28 Sep 2025 11:39:13
I still haven't seen yesterday's game but understandably the defeat has brought about another waive of EM sacked.

The range from, "clown, " "taxi for EM, " "sacked/ out of his depth, " "disgrace" along with many others. So far I haven't seen the dreaded "it couldn't get worse" comment.

I see nothing wrong with those opinions but I just happen to disagree with them. I had no problems being in a minority last season (better than my expectations) and I will have no problems being in a minority this season.

1.) 28 Sep 2025
28 Sep 2025 13:01:59
Tom I think Maresca will be given this season at least - as he was given last season - unless the wheels come completely off over the next month or two. We have had a pretty dreadful start to the seazxon and my despairing comments about the last few results and especially the United debacle and Brighton second half shambles stem in large part from the higher expectations I had for this season because of how we ended the last one and especially the fine team performance v PSG in CWC final. Ok they lowered a bot when we didn't sign a very high quality and experienced CB when LC injury extent known and also when DElap injured and we'd already effectively sjhown NJ the door and Guiu clearly not seen as ready replacement. Pedro for me and many other someone who needs a more classic number 9 to play off if especially in the EPL.

But I'm with you on the 'it couldn't get worse' comment given these are still v early days and it would also be a matter ofr who could we be sure woud be better. I do expect quite a few fans will be singing the name Jodse Mourinho tomorrow night and more and more loudly if we look like losing or perhaps even drawing. I do think now there is a good chance we may be struggling to make top 4 and that if we don't the club may look at replacing EM. Like you I will continue to criticise him if I think he's got positions wrong, subs wrong, tactics wrong etc. But - if not nearly as yet to the extent that Poch was faced with - he has suffered injures to key players and I still want EM to pull things round of course as I want hime to put a string of good results together v soon starting with tomorrow night and a surprise result v Liverpool (who did after all lose to Palace. Glasner a fiture Blues boss if things go pear shaped this season? or .? ) .

So yes the doubts I harboured abot EM appointment have resurfaced, I think the first trophy he won was perhaps less difficult than us winnin the Full Members Cup back in 1986 (I think), and we had the luck of the draw in the CWC, and ain't beaten many top sides. but yes we got two trophies which was one more than I expected and the CWC showed how much the talent there was in our young squad and that can't have vanished. But EM is also the victim of his and the players' own success in that compoetition of course for reasons already stated many times. So I am still in the don't sack camp right now. NOt sure for how many months but hopefully til the end of the season!

2.) 28 Sep 2025
28 Sep 2025 13:56:09
JBS, in my opinion a very enjoyable and well balanced post. Thank you!

3.) 28 Sep 2025
28 Sep 2025 17:36:27
Thanks Tom. Not sure if you'll be there on Tuesday night but will be myself and report back! Surely we will put in a good performnce and pick up a win?! Mood will be very dark and chants for Jose given his presnce in the Benfica dugout probably very loud if we don't.

4.) 28 Sep 2025
28 Sep 2025 18:51:19
JBS, I’m sorry to say I will not be there for the Benfica game and yet another Jose return.!

I am recovering from what I hope will be a rest of life changing procedure. So although Chelsea have tried to make me miserable, I’m feeling more positive health wise than I have in a long, long time.

5.) 28 Sep 2025
28 Sep 2025 21:39:19
Hope all goes well Tom.

6.) 28 Sep 2025
28 Sep 2025 21:58:29
Would be madness to sack Maresca at this point but such is the world of top level football anything could happen! Me and the boys had this chat after the game, who would come in and make a difference right now? The Bournemouth bloke? nope, would be another Potter, the Strassbourg bloke? see above, De Zerbi? do me a favour, the list goes on. With our squad all the issues will still be there so leave it alone, chill out and wait until the season ends. Pushed further a few went for Klopp but that won't happen. The rest of us said leave Maresca until the end of the season and then go for Lampard after he steers Coventry to promotion. Think about it and then think about what you wish for?

7.) 28 Sep 2025
28 Sep 2025 22:32:26
Hope your recovery goes very well Tom and great to get this positive health report from you amid all the current gloomy CFC news.

8.) 29 Sep 2025
29 Sep 2025 06:51:28
You are being very kind lads but honestly it’s about the most positive health news I’ve had in a long while.

9.) 29 Sep 2025
29 Sep 2025 09:19:14
JBS, I agree mostly with your post. It was good to win those trophies last season but it doesn’t elevate us into being one of the Big Dogs in European football. For that to happen we will have to seriously challenge for titles and go deep into the Champions League. As for Maresca, I don’t rate him and do not believe he can take us to a higher level. That said, it is far too early to be talking about sacking him, I expect he will see the season out. All Chelsea coaches get sacked in the end, it’s always a question of when. I think the last Chelsea manager not to be sacked was John Neal who retired because of ill-health.

10.) 29 Sep 2025
29 Sep 2025 12:02:35
Yes we are not yet one of the Big Dogs again in European football and I expect it will take a season or two more before we are. A great deal depends on ongoing transfer business getting us there. Statistically, apparently, the players on books matter more than the manager but we know that some managers can get ore than sum of parts out of players and other get that 10% more out already fine squad in terms of belief and effort.

Then there's the matter of leaders on the pitch and perhaps we don't have many/ enough of these in current starting lineup with young team. So I don't think many would argue that though a heck of good person and v decent player that Roberto di Matteo was a great manager. Yet the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Mikel, Cahill and Petr Cech gave a good leadership spine to the side . and Terry of course before being sent off v Barca. Then one can think of what Jose achieved in winning the ECL with Porto then Inter.

Interesting if John Neal was the last manager who left rather than being sacked. But didn't Sarri officially leave to become manager of Juventus rather than being formally sacked though there may have been a push factor? I'm not sure. Still cannot believe that we sacked Carlo A. after he'd won a double for us. just bat crazy. I must read his book.

11.) 29 Sep 2025
29 Sep 2025 20:43:41
JBS, I totally forgot about Sarri, I think he wanted to go back to Italy for family reasons.

12.) 30 Sep 2025
30 Sep 2025 07:33:04
Haven't seen either of the last two games would definately give the manager to the end of the season, our injury's at cente half are really hurting us.

One doesn't realise how good Colwill is until he isn't there.

Hopefully get a result tonight.

13.) 30 Sep 2025
30 Sep 2025 07:57:14
Just out of interest, did Poch actually get the sack? Or was it a “mutually agreed” agreement?

14.) 30 Sep 2025
30 Sep 2025 09:29:02
Tom I think the vote by SDs and one ofd the pwners was to get rid of Poch with TB against and the 'parting of the ways' ewas a polite way of saying he would have to go. But then this may also have been according to some because there was mutual disagreement about transfer strategy/ question of manager consultation or say in this.

15.) 30 Sep 2025
30 Sep 2025 12:55:26
JBS, I can’t remember the process. In the back of my mind I thought he had a one year contract with an option and the so called “mutual” agreement was about not activating that option.

16.) 01 Oct 2025
01 Oct 2025 08:02:25
Poch wasn't sacked.