Chelsea Banter 3

18 Aug 2026 08:23:36
EF has split Chelsea fans' opinions on lots of levels. He may leave the club for a substantial fee (£120m+), even though a supposed club deadline has been and gone.

The player himself could come out and stop all the speculation, but I guess he wants the pay rise, I’m sure he would get if he went to City.



At some stage, if we received a firm offer from City, it might be too late to find a replacement and therefore no would probably mean no, but then we run the risk of keeping an unhappy player.

My guess is, if they come in with an offer at any stage between now and the closure of the window, we will sell him.

18 Aug 2026 09:13:13
I think he is hedging his bets, Tom, but, in fairness to him, he did applaud the whole ground on Saturday, including those who were less than pleased to see him.

18 Aug 2026 09:21:02
I just hope we keep both Enzo and Neto. I want the strongest possible squad for the coming season.

We have still plenty of fringe players to loan out.

18 Aug 2026 09:23:06
I'm just not convinced he is committed to Chelsea. It needs to be sorted out sooner rather than later.

19 Aug 2026 15:44:04
I'd rather the money. I just don't think he will fit Alonso's way of playing.

17 Aug 2026 21:32:03
Big hello to you lot from me, I used to post as Jose knows best some 14 or 15 years ago, then when the great one left I switched to G8 before taking a long sabbatical. Forgot my password so added a dot at the end. Looking forward to chatting to Bill, Jimbo, Nath in Swindon, our mate in Ireland who had a cafe/shop? Sorry mate, forgot your name? Melbourne, Tom, Trish and the rest of you both old and new.

BTW my old mate who worked for Roman is still about.

17 Aug 2026 22:30:42
Welcome back, mate.

17 Aug 2026 22:51:57
Thanks, Tom, how are you keeping, mate?

17 Aug 2026 23:49:39
Welcome back, G8, great to hear from you l.

18 Aug 2026 05:28:08
G8, I'm ok, I guess, back drinking JD's so I can't be that bad.
I hope life has been treating you kindly?

Looking forward to a new season, new manager and some new players. I think we will be competitive and at the very least be challenging for a CL spot.


I have always found pre season generally to be a time of unrealistic optimism and then the season develops and then realism hits home.
I love being a Chelsea supporter.

18 Aug 2026 07:46:23
G8, nice to see posters come back to the fold.

18 Aug 2026 09:09:04
Thanks, Bill. I look forward to a few debates with you, mate.

18 Aug 2026 09:09:37
Thanks Jimbo, good to be back.

18 Aug 2026 09:10:58
Glad you are ok, Tom, and back on the JD's, mate. So looking forward to the new season.

18 Aug 2026 09:32:43
Yes, welcome back G8, and I had always enjoyed your ebullient past posts, including elements of post-match lifestyle. I also seem to recall you once giving your thumbnail impressions of a number of us other posters, though my memory is not what it used to be.

Anyway, good to have you back.

18 Aug 2026 09:38:34
Hi JBS, thank you so much. Great to be back.

19 Aug 2026 15:49:10
Me to G8 I forgot my password
I was gianfranco gola
Glad to be back after a long time away
I sort of left when Ed 02 died.

20 Aug 2026 10:05:14
Hi Abgord, great name. Yes, my old mate gola, I forgot your handle, how are you? it was all a shock with ED02 and I sort of switched away as well.

17 Aug 2026 18:15:05
So, it looks like two minority shareholders including TB are selling up to Clearlake. It's probably been coming for a while and I certainly have no view on it being a good or bad thing.
The interesting thing for me, will be how the share sale values CFC.

17 Aug 2026 19:26:07
Tom, apparently, talks are going on. Nothing is settled. The other minority shareholder Walters is under investigation in the USA for some dodgy business. If it happens, I am not really sure what it will mean for us going forward.

17 Aug 2026 19:46:48
A bit like the Liverpool shareholder sale, I can't see it making any difference.

As I say, I'm more interested in the share and club value/valuation. I am guessing that both minority shareholders will walk away with a very nice profit on their investments.

17 Aug 2026 19:59:48
Tom, you are probably right. As discussed previously, the ownership models in the Premier League generally become more disassociated from the supporters. All we can hope for is good football and trophies.

17 Aug 2026 20:19:14
I think it is reasonable to see the Premiership and its teams as a "global brand" that has the potential to gain larger global revenues with its massive audience.

I would suggest that the supposed valuations for all the top Premiership teams are substantially undervalued and a very attractive investment for "funds".

17 Aug 2026 21:39:04
Tom, I mean you would hope they walk away with a profit, considering they bought the club in a hostile forced sale and with massive uncertainty facing the club... I wouldn't read much into that... Feel for Boehly, he seems to be tied to Walter in sporting ventures and Walter has been a very naughty boy allegedly.



Don't think it will change much, as I have felt Clearlake have been calling the shots for a while now.

17 Aug 2026 21:53:13
This is just me. I think the valuation of CFC may well determine any future ownership. I am obviously aware that the current shareholders have restrictive third party sales agreements, and I certainly can't give any hard evidence to substantiate my view, but I just feel Clearlake will move on. This
is just me guessing.

18 Aug 2026 08:23:39
Tom

I tend to agree with Clearlake moving on in a minimum of 6 years' time.

If Bohely and Walters sell up, what it does do is stop in-house fighting, and maybe, just maybe, there will be a clear vision for the SB project.

18 Aug 2026 08:47:58
Bill, I like the idea of a board having different opinions. The idea of Clearlake having potentially 87.5% of the shares does not bother me now, but I would personally prefer a diverse board of directors, maybe with different skill sets.
As I understood the original deal, the shareholders can only sell to existing shareholders. That would appear to be ok if Clearlake or the other shareholder want to buy the shares, but, as things stand, shares cannot be sold to interested investors who are currently outside the closed group.

If that makes sense.

I have never seen the restrictive covenants about when shares can be sold to outside investors, but I personally believe that Clearlake will find a way around that restriction. I repeat, this is just me guessing.

18 Aug 2026 15:56:26
You are correct, Tom.

Part of the agreement was that the sale of CFC to outside investors is prohibited for 10 years from the date of purchase.

I doubt very much Clearlake will be able to get around that clause.

18 Aug 2026 19:36:48
Bill, again, this is just me guessing, but if they wanted to offload their shares, I'm sure they will find a way. The argument will be 'that it's in the best interests of the club', or something like that.

Bill, I have a totally prejudiced view of funds, that stems from bitter experience. My prejudicial view is probably very unfair on Clearlake.

17 Aug 2026 09:32:04
I assume Disasi, Tosin and Badiashile will sold or loaned in the next few days and it also looks like Sarr will be loaned as well. I can't see us signing any replacements in that position.

On the other hand, if we do sell EF and Neto do we need replacements? I'm not sure we need to replace Neto even though he works hard and looks suited to the WB role.
Replacing EF would be a must for me. I am not a massive fan of Scott or Wharton. I have now had a look at the young Senegal midfielder Camara and he looks useful, the asking price for him is apparently £50-£60m. I can't see us doing a deal with Arsenal for a surplus midfielder. After that I'm struggling.

17 Aug 2026 09:55:35
I think ED01 made the point that Alex Scott would be an upgrade on EF Tom and I'm happy with his assesment so that would be my choice.

17 Aug 2026 10:22:25
If EF. goes, we definitely need to bring in a midfielder. I don't think we need to replace Neto if he leaves. Any spare cash could be used elsewhere.

17 Aug 2026 12:54:38
Badiashille joining Napoli on loan. Disasi is waiting on other options before a potential move to West Ham, I think he'll try and get a better option sorted till the last minute. Tosin has options, most notably reuniting with Silva at Benfica.

The Fernandez saga continues. I'd want more than the £120m now, or better payment terms in the least. If he goes, I believe the move will be a big one for Scott.

I can't see this going beyond the first day of the season; it doesn't suit the players or clubs involved. Alonso also likes Zubamendi, every chance we sign Scott anyway and also add Zubamendi if we sell Fernandez.

I have a feeling Neto will get a big money move to Saudi, there's confirmed interest. I think we'll replace from within (Quenda).

17 Aug 2026 07:39:13
{Ed's Note - Goram_no1 has posted a new article entitled, Why Rangers Should Stay Patient With McInnes

16 Aug 2026 21:50:26
How poor is Donnarumma? So glad we left him alone and kept the faith in Sanchez and Penders. He was a top keeper once upon a time but really looks poor now.
Sanchez is better although not at the level of Raya where we must aim, hopefully young Penders really is the next Tibo.


As for Maresca, that was nice to see him fall flat. Sacked by December I think.

17 Aug 2026 09:22:22
I think Raya is the best GK in the world. He is very consistent, rarely makes an error, and is good with his feet.

If only he was on our books.

17 Aug 2026 09:33:56
Raya and Allison are the only two premiership goalkeepers I rate, all the others are average in my book.

17 Aug 2026 09:58:04
I agree that Raya is the best keeper in the world, and Alisson is also the only other keeper in the Premier League I would take to replace Sanchez. There just isn't much difference between the rest of them.

17 Aug 2026 10:02:00
Donnarumma certainly had a shocker yesterday, K.

17 Aug 2026 17:33:44
Sanchez better than Donnarumma.... Gosh, I don't even know how to respond to that one.

17 Aug 2026 17:44:51
Bill, I don't know if Raya is the best keeper in the world, but he is very good. If I recall correctly, Raya signed for Arsenal at the same time as we signed Sanchez. I think Raya cost them £30 million. We opted for Sanchez, no doubt because of his mate Ben Roberts. Should be a sackable offence.

16 Aug 2026 09:02:32
I like the shape of the side and clearly our new manager knows what his core 17 or 18 players are, he has been backed by the club to take us forward and interestingly he clearly sees Sanchez, Levi, Moises and Joao Pedro as the spine of the team.


In fact, I can already predict 10 of the starting 11 against Fulham and I haven't been able to do that in quite a while.
Fofana is suspended for that game, otherwise I would comfortably predict the starting 11.

16 Aug 2026 11:13:57.
Sanchez,
James, Lacroix, Colwill, Hato, Palestra,

Lavia, Caicedo,

Pedro, Palmer, Rogers.

No real wingers.

If rumours are to be believed, Neto will be sold this week.

16 Aug 2026 17:42:51
Will we be relying then on James, who is prone to unfitness, almost alone to put in accurate crosses, given Neto was one of the few who could do this last season? Can Palestra deliver them from the left as well? Or will Rogers and Palmer drift wide to do this too? Lavia fitness, ie keeping fit, is obviously a concern too.

Not quite sure how to assess this side's prospects for next season... until I see it in action.

16 Aug 2026 17:43:36
More of it in action...

16 Aug 2026 19:16:37
That eleven and formation are highly unlikely to make a real impact in the PL. Although, they would do better than last season.

17 Aug 2026 11:05:15
Chavarria, Palestra & Gusto will be our touchline hugging wing backs. Hato, Reece & maybe ....
Quenda will fill in that role, and tactics will be adjusted in an emergency.
Estevao will be utilised more as an inside forward, battling with Cole & Rogers for that role, as will Quenda.

Both have played off the right & the left in their young careers.
Gittens will struggle to get game time & should really be loaned until we get back in Europe.

16 Aug 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - Last Bus to Woodstock has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Left With Big Questions After Blackburn

15 Aug 2026 15:57:49
More control in the second half. Played with more urgency and kept the ball better. With so many substitutions it was hardly surprising that it felt slightly disjointed at times. Pedro will obviously get the plaudits, but my Mom was James.

15 Aug 2026 17:30:26
You can see the club has backed Alonso and his system with the purchase of the right players for the positions.
I am liking what im seeing so far.
I know the club does get some stick for some of the players they have bought.

Pedro
Caicedo
Palmer
Palestra
Rodgers
Hato
Lacroix
Fernandez
Estevao
Gusto
I think they are all very good signings.


Plus Colwill James.
Before you come on here with Ddf and Badiashile and all the others, be thankful for the above list because that is a lot of quality players and the bas3 for a very good team.

15 Aug 2026 17:30:39
My MoM probably would be Pedro. Assist for Rogers' first goal, though Neto's cross to him was superb. Then JP scored 2 good goals himself. James had a bit of a shaky start, and lost the ball a couple of times, but got better. Yes, 2 fine saves by Sanchez. He has always been a good shot-stopper.

15 Aug 2026 14:52:31
We started well and that was to be expected otherwise we just had moments. Second best for most of the game.

Without Sanchez we could be having our backside smacked.

I know it's work in progress but we are all over the place at the back.

15 Aug 2026 15:54:09
How many times have our backline played together, Tom?

15 Aug 2026 15:58:49
Bill, that's why I said "work in progress."

15 Aug 2026 17:24:05
The trouble is that we seem to be doing massive rebuilds every season. Very disjointed performance. It did get better second half.

Still so many questions about who is leaving, plus may still arrive.

Neto excellent.