31 May 2025 22:20:49
Great performance by PSG. Some people have made a point about their young squad. They have some very talented young players but they also have experienced players. The starting X1 tonight had: Donnarumma, Marquinhos, Hakimi, Ruiz and Dembele. They played a 4-3-3 my favourite formation: no inverted fullbacks and players playing in their best positions. More importantly, they have a top class coach. Lessons to be learned.
31 May 2025 22:44:57
There average age is below 25, so they are about one year average older than our team.
I have zero interest in the “too young” or “lack experience” mantra. We have experience and the CL next season will be a test of that experience and youth.
PSG v Barcelona would have been one hell of a final but the PSG win was probably overdue.
31 May 2025 23:21:26
Tom, you are being inconsistent. You posted that PSG were doing well with a young side when posters were suggesting we needed some experienced players and when it was pointed out that PSG have spine of experienced players you dodged the issue by not being interested in mantras. As far as CL, apart from James ( with very few games) my, who are our experienced players?
31 May 2025 23:40:48
Jimbo, I am not inconsistent. I have consistently said I don’t hold with the lack of experience crap. I have even given our relative player experience. I described it as a “crutch. ”
FGS. Fernandez has won a World Cup. Cucarella about five years in the premiership, Caicedo at least two in the premiership, Jackson two years in the premiership, Sancho has player for about five seasons in top leagues, Colwill, three seasons in the premiership, Sanchez, I think about four years in the premiership, Neto two years in the premiership, Noni at least two years in the premiership. Palmer three years in the Premiership and I think he has a CL and Premiership medal.
31 May 2025 23:45:34
Sorry sent before finished.
On top of all that, I have missed out…. How many of them have loads of international caps?
01 Jun 2025 01:11:09
International football is totally different though it’s rubbish.
01 Jun 2025 07:37:35
Nib, playing in international friendlies maybe rubbish but playing in international tournaments for teams that are competitive gives players the experience of pressure.
01 Jun 2025 08:13:45
Tom, I obviously misunderstood your position; no excuses based on the age of the squad. However, I was referring to playing in the Champions League as well as domestic fixtures: a very different type of pressure ( not comparable to Conference League) .
01 Jun 2025 11:30:20
Was a great watch last night. Jimbo, I saw the fullbacks not only inverting but playing all over the pitch. At times the right back was almost playing as the centre forward. It was superb, fluid and fast football and those wingers are awesome and that is an area we need to improve.
01 Jun 2025 12:01:41
Jimbo, I would normally take the view that players ever sink or swim under the pressure of the CL but has slightly changed now. The new format to me means that teams are now given a chance to grow into that competition because of the almost stupid league system that’s been introduced.
I wouldn’t be concerned about the experience of our players but I would have a slight concern over our managers CL experience but he would have learned a small amount last season and he was at City for several seasons.
01 Jun 2025 12:28:41
Tom, agree about sink or swim. Next season the young squad mantra will not wash. Obviously, the quality of signings will make or break or season . I am waiting for a chance to praise our SDs but I won’t hold my breath. One more benefit of CL football is that hopefully we will have less Sunday games.
01 Jun 2025 15:23:40
Jimbo.56 is there anything you like about chelsea?
01 Jun 2025 16:33:14
In fairness to Jimbo, I too have mot been happy with the coach, lack of experience which would be down to the SD's, lack of long teem FOS and lack of transparency on the SB project.
That being said, the team and for that matter the coach, did well to get us into the CL and win a trophy.
I honestly think that the summer window will be very important for both incoming and outgoings and the SD"s must get it right eith such an important season coming up.
The Commercial team also have to get their act together and obtain a good deal on a long term FOS.
The owner also have to play a part and let the fans know what is happening about the Bridge.
01 Jun 2025 16:57:02
Bill, outing aside the report on any SB development, your concerns about SD’s or just recruitment has been the same every season and we had poor recruitment under previous owners.
01 Jun 2025 17:15:14
Tom, forget previous owners, what it’s important is the here and now. I have put last summer’s transfer window to one side. The point I was making was about the importance of this window if we want to step up. I am open minded but concerned, Delap is a reasonable signing but is a no brainer low risk deal.
01 Jun 2025 18:09:11
Jimbo, you may have put aside the historic and important role our current SD’s played within the club structure but I haven’t.
My point is previous recruitment teams at our club and other clubs have made good and bad signings. Our current SD’s are no different.
Delap was about my 5th or 6th choice. I did ask a a mate for his assessment on his abilities. He said he has “played wide” and that was a surprise and was always likely to get a booking.
01 Jun 2025 18:32:52
Tom
I agree mistakes have been made by past owners however we did win Premier leagues, champions leagues and cups.
All of saying is now that we are in a really good position, it's so important that the summer transfer windows improve the first team.
01 Jun 2025 18:49:36
Bill we won a CL and signed Lukaku if I remember correctly and someone in the club thought that signing Ziyech was a good idea.
My point is all windows are important. We have won a trophy albeit a lesser trophy and qualified for the Champions League, with these players. Most fans would have been happy with that at the start of the season or even with six games left of the season.
All clubs will be looking to improve there squad and we need some areas strengthening but probably not as many as being reported by pundits or demanded by some fans. I think our player sales will be just as interesting as the signings.
01 Jun 2025 18:54:08
Tom, as I said Delap wasn’t in my three options but in terms of finance low risk: yes he does get booked a lot but we need a bit of aggression in the 18 yard box and yes I am worried that clubs like Arsenal might sign a 25 goal a season striker. i have little confidence in our current SDs and it will take a big improvement in recruitment to alter my opinion that they are jumped-up scouts promoted above their competence.
01 Jun 2025 19:52:07
I’m obviously not fortunate enough to judge our SD’s “competence” but I can only say that I’ve been be happy with our signings.
Mistakes were made in the beginning but since the owners have changed the structure and introduced a certain type of recruitment plan, I’m happy enough.
I have said this before but I was told last season that statically about 20% of all player signings fail. Obviously it you follow it through logically that stat can mean for example that all five new signings fail for one season but all five signings for the next four seasons are a success.
The person who told me this works at a company owned by the Brighton owner.
03 Jun 2025 02:21:35
I was going to echo the point about experience being relative.
There aren’t many Chelsea teams that have had a Champions League winner, a European Champion, an African Cup of Nations winner and a World Cup winner in them at the same time.
At least not when their prime years were still ahead of them.
03 Jun 2025 11:23:01
FD, don’t tell anyone mate. As I keep saying, I do not buy into this inexperience idea.