21 Mar 2026 23:26:58
Plan was to have wife open the app away from my eyes and get the replay on before I knew the score. Fortunately I woke up before my wife and checked. 3-0? Sheeesh.
I watched the first 15-20 minutes and it's quite clear the team are operating on 0 confidence. No one wants to play it out from the back and everyone is scared to make a mistake (of which there were like 4-5 in the opening 20 minutes). Also clear that the manager bounce that LR got has disappeared and the team has reverted to slow, uninspired build up play.
Disappointing but not surprising. I really appreciate that Tom doesn’t jump to conclusions, wants to give time before he passes judgement and all in all seems very level headed.
I’d sack Liam tomorrow, myself. Absolutely plonker of a bloke, who is completely out of his depth and it seems has lost the respect of the players who don’t seem to be playing with any intensity, desire, or care.
I think Enzo is highly overrated, however, imagine being a World Cup winner and turning up to training every day to listen to Liam talk about aging men and respecting the ball by huddling around it. Very likely footballers around the world would have no desire to come to Chelsea and our own players are having the mick taken out of them by everyone they know.
Change it before the rot spreads.
22 Mar 2026 08:32:06
Melbourne, I gave my opinion on LR when it was obvious he was going to get the gig. I didn't want him as our manager, but once he was appointed, he gets my support. I will give my assessment on him and other players at the end of the season.
I may well be wrong (usually am), but I can't see the owners/SDs doing anything before the end of the season, and probably not then.
You never know, King Carlo might be available after the WC.
22 Mar 2026 08:39:48
Melbourne, I totally agree with you. Ultimately, the owners are responsible for this mess; they appointed these muppets, and endorse or permit this reckless process. If you have a young, inexperienced squad, the worst thing you can do is appoint a young, inexperienced coach who has no pedigree.
Even if there was to be a change of direction, it would take a huge amount of persuasion to attract an elite coach and top-class players.
If LR remains next season, a number of players will look to go. It is all very well going on about long contracts. We all know, if a player wants to leave and a top club puts the money on the table, it will happen, and the money will be spent on young players and so it goes on.
The ship is sinking, and we are going down with it. SOS.
22 Mar 2026 10:04:24
I know, Tom, and I respect your decision to reserve judgement. I was quite impressed with LR over the first handful of games, but as soon as we were up against it. He has no ability to affect a game in a positive way. You could point to both Napoli and West Ham as signs he made adjustments when needed, but in both games we were down because of his attempt to be too clever with the team set up and tactics.
His interviews are horrendous. He only says what he thinks others want to hear. An AI depiction of what a manager is like. Hopefully he learns his craft and has a successful career. However, I don't want Chelsea to become an on the job learning kind of club.
Agree wholeheartedly, Jimbo. This team is crying out for either a manager who is fully proven, or one whose strongest attribute is getting a team to gel and fight. The fact he was not only hired but signed to a ridiculously long contract is a joke. We've sacked how many managers since this lot bought the club, and they think a long contract for an unproven manager is a smart move? Maybe they thought as he aged we could sell him for profit.
Depressing times and LFC, United and the Spuds are all struggling as well. We should be enjoying this season for the mess it is for almost all of our rivals, and instead we're looking up the table wondering how we've been worse.
22 Mar 2026 11:00:24
Depressingly spot on posts in this thread.
22 Mar 2026 13:13:26
Melbourne, and the fact the team played well for about the first ten games under LR shouldn't be forgotten. Also, the five or six games, with one exception, have been generally awful.
Nothing's going to change, so I can wait.