Chelsea Teams and Match Talk

06 Dec 2025 17:14:09
How much longer do we have to wait till this clowns gone. Another awful game and there all coming of laughing lol the clubs a joke how have the standards dropped is low. I wouldn’t mind if we had half decent players and you could say they will get better with experience and time but none of them are caicedo palmer cucurella are good players I like garnacho at times same with estavao but they are young but they won’t be happy playing a rubbish style of football EM wants the team to play, if everyone is honest even Neto wouldn’t get in a top team he’s just been consistent and in a rubbish playing team been the best of a bad bunch as they say he’s not a worldy.

Another game we didn’t look like scoring they beat us again in most positions across the the park they dropped off a little at the end but they would of been happy with that because if they have watched us all year we don’t have anyone that can really create anything that’s why the wingers are so vital to us as everything is go wide go wide and unfortunately EM hasn’t got anything Else in him.

06 Dec 2025 16:30:31
I think Caicedo is one of the best midfielders of his type in Europe. I think James is a fantastic player and possibly one of the best RB’s in Europe. I think Cucarella is a top class LB. I think Palmer is one of the most creative footballers in the premiership and possibly Europe. Estavao could be anything and Neto has improved loads from last season to this season.

We have had two poor performances back to back but before that we had been on a good run and the people who are moaning now were silent then.

I’m not going to sugar coat two poor performances but I will continue to praise a good performances.

06 Dec 2025 16:42:23
Nibb, you come across as a troll for the simple reason you only post after we have a poor performance, where are your comments when we play well?

06 Dec 2025 17:51:26
RPD

I know where you are coming from but Nib1907 should be able to view his points on the site. He l, like some of us, is unhappy with the results and how we are playing.

Hopefully when it comes good, Nib1907, will be positive.

06 Dec 2025 18:16:44
Of course he can post Bill, just like you can, that is what the site is all about. I will make my own mind up on who his trolling?.

06 Dec 2025 18:22:31
Of course we should all be able to be critical and I’m still angry about last weeks performance.

I’ve also been happy with our performances a few times this season.

It’s up to posters to decide if they only want to post after a bad performance or a good performance.

06 Dec 2025 20:27:08
Agrre Tom, i would us all to post as much as possible to keep the site a strong one plus the more posters, the more interesting reading it makes.

06 Dec 2025 20:35:55
No it’s fine I see where people are coming from with the troll but trust me I haven’t got the time, I only read the top 10 comments that’s in order I know people have been on here for a while and respect that also.
I’m no troll but your right I normally post when we lose but to be fair even when we win I don’t think it’s great, the footballs still the same it’s boring it’s not attractive and the worse that I’ve seen in my time my opinion. I think we’ve wasted billions of pounds on bang average players and some of the ones that are performing everyone is praising but there bang average at best there just surrounded but bad players. Tosin gusto BB santos Neto Sanchez and others there not good enough they may have good games now and then and they should’ there on 60k a week plus.

But I don’t say anything when we win the odd game because I know it’s not lasting with this team we are not winning anything.
Most of all we have a manger that’s clueless again has a couple of good results and everyone thinks he’s learning he’s not learning the man’s lost, the same with the players listed above there not learning they think there brilliant I wouldn’t put gusto anywhere near reserves been awful most games manager loves him that tells a story right there after game today laughing and joking standards are rock bottom the clubs a joke at the minute wouldn’t of happened under John Terry Jose mourinho Roman abramovich it’s a shame.
Sorry for the long story I pop on to rant am not fussed if anyone reply’s just ignore me but it helps me
Thanks.

06 Dec 2025 21:17:43
Nib, in my opinion none of has the right to be critical of any poster being critical. Obviously the reverse is also true.

I have not offered any praise on the team’s performance against Leeds and only gave two players any praise after today’s bore draw but surely you are happy about some of our performances last season and this season?

Honestly, there is no harm dishing out some praised when it’s deserved.

06 Dec 2025 21:25:48
Thanks for taking the time to explain. You write and sound just like a poster called Standard. Are you back in another guise?

06 Dec 2025 17:04:55
I mentioned earlier about Delap wanting to fight everyone and I also said I wasn’t going to pick a Chelsea player as MOM but Sanchez and Fofana were ok.

It was more about us having very little midfield control.

06 Dec 2025 16:32:17
Without Caicedo Tom our midfield is obviously so much weaker. Palmer needs the likes of him or before him Gallagher workhorse type to have the room to flourish.

Dont think we had a single shot on target first half? Delap looking out of his depth still imho after his injury.

Anyway we are now 6 points and 2 places worse off than last seaso. But will stick to my 3rd to 7th place finish at the end of this one.

06 Dec 2025 16:36:10
I know Caicedo is a top class midfielder but my goodness how the rest of the team have imploded without him.

Says a lot when we lose one player and the whole thing falls spectacularly apart.

06 Dec 2025 16:48:21
Bill, I’m not sure it’s that unusual. Lots of teams have a period of poor performances when they lose a key player.

City did with Rodrigo and Arsenal probably will when Rice gets an injury.

I personally would have at k with Santos today even after his bang average display against Leeds but we all see players, team selection and tactics differently.

06 Dec 2025 16:59:08
Very poor game and although we improved (not difficult) in the second half, we were very average in a game that neither team deserved to win.

The game was so bang average that it would be wrong of me in my opinion to pick a Chelsea player as MOM.

06 Dec 2025 16:32:41
It was a snore bore Tom.

06 Dec 2025 16:49:44
JBS, not sure how I kept my hands off the JD.

I doubt it will be the first match shown on MOD tonight.

06 Dec 2025 15:57:24
Another awful display when will the Americans wake the fulk up.

06 Dec 2025 16:07:19
I usually blame Trump for everything as well. Come on Americans wake up!

06 Dec 2025 15:54:31
They was a truly awful first half performance. Started the game poorly and we didn’t get much better.

Our midfield has zero control in the game. Over to you EM because the players need a massive kick up the backside.

06 Dec 2025 16:01:16
Tom

Awful result and performance.

Should the kick up the backside not happened after the Leeds game?

06 Dec 2025 16:10:28
Bill the opening ten minutes seemed like a Leeds hangover and it certainly didn’t improve much in the first half. In my opinion we improved slightly in the second half but overall it was a game that will not last long in any football fans memory!

Maybe it’s a December thing. ??.

06 Dec 2025 16:34:24
We won our equivalent three games in late Nov early December last season Tom. we cannot afford to have our late December/ January crash of last season.

06 Dec 2025 16:38:00
Tom

If we are going to blame a month of the year, we might as well give up.

06 Dec 2025 16:52:24
It was meant to be slightly tongue in cheek.

06 Dec 2025 14:03:44
I’ve been a bit critical of Delap recently, I do wonder if Palmer’s creativity will improve him.

06 Dec 2025 14:55:49
My guess is we will now have to wait a while to find out the answer to that question.

06 Dec 2025 15:23:21
There was no today.

06 Dec 2025 15:27:25
Can only hope so J as we need Delap firing. or Guiu must be given more game time. but we need a prolific striker from somewhere perhsps the current Strasbourg captain who we have signed but I've not watches much of. When Caicedo out our midfield that much weaker too of course.

06 Dec 2025 16:02:11
It’s early in his career but he seems to want to fight everyone.

03 Dec 2025 22:29:08
That defeat was on Maresca, you must play your strongest 11 in EVERY game, no resting players especially your Centre backs. Fans might take the view that this player and that player can have a rest but it doesn't work like that. Tosin and BB are utter rubbish as is Jorgenson, Joao Pedro, Delap and Santos. We are a cup side and I get the feeling the club know a huge points deduction is coming for those Roman corrupt accounts and are playing for the Cups with warm ups against the top sides.

We have beaten Liverpool, Barcelona, Spurs, PSG, outplayed Arsenal with 10 men yet the minute we play our fringe players against the so called weaker teams we lose! Top 4 will still be fine as Liverpool, Man U, Newcastle, Spurs etal are weaker than us.

03 Dec 2025 21:47:25
RPD, I think we have to use our squad and given the injury history of some of our players we also have to manage there playing time.

I personally don’t think we will get a points deduction, mainly because of the way our current owners have behaved.

So many players tonight looked like they started with the wrong mindset. I think Maresca has to admit that and take responsibility for it as well.

03 Dec 2025 22:25:38
Poor performance but you do need to rotate otherwise they will be dead on their feet

Hardley fringe players Sanchez Cucarella Fernandez Trev, Estevao and Pedro all started against Arsenal and Leeds.

Why do you get the feeling we are in for a big points deduction?

03 Dec 2025 22:43:39
Agree with some of your rightly passionate post RPD though wouldn't write off Santos or Pedro on basis of this game. Santos was excellent v Burnley but wilted a bit tonight. Would rate BB more highly than Tosin but BB injury prone and woul not partner them at CB.

given LC injury and Fofana injury prone we did look as though we needed to add another quality CB plus striker given offloading of Jackson! But we knew this in the summer. Would add Villa to. possible rivals for top 4.but we really should bestrong enough to get that.

04 Dec 2025 09:20:35
MIght add that I would have kept Anselmino in squad and loaned Hato out -- if only on basis of watching both at close quarters in our pre-season friendly v Bayer Leverkusen. Anselmino just looks significantly physically stronger and thus EPL winter away games up north readier.

Though I do think Hato has bundles of potential I reckon we need some second string squad members less languid at CB than Tosin or BB though again BB certainly talented as we've seen in the past. But to pair him with Tosin and have TC out on the right of apparent CB back three seemed foolish. Josh a better bet for that kind of intense game and after his heroics v Liverpool he should surely have been given a chance in what was always likely to be an intense and physical Leeds onslaught. Josh that much faster and mnore up for such an encounter?

04 Dec 2025 10:56:22
seymns2, the great teams don't rotate their back line, especially the centre backs, when did you ever see JT rested under Jose? continuity is needed and Maresca tinkers way too much with his back line and needs to stop doing it now. If Fofana can't play every game he needs upgrading.


As for the points deduction, I think ED01 has pointed out that the accounting issues and skullduggery under Roman was very serious and I think it will be a points deduction and has probably already been communicated to the club.

04 Dec 2025 12:03:09
RPD, I would love us to have consistent partnerships especially in defence but the manager is having to consider the injury issues of certain players and that probably be the case when LC returns.

04 Dec 2025 14:14:23
RPD agree Jose never rested JT but with Colwill injured and Fofana injury prone, the problem is less rotation more the quality of centre backs after Colwill and Fofana

City when they won the league had three or four quality centre backs

You may be right about the points deduction but if it has been communicated to the club they would surely have to announce it immediately.

04 Dec 2025 14:37:27
I think it will be a fine and a transfer ban. To me that would be appropriate.

04 Dec 2025 16:32:05
seymns2, you are right that we need better quality back up CB's as BB and Tosin are terrible.
The club can't announce anything yet until the FA and premier league announce the punishment but I think communication has taken place between all parties and probably the same is happening with Man City.

These issues are a legal minefield and in no way straightforward. I think we will be docked around 10 to 12 points and Man City around 24 to 30 points.

03 Dec 2025 22:07:04
Very, very poor performances by so many players. Started the game with a very poor lazy attitude and it didn’t improve much throughout the game.

I’m very surprised that Josh isn’t picked on a more regular basis.

I will stick with my pre-season prediction of 2nd-4th and we go again is my way of thinking. Maybe some of our players believed the hype. This performance and result should bring them back to earth with a huge thump.

04 Dec 2025 09:23:26
Hope it also makes Maresca realise that he must take games against 'lowly' sides as serious as those against 'top' sides in EPL if he wants to get anywhere in the EPL other than perhaps scraping into top 4.

I thought he had perhaps started to do this after our good fighting display against Burnley -- though with hindsight they could also like Leeds have been a couple up against us at half time!

03 Dec 2025 22:06:55
Just take this in out classed out worked out battled out thought by Leeds United.
Not point beating Barcelona if you haven’t got a clue about Leeds away on a Wednesday night.

03 Dec 2025 21:48:34
No point unless you want to achieve a top eight champions league position.

03 Dec 2025 23:24:18
League is more important and where miles off forget the rest.

04 Dec 2025 05:38:33
I am not sure why I would forget any poor performances or any good performances. The league is probably more important to me than the champions league and we have had good and bad results in both.

I personally try not to carry my biased views from game ti game. Not always successfully.

03 Dec 2025 20:54:52
appalling defensively Fofana and Colwill are our best two cente backs but not good enough from 1 to 11.

03 Dec 2025 21:08:11
Seymns, surely Josh deserves a mention and a run in the team?

03 Dec 2025 21:42:08
Tosin nightmare game. Josh a better bet? Or a top notch CB we should jave added in last sumner transfer window. Fofana cos of fitness problems understandably not risked. But yes no one else in same class as LC and him though TC a gpod squad player.

As good as Maresca tactics and selections were against Barcelona and Arsenal it was almost as if he put no thought into how to set us up for tonight. Even some of the substututions and timing of them seemed odd. Gittens started second half so much better than anything we saw from him in first half and had just set up our goal then subbed. Garnacho with so. much nore EPL tough winter midweek away games would have been better to start than Estevao who would surely have been more effective coming off bench in more open second half. Delap not looking anything like good enough yet as first choice striker and Jaoa Pedro outmuscled. Would have liked to see Guiu on earlier.

Anyway we are only 4 points worse off than we were at this stage last season though then won games 15 and 16 and were second. This season games 15 and 16 are two tricky away fixtures at Bournemouth and Newcastle butvwe must get at least one win. hopefully more. Caicedo red card suspension potentially very costly as our discipline problems already have been.

Have no reason to change my preseason 3rd to 7th place finish prediction. will hope for strong second half of season ti get top 4. which given how we can perform we should.



Mi.

03 Dec 2025 21:44:55
Absolutely agree Tom. Why is Maresca refusing to play him? Makes no sense.

03 Dec 2025 21:52:54
Josh couldn't of done any worse than the three out there tonight not a fan of Tosin think Maresca sees Josh as a League cup Fa cup starter .
To be fair to Josh has looked really good when he has played .

Can't believe we played the ball so slowly can't believe that was done on purpose,

On a general point on the game our best 11 can't play every match they will be exhausted but Neto after Cacaido Palmer and maybe Colwill is the most important member of this side.

04 Dec 2025 07:54:08
I think id add Cucu and Enzo and James and Fofana to list of key players seymns2 but last two fitness woes means they have to be managed carefully still it seems. James's calmness on pitch plus skill would have been huge for us last night.

03 Dec 2025 21:21:29
Loving Gary Neville tonight this is football am sick of seeing the back three with the ball this is coaching loving his comments just hope the Americans are listening and get this clown out the club… just sit and think if we had a manager that new what he was doing where we could actually be.
Forget Barcelona game that was always going to happen the way they play was always going to suit us I no we still had to do the job but was always happening same with arsenal not red card we win that game too, it’s games like this that let us down the teams that fight are rough and ready we haven’t got that in anyone bar Delap and caicedo rest are pansies.


Gittens for me is a waste of money estavo has been in the Leeds left back pocket are highest forward player is cucurella when we attack that’s disgusting, if we had a manager that had a clue we would be way up there we have the players we also have a lot that must go gittens tosin bb am not really that bothered in Jeao Pedro been awful last handful of games we should be able to get money for them. Buy a centre back a top world striker and get a manager in with experience.
Just as I write this he’s brought gusto on lol lol lol the least attacking player in team lol
Let’s hope for a miracle in this half loving the away fans.

03 Dec 2025 20:54:18
So if it suits the narrative and agenda, let’s forget the good performances and only comment on the poor performances.

We go again.

03 Dec 2025 21:13:36
Not going to win anything being good one week and not the next. Maresca underestimated Leeds like he does with the lower teams as he’s clueless his selection was wrong am sick of playing garbage players due to team rotation mourinho never had the squad they have players want to play it’s a load crap their tired they need rest you play your best then Change especially when the ones your bringing in aren’t championship quality.

03 Dec 2025 21:24:10
A poor game it happens Estevao looked a young lad Palmer not match fit most of the team were below par with the exceptions of Garnacho and Neto who were both good, and Delap who worked hard . Tough run of away games coming up.

03 Dec 2025 21:51:11
Consistency is important that's for sure.

Good performances deserve praise and poor performances deserve criticism. Tonight was very poor.