Chelsea Banter 3

07 Jul 2026 16:55:47
Typical Pochettino, flatters to deceive and USA go out.
No doubt FIFA will be relieved as it takes away the noise.
As for King Carlo, has he lost the plot, leaving Joao Pedro at home was borderline madness and some of his team selections were questionable.
That leaves Tommy T flying the flag of ex Chelsea managers at the WC.
Only 10 games left now and I'm thinking Spain v France and Argentina v England in the SF's.

07 Jul 2026 12:54:28
Given Fifa's intervention to 'suspend' the red card given to the USA striker when Wolrd Cup rules had said red cards could not be challenged or overturned - probably not a sensible rule but had been accepted as part of the WC tournament rules - it was perhaps as well that Belgium beat the USA.

I am not of course suggesting that just because Infantino and Fifa had been leasing offices on the 17th floor of Trump Tower -proceeds to the Trump family - and Infantino had bestowed that newly created Fifa Peace Prize on Trump, and that Fifa had accepted USA requests to keep a referee and members of some country's backroom staff out of the country, or that Trump had phoned Infantino to question the red card, that there was anything dodgy about fact that the striker's red card was immediately suspended.

It would be fake news to suggest anything other than that both the Trump and Infantino Presidencies are as moral and pure as the driven snow. You woud have to be a horrible person, a terrible reporter, a communist or suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome to question this. Mind you I have been feeling a bit under the weather.

07 Jul 2026 16:09:55
Jbs, love it mate.

07 Jul 2026 19:48:00
Whole
Tournament has an air of blatant corruption about it - as seen by this Argentina Egypt game - what a robbery. As well as most games generally being quite a boring watch.

I worry for England if we face Argentina - I expect more of the same crooked refereeing...

Then again, we know all about Messi being favoured by refs as Chelsea fans ... He may be the best ever, but he hasn't half had some help.

08 Jul 2026 10:18:26
Had the same feeling about the Egypt v Argentina game, as what seemed to be a clear foul by McAllister on an Egypt player, not called or VAR'd, plus there was also a possible foul on Salah at the same time.

08 Jul 2026 10:19:36
And both were just before Argentina scored their winner.

05 Jul 2026 13:30:50
I have fairly low expectations for an England win tonight/tomorrow but I consider Tt a lucky manager, so I live in hope.
My big decision of the day is do I need an afternoon nap!

Anyway, Come on England.

05 Jul 2026 15:42:54
No need, Tom. TT's tactics will put you to sleep during the game.

06 Jul 2026 04:25:02
So chuffed and so tired. Lots of good performances but the work rate was amazing.

Come on England.

06 Jul 2026 10:38:22
I had watched a couple of the previous Mexico games - including the opener versus SA, who had two men sent off, and had not been overly impressed. On the other hand, England had not exactly shone v Ghana or the DRC, and had only done so in the second half v Croatia. So, with all the media chatter about altitude and home crowd advantage for Mexico, I thought England should definitely have far greater strength on the field and off the bench, plus firepower up front - Mexico pretty (over-?)reliant on Fulham's ageing Gimenez up front, albeit he is still a good striker.

When we went 2-0 up, I foolishly thought we could blow them away before half time. As it is, the, to me, soft penalty against Kane, then the sending off, did send my anxiety level upwards!

Bellingham superb.

06 Jul 2026 18:09:31
JBS, I agree about Bellingham. Top class. I know Cole didn't have a great season, but I still think it was a mistake not taking him. Like Bellingham and Kane, he is a game changer, which will be needed when the opposition gets tougher.


Looks like Carlo has run out of steam. Brazil have been poor all tournament. It always amazes me that whatever the weather, Carlo wears a suit, tie and a woollen waistcoat.

06 Jul 2026 18:16:30
Tom, it was a brilliant game and a great watch, Bill, how did you fall asleep during the game? it was very exciting.
Is it finally coming home? ENG--ER--LAND, get in.

04 Jul 2026 21:01:48
So many rumours flying about, so many lazy journo's click baiting, so many punters biting on headlines but one man will have a plan and that is Xabi Alonso who we must trust and back to take us to that top table, he will know the mood of the players linked to want away or stay, he will know what players he wants to stay, he will know what players he wants to sign. The owners completed their end of season review and put a plan in place.

1.

Give the head coach the title manager and let him manage.
2. Adjust and tweak the vision to allow the manager to build the squad he wants to challenge at the top table.
3. Lift restrictions on signing older players.
4. Ensure the sporting directors/scouts support the new manager.

Now Alonso is in the building he will (hopefully) put the jigsaw together, very exciting times ahead and well done blue. co for engaging change where it was needed.

06 Jul 2026 11:18:33
Can only hope the owners and SDs do as you say, Greenaway. Only time will tell whether this umpteenth attempt at a rebuild will be more successful. The appointment of Alonso is a hopeful sign, but getting the signings he wants/needs, and retaining the players he wants/needs (and he has already lost Cucurella), is key, of course.

04 Jul 2026 09:25:40
Ouff! Shots fired by Didier Drogba at Enzo Fernandez and his agent!

"So now Enzo's agent is talking about leaving Chelsea. Looking at options. Nothing concrete yet. "

"Funny. This is the same Enzo Fernandez who used to bully Mason Mount every time Chelsea played Manchester United. He acted like Mount was the snake. Now he's doing the exact same thing. "

"I don't blame the player alone. But if I was coach, if I was running the club? Enzo goes to the U21s until he finds a club willing to pay 120m. Or until he buys himself out. "

"Because this is the trend now. Players come to Chelsea, use it as a shop window, then start looking for the next big team. The moment things get tough, they want out. "

"Enzo is acting like he wasn't part of Chelsea's problems. He played almost every game. He would have a shambolic performance, then hide behind a goal or an assist. ".

04 Jul 2026 10:02:40
J, DD's comments always hit the nail on the head. Particularly last season; "I don't recognise my club."

04 Jul 2026 10:18:08
I said previously that I don't rate Enzo, and, like DD quite rightly states, he is part of the problem at Chelsea.
I hope we sell, but the only team who would pay £120million for him is... Chelsea!

04 Jul 2026 13:13:46
I made my views on Enzo and Cucarella when the so-called statements were made towards the end of last season. Nothing has changed.
Enzo and his agents seem to be very good at saying things have been misunderstood.

I love my club as much now as I did 60 plus years ago.

It has been a long journey, with far more lows than highs. I hated the KB and MH ownership. The RA was fantastic because of our success and CTV. While I obviously desire more success, and also want better club and fan communication, please bring back CTV or make the CFC more interactive.

04 Jul 2026 14:03:08
The Mount bit rings true for me, especially if Fernandez has now pushed for a move to Arsenal. Is there more than a bit of truth about hiding behind goals and assists too?

04 Jul 2026 14:50:11
Quote Arsenal £200mil, they will soon walk away.

Tom, I agree, bring back CTV.

04 Jul 2026 21:44:29
I don't think the Enzo to Madrid saga is over. I suspect RM issued the statement as a smokescreen to prevent them being accused of tapping-up, as if Madrid or Jose would do such a thing!
I suspect he and his agents will still be working to secure the move.


Do we really want to keep a player who clearly does not want to be at the club? Nothing will be clear until Enzo returns and Alonso has a chance to determine his commitment to the club.

05 Jul 2026 13:28:32
Totally agree with Jimbo here, let's wait and see, same as Xhaka and all the other rumours.

06 Jul 2026 11:22:04
Yes, Real Madrid must still be a possibility - they have form in making the kind of statement they did re EF, then buying the player later in the transfer window - and EF and his agent might try and make it easier for them to sign him if unwilling to stay at CFC.

But please, if we sell, may it not be to Arsenal or City.

04 Jul 2026 07:39:10
{Ed's Note - newnameoldideas has posted a new article entitled, Why United Keep Missing Midfield Targets

03 Jul 2026 21:07:21
Players who the club apparently want to keep in the squad next season.

18 players.

Adarabioyo, Acheampong, Caicedo, Colwill, Derry, Essugo, Estevao, Fernandez, Gittens, Hato, James, Lavia, Palestra, Palmer, Pedro, Penders, Quenda, Sarr.

03 Jul 2026 23:56:23
They seem to like Tosin, but he's sadly just not good enough even as backup. We got him on a free, so would look to make something back whilst we can.

Huge questions on Lavia - can't see him magically finding fitness, and it's a shame.



Gittens, Essugo, Penders, Sarr, Derry need to show us something to get behind, or they could find their stays at the club come to an end.

Lot of work needed, as I don't yet see the quality in the squad to get us back towards the top.

04 Jul 2026 08:59:17
Chelsea report for pre-season training next Thursday. The academy is already in, and new pre-signing players Dastan Satpayev and Geovany Quenda have started training early. It will give Alonso three weeks with the players before the overseas pre-season tour of Asia begins.

04 Jul 2026 09:28:55
Tosin is, by all accounts, a fundamental part of the leadership group. Some may have seen my feelings on his defending. The elevator pitch would revolve around passiveness and lack of speed, but he is good on the ball, only bettered by Colwill. I see why they wouldn't want to lose him.

04 Jul 2026 13:17:02
J, I have read he is seen as a leader in the dressing room, but he needs a sat nav; his positional sense is dreadful. A bit like Rudiger, he can get away with it in a three, but in a back four he just looks lost.

04 Jul 2026 15:05:01
Fully agreed, but at least Rudiger had pace to get out of some of his self-created problems. Once a player is goal side of Tosin, the goalkeeper is guaranteed to have work to do. His lack of pace makes him stand off, he's so passive, but he's a good leader.

04 Jul 2026 17:57:50
I'll have to take your word that Tosin is a good leader, but that doesn't make up for the fact he is a bang average player at best. If we are serious about becoming contenders for trophies, he needs to go.

04 Jul 2026 19:56:37
Can't compare Rudiger to Tosin. Tosin is levels and levels below, not even close. Don't care about him being a dressing room leader. He's not good enough to be at the club.

04 Jul 2026 21:29:21
I see Bastoni is under investigation for soliciting sexual services from a 17 year old girl. Obviously, only an investigation but he's definitely off my wish list.

06 Jul 2026 11:23:42
I believe, though, Jimbo, that Bastoni may be moving to a house on the Sandringham Estate?!

06 Jul 2026 11:39:24
I am worried that with both Lavia, especially, and James we have two fine players when fit but who are far too often injured. I would also want to keep Santos, given Lavia's frailty, and have not seen much yet in Gittens to want to keep him. But I suppose that with both Lavia and Gittens, who may yet turn out to be ok, one can only hope, if kept, at the moment no other club would probably pay much for them and certainly a lot less than we paid for them.

Looking at that list of who we supposedly want to keep makes me feel we still have a long way to go in terms of adding the quality, and frankly the physical robustness, we need to make the top 4, let alone compete for the league or ECL. Xhaka would have helped add both robustness - to put it mildly! - and experience, and has been playing well, though yes, it is a question of price, not being exorbitant. But then it usually is when other clubs see CFC coming...?!

I would keep Santos, Neto, and perhaps Jackson, too, if we are not sure we can replace each of them with significant upgrades.

I would have probably kept Trevor C ahead of Tosin, too. I had thought Delap would give us some of the physicality needed in attack, but as yet he has proved to be very disappointing. We do need striker back up for Pedro, as all could see, despite his v good form for us most of last season - he can get injured but also needs someone we can bring off the bench or occasionally play alongside him to give us more of a goal threat. Apart from his 20 goals, I would think that Enso and Cucurella had the next most goals and perhaps assists. And both may be gone before the Fulham game.

Anyway, there is still a long way to go in the transfer window, and we obviously hope Alonso has good input in getting the rebuild right this time.

03 Jul 2026 19:24:56
No Xhaka for us, Sunderland wanted £30mil.

03 Jul 2026 21:44:39
I'm disappointed, but at the cost Sunderland wanted, definitely right to walk away.

03 Jul 2026 22:13:00
I wouldn't have valued him much more than our initial £8m bid, so no thanks from me!!

03 Jul 2026 23:04:34
Tom, I would not bid more than £3 million for him. I do even wonder if this is all Twitter talk as well, designed to pick up the naive....

03 Jul 2026 23:57:22
Quite possibly... Say we want experience, make a low ball offer for a player, say we tried at least and then sign another kid.... It is the Blueco way after all.

04 Jul 2026 13:18:48
So, out of interest, what should the club have paid for him?

04 Jul 2026 14:55:07
Tom,

Value now does not matter, he is not coming.

04 Jul 2026 18:56:39
Bill, I generally don't care about any transfer fee as I see it as a "club valuation" issue. As I posted when this deal was first mentioned. I think it will boil down to what the "player" wants.


My question was one of interest in how high other posters rate the player. I personally don't think we should go above £12m at a push. I also think this deal might well be back on the table at some stage.

05 Jul 2026 08:56:52
15m, maybe even up to 20m. Is he worth that much? Probably not, but if Alonso wants him and he'll help, then I don't mind overpaying a little bit. In general a £20m signing is pocket change.

03 Jul 2026 10:38:06
Anyone read the Real Madrid statement on Enzo Fernandez. Ouch he’s been pied off! 😂.

03 Jul 2026 14:53:57
Reads as though CFC dictated it to Real Madrid! Mind you, RM have made similar statements before, then, a while later, still signed the player they denied they had any interest in. But, hope we can keep EF if he comes properly round to staying and playing as well as he can.

He certainly showed last season that he is a fighter, and, with Pedro and Cucurella, was one of our players of the season. But the 'will he go or not' saga is probably not over yet.

03 Jul 2026 16:30:23
I know most people disagree with me, but I don’t particularly rate Enzo Fernandez. I’m still not sure of his best position, and I don’t think he influences games enough.
Having said that, I would agree that he had a better season last year, but that is relative to the rest of the team, and for £107 million fee we should expect a lot.

03 Jul 2026 16:48:49
JBS, It very much looks like Chelsea FC have called the shots here and have forced Real Madrid into what basically amounts to a grovelling apology. I assume the matter is now closed and EF returns to Chelsea FC after the WC. I imagine Real Madrid have smoothed it over with the player as well as Chelsea FC, and might try again in a more considered and upfront way next year.

The owners are learning fast and, after slapping Man City and Maresca, are flexing their muscle.

03 Jul 2026 17:03:49
JBS, I agree, I don't think it's necessarily all over yet, and I am not comfortable with players who want to be elsewhere, no matter how good they are.
RPD, let's hope we flex our muscles on the pitch next season.

02 Jul 2026 15:44:36
With Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda both coming in as wing backs where does that leave Reece James? Does he move into midfield next to Moises? Probably not with Granit Xhaka possibly filling that role? Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill will both start as CB's so maybe Alonso sees James on the right of a back 3? Hato at LWB with Pep Chavarria, if he joins, competing for that spot? Or does Hato play on the left of a back 3? Josh will certainly be in the mix for that RCB role as well as Alonso is rumoured to be a big fan of his.

The options are looking encouraging for Xabi to work his magic.

02 Jul 2026 16:24:45
Very good for Alomso to have options and back up possibilities. Seems to me that Reece is sadly not going to be consistently fit, so it's that much more important to have alternative options, if only especially if Gusto goes to City or Atalanta.



As it is, Palestra is perhaps more of a classical RB, though can play RWB, and Quenda is an out and out winger but who can also play RWB. So they offer slightly different possibilities. All good that they can.

02 Jul 2026 17:57:11
It will be interesting to see who starts against Fulham, but lots can happen before then. Quenda might be loaned out. There are still some weaknesses in the squad. I hope Penders impresses in pre-season; it would be disappointing if Calamity Jane is still our No 1.

Although it's hard to imagine that he would suit Alonso's style of play, as Alonso likes his keeper to be pivotal in controlling a high press by opponents. We shall see.

03 Jul 2026 06:40:10
Alonso wants tactical flexibility. He wants players comfortable in multiple positions. I think, keeping fingers crossed, that we push the Lacroix deal through, and that we're building a very positive defensive unit for him.

03 Jul 2026 14:56:49
I will also hope we get the Lacroix deal done. And it would be good indeed if we could do our business as early as possible, tricky while the World Cup is still on and players of interest are still involved, of course, so that Alonso has as much time as possible to know and work with players that will be in our squad for next season.