Chelsea Banter 3

23 Sep 2026 11:34:28
I remain reasonably confident that things will click into place under Alonso.

I think we need to patient with defensive issues, don't have much choice at the moment. I think Alonso needs to pick his best three (Acheampong, Lacroix and Colwill for me) and consistently start them, with mostly only one game a week we don't need to rotate. Colwill looks like a player who missed a whole season, but, I'm sure we'll see the same player we saw at the end of the season before and the following CWC.

Getting Caicedo back will help, but I don't see a regular midfield partner in this squad for him, not in the 3-4-3 system currently deployed. I like Barco and I'm bigger on James in midfield than most, but we need teams playing our double pivot to feel like they were playing against four players in there. Caicedo has an element of that but the others, whilst having their own qualities don't have that trait. Prime Kante would be good!

On James, I don't mind him in midfield, but I'd rather he played that RWB role, certainly over Neto or Gusto. But, if his hamstrings can't hold up to that, where does he fit in? RCB? I think Acheampong is the better option. Squad, rotational CM? Is that what he wants for his career? Controversial opinion on a great Chelsea player, but, if it isn't consistent mins at RB or RWB I don't know where his Chelsea career is.

Last point, Emegha needs to be good. I like Welbeck for 15-20mins here and there, but not for regular 70mins in Joao Pedro's absence. Emegha need to be a good deputy for Joao Pedro or, more to the point, we need Joao Pedro to stay fit.

23 Sep 2026 18:33:57
J, I enjoyed your post mate and I agree with your back three.

I think Palestra will be our first choice RWB. I can only see James playing in midfield. I would also like a midfield three. The problem then becomes we play a 532 or 352.

So, I personally prefer a 433. The manager has some big calls to make, it will be interesting.

23 Sep 2026 21:52:38
I too would like to see a back 4 Tom but I think the gaffer will stick with his beloved 3-4-2-1,
it will make or break him.
The midfield 2 has to be Caicedo and Henderson unless Lavia can finally step up.
The front 3 picks itself. Wingbacks have to be Pep and Palestra who were hand picked by the gaffer.

The back 3 will decide our season, Lacroix must start as must Josh for me. Hato wins over Colwill who has been really poor and in fairness Fofana has done ok. James, our skipper, looks like a bench player as it is so obvious that he can't play in midfield and has no legs as a wing back.

22 Sep 2026 07:39:11
{Ed's Note - Davey Sulls has posted a new article entitled, My Thoughts on Liverpool's Start to the Season

21 Sep 2026 07:39:34
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20 Sep 2026 20:27:48
Any team can beat any other team in this Premier League.

20 Sep 2026 23:48:27
Not true tbh.

22 Sep 2026 22:00:06
brighton beat the champions
brentford beat us
cov win away at forest
everyone beat spurs
very different league to win compared to when ole red nose dominated.

20 Sep 2026 07:39:10
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Rangers Recruitment: Patience Versus Immediate Demands

19 Sep 2026 10:48:43
Was at the game last night and there was a nervous feeling all around us before the game with 4 starters all missing, that's a big chunk for any side to cope with but it really highlighted the lack of depth in the squad. At half time that nervous feeling had gone as we just about shaded it and some of the build up play and quick one touch football was pleasent to watch. Hopes were high and
I thought that Chavarria had an excellent half and we could see what could be achieved defensively with Henderson using his experience to drop back into a CB role when either Colwill, Fofana or Lacroix ventured further forward. All positive.

In the second half I thought that Henderson tired and as a consequence slowed our play down too much playing as the fulcrum for everything we did. First game back so that's understandable. His drop off led to us losing shape and then that ever present lack of mental strength cost us again and Brentford tore us to pieces.

The back 3 are just not good enough and until we sign a proper leader back there we will be in trouble and the gaffer doesn't seem to trust Josh just yet which is a shame.

Caicedo next to Henderson will work until the January window and Palestra at RWB with the excellent Chavarria at LWB looks the way forward.

Selling Jackson was a mistake in my opinion as Welbeck is a 15 minute player now and a strange signing.

Overall very disappointed but given time I think Alonso will get us playing the way he wants.

19 Sep 2026 12:58:00
Your post made for good and persuasive reading G8 and thanks for it.

Sorry you got to see us lose 0-3 but like you - and for similar reasons - I remain hopeful at this stage of better times ahead.

19 Sep 2026 16:33:02
whilst i agree re welbeck- emegha whenever he manages to get fit needs to be given a chance i guess - hopefully can offer something.

19 Sep 2026 16:45:49
Let's hope Emegha can deliver Kaz because Welbeck looks past his sell buy date over 90 minutes.

20 Sep 2026 23:46:38
I'm going to be out of order hear but fofana is a complete liability he is so reactionary and not in control ever it's like he can't read the game just goes gung ho into whatever is happening in the present
I understand reece hasn't the legs for wingback but I would 100090% have him over fofana in the right side of a back 3 with palesta or gusto outside him

I think
Palestra james lacroix colwill chavarria would do us good in defence
Hendo dm moises box to box
And
C J M up front.

21 Sep 2026 10:14:04
I think most fans would prefer Josh on the right side of a three. In my opinion he has been our best defender so far this season.

I think James will eventually play in the centre of a midfield three.

21 Sep 2026 12:50:44
There are predictable rumours that Alonso is using the three week break to rethink our formation - presumably to include a three man midfield you'd think. Hopefully also to reflect on (via in part re-watching recordings of games played?!) how the changing cast of defenders and defensive midfield pivots have performed thus far.

Then to base his selections accordingly and with a view to having a far more settled first choice/starting eleven. Reece might well then be part of a three man midfield together with Caicedo and Lavia/Barco.

Would best back 4 be (from right to left) Palestra, Lacroix, Josh (or LC/Fofana?!), Pep C? I am still not sure about what our best two - as a combo - CBs are though and Alonso probably still hopes he can get LC back to best?

21 Sep 2026 14:43:01
I think he will stick to a back 3 and he has been talking up Henderson so I think he will start alongside 1 other, hopefully Caicedo v Bournemouth. For me, Josh needs to play as the RCB, LaCroix as the CCB and Hato as the LCB.

21 Sep 2026 17:16:07
tbf think fofans has been one of better defenders so far this year- my real disappointments have been colwill and hato. and the obvious gaping hole in our midfield.

19 Sep 2026 07:39:05
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19 Sep 2026 07:22:21
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18 Sep 2026 23:34:37
Could be another long season chaps.

19 Sep 2026 06:41:46
whitey, spot on mate. We are pinning a lot of hope that a Caicedo return changes things. I hope so but I'm not convinced. Him coming back still leaves us outnumbered in midfield.

19 Sep 2026 08:36:35
Massive reality check I'm afraid.
Alonso needs to have a big think about our formation now.

19 Sep 2026 09:10:26
We have struggled ever since Maresca left and whilst that is now old news it is still painfall to take particuarly with the start he has made at City.

19 Sep 2026 09:20:17
K, with all due respect, we were struggling with Maresca as manager. His football had become boring as hell.

19 Sep 2026 09:31:49
I honestly don't care about City, they are swimming in a different pool to us anyway.
Maresca's football was worse than boring.

18 Sep 2026 12:56:48
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Fulham - A Quick Liverpool Perspective