Chelsea banter 3

11 Feb 2026 07:39:42
{Ed's Note - BullysBoy II has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Selection Debates Need Better Perspective

11 Feb 2026 00:22:58
I do think it’s worth saying that I’ve been extremely impressed with LR. I, for one, was not looking forward to his appointment. I had never watched his team play but he didn’t come with a pedigree that I thought our young team could’ve benefitted from. I didn’t like how political he was in his articles for the Guardian. I think politics has no place in sport and don’t enjoy people giving their opinions on things outside of sport when I tune in. However, he has done extremely well in interviews, doesn’t shy away from our mistakes and seems genuine when he says what matters is winning.

He hasn’t had much time to work with the team but it seems clear the players like him and he has us playing with a much better tempo than Maresca was able to do. He obviously wants the younger players to get chances which is huge for us.

If we won, we’d be 4th and unbeaten in the league since his arrival. Happy to feel like my initial hesitation was wrong.

11 Feb 2026 07:45:15
Apparently we have dropped 15th at home this season from winning positions. Maybe we have “mental weaknesses” in our side, whatever that is.

Josh last night made a mistake, he will learn from that mistake and become a top player. I hope that’s with us.

11 Feb 2026 09:13:54
It’s an age and / or experience thing Tom, the know how to take your foot off the pedal and see a 2-0 lead out comfortably. No matter who the coach is, the main thing that will improve this is experience on the pitch, gained or bought.

11 Feb 2026 09:37:10
Tom, those 15 points dropped at home from winning positions would put us 3 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the league! An experienced and settled centre back pairing sorts that. (And guess what, Maresca asked for that at the start of the season) .

The rest of our side is fine, from Sanchez in goal to Joao Pedro as our main striker, we just need the centre backs sorting and we challenge.

11 Feb 2026 09:47:45
Won’t be with us how many does he need to drop like him in net, he’s just another good player and you need to be to play in premiership but he’s not Chelsea good like I’m used to Cahill Terry calvalho gallas etc and that will go for a lot of the young ones there good and given playing time, so good moment but not enough in my opinion.

11 Feb 2026 10:34:20
Hey Melbourne, hope you're well mate.

Just wondering a bit more about the politics in sport question (and not trying to start something, just curious) – does that mean that Black players shouldn't speak up about racism in your opinion? And what about nation states with horrible human rights records owning clubs? Should people involved in sports not comment or talk about that? Where's the dividing line?

11 Feb 2026 11:34:52
We are 11th in table based on home results alone in EPL which is same number as Leeds but we have better GD. In other words we're bang mid-table mediocrity in fron of our home crowd. In contrast we're second I think in an aay table and only behind Arsenal. So must surely be an element of greater anxiety among own players - perhaps especially younger or more fring to first team ones perhaps - at the Bridge you'd think as well as question of many teams being harder for us to break down.

Had hoped Delap would provide stronger presence in the box for crosses in when teams emplying low block and/or assist Pedro as an aerial threat but to date Delap has disappointed. To extent that it may be good to give Guiu more off the bench game time instead of LD perhaps.

11 Feb 2026 12:07:41
Why are you using home table positions. The only position that matters is the end of the season and we are still 5th in the league and 1 point off 4th.

Again just seems reactionary after a draw. Yes we throw away a lead. To which I blame moi. Don't give the pen away and then we don't panic.

But the football is faster and easier on eye than merasca.

11 Feb 2026 12:29:44
Finchy, I agree 100% with your post.

Lots of twists and turns to come.

11 Feb 2026 13:45:46
Finchy i think you missed that I mentioned our positions in both home and away tables to suggest - 11 and 2 respectively - to suggest that nerves in front of home crowd plus tactics employed by teams coming to the Bridge in EPL might help explain difference and dropped points at home. In contrast our young players do better than almost other teams in away games.

I agree about our football being generally v good last night and had already posted to that effect also that Moi rash challenge and crazy 5 mins that ended in Leeds second goal spoiled what was otherwise a v good performance.

Of course we're in 5th and only one point off 4th yet with tough fuxtures ahead a win last night against a side still in relegation battle and who had only got 7 points from all previous away fixtures was - for most of us I'd think - disappointing even if generally played well and had 70% plus possession.

Of course we move on and still have fine chance of Champions League football. But shouldn't we fans hope that the Bridge could be more of a foetress and points accumulator than it has been in recent seasons. Particularly if we do have a pretty good side!

11 Feb 2026 16:24:50
No i didn't miss it, It's pointless looking at home or away points though as we aren't 2 or 11th.
More than likely the remainder of the season leeds will take points off teams in the top 6 due to them being a decent side and fighting to stay out of relegation battle.

And us playing tougher teams is sometimes better as they at least attack us. Leaving an open game. Which will suit our football better than a team sticking 10 behind the ball.

12 Feb 2026 00:33:45
Hey EdW.

I think for the most part when people take a strong stand on anything, they say it to get social points rather than because they really care. So if you’re in sports, you risk marginalizing a part of the supporter base by taking a stand in any direction.

Racism is a really good example. Liam wrote an article about how Trump was making decisions and acting in a way that put his daughter’s future at risk. I’m sure he felt it was true. It does, however, open up questions like how he feels about Enzo being a leader of this team? Is he a good example for the younger players? Or, alternatively why does he praise him for being an incredible human?

I’m not giving an opinion here, so hope no one takes offense or reads tone into places where it’s not, just showing how when you bring politics into sport, you could potentially disrupt a club. And if you write about something you’re supposedly so passionate about, can be shown to be spineless quite quickly when it’s more beneficial for you to look the other way.

12 Feb 2026 08:38:09
EdW, you ask: where is the dividing line. That is the problem about mixing politics and sport. You mentioned nation states with bad human rights records owning clubs. People of a different persuasion could argue that American venture capitalists shouldn’t own clubs in the EPL and so it goes on.

12 Feb 2026 11:21:49
Or maybe Russian oligarchs.

I probably should care but if I’m honest I don’t. Although, I would draw the line if our owners were involved in the chemical industry! ?.

12 Feb 2026 12:08:30
Hi Melbourne and Jimbo,

I take your point about social points when it's casual, not sure about when it's a 'hard stand' (those in detention for Palestine Action on hunger strike, for example, would be a hard stand in my eyes) .

I mean, I agree with your questions about Rosenior, and I think it was certainly a weird decision by Maresca to make Enzo captain in the wake of his singing on the bus. But I guess you can come into a job and ask the questions behind closed doors – people are capable of change, and perhaps Enzo has just learned something he didn't know before (which would be the mark of a good person) . Having teammates from different countries is a positive in that situation.

I can't see that you can't mix politics and sport. The two things are inherently connected because politics is inherent in everything. Surely taking a stand on issues that affect one's life is perfectly justified? If you don't take some kind of stand, make some kind of comment – especially in relation to things you love, rather than despite a relation to things you love – then what have you got? The attitude of 'sit down, be quiet' gets us where exactly?

Things don't have to be either/or. Nuance is possible, even in the world of sport. I can still support the club whilst believing that venture capitalism is destructive, and having been unsure of the new owners in the first place for that reason (the previous ownership is an entirely different knot to unpick) . But broadly I'd argue that simply looking away, not thinking about these things because it's easier, is far more destructive in the long run.

It's about what you care about. For a lot of (white) football fans, on a deep level, that's clearly not racism. I note that when the breakaway Super League was proposed, many Premier League club's fans suddenly found their protesting voices. Should fans have called the power of money inevitable and simply taken the Super League lying down? Was that not political?

There have been so many people on here talking about the locality of fans, that 'real' fans have been forgotten – and that fear of clubs being taken away from their original purpose as hubs of local interest is absolutely valid. But the argument isn't against a Chelsea fan watching the game in Australia or Ghana. It's against the monetisation of football against the interests of (local) supporters – it's against global powerbrokers. Isn't that political? Not thinking about that, confusing one for the other, all you end up doing is making generalisations about some person you don't know who lives half way across the world – and what does that achieve in relation to ticket prices, or a Sunday evening trip back from Newcastle?

12 Feb 2026 14:46:52
I will shout loudly at the bridge if I hear a racist comment and I have reported people to the club stewards and insisted that the individual or in one case individuals be removed.

I personally have zero interest in our owners nationality or there so called “football” pedigree. Owners come in all shapes and sizes and I very much doubt that the majority of them got there money for being nice.

I have supported the club despite the ownership. That will always be the case.

12 Feb 2026 19:38:10
EdW, you make some valid points, However, a lot of people enjoy sport as an antidote to the complicated world we live in and their own personal struggles. People who are high profile enjoy a privileged position as in the digital age their comments reach a large audience. I don’t know what LR said except what I have gleaned from this site but if he mentioned his daughter that smacks of self- interest.

Aslo, most people don’t care what these type of people comment on.
If this this site became politicised, I would certainly leave.
Tom, you’re right owners come in all shapes and sizes: the Nottingham Forest owner could do with eating more salads?.

12 Feb 2026 21:07:32
Jimbo, I would have no problem with any person expressing there concerns if they felt the child or any member of there family were threatened by the behaviour/actions of others.

12 Feb 2026 21:22:14
Tom, I'm glad you shout down racism at the Bridge. Hopefully you'll be well enough to keep up that good fight soon.

Jimbo, I take your point about sport being a form of escapism. Incredible, in some ways, to think someone would seek an antidote to their personal struggles in some of the dull football we've seen in the last few years (not just Chelsea, but post-Pep, post-VAR football) . Almost like its own subtle form of torture, at times.

12 Feb 2026 21:47:28
Tom, it’s not clear to me what harm LR envisages his daughter would come to. My point was about high profile people boring the pants of us with their personal beliefs. As I said bringing his daughter into it - is self-serving.

12 Feb 2026 21:50:07
EdW you are spot on about boring football. However, old habits die hard and like Saint Luke some of us have to support hopeless causes.

12 Feb 2026 22:34:05
Jimbo, I think if he has concerns about his family’s safety he is entitled to express those concerns.

His concerns, whatever they were, may well resonate with others who may well be happy that a person has been given an opportunity/platform to echo there concerns.

I’m also not sure that any of that makes sense!

13 Feb 2026 01:43:38
Really well thought out reply, EdW.

The struggle for people of color is one I don’t have experience with so it’s hard to put myself in their shoes and understand the feelings deeply. I do live somewhere where racism exists and is somewhat accepted, however the culture is very different from the west.

As I said I’ve been very impressed with LR and hope he has a very long and successful spell with us.

13 Feb 2026 13:14:32
Thanks Melbourne, and I think you're right to pinpoint a lack of same/similar experience as one of the key difficulties in these issues.

10 Feb 2026 21:46:02
Probably others to blame too.

Leeds fought well but our relatively poor home form costing us again and may cost us Champions League qualification. Lack of sufficiently experienced cool heads in defense shouting out for experienced CB. Fofana should have been brought on for Acheompong at half time and perjaps Cucurella kept on. Not sure what Delap adds up front apart from some barging ability. He and Acheompomg could have played on Friday. probably will. Caicedo looks tired.

A game that should have been a comfortable win thrown away.

But Santos outstanding in first half and Pedro too. Palmer good except dreadful. miss. Fernandez ok and Neto when on.

But this felt like a defeat and crucial. points dropped. Our home form In EPL not good enough and our defensive panic too frequent. Anxiety? But credit to Leeds for fighting so hard.

10 Feb 2026 21:57:44
The caicedo challenge really cost us some momentum, as it was smooth up until that point, with some really nice forward play.

The Palmer miss was jaw dropping. I really feel that we have been gaining important experience under LR of finding ways to win. Could’ve been a huge win had he scored. In saying that he was really good today and great to see him finding form again.

Having three teenagers in Josh, Hato and Estevao getting valuable minutes is great for the future. Hato seems much more settled since LR has come in and given him chances. Santos was brilliant once again.

10 Feb 2026 22:08:50
JBS, unhappy to have dropped points but I can see some improvement in our play.

10 Feb 2026 22:39:45
JBS, I’m sorry to say Josh was the player to blame for the second although I did think it should have been given as a handball.

11 Feb 2026 09:20:11
I will say this for Josh, in defence of that situation. He continued to try and play the ball, whilst others stood around with their hands in the air, waiting for the whistle to go for handball. Reasonable for him to expect the keeper to
come and collect that ball? Yes. Could he have cleared the ball behind, when it was clear that wasn’t happening? Also yes. Just a poor goal to concede all round.

As for the pen. It seems strange to question a player, who is so clearly top class, but Caicedo still makes challenges he doesn’t have to. He does it all over the pitch, mostly picking up needless yellows, but in this case costing the team a penalty. For me, it’s the one chink in his armour.

11 Feb 2026 11:46:31
Good post J and would agree with all in it.

Tom I also agree with your point about seeing some inprovement in our play and that sad thing about last night is that for much of the game it was again on display. But that mad 5 mins when Leeds scored their 2 goals rather blotted that out for many commentators and us fans!

But in terms of the Leeds second goal my view aligns more with J's as I think Sanchez could and should have called and come for the ball though yes given he didn't Josh should have booted it upfield or anywhere far away from danger.

Whole incident may not have occurred if Caicedo hadn't put in rash late challenge in which he didn't get ball even if some might think it was a soft pen - it was certainly a poor challenge and thus likely a foul anywhere else on the pitch and so a giveable pen. and once Ref had given it VAR v unlikely to overturn it.

Still not entirely sure why handball not given after VAR review though of course players mnust always play to the whistle.

11 Feb 2026 12:26:58
I think any Sanchez delay was due to him believing Josh was going to take responsibility for just clearing the ball from danger.

In my opinion the blame is down to Josh not doing the basics. Also let me make it clear, I thought Josh had a good first half and will become a top player. One mistake doesn’t make a bad player. It happens.

11 Feb 2026 13:57:06
I don't think anyone on here has ever suggested that Josh is a bad player Tom. And he dud have a goid first half and was outstanding at CB when brought on in our win over Liverpool. My only ongoing feeling is that last night with Reece not available and Cucu coming off at half time we might have benefited from bringing on Fofana as haaplayed more with TC and would help add experience to the back 4 on the night.

11 Feb 2026 15:08:25
JBS, we have to give these players a chance to play and impress. I personally believe that Josh had a good game but made a mistake. I also believe he will learn from that mistake. Players can learn a lot from making a mistake.

That’s al it was, a mistake. He is potentially a top player. I certainly want him to play more often and I except that being young and learning his trade, he is more likely to make mistakes.

10 Feb 2026 21:31:09
That was very poor, and unacceptable. That game encapsulates why we need some god damn experience. We could be 3-0 up and I wouldn't be comfortable.

Dissapointed with caicedo. he's made a lot of silly decisions again this year and still hasn't ironed it out of his game.

Too early to say but with liverpool and united finding form, that might be the UCL dropped.

10 Feb 2026 21:59:48
Twelve games to go and at the moment we are 4th. I think that is a Champions league qualifying position.

The amount of saving tackles Caicedo makes plus the amount of times this season he has been MOM, I can personally forgive him the occasional hiccup. I would think he is nailed for POS yet again.

Palmer taps in that open goal and the comments are different but that’s all “ifs buts and maybes. ”.

10 Feb 2026 22:26:35
Caicedo well below best tonight and is looking tired and made that gatal. mistimed tackle that let Leeds back into the game. We also need a settled CB pairing and if Fofana had come on for young Josh at half time and Cucurella left o we might have seen out the game ok or got a third goal. Obviously some blame on attackers for not taking chances and there we put in some v dangerous crosses but as said when we signed him that Delap not that good in the air despite strength and height.

But Pedro probably should have added to his tally and Palmer certainly shpuld have scored in last minute or so. missing from a yard out albeit ball delivered at pace and came to him. on the half volley. But miss looked dreadful for most watching. Woeful to drop 2 points at home against a side with such poor away form and who we had been so well on top of until Caicedo gives away the penalty. Painful result.

10 Feb 2026 22:44:50
JBS, I’m still not happy it was given as a pen.

10 Feb 2026 23:19:09
I thought it was a pen Tom but also thought there wasca handball by a Leeds player in build up to their scrambled second.

I think United last minute equaliser. means we're now 5th. arsenal, city, villa and united ahead of us.

11 Feb 2026 06:47:31
I will stick with my 2nd-4th prediction.

11 Feb 2026 11:49:33
I would always hope you would stick with that prediction Tom! I still stick with mine of 3rd to 7th! if only allowed three place prediction would probably go for 4th-6th given fixture list ahead of us. Will certainly hope you're right though!

11 Feb 2026 13:12:35
In my opinion Villa will collapse and so will City when the penny drops that they can’t catch the gooners. I expect Liverpool to hit form but I’m on the fence with Utd.

10 Feb 2026 21:29:20
Two points dropped from a very comfortable position.

Very disappointed but there will be plenty of twist and turns as the season progresses.

10 Feb 2026 22:31:57
Well United dropped 2 away to the Hammers tonight but have rescued one with 96th minute equaliser. If Cole had scored we would be focusing on some generally excellent play for almost 70.mins and Santos looking a real star in the first half and easily outshin8ng a below par t- tired or carrying a knock? - Caicedo.

As it is we messed up in a game we really needed to take all 3 points in.

10 Feb 2026 21:09:59
I guess we know why Josh hasn’t been able to get a look in recently. Wondering why we recalled Sarr though especially as Anselmino hasn’t played for Strasbourg and Sarr hasn’t got a minute for us.

Really need a calm head at the back as every CH we have has huge mistakes in them.

10 Feb 2026 21:59:26
Baffling. 40 year old Thiago Silva would be starting every game here.

10 Feb 2026 22:41:04
Completely agree Melbourne and even if the SDs having say in rotation and substitutions Fofana should surely have come on at half time and probably Cucu kept on for whole game but not played atvall Friday night. Hato looks ok comimg forward though not as good as Cucu an caughr out of position a few times when Leeds countered.

He will probably get better but we have to qualify for Champions League and EPL games need to be prioritised over FA cup tie I'd think and Cucu and Fofana rested for that. I would also like Guiu to be given some game time ahead of Delap give Delap not exactly setting the world alighr with current form.

10 Feb 2026 22:48:41
As much as I loved Silva and I’m still convinced he will be back at our club in some capacity next season, he wouldn’t have started every game this season.

10 Feb 2026 22:55:08
JBS, Cucarella is injured. I was happy enough with Josh in the first half and it wouldn’t have been on my mind to substitute him at half time,

10 Feb 2026 23:23:41
Thanks re cucurella subbed reason Tom I foolishly believed the tv commentors who said thet has been told he wasnt injured. Anyway I can only hope his injury not serious. Is Reece also srill injured? We missed his calmness and experience on field second half.

11 Feb 2026 06:49:12
Reece is sickness. He will be fine but I can’t imagine him playing in the Cup game.

11 Feb 2026 12:02:23
OK thanks Tom good to know that Reece not injured but a pity sickness kept him out of last night's squad.

10 Feb 2026 21:08:30
Said it for along time we will never win leagues with the clown in net and any of that defence it’s laughable week after week even when we win there’s always moments of pure stupidity and madness.

10 Feb 2026 22:06:30
Nib, I thought there pen was awarded very harshly and there second was handball.

I’m not sure why Sanchez deserves that sort of criticism.

I’m gutted we dropped points but I’m not unhappy with our patterns of play or the way we move the ball between the lines.

10 Feb 2026 20:23:53
I’ve enjoyed our first half performance. Lot of good first touch football.

Josh just looks an outstanding prospect.

Pedro took his goal well.

This for me is the big take on this game so far, Santos and Caicedo allowing Palmer and Enzo to play between the lines. It’s so simple and so far so effective.

10 Feb 2026 22:44:46
It was a v good first half performance Tom just a pity we seldom if ever playvas well for whole game. too often lose concentration and prone still to panic at the back with constantly changing CBs.

10 Feb 2026 22:58:04
We can’t one minute moan about Josh not getting mins and then moan when does. We are obviously managing Fofana’s injury issues.

Josh just made a mistake, he will learn and be a better player for it.

10 Feb 2026 13:32:51
My eldest grandson asked me to write down al my memorable moments as a CFC club supporter for well over sixty seasons and give a brief reason as to why they were magic moments.

I’m sure It’s age thing but I’m stuck around the mid thirties mark. Not many top moments for a lot of support.

10 Feb 2026 19:06:47
Tom, some memories are better forgotten. When I was around 20, had been up West until the early hours; my mate had to knock me up: had 6 pints of Double Diamond in the Gunters Arms went to the game and got sick in the toilet in the East Stand. Not surprisingly, didn’t enjoy the game.

10 Feb 2026 10:00:22
Interesting that the womens team are struggling this season and that Sonia moaned about the lack of incomings needed. What made it more interesting was that our mens SD's started to run the transfer show for the women this season.

10 Feb 2026 12:09:10
That’s news to me Bill.

10 Feb 2026 12:47:39
Bill, there was a huge fallout between Green and Sonia over transfers.
She stated previously that she'd hoped that more would have been done in the transfer window and perhaps we had targets we didn't get. Normally we are quite successful in the market. Bearing in mind our injuries, we do look a bit under strength.
It was a dig at Green and the club decided to back Sonia over him and
She gets her contract extended, he leaves the Club.


I was more expecting Sonia to be on her way out because of what she's doing with the team.
Even last season where they won everything domestically, I don't think the team played that well, I know it sounds crazy.
but it seems she's won and Green's gone.
a great shame as he and Emma built this club from virtually nothing.

10 Feb 2026 13:16:52
I agree Greenaway, it seems like it is unravelling with our womens team, suppose if Sonia continues to struggle, a new deal won't matter too much in the scheme of things.

10 Feb 2026 21:35:44
She’s won what she won with the Emma hayes team now it’s a different team she’s struggling same formation and playing style as meresca only one way there going struggling against arsenal and man united was never a thing how times change.

11 Feb 2026 07:49:54
Nib, of course things change. It would be pretty boring if they didn’t.

The gooners bossed women’s football for ages and then we came along. Now we have City, Arsenal, a little bit of Utd and of course us. It’s meant to be competitive.

10 Feb 2026 10:02:53
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Manchester City - A Quick Liverpool Perspective