Chelsea Banter 4

07 Sep 2026 17:20:11
Hi ED01, do you think Gabriels kick to Martinezs head was deliberate and brutal and if so, should he have seen red?

{Ed001's Note - on first glance I thought he was just going for the ball, but on watching again it felt like even if it was just going for the ball, I think it has to be at least dangerous play as he could see Martinez's head there. It was, at the least, reckless, I thought and there was far too much force for it to be considered as a yellow. So I would have thought it should have at least been something they sent the ref to have a second look at on the monitors.}

07 Sep 2026 19:24:36
I agree the incident should have been referred and reviewed. My personal view is it was not a red card, but I have seen softer incidents given a red card. If that makes sense.

07 Sep 2026 21:21:31
Thanks ED01, also, what was your take on the foul on Morgan Rogers in the build up to Arsenals second goal? To me, it appears VAR and the refs are supporting those winkers yet again which will ruin the competitive nature of the league just as it did last season.

{Ed001's Note - I would need to look at that one again, as I can't remember now. I was splitting my time between editing and watching the game. I will watch it properly for the match round up, probably tomorrow as I am still getting through Saturday's games at the moment. I went to the footie here Saturday night, so wasn't able to watch any of them live so a bit behind this week.}

07 Sep 2026 21:45:19
Thanks, Trish. You still in Dubai?

{Ed001's Note - yes mate. How are things with you?}

08 Sep 2026 09:42:05
All good, thanks, Trish.

{Ed001's Note - that's great mate, good to see you back as well.}

08 Sep 2026 20:35:25
Thanks, Trish, great to be back.

{Ed001's Note - you're welcome.

07 Sep 2026 05:41:41
For lots of reasons couldn’t sleep so I just finished watching yesterday’s game again.
I’m personally never confident about giving match summaries after watching games on TV.
Firstly, Arsenal performed better than us. We could have nicked a point.

My impression after the game was Palmer wasn’t as influential as he can be, but that seems to happen a lot against strong teams. I also still think we should have played with a narrow three man midfield, but may have caused us more problems out wide.

So many times we had players being pulled out of position with significant gaps appearing all across the back line.

Also, the gap between the defence and midfield was far too big. I guess what I’m saying is, so far under Alonso we are not compact.

Obviously, Martinez should do a lot better for their first goal, but all players make mistakes, but when goalkeepers do, it’s usually costly. This is also just my gut feeling, but I don’t think they score the second goal if Caicedo is playing.

I wouldn’t have hooked Neto, but Estavao did cause them some problems.

Our games against dirty Leeds and Hull will be interesting. I can’t see the point in risking Caicedo, but I hope Palestra and Barco both get mins.

07 Sep 2026 07:58:52
It was a poor performance yesterday. Our defensive frailties from the first 2 PL games came back to haunt us. Havertz was allowed to run a long way before getting his shot away for their first goal, and their second goal was schoolboy defending.

They continually managed to find huge gaps to exploit. We were lucky it was only 2-1 in the end. Though I'll never know how Gabriel got away without being punished for kicking Martinez in the head, and also Rice for the deliberate foul on Rogers.

07 Sep 2026 08:15:34
Tom, I have got over the disappointment of yesterday. In the end, Arsenal probably deserved to win. I won’t go on about our midfield as the issues are glaringly obvious. It’s unfortunate that Moises is injured, and we didn’t bring in a midfielder who can play in a double pivot: things might have been different - who knows.


We should win the next two games, and, like you, I would not risk Caicedo. That said, we should not underestimate Leeds, who, no doubt, would be happy to go to penalties. It would be very disappointing to be out so early in the League Cup.

07 Sep 2026 09:23:23
Maybe the people who only post when we lose would have something to do if we got beat by dirty Leeds.

I personally think that sooner rather than later, Alonso has some tough, Jose-like decisions to make. That's when it will become very interesting on lots of levels!!

07 Sep 2026 10:24:00
Agree that Martinez could have done better for Arsenal's first goal, even if the ball came between Lacroix's legs and to Martinez as he was balanced towards moving to the right. So not as bad an error as Sanchez v Fulham, I reckon, and Martinez made many other good blocks and does inspire more confidence.

Palmer is a bit of an enigma at the moment. He looked back to his best v Fulham, less so v Brighton, but did score that nice goal, yet was otherwise in and out of the game yesterday.

Both he and Rogers are exciting flair players who combine well together, but are not great at defensive duties, and so all the more reason we need a really solid defensive pivot behind them in midfield, but also someone, like Kante, and perhaps Kone and Camara, who we were linked with, leave aside the incomparable Lamps, able to drive forward with the ball from deep or deliver fantastically accurate long passes when needed.

Kevin De Bruyne is exemplary for City in this respect, and of course one we had let go. Enzo also offered something in terms of transition play, controlling the pace of the game, plus tackling ability, work rate/turf coverage, and goal threat, but he did lack great pace, and anyway that ship sailed and the problem was that a replacement was not purchased. But last time perhaps that needs to be mentioned, if not already done so one too many times!

07 Sep 2026 10:09:15
Yes Tom having watched that Mourinho documentary Alonso needs to find that ruthlessness whil also making his players willing to walk through fire for him.

At the moment our openess, and with numbers of goals scored and conceded, slightly reminds me of early Klopp's Liverpool - nort sure if Ed001 would agree though? - and that project took a while to get right, arguably key being signing of Virgil van Dijk (about 18 months after Klopp came to Anmfield? ), though cleary earlier signings of Salah and Wijnaldum hugely important too. Fabinho a later key creative midfield one.

In other words, Alonso team capable of winning EPL not complete as yet imho and the owners must give him the time - and would be wonderful if he could for once be a lon/longish term manager for our club - - to oversee the process. He is the reason that I still have considerable hope/cofidence that we will qualify for ECL football this season.

07 Sep 2026 10:47:52
Jbs, while at Chelsea, Jose never seemed a fan of players who only had "moments" of influence.

07 Sep 2026 13:53:13
You are right, Tom, and one wonders what he would have made of, or done with, CP's ups and downs.

07 Sep 2026 14:30:48
JBS, Roger's also looks like a "moments" player. I really hope I'm wrong, but so far I have not been impressed with his work rate.

It will be interesting to see if Alonso makes a big call on one or both players in weeks to come, or against the better sides, because our two DMs got totally outnumbered on numerous occasions yesterday.

07 Sep 2026 15:55:59
I agree, and almost added Rogers to the CP comments. Can we afford two flair/moment players in attack in our side, if not also pretty reasonable defensively, which neither seems to be.

OK, Hazard was one in the 2014-15 season, and Mourinho did acknowledge that he was something special in CFC's EPL winning team under him.

Mind you, JM had John Terry and Gary Cahill in central defense, plus Dave and Ivanovic outside them... then John Obi Mikel and Matic available to play defensive pivot roles ahead of them. Oh yes, and Cech or Courtois to choose from as GKs - has there ever been a better two options for any club in that position?!

06 Sep 2026 07:39:14
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, SFA Youth Minutes Plan Feels Like a Quick Fix

05 Sep 2026 08:40:01
So what we all expecting the line up to be tomorrow? That front 3 picks itself but a couple of questions elsewhere. Anyone going?

05 Sep 2026 11:34:56
I assume the midfield/double pivot will be James and Lavia. The wing-backs, I guess, are Hato and Gusto.

Sadly not going. Given the arrogance/confidence my Gooner mates are showing, I am not sure why we are turning up.

06 Sep 2026 10:17:32
Tom, we have fulfilled the Premier League fixtures. 😀

05 Sep 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

04 Sep 2026 13:16:49
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

04 Sep 2026 09:45:45
Hi guys, the only subject discussed at the last 3/4 FAB meetings has been ticketing.
I have sent a request for an item to be put on the Agenda for the next board meeting.


For those like me who like to moan about many CFC issues can I suggest you send a request to the FAB and ask for your question/concerns to raised at their next board meeting.

04 Sep 2026 07:57:40
My memory isn’t what it was but didn’t our owners buy the club from RA/government for £4.25bn in total. Of that, £1.75bn was held in escrow for the stadium, women's football, the academy and I think Kingsmeadow.

So, I assume we still have £1.75bn ish still in an escrow account?

04 Sep 2026 09:05:30
Hi Guys, not to worry about the above post. I have found what I was looking for, like any normal person would, by searching online.

03 Sep 2026 19:35:47
Interesting article on The Athletic titled ‘What is Enzo Fernandez’s legacy at Chelsea?’

For me, on the pitch, he doesn’t have one. His legacy is one of money, a legacy of deadline day drama.

The first player in history to be bought for over £100m and sold for a profit. On the pitch, just part of some pretty disappointing times at the club, which won’t be remembered fondly.

03 Sep 2026 20:33:05
I rated him as a player, but with about 10/12 games of last to go for me, it was goodbye. My feelings are, Fernandez who?

04 Sep 2026 08:57:19
Decent player, but no Frank Lampard.

04 Sep 2026 09:44:25
I've never been a big fan of his and have often asked the question - what is his best position?
My worst memory is the Carling Cup Final versus Liverpool's B team, a game in which he should have stood up but instead was bossed by Endo. (I think it was him?)

Like Tomb, I'm glad he's gone and the soap opera surrounding him is over.

04 Sep 2026 11:25:30
I don't know if any of you saw George Benson's podcast interview with John Terry that featured quite a lot of discussion about Enzo Fernandez. JT really rated him both as a player and a 'warrior', who he thought gave 100% plus when playing for us, unlike perhaps several other players last season. I believe it was Greenaway who said that he was a favourite among away fans in this respect. I could see why, and tend to agree with JT.

JT believed EF was, in his words, a 'winner'. Having been watching the Mourinho documentary on Netflix the last couple of nights, I understand what JT is getting at, and that Mourinho would probably have loved EF for this! I think JT also quite liked him personally.

The fact is that most of us fans obviously don't like the way he has left us, and probably want to believe that he will be no great loss. Like Tom, I didn't want him to leave cos I rated him as a player and indeed as a warrior with a Mourinho-like will to win.

So, I think he was one of our best players when with us, but he has now gone, and we all hope he can be replaced by an even better player and/or one that can suit Alonso's system better.



I also am hoping, as am sure most of us are, that Alonso, who of course played under Mourinho at Real Madrid, did so well in his playing career and, as a manager in the Bundesliga, will bring a winner mentality to all in our squad. What the JM doccie suggests is that JM's superpower was just this, and helps explain how he won so many major trophies, including with unfancied teams like Porto or Inter, or even in resuscitating Real Madrid against Barca dominance in La Liga, before that relationship went sour. Oh, and of course he did win the league with us again in his second stint before that relationship went sour.

So, I would say that EF has a winner's mentality and was getting better with us the longer he stayed. I think he gave his best more than most for most matches with us. But he has now defected to be with the other treacherous Enzo, so his CFC legacy is tainted by the way he departed.

04 Sep 2026 11:54:21
I bet JT did like him personally.... Birds of a very specific feather flock together, spring to mind.

04 Sep 2026 12:07:41
JBS, I found the Jose documentary intriguing/interesting. What a totally focused and somewhat complex individual Jose is.

JT can say he likes EF as a warrior, but let me ask you this: after watching the Jose documentary, do you think Jose would have picked EF for any game after his "I want to leave" comments with 10/12 games of a season to go? Also, remember he was, in effect, our vice captain.


If I remember correctly, Jose refused to speak to JT when he was injured. That's when JT showed he was a playing warrior.

04 Sep 2026 13:36:30
Good point, Tome, and one well taken by me, so thanks for it about when Jose likely, in fact certainly you'd think, had turned against EF. As he did even with Casillas at Real Madrid, when he thought he was too friendly with Barca players!

Yes, JM is an extraordinarily focused and complex person, capable of humour, affection (care for player families etc), and inspiration for his players - so many testifying to this - but also of what can be seen as ruthless nastiness to get what he wanted, eg in that JT incident.

Then there is that moment when, leaving Inter to further his ambitions by managing Real Madrid, he breaks into uncontrollable tears when hugging an Inter player goodbye after their ECL final win.

The doccie reminded me of how much goes on behind the scenes with staff and players at clubs that we have no idea about. And, simply, that complex humans are involved who we think we know by seeing them so much on tv, yet we don't know the half of it/them.

03 Sep 2026 13:46:36
Back from Spain and was out last night with some mates, a section of whom are Gooners.
Their attitude to our game against them was broadly the same, “Why are we bothering turning up?”
I think it will be tough for us to get anything from the game but I would like to think we will cause them significant problems.

04 Sep 2026 11:29:02
Tom, I think most pundits would have us losing the game on Sunday, and it's hard to think that we could get a result. I do remember that game when we were three down there by half-time under Conte, who then changed the formation at half-time and, with wing-backs, won us the EPL that year.



So, my bottom line is that we go there and at least perform well. Even if we lose, Alonso can learn from the game and win us the EPL! Well, or at very least, get us ECL qualification.

04 Sep 2026 13:04:26
Understandably, Arsenal are favourites to win the title and beat us on Sunday. They are very effective and well organised. That said, they are nothing special. If we get a grip on midfield and organise our defensive unit, there is no reason why we shouldn't come away with something (says me nervously).