Chelsea banter 3

04 Jan 2026 10:35:08


RPD has written an article entitled, Why Chelsea's Ownership Is Playing the Long Game

04 Jan 2026 11:41:55
RPD, I enjoyed your post enormously and I hope every poster reads it. It broadly outlines my guess of our owners BP.

One thing I would and is the probable driving force for the buying and selling of players is to show they are living within what I consider to be ridiculous, FFP rules. Hence another reason for player trading.

04 Jan 2026 13:58:51
In all honesty rpd I really enjoyed reading that. Well done.

Can I ask what you think of the merasca situation do you believe the hierarchy was correct or do you believe it could throw the whole project out of what you belive is the timeline.

04 Jan 2026 14:38:02
Enjoyed the post and it's realistic positive tone,

04 Jan 2026 14:48:51
Thankyou both. C-f-b, the departure of Maresca was not part of the plan but will not effect the overall project at all, indeed the coach will likely change a few times over the next 10 years.

04 Jan 2026 16:17:24
RPD, good article. However, if that is the plan I think it is naive and flawed. Do the owners think City, Liverpool, Arsenal etc are going to stand still. By the the end of the owners timeline, Man U will probably have a100, 000 seater stadium and will blow us out of the water financially.

04 Jan 2026 17:06:03
I think RBD mentioned an upgrade or potential new stadium either started or at least having full planning consent. I assume some of the timelines for either are out of the clubs control.

I also can’t think why any owner of any club would believe other clubs will stagnate while your club catches up.

04 Jan 2026 17:33:00
Tom, as some of us believe, it is possible that there will not be any major development, particularly if we stay at SB. As things stand we will have a lot of catching up to do.

04 Jan 2026 18:02:03
Jimbo, yes we do have a lot of catching up to do and in lots of different ways. That’s why I think us fans need some patience.

I also think us fans ours show more patience if the owners and FAB were a little bit more transparent.

04 Jan 2026 21:17:31
Very well written and explained RPD. this gives a more complete idea of what's behind Vision 2030 than I' ve been able to do or understand perhaps. But Jimbo is right to point out that other clubs won't stand still re strengthening and most main rivals of course already have their new larger stadiums. Also strengthening further easier - or should be - when alteady at the top.

But the vision to get there is there for us. just a matter of successful execution!

05 Jan 2026 09:56:07
I can understand the vision now and hope it works. Good that the owners can't take money out like the Glazers do and will need to sell one day to get their money back plus profit. Keeps them focused.

05 Jan 2026 10:00:33
Looking at it another way, who knows what's going to happen in the near or long term.

The ownership could split and go there merry ways, the squad we have at the moment could in most cases be sold.

I guess what I'm saying is you never know what's going to happen with our club and in that vein, I totally agree with Tom and the total lack of transparency by the leadership team.

05 Jan 2026 11:47:48
Yes greater transparency from FAb and owners plus more readily accessible . plus more affordable (not just Westview at 180 pounds to 400pounds for EPL games) tickets for members who are not season ticket holders would be welcome and lack of this one reason why fans can find it hard to warm to new owners.

05 Jan 2026 12:52:05
JBS, I think the percentage of ST holders to members ratio is now outdated. If I remember correctly, the idea was a 2/3ST to 1/3M ratio, the narrative being that a high membership would broaden the support base.

I now think the ST percentage should be increased. Needless to say I did send my suggestion to the club and FAB.

04 Jan 2026 07:39:36
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 19 - Quick Round Up

03 Jan 2026 22:19:33
This debate about player valuation drives me bonkers but I excepted ages ago that I am in a minority.

I broadly asked this question just after we had won the CWC after stuffing PSG the European Champions.

An outlet is suggesting that PSG are considering an offer of £200m (€200m) for Palmer. If such an offer was forthcoming would you sell him?

I may well be wrong but I think I was the only poster, at that time, who said I would sell him. One poster suggested there would a riot if we sold him.

We all have different and often biased valuations. We all have different views about a players importance to a team. I personally think that Caicedo is far more valuable to the club.

03 Jan 2026 22:48:19
Tom, wrong again Caicedo is not more important than Cole he is very good but plenty of that type of player around.

03 Jan 2026 22:49:54
TomB I am in your camp with that one. Yes Palmer is different from others at the club. But there is a trade off when playing Palmer. Out of possession Cole is not at the races in any way whatsoever, which makes it difficult to control games. For me Cole can also be petulant when it ain’t happening for him, which leads to a carelessness in his game and I have seen needless turnovers of possession in dangerous areas.

The way to really cash in on Cole’s talent is for the club to have two top CBs (or one WC addition to play alongside Colwill) with Caicedo as a 6 and having the gate fully shut behind the maverick.

03 Jan 2026 23:13:05
Tom, I just laugh at posters who put a value on a players head, they know nothing about what this player or that player is worth and it is of course all very subjective. let's take Moises Caicedo for instance, one poster thought he was a donkey and worth a bale of hay whilst another poster now values him at £200 million.

It is of course a banter page and we all have a good chuckle at each other. Bottom line though as with selling a car or a house is that 2 parties must agree on a fee.

04 Jan 2026 02:18:11
Liverpool fan here so I hope you don't kind me weighing in on this. But £200m is absolutely an insane amount for a player. When FSG purchased us, we went for around £300m. I know there's inflation and all but it's still a huge amount. Not to say that Palmer isn't worth that amount but rather how crazy the market for players have now become.

04 Jan 2026 07:38:09
Jimbo, maybe you’re “wrong again, ” who knows? I personally believe he is more important to our team than CP but it’s just my opinion but as I always say it’s just an opinion.

04 Jan 2026 08:01:48
Greenaway, the Donkey comment was about Caicedo not Cole Palmer but the potential offer of £200m was for Palmer. If that makes sense.

I think Wirtz is one of the best players in Europe and it’s also the reason I fancied Liverpool to win the Premiership after signing him for what I considered to be a reasonable price. His Anfield career didn’t start well with some fans and pundits questioning him as a player and transfer fee. Little consideration is given to his such things as teammates form or managers tactics when some people want to revalue him as a player. I would have him at our club every day of the week regardless of fee.
The constant valuation of players through good and bad periods of personal form and team form makes no sense to me. Talking about the reasons why the player isn’t performing at his best level is something I enjoy. I hope that makes sense.

I suppose one day a poster will put up a list of players over the last twenty years we have sold with the benefit of hindsight at a very price. We wi be the only club to have done that either.

04 Jan 2026 08:24:12
Very low price.

I should definitely read my posts back before sending. Sorry.

04 Jan 2026 09:44:44
The thrush is the player is only worth as much as the buying club want to pay.

Tom if somebody offer £160mil for Calcedo, would you sell him?

04 Jan 2026 10:52:26
Truth.

04 Jan 2026 11:20:10
Bill, in truth that would be about the minimum I would except for him but another fan might take what we paid for him and yet another fan might take less than we paid for him.

As I said in a previous post it’s like nailing down jelly for us fans. In my view it also pointless but as I’ve also said before I except I am in a minority.

04 Jan 2026 20:09:53
After that performance today we would be lucky to get £20m for Palmer?? and that’s the problem with player valuations.

04 Jan 2026 21:23:42
Yes he was pretty poor Tom.

03 Jan 2026 16:19:25
A minimum of 6 and a half years before a change of ownership is allowed under the terms of the sale agreed by Roman. Blue. co in it to make money as not football fans as Roman was, buy young, low and heavily incentivised contracts, if they fit the team keep them, if not trade on for profit, an army of sporting directors scowling the universe for players, snap up clubs worldwide to house the players coming in and grow the "brand" by playing and competiting on the biggest stages which are the premier league and the champions league. Drop in a victory at the inaugural club world cup and pick up another 100 million fans from across the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas and roll the band on.

Are they doing ok? I reckon the Clearlake investors will be very happy. As for us fans, they are happy to indulge us with new players, we have picked up a couple of pots, we are able to watch 2 of the planets best young players in Estevao and Palmer perform in blue, we will challenge in the cup competitions and may even have a run at a title in 2030. Is it all doom and gloom? or is it just part of the roller coaster ride that comes with supporting our beloved club? and I've seen a lot of ups and as many downs supporting this mob for many a decade.

03 Jan 2026 17:15:49
The thing is i don't see how they're in it for player trading. I think the value of 85% of the players we brought in has decreased. A player like caicedo is great, but his market value is £105m. That is a loss, and we've paid his wages too. This is hardly the brighton model.

Its diabolical the names we've signed. We will not break even selling the following names (including those already sold)

Sterling, Koulibaly, Slonina, Chukwuemeka, Cucurella, Casadei, Fofana, Aubameyang, Zakaria, DD Fofana, Badiashile, Santos, Félix, Mudrk, Madueke, Gusto, Fernández, Nkunku, Moreira, jackson, Gabriel, Ugochukwu, Disasi, Sánchez, Caicedo, Lavia, Washington, Petrović, Palmer, Hutchinson, Kellyman, Adarabioyo, Guiu, Dewsbury-Hall, Veiga, Wiley, Jörgensen, Neto, Pedro, Delap, Gittens, Estêvão Essugo, Sarr, Páez, Hato, Anselmino, Penders, Amougou.

03 Jan 2026 17:35:23
Its attempted player trading gone about as horribly wrong as could be expected.

for alll the enjoyment we get from watching palmer or estevao. id sacrifice it to be rid the regular suffering of watching the likes of tosin/badiashile/disasi/chalobah try and play centre back.

03 Jan 2026 17:39:21
There are a few players in there off the top of my head that are sold and we actually made a profit on. So I don't get your point.

03 Jan 2026 17:42:45
I guess it would probably depend if the club want to sell them and when but as I can remember we made a profit on Noni, Petrovic, Hutchinson, Casadei, and we will make money on Jackson and Guiu. I’m not sure about KK or some of the rest we sold. I will think about the others when we sell them.

I’m personally not that interested in blues of players, I’m more about how I judge their abilities. I’m happy enough with the squad we have, would I like some different players? Yes. The problem is my choices wouldn’t be everyone else’s choices.

03 Jan 2026 19:07:02
Chelsea forever blue, yes we made a profit on maybe 5 of them. We will make some horrible losses on most of them. Which is why i said we will likely not break even overall. Do you both honestly think we will make an overall profit?

Im glad you're happy with the squad tomb but objectively we do not find ourselves in a good position after spending 1.5 billion or whatever its up to now. Horrendous.

03 Jan 2026 19:26:34
Greenaway, wow, you have the same level of ambition as the owners;” we may have title run in 2030”: don’t expect Palmer and Estavou to hang around. I think Palmer will go in the summer.

03 Jan 2026 20:00:55
Standard, all clubs make money and lose money when they buy and sell players.

You prefer to use our gross spend as a measurement of player change at our club, that’s fine and it’s a fact that works for your argument. I prefer to use nett spend (not very accurate) as a measurement of player change, as it works for my argument. To be honest and as I’ve said many times before I find the argument of transfer fees debilitating. My guess is it’s a me thing!

My guess is Liverpool had the biggest gross spend in the last window. I’m not a Liverpool fan but my mates tell me that generally those signings haven’t hit the ground running. It happens but by the end of this season or next season fans might well be saying they were all astute signings.

We also judge a player negatively and then find they are brilliant when they change club or if the club itself changes manager.

One other point. I have been saying since our owners took over that we are now a trading club. So taking Jimbo’s point if PSG real want to make a ridiculous offer for Palmer or Estavao, I think the club will sell them. Like lots of clubs we are run by businessmen not first and foremost fans.

03 Jan 2026 20:18:43
Jimbo, we may well have a run at the title earlier than 2030 and you yourself said we have 7 core players who are ready to challenge, add a couple more and who knows we might challenge sooner but come on, only 1 team can win the premier league each season and we are not there at the moment, surely you can see that? I will be happy to pick up more pots over the next few seasons and build towards a sustained, ongoing title challenge but like everyone else hope it comes earlier.

When did Arsenal, who you reguarly compare us to last win a title? 24 years ago and counting?

03 Jan 2026 21:06:09
Greenaway, when do I ever mention Arsenal? TSome of the 7 players I referred to won’t stay because understandly they will want to join a club who had ambitions to win big trophies and want to play under a top class coach.

03 Jan 2026 21:25:07
Tom. I am talking SOLELY about the aspect of us allegedly 'player trading'. My reply was against that notion because I don't think wed sign 115m caicedo and 100m enzo if all we want to do is churn a profit. We would have went for a player who we could actually sell for more money than we bought him for.

You can use net spend also if you like tom, it still does not paint a pretty picture under the new owners. I've made my position clear that I disagree with the recruitment. There has been some that have ended well and some that have proved me wrong. Long lay the latter continue but on a forum where we talk about the football club, I am putting my opinion out that I don't think it will.

03 Jan 2026 21:34:46
Tom, it won’t be ridiculous offers: they will pay market value. The club will be happy to make profits especially the SDs who can cosy up to the owners to show what a good job they are doing and then waste in on players like Garnacho and Gittens.

03 Jan 2026 21:45:06
Standard, I think it was RBD who posted a nett spend table and it was interesting but I freely acknowledge that nett spend isn’t the most accurate measurement but neither is fans post signing valuation.

I think Caicedo’s valuation is way over what we paid for him but I think that Enzo is now worth less than we paid for him. What on earth does it prove? I think that Caicedo is one of the best midfielders of his type in World football. I also think that Enzo will be sold to Real Madrid this summer for a significant fee. What on earth does it prove?

Team success can also have a positive or negative effect on a players valuation. If a club is successful then its players values generally go up. That maybe why the club spent big on Enzo and Caicedo as they believed they would bring success and increase the players valuations. This maybe me being cynical but just maybe that’s why it’s important for the club to be successful, the owners would probably be adding value to there business.

One day someone will write a book on what I consider to be a subject like nailing down a jelly. There will probably be only one copy sold??.

03 Jan 2026 21:57:58
Jimbo, I consider the reported offer that PSG were considering last summer for Palmer (£200m) as ridiculous. If that was to happen and if it was considered to be “market value” I will be happy.

I think Gittens will be a good investment but at the moment he isn’t playing as well as I hoped but things can change. Unlike some I think Garnacho has just been ok. I have no idea what he will be valued at in the future but like Gittens if they were sold now I’m sure the club would lose money.

Like other clubs some you win some you lose.

04 Jan 2026 10:32:38
I really don't know if you do this on purpose. You are talking about the owners now operating as a trading club. If they buy a player for 20m and sell him for 5m. That is a loss.

You can scream 'what does it matter what does it prove' all you want but if its a trading club and we make losses on players that is a failure in your chosen parameter.

04 Jan 2026 11:34:15
It means they would have lost £5m in the case you put forward. They could then buy a player for £20m and sell him for £25m it’s then a profit.

Also, that is not my chosen parameter. I have virtually no interest in the transfer value of a player. My interest is how I see his ability and if it makes sense for the team.

My guess is the club buys a players a player because they believe he is a good player and will help the team. If the team is successful the value of the club probably increases. Just one more small point, a loss or a profit is only realised when that player leaves the club not while he is still playing for the club.

What I have a problem with is when from a position of just a fan guessing it looks like the club have bought a player because they think they can at least sell him in at a profit. Of course if that player proves himself and increases his value then the club has a win, win situation. Sadly a player like Delap might have been that sort of signing.

04 Jan 2026 13:01:08
20m to 5m is a 15m loss tom. In your scenario even with flipping the other player for a profit its a loss. And this is only in FFP terms. Overall for the club its a bigger loss because of wages and insurance etc.

That is my entire point. I do not buy into this notion that 'player trading' for profit is the goal. If it was, it has been a disaster thus far.

I think the owners want success, and I just don't like the strategy because there isn't balance. For me that's simply it. I think delap is a win win signing, I think many of them have been win win signings. My issue is the sidewards step we've taken with our wingers over the last 3 years. Weve spent an enormous sum (one that we almost certainly won't recoup) and they're on the same level as pulisic sterling and whoever else we had back then.

04 Jan 2026 13:44:54
Standard I did reply to your post but it disappeared. My guess is most posters are fed up with the topic so unless it suddenly reappears. I will just drop the subject.

04 Jan 2026 13:48:26
I’m sorry, I said I couldn’t be bothered with the topic anymore but can I suggest you read the post from RBD at the top of the page. Probably the best post I’ve read on this site in many a long year.

05 Jan 2026 11:39:54
Sterling and pulisic were not good players for us. You need to have a word with your self if you think they was.

If you had mentioned hazard, Willian then fair enough but sterling is a rat, and an awful buy to which the owners know this.

03 Jan 2026 16:23:11
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 19 - Quick Round Up

03 Jan 2026 09:28:11
So merasca has gone the board has decided its you! They want to take over first team duties.

You can get rid of 3 players maxium and you can bring in 3 players maxium but you can't go into the red by more than 10million. Balance the books if you can.

And what would be your starting lineup after your transfers.

03 Jan 2026 09:51:26
I don't understand this post! bizarre comment.

03 Jan 2026 10:38:07
Sell Tosin, Badiashile, Disasi, Washington and Sterling. Bring in Anderson and Sesko.

Start the usual team against City.

03 Jan 2026 10:55:53
Sesko hahahahahhahahaha.

03 Jan 2026 11:27:36
Can I sell 30 players instead?

03 Jan 2026 11:57:08
Of course you can but you then you have to buy 30 players. My guess is a lot of fans wouldn’t be happy with the majority of your signings, blame the SD (if applicable) and call the owner (you) an idiot. Sound familiar?

Impossible to make fans happy as thankfully we all have different and sometimes biased opinions! My guess would be that someone will say something like “it couldn’t be worse. ”.

03 Jan 2026 12:21:35
Tomb is Washington not already sold? I would be very surprised if he wasnt.

03 Jan 2026 12:23:43
Basically greenaway. You can't just say buy yamal for £200m. It has to be within the clubs means.

Not sure how hard it is to understand.

03 Jan 2026 12:25:52
Tomb why Anderson and sesko? Just interested really.

03 Jan 2026 12:27:18
Standard you don't really want to sell 30 players. You know as well as I do. 1 they aren't all that bad and 2 it would cost another 2 billion.

So just be realistic.

03 Jan 2026 13:03:19
Sell - Badiashille, Disasi and Sterling.

Sign - Guehi and Wharton

Starting 11 -

Sanchez

James
Fofana and Guehi (Colwill for Fofana when fit)
Cucurella

Caicedo, Wharton and Fernandez

Palmer and Estavao

Joao Pedro.

03 Jan 2026 13:20:40
CfB, Anderson because I think he would work well with Caicedo and might be needed if Lavia never comes back.
Sesko was my first choice forward last year. To my eyes he would have been perfect for us.
Costa because I think he is the best keeper in Europe.

03 Jan 2026 13:34:34
I would sell Fernandez, Garnacho and Chalobah should get £130 M plus

Would buy Wharton and Guehi.

03 Jan 2026 14:05:04
Washington is still at the club.

03 Jan 2026 14:48:54
Wow tomb i genuinely thought he was gone.

03 Jan 2026 14:49:44
J. Actually like that team. I am still unsure on joao Pedro.

03 Jan 2026 19:09:07
Im sorry but the valuation you giys are placing on our players is outrageous. Enzo garnacho and chalobah 130m?

03 Jan 2026 20:47:15
Not outrageous just not aligned with yours or maybe another supporters valuation. I personally think £130m is on the low side.

I also wouldn’t sell Caicedo for anything less than £175m.

What on earth difference does a fans valuation make? There are only two valuations that count and that’s the selling and buying club.

Fans generally value a player on biased opinions anyway!

03 Jan 2026 09:08:02
Interesting article about Maresca and Chelsea in the Guardian .

May well be the clubs side of events but if half the things are true we are well rid of him.

03 Jan 2026 09:49:59
Thanks for sharing seymns2, very interesting read.

03 Jan 2026 11:14:31
My guess is there will be an element of truth on both sides.

03 Jan 2026 12:00:35
Oh and I should have added Costa. The transfer balance should be about plus £60m.

03 Jan 2026 07:39:35
{Ed's Note - Svkick has posted a new article entitled, Is Arne Slot's Time At Liverpool Running Out?

02 Jan 2026 18:34:10
The Chelsea supporters protests planned for some future games will be interesting.

Some of the points raised in the statement have merit and in my opinion require a comment from the owners or from our less than active FAB.

I have little confidence in any worthwhile communication happening.

02 Jan 2026 20:37:53
Tomb
I must admit I was never a fan of maresca
But Leroy rosenior that is ffing mental

We have gone from potter at least he was good at Brighton
Lampard we know what happened there
Poch at least he had some pedigree cl finals 2nd in the prem and other finals
Maresca a guy that was walking the championship to bottle it basically in the 2nd half
Now onto a guy that managed derby that went well 12 games 58% win rate
Hull managed them for 70 odd games 38% win rate
Now at strasbourg 50% win rate
What has this guy done to warrant getting arguably 1 of the top 10 jobs in European club football
The only other club that have taken a slightly similar punt was Munich with company
But he was at a top club as a player and at least managed in the prem and worked under pep
This guy has won a fa trophy and managed 2nd rate teams
I just don't get it mate
He must just be a yes man to the business men
I can't see the players working under a man that basically does what he's told from above

Yes roman sacked all round him but at least in most part he bought in winners with pedigree

This just seems like a yes man he'll do what he's told appointment because he's hardly set the world alight in France of other jobs
I'm worried BIG TIME.

02 Jan 2026 21:00:56
Hbih, I have no idea what Rosenior is like as a manager but I have obviously looked at various so called experts description of his tactics.

It appears he will be appointed very soon and that doesn’t make me happy. Not because he is going to our manager but more because my preferred choices haven’t got the gig. Ho hum.

I will obviously support him as our manager. I also hope, in this case, the grass is greener!

02 Jan 2026 21:15:20
Like to just say I hope he takes us back to the top and works out
Like alonso at frankfurt
Not knocking him personally at all
Even if he applied on indeed even they would say Liam you aren't qualified mate what about this job lol.

02 Jan 2026 21:41:43
Tom, what issues are the protests about?

02 Jan 2026 21:43:37
How bad, you are right to be worried.

02 Jan 2026 22:32:17
Jimbo, the planned protest are wide ranging and cover the manager appointments, player recruitment and the owners “for profit business model. ”

I assume these topics have been chosen to cover all things Chelsea. There is probably not a single supporter that won’t be able to protest on at least subject.

02 Jan 2026 22:48:03
The grass was never going to be greener yet so many wanted a change! and now we have a change the whole circle starts again.

02 Jan 2026 23:39:33
Greenaway, totally agree with your post.

I was a keep Maresca to the end of the season guy although a few doubts were creeeping in more to do with his behaviour than the results , but he clearly wanted out

Rosenoir would not of been my choice, having said that I wasn't sure that my choices M Silva or Mckenna would of worked out anyhow.

Very few decent managers available.

03 Jan 2026 08:46:32
Yes that's part of the problem of this current CFC mess . and the players will not be happy with how the ' project' is playing out at the moment.

03 Jan 2026 09:16:14
Maresca wanted out and changed agents. He acted like he did to get hoofed out.

03 Jan 2026 09:26:31
JBS, 99% of the players will be very happy earning their millions of pounds each year whilst being treated to a life of luxury. They are mercenaries mate.

03 Jan 2026 09:33:08
Seymns 2, you are totally right, just what top managers are about nowadays? almost all of them would come with a risk and would be projects so may as well go with a rookie who might just be the gem the club are hoping for? the choice was to back Maresca which, like you I would of done but I think he was tapped up by Man City.

Klopp is probably the owner world class manager out there along with Enrique.

{Ed001's Note - Klopp has said he is retired from club management mate.}

03 Jan 2026 09:46:05
Greenaway, some fans including myself wanted a change but more importantly, so did Maresca.

I believe if Maresca did not have a hissy fit then like what Tom said he would still be here until at least the summer therefore the bad timing of all this is down to Maresca throwing his toys out of the pram and for once not the clubs fault.

That being said, I have absolutely no confidence in the owners/SF's getting a new appointment right for the club but more importantly for the young players.

In view of this, it beleive the fans protest is needed to highlight the displeasure surrounding the ownership, SD's and recruitment. I still beleive it would be much better with a si gle owner, whoever that may be plus more importantly, a single SD.

03 Jan 2026 09:49:06
Such a shame ED01, because he is a true great manager. Very few, if any, decent ones out there now, they all play with a total fear of losing, it is so boring. Klopp played with adventure and energy.

{Ed001's Note - I know mate, he is a sad loss to the game. I miss him massively.}

03 Jan 2026 10:10:50
Bill, do you go to home or away games? the away support is fantastic and totally dedicated to our great club but you 100% won't see any fan protest there and if you rock up at the bridge on a match day 50% of the fans are tourists who spend more time on their phones than watching the game (how they get tickets is anyones guess) so any protest will be about 20 middle aged blokes with beer bellies looking totally stupid.

And do you really think the owners will care? of course they won't and what have they exactly done wrong other than spend their own (Clearlakes) money. We are 5th in league, semi-finals of the league cup, still in the champions league and as Jimbo recently pointed out have a core of 7 or 8 players who can carry us to the top table with a few additions.

03 Jan 2026 11:10:26
Posters saying they have no confidence in the owners/SD’s getting in a good manager replacement but they wanted EM sacked. I’m not sure that works for me!

I’m not sure what any planned protest is trying to achieve? It appears to me that the structure and protocol of the club are set in stone and any incoming manager will just have to except the job description he is given.

Our manager has gone. As far as I’m concerned, thanks and good luck to him. Whoever (one exception) the manager is will get my support regardless of whether I think he is the right appointment.

03 Jan 2026 13:12:35
Who is your one exception Tom?

03 Jan 2026 13:13:22
Greenaway, that's fine then, all is good within our club.

03 Jan 2026 15:48:30
Bill, The Palace manager!

03 Jan 2026 18:19:50
That's interesting Tom.

03 Jan 2026 20:49:22
Bill, it’s only based on what someone told me ages ago and to be fair I shouldn’t judge a person on what someone else tells me!

02 Jan 2026 16:09:27
I wonder if Jackson will be willing to return now that Maresca has left.

02 Jan 2026 16:42:48
Bill, I rate him as a player. So on that level, yea please I would have him back but as I understand he chose to leave because he didn’t fancy fighting for his position. So on that level no thanks. Also, when is he back for AFCON and can he play in the Champs league?

02 Jan 2026 17:59:59
I was thinking more in the summer Tom.

02 Jan 2026 18:14:54
Bill, part of my response would still remain. Also, for all the good he is doing so far at BM he might as well move clubs in this window.

02 Jan 2026 19:36:46
It's a real shame.

03 Jan 2026 08:51:16
This problem like no replacement for injured LC at left centre back squarely down to club owners/ SDs . plus Madueke sale. and all this trading and churning over of players preventing development of combination understanding between players on the pitch.

03 Jan 2026 09:38:17
Absolutely agree JBS, I'm totally fed up with the revolving door policy.

03 Jan 2026 11:13:29
Bill, as I said soon after the owners bought the club, we are a trading company that is owned by businessmen who make money. That are not first and foremost fans!

We just have to except it.

02 Jan 2026 09:53:51
Good morning ED01, what do you think of Liam Rosenoir as our potential new coach?

{Ed001's Note - he is still young and learning, so difficult to say. His football, from the little I have seen, has not looked particularly exciting, but is that just because of the players he has, or is that the way he wants to play? Also, is his remit going to be to win trophies or just develop players to make a profit on them? It does seem any new coach is going to have the same issues, with regards to the club's plan for the future seeming to be more about making money through player trading, rather than winning trophies.}

02 Jan 2026 10:33:13
Would you have kept Maresca ED01?

{Ed001's Note - god no, he was an awful coach, with delusions of adequacy. He knew what he had signed up to and was clearly trying to get himself the sack with his comments in press conferences and then refusing to do them. His football is dire and he has no clue how to organise a defence.}

02 Jan 2026 10:45:49
Interesting ED01, would you say Rosenoir will be an upgrade on Maresca then?

{Ed001's Note - I don't know, I have not seen enough of him to judge him recently. He wouldn't have been, but he has developed since then and could be totally different. Coaches changes as they gain experience, just like players.}

02 Jan 2026 10:55:36
Does seem as if there may also be some truth in rumour that Maresca was in discussion with Juventus and City though had promised to stop this if got better contract from CFC? But also rumour about Maresca disagreeinf with views of outsourced medical team?

02 Jan 2026 12:54:27
Thanks ED01, I was in the Maresca stay put group and review at the end of the season but with all the dirty washing now coming out it does appear he was looking for a way out so good riddance to him. What are your thoughts on your manager at Liverpool?

{Ed001's Note - he has shown no signs of understanding the Prem. He is making a total mess of things and has lost the Anfield crowd now with his diabolically bad football. It is so boring to watch that it has to win trophies and it is showing no signs of doing so. I have to say I would get rid now, though I am hoping he proves me wrong and goes on to have a long career at Liverpool as that will mean he is successful.}

02 Jan 2026 13:07:10
Ed, you use the same reasons as I when I wish for the longevity of a Chelsea manager.

02 Jan 2026 14:36:53
Agree with you Tom and Ed001!

02 Jan 2026 20:42:51
Ed001, I wouldn’t worry about Liverpool, the owners want the club to be successful and if it means sacking Slot they will do it but they will bring in a coach with pedigree and achievements. Unlike Chelsea.

{Ed001's Note - the problem is that it is not the owners that make these decisions, usually. The sporting director is the man in charge of this and he has yet to convince me that he is anywhere near up to the role.}

02 Jan 2026 21:31:53
That is a very valid fact ED01 and just shows how football has moved on with the sporting directors now being just as influencial as the manager/coach.

02 Jan 2026 21:45:57
Ed001, at least you only have one idiot, we’ve got two.

{Ed001's Note - fair point.}