Chelsea Match Posts

18 Sep 2026 21:57:19
First half comfortable without threatening.

Another ball to the far post from a set piece catches us out yet again, with Fofana ball watching.
Getting caught on the break stemming from a misplaced pass just about sums us up at the moment.
The third goal was just a lesson in poor basic defending.

Please boss, can we just play a solid 433 with one sitting defensive midfielder.

We now have a long break and when we return we should have key players back from injury but unless some fundamentals are changed we will in my opinion just rely on moments of magic and get punished for "basic" errors.

Very, very disappointing.

18 Sep 2026 22:11:19
Pep for me was only positive, Neto is awful no end product welbeck is a last 15 minutes man same with hendo why estavao isn't getting more time i don't know, not even going onto defenders there all very poor awful transfer window not getting a midfielder in and not getting a striker to push Pedro.

18 Sep 2026 22:14:53
Come on tom. We made 300m this summer? This is the new objective of the club so as far as I'm concerned we are winning.

18 Sep 2026 22:33:52
I would think most fans would be happy to sell players who didn't want to be at the club or who didn't want to fight for their place in the team. The amount of names some posters called Jackson, it must be a surprise for them to see us receive approx £80m in transfer and loan fees. I see making a profit as nice for regulatory purposes but I'm personally not that bothered.

The vast majority of posters on this site and fans that I talk were happy with a transfer business (buying and selling) in the last window. They were also happy with the appointment of Alonso. The manager/SD's and owners wanted another midfielder and tried their best to fill that gap but sadly failed.

I had no problems with the performance of Neto tonight and as long as we play the majority of games with three at the back he is always going to be chosen in front of Estavao.

18 Sep 2026 22:44:49
Very disappointing in so. many ways. makes me think my 4th-6th place finish could be over optimistic as my 4th-7th was for last season.

Brentford played like a well drilled/ coached side. we did not look like one imho.

Every recent season we go into it with an obvious weakness. This time it's the lack of a midfield once you've sold one of our besr players and goal threats there and not replaced him and the other main man is injured.

We also again had only one EPL quality striker who gets injured after only 4 games. Back up is a still useful but now veteran striker with notva greatvdeal. of pace and has never been prolific plus an injury prone younger one who has been injured again and we have yet to see. We sold our only other relatively EPL experienced striker to Villa of course.

Yes and we move to three at the back but play a different three most games and they make mistakes and have little by way of an effective shield in front of them. He may not have been the most naturally talented if especially in terms of ling defense splitting passes but in selling TC we sold arguably the defender we had that most naturally enjoyed defending and most consistently showed that last season. Selling Cucurella - who also wanted to. leave like Enzo so we had little choice with these two? - also weakened our defensive capabilities.

We have now let in two goals or more in each of our first 5 EPL games. Almost as many already as the 15 we conceded in the whole of the record setting 2004-5 season. We may be heading for the wrong kind of defensive record thus season.

Am still telling myself though that it is very early days and things must improve surelywhen Caicedo and Palestra fit - and Pedro if back after the month out predicted.

The international break leaves Alonso with much thinking to do to find solutions for our defensive woes, weak mudfield plus with current Pedro injury problem.

18 Sep 2026 22:48:27

So different me and thee we wanted to sell Neto and I think he was willing go for me brings nothing.

Alonso has got to be thinking this isn’t working with the players I’ve got another s*** show for me

18 Sep 2026 22:53:11
Nib, is that why Neto was offered a new contract? I believe he signed it.

18 Sep 2026 23:01:50
JBS, I thought our left back was a positive along with a 16 year old making his debut.

You and I have both posted that Alonso gets paid the big bucks to make big decisions. Josh, in my opinion has been our most consistent defender but he starts Fofana. Colwill is off the pace, yet he starts. All decisions/calls that mangers make but you have to get more right than wrong.
It's still early days and he now has time to reflect.

19 Sep 2026 08:43:29
There have been some positives this season Tom and not least in the way our front three - before Pedro injury - combined in some sparkling attscking moves in first few games. as had posted along with all. others i reckon.

I have also liked the look of Lacroix and Palestra (in pre- season as also thec16 yr old) and called for Pep to play LWB ahead of Hato.

I was also happy about Alonso appointment and as manager.

But I also offered a lot of cautionaries about expectations this season including:
1) yet another huge churnover of. players in transfer window meant we were starting a rebuild yet again under our new ownership
2)so Alonso and players would likely need time to gell. would have to assess all. first teamers in competitive. games. though quite why he has started LC ahead of JA on current form. is mystifying unless seen as attempt to get LC back into best of his
2) we were selling two of our best performing players from. last season both of whom offered goals and assists plus could tackle. Rogers and Palmer combo often great going forward but little defensively. and they are both a bit up and down terms of. match affecting flair.
3)not replacing Enzo F with similar quality criminal if we knew we had to sell him. big potential defensive and to an extent aldo. offensive. link to front three. frailty.
4)if not bringing in another quality striker to reppace Delap - who had disppointed - toassist Pedro. or as back up. if JP injured we needed to keep Jackson.

But has also thought that not having European football should help us in EPL as. season progressed and that Alonso could in time build a team that could be. better than sum of its parts. Plus that we will get better surely as said when Caicedo fully fit and Palestra too and with ideally a top quality midfielder added in January. or otherwise may have to be next summer

Klopp's Liverpool very up and down in his first couple of seasons or so as was Arteta's Arsenal.

I think both you and I Tom want the club and fans to show some patience with Alonso and realise that he. may need a few more transfer windows yet to get us up to challenging for an EPL title. What we should rightly expect to see this season - and there have been glimpses of this already in attacking play - is that we are moving at last under new owners in that direction.

19 Sep 2026 09:17:40
JBS, as usual a most enjoyable and constructive post mate.

I totally agree we need to give Alonso a lot more time.
I am not a fan of three at the back and it's probably not fair me being critical of us playing with two DM's when one of them isn't Caicedo.
I just cannot see how some of our players fit into a team, if that makes sense.
Is Estavao a wide player or Palmer alternative? Is James now only being considered as a DM? Can we play Roger's and Palmer in the same team?
Over time I am sure we will find out the answers but at the moment it is frustrating.

18 Sep 2026 08:59:05
In my opinion this will be a really tough game. They are a well organised and well managed side that over the last few seasons have caused us problems.
As I have previously stated I prefer us to play a solid 433 but I can't see that happening in this game.

I'm hoping Palestra and Caicedo get some minutes and Pedro is fit enough to start.
Come on my mighty blues.

18 Sep 2026 21:42:13
Hard to play 433 with 1 midfielder fit.

18 Sep 2026 22:10:32
Barco, Henderson and Lavia makes three in my book.

18 Sep 2026 22:45:43
Brentford looked better coached than our lot tonight.

18 Sep 2026 22:57:00
Lavia was not fit and hence stayed on the bench
Barco ok on the ball but physically nowhere near
Jordan henderson i don't need to bother explaining that one.

19 Sep 2026 06:30:49
Lavia was fit and on the bench and able to play according to the manager. Barco looks like a talent and Henderson has the experience that so many craved for. That's three midfielders.

19 Sep 2026 06:37:23
JBS, Brentwood looked more of a finished article. They have a manager who has been at the club for a while, he has his players well drilled and they "all" work hard.
Alonso, just starting his Chelsea journey with players still learning about his players and the league. In my opinion he has some very big calls to make.

12 Sep 2026 17:01:14
One bad mistake, several bits of poor defending, one player who had a shocker and another who was only marginally better than him.

Twenty consecutive Premiership games without keeping a clean sheet. That is an awful stat.

Very disappointing result.

12 Sep 2026 18:30:08
Spot on, Tom, and I fear Alonso got the starting line up, plus some subs, wrong.

Surely the back three should have been Fofana, Lacroix and Josh. Gusto shouldn't be part of it.

Martinez looked shaky at times, and was possibly partly at fault for Hull's second.

Given our defensive frailties, yet factoring our ability to score goals, I would at this stage predict we finish between 4th and 6th in the league.

I would hope for higher, and we will surely improve when Caicedo and Palestra are fit, and perhaps when other teams are playing in Europe and we're not. Plus, if we bring in a top-notch defensive midfielder in January ... if one is available. Though Lavia and James were not the worst on show for us today.

12 Sep 2026 18:42:30
Still a long way from home. Nothing much to add. We are so disjointed, no connection between defence, midfield and the forward line.

12 Sep 2026 18:46:05
JBS, for last season and the start of this season, I am perplexed as to how a succession of managers pick him. He is still young, so fingers crossed he proves me wrong.

12 Sep 2026 21:34:18
Didn't watch the game. I was out golfing, and I'm not sure what I'm more disappointed with... we need a clean sheet badly, the only way out is to keep a few in a row now.

Onto the next one, must win against Brentford and have to keep a clean sheet. Go 5 2 3 flat, and let the lads up front edge it! No wingers, play the full backs.

12 Sep 2026 21:38:19
Tom, I presume you are referring to Gusto. He shouldn't be in any position on the pitch.
JBS, a double pivot of Lavia and James, is very weak. They provide no cover for a very dodgy defence. We can't just hope to out score teams. Alonso needs to find some solutions or we will lose ground by the next window. Anyway, at least we didn't lose.

12 Sep 2026 21:43:12
Lavia and James, to my eyes, were two of the only players to perform at an acceptable level.

12 Sep 2026 21:56:46
JBS, we have looked pretty poor since Maresca left us. Hate to say it but he would not have let us look so shabby. Hopefully Alonso can turn it around but right now it is Arteta v Maresca as the elite 2 managers in the league albeit backed by money (but so are we) and both graduates of Pep.

12 Sep 2026 23:17:03
I am enjoying this mad football under Alonso far more than I did at any stage under Maresca.

13 Sep 2026 08:28:58
I have no yearnings for Maresca. He and the other Enzo can continue their love-in at City. Glad to see the back of them. Both of them disrespected the club.

09 Sep 2026 22:21:10
Sorry, should have added to my earlier post, Colwill looks a yard off the pace.

12 Sep 2026 15:40:11
Add to your comment, I've always said he's not good enough, and Hato will never be either. His awareness is awful. To be fair, the whole back line is rubbish. We just have to score 6 a game, and we may gather some point. :)

12 Sep 2026 15:47:02
Yeh, but 125m for Enzo F nib, and that's what really matters. 😆😆😆 Get Gusto gone from the squad first.

12 Sep 2026 15:56:48
Agree. What's up with Palestra? Gusto shouldn't be playing. We're so weak in midfield, it's unbelievable. Pedro had a shocking first half. I'd bring Welbeck on. Where's the striker from Strasbourg we bought? Why's he not getting a sniff?

09 Sep 2026 22:07:23
What a bonkers but entertaining game at the Bridge tonight.

Tonight we witnessed the good and bad of this Chelsea team. We see Rogers (my mom) create chance after chance, but before that he was lazy for their second. Well pleased with Barco, he is a little terrier with an attitude to match.

Josh is making himself undroppable. Palmer has always got that touch of class, highlighted when he just stroked in his second. Also, so pleased for Welbeck.

I am not a fan of Gusto and I’m hoping that when Palestra is fit, we see less and less of him.

10 Sep 2026 10:33:38
Agree about Gusto, Tom. Colwill is also a concern right now - he needs to find some form quickly, as he's looked a liability. Rogers' attempted tackle for their second goal was a joke - so soft - but his attacking was superb. I'm a little concerned about Estevao - his body language was awful throughout the first half - you can be frustrated about not getting minutes, but you have to show something that means you deserve them rather than sulking. I'd like to see him knuckle down to win his place in the team back. But he's a young guy, so, hopefully, will get his head sorted. Chavarria deserves a mention - mentality monster indeed, with the determined running to win the pen in the wake of their second.

That really helped turn the tide for us (the quadruple sub aside). Penders made excellent saves, but was a bit dodgy on corners and long throws. Again, he's young. The concern, I suppose, is that our second string are clearly so inferior to our first team. Oh, and Gittens - abysmal again. He offered nothing. I was hoping a fresh start this season under a new manager might give him a new lease of life, but he's increasingly looking like a player that doesn't have the level of physicality, desire, or decision making to cut it in a league like the PL.

10 Sep 2026 10:53:48
EdW, as mentioned in another thread, we all see games differently. I thought Gittens was unlucky to be hooked. For me, he was having a far more solid game than Estavao. Also, and this is much to my surprise, Gittens has got a leap on him that I hadn't noticed before.


The problem is I can't see Gittens or Estavao getting much Premiership game time.

Alonso has admitted he made too many changes for the starting eleven, and I think that admission is probably accurate.

06 Sep 2026 21:18:34
First let me say that we deserved to lose.

But how on Earth Arsenal keeps avoiding getting booked?

Have not seen a team play so f****** dirty for long time.

Every attack the wing our players get dragged.

Konsa - Clear Yellow

Rice - Clear Yellow

Lewis Skelly - Clear Yellow

Gabriel - could easy be red card.

06 Sep 2026 21:52:08
Completely agree, Lrdit, and Arsenal seem to get away with murder... almost literally, if Gabriel's kick to Martinez's head had proved fatal. Arsenal seem under instructions to outmuscle and kick Joao Pedro.

We will suffer from not having replaced Enzo F or Cucurella adequately...

our midfield is overrun again, though I still think we should finish in the top 5, despite our defensive frailties, shipping 2 goals every game. The Hull game is a must win, and now a surprising early-season test too, given their start; they are the only EPL side yet to concede!

{Ed0666's Note - it’s only game 3 into the Alonso era mate. You can’t rebuild a team overnight. I think it’s Arsenal and City to battle it out as they have the deepest squads. You nearly replaced Enzo but Evertons ineptness at transfers and how to handle them cost you. Thats football. On the Gabriel GBH..I’m incredulous, have no words.

06 Sep 2026 22:06:16
I do think we are short one midfielder, but that is not because we didn't try. I rated Fernandez the player, but good riddance.

We have replaced Cucarella. He looks like he can play, and we have three other players who can play LB or LWB.

{Ed0666's Note - You really rated Enzo?

06 Sep 2026 22:08:27
JBS, you have to let your sadness over seeing Curcurella and Enzo Fernandez leave go, mate. You are starting to sound like Greenaway, who Kaz and Standard keep calling me!

07 Sep 2026 10:31:36
K I am making the point that we haven't adequately replaced them, but knew for ages that they were going. Yes, Monaco and Everton messed up an Enzo F replacement, but you'd have thought the club may at least have got a Cucurella replacement. Palestra is mainly an RB, though perhaps he will be played consistently on the left; he may have to be, anyway. But take the point that there comes a time when not much help is done by going on about who left and the weaknesses caused, though we are only three matches into the season, and that was the first EPL match after the transfer window had closed, so hardly ages after Enzo F was gone and the deadline day fiasco.



I get a bit fed up with either those who almost always sing the praises of the club and their decisions, or those who almost always knock them. Most on here seek to be clear-eyed about the reality of what we have got, our performances and chances... the good, the bad and the ugly!

Mind you, that does add to the banter, and yours is fine!

06 Sep 2026 19:52:41
Midfield cost us today, Lavia and James don't work and Gusto is a makeweight. Moises was a huge miss for us and the failure to not replace Enzo Fernandez might bite us this season. But I still saw enough positives to convince me we will finish 3rd behind City and Arsenal.

Stevo needs to start as well because he looked so dangerous when he came on and another day that curler goes in.

06 Sep 2026 20:50:28
I was actually pleased with James, and as I am a massive fan of Lavia, I get no pleasure in saying he didn’t play to the standard I expect from him.
As I said in an earlier post, I will look at the game when the emotion has disappeared from my view of the game, but I have to say I was surprised we didn’t go with a narrow midfield three.

To my sad old eyes, our midfield two simply got outnumbered.

06 Sep 2026 21:12:59
Arsenal got a lot of joy attacking down our left-hand side, as Brighton and Fulham had as well. We really missed Cucurella there today. Hato and Rogers are not as strong a combo defensively as Fofana and Neto by some distance, and opponents know this.

In fact, Neto. My MoM for us today, and v glad we did not sell him. Estevao almost salvaged a point for us at the end, but for Raya's top save, so would like him to get more game too.

We of course also missed a top midfielder with Fernandez gone and not replaced - as he should have been, given we knew this was so likely - and especially given Moises' injury.

James and Lavia did reasonably well given the circumstances. But to have to bring Gusto on to replace Lavia was not good to see, but possibly cos Alonso doesn't yet reckon Barco ready for this game...needs more time to be integrated into the group and will expect him to get quite a few minutes v Leeds.

Still, we were competitive in this match against the Champions and had our chances to get a result, but either inaccuracy or Raya denied us.

06 Sep 2026 22:18:33
JBS, Fernandez gets absolutely run through today. Not signing a mid is a big problem, most on here acknowledged. But, being brutally honest, we are 3 games in. That Arsenal side simply outclassed us. We did, however, create chances and, on another day, with a bit of luck, nick a result.

Going forward, we need to tweak things to try and get control of games. Leeds in the cup and Hull on weekend 2 are good chances to get things back up and running again.

07 Sep 2026 10:35:45
You may be right, Kazblue! Though we were run through pretty constantly without EF yesterday. But Arsenal are far further along the route to consistently competitive, trophy-winning capability than we are, and this will take a while yet under Alonso.



Will be at the Leeds game, though can't make the Hull one, but look forward to a few more tweaks and Palestra and Caicedo back fit again, plus Levi C completely fit and back in form. He had been disappointing v Brighton.

06 Sep 2026 19:17:38
Hi blues x

Never like losing, especially to them lot, but we are not too far behind, my only negative is that we are conceding far too many, 2 or more every game is not good enough.
I'm sure he will sort it out soon.

06 Sep 2026 19:51:33
Steve, I agree, mate. Some might not buy into the "work in progress" comment, but that is exactly what it is.

I think there is every chance we see rapid improvements, as we only have domestic competitions to focus on. Plenty of time, and no excuses for Alonso to get his message across.

06 Sep 2026 21:19:50
Also agree, Steve, and we can't ship 2 goals a game and expect to challenge for anything.

We should be tighter when Moises is fully fit again, plus Levi C back in form, plus when Palestra is fit. He's primarily a right back/wing back but can play on the left.

Our midfield/team defensive ability is still suspect, and I had hoped for more from Palmer today.

06 Sep 2026 21:49:57
I am happy about Chelsea more than I have been for a while. However, "work in progress" is a hackneyed old phrase to excuse obvious flaws. I stand by my view that James is bang average in midfield. Lavia has also been average and still can't make 90 minutes.

The fact that we have to bring on Gusto in midfield is worrying, he shouldn't be anywhere on the pitch. Even when Moises is fit, he can't do it all on his own. I'm beginning to think we need two midfielders in January.

06 Sep 2026 22:11:20
We will see how James develops as a dm, but he looked ok today.

Using the phrase "work in progress" perfectly describes a new manager with new ideas, plus a squad with, I think, 11 new players. Of course it's work in progress.

06 Sep 2026 23:09:15
If you are building a house, you can accurately describe it as work in progress. However, if the foundations are fundamentally flawed, like our midfield, of course, it can't be described as work in progress.

07 Sep 2026 03:54:44
We are not building a house. We are trying to build a team with a new manager, a significant amount of new players, plus new tactics/system. You have described the foundations as flawed, so that needs changing as well. It's all "work in progress."

{Ed0666's Note - so your building a house then

07 Sep 2026 04:34:13
No. We are building a team and that usually takes more than a few games. I'm hopeful that it won't take long under our new manager.

{Ed0666's Note - I’m just joshing with ya mate..I think Alonso is exactly what you needed at this time to neutralize the madness that CFC have endured over the last few years. I’ve no doubt he’ll be successful in time although I’m not a fan of the way he plays. It’s Mourinho 2.0.

07 Sep 2026 05:46:51
I'm not a fan of the way Arteta plays, Moyes plays, or Maresca plays. In fact it could be a very long list.

07 Sep 2026 16:59:32
Hi Ed0666, we must be thinking of different Mourhinhos, as Alonso's transitional style we've seen so far doesn't look anything like Jose's to me – perhaps Jose in his first season as Chelsea manager when we had Robben and Duff up the wings (but then Alonso doesn't play wingers)? Jose was all about taking a 1-0 and then backs to the walls defending to preserve it, which isn't what we've seen from Chelsea thus far this season at all (nor from Alonso's Leverkeusen, from what I've read about them) so I'm curious why you think so.

{Ed0666's Note - mate all I saw yesterday was Chelsea defending when you went ahead, when it was 1-1 and at 2-1 down. Granted you were away from home and missing a couple of players but it’s a new team new coach and there’s time to evolve

11 Sep 2026 12:48:38
Definitely Ed0666. I'm looking forward to the evolution. I have to say, I don't think we really were defending by choice in that game – Arsenal were just that much stronger than us in the middle of the park that we couldn't really do anything other than that.

All our games other than that one have been 6+ goal thrillers, with outscoring the other team being the best way to paper over our thin defence.

{Ed0666's Note - imagine what you’ll be like in 2 seasons under a coach that has a set of principles and the respect of his bosses. Alonso is not for me but the guy won the bundesliga with an unbeaten team. Also you have the lure of London when your are trying to get players, who wouldn’t want to live in Chelsea some of the most desirable real estate in the world. I think you’ll be ok.

06 Sep 2026 18:34:52
I will take my time to fully digest that game but just a few quick points.

I can definitely see progress in our patterns of play and I think we could have easily taken something from the game.
It was just one game and as you know I like to judge players over a long period of time.

James is a class player at FB, but on today’s performance he can become a class player as a DM. On that performance he is not a “bang average midfielder.”

We just have to keep on believing and supporting the players and the manager and I can see us challenging this season.

06 Sep 2026 21:23:04
Agree. Tom and James had a pretty good game today, but we still lack much retention of possession in midfield.

Yet, yes, we were close to getting something from the game, and with a bit of luck would have.

06 Sep 2026 18:31:49
Outside the front three, pure garbage.

06 Sep 2026 19:47:17
What a wonderful constructive post.

I will wait until much later in the season before I make my judgement on this team and this manager. After three Premiership games, and that sort of comment is made.