’s usually costly. This is also just my gut feeling, but I don’t think they score the second goal if Caicedo is playing.

I wouldn’t have hooked Neto, but Estavao did cause them some problems.

Our games against dirty Leeds and Hull will be interesting. I can’t see the point in risking Caicedo, but I hope Palestra and Barco both get mins.

07 Sep 2026 07:58:52
It was a poor performance yesterday. Our defensive frailties from the first 2 PL games came back to haunt us. Havertz was allowed to run a long way before getting his shot away for their first goal, and their second goal was schoolboy defending.

They continually managed to find huge gaps to exploit. We were lucky it was only 2-1 in the end. Though I'll never know how Gabriel got away without being punished for kicking Martinez in the head, and also Rice for the deliberate foul on Rogers.

07 Sep 2026 08:15:34
Tom, I have got over the disappointment of yesterday. In the end, Arsenal probably deserved to win. I won’t go on about our midfield as the issues are glaringly obvious. It’s unfortunate that Moises is injured, and we didn’t bring in a midfielder who can play in a double pivot: things might have been different - who knows.


We should win the next two games, and, like you, I would not risk Caicedo. That said, we should not underestimate Leeds, who, no doubt, would be happy to go to penalties. It would be very disappointing to be out so early in the League Cup.

07 Sep 2026 09:23:23
Maybe the people who only post when we lose would have something to do if we got beat by dirty Leeds.

I personally think that sooner rather than later, Alonso has some tough, Jose-like decisions to make. That's when it will become very interesting on lots of levels!!

07 Sep 2026 10:24:00
Agree that Martinez could have done better for Arsenal's first goal, even if the ball came between Lacroix's legs and to Martinez as he was balanced towards moving to the right. So not as bad an error as Sanchez v Fulham, I reckon, and Martinez made many other good blocks and does inspire more confidence.

Palmer is a bit of an enigma at the moment. He looked back to his best v Fulham, less so v Brighton, but did score that nice goal, yet was otherwise in and out of the game yesterday.

Both he and Rogers are exciting flair players who combine well together, but are not great at defensive duties, and so all the more reason we need a really solid defensive pivot behind them in midfield, but also someone, like Kante, and perhaps Kone and Camara, who we were linked with, leave aside the incomparable Lamps, able to drive forward with the ball from deep or deliver fantastically accurate long passes when needed.

Kevin De Bruyne is exemplary for City in this respect, and of course one we had let go. Enzo also offered something in terms of transition play, controlling the pace of the game, plus tackling ability, work rate/turf coverage, and goal threat, but he did lack great pace, and anyway that ship sailed and the problem was that a replacement was not purchased. But last time perhaps that needs to be mentioned, if not already done so one too many times!

07 Sep 2026 10:09:15
Yes Tom having watched that Mourinho documentary Alonso needs to find that ruthlessness whil also making his players willing to walk through fire for him.

At the moment our openess, and with numbers of goals scored and conceded, slightly reminds me of early Klopp's Liverpool - nort sure if Ed001 would agree though? - and that project took a while to get right, arguably key being signing of Virgil van Dijk (about 18 months after Klopp came to Anmfield? ), though cleary earlier signings of Salah and Wijnaldum hugely important too. Fabinho a later key creative midfield one.

In other words, Alonso team capable of winning EPL not complete as yet imho and the owners must give him the time - and would be wonderful if he could for once be a lon/longish term manager for our club - - to oversee the process. He is the reason that I still have considerable hope/cofidence that we will qualify for ECL football this season.

07 Sep 2026 10:47:52
Jbs, while at Chelsea, Jose never seemed a fan of players who only had "moments" of influence.

07 Sep 2026 13:53:13
You are right, Tom, and one wonders what he would have made of, or done with, CP's ups and downs.

07 Sep 2026 14:30:48
JBS, Roger's also looks like a "moments" player. I really hope I'm wrong, but so far I have not been impressed with his work rate.

It will be interesting to see if Alonso makes a big call on one or both players in weeks to come, or against the better sides, because our two DMs got totally outnumbered on numerous occasions yesterday.

07 Sep 2026 15:55:59
I agree, and almost added Rogers to the CP comments. Can we afford two flair/moment players in attack in our side, if not also pretty reasonable defensively, which neither seems to be.

OK, Hazard was one in the 2014-15 season, and Mourinho did acknowledge that he was something special in CFC's EPL winning team under him.

Mind you, JM had John Terry and Gary Cahill in central defense, plus Dave and Ivanovic outside them... then John Obi Mikel and Matic available to play defensive pivot roles ahead of them. Oh yes, and Cech or Courtois to choose from as GKs - has there ever been a better two options for any club in that position?!

06 Sep 2026 07:39:14
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, SFA Youth Minutes Plan Feels Like a Quick Fix

05 Sep 2026 08:40:01
So what we all expecting the line up to be tomorrow? That front 3 picks itself but a couple of questions elsewhere. Anyone going?

05 Sep 2026 11:34:56
I assume the midfield/double pivot will be James and Lavia. The wing-backs, I guess, are Hato and Gusto.

Sadly not going. Given the arrogance/confidence my Gooner mates are showing, I am not sure why we are turning up.

06 Sep 2026 10:17:32
Tom, we have fulfilled the Premier League fixtures. 😀

05 Sep 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

04 Sep 2026 13:16:49
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

04 Sep 2026 09:45:45
Hi guys, the only subject discussed at the last 3/4 FAB meetings has been ticketing.
I have sent a request for an item to be put on the Agenda for the next board meeting.


For those like me who like to moan about many CFC issues can I suggest you send a request to the FAB and ask for your question/concerns to raised at their next board meeting.