13 Apr 2025 20:21:37
I'm finding social media a horrible place at the moment regarding Chelsea, a lot of poch fans who want to compare as if poch was prime Jose or Carlo, a few things that people need reminding of
1) this is down to a terrible squad build, billions spent and the areas you win and lose games haven't been addressed
2) poch ( I wanted to stay ) ran out injury prone players into the ground and back in the recovery room
3) poch was never in a race for champions league football, the late run of the team was because most of the teams we played had one eye on the season being over, we played a few teams who had something to fight for and it was Arsenal Burnley and Sheffield Utd, we took 2 points and ate 5 from Arsenal
4) the next manager will have santos Petrovic william join us without spending a penny, that alone means the next guy will have a better hand than the last
5) the home support is terrible, the footballs slow and we're not winning vital games, it's a vicious cycle and maresca calling fans out will be his p45 as the useless sporting directors will need to appease the calls for blood
6) I'm not a fan of maresca, but I will say, Jackson missing sitters, chalobah missing from yard out, post hit 2twice and misses chances then being sloppy at the back and a keeper who is either 10/ 10 or 2/ 10 isn't his fault that reads like it was a good plan and needing executing.
13 Apr 2025 20:39:03
Matt, I do not agree with all of your post but I do with the majority of its sentiments.
13 Apr 2025 21:52:16
What do you disagree with Tom, I hope your well.
13 Apr 2025 22:16:16
Hi Matt hope you're well.
Agree regarding the squad build. It has been my primary criticism since the new owners came in. I won't carry on about it.
I didn't think poch was the right decision either but after a good first season, him walking was dissapointing. Again, I can only imagine the reports of him walking because of the bad decisions made by the club were true (gallagher sale, chalobah sale)
I also think this is a worse team than last year after losing gallagher.
I did see a statistic saying we've missed the most big chances this year, a couple more than Liverpool. Interesting.
13 Apr 2025 22:24:29
Matt, it’s mixed. I don’t think we have a “terrible squad. ” I think we should have gone all in for a top keeper and striker. I would add that I think the club has desperately tried to sign a so called top striker.
The Poch appointment was in my opinion a mistake for reasons I gave at the time. I would be more than happy if Poch went back to the wilderness that is spurs.
The home support can be awful but the away supporters are top drawer.
The SD’s get criticism but we have no idea what they have been asked to do.
Anyway, I’m ok thanks Matt. I’ve now got yet another date for my operation but unfortunately it’s now not until early June.
13 Apr 2025 23:56:35
Tom, you quite rightly say that the Poch appointment was a mistake but nail your colours to the mast: was the Maresca appointment a mistake as well?
14 Apr 2025 01:03:19
A lot of me feels for Maresca, in reality, he was on a hiding to nothing from the beginning. He may well have been told, by the club, that UCL qualification wasn't essential in year one, but the fans were always going to need to see a hell of a lot more than they have, since the turn of the year, for that to really be acceptable.
Partially blaming the fans, and the atmosphere in the stadium, will only serve to hasten a departure that's feeling increasingly likely. The mob rule, and they will make their feelings known about the standard of football they're watching, especially now. UCL football may not have been a requirement when he was hired, but it feels like a necessity now, if he wants to stick around.
14 Apr 2025 05:55:33
Jimbo, I could have been clearer about the appointment of EM, he was my third choice. I want him to remain as our manager for a long period of time as that would probably mean he will have been successful. I will give him praise and be critical from game to game. I will make an assessment of his abilities at the end of the season.
I have no idea what our owner’s set him as a target but I assumed it was a minimum of Champs League qualification.
As far as his post match comments about our home fans are concerned, I have made my views clear about booing the players, team or manager during a match as counter productive. For me he was asking for support during a game from the home fans during a match. He probably shouldn’t have made that point by using a conceded goal as an example. Criticising fans rarely ends well, even though I think some of “home” fans behave like spoilt brats.
14 Apr 2025 08:47:13
Tom, you have evaded the question and re-cycled your usual comment that you hope so and so remains coach for many years to come etc. which reminds of the Wizzard song from the Seventies: “ I wish it could be Christmas everyday “. As for waiting until the end of the season, there are only a few games left. I’m not sure what you expect to happen it the next few weeks.
Booing is and has always been a part of football just as much as cheering and singing. You have to take the tough with the smooth and it’s the the only way supporters can communicate their feelings to the club. To some extent Maresca has brought it upon himself by his lack of rapport with the fans and arrogance.
14 Apr 2025 09:16:42
Tom,
The home fans are fed up with the boring football on display and are not been 'entertained'.
In most other areas, people would walk out and seek another venue however, when you support your team, thatsxall you have for the 95/ 100 minutes.
The only way the fans can show their frustration is making their feelings known and if they think the coach is taking of a player who is playing well, they are hoing to voice their disapproval, same with any team.
Believe it or nit Tom, we are all like you in wanting CFC to be entertaining and successful but at the moment that is not happening and the coach is well and truly in the firing line. LeicesterMaresca is not slow in coming forward blaming both players and fans for his problems and this will lead to a speedy departure.
I have said all along that the SD's screwed up in going for you g players, particularly wingers when in the summer, they should have purchased a top striker GK and CB. so I would say they have let the coach down and when the departure lounge doors open, it will be the coach rather than the SD's who walk through it.
14 Apr 2025 14:10:08
Jimbo, If we win every game until the end of the season and win the conference cup if could well influence my end of season assessment. I think there is a maximum of eleven games to play, I think you can wait a little longer. Anyway my opinion is hardly going to change anything. I didn’t want Poch sacked.
14 Apr 2025 14:27:06
Bill, I’m getting fed up with saying the same thing but as I keep being asked the same questions about EM here we go again.
I have been very critical of EM and his lack of tactical flexibility. I also praised him over the first 16 premiership games.
For the vast majority of the 32 premiership games we have played this season I have NOT found them boring. In fact I can’t remember a time in the last few seasons when we have had more players breaking there neck to get into the box. On occasions this season I have counted five players in or around the six yard box. Our choices in and around the box are frustrating and if Palmer is kept quiet we look lost for that bit of lass or killer pass. We also look a completely different team when Jackson plays.
We are, like most teams now possession based football. Sometimes I admit almost just for the sake of it. I personally not a lover of just keeping the ball as a priority and I would us to mi up our tactics more. As I’ve said many times I would like the manager to be more flexible and let the players play a bit more off the cuff.
I don’t think the manager will be sacked now or at the end of the season but as I’ve said before I was wrong last season when the owners sacked Poch.