21 Dec 2025 11:28:55
I, like Maresca, would love to see some experience and leadership added into this group, and, whilst recognising it’s not in the club’s blueprint, think it could be essential to us going to the next level and really pushing on for titles. However, like lots of things in football, finding and signing that experience is easier said than done. For example, re-signing Guehi would add both, but, given the amount of clubs in for him, it’d be a difficult and expensive signing to pull off. Nostalgia might be kicking into overdrive here, but I’ve got a couple of former blues, who we could add in January, that would, in my opinion, fit the bill perfectly.
Thiago Silva - he wouldn’t start much, but, on the occasion when we needed him to start, he wouldn’t perform at a lower standard than some of our other centre backs. He’d be fantastic to bring in for the last 20-30mins, to help the team see games out, but where he’d excel is leadership, a free signing in January is a no brainier.
N'Golo Kante - quiet and unassuming in his leadership, but that quiet presence and work effort would set the tone for the young players in this squad. Again, wouldn’t be starting every week, but could deputise for Caicedo or Fernandez and, much like Silva, would still be fantastic for the last 20-30mins of games.
I believe that just the presence of those guys in and around Cobham would lift the squad, give them a new dimension. But, we’ll sign a 17 year old, who’ll arrive next January after their 18th birthday.
21 Dec 2025 11:59:15
In my opinion we have players who have enough experience but I acknowledge you can never have enough leaders.
I would have Silva and Kante back at the club in any capacity because they both seem like the ultimate professionals who are genuinely humble guys. There personalities can only help any team.
I’m sure will sign more than one 17 year old (if allowed) over the next few windows. It’s what we have been doing and I can’t see that changing. They are our playing future.
21 Dec 2025 12:57:18
There is plenty of experience in the squad, that is not the issue at all. The issue is a lack of quality from some of the squad members. Our first choice 11 is a good match for most sides but some of the back up need replacing and going young is fine if the talent is there.
21 Dec 2025 13:58:11
I agree the squad are gaining experience every game they play.
I was one forvexperience but I don't think that is our priority now, even Sanchez, who i thought was not the GK we needed, has improved no end and should definitely stay as no1.
With regards to the summer signings, I think we need to give them time, Garnacho, is improving, Pedro, I like and will score goals, Delap will be a good goal scorer for us once he gets a run of games, Hato I beleive will be an excellent CB for many years, the only one I'm not sure about is Gittens.
21 Dec 2025 15:00:15
I think that is a good summary Bill, the Gittens signing was a strange one and I think he will leave in the summer along with George and Giui. I'm not convinced by Delap either but Joao Pedro is a good signing. That goal yesterday was pure class.
21 Dec 2025 17:41:48
There is nothing wrong with the investing in young players for the future but a balance needs to be struck. If we are going to seriously challenge for big trophies there are areas we need to address with proven quality players. As I’ve said before apart from Estavou, our summer signings have been disappointing. Pedro just about okay but he is not a number 9.
Even if Delap could stay fit he will never be a prolific goal scorer . We are spending big money on young players who have no pedigree, Gittens being a prime example, I find it hard to believe there aren’t players in our academy who wouldn’t have made a bigger impact if given the opportunity.
21 Dec 2025 18:05:08
I think we have enough experience but agree with Jimbo that a more balanced approach is needed where we don't just sign under 21 year olds but maybe look at 24 and 25 year olds as well who have started to prove themselves, someone like Morgan Rodgers at Villa is a good example.
As for the summer signings I think Joao Pedro, Estevao and Garnacho will prove to be top players for us once they settle and develop.
21 Dec 2025 19:21:25
I have lost touch with our youth set up but EM seem to be integrating some of our young talent into the squad particularly for a cup game.
I don’t get concerned about us signing very young players. its a global market and in my opinion we are a trading club.
I’m also not yet concerned about last summer’s signings, players can take a while to settle into the premiership. I rated both Hato and Gittens but I wasn’t sure about Delap. I personally remain positive about all of last season’s signings.
21 Dec 2025 20:48:15
Tom, Gittens is very poor; nothing about him gives me any confidence: while you were watching Gittens playing in Dutch football makes me think you were eating their Brownies.
21 Dec 2025 21:28:30
Jimbo, I would suggest it’s you who needs another buff of the wacky backy. Gittens played in Germany.
I expressed my one reservation about him when we signed him but I think he will learn and become an important player for Chelsea.
Hato played in Holland if that helps! He is very young but was in my opinion a top talent and again given time he will become one of Chelsea’s best defenders.
22 Dec 2025 08:22:42
Tom, I got my Farmers Leagues mixed up. The Bundesliga is where young English players go who aren’t good enough to break into the PL ( Bellingham being the exception) .
The only decent signing we made from the Bundesliga was Ballack but was already an established top class international player; not the type of signing we are likely to make again.
22 Dec 2025 08:47:38
Harsh on farmers leagues and maybe a bit harsh in KDB who I seem to remember coming from a farmers league. Another player, like Salah we wrote off far too quickly.
I repeat, in my opinion both Hato and Gittens will be good Chelsea players.
22 Dec 2025 10:44:11
I haven't seen enough of Hato to judge him either way yet - some bad errots in few minutes he'sbeen given in terms of game time but also one or two flashes of quality. I think he was captain of Ajax aged 19 which shpould say something though sadly Ajax nowhere near what they used to be in terms of European football rankings and are currently bottom I think of ECL table. But if Hato was bought as cover/rotation for Cucurella at LB. or for Levi at CLB . clearly Maresca doen't yet want to play him much and Cucu could surely do with more rest than he's getting. We have let quite a few LB back ups go like Maatsen and Hall.
But then perhaps they were impatient for more ghame time and/or we needed to sell own grown for profit to pay for likes of Gittens who we can only pray now will prove worth it. It's also v early days for him and have made recent comments to effect he has yet to show us why SDs had faith in him and not Mudueke (or Jackson at 9) in terms of our attack.
Don't know about Delap. Had thought he would be a good signing cos we needed a more classiv EPL physically robust number 9 i which Pedro - though a very skilful player and a good signing in my imho - is not . or not in classical big strong but also skilful target man who can physically rattle defenders like Woltemade on Saturday v us. or DD or Costa for us in past. I guess that is what we hope for from Delap still.
I do think though that Garnacho has the potential to be a big player for us at still only 21 yrs of age but clearly needs to learn to be more composed in front of goal when playing in EPL rather than Caraboa Cup. Pretty simple things like not leaning back when shooting so pinging way over the crossbar. or if hitting ball low buit near keeper really hittong it hard. There may be other times of course when ball just needs to be guided past if crossed. But what I've seen from him since moving to the Bridge from United is in general less selfishness and more tracking back ie hard work.
I reckon we all agree Estevao is the real deal but in EPL in contrast to ECL games he may still while so young be moreeffective coming on second half against tiring defenders rather than starting as he did at Leeds where he was not v effective patrtly cos kicked a lot (and retaliated) by fresh defenders first half and so subbed at half time.
22 Dec 2025 13:23:37
Sports News' Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
"It's obvious what Chelsea are tying to do. They are building a young squad for the future. A lot of people in the past few days have been saying they are lacking experience. People can't have it every way. "
"Chelsea have been criticised for signing too many players. Now they are being criticised for not signing experienced players. "
"They had four centre-backs on the bench against Newcastle. They still have some really physical players. "
"I can't see the Chelsea football leadership team changing their strategy. Their strategy is to buy young players and develop them. Enzo Maresca is not expected to win the title this season. All he has to do is make sure Chelsea are in top four and improve on what they achieved last season. "
23 Dec 2025 14:53:03
RPDi really don't believe they shouldn't change their policy on transfers. Policies are reviewed with what is seen on the ground. Now we have moved in that direction and discovered the club can't wait for them to mature in experience to compete for the title. So somehow experience could be added to improve the team for both present and the future. So it's possible to review the policy. The post by J. Captured a possible way of adding experience in silva and kante who already know Chelsea well. They will impact the squad in a competitive ways.
23 Dec 2025 17:20:19
That the club didn’t expect us to make a serious title challenge shows a lack of ambition. However, I doubt whether any of us believed we were up to the level of winning the title this season and I fear for the foreseeable future.
The notion that you sit around and wait for players to develop is naive. The clubs above and below us aren’t going to stand still they will strive to improve their squads and plug weaknesses while we’re waiting around for players to develop.
23 Dec 2025 17:46:08
You are correct, no club should be looking to “stand still” but there is nothing to suggest that we will not be looking to improve our squad at the same time as players develop. Both things can happen at the same time.
23 Dec 2025 20:45:46
Tom, on the evidence of recent windows we haven’t improved our squad to move up a level.
24 Dec 2025 00:45:53
I think the last few windows have been ok and I seeing the last one as a slow burner.
This is just me but I also think that getting Lavia fit and keeping him fit for the remainder of the season could end up being very important. I hope I can remember what he looks like?