Chelsea International Banter 3

12 Apr 2026 19:57:19
I watched the game on TV, so I’m usually reluctant to be too negative or positive about the team or individual performances.

The first half was ok, with Santos and Hato playing well plus Palmer showing lots of energy.

Unusually, I have no negative comments to make about our two CH’s.

The second half, we played like a team half asleep. We were out worked and out muscled, and I find those two issues hard to accept.



As some posters may know, I rarely, if ever, pull up stumps on a player until the season is over, but I have zero idea how Gusto gets picked over Josh.

I have no idea what galvanised our need of seasons performance last season, but we need that mental shift to happen and happen quickly.

12 Apr 2026 21:15:57
Tom, Maresca galvanised our tremendous end of the season, which got us top 4 and 2 pots. The same Maresca had us in a solid Champions League place this season when the sporting directors pushed him out. The same Maresca had us primed for a semi-final of the League Cup and firmly in the Champions League. The same Maresca is the one the players are all coming out and saying they respected and didn't want him to be changed. Sadly, the grass was not greener and we got Liam, who has overseen a total disaster, culminating in us losing our last 4 Premier League games and winning just 1 of the last 8, which, if it continues, will lead to us finishing outside of all the European places and probably looking at a mass exodus in the summer.

As some on here have already said, the sporting director who was behind Maresca being pushed out and Liam being brought in must be held to account.

12 Apr 2026 21:49:53
Greenaway, I will thank Maresca for being the manager who brought two more pots to our trophy cabinet, but I now have zero interest in the bloke.
Apparently, him leaving was more about him wanting to leave than the owners or SDs looking to get shot of him.

12 Apr 2026 21:54:58
But that same Maresca did not do very well this season for us in the EPL. 21 games and only 31 points, an average of 1.54 per game. Liam R was just a little better, with 17 points from 11 games at an average of 1.47. Both pretty dismal.

How often do we have to repeat that 'the project' has failed to build a good enough squad in depth to compete in the EPL and Champions League?

We will have to win 5 of the last 6 games to equal the points we ended on under Poch, or about 1.65 points per game, with the worst injury list in the history of the Premier League.



Again, blame not just on our two managers this season. Players, SDs and owners share it. Many players are well below what we'd hope for today, especially in the second half. Estevao was poor in both halves, and Gusto too. But we all know all of this. Only questions left in this season are: can we get to the FA Cup final and win it, plus finish in the top 6?

12 Apr 2026 22:08:24
JBS, that is not correct, mate. Maresca had us in a strong top 4 place when he left. Have some respect for what he achieved. Tom, he asked for an experienced centre back and less interference from the sporting directors. I think he earned that.

12 Apr 2026 22:19:50
Greenaway, I have as much respect for Maresca as I have all the managers who brought success to our club, but I'm not obsessed about him.

It looked to me as if he wanted to leave.

So, thanks and goodbye.

I'm only interested in supporting what's at my club "now." I am not interested in supporting a manager or player who has left or wants to leave.

12 Apr 2026 22:58:00
Greenaway, you are partly right, mate. But Maresca didn't leave us in a very strong position, as we were in 5th position after three draws and a loss. We were three points behind Liverpool and 6 behind Villa, but better than we are now, I guess.

I had forgotten we lost the game between EM departing and LR coming in, and that dropped us to 8th. LR then picked up most of his 17 points in his first five games in charge. Far too few after those first five games, though.

12 Apr 2026 18:06:19
We are terrible, I'm failing to see what this project is.

12 Apr 2026 18:45:01
It's a project to build a nursery at the Bridge, nothing to do with winning football matches.

LR will get a bashing, however, it was too big a gig to turn down, and he will know that even if he gets sacked, nobody cares because the footballing world knows every coach gets hacked by the SD's/owners.



I have an idea. Let's sack the bloody SD's; they are the common denominator in all this.

What's plainly obvious is that the protest before Saturday night's game has probably just gone up another notch.

12 Apr 2026 21:45:20
Bill, dead right. It is understandable that LR took the job, particularly as he is delusional about his ability. Any bashing he gets will receive no sympathy from me. However, as you stated, the SDs are ultimately responsible. On what planet did they think he could succeed?

12 Apr 2026 21:56:52
Certainly, SDs and 'project' are as much to blame as EM and LR for the dismal league performance this season, Bill. Owners to share blame, and players as well, though.

12 Apr 2026 22:22:24
Any manager takes the plaudits and the criticism, but in my experience it usually involves more than one "single" thing or persons.

12 Apr 2026 17:57:11
Am I being harsh saying Caicedo has been absoloutely appauling since his red v Arsenal.

12 Apr 2026 18:50:55
I wouldn't say appalling, but he hasn't really had a good season, imo. He's not been at his usual standards, which are very high. So, he's still been decent, imo.

12 Apr 2026 21:08:24
Caicedo is, in my opinion, being asked to play a slightly different position under LR, and I think, since that very slight change has been made, his performance levels have dropped off.

12 Apr 2026 17:49:08
Well I'm off to bed.

I am made to think of Cole's comments when Maresca was first sacked and we went on a winning run where he said they have freedom now. I can't help but think that's because Liam hadn't got his micromanaging arrogant fingers into the team yet.

Since he has had time to instill his ideas, can anyone tell me how exactly we play, other than a million passes between defenders and goalkeeper? There is zero intensity, zero movement off the ball and from what I can tell zero actual gameplan.

I was sick of watching us play under Maresca especially against low blocks, however, at least we knew in big games we would give it an attacking crack.

I'll still chime in from time to time but won't be watching the next 7 games. Let me know when the plonker is gone.

12 Apr 2026 21:58:23
Well put, Melbourne. I think I may do same.

12 Apr 2026 17:22:06
Decent first half. I think Gusto has done very well with Doku and Este has been helping get back. Neto helping less whenever Semenyo gets it. Hato is handling himself very well and just feels more assured than Fofana who is as always, shaky.

It just feels as if this season Cole has lost his touch. I'm sure the injury hasn't helped but it's almost every game where you see him seem nervous and heavy with the first touch.

Estevao not touching the ball for the first 10 minutes and then booting the ball away for a yellow was stupid, but teenagers and all that.

Can't quite understand how Cucu found himself offside, but hopefully we open up a little in the second half as a draw isn't that good of a result for us, or them.

12 Apr 2026 21:59:40
Cucu offside, such a ridiculously tight decision.

04 Apr 2026 19:18:39
Not a great first half considering we were 3-0 up. Estevao looked rusty and clearly isn't as comfortable playing on the left. Neto was probably the stand out.

Second half we starting clicking through the gears. I thought Lavia and Santos worked well together. Was nice to see us looking to play balls through the lines through the middle. Estevao looked much better second half. I thought Gusto played really well, as did Hato, without being put under much pressure. Also thought Tosin played well until he gave that pass away in our half, which we have come to expect with our defenders.

All in all a decent performance and hopefully we take some form into next week.

04 Apr 2026 18:31:59
Enjoying this performance!

04 Apr 2026 20:22:51
The performance was ok, and the result enjoyable.

05 Apr 2026 09:35:56
Can't remember the last time we scored goals for fun, so I'll take it!

04 Apr 2026 18:20:41
Not much to say about the half. As I said in a recent post, it's a game that Chelsea can't really come out as winners. If that makes sense?

04 Apr 2026 18:18:59
Gusto has had a good first half and Fofana has been ok but if I'm Josh I am not happy.

I assume he will be sold or loaned in the summer. Maybe a loan to Coventry.

04 Apr 2026 17:12:06
No Acheampong in the starting line up.

It's a lineup that screams of a coach under pressure.

04 Apr 2026 18:22:39
J, yes it does, but I think that's understandable. It also gives a chance for one or two players to get mins. I would have played Delap and Josh.