Chelsea Rumours 2

22 Jan 2026 10:56:17
Just saw on sky a discussion around Palmer wanting to join Man Utd? Say it ain't so.

22 Jan 2026 12:43:02
Apparently home sick. I can’t see Man Utd paying £160m plus for him or any player.

Last season it was PSG (Manchester) that wanted him.

If a player ain’t happy, sell him is my attitude towards any player.

22 Jan 2026 12:52:23
Dan

As Tom has said many times on here, we are a buying and selling business, not a football club, di yes, anything is possible.

22 Jan 2026 14:34:55
Bill, if it’s true then this is different, we don’t keep unhappy players.

22 Jan 2026 19:18:55
I don’t think many clubs keep unhappy players as I said recently if a player wants out they usually get the move. I fully expect Palmer to go in the summer. I always say players and coaches come and go. I would be very sorry to see Cole go, for me he has been the most entertaining and game changing player we have had since Eden.

No doubt we will make a big profit but we are unlikely to replace him with a player of similar quality and probably fritter it away on young players. Reece has 2 years left on his contract; don’t be surprised if he isn’t looking at pastures new.

23 Jan 2026 04:13:18
Reece is Chelsea. If we got relegated I’d expect he’d stay with us. Cole is a very good player, who is having a stop start year and may need surgery to fix whatever is wrong. No guarantee he returns to his best although would love to give him the chance to become a legend here.

If he requests a transfer due to missing Manchester, it’s a good thing he got signed onto a long deal last year.

23 Jan 2026 06:44:08
Newspaper tosh! He certainly wasn’t homesick when he signed that multi, multi year contract. He’s had a frustrating season, with injuries and the impact they’ve had on form, and has struggled to hide that frustration. Newspapers have used that to create this rhetoric.

23 Jan 2026 17:14:40
Wonder whether he may still need surgery or whether that option off then table until after the World Cup?

19 Jan 2026 09:31:26
It is being reported that Liam Rosenior has asked for Jacquet and wants him to go straight into the side, let's hope he is as good as our new head coach says he is as £56 million for a 20 year old centre back is a lot of money.

On the plus side though it is nice to know that the sporting directors are backing the new gaffer.

19 Jan 2026 12:06:37
Greenaway, let’s not forget that our current manager will have personally seen this guy play.

19 Jan 2026 16:07:17
Good point Tom. Gtreenwaway we can only hope he is as good as his highlights reel suggests plus can adapt v quickly to EPL.

I don't know about anyone wles on here but I enjoyed watching the extraordinarly long - injurt/controversy/Denegal leaving pitch for a while etc - second half and extra time of the Afcon final last night. But apart from the controversy over disallowed goal and awarded penalty I though DSenegal deserved on balance to win and that our player on loan at Strasbourgh Mamadou Sarr was pretty impressive in defense. Someone LR likely to give game time to next season if likely included back in squad along with Kendry Paez plus Emegha.

Sarr likely to be in LR's plans. Anselmino also availabe after v impressive loan spell with Borussia Dortmund. LC should be back fit we hope but may take time to get back to best plus Fofana a favoured RCB when fit but having to be carefully managed. Josh and Trev have done pretty well for us imho, and both can offer cover at RB if needs be. Tosin and BB a bit more up and down in form perhaps.

But what does all of this mean for who should stay or leave in the summer (whether permanently or on loan)? who would be the best four or five say to keep bearing in mind desirability of having some left and right footers plus cool minds strength in air (defensively and offensively) and good passing ability?

21 Jan 2026 12:09:17
Sarr, Colwill coming back, Anselmino looking good… I don’t disagree that we could upgrade most of our current CB options (except Fofana when he is fit and on it), but for the sake of 4/5 months, I am not sure that marginal gains are worth it.

Trev is a solid EPL performer, Hato played there for Ajax (and captained them) .

Mind you, I don’t think we need to buy a new goalkeeper either. Sanchez has had a decent season, Penders is in the future picture….

18 Jan 2026 19:04:08
I have seen a few comments about Mudryk coming back to Chelsea very soon.

I have no idea if this is true.

18 Jan 2026 19:36:58
Hope it is Tom, for the lads career.

18 Jan 2026 20:03:30
Hope so.

19 Jan 2026 16:09:02
Hope he has a future in the game Tom but right now what are the rumours suggesting in terms of likely return or timing of this? What is the state of his case/punishment or lack of this?

20 Jan 2026 07:22:10
JBS, according to my son he attached a blue heart emoji to a picture to himself and such is social media, this indicates he is about to make a comeback.

20 Jan 2026 13:01:51
So the algorithim of social media is deciding the fate of him? interesting.

21 Jan 2026 12:10:19
Surely a loan to build fitness and confidence? He has form great attributes, but in playing years, he is younger than his biological age.

21 Jan 2026 12:51:19
Drugs keep you young kids! thumbs up.

22 Jan 2026 22:14:11
And celery doesn’t tickle. 😇🤣.

17 Jan 2026 06:58:46
Who’s going to be this perfect CB for Chelsea this January?

Apparently, the club are looking for a player who’s comfortable playing out from the back, is first team / EPL ready and can develop with, ultimately playing alongside, Colwill. They will obviously stick to their age criteria as well, don’t see them signing a 28 year old fully fledged / experienced international.

Romano has stated we have three players on our list, one of which is named as Jacquet, who plays for Rennes and is being chased by half of Europe. I’m not seeing a current EPL defender who meets the criteria.

Who else should we be looking at?

In other news, some reports that it’s between us and Man City for Barcelona midfielder Dro Fernandez, who is leaving on a €6m release clause. Flick Maya’s described loosing the player as the biggest disappointment of his career.

17 Jan 2026 08:53:42
J, I enjoyed your report and fingers crossed you are correct on the recruitment front.

17 Jan 2026 08:54:51
PSG now favoured to sign Dro.

17 Jan 2026 08:57:56
Jacquet is wanted by all the top clubs in europe and in particular Liverpool, Aresnal and Real Madrid so will be very difficult to sign him I imagine?

17 Jan 2026 10:23:49
69 million for a centre back whos played 19 senior games in ligue1 is absoloute insanity.

17 Jan 2026 10:50:09
Jacquet is only 20 so certainly fits the agre profile - or is he already a bit too old? lol - and his highlights package looks good strong and quick (but said package unlikely to show any errors of course) . Another great prospect. But could take time to adapt to EPL?

Anselmino looked v promising indeed to me when I watched him at the Bridge in our preseason friendly v Bayer Leverkausen and do not know whay we didn't hold on to him - I suppose we altready had BB and perhaps thought Hato could play there though seems more comfortable at LB- yet we loaned him out to Borussia Dortmund where he is excelling.

What I think Matresca wanted was an already EPL proven LCB to replace/stand in for the injured LC. Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth may be available in this respect but is 'elderly' at 28!

But given we are unlikely to win my=uch this season pergaps Jacquet would be another good purchase/investment for the future. Fits more in line with CFC as a trading club that might be able to compete for ECK or EPL - if we can retain our best players - ina few seasons time?

17 Jan 2026 11:54:00
So, I ask again has any poster seen these two young CH’s we are being linked with actually play?

I personally have no idea of how good they currently are.

Obviously some feel they are overpriced, so I assume they have seen them play.

17 Jan 2026 12:50:27
Tom

I'm sure you will probably be aware but I doubt anybody has seen them play.

17 Jan 2026 14:25:01
That’s my point Bill. So, if that is the case how do qualify as a waist of money?

17 Jan 2026 14:50:37
I've not seen them play only Jacquet's highlights reel in which he looked impressive as most do but did reveal his size strength and pace. But we are all guessing on how he would turn out to be when in a blue shirt at the Bridge. As most will have been with likes of Gittens and Hato.

Bringing players in from outside the EPL typically more if a gamble than getting them in from another EPL club or may need more time to adjust. Can only hope Jacquet is the bees knees of CBs if we sign him.

17 Jan 2026 15:57:04
Jacquet has (apparently) told Rennes he wants to join Chelsea this window. Haven’t seen him, but, given the wide depth of interest in him, he must have some promise. If he signs, for me, we’d need him to be an immediate upgrade on Chalobah, Tosin or Badiashile - tough ask.

17 Jan 2026 18:23:43
J I agree with you and would just add that hevis predominantly left footed and is probably more physical as a player than BB.

17 Jan 2026 22:11:17
Highly rated player. £55 million-ish for a player with 30 Ligue 1 games under his professional belt. City are signing Guehi for £20 million. I'm nonplussed.

17 Jan 2026 23:03:34
EdW, I’m not sure how interested we would have been in Guehi given his reported wages.

18 Jan 2026 05:16:29
If I’m not wrong, in the summer Guehi was asked if he would be interested in returning to us and shut it down instantly.

18 Jan 2026 06:04:44
Guehi contract was up, if he had three or so years left he’d be valued significantly higher. Tom’s correct about wages too. Right player for us, but wasn’t going to happen.

18 Jan 2026 08:59:50
I'm in agreement, his wages demands are far too high for us and I'm totally happy with that.

Who do we get on, who knows and to be honest I will only be interested when we signed somebody that puts on a shirt for us and actually plays rather than being loaned out.

The young fellow at Dortmund who is on loan from us is supposedly playing well getting rave reviews from their coach, why not give him a go.

In the summer, a clear out of our CB's should be a priority.

18 Jan 2026 18:04:24
Jacquet is rated highly. but my argument would be so are anselmino, sarr and josh and the forgotten colwill whos still only 22

surely a better idea might be a bit more experience to balance it out?

18 Jan 2026 20:25:50
I would like to think they have looked at all different solutions. I haven’t seen th lad play and so far no other poster has said they have seen him play.

He could be the cat’s whiskers. If we sign him I wi wait and see before I start judging or making comparisons to other players.

18 Jan 2026 23:04:15
he might become the cats whiskers- issue is we already have 3 that 'might' become good- how about looking at someone whos played a bit before.

19 Jan 2026 12:08:31
Maybe because they consider this guy to be better than what we currently have.

19 Jan 2026 14:29:01
The problem is how do we know that tom… sarr and anselmino have done well by all sccounts and you can see there's a top class player potentiallt in josh …. Just feels like money that couldve been better spent.

19 Jan 2026 14:56:59
How on earth do you reach a conclusion that any transfer fee could’ve been better spent.

Not a single poster has said they have seen the lad play other than social media clips. Our manager has first hand knowledge of the player as well as our SD’s supposed positive reports.

I am assuming/guessing they feel he is an upgrade on what we currently have. I’m personally not in a position to judge or be critical of that decision.

21 Jan 2026 12:13:09
I like PochEmpire’s comment about how crazy it would be to spend £69m for a player who has played 19 games in L1. Enzo had played 17 games for Benfica, so presumably the fee for this lad should be higher!

16 Jan 2026 21:53:00
Hi Guys and Girls, I'm back after a short break and head wobble and thought I would share this with you fresh in from Kavvy at Sky.

Chelsea are getting close to signing a centre back this month - and also a midfielder or attacker if the right opportunity materialises. Levi Colwill’s recovery from a serious knee injury is going very well and the England centre back remains a central part of Chelsea’s long-term plans. At the same time, Chelsea are cautiously optimistic they will be able to sign a new centre back, who is their preferred option, this month and talks have stepped up. Rennes' 20-year-old defender Jeremy Jacquet is one of their main targets.

On a new midfielder or attacker – Chelsea are working to see whether summer 2026 targets can be signed this month. Chelsea have left a Champions League A slot free in their squad so they can add a new player.
The centre backs Chelsea wanted to sign in the summer were not available when Colwill was injured in August. Chelsea were trying to sign a starting-level centre back all summer – before and after Colwill was injured. Chelsea were confident of signing Dean Huijsen last summer before Real Madrid – who were his dream move since he was a child – agreed a deal to sign the player from Bournemouth.

After missing out on Huijsen, Chelsea struggled to find an elite level centre back in the market who was an upgrade on what they had. Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle United were all trying to sign a centre back and failed to sign anyone of the required standard. Enzo Maresca’s public comments that Chelsea should sign a centre back weakened their leverage.

Looks like 2 or 3 might be coming in. Open those doors.

17 Jan 2026 05:00:20
RPD, welcome back. I was gutted when Huijsen went to RM but I’m pleased we didn’t go a make do type alternative.
Looks like they are determined to only go for a player who is on their list of targets.

17 Jan 2026 09:04:22
Welcome back RPD.

I read recently Liverpool have Jacquet in their sights and now maybe more as they lost out to Man City with Guehi.

Like Tom, I beleive they should only go for a player the club have been following as a priority and not a fall back.

17 Jan 2026 11:10:30
Welcome back RPD and thanks for another inteeresting post. I do agree that an upgrade needed at CB though am a bit concerned that even a v talented youngster Jacquet from the French league may undestandably take time to adjust to the greater pace and physicality of the EPL plus extra pressure in playing for a big club like CFC. But he could be the real deal

IMHO Guehi would have offered us an immediate fix in being both EPL tested plus knowing CFC of course and would only cost City 20 million. I don't know if we even tried for him? It seems that Jacquet will cosr c 50 million and has to be a gamble being so young and with no EPL experience though I confess to being impressed by his physicality and speed on display in his highlights reel.

16 Jan 2026 15:57:05
A rumour raheem sterling back in squad. shows that it was prev manager who did not rate him and booted him out but club welcome him back now.

16 Jan 2026 17:11:32
How much longer does RS have on his contract?

Will the club try and strengthen us at CB or anyhwere else on the pitch (eg GK; Striker) this window?

16 Jan 2026 20:17:14
JBS, good Sterling question. I can’t remember if it’s one and half or two and half years.

17 Jan 2026 10:53:34
Thanks Tom. will try and find out re RS contract. Non playing player at CFC bad for him and us but he didn't do well at Arsenal and it is hard to see how he could come back into CFC squad now and get much game time if any. And who woud back this?

17 Jan 2026 11:00:32
Sterling gad two years left on his contract in Sep[tember 2025 so presume it expires end of August 2027.

17 Jan 2026 11:56:34
JBS, thanks for the clarification. So only 18 months max to go. Of course we could extend his contract. 😇.

17 Jan 2026 14:34:46
Tom. that’s good news, we only have to pay him £25 million in wages to the end of his contract 😱.

17 Jan 2026 20:00:52
Better than it was three and a half years ago and who knows a club might still take part of his costs off our books.

18 Jan 2026 21:37:20
Tom, I don’t understand your logic: over his contract period he will receive £80 million in wages: how much do you seriously believe we will get from another club . Offer him 10 mill to**** off.

19 Jan 2026 12:13:44
My logic is, we have already paid three and half years of his wages and it’s likely that amount for account purposes has already been written off. Therefore we have a further eighteen months to pay as a maximum. That maximum (with luck) could be reduced by a sale, loan or negotiated release.

15 Jan 2026 20:43:44
Does anyone know anything about Jacobo Ramón?

A mate tells me we have made an inquiry and looking at certain pundits comments it might be true.

Obviously he is young but I would be interested to know if anyone has seen him play?

16 Jan 2026 09:09:42
Surprise Surprise, another youngster.

16 Jan 2026 12:39:13
I had already said that. I’m not worried about his age, I just want to know if he is any good.

16 Jan 2026 13:15:17
My point is Tom, no lessons have been learnt.

16 Jan 2026 14:26:03
FGS, I have no interest in his age or about any so called lessons to be learned. I just wanted to know if any poster has seen him play and if yes, is he any good.

We could just as easily go out and buy a player with Premiership experience and of a certain age, like Tosin and they might turn out to be crap for us!

16 Jan 2026 15:05:13
Wasn't Tosin signed on a free.

16 Jan 2026 15:32:40
Silly me and there I was thinking it was an age thing.

I repeat I only want to know if he is a good player. i've assumed he can be young and be a good player!

16 Jan 2026 16:18:20
Of course youngsters can be good but not all are.

16 Jan 2026 16:27:46
I would rather sign a promising youngster like this guy Tom than an experienced old head like Koudibally on £300k a week.

16 Jan 2026 16:28:34
And not all older or experienced players work out at a new club.

I assume no one has any idea if this lad is a good player.

16 Jan 2026 17:15:04
Silva on a free was one of our best signings ever. Whoever we could sign I can only hope he has a calm head and somewhere close to the skill and vision of TS. In my dreams?

16 Jan 2026 17:56:20
Think he was the kid from Real Madrid. Don't know much about him other than YouTube clips. Can't be any worse than what we have.

16 Jan 2026 18:49:56
Thanks Dan.

06 Jan 2026 08:47:54
It's completed all bar a signature Rosenoir will be our new manager.

I think fairly obvioulsy the winners in terms of first team football will be Santos in midfield who he knows from Strasbourg and I also expect Delap to be the nos 9 going forward.

For no paticular reason I feel more excited by this appointment than the last couple.

Must be given time onwards and upwards.

06 Jan 2026 09:13:31
I hope he does well seymns2 and as always he will get my full support, not many big guns out there at the moment and those who were bleating about Maresca might well change their tune when he rocks up at Man U. Others on here have wanted Slot and Amorin and Thomas Frank but they are not exactly tearing up trees are they? the warriors will start again this morning as it fits their agendas but as the name on the tin says, it is a banter page so all great fun and fully inclusive.

06 Jan 2026 10:56:45
Brilliant news. A manager who can actually adapt his tactics.

06 Jan 2026 11:05:32
With the types of players we have, we are going to see a manager who plays football what suits the players. We’re going to see James, gusto and cucurella attacking down the wings. Might even see chalobah, fofana and Acheampong playing together as a back three.

Palmer and estevao, Garnacho will have more attacking threat. No more 2 or three on 1s for the wingers, with the wing backs moving forward. I’m really excited. Looking forward too it.

06 Jan 2026 22:08:10
We have to hope for the best with this new appointment seymns2 even if he seems - as Maresca did too when joining us - to be light on experience at the top level. CFC in EPL is such a huge step up from Strasbourg or Hull. And I don't think his record at Strasbourg has been great. But then perhaps it couldn't be expected to be given their resources and fact we take back some of their nest players who are our loanees. LR did pretty well last season in getting them into Conference League (I think? must check) for this season. Yes CFC in EPL and ECL is a huge step up though.

Amyway Santos should enjoy his arrival plus Kendry Paez and Emmanuel Emegha will know him and hopefully trust him when they join from Strasbourg in the summer -- perhps one or two more from there too I've forgotten?

I haven't watched Strasbourg enough - to be honest hardly at all - to be able to judge LR as a tactician. Would like to hear more comments on this from those who have.

But if LR can play players in best positions and be adaptable in tactics to suit opposition he will have a squad that can still get top 4/5 under him. And they showed under Callum v City that if motivated and focused they van get results against top teams. LR is apparently a v. good man manager and will hope that means he can get best out of his players.

So must hope for success for him and so for the team and for all us fans! And that he will then be able to last longer that the 18 months average tenure of CFC managers in 21st century! Woud be marvelous then to have some head coach stability!

KTBFFH.

07 Jan 2026 09:27:28
I'm with you Seymns – even though my head says this is probably not going to work, my heart is very much in it, somewhat of its own accord. I think most of us fans have been hoping for a longer-term appointment like a Ferguson, a Wenger or a Klopp. Watched a bit of his last press conference at Strasbourg and Rosenior speaks very well – he strikes me as a measured and intelligent man. I don't know about you lot, but I've not really felt properly connected to a CFC manager since Ancelotti, who was my personal favourite of the Abramovich years by miles (first-year Mourinho included), and perhaps even in my time watching Chelsea – great football, and just seemed like a really likeable person.

Hopefully LR can keep that cool head – as they say in boxing, everyone's got a plan till they get punched in the face.

07 Jan 2026 13:57:56
Yes I really liked Carlo A too EdW. Impossible not to given way we played under him 2009-2010.

I know what you. mean about warming to a manager and thought Maresca not an easy man to warm to though I had begun to after CWC win and his running down touchline after Estevao winner v Liverpool. I did like first season Lamps and had like most others had sense of connection with him cos of his playing days plus being CFC thrpugh and through. But his return was pretty humiliating for him though its great he is now having big success with Coventry in the Championship. Perhaps he can return to us and be successful here too one day.

One worry with Liam R is that he seems almost too nice to be a successful head coach but perhaps there is a hairdryer thrower personality in him if really needed?!

07 Jan 2026 15:03:59
That 2009-10 season was incredible JBS. I really lost something as a fan with the way the club treated Carlo.

Agreed on Maresca – generally I never felt sure. Running down the line always a great moment, but a moment like that balanced against the press-conference arrogance and stodgy league football. Telling the team to calm down when we went 1-0 at City last season and were rampant (duly getting schooled for not pressing the advantage) really did my nut.

Would love it if Lamps becomes an actual good manager. Seemed tactically inept in both spells previously (totally open down the middle), though loved how many academy players he brought through. The test will be how Coventry do if they get promoted I guess. It's a huge step up in quality from Championship to PL level, as we've seen last few years with the promoted sides.

I know what you mean about the niceness, but interestingly he's also quite a hard disciplinarian from what I've read – fines for players late for training etc. at Strasbourg, and the clear message 'if they don't want to deal with it we'll get players in who do'. Will be interesting to see how this group of players react to that kind of attitude after Maresca's refusal to discipline. The squad seemed to really love him. If Rosenior can present the case for fines calmly and still be well-liked would be a win – would be amazing if we could start to cut out the pointless bookings for dissent.

07 Jan 2026 17:30:34
EdW thanks for interesting comments on LR as nice yet instiller of disciple among players. That sounds positive and yes especially if we could get the card count down significantly.

What do you -or anyone else on here - think/know about his tactical skills, flexibility, astuteness with substitutions etc? I know so litte about him on most fronts!

I have to agree about how open we were under Lamps in his first season but he had inherited a transfer ban if I recall correctly - a prompt to using academy products a positive outcome there - and he did get us a fourth place finish in league plus to an FA Cup final though we lost it.

07 Jan 2026 21:54:58
I know almost as little as you, JBS. But from what I've heard he's tactically flexible, with a few different routes of attack (though his team have found it hard to play against a massed defense – which isn't surprising, as it's generally really hard to play against a team in a low block. On a side note, when did 'low block' replace 'parking the bus' as the way to describe a team parking the bus? ) . Had a Strasbourg side that was the youngest squad in Ligue 1 playing well – one of the posters on here has been watching them this season, HDKN I think, so they might have more info for you on his effectiveness with subs etc.

They were flying until November – seem to be suffering the same winter blues we have for the past however many seasons it is now – eight? I swear it predates Clearlake even, this late-year/early-year slump.

07 Jan 2026 22:28:50
Thanks for this EdW. LR will have quiteva job on his hands taking over here when we've only won in last 9. In absence of LC andcwith Fofana futness problem I wondernif he will try three at the back.

01 Jan 2026 17:35:42
Three main reasons for Maresca leaving the club, firstly it is a results driven game, win matches and you have credit in the bag, lose matches and that credit lessens, lose too many matches you are expected to win and you are out, second reason is because there have been disagreements behind the scenes about return-to-play protocols for injured players. Chelsea have an independent medical department who have the final say. From Chelsea's point of view, their head coach will never have the final say when it comes to that as they want to protect the players and try to curb the amount of injuries which have piled up over the past few years, Maresca wanted to play Fofana and Palmer in every game recently but the medical people said no.

The final reason, from Chelsea's perspective, is Maresca being linked with other jobs like Juventus and Manchester City. There may have been a sense from inside the club that these links were a distraction and coincided with a dip in form and results.

There have been clues that not all has been well behind the scenes, such as Tuesday night when Maresca did not hold a post-match press conference after the draw with Bournemouth because, we were told, he was ill.

It has added to a sense of volatility at the club but the sense is that things have not been right at the club for some time.

01 Jan 2026 18:49:48
RPD, I enjoyed your post a lot and I found myself agreeing with most of your assumptions.

01 Jan 2026 23:10:17
I think maresca was lucky to stay in the job
Last year
He won the club world cup we played well in the final other than that we were ordinary
Conference cup really a club of our size should never of been in it in 1st place and yes we won it but it's a mickey mouse cup of the highest order
European mid table trophy to generate money
would be a better name for it

Yes we got top 4
Man u were woeful
And we wouldn't of been top 4 if Notts forest hadn't rubbish there pants

Everyone says he didn't get players he wanted
But surely he wanted dewsbury hall there is no way we would of bought him otherwise

His subs were just plain weird
His team selections have been very weird at times
He never changed system
Players often looked flat and disinterested
Overcoached almost my way or the highway
That's OK but we have so many flair players and that mustn't suit them being restricted buy tactics held back almost

And playing players out of position why when we have a 649 man squad

James in midfield
Gusto left back
But my big 1 is and il probs get dogs abuse

PALMER
Is definetly better on right wing than in the 10.

02 Jan 2026 05:04:12
Hbih, I think KDH was becoming a good member of the squad and one we may regret selling at some stage.

I was critical of the EM almost rigid tactical approach for the majority of last to season and was only towards the last ten games ish and when we became more tactically flexible we started to pick results and qualify for the Champions League.

There was only one team that in my opinion performed well in the premiership last season and that was obviously Liverpool. I had us finish 3rd-5th so I was happy enough with our final finishing position. As I said in my usual end of season summary. I think he deserved another season, mainly because of the team’s performance over the last ten ish games.

The Palmer debate will be interesting and I wonder what the next manager will see has his best position.

02 Jan 2026 17:01:22
Palmer in my eyes is excellent in both positions, but if I had to pick one I think he is better on the right.

02 Jan 2026 18:56:27
Maresca was planing on leaving. He changed his agent recently. His inverted full backs will never work anyway. Can’t wait to see our wingers have some back up now, see some over lapping runs.

02 Jan 2026 19:09:47
BLUEBOY, I am not confident on the chosen tactics of any future manager.

06 Jan 2026 07:08:56
RPD, sure you really don't understand the reason why maresca left. The game being a result game is just delusion. Ambition is mainly the reason for me as the owners want a post dated success on the pitch but maresca wants to win now by having the capable players, but the owners want to intimidate him through irrelevant positions and he chose to walk away.

What maresca fought for is what everyone will be fighting against in a few months. The owners have suddenly lowered Chelsea's ambitions selfishly. They force players on maresca and expect magic. They won't want an established manager now because no manager that knows his worth will accept to work in such circumstances.

Saw somebody asking for the return of mourinho and I laughed. Mourinho will expose them and open them the media and public. If only the fans around the globe understand what these guys are doing to Chelsea no one will be attending games on match days. Stop making excuses for the owners they are the real problems and the main reason maresca left.

06 Jan 2026 14:33:37
Tusole, your opinion is just as valid as any other posters opinions.

Can I suggest you read the recent Danny Windsor article. It might just change your views on a few topics.

01 Jan 2026 15:29:39
Athletic (Ornstein) reporting that Maresca had meetings with City personnel as far back as October. For me, that brings a few of his subsequent actions / comments into focus and it’s doesn’t place Maresca in a favourable light. The other thing that’s being pulled into focus is the fact that Rosenior is the front runner to take over, which is a move I completely disagree with for both him and the club.

For me, I’d like to see the club go for Iraola. Lots of reports that a new coach will be in place within days, probably before the City game, so we won’t have to wait long to see who it is.

01 Jan 2026 16:51:54
Rosenior more likely than most to be yes man the SDs and Eghbali would like?

01 Jan 2026 17:17:07
J, I’m not trying to defend EM or any other Chelsea employee and that includes the owners.

We have no idea when the SD’s first spoke to him about various issues. I was only told about these various incident/arguments that been happening after the Atalanta game. I have no idea if the concerns on either side were justified or reasonable.

I guess a lot depends on who we choose to believe. If a fan dislikes the manager, it will be his fault. If a fan dislikes the SD’s or owners then it’s going to be their fault. My guess is they probably all have to take a percentage of the responsibility/blame.

01 Jan 2026 18:06:49
Yes JBS, I think that’s definitely a factor. He has done a decent job at Strasbourg, working under similar stipulations, with the youngest squad in Europe. Of course, if he comes in, I hope we’re wowed by him and his tactics. I don’t think it’ll go down well at all though, I think lots will see it as a lack of ambition and a bad start will be met with the fans showing their feelings - loudly and clearly. In fact, anything but hitting the ground running would cause a pretty toxic atmosphere at the bridge, which, in my opinion, puts Rosenior in a pretty unfavourable situation, if he gets the job.

Tom, for me, some reliable journo’s have spelt out what’s happened and why Maresca is no longer our coach. But, it’s done now, we just have to look forward to the next trip around the merry go round.

01 Jan 2026 18:42:01
J

Hitting the ground running g will be difficult as we have 9 games in 27 days therefore training ground routines will be at a minimal.

01 Jan 2026 18:51:24
J, spot on mate. As far as I’m concerned, thanks for everything Enzo and we move on.

01 Jan 2026 20:14:02
Very difficult indeed Bill, why would you put an inexperienced coach through that? They might go into it with patience and recognition for the difficulty of the task, but many won’t.

01 Jan 2026 20:55:39
I have to agree with you J.

02 Jan 2026 13:05:07
Im honestly in disbelief that they are even considering Liam Rossenior. Has 0 credentials, got sacked from Hull, worked under Rooney at Derby where they had a miserable time and let be honest isn't exactly doing brilliant at Strasbourg. Not being funny but why would any of our players by into any of his philopsophys.

I agree with sacking Maresca but only if your going to bring a new coach who you can see making a genuine improvement to the squad. I don't like the model of having sporting directors where coaches have 0 say on incomings and outgoings, it does not give them a fair chance at building successful side. You look at all the best teams over the years, the manager has always been top dog.

02 Jan 2026 14:13:57
Whitey, I guess top dog a Chelsea is training, tactics, picking the team and press conferences.

Other duties are elsewhere and I’m personally ok ish with the new structure but I can imagine the lines of responsibility often become blurred.

02 Jan 2026 17:05:59
Don't mind the structure except would rather have one shareholder in charge of the club Todd Bohely

Would rather only have one sporting director don't care which one a bit like Ant and Dec I can't tell them apart.

06 Jan 2026 13:02:04
I will be blunt about the rosenoir as the new manager. I think no English manager has ever won the epl title and rosenoir particularly hasn't stood out to get the position except being a yes man to egbali who's not goingto push the club to the top. Not really excited about the appointment and likely going to be like potter's. So I guess it's one to hold on to till when they are ready to appoint a real manager that they will back with the needful that they refused enzo.

06 Jan 2026 14:35:21
I hope we all have reasons to be cheerful with our new managers appointment.