Chelsea International Banter 3

18 Oct 2025 14:46:54
Well at least we got the 3 points which in the end is the important thing.

What's not helping are the injuries we are picking up therefore there is no consistency within the team.

Another thing we should worry about us the amount if red cards we are picking up, it's no longer a silly situation, more like a serious situation.

18 Oct 2025 15:13:45
Agree with all of this Bill and the number of cards we are picking up including is it five consecutive red ones now is worrying. But given that Maresca has picked up one of those himself he may not feel easily able to lay down the law on this?!

18 Oct 2025 15:14:39
You do like to worry Bill ?, me, on the other hand just enjoys the 3 points and the fact the gaffer made 3 decent changes at HT.

18 Oct 2025 17:36:29
Are you saying you are not worried about going down to 10 men, we were lucky today it was towards the end and we were 3 up however the indiscipline has cost us already this season.

18 Oct 2025 17:43:29
An important 3 points after a lack lustre first half. The injuries are worrying. Didn’t realise Fofana is injured again unbelievable.

18 Oct 2025 23:31:29
Is Fofana injured again too? BB is andnis out until December.

18 Oct 2025 14:31:13
Caicedo makes our team so much better and even Gusto has a much better second half when he came on.

Josh, having had a screaming game against Liverpool and just looks better and better. He looks a proper talent.

My other big shouts are for James who is just class and Guiu who works so hard.

The managers changes made a big difference, so well done him.

18 Oct 2025 15:15:29
Agree eith with all in this Tom though you need perhaps to add that Gisto had a much better second half until he stupidly got himself sent off for a pointless second yellow v late on.

18 Oct 2025 15:16:01
Josh is probably the reason the SD's told Maresca he couldn't have a new CB. A good shout.

18 Oct 2025 16:27:47
I did think thst in absence of not just LC but BB we may still be without a CB who can play passes through the lines in central part of pitch with considerable assurance. Tosin possibly the best of the rest in this respect? Anyway we tried doing this a few times in first half but they were usually intercepted with some danger to us. But yes I think we have all been impressed by Josh and will hope we can get away eith having teo best passers from the back currently injured. Perhaps Josh and TC will add this to their strong defensive game plus occasional goals. and was wonderful to see Josh scoring today from great Neto pass.

18 Oct 2025 13:33:29
Gusto is terrible lol he either gives it away or puts people under pressure. If we're being honest it should be 3-1 forest. Just looked at estavo stats from him scoring winner against Liverpool last two games for Brazil ?? scored 3 and assisted 2 yet can't get in.
Pedro is no good up top on his own looks loads better when he drops deep for the ball. Defenders have looked shaky all half and we have created 1 opportunity. I believe the level of football we're playing forest is about are level we don't look much better than them and they seem to have the same problems.

18 Oct 2025 12:32:47
Gusto playing again why not drop santos in there and estavo as the 10 what's the boy got to do.

18 Oct 2025 14:32:13
Santos wasn’t very good today.

18 Oct 2025 12:18:15
Sad to hear that BB injury picked up v LFC means he's out again for a long period - this time until December. Also that Cole P won't return for another 6 weeks. Also that Enzo won't feature today though one can hope he will be back for the Ajax game, I don't know. Also that Caicedo will only be on the bench though again some rotation for him probably good idea in long run. Also with Enzo out too this gives some match time to Santos and Lavia so hope a) the can do well of course b) neither gets injured if espeially injury prone Lavia.

Seems likely that Pedro will start up front again and that Guiu not trusted to. yet. But he is om the bench.

TC comes back to partner Josh.

So this is definitely a weakened CFc team but one which we still can hope is good enough to get a positive result agains what must be a Forest side low on confidence. But it's the EPL so can never be complacent and we do have nasty habit of up and downess in league results in recent seasons!

18 Oct 2025 12:53:35
Pretty dreadful first 20 minutes with tons of unforced errors by us - huge one by Lavia particularly dire - and Forest could have scored 3. But it's still 0-0.

18 Oct 2025 13:29:19
The number of players we have out is a big worry both short and mid term hope Estevao and Cacaido come on after an hour.

18 Oct 2025 14:32:04
They did seymns and reckon their very presence on the pitch made a big difference. as i think did Guiu by keeping Forest centre backs busy and allowing Pedro to play deeper. Whole team discovered more energy.

But having said that Forest could and should have scored three or four today themselves as they had at least as twice as many as that in really good chances. Great that Josh scored and what a well worked free kick between Reece and Neto who put lot of thought into how to beat their wall

So a dreadful first half for us andcstill pretty scrappy in second but took our chances or many of them and Forest none of theirs though v unlucky with the one that hit underside of crossbar.

Your discipline still a worry with yet another red card and a completely unnecessary one for Gusto. Is that a club record number in consecutive games?!

04 Oct 2025 20:54:38
He still wouldn't be my cup of tea, but fair play to enzo maresca he seems to come back well and react to had results hopefully he keeps learning and developing into a top coach.

18 Oct 2025 12:29:09
It’s the players if you’re on about the Liverpool win who wouldn’t be up for that game, it’s getting these so called professionals up for games like today away a forest were the manager needs to do is work, mourinho was brilliant at it, enzo showed little bit against Liverpool but that was most likely due to saving his job. For me he’s not good enough some of the players aren’t but we’ve got what we’ve got now so I will see how things go

Mc on not starting must be a injury.

04 Oct 2025 18:56:48
As great first half second same people letting us down how gusto plays I will never know.

04 Oct 2025 19:51:06
Nib, if the only thing you could take from that game was Gusto. You need to give your head a wobble.

On my way home from the game and EVERY player was fantastic.

Salah on the other hand!

04 Oct 2025 20:31:18
Tom, you need to wobble your head as well- “every player was fantastic “. As usual you have gone over the top. However, it was a good team performance. This is what I want to see; digging out a result against a top team. However, you are right about Salah. Ed001, what’s going on with him; looks like the shadow of the player he has been. I hope you and City improve, the idea of Artita winning the league is causing me nightmares. (.

{Ed001's Note - he got a huge new contract and seems to have lost the drive that made him so good. But then the whole team is off in terms of intensity and the early balls aren't coming to give him something to work with, so it is not just him. That is more the issue for me, the training is lacking intensity and so is the play, that is what is wrong imo.}

04 Oct 2025 20:33:12
Wonderful goals and result. will write more tomorrow!

04 Oct 2025 20:48:00
Yep, EVERY player for Chelsea fantastic.

On my way home from the match but Josh looks a star of the future and Badiashile was awesome.

Caicedo will rightfully get MOM but Enzo has his best game of the season. Neto also worked his socks off.

The managers hand was forced with the defensive subs but changing the front three was proactive and it worked.

Just one more small thing Lavia coming on put us back in control of the match.

04 Oct 2025 21:01:38
I am very cautious about using the phrase but I think Caicedo is world class and would start in any team in Europe.

04 Oct 2025 21:49:54
Tom, repeating things and using capital letters doesn’t make things true. This was a close game and good performance and the the team showed mentality. I hope hope we carry this on after the international break. Using words like “awesome “ and “fantastic “ make you sound like a teenybopper.

04 Oct 2025 21:57:10
I reckon the one thing all on here agree with is that Caicedo is phenomenal.

04 Oct 2025 22:22:27
Jimbo, why don’t you just let the Ed’s edit. I will post what I want in anyway I see fit.

The chances of me ever being a teenybopper were always zero.

We were awesome, fantastic and EVERY player was brilliant.

Absolutely buzzing!

04 Oct 2025 22:35:38
JBS, absolutely, and now he is adding goals to his game. I love it every time he gets within 20 yards of the goal we all shout “Shoot”.

04 Oct 2025 22:49:46
In questioned about the players I slate you get it for the people you praise which is normally everyone, but I respect that you sit on the fence, gusto wasn’t great Pedro wasn’t great either two centre half’s did well but there not the future I will tell you that. Sanchez distribution was still bad garnacho was a threat and got better as the game went on James was good cucurrella was good estavo brought energy, am glad we won first half was positive but with the first lot of subs it brought them a level up but all round good result just need to rest and hope we have no injuries through international week.

04 Oct 2025 23:54:11
Tom, what have the Eds got to do with it. I responded to your delusional post. Of course you can post what you like; you never stop. I just like some objective perspective on this site.

05 Oct 2025 00:38:02
That should of said I get questioned when I slate players you when you praise them but I don’t mind that u sit on that newly painted panel.

05 Oct 2025 06:34:06
I find it amazing that if your positive or happy about any performance your accused of sitting on the “fence. ” If you do nothing but moan your honest or objective.

I personally will be critical when it’s deserved and give praise when it’s deserved. I will also express and post my happiness about a performance in anyway I want. Likewise the reverse is true.

05 Oct 2025 08:58:08
Same old same old on here. The jimbo and tomb show.

Great performance, and even better win not our strongest side either. I have to say josh does look a future star and no one can take that away.

Enzo merasca got it spot on. And even if am not his biggest fan at the minute. His celebration for the winner, is winning me around slightly.

05 Oct 2025 10:03:08
CFB

Totally agree, great performce and win, nobody seems to mention we hit the post twice.

We are also decimated at the back with so many injured.

Also loved the Jose passion shown by zmaresca.

04 Oct 2025 18:28:26
What a strike but they have opened us up three times.

Going to be a difficult 45mins.

03 Oct 2025 19:09:37
So with Fofana ruled out due to the premier league concussion rules, Tosin and Colwill injured and Trev suspended I guess BB starts alongside Josh. I suspect James will start in midfield unless Lavia can play in such a tough game after returning from injury. I think Enzo will play as the 10 and I fancy Estevao to start.

Sanchez

Gusto
Josh/ Hato
BB
Cucu

Moises
James/ Lavia
Enzo

Estevao
Pedro
Neto

Will be tough against the Champions and league leaders but the crowd should be buzzing. Maybe we can nick a point?
What do you think ED01?

{Ed001's Note - I hope you get battered tomorrow, sorry! But Liverpool are not playing well, so you have a good chance.}

03 Oct 2025 20:29:12
I forgot about Fofana’s concussion. Has Tosin been confirmed as injured?

04 Oct 2025 09:12:08
A bit of a free hit for us, lots of players out injured and suspended, no one gives us a chance against the champions and side who are top of the league having spent half a billion on new players in the last window so no drama. I love us being the under dog. Come on The Chels.

04 Oct 2025 12:01:16
Come off it greenaway you can't mention how much they have spent. I don't bleat on about our spending but you can't mention another teams compared to ours.

04 Oct 2025 16:41:25
Greenaway, seriously, you love us to to be underdogs!

04 Oct 2025 22:34:36
I think that was solid. Players out probably made us 2nd favourites for the match and I didn't expect the win so maybe that phrase is correct. Was you happy we won Jimbo?

05 Oct 2025 18:02:51
RPD, the bookies had us as the underdogs. Happy days!

I was very happy and so was everyone around. Totally bonkers reaction to that late winner. Football can occasionally give such joy!

03 Oct 2025 17:45:42
big game tomorrow- a loss and it feels like a slump has started, liverpool can be gotten at atm. our starting xi will be interesting with current injuries and fitness worries. praying we don't see george upfront as he looks lost there.

also jamie gittens. in all seriousness has anyone watched him properly? what is his game? because from his brief time with us i can't see it.

03 Oct 2025 13:52:10
I will be at the game tomorrow. I'm not sure what to expect. I'm not sure about the result or the players who will be fit.

I'm hoping to see a midfield three of Enzo, Lavia and Caicedo. A defence of James, Fofana, Badiashile and Cucarella.

My guess is, it will be Gittens, Pedro and Neto up front.

Anyway, COME ON MY MIGHTY BLUES.

04 Oct 2025 10:46:45
No Fofana tomorrow Tom and I think Garnacho far more likely to start ahead of disappointing thus far Gittens. Otherwise your lineup quite likely I reckon.