Chelsea Banter 3

16 Mar 2026 16:32:18
For those interested in player ratings, WAGNH run a post match fan poll after every game. Against Newcastle, I think it's the lowest set of player ratings I have ever seen. Sanchez top with 5.8/10 and Fofana lowest with 3.3/10. Room for improvement from all the players!

16 Mar 2026 15:22:13
Following the news that Chelsea have been fined £10.75 million and have received a suspended transfer ban after Roman secretly paid £47 million to agents during his reign as owner. The Premier League said Chelsea's "proactive self-reporting" and "exceptional co-operation" throughout the investigation acted as significant mitigating factors when mulling over potential sanctions.



Chelsea "accept the terms of the settlement in full" and welcomed the Premier League's acknowledgment of their help in the investigation.

The new owners get bashed a lot by a section of our fanbase but their approach to running our club has to be fully applauded compared to the corrupt and totally unethical way Mr Abamovich conducted business. I, for one, doff my cap to them.

16 Mar 2026 16:35:18
Rpd, they certainly got this call right.

16 Mar 2026 17:32:31
I have to say I also agree.

16 Mar 2026 18:28:14
Agree, the new owners get a lot of stick, but generally I think they have done a great job if you think where we were when the Russian sanctions came in. Reporting the illegality 100 per cent correct, that is why we got off lightly.

{Ed025's Note - or it could be the amount of brown envelopes that have been given to certain people in power mate?..

16 Mar 2026 18:42:24
Brown envelopes is a phrase I haven't heard since the George Graham and Harry Redknap days.

The sadly departed TV once told me about a deal between Chelsea, the Spuds, and Norwich that made me chuckle and was slightly surprising.

{Ed025's Note - oh it does still go on Tom, City being the main culprits mate..

16 Mar 2026 20:04:32
Don't get too excited yet. We still have FA sanctions to come. They can also deduct points.

16 Mar 2026 22:05:59
It has been reported that, too, it is going to be financial, but time will tell.

16 Mar 2026 22:27:06
Also glad they self reported and respect it.

17 Mar 2026 11:02:18
The City punishment if it ever comes will be interesting.

16 Mar 2026 15:18:58
James apparently out for 6-8 weeks with hamstring injury. Always seems to happen when a player signs a new contract.

My guess is the LR haters will say he has been overplayed in midfield and Santos plus Lavia could have played 45 mins each against Villa.

Mind you he probably got his injury in training.

16 Mar 2026 15:37:35
I doubt anyone will blame LR for the injury - strange comment. James being injured is hardly unexpected.

16 Mar 2026 16:02:58
Tom,

I doubt anyone, or indeed anyone, should blame LR for RJ's injury. His record speaks for itself.

16 Mar 2026 16:22:53
Let's hope not, but strangely, I have just received a WhatsApp message saying it's down to LR playing him in midfield too often.

16 Mar 2026 17:49:07
James shouldn't be playing in midfield, but I doubt that has anything to do with his latest injury.

16 Mar 2026 22:27:54
I personally blame the owners, Tom. ;)

17 Mar 2026 07:53:18
Standard

I just know that comment was younger in cheek.

16 Mar 2026 14:55:42
Apparently we have been given a £10.75 million fine and a suspended transfer ban by the Premier League - much better than I had feared. Hopefully, we can put this behind us and concentrate on football.

16 Mar 2026 16:13:34
Got off very lightly. The Roman years were great, but it always felt a bit dodgy. I did love Eden Hazard in a Chelsea shirt.

16 Mar 2026 14:10:45
I'm pleased that our current owners have been commended on their early reporting of malpractice and their cooperation with the authorities.
The penalty is about what I expected. I think it's all also good news that the club/owners have excepted the punishment in full. That's one we can put behind us.

16 Mar 2026 11:45:02
Out of the last six or seven managers we have signed I only wanted one and he was a complete disaster. We now have the same fans and a few posters who wanted Poch and EM sacked now wanting LR sacked. The club is NOT going to make every fan happy with players or managers it signs.

It is also NOT going to make every fan happy about players it sells or managers it sacks. Fans' personal preferences on comings and goings are not taken into consideration when these decisions are made. Just support the "club" and stop dishing out personal insults.

16 Mar 2026 13:18:48
Tom

Have I missed something here? I have not seen personal insults recently.

16 Mar 2026 14:13:09
Bill, that is not the main point of my post, but yes, you have missed some personal abuse.

16 Mar 2026 14:22:39
Tom, supporting the club doesn't mean you have to support owners, SDs, coaches or players. This is a banter site and posters are entitled to express their opinions.

16 Mar 2026 15:38:11
I agree with Jimbo, the site is all about banter and having an opinion, Tom.
As far as the last 8 managers go, I was in favour of Conte, TT, Lamps and Maresca. I was against Sarri, Potter, Pochetino and Liam, so I guess I'm a 50:50.

16 Mar 2026 16:16:54
Jimbo, I certainly do not hold back on my criticism of players, managers, SD's or owners. My main point is it's impossible to make all the fans happy about a player, manager or SD appointment.

Let me also make it clear I have no problems with criticism. I do have a problem with personal criticism but that's up to the Ed's to edit. I will also acknowledge that what I consider to be "personal" others may not.

17 Mar 2026 07:56:45
I have read Tom's posts long before I started posting.

I would say Tom does criticise when he thinks it's needed, but also, unlike some of us, he likes to give things more time to see if situations can change. If they don't, he calls it out.

17 Mar 2026 08:15:06
Bill, that is spot on mate.

I also try and call out what "I consider" to be personal abuse. I just don't see the need for it, but each to their own.

16 Mar 2026 09:23:04
I have a feeling one of the 3 English teams who are 3 goals down will qualify for the round of 8. City 3 down at home to Real Madrid, Spursy 3 behind at home to Atl. Madrid and us 3 behind at home to PSG. Worth a little wager.

16 Mar 2026 11:15:51
If any Greenaway, and it's a big if, my money would be on Man City.

16 Mar 2026 15:05:40
The Spuds. CG hat trick.

15 Mar 2026 19:48:53
Hi guys, haven't posted in a while.
If I'm honest, I'm not sure what to make of us this season, I always want to give managers time to build something, but unfortunately I feel that he's out of his depth.

He spends most of his time saying the same stuff and like a robot.
It won't be long before it gets toxic and the fans really turn.
I don't really see the project the owners set out to convince these players to join.

15 Mar 2026 20:33:59
The home fans at The Bridge can hardly be more mute than they were yesterday.

As always, it depends on results. A few wins, and us fickle fans will be back onside. A few losses, and it will probably become toxic ish.

Whatever, I just can't see the decision makers changing direction anytime soon.

15 Mar 2026 20:59:03
SteveCfc, when punters were calling for Maresca to be sacked, I pointed out that the grass is not always greener, and, as a club, we should do all we can to smooth things over until the end of the season and have a full review. I know a fair few who agreed with me as well. Sadly, that didn't happen and the club brought in Liam, who, as you rightly say, is so far out of his depth. We all know how this is going to end, and it will now impact next season as well, as the SD who made this foolish appointment won't want to back down and admit his mistake just yet.

Maresca would have found a way to win a pot and get top 4, in my opinion, but we could still have then parted company in the summer and brought in a high-level coach capable of delivering sustained success with this incredibly talented young group of players. But now, due to the terrible mismanagement of the situation, this will likely drift on until well into next season.

15 Mar 2026 21:28:24
I also didn't want to see Maresca go, but again, I cannot understand how people are only blaming Rosonier. Delap, Lavia, and Hato as subs when we were chasing a win against the opposition is horrendous squad depth.

We're so badly balanced, it's unreal, and, still, 4 years in, have not dealt with the glaring issues in the squad. It did not help that we made zero lateral moves in the summer, only sideways moves with no improvements.

15 Mar 2026 22:10:51
In my opinion Lavia and Hato will go on to have fantastic careers, hopefully at Chelsea.

Delap certainly wasn't one of my choices (mine was Sesko), but sadly the lad has had far too many injuries and suspensions for me to judge him as a player. When I have seen him, he occasionally looks very good, but I will give him time and games before I make a decision on his abilities.

Like a lot of teams at the moment, we have injuries, and yesterday we had an important suspension. These things happen to all teams.



We do have the CF from Strasbourg joining in the summer. I do think we will sell Badiashile and Tosin, and this should leave a gap for another CH.

I assume Josh will sadly go out on loan. I would personally rather see him playing instead of Gusto.

I would sign Costa and make him our No1 for years to come, but I have a feeling Jorgensen will leave, and the No1 spot will be between Sanchez and Penders.

Of course, as usual, I'm just guessing, but I just believe the books will be balanced in this coming summer window.

16 Mar 2026 09:02:12
Tom

I fear you are right.

Both Sanchez and Jorgensen should go, and we get a top GK, Costa as you say, with Penders still learning his trade as a no.2.

I will add Fofana to your list of CB's to be sold. Josh should stay, with Gusto sold.

I also think Lavia (injuries) should go.

Gittens and Garnacho to be sold, with potentially Neto going to Barca, and EF to RM or PSG.

Delap and Guiu (no trust from the coaches) should also be sold.

Summary: with your two included, Tom, that is an entire team that should or might go, which highlights why we are not at the races for any trophy at this point in time.



Then you have to question why LR was not given a temporary role until the end of the season, and appoint a more qualified coach, with LR going back to Strasbourg.

Lastly, the SD's. How they are still in situ is beyond me, but hopefully common sense prevails with the club's review at the end of the season, although if the SD's are doing the review, they are hardly going to sack themselves.

16 Mar 2026 09:28:06
Revolving doors there, Bill.

16 Mar 2026 10:43:35
I think the home fans are probably tired of watching the tedious sideways passing and lack of shots on target, week in, week out, Tom.

16 Mar 2026 11:19:35
They are, Greenaway, but I cannot see us competing with those guys around, and that includes the SD's and LR.

16 Mar 2026 11:22:24
CFC, as I said in a post recently, Premiership football has become boring.

The majority of teams now come to the Bridge, drop deep, play a narrow back four, and try to hit on the counterattack. All very legitimate tactics, but it's so dull and predictable to watch.

16 Mar 2026 11:27:15
Bi, I haven't said Sanchez will go. In fact, I think he will stay, and it will be between him and Penders for the No1 spot. Unfortunately, we will not sign Costa.

In my opinion it would be borderline lunacy to sell Lavia and Gittens.



Also, and I repeat, the end of season review doesn't mean anyone will be sacked. A change of recruitment policy might well be sufficient.

16 Mar 2026 11:44:31
Bill, I totally agree with you about Liam. A caretaker role would have made sense, but to give him a 6 year contract was pure stupidity. With regard to the sporting directors, we don't really know who has been successful and who hasn't. I presume Paul Winstanley brought in Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella, so you could argue he has been a success.

On the other hand, I imagine Lawrence Stewart, having been in France at Monaco, brought in Disasi and Badiashille, who have not worked out.

16 Mar 2026 17:57:40
If teams come to park the bus at SB, it's up to us to find solutions. We are also guilty of playing full and predictable football at the Bridge. As for selling Lavia and Delap, I doubt we would get many takers.

16 Mar 2026 18:38:47
As I said, it's a legitimate tactic. My mates who support a wide variety of clubs say it's the same at their home games. It would appear not to be just a Chelsea thing. It's certainly been obvious when I've watched a few of the better teams playing at home.

The Premiership has become boring in my opinion. If others are happy with that, then fine.

16 Mar 2026 23:26:38
Unfortunately, even if we wanted to, and there were buyers, we couldn't sell everyone on your list, Bill, unless we were to sign HG replacements for most of them; otherwise, we'd be stuck with a squad of 19 or so players.

17 Mar 2026 08:00:14
Fuser

Maybe a smaller squad might be more beneficial with less rotation.

We might have a big squad at the moment, but many get injured, and it's down to a number of players to carry the load.

17 Mar 2026 08:16:41
Bill, I'm not sure our squad is any bigger than any other club. Excluding academy players.

15 Mar 2026 16:19:35
Congratulations to the women's team winning the League Cup.

15 Mar 2026 17:05:50
Well said, Bill. The Doris's delivered today.

15 Mar 2026 18:04:31
Absolutely brilliant ladies.

15 Mar 2026 21:02:48
They played v well indeed, and thoroughly deserved the win... So, congratulations and thanks again to Chelsea Women for winning yet more silverware and giving us something to cheer.

15 Mar 2026 14:44:29
When the manager says you're the best player in the world in your position, then plays you in another position where you're not the best, and plays someone in your position who's not as good as you, it's not a good look.

15 Mar 2026 15:31:36
Says more to me about the lack of depth in midfield. Andre Santos was starting to look fatigued, Lavia not match fit. Who else we got?

15 Mar 2026 16:41:49
Santos fatigued? He has hardly played much to be fatigued. Drop Enzo back in there from the start, which he ended up doing. Even play Josh in there, which he has talked about but not yet done. Start Lavia and share minutes with Santos. A few options, I think. Reece is a world class right back. Play him there, please.

15 Mar 2026 16:51:57
Mentally fatigued. First season in the EPL, it is nothing like what he has played before. The pressure at a club like Chelsea, compared to Strasbourg, is nothing like he has dealt with before. Fernandez and Caicedo do not work as a pair; Fernandez's lack of mobility and recovery pace gets found out and leaves Caicedo isolated.

Lavia looks way off the pace, in the form he has shown so far. He was starting a lot of games.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see James at rb, but I believe the lack of depth is the main factor for him starting in midfield.

15 Mar 2026 17:08:47
All fair points, J, but I prefer to be as strong as possible in each position and not compromise one position to plug another, hence weakening 2 positions. What would you do against PSG?

15 Mar 2026 17:30:28
Greenaway, I agree with you. I am bored hearing about professional footballers going on about fatigue. Mental fatigue? Just as well he's not a brain surgeon. Try being an average Joe, worrying about paying the bills and providing for your family.

15 Mar 2026 18:07:15
They just have different pressures. I respect those pressures, and I think they deserve to be paid well.

15 Mar 2026 18:21:21
Many, many years ago I had to book a comedian for a company bash. We had made a good profit, and the then directors decided to book a so-called "top" comedian who could develop a one-night act about the company and the individuals that worked in it.

The overwhelming recommendation from various sources was Bob Monkhouse. Luckily, he was available for this one-night stand, but the amount of money he wanted was completely off the charts.

Anyway, I got the directors' approval to pay him this huge fee, but boy, did he work for it.

Researching the company wasn't difficult, but finding out about staff members, and remembering it, made me realise what goes into being a professional entertainer.

Needless to say, his delivery was perfect, and it was appreciated by every staff member who attended.

I have had no problems paying top dollar to be entertained. The wages these people get has never bothered me. They have a talent, and the majority deserve to be paid well for it.

{Ed001's Note - he was a good friend of my uncle, an absolutely top class comic.}

15 Mar 2026 18:40:07
Not too many brain surgeons at 21 years of age.

15 Mar 2026 18:41:10
The PSG game's gone. I'd throw the towel in and worry about the next EPL match.

15 Mar 2026 18:48:21
One thing I would say is, in the WCC final, we were at our best with Gusto on the pitch, effectively playing as a right winger, from his right back position. But it's obviously a completely different scenario.

Chasing a 3 goal deficit against this PSG team will likely result in breakaway goals, something we're vulnerable against at the best of times.

Maybe starting with a back three would make some sense.

15 Mar 2026 18:51:38
Ed, I had the pleasure of meeting him again many years later in a bar near his Barbados holiday home. He was a good drinking companion as well as a very nice bloke.

{Ed001's Note - he was also very helpful to my uncle, he was basically his mentor when he was starting out. He gained nothing from it either, just helped him get a start and was always there to give advice etc. Every time he was interviewed he would put my uncle's name out as the best young comedian he had seen as well, which helped a lot. And he made sure when he did the Audience With.... show that my uncle was one that asked a question.}

15 Mar 2026 19:10:20
I just don't begrudge professionals of any walk of life. Some of them have short periods of success, but they try to be the best they can be and deserve their rewards.

Good luck to them!!

15 Mar 2026 21:07:27
Nice info on Bob Monkhouse Tom and Ed001. Ed001 can"t help asking - but you don't need to answer of course ot with his name - but did your uncle become a well known comedian?

{Ed001's Note - I suppose it depends on what you mean by well known. He did well enough to be neighbours with Michael Owen and Gary Speed, the Speeds were his best friends. He is also a historian and was an advisor on Anthropoid, so swung himself a named extra role in it by way of payment. He and his wife have a showbiz agency now.}

15 Mar 2026 22:05:19
I'd say that makes your uncle both successful and very interesting Ed!

Oh and much hope your parents got safely home

{Ed001's Note - they got home fine mate thanks.}

15 Mar 2026 22:29:11
Glad to hear this and well done.

{Ed001's Note - not as glad as I was to get peace Hahaha.}

16 Mar 2026 09:25:59
Nice one Ed001!

{Ed001's Note - lucky they did get out as the airport is shut down again after another drone hit.}

16 Mar 2026 11:04:06
J, what about Doogie Howser.MD😀The point I was making was that to become a top class athlete you need strong mentality as well as talent.
Tom, I don't begrudge footballers or anyone else earning top dollars.

I am indifferent to the issue, whether they deserve it is a matter of opinion but I don't want to hear any whining about how hard life is.
Ed001, I agree entirely about Bob Monkhouse, top class comedian; in my top three.

16 Mar 2026 15:01:54
I certainly can't remember any professional footballer "whining" about "how hard life is", but I do have respect for all professionals, as I mentioned, in any walk of life.