Chelsea International Banter 3

20 Sep 2025 18:09:37
Sanchez improved? Chalobah good enough to start? Taxi for TomB.

20 Sep 2025 18:19:36
Yes please.

20 Sep 2025 23:26:20
Good goal and yes he is good enough to start.

20 Sep 2025 17:56:33
I'm sorry but to sign all these players and still have that clown as our No.1 is a joke.

Whoever has made the decision with Maignan and Donnorumma available should be embarrassed.

20 Sep 2025 19:13:04
I’m not a fan of Donnorumma or Maignan so neither would have worked for me.

20 Sep 2025 19:13:04
I’m not a fan of Donnorumma or Maignan so neither would have worked for me.

20 Sep 2025 19:13:04
I’m not a fan of Donnorumma or Maignan so neither would have worked for me.

20 Sep 2025 19:13:04
I’m not a fan of Donnorumma or Maignan so neither would have worked for me.

20 Sep 2025 19:13:04
I’m not a fan of Donnorumma or Maignan so neither would have worked for me.

20 Sep 2025 21:19:13
Tom, whether the above mentioned goalkeepers would have worked for you is irrelevant both are far better than we have at present.

20 Sep 2025 22:12:52
As I said I’m not a fan of either but then I’m not a fan of most premiership keepers with possibly the exception of Allison and Raya.

20 Sep 2025 17:44:37
Utterly disastrous start by us. Sanchez getting himself sent off after 4 mins for rash challenge. Gives Jorgensen a run of a few games. Do we blame Sanchez for stupidity landing putting us in this situation or was it bad luck or bad decision? If we get any points out of this game now we could consider it a win.

20 Sep 2025 17:55:55
JBS, it was bad decision making: should have stayed on his line. Now we have no width and Santos is coming on are we defending a 1 nil loss?

20 Sep 2025 18:03:06
I don’t blame Sanchez. Poor Challenge by Chalaboa but Tosin should have started in this game.

I agree with the managers change of shape and taking off Palmer for Santos.

I agree JBS, would settle for a point now but I wasn’t very hopeful before the game given our record at OT.

20 Sep 2025 18:44:04
Tom, no surprise in your comments. Sanchez was at fault he went back then changed his mind: his challenge was reckless. He should have stayed on his line and made himself big: who knows what would have happened. Losing a goal at that stage would have been preferable to playing the rest of the game with 10 men. Also taking off two wide players was a mistake. Notwithstanding, going down to 10 men our defending is abysmal. This has been coming out wins against WHU and Fulham just papered over the cracks.
As for taking off Palmer, I presume that was because of him feeling something; otherwise a stupid decision.

20 Sep 2025 19:07:22
I’m critical when I see fit and I give praise when I see fit. I just happen to think that Chalaboa was more at fault than Sanchez.

I assumed Palmer going off was because if you are going to three at the back with wingbacks and you are down to ten men you need three “workers” in midfield.

Obviously conceding a goal would have been better than getting a player sent off.

20 Sep 2025 21:16:36
Tom, when you are losing you need someone who can create and make things happen; in that situation 3 worker’s aren’t going to get you back in the game: as I said unless Palmer was injured it was a very poor decision.

20 Sep 2025 22:16:39
I totally disagree. When you go to a five and a three in midfield plus being down to ten me you need players who going to “work” all over the pitch.

As it happens Palmer is carrying an injury and requires an injection pre match. Sometimes the manager might know what’s best for a player.

20 Sep 2025 17:40:53
Once again EM it's always going to catch you up you have kept playing the clown game after game. Now he's shown us up again total embarrassment get a taxi together.

20 Sep 2025 23:28:53
The same clown game that qualified us for the champions league, won the conference league and club World Cup.

I agree, please get a taxi.

20 Sep 2025 17:37:10
That Keeper is simply not good enough. Hopeless absolutely hopeless.

20 Sep 2025 17:52:03
Always has been but the manager keeps picking him so it’s on that clown for me. Took palmer of now wow.

20 Sep 2025 18:04:09
Whitey, I blame Chalaboa more than Sanchez.

20 Sep 2025 18:32:01
In my opinion taking Palmer off was the correct call on lots of levels.

20 Sep 2025 19:18:02
Tom, how many levels are they in making subs. If Palmer was feeling a recurrence of his injury, of course, it was the correct decision: if it was tactical it was plain dumb.

20 Sep 2025 19:18:02
Tom, how many levels are they in making subs. If Palmer was feeling a recurrence of his injury, of course, it was the correct decision: if it was tactical it was plain dumb.

20 Sep 2025 19:18:02
Tom, how many levels are they in making subs. If Palmer was feeling a recurrence of his injury, of course, it was the correct decision: if it was tactical it was plain dumb.

20 Sep 2025 19:18:02
Tom, how many levels are they in making subs. If Palmer was feeling a recurrence of his injury, of course, it was the correct decision: if it was tactical it was plain dumb.

20 Sep 2025 19:18:02
Tom, how many levels are they in making subs. If Palmer was feeling a recurrence of his injury, of course, it was the correct decision: if it was tactical it was plain dumb.

20 Sep 2025 20:46:04
Jimbo, we went down to ten men and that meant the midfield needed workers. Palmer might be a lot of things but he ain’t a worker.

20 Sep 2025 16:29:00
After the last few games how does Neto play now don't get me wrong if he nets I will jump all over pub but on what he's done and for me was terrible midweek don't know how he's starting.

20 Sep 2025 18:06:23
Maybe because he has been generally ok this season was excellent the CWC and last season.

17 Sep 2025 22:04:37
Funny game. We got punished for stupid mistakes and allowed the game to drift along for long periods. Very often just to passive.

Generally we were ok but just ok with the occasional bright spell. Lessons to be learned that's for sure.

Palmer when he is on form just oozes class. Pedro had good moments and Gusto had a good game until a poor touch spoiled his day and ours.

As I said before it was a pen but it wasn't a foul for there first goal. They should have had a red card and we scored a tremendous team goal.

I will give some thought to our MOM, probably Palmer but that save from Sanchez was one of the best saves I've seen from a Chelsea keeper in a very long time!

As I've said "lessons to be learned. ".

18 Sep 2025 09:56:55
Lessons to be learned indeed Tom and agree that generally we were not too bad and enjoyed some bright periods. One was right at start of the game when our tactic seemed to be a carbon copy of the one's deployed successfully against PSG if most notably the long ball from Sanchez out to the wings and especiially in search of Gusto. I fact this was used quite often in the rest of the game as well. Just nor as successfully as v PSG plus neither was our press. The absence of LC from backline also very significant and I still say alomng with others - and Ed001 if I recall correctly - that we really could have done with frining in a really experenced and commanding CB in window that's past. At last replacing the priceless Tiago Silva presence and experience. I do thing TC has been generally excellent for us plus Tosin pretty good too but perhaps neither quite in that commanding league, or not yet, as think LC most lkely to get there imho though would also certainly keep TC and Tosin too. We need excellent cover at CB and the fitness pronlems of Fofana and BB worrying.

Also think that Pedro will do better against most sides when playing with or off a more classic number 9 like Delap. Perhaps Guiu will be given some minutes at some stage given we recalled him from Sundeland unless Maresca only sees him as emergency cover if Pedro injured? There is also talk of Emegha coming to us in January now rather than next Summer.

Am also concerned that we don't have proper cover right now for Cucurella though perhaps Hato will get there in time I don't know. But we can't play Cucu in every game other than likes of away v Lincoln and Hato looked way below what was needed v Brentford tghough agaon will say it's early days for the lad and early Cuvcu looked way below Cucurella now!

I think we had some bad luck as well as silly mistakeslast night eg re nature of their first goal plus two errors - Caicedo's fractionally careless tackle on HK that carried into the box plus Gusto give away for HK's second - when we matched Bat=yern pretty well for fair bit of the game if expecially in first half. In second BM were dominant for the majority.

We were playing a giant of European football in their own stadium plus with a side with many who had never played in Champion's League before, and with amanager who hadn't managed a side in it. We didn't do too badly. I do fear that our eexrtions may cost us at Old Trafford but we will see and hopefully we can bounce back there. What Maresca and the team need to realise as they surely must that we don't need to win every league game although it would have been great to finish in top 8 and automatically qualify for knock out stage proper rather than going through play-offs. Managing both the ECL and the EPL fixtures will be tricky if particularly as am not convinced - as seemed to be case from first half at Brentford - that we can do too much by way of rotation.

But it is a long season, that was our firts loss after nine games without one, and we yet again have large number of new signings to bed in . too many? was it necessary to replace Madueke - doing v well for AFC this far though early days. Anyway I still think it will take time for Vision 2030 to be fully realised and we can win the EPL again or ECL though have ever hoped that answer in terms of exact year this would happen wasn't in its name! Pehaps we can still be pleasantly surprised and we do already have considerable number of very fine players.

My MoM last night was one of them . Cole Palmer.

18 Sep 2025 11:14:29
Apologies for lots of typos above! Also just to clarify if needed that when I said it wasn't necessary to win every league game I was of course refering this leagus stage of the Champion's League.

17 Sep 2025 21:31:30
How Neto has lasted 65 minutes I don't know going to be a long season the whole back line is awful don't no when penny going to drop that James isn't a midfielder gusto isn't good enough fernando isn't good enough. The two subs he's just brought on must start the next game why estavo isn't on yet is a mystery and feel for pedro he's had nothing.

17 Sep 2025 22:03:51
As usual Nib I am much more positive thought for a young side we looked good going forward defensively we were very open and made some individual mistakes Colwill is a big miss .


When this team gets experience it will take some stopping. I know you don't like Neto thought he was ok, Estevao has been ill.

17 Sep 2025 22:04:57
Was it surprised with the result, no.
Was i disappointed with the result, no

Was it expected, without a doubt.

We should have strengthened our CH position when Colwill was diagnosed with a season ending injury, we should have brought in a top notch GK.

Also, I'm really getting fed up with Maresca playing square pegs in round holes.

17 Sep 2025 22:22:31
Bill, as much as I would like Jorgensen to get a chance that result nothing to do with Sanchez. He was good again tonight.

I’m nearly always wrong with my predictions so tonight wasn’t any different. I fancied us to get something from the game but if you make mistakes you get punished at this level. It’s a cliche but it’s true!

17 Sep 2025 22:38:46
I try to be positive but sometimes just have to rant. I no where a young side and to be quite honest I didn’t mind Neto but just look back in the game where he hasn’t that one defender just to go past and he never takes it on just passes it back it’s just not good wing play reminds me of Moses under conte worked hard defensively but rubbish going forward unless his speed got him in behind.

17 Sep 2025 23:14:39
Neto didn’t have a good game but generally he has been good for most of last season and for me he he wasn’t our worst player tonight.

For me the player I love most in our team, Caicedo, had his worst game in a long time.

18 Sep 2025 08:26:03
Once again our frailties in defence were clearly demonstrated . For the first 10 minutes or so of each half we kept the ball well and looked composed. However, apart from Palmer we did really look like scoring. I agree with Nib, it makes no sense playing James in midfield, he is ineffective in that role and is just making up numbers. Sanchez had a good game and Santos looked good in the short time he was on. I would like to see Santos and Estavou start on Saturday. Man U are woeful and if we don’t get a result up there I will be disappointed.

18 Sep 2025 10:07:15
I wi be disappointed but not surprised if we don’t get a result at Old Trafford but a mate tells me we have won a premier league game there for 13 years. Still, records are there to be broken.

18 Sep 2025 10:16:25
I think Sanchez is playing well and really don't see why some keep gigging him out. I agree about about the defence though, Tosin and Trev are average at best and Maresca was very clear in his message to the club that we needed to bring someone in to replace Colwill. That will be our undoing if not rectified in January. James is a world class player and can perform in midfield so no issues there. The decision to allow Jackson leave was a strange one, he could of caused them all sorts of problems last night with Pedro playing behind him. Lessons learnt and onto OT where our recent results have been piss poor so I'm not confident at all of getting 3 points.

18 Sep 2025 11:40:32
Agree that Pedro could have played more effectively behind Jackson and that we needed to bring someone in as good as LC . ideally with leadership qualities, skill and calm reading of the game of a Tiago Silva (who played v well against us in CWC despit his age - have thought at time sthat it might almost have been worth seeing if he could play at least some matches for us this season on contract basis?! OK, that ship has sailed.! ) .

18 Sep 2025 22:25:10
JBS, for some reason I still believe Tiago will be back at Chelsea in some capacity at the end of there domestic season.

Or, maybe he will just come back to Chelsea to see his son play, who I think is highly regarded in our Junior team.

17 Sep 2025 20:42:01
39 mins gone and these are my takes on the game so far.

1) wasn't a foul for there first goal.
2) was a penalty.
3) definitely a red card.
4) brilliant goal.

17 Sep 2025 21:59:38
1) got taught a lesson
2) haven’t got 1 good defender in the 1.5billion we’ve spent
3) James has never been a midfielder
4) the intensity of how we play even when we were 2-1 down is at a snail pace, ‘ we’re losing go get a goal’ even when there’s a mistake made nothing seems to be said, John Terry would of gone made at gusto for what he did not a word was said maybe by Sanchez but he’ll get that back next week when he drops a clanger. Mistakes are made but nobody seems to care it’s like ‘ unlucky mate better look next time ‘
5) we can't create anything without palmer
6)gusto Neto Fernandez all need to move to the side and play others Neto and gusto definitely had another awful game.
7) palmer is class quite in stages but we just rely on him for everything
8) garnacho estavo santos i like don’t no how they played as i turned it off.
9) yes i was most likely looking at another game than you.
10)no positives for me EM showing again he’s out his depth.

17 Sep 2025 22:31:31
Reasons to be cheerful.

Gusto had a good game but made a mistake and at this level can be costly.
Fernandez improved all through last season and will have yet another top season.
Cucarella and James are top defenders in anyone’s team.
Maresca got us back in the champions league and won two trophies in his first season. So, is obviously out of his depth.

Still very confident I will be “watching” us qualify for the knockout stages of this tournament.

18 Sep 2025 09:36:15
James and good defender Tom?, then why is he being played in midfield.

By the way I agree with you, RJ is a blooming good defender, perhaps we should be head coach.

18 Sep 2025 12:56:41
Bill, I personally would always prefer to play James as a FB but I have seen him change games and have good games in midfield.

I can’t sing his praises for being a game changer last Saturday and then be super critical on Wednesday.

I personally would be more concerned about the Caicedo performance because it was so out of character and I don’t just mean the penalty.

14 Sep 2025 15:06:54
I really couldn't understand the team selection yesterday, 3 right backs on the bench and Maresca plays Fofana out of position plus no room for a striker Marc G? Are we already prioritizing the Champions League over the league? Did he under estimate Brentford? Is a points deduction coming our way for the historical issues under Roman's watch and the club already know the league is not a realistic target?
Or was it just tinkering?
Don't get me wrong, I actually think Maresca is the right man to work with our young squad but something seemed a bit odd yesterday and has done for a week or so now. He clearly wanted a Centre back and also wanted Xavi Simmons but neither happened and although Trev is a cult hero being home grown he is not of the level we need and nor is Tosin. Levi is a huge miss and Maresca said as much but was not backed and he must be hurt by that. I know a few on here don't like him but I don't see anyone else out there who could do a better job right now and I would like to see the club push hard for a new centre back in January.
On a brighter note I think Sanchez is getting better and better by the week, he has hardly put a foot wrong since February and certainly the match going fans around me are far more confident now.

14 Sep 2025 16:17:10
RPD, I enjoyed your post.

I assume EM is trying to get mins into a lot of players legs but both Hato and Fofana looked way off the pace. The game against Lincoln will be good one for them to gain some match fitness.

Getting the win and things get forgiven. If that makes sense. I think Liverpool have been average so far but if tbeh win it doesn’t matter.

14 Sep 2025 16:47:19
And LFC did win and fiound a way to get an extra two points in added time at end of the match when sadly we found a way to drop then against Brentford

What I'd say about EM selection agains Brentfor is that EM took a considerable risk putting on three newcomers in Hato, Buenanotte and Gittens plus Fofana back from injury all together instead of two in first hald and two in second say. Would have liked Guiu - not veen in matchday squad?! - and Santos to have played some part in the game. But EM idea was certainly to give most players away on international duty or in CP's caxse returning from injury minutes off/ rotational rest and he almst got away with grabbing three points.

If we'd kept our focus in final few minutes and either stopped their player getting flick on from long thgrow or picked up the obviously likely runner on far post he would have. As it is we dropped points against a side quite likely to battle versus relegation this season given who left Brentford in last transfer window.

14 Sep 2025 18:27:42
RPD, I can’t believe you said Sanchez hasn’t put a foot wrong since February and I seriously doubt that there is priority for Champions League over the Premier League because of possible points deduction which in effect is throwing games. It is just a case of trying to save players and poor selection.

14 Sep 2025 19:04:19
You are entitled to your opinion Jimbo.

14 Sep 2025 19:59:41
I cannot see us getting a points deduction after self reporting and fully cooperating. My bet would be yet another fine and a big “maybe” for a one window transfer ban.

Sanchez played a lot better towards the end of last season and well in the CWC. He was ok yesterday and there are now a few keepers (some English) in the premiership who I think are worse than him. I would still like to see Jorgensen get a run of games.

15 Sep 2025 09:56:05
I would opt for the transfer ban Tom, I would like a bit of stability.

Hopefully 6 windows would be good.

16 Sep 2025 08:58:32
If you look back in history Bill you will see all the great championship winning sides strengthened their squads after winning titles. To go 6 windows without signing a player would put the club back a fair bit. Surely you wouldn't want this would you?

16 Sep 2025 09:55:37
Trevor has been nothing but class this season it mesmerises me how people turn a blind eye to it. Tosin was the weak link he can’t play in a high line with no pace but he’s a fantastic box defender.

17 Sep 2025 16:22:35
TC has been excellent for quite some time ColdPalmer but arguably we do miss in absence of LC (and Fofana fitness a constant worry) is a commanding VVD or Tiago Silva calibre presesence alongside him - and someone who can bring ball upfield and play long ball accurately through the lines - even if Tosin has been generally pretty good alongside TC.

17 Sep 2025 17:46:34
Agree with JBS and ColdPalmer on TC. RE: keeper, Sanchez has improved massively since the end of the season/ CWC first game or so and it's obviously a lot to do with the fact that Maresca has allowed him to send it long at will, rather than trying to pass out from the back (which was, weirdly, the logic for signing Sanchez, that he was good with the ball at his feet – he's not – and also I think for Jorgensen's loss of confidence, having been told publicly he'd be dropped if he ever sent it long, which led to mistakes just as it did with Sanchez) .

17 Sep 2025 18:22:26
I’m very pleased that Sanchez is showing signs of improvement but in my opinion Jorgensen deserved a run of games after his performance in the Conference League final. His first half saves kept us in that game.

He certainly didn’t look like a lad short on confidence.

13 Sep 2025 22:07:15
Generally a better second half and two nice goals with Caicedo one a great strike. But to have dropped two points in injury time a heavy blow though Brentford might just have deserved the draw. But not to have beaten this Brentford side who lost some of best players in the window plus best midfielder out with illness suggests limitations in our squad with likes of Hato and Gittens looking a way of getting to quality requited though of course early daysxand Hato v young. Our subs made big difference second half but our defense looked shakes throughout and vulnerable to counter attack plus long throw. Points lost tonight against a side we really should beat given respective squads on paper at least

My MoM for CFC would be Neto or Caicedo tonight . Neto looking so much sharper than against Fulham.

13 Sep 2025 22:29:39
JBS, I totally agree about Neto and Caicedo and in my opinion you are correct it was the introduction of James and Palmer that dragged us back into the game.

Just one further point, most fans would have liked to have seen us either sign another keeper or like me give Jorgensen a run of games but Sanchez was ok today in my opinion. I certainly didn’t blame him for there goals.

14 Sep 2025 09:35:32
But another game that got away and another reason we will end up no closer to the champions this year, 4 points dropped already no big games played yet.

14 Sep 2025 09:40:43
I knew it would be a tough game but the starting line up made it much more difficult.

Of Maresca wanted to be more experimental, why did he not play our 2nd and 3rd goalkeepers at CH, might have helped with their long throws.

If Maresca continues in this vein after every Inteenation break, we are hoing to drop many more points.

14 Sep 2025 10:26:40
I hesitated to gove my prediction of where we will finish this season when question first raised cos at that stage I don't think the transfer window had closed plus it's useful to have seen the first four games. I may more usually than some verge on the over cautious side -- and last season had predicted 5th to 9th at outset and we finished 4th of course - but would reckon on evodence so far, and its still v early and we haven't played any of the top teams/ likely rival for top 4, that we will finish between 3rd and 7th. Hopefully 3rd of course

I think our strongest first team is pretty good and even with problems at striker and central defence looks top 4 quality. What worries me and expect some others is that some we've brought in are not - yet at least - up to standard of 'like for like' rotational possibilities. Yes if Palmer or Caicedo or Cucurella (Hato not yet a ready made replacemet - injured for any length of time we may struggle for top 4. And we will need to rest some top players though perhaps the domestic cup ganmes early rounds plus against weakest champions league opponent (and there are not many of them) .

Last season the Conference league was virtually a matter of playing English non-league teams until the final - except Copenhagen - so many weekend EPL games will be played after v tough European games midweek. And I can't understand selling Madueke and buying Gittens - not cheap - in terms of winger options. OK we were unlucky with Delap injury but hen perhaps we needed to at least loan a EPL experienced striker if one was available and we were set on selling Jackson. now looking a possible mistake too.

Anyway, I am still more confident of top 4 this season than I was at this stage last season!

14 Sep 2025 13:22:17
JBS, it will not be for the first time if I’m wrong but I truly believe that Gittens will be if grater value to Chelsea than Noni could ever have been.

I do have a concern going forward and that is when teams set up (exception the happy hammers) with a back five. Our next premiership opposition also play with a back five but that game will be at Old Trafford and they will surely be slightly adventurous!

14 Sep 2025 13:36:03
Well Tom I can only hope you're right about Gittens and it is very early days for him. We must always recall that both Cucurella and Caicedo had what you might call stuttering starts for us and yet they are top players for us now. I guess am just hoping that we don't churn over squad members in such large numbers in future as we've done in recent windows.

You rightly predicted we'd get 8 points from first 4 games whereas id hoped for 12.but would have been happy to settle for ten. Disappoint that we were not on that number after last night and particularly cos of lapse of focus in final minutes. Think Garnacho lost his man on far post though in attack Garnacho looked pretty effective in short debut plus got an assist for Caicedo goal.

14 Sep 2025 14:16:10
Also Tom, just maybe Maresca picks a second forward to at least be on the bench, somebody like Guiu perhaps.

14 Sep 2025 14:50:55
Bill, I would have gone with Guiu maybe instead of George.

14 Sep 2025 16:48:32
Agree with you Bill otherwise why nother to recall him from Sunderland?