Chelsea rumours 2

26 May 2024 22:27:37
More likely easy gossip, but a story from this evening is our board / directors really like maresca but egbahli has taken a shinning to de zerbi and wants him,

IF this is true then he is a massive problem for this club, boehly always came across well in interviews and nothing he said or spoke about has been the case for Chelsea, maybe it's egbhali who is the ego getting what he wants?

27 May 2024 00:39:09
Think Boehly would of kept Poch, from what I have read it looks like Egbhali is pulling the stings either way it would be much better if it was one guy with the call on the next manager.

27 May 2024 01:17:24
I'm more concerned about whoever the 'advisors' are and how they still have a job. Shambles after shambles after shambles.

27 May 2024 06:37:14
As long as it’s a constructive discussion and they all walk away excepting the collective decision, I can’t see it being a problem it’s generally how board of directors work.

It would be nice to think that who your manager is becomes successful but of course there are no guarantees.

27 May 2024 08:02:10
Just wish there were consequences for all who make bad decisions Tom. If parting ways with Poch means getting a coach. can't call him manager any more perhaps. who doesn't get us Top 4 then whoever wanted him out should leave or be sidelined in the 'structure' decision making. But obviously I'm being naive.

27 May 2024 08:09:25
Would admit that I don't know who is best to replace Poch but de Zerbi at least more EPL experienced and has worked with Caicedo, Colwill and Mudryk. Brighton season far worse than previous one but could be down in part surely to loss of key players. Maresca only won 6 of last 14 games as Leicester manager.

Still if we don't do well this season it will doubtless be the coach fired again.

27 May 2024 09:39:57
TBH, the more I think about it I have to say I don’t have a great deal of confidence in the reported candidates, they all have question marks for me. Just like Poch last season. I’m not sure why we are in such a rush to make an appointment and why we haven’t spread the net a bit wider.

{Ed002's Note - It is not rush but a desire to add the right person.}

27 May 2024 10:16:53
If we don’t get off to a good start next season things are going to turn toxic extremely quickly.

I agree JBS if a new coach comes in and we finish 10th let's say its time to part ways with the advisors/ decision makers.

Our squad if fully fit is easily good enough for top 4.

26 May 2024 16:51:24
According to the bookmakers we pretty much have a new manage. RDZ is now 4/ 7.

26 May 2024 17:11:03
Lets wait and see Tom, a few, days ago Mourhino was nailed on.

I will say that if RDZ takes ov3r he will be gone in 6 months. He is the poorest choice possible, sooner have Gladys the tea lady than him.

The question is will the fans even take to him.

26 May 2024 17:22:54
Bill, do you know Gladys? She lives down the North End Road and has worked for the club for 50 years. A lovely lady and big Jose fan.

26 May 2024 20:29:05
Annoyingly Tom he is the one I particularly didn’t want. Think he is definitely a B Tech Graham Potter.

Current owners have clearly not learnt from their previous mistakes. How are the sporting directors at the club still in a job? Their performance has been apalling and each year they surely have fallen short of their targets.

26 May 2024 21:20:11
RDZ is favourite to be Man City next manager as well.

26 May 2024 21:38:00
Whitey, I agree. I would prefer the Leicester or Ipswich manager out of the three likely candidates left in the running, with slight preference for McKenna.

27 May 2024 00:43:17
Same order as me Tom would have Thomas Franck above all three of them, not really sure why apart from the fact a young inexperienced squad needs a more experienced manager.

27 May 2024 10:17:44
Moresca and Thomas Frank now favourites it is changing every day now.

26 May 2024 14:30:58
Hi Ed, are you able to share who was/ is our first choice is for the manger position? Based on various reports it seems like the list consists of Mckenna, Maresca, Frank and De Zerbi.

{Ed002's Note - It is unimportant as he is not moving to Chelsea. I would likely discount McKenna from your list and there are other options.}

26 May 2024 16:07:20
There's so much media reports, I don't have a clue who it could be. I only assumed are first choice was either kompany, or motta or stuttgart manager, as Ed said, he won't be coming to Chelsea. Mckenna seems a no now. So according to reports its maresca, frank, rdz and possibly amorin. Hopefully it will be sorted this week and we can get behind the manager, look forward to signings and style of play.

26 May 2024 16:08:28
De Zerbi is the chosen one according to the most of the twitter.

Are there any other options?

26 May 2024 17:12:18
Omirin, Frank much better options than RDZ.

26 May 2024 18:51:12
Thanks Ed, appreciate the update. Such a crazy domino effect with managers at the moment. I'd have loved either Hoeneß or Flick, but would also be happy with Amorim or Xavi but neither seen to be in the running. Tuchel would've also been nice, but understand that ship has well and truly sailed.

26 May 2024 18:22:05
Alonso was apparently the choice but his staying at Leverkusen then possibly Madrid.

26 May 2024 10:05:57
Ed002 rumors that we are going to try for olise again? Any truth and are you still of the opinion he will move elesewhere or do we have a chance? Thankd Seems overkill with how many rw/ ams we already have and have comiing in.

{Ed002's Note - Michael Olise (RW/AM) PSG and Manchester City want him as cover although the departure of Mahrez last summer will mean more opportunities now, but the RW position is effectively Foden's. If de Bruyne or Silva were to depart, he becomes an option again. Crystal Palace has no real interest in selling but know that Chelsea want to take Olise back to Stamford Bridge and Olise has made clear that one day he wants to be playing with his brother. Down the list of AM players Chelsea want but they will again perhaps push for him. His representative has said no other clubs have made any formal approach for Olise. Arsenal and Manchester United have also regularly sent scouts and he may end up first choice for one of them. Liverpool can be discounted. Will be available in the summer when a significant release clause will need to be met.}

26 May 2024 10:23:09
If we signed Olise think we’d have to move Sterling, Madueke and Angelo on. Maybe even Hutchinson with Paez and Estebao eventually joining. I love Olise but think we need a quality CB and a striker before other areas.

26 May 2024 12:14:50
Reported £60m released clause,

24 May 2024 23:20:46
Ed's I know the report on Jose that you gave just wondering if he's in the running at all, I don't mind one of these new young managers but the ones in line am not really impressed with the Leicester manager is linked with us due to his background with Pepe and doing half ok with Leicester City but I would love him home.

{Ed002's Note - I would not hold any hope for it. The club cannot get their first choice and are trying to cut down the short list further, but right now he is not on it and heading elsewhere.}

24 May 2024 23:57:55
Has the first choice gone / going elsewhere?

{Ed002's Note - Not available.

25 May 2024 00:12:47
Was McKenna the 1st choice Ed?

{Ed002's Note - No.}

25 May 2024 13:54:05
Thomas Frank - why is this chewing gum addict even on the list?

Will we be adding some new names to the list? The list is not looking that great at this moment in time.

25 May 2024 11:46:18
Thank You.

25 May 2024 12:39:24
First choice was likely Sebastian Hoeneß (Stuttgart) .

25 May 2024 11:54:42
Shak, it's going to be Maresca!

24 May 2024 13:31:12
Odds on Mourihno for next Chelsea manager has gone from 40/ 1 to 3/ 1 is there something we don't know?!

24 May 2024 13:57:10
Yes, it is a good example why there are no poor bookies.

24 May 2024 14:15:43
Gone back out to 10/ 1. The new fav is the Leicester bloke.

24 May 2024 13:59:38
Really good young manager with regressive tactics. Just the coach the club are looking for, not.

24 May 2024 16:51:22
Agree Bill1955. Unlike CFC. Leicester - although ending up champions by one point from Ipswich - had a very up and down end to their season winning only 6 of their last 14 league games (and losing to us in the FA Cup of course) .

24 May 2024 20:42:59
Couldn’t agree more Bill please avoid him and De Zerbi like the plague!

23 May 2024 16:07:45
Ed002 with our sporting talks and how we wanted him before, do you see us going for amorim? hasn't been reported that he is on the list but we seem to of liked him before? Thanks so much.

{Ed002's Note - An option but not at the top and probably not top 3.}

23 May 2024 17:00:35
Ed

With his experience, what's happened to drop him down the list of candidates?

{Ed002's Note - It is the club taking advice and refining the short list.}

23 May 2024 17:21:46
Thank youbED, much appreciated.

23 May 2024 22:22:14
I could be wrong, but there’s a lot of smoke that he’s the unknown 4th choice. It would make sense as Sporting are playing Porto Sunday in the Portuguese cup final so might not want it coming out.

24 May 2024 08:38:40
De zerbi will be our next manager.

24 May 2024 08:59:05
Goodness, I hope mot hw is too confrontational, he will be fighting with the owners within a short space of time.

Why did Brighton not put up a fight to keep him.

23 May 2024 08:30:22
Hi Ed, is McKenna a real possibility or is this media speculation?

{Ed002's Note - He is on the list of options.}

23 May 2024 16:44:51
Reports are that his the front runner for the Job. Do you reckon he will be a good fit at Chelsea Ed?

{Ed002's Note - He is by all accounts he is well liked but I don’t know him so can’t really comment.}

22 May 2024 15:25:27
ED's

Can I ask who would think would be the ideal manager who is on our list that is if we have any at the moment.

{Ed002's Note - I would have Mourinho back, but that is not happening.}

22 May 2024 16:11:56
Thank you Ed, much appreciated.

22 May 2024 18:42:07
Ed002, do you mind if I ask why mourinho would be your preference?

{Ed002's Note - He would sort everything out including pruning and refining the squad, he always has the respect of players and he has been very successful - perhaps the second or third most successful - coach in recent years. Most supporters would welcome his return.}

22 May 2024 20:25:42
King Jose would be the perfect fit and 90% of Chelsea fans would love that to happen.

22 May 2024 20:34:49
Ed002, exactly the profile we need as a coach but as you say it isn’t going to happen. The squad apparently unhappy about Poch’s departure, clearly he was liked as a father figure but as a coach I would like to be respected first.

{Ed002's Note - I am sure there are mixed feelings in the squad, but they need to move on as a club. There needs to be some trimming and folks are working on additions. There is no decision about a replacement yet but they have options. An interesting few weeks.}

22 May 2024 20:58:26
I have no idea what percentage of fans would want Jose back and it may well be a popular move but not for me thanks. I also have no idea if Poch was respected as a coach by the players.

Actually “I have no idea” and not sure I care that much.

22 May 2024 21:03:37
I agree fans would love him because of what he's done and when he was first appointed he was inspirational and had the charisma. He pulled players in and they'd have run through a brick wall for him.

However I don't think this generation of players could take him. They've changed from 20 years ago.
It's the same in every work place.
It's frustrating but they couldn't hack him calling them out and they'd down tools.
As much as my heart wants him and I'd embrace his return, my head says its a bad move.

I honestly don't know who I want.

2 months ago, none of us wanted poch. His tactics were poor and he'd take too long to change things.
Yes we finished the season well but we were so poor for most of the season and we bottled it against Liverpool and didn't go for the kill when we should have. That was on poch.

Gallagher and chalobah are good squad players but if gallagher won't sign a contract then he needs to be sold, chalobah apparently wants guaranteed game time, he's not a world class CB and I don't think he should be a guaranteed started for us. I'm not saying disasi is better but if chalobah wants that guarantee, I don't think we should give it him and therefore is likely to push to leave.

Poch could have played matseen at LB but didn't. He played him out of position and as a result he left on loan and has gone on to look good in his correct position.

Poch kept making such strange decisions in the first half of the season.

I think fans forget this and are blinded by the last 6 weeks or so.
Don't forget we lost 5 nil to arsenal. That's embarrassing.

22 May 2024 22:36:25
King Drogba, that is the best post I have seen on this site for a long time. You speak real sense. Clearly a fan and with real understanding and passion.

22 May 2024 23:50:11
King Drogba, you are right about young players not being able to accept tough love and also about the work place. In the past Chelsea players loved a manager like Jose because we were winners. Now some of the squad loved Poch because he puts his arms around them when they mess up. That’s the role of parents not the job of a coach of highly paid professional athletes.

23 May 2024 07:26:44
The only manager I would have back is Carlo and that ain’t happening.

One management skill is understanding the personalities of the people who work for you. I’m not sure how much tough love Hazard got but Joe Cole always says he needed that tough love management style. My guess is a football manager has to work with the different player personalities he is given and that skill is not unique to any manager.

An arm round the shoulder or a kick up the backside done at the right time can both work.

23 May 2024 07:42:50
Jimbo

I'm sure that if we were getting the Jose who was a fresh young manager who had just won the champions league, the current players would want him however today's Jose is not that one and its no coincidence that there are now a number of young coaches in demand.

Managers like Jose, Allegri, Conte, TT will always get a job however not with progressive clubs.

23 May 2024 08:21:48
Great observation Bill, none of those bring any progression to where Chelsea are at right now. Slot we missed out on, well done Liverpool, championship managers are not pl managers so Hoeness at Frankfurt would be my choice if he would accept a job now at Chelsea, rather than Champions League at Stuttgart next season!
Lets see what transpires!

23 May 2024 08:30:15
Yeah, these owners / co directors couldn’t handle such a character, shame.

23 May 2024 09:31:32
I’d counter that king drog and say form from January had us 3rd. Not just 6 weeks, and the main thing is isn’t poch going, it’s the replacements. There completely inexperienced unproven, some names haven’t managed a game in premier league or the highest league in there country, some have had only a year showing there capabilities. Some finished 16th and 12th in prem and another with less injuries than us finished behind United,

Some reports saying poch raised the concerns of midfield of enzo and ceceido - form says he was right,

It’s fine the owners want am to follow alonsos Leverkusen but he finished 6th and asked for experience players to improve, isn’t this what poch wanted and publicly spoke about.

And poch’s tactics wernt poor first half, we created the most chances and missed the most, that’s not a tactics issue that’s individuals, people like noni and Jackson who were wasteful First half of season, mudryk, enzo not ever hitting target, we’ve all been on here talking amid players improving but nobody who wanted poch in has given him credit for that, it’s like there a bias. Poch never got credit for palmers form, but blamed for mudryks lack of improvement.

Agree if poch had concerns go if ya don’t want to be here, Gallagher, great squad player but sell if won’t sign, chalobah the same, but if we go back, was sacking tuchel right decision? No
Was potter right man? No
Lampard til end of season? Why, just let potter go at end so again, no,
In most opinions was poch right choice when nanglesman and Enrique and slot even get table, most would say no, so why now do we think these lot will get it right when the options of quality are seriously lower than before,

23 May 2024 10:24:46
Matt and Drog you both make some interesting points.

Our new owners in my opinion have made some poor decisions but putting aside the early signings I think the recruitment of players has been ok.

Roman chopped and changed managers including mid season and not many people moaned and that’s understandable as under his ownership we won trophies.

23 May 2024 10:40:23
All fair paints raised Matt and a good post.

It's painful to see us in a mess and with the owners making decisions that the probably the majority don't agree with.
Fingers crossed they do get it right though and the next appointment works. Hard to see at this point though.

23 May 2024 11:29:10
Good thread to read in these times and thanks to all for it. One thing that has been good is that there has been a decent amount of respect for all opinions even when we've disagreed with each other. partly I think because we've all recognised that we all care deeply about CFC so have been trying to be considered and considerate in this time of uncertainty again at the Bridge. Well done lads!

23 May 2024 12:39:22
I agree JBS on it being a good thread. More and more clubs are now looking at Sporting directors and data driven recruitment with an identified style of play and player profile so the "Manager" term no longer really applies. Head coach is the position and whilst input will always be sought the successful candidate must be prepared to work under these conditions. The "fit" needs to be right between all sides, players, coaches and sporting directors. After all, not many "managers"/ "Head coaches" stay around for too long so by keeping the other key variables steady little disruption takes place. It is the way forward and the players will get back from their holidays, international's etal and go straight into pre-season to meet their new Head Coach, striker, goal keeper, left back, centre back and maybe even an attacking midfielder.

23 May 2024 14:29:13
I get that is what CFC structure means G8 but still wonder whether yhr balance is right in two respects. Firstly in terms of how much the Sporting directors listen to the head coaches feedback on individual players. In other words the flesh snd blood reality they see on everyday basis in terms say of combinations that work or don't and who to keep or not. Also the matter of how a mere coach in this structure gains the kind of authority and loyalty from players that would make them believe in him and run through walls for him. The game is so. much about confidence and belief and human frailties and overcoming them . and how a great MSN manager like a Klopp and perhaps a Poch is able to help. In Klopp or Alec Ferguson or Pep or Carlo's case or even Arteta at Arsenal now because they have been allowed that authority.

Mote conctetely for CFC now, will the players who have played under Poch easily buy into the methods of a. new head coach who is much less experienced or never perhaps coached at EPL level or in European competitions. Would potential top signings want to join.

But at heart is my worry that people who know less about football and particularly the reality of working with footballers on a daily badis have more power in the ' structure '
Than those who know more but disagree with them.

22 May 2024 09:31:09
Again, seeing many links to tuchel. Surely not true.

I've calmed down a bit, but still massively dissapointed. They have to get this appointment bang on.

22 May 2024 13:00:25
Young manager they said.

Ruben Amorim --- the club must have met with him?
Hansi Flick --- nope
Vincent Kompany --- nope
Kieran McKenna – yes, but I hope he stays with the tractor boys
Jose Mourinho – Turkey
Julian Nagelsmann ---- His contract with the German team expires after the Euros
Michel Sanchez – meh
Thomas Tuchel – yes, but I cannot see it
Roberto de Zerbi -- nope
Massimiliano Allegri --- has been lurning English for years, but nope
Carlo Ancelotti -- extended his contract with Real Madrid to June 2026.

22 May 2024 13:21:25
Pretty sure nagelsmann extended his contract with Germany celery.

22 May 2024 14:07:46
I wonder if the Amorim flight to the UK was linked to Chelsea - the club were very quick to deny it at the time.
Another name in the frame could be Porto boss Sergio Conceicao.
I would like Flick, but that's because I think he has the experience.
I'm also disappointed that they chose not to continue with Poch, I was looking forward to a summer of stability while other big clubs chopped and changed, now I feel we're a bit back to square one.

22 May 2024 14:15:41
How does TT fit into the remit of a young progressive coach? Plus he plays the most boring football ever.

Mind you hecdid great things at Bayern, never finished so low in their league, marvelous achievement from TT.

22 May 2024 14:45:02
Same Standard i've just about managed to calm myself down, lol.

21 May 2024 13:51:13
Hi Ed002, I know previously the feedback to your detailed breakdowns of proposed ins and outs have resulted in abuse, but would it be possible for you to publish something to the page we could pin to the top in order to prevent repeat questions between now and September?

No worries if not, I totally understand why you stopped doing so. Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Sadly not.}

21 May 2024 14:58:50
A shame, but as said, understandable. Thanks as always for the content you post on the site.