Chelsea Teams and Match Talk

09 Nov 2025 11:19:04
I have now watched the game a couple of times and besides Fernandez being very good there were a few other things of note.

For a team/players that are "supposedly" not in love with player rotation they certainly celebrate as a team. Also, congratulations to Gusto, his first ever senior football goal. The lad is proving to be a valuable member of the squad.

I personally do not like fans booing during a game or at half time. I'm just not sure what it achieves and I certainly don't think it helps a player or the team. I will always support the team during a match.

Sanchez "looked" brilliant between the sticks (could have got out an deckchair ) and Chalaboa is proving it was a good decision to call him back from his loan.

08 Nov 2025 19:46:21
No Estevao in the starting 11 again, wolves is the perfect game for him.

08 Nov 2025 22:13:49
He looked wonderful when brought on and assisted Gusto goal for breakthrough tremendous talent as we know. Reckon fact he played in Baku is why he didn't start tonight.

08 Nov 2025 23:55:51
Garnacho set up the Gusto goal but Estavou did well to set up our second for Pedro.

The link up play for our third was very good. Garnacho is improving as the season progresses.

09 Nov 2025 08:19:49
You're quite right Tom sorry for my mistake will blame it on consumption.

08 Nov 2025 06:30:14
I'm gutted that I can't make today's game.

I should be very confident about a home win but these are the games that over many years cause me most concern.

A home win followed by yet another international break with no more injuries would be good news.

COME ON MY MIGHTY BLUES.

08 Nov 2025 10:02:44
It should be a straightforward home win Tom, But we did have what proved to be a far tougher than expected away game in Baku midweek and we have only won two of our five home games this season losing of course to Sunderland and Brighton late on - and after Wednesday some CFC players might be feeling weary by that stage of the game - and key man Caicedo had to play near 90 minutes in Baku after yet another Lavia injury - extent still to be reported - when Moises supposed to get half a game at most I'd expect. CBs very poor out there against Qarabag so we will presumably see a return of TC and Fofana pairing v Wolves.

Simply put this really is a home game we have to win and that means focus and intensity thgroughout that we far too often seem to lack against 'lower' sides plus also the tactics and pergaps personnel up front and to pass through the lines to beat low block. Presumably Delap back after suspended for Spurs game and we can only hope he does better than in dreadful cameo agains Sunderland that featured two yellow cards and so the red one. We need a fit and full functioing and effective number nine.

08 Nov 2025 17:17:50
Just to add that if we can't beat a Wolves side that haven't won a game yet this season, only have two points and a goal difference of -15 after ten games and who we should have beaten far more comfortably than we did away in the Carabao Cup then I think the boos at the end of the game would be rightly deafening.

Trouble is we seem to play some of our worst football at home against low placed clubs!

08 Nov 2025 22:15:31
Estevao injected energy and assist thst eventually gave us thst comfortable win. But think my MoM may have been Garnacho.

08 Nov 2025 23:17:40
I haven’t seen the game yet but my mates tell me Fernandez bossed the game!

09 Nov 2025 08:27:27
Fernandez imho had excellent first half but less influential in second imho though a good claim for MoM. Perhaps I was over influenced by Garnacho having what I think was his best game for us and looked v sharp in attack .

But good for EF to get MoM and on a night when Caicedo perhaps not at his best after almost full game in Baku and taking a knock tonight that looked worrying.

05 Nov 2025 19:59:54
Disappointing result thanks to our apparently ongoing defensive frailties in defence and prrhsps particularly CB - not helped by constant changes in partnerships played there perhaps- that allowed a very spirited Qarabag to score twice in front of great home support. Seems unlikely we can make top 8 and avoid playoffs. Caicedo excellent as ever and Enxo once brought on.

Garnacho looked far more threatening than Gittens and Estevao generally v good again and looked our best attacker. Delap looked v rusty, George anonymous, and Fuiu unused not sure why. Hato had a better second half than first which was a mare for him. Cucurella and James pretty good. Sanchez not at fault for their goals.

05 Nov 2025 21:10:26
Top eight would be brilliant but we are certainly making that more difficult than it should be.

More one on one misses don’t help. Hato certainly had a poor first half but as you say he looked much better in the second half.

05 Nov 2025 19:50:01
The centre backs were poor Hato made the mistakes but
Tosin was awful.
Down side We are way too open Lavia injured again, Final passing in forward area were not the best .

Up sides we didn't lose no such thing as an easy away game in europe/ asia

Estevao what a talent.

05 Nov 2025 21:13:30
The continuing Lavia injuries are a concern. I guess it must be so difficult for the manager and the player. A mate told me ages ago that the club believe that one of the major problems with Lavia is “growing pains. ” I wouldn’t have a clue if that is a common problem with young athletes.

05 Nov 2025 22:28:05
Tom, your mate is pulling you leg: : “ growing pains “ has the club employed a bunch of old wives in the medical department? .

06 Nov 2025 06:27:50
I am told that growing pains in young athletes is quite common and can have a serious effect on a players injury issues.

I’m not a doctor or an old wife so I wouldn’t know if this true.

06 Nov 2025 08:01:50
Tom, most adults stop growing at 18, Lavia will be 22 in January. I’ve never heard such a weak excuse for an injury prone player.

06 Nov 2025 08:53:02
I don’t think it was an excuse. I think the theory is he was asked to play while he was going through his growing pains and the belief is his current injury issues “could be as a consequence of those early year playing demands.

As I say I’m not a doctor or an expert on if such a things can effect players as they get older.

I think it’s perfectly reasonable for people at the club to search for answers. If wish to consider it as weak excuse that is obviously entirely up to you.

06 Nov 2025 09:27:30
Tom

What about growing pains in for other teams, how are they handling them, perhaps ww could borrow their personal to assist us.

The truth is some players are injury prone and has been the case throughout the ages. Olivia is one of those players I'm afraid.

06 Nov 2025 17:00:01
Bill, some players do seem to suffer more from injuries than others.

I repeat, this is apparently a theory that the club are looking at. It may well be an issue that other clubs are looking at. I personally have zero idea about growing pains and as I’m not doctor I wouldn’t have a clue if athletes can suffer from there consequences if they ignore or perform through growing pains when they are young.

All I would say is, if the club feel this may be the root cause of his issues, then it’s probably worth in for the Lavia’s sake and maybe other players.

07 Nov 2025 15:45:45
i can confirm- that theory is nonsense. absolutely nothing behind it, Lavias body simply cannot keep up with the physical demands of the prem- and at the age he's at and having not shown any signs of being able to handle it.

he likely will not make it at this level. a move to a less physical slower league may do him good. maybe a sale to saudi and the warm weather could help him.

08 Nov 2025 06:14:53
I have no idea if the theory is correct and if there is, can it or could it help Lavia with his injury issues.

I do consider him to a top quality talent and I hope we see him consistently for CFC.

05 Nov 2025 07:30:07
Away games in Europe are usually tough and I think tonight's game might present more problems than people imagine.

Team selection will be interesting. Ida cy Gittens and Estavou will start along with Santos and Lavia in midfield. My guess is EM will give Delap and Guiu 45 mins each.

05 Nov 2025 18:17:45
Dreadful defending by Hato leading to Qarabag equaliser after excellent Estevao goal gave us the lead and wed dominated possession. Looks like a v hostile atmosphere in Baku.

05 Nov 2025 18:23:49
And now Qarabag have a penalty thanks to Hato handball.

05 Nov 2025 18:25:00
And they score to go 2-1 up. Hato having a nightmare game and making me have a nightmare evening.

05 Nov 2025 18:31:10
I think Hato has to be sunbed at half time his confidence looks shot. not sure why he was starting?

05 Nov 2025 20:39:45
JBS, unfortunately thems the rules for handball nowadays but I agree he was at fault for the first goal. Defenders should never get caught the wrong side. I remember being very critical of Cucarella for being caught like that so often in his first season.

05 Nov 2025 20:58:24
Final word from me. possibly to. myself again? . added of course to disappointing result was Lsvia having to go off after only a few minutes and looks like he may be out yet again with injury. The lad looked gutted of course.

01 Nov 2025 22:02:27
Well done boys, another 3 points. Well done Sanchez and another clean sheet, good to see the coach knows what he is doing. How good is moises?

02 Nov 2025 08:40:57
Good result, clean sheet and no red card although Spurs should have had a player sent off and you can rest assured if that was one of our players they would have been.

It's a pity we did not take more of our many chances bearing in mind it 4 to be a struggling Wolves in mid week.

02 Nov 2025 09:24:53
RPD, according to some (JR) “Caicedo, in his position, the best in world football. ”.

01 Nov 2025 20:14:51
credit were its due that was an outstanding win, fofana and sanchez were outstanding, caicedo incredible as always, big shout to trevoh he's been really poor for me this season but that was a fantastic performance he deserves big credit.

01 Nov 2025 21:42:32
It was a great team performance Poch with our midfield bossing the game. Did worry me to the end though that we had taken more of our chances so were still vulnerable to a late shock

Spurs away does seem to beva gift that keeps on giving. long may this be the case!

02 Nov 2025 10:33:40
Nice to hold on to a one goal lead albeit very nerve racking.

01 Nov 2025 19:36:53
That has to be of the most comfortable 1-0 wins for a long time.

The manager got it spot on and Caicedo was back to his very best after a poor game against Sunderland.

Sanchez was also class, repeatedly taking the pressure off the defence.

Love the tactic of pushing three up when defending a throw in. Very clever boss.

01 Nov 2025 21:39:08
A very good performance by all except for only taking one out of half a dozen clearcut chances. Gittens making a complete mess of probably the easiest of them and Pedro missing two or three though in all those cases the Spurs keeper did well.

But Caicedo and Enzo both outstanding today - Caicedo my MoM - and all played well together as a team for full length of game. Focusing right to the end for once. Sanchez had little to do but bar one near goal conceding wayward pass distributed v well and also came decisively for aerial balls.

01 Nov 2025 22:23:13
Love the tactic of leaving players up for the long throw Jose used to do something similar I would do the same at corners, Pedro could have had five, in some ways the easiest win of the season.

02 Nov 2025 09:26:17
Seymns, I agree I would do it at corners as well. Put the quick midgets on the halfway line.

01 Nov 2025 16:31:08
So for me last game the clown shouldn't have subbed estavao off most dangerous player a netted agreat goal but when he did I thought he must be resting him for spurs game or why would you take him off he's also not being over played?
No Neto starts and again James in midfield when we have lavia santos on bench and more importantly gusto plays again who's been nothing more than useless
The clowns at it again.

01 Nov 2025 19:37:56
Very good tactical display from the boss!

01 Nov 2025 23:15:42
What tactics it was the same as always nothing new.

02 Nov 2025 09:18:18
Another happy day! Thanks for giving me a good weekend EM and the lads.

02 Nov 2025 18:37:15
Beard it’s my opinion you don’t have to reply or get involved trust me like your love for Jackson it will end the same way.
Knowledge is power a little knowledge about a lot of things is frightening.

02 Nov 2025 20:38:41
I will always let the Ed’s Edit and let them decide if they post my opinion. I assume you post with the same mindset.
You are correct that knowledge is power. A little bit of knowledge is still bit more than some people have and a bit less than others have.

05 Nov 2025 20:10:44
No not really am not interested if the Ed’s like or don’t like what I put or think. I don’t need approval of anyone i don’t write to impress anyone or get a response I think emotions are best expressed and sometimes replying or giving my opinion on here relives a little stress sometimes, I'm not interested if you agree or disagree in anyway with what I say the only thing that's the same between me you and others on here is we support Chelsea, am a little bit raw and say things in heated moments like at the point of something happening or straight after a incident and I say how I feel that player is in that moment not overall.

I know that’s not the best way to evaluate or rate a player but at that’s time or moment it’s what I think and what’s on my mind. You sit on the fence and wait and am ok with that too.

05 Nov 2025 21:16:46
I have lost count with the amount of times you have accused me of “sitting on the fence. ” If that was the case we wouldn’t be having post disagreement/ debates.

31 Oct 2025 09:18:21
The spuds above us in the league and that never makes me happy.

They also now have a manager who generally gets his teams to play well against us.

So, I'm not confident about us getting a result but it would be typical of us to turn it on after a couple of disappointing results.

COME ON MY MIGHTY BLUES.

01 Nov 2025 17:11:58
A huge game as always Tom and one we have the best record on of any EPL side. Even in recent seasons with weak sides we've usually got a good result. But I am certainly today nervous writing this post and reckon that a loss to a Spurs side already doing fair bit better than is in the league will feel like a big blow and not least for Maresca reputation. Am hugely hoping we can take all the points today even if we can no.

longet call the stadium Three Points Lane. Watched extended highlights of that 6-1 win last night when Flo got a v good hat trick and Lebouf long pinpoint passes from the back key to our goal fest. Afraid I don't see a repeat of that this evening but would be happy with a win however it comes. If we lose will be be a very unhappy CFC fan base including me!