Chelsea International Banter 2

27 Sep 2025 18:01:55
I didn't go to the game and I haven't watched the game. My comments come directly from some ST mates who called me post match to give me the bad news.

Apparently we started well and were on top until the sending off. They also weren't happy with the substitutions. Plus they said a punch up happened in the MH upper between Chelsea fans and that is never a good sign.

I thought today would be a relatively comfortable win even with us missing three CH's.

I wi get hold of the game and watch it in full when I'm back to full fitness.

Last season we had a poster wanting EM sacked pre season and this season we had a different poster wanting EM sacked after our first game. Obviously results create fan's reactions but my reaction will be based over a seasons performance. I was happy enough last season, so for me EM had to remain as our manager. There were not many on this site willing to stick with EM last season and I'm sure I will be in a minority again wanting him to be our manager for all of this season and next season.

27 Sep 2025 19:00:11
Tom

I don't think you will have a season with Maresca in charge to base your assessment on, he will be honest before then.

He just seems to have lost the plot.

27 Sep 2025 19:33:20
Same as last season when so many wanted him sacked. He was accused of all this last season and called a few names along the way.

I just can’t see it happening and I certainly can’t see him resigning.

27 Sep 2025 20:35:31
Time will tell i suppose Tom.

27 Sep 2025 20:57:56
Bill, indeed it will. Time is such a funny old word.

27 Sep 2025 21:09:29
Tom, what’s funny about the word “time” as opposed to any other word? Why are you obsessed about posters wanting Maresca sacked? It’s a banter site.

27 Sep 2025 22:35:00
Because time is so precious to some but abused by others.

I suppose I could agree with posters who want EM sacked but I don’t and if its ok with you I will continue to put forward my argument that EM should remain as our manager and let the Ed’s do the editing.

27 Sep 2025 23:05:48
You always back the manager Tom and I praise you for that.
I call it sitting on fence when we win all good when we lose support and get behind your team

For me he’s clueless his tactics substitution selections prove he has no idea.

27 Sep 2025 23:38:56
Nib, that simply isn’t true, I do not always back a manager.

I certainly wanted Conte sacked and Rafa should never have been appointed, to my mind he never had a novel or proactive tactical idea in his managerial career.

You use the word “prove” in this instance as if it’s factual, when in fact substitutions are just a subjective view of a situation. Against Utd I could see some logic in our managers subs but other posters/ fans believed he should have gone in a different direction.

We are all just guessing and we haven’t got a clue about player fitness or illness, we just assume that a player is able to play 95 mins ish.

I will be critical of this manager from match to match when I believe it to justified. Obviously the reverse is true. I have been either for this game because I haven’t seen the game yet.

This is what happens when I rush to judge. I think Werner is a good signing, I think Morata is a second Ossie and I think Cucarella can’t defend. There is a very long list of me making rushed and crap judgements.

28 Sep 2025 00:28:55
Tom, what Christmas Cracker did you get that from: still doesn’t explain why time is funny e. g humorous or strange. By the way, I’m not suggesting that Maresca should be sacked. All I’ve ever said is that he is not capable of taking us to a higher level: if the owners and you are satisfied with that: so be it.

28 Sep 2025 08:39:21
Jimbo, it’s just how I feel about the word time and what it means to me. I have no desire to control other peoples emotions or anything they put in there posts.

What I feel about EM as a manager will not influence the owners and what your current position is will not change anything.

28 Sep 2025 10:28:10
Tom

I don't want him sacked as if he isn't, it should mean we are doing well.

It's not his fault that he is inexperienced and 'learning on the job'.

It's not his fault that we did not replace out GK, give Maresca a CH when Colwill got his long term injury and indeed get another ST when Delap got injured and we let Jackson go out on loan when he was needed, yes he wanted to go but he was still contracted to us and we were still paying his wages.

What is am surprised at is that Guiu was brought back from loan a move, that looks like it was made by the SD's and not Maresca as he has not played him since his move back.

Perhaps if Maresca is sacked which will either be judged by results or maybe one to many barbed remarks back to the owners and SD's, we put the SD's in the coaching roll so that they can see how unbalanced the squad is.

28 Sep 2025 12:21:04
Bill, sorry mate I did try and reply to your post.

One thing I forgot to mention amongst load of rambling rubbish was about this “learning on the job” theory.

I personally believe that excuse has been exhausted. He now has the experience to cope with most situations. He now wears the big boys pants!

28 Sep 2025 11:11:33
Bill, There were so many posters/ fans who wanted him sacked last season and as I said there was one poster who wanted him sacked this season after one game.

We have fans who only want to post when we lose and some who only post when we win.

I am to debate on any football related subject and I certainly have no problems with so called “negative posts. ”

I will make any negative or positive comments I have from game to game based on my judgement. I freely admit to being biased about the club I support and as I’m only guessing I try not to make it sound like a fact.

I’m happy enough with job the SD’s have done so far. They can’t control injuries abd the never ending goalkeeper issue is something we all see slightly differently. I would have liked us to sign Costa but after him I wouldn’t want anyone else. This is just my view. Maybe the SD’s are similarly as unimpressed as I am with the goalkeepers who might be available. Or, maybe they don’t want to put a player block in the way of Pinders. As I say, we all have different opinions and as fans we are all generally just guessing.!

27 Sep 2025 17:16:07
Tell me why he brought gusto on and what his thoughts where enzo maresca has to leave this club maresca decisions AGAIN have cost us points just leave and get out.
Lavia sub Badashile sub ampong sub the young lads had a total nightmare and should be nowhere near the squad in the first place same story around chalobah but there in the squad due to awful buying and poor recruitment over the last few years
Going so defensive with 25minuts left the man's a clown he's clueless you made there decision to bring all forwards on so easy.
Why not take pedro off and put fresh legs up top in Guiu why bring him back off loan keeping Neto on man brings nothing but running in straight lines. We need a new manager we have good players we need fresh eyes looking at the team now I no people will say another manager but he's the worse we've had one game plan if anything happens or goes wrong he's clueless. Lucky he got the points for Leicester that year because soon as they found him out he was clueless I hope these Americans a ruthless that again for the third game was embarrassing some players to blame to.

27 Sep 2025 18:00:25
now im no maresca fan- thought he was the wrong man when he came and still think that now. but bigger questions have to be asked of our lauded SDs for terrible transfer business - we have no top quality CBs and the only one that might get to that level is from cobham. what on earth have we spent 2billion on? endless kids and left wingers none of whom are good enough.

27 Sep 2025 16:54:24
For me simple as this, Maresca has to go, terrible team selections, he is criticising the board publicly about not signing defenders, he crumbled away to united last week, bottled it with terrible selections v brentford, team calamity away to munich, and again today outside the red card the defending is under 12s stuff, free headers in the middle of the box just like the united goals last week,

He looks tactically clueless and clearly doesn't no how to get his team to defend.

27 Sep 2025 17:53:31
It's falling apart already in front of our eyes. At least we got to Xmas last season before we imploded.

The team selections, substitutions are baffling and it looks like they are being made by a coach who has no idea and one who no longer wants to be at our club.

27 Sep 2025 18:29:46
The noise behind the scenes if enzo being unhappy and publicly crying he didn't get a cb, it all looks like Conte 2.0.

27 Sep 2025 18:38:47
Poch, my guess is that story is just media noise. He said he wanted a CH but the owners said make use of what you’ve got. Unfortunately suspensions and injuries now make EM’s request look reasonable.

27 Sep 2025 20:26:14
Unlike Poch Maresca has gone along with all the SD decisions thus far or certainly not made it a matter for parting ways. Will this change? Point is surely that he was brought in because he would accept the project. vision 2030.

27 Sep 2025 20:59:42
It’s all done for something called “clicks” whatever the f@ck that is when it’s at home!

27 Sep 2025 12:20:33
Sadly I will not be at the bridge but I'm confident of a win.

Obviously look short of numbers at the back but that really shouldn't be a massive problem in this game!


COME ON MY MIGHTY BLUES.

27 Sep 2025 17:02:41
It was Tom, it really was.

27 Sep 2025 17:35:28
Bill, sure was and as my mate tells me who was at the game it was a catalogue of errors.

23 Sep 2025 21:44:27
I guess the only plus is we are in the hat and that should allow match mins for more of our academy players.

Jorgensen desperately trying to make Sanchez look world class and Fernandez continuing his poor start to the season. The second half was marginally better but then that wasn't a big achievement.

Santos again looks ready for a more regular first team spot plus Hato had a better game than his debut.

23 Sep 2025 22:08:26
Good summary Tom. I'd also add that Estevao looks different class. Total awareness of the pitch and rarely misplaces a pass, plus instant control of the ball. Excited to see him more.

23 Sep 2025 22:33:13
Utterly embarrassing performance against a Lincoln side who were resting many of their first choice players!

Yes we won but so many of our players looked dreadful. At least George scored a v good goal 0lus provided an assist for Mr Good Night who looked ok at times but should have grabbed a second. We looked more like a non. league side playing a league 1 side than club world champions

Oh dear Jorgensen making no claim to start ahead of Sanchez or Donald Duck.

We were largely just awful amd some of that may be on the manager while some on quality of our ' B' team newbies but yes we are in the next round.

One to forget as soon as possible.

23 Sep 2025 22:44:47
EdW, spot on mate. Estevao is one of those players who always plays with his head up. Fantastic prospect.

23 Sep 2025 22:52:42
I do agree about Estevao.

24 Sep 2025 10:33:00
Jorgensen certainly did himself no favours but if Sanchez is our no1 it says it all about our Gzk recruitment.

I'm getting fed up with the fact we seem to always start sluggish, whether that is down to the players or coach, who knows.

Also we seem to struggle with long throws which is a problem as many teams are using g this tatic this season.

Regarding EF, maybe with all the rumours about RM, his head has been turned.

24 Sep 2025 11:41:32
The least said the better regarding that game. I doubt many of our players have experienced that level of physicality before and the old school barrage of hoof ball. It reminded me of Wimbledon back in the day and was fun to watch. I thought Santos was very good as was Fofana, Gittens and the Brighton lad looked lively and George does have that rocket of a shot but didn't do much else. Enzo, Gusto and Hato were poor and Trev had another stinker but the performance of Jorgensen in the last 2 games is making Sanchez look like a worldie! let's hope he stays injury and suspension free until Penders comes back.

24 Sep 2025 12:00:37
I think that EF may well need a rest after almost not stop playing since joining us after winning world cup with Argentina and winning young players of the tournament. When at his best he is a fine player. Hecwss pretty good in last half of last season and chipping in with quite a few key goals. I fear that participation in the CWC including that very high energy and fine all round team performance in final. msy bevtaking it's toll now. Reckon some players last night didn't really want to be playing that game and certainly not having to expend the amount of energy proved necessary to beat a second string Lincoln side. TC almost waved the Lincoln player through for his well taken goal. What was worrying was how few of our second stringers beyond George seized their chance to really impress. One who did for me was Buenonotte who took his chance to score after George pass v well but was generally looked ok.

But CWC triumph as feated may now be taking its toll in terms of injuries and energy levels and we don't know who including perhaps EF or Caicedo may be suffering in this respect or even carrying slight injuries. The risk of playing Palmer v United seems wrong choice by EM even if CP said he felt ok in. lead up. Sometimes players need to be protected from themselves in case injury made much worse.

24 Sep 2025 12:13:10
Agree they were fun to watch RPD. Arguably they deserved a lot more from the game. Their forward, Draper I think – supposedly a Chelsea fan as well! – trying to pick fights with Gusto, Fernandez and pretty much everyone else was funny. Often I feel like our players really don't want to scrap. It's pretty easy to rile them with physicality. Fernandez is all bark and no bite - there was a moment that made me laugh when he went to back up Gusto after a challenge from that Draper guy – he was all ready to square up until he got a bit closer and saw the size of him, then just kind of gave it some verbally at a distance.

24 Sep 2025 18:24:52
Edw, I’m surprised that the physicality of how Lincoln approached the game has been used as an excuse for a p**s poor performance. How did anyone think Lincoln would play? Set pieces and long throws are also used in the Premier League. If our defenders can’t cope with it; that is worrying. There is definitely an issue with mentality in this squad.

24 Sep 2025 20:38:35
The homophobic abuse aimed at Garnacho last night was terrible and every word could be heard, in fairness the stadium announcer did ask for it to stop at HT but it just carried on and was directed at us as well. No place in football and not a mention anywhere in the press or on sky.

24 Sep 2025 21:03:50
Greenaway, that is very sad and as a club we seem to get more than most of that type of abuse!

26 Sep 2025 13:24:09
Jimbo, I agree. Why would they not be physical if they're big lads and can get under the skin of the PL players?

Greenaway – I'd not seen anything about that until you mentioned it. Poor from their fans. Thanks for the info.

23 Sep 2025 21:42:47
Positives we won
Buenenotti looks a player seconfd half much better. George quality.

Negatives first half performance our inability to defend long throws. and I never thought I would type this but Sanchez is nos 1 because our nos 2 sad to say looks really poor.

23 Sep 2025 22:10:47
Early days but so far it’s easy to see why we could only get Buenenotti on a straight loan, got a good first touch that gives him time and space. He should get lots of game time this season.

23 Sep 2025 22:37:28
Spot on with only positives seymns2 and George who we almost sold made likes of Garnacho and Gittens look a waste of money. But v early days and looked like a game Maresca and most of our players didn't care much about. Lincoln win would not have been undeserved!

23 Sep 2025 22:38:08
Yes and Jorgensen flipping terrifying game!

23 Sep 2025 20:33:44
Arrogant and disjointed performance. Showing no respect for any team is not exceptable at any level.

Fernandez has continued with his poor start to the season but I'm struggling to think of how EM changes what to me is more about attitude. Maybe a good old fashioned b@llocking!

23 Sep 2025 22:03:37
Hasnt got it in him; enzo has been poor from the start of the season yet picked every game we were out fought all over the pitch it’s upsetting to what this team was to where we are as a team and with all the money spent, we are a mid table team, I no we are rebuilding but so far it looks like we’re using to much sand it’s crumbling everywhere goal keepers are terrible both of them back line shocking and you wouldn’t put any of them in bar cucurella in the top five teams some wouldn't even make the bench. The Brighton boy enzo gittens aren’t great are they give gittens time as he’s only moved to prem but he looks like a duck out water
Garnacho played ok looked lively without troubling George with a wonder strike but his all round play is awful estavo didn’t really get into it and the style of play 1700 passes 1600 in own half with a good slow playing football ending in 2 shots on target boring everyone to sleep has EM name all over it. But but a wins a win.

23 Sep 2025 22:15:12
I thought Gittens looked better than Garnacho.

As I keep saying Fernandez hasn’t started the season well but we all know much he improved throughout last season and how good he was in the CWC tournament. I’m sure we will see him back to his best as the season progresses.

24 Sep 2025 12:02:42
I agree about EF Tom and also think he shouldn't be playing every game. He looks as though he needs more rotation.

23 Sep 2025 16:42:19
Hopefully none of the 1st 11 playing on Saturday play tonight. Enzo needs to trust the reserves and the academy

The club world cup win was great but the injury's are mounting up due to the players not having a sustained rest.

Aithough didn't play the last couple ogf games see Madueke has an injury that will keep him out for a while at Arsenal .

The players need to play less and strength of squad is more important for the top teams.

23 Sep 2025 20:36:06
Enzo needs to leave champions league winners to his sh£t.

24 Sep 2025 07:18:06
I assuming that your post is asking for our manager to be sacked?

24 Sep 2025 12:08:06
Spot on about CWC taking its toll on players and the question is how many of the new signings are ready to assist rotation of CWC ones by being up to speed or good enough to start in EPL. Last night plus first half v Brentford not that encouraging in this respect but hopefully they may get there! Buenonotte looks promising and Garnacho should be able to having extensive EPL experience already. But why hasn't Guiu put in an appearance yet if only especially last night?!

24 Sep 2025 12:30:29
I think it was believed Guiu was cup tied but I also think that situation has now been resolved and he could be available for the next round.

20 Sep 2025 20:53:31
I'm sorry lads but I keep forgetting to say, we should definitely have got a pen for the foul on Pedro.

21 Sep 2025 10:01:15
Tom

We were playing ManU for goodness sake, we should not be relying on penalties like they do, to beat them, we should have beaten them in our sleep.

21 Sep 2025 10:53:18
Bill it was an observation and these sort of decisions can influence performances and results. I think the ref and VAR were asleep.

21 Sep 2025 11:19:25
Like our GK and back line?

21 Sep 2025 11:37:34
Bill, of course if players have a bad game it can influence a performance or result.

Certainly Chalaboa and Caicedo were asleep for there first goal and our defenders and goalkeeper were like statues for there second. Again this is just an observation.

20 Sep 2025 19:49:44
Having seen the Sanchez sending off from behind the goal and although I still believe Chalaboa has to take a share of the blame alongside Caicedo, both were asleep. The majority of the blame, in my opinion, is Sanchez.

As I said in an earlier post, Jorgensen has to do better for there second. Not only were our defenders behaving like statues, the keeper has to go for that ball.

20 Sep 2025 20:20:24
Tom

In fairness to Jorgensen, he never gets a run of games to prove himself, Sanchez however had many games to prove he should be nowhere near a football pitch.

20 Sep 2025 20:41:48
Tom, the reality is neither of our keepers are good enough but you are right about the defensive errors. Our CBs are okay but not top class, therefore a huge area of weakness . The same issues are reoccurring, therefore, the coaching and tactics need to be questioned.

20 Sep 2025 22:06:49
Bill, I will praise a player when he plays well but be critical if they don’t. Sanchez was much improved for about the last ten games of last season, had a good CWC and has just about been ok ish this season. He also made one of the best saves I’ve seen from a Chelsea keeper against Bayern.

Today he made a mistake and he is being rightfully criticised.

I have no idea how good Jorgensen is bug he kept us in the conference league final and j think deserves a chance but he made a mistake today.

Knowing that Utd were likely to start with Sesko, I would have started with Tosin. I would have also brought on Guiu rather than George.

Coaching and tactics always have to be questioned after any defeat.

Contrary to some, I think Caicedo makes us tick and on occasion almost carries the team but like the game on Wednesday he wasn’t at his magnificent best today. Enzo also hasn’t started the season well be it he didn’t last season and then became a very valuable player for the team.

I think the Palmer injury could be worse than being reported. He is having injections to play and apparently didn’t train all week.

Anyway, as I’ve said Santos was the big plus.

20 Sep 2025 19:40:13
Very poor performance for the four mins we were 11 v 11 and we got overwhelmed when it was 11 v 10 This big disappointment was our performance when it was 10 v 10.

I thought we looked leggy and second best in most areas of the pitch.

The only plus for me was Santos.

21 Sep 2025 01:44:17
Yes better then enzo.

21 Sep 2025 09:42:19
So if players are not playing well or are carrying injuries, who is the person who keeps picking them week in, week out?

21 Sep 2025 10:31:14
Bill, the manager. My guess is that ALL managers make calls week in week out about playing players who are not 100% fit and they also have a decision to make about playing a player who is out of form. Or when a player makes a mistake that cost the club points. That’s why they get paid the big bucks.

If they make to many poor decisions they generally get the sack.