Chelsea Teams and Match Talk

04 Oct 2025 20:54:38
He still wouldn't be my cup of tea, but fair play to enzo maresca he seems to come back well and react to had results hopefully he keeps learning and developing into a top coach.

04 Oct 2025 18:56:48
As great first half second same people letting us down how gusto plays I will never know.

04 Oct 2025 19:51:06
Nib, if the only thing you could take from that game was Gusto. You need to give your head a wobble.

On my way home from the game and EVERY player was fantastic.

Salah on the other hand!

04 Oct 2025 20:31:18
Tom, you need to wobble your head as well- “every player was fantastic “. As usual you have gone over the top. However, it was a good team performance. This is what I want to see; digging out a result against a top team. However, you are right about Salah. Ed001, what’s going on with him; looks like the shadow of the player he has been. I hope you and City improve, the idea of Artita winning the league is causing me nightmares. (.

{Ed001's Note - he got a huge new contract and seems to have lost the drive that made him so good. But then the whole team is off in terms of intensity and the early balls aren't coming to give him something to work with, so it is not just him. That is more the issue for me, the training is lacking intensity and so is the play, that is what is wrong imo.}

04 Oct 2025 20:33:12
Wonderful goals and result. will write more tomorrow!

04 Oct 2025 20:48:00
Yep, EVERY player for Chelsea fantastic.

On my way home from the match but Josh looks a star of the future and Badiashile was awesome.

Caicedo will rightfully get MOM but Enzo has his best game of the season. Neto also worked his socks off.

The managers hand was forced with the defensive subs but changing the front three was proactive and it worked.

Just one more small thing Lavia coming on put us back in control of the match.

04 Oct 2025 21:01:38
I am very cautious about using the phrase but I think Caicedo is world class and would start in any team in Europe.

04 Oct 2025 21:49:54
Tom, repeating things and using capital letters doesn’t make things true. This was a close game and good performance and the the team showed mentality. I hope hope we carry this on after the international break. Using words like “awesome “ and “fantastic “ make you sound like a teenybopper.

04 Oct 2025 21:57:10
I reckon the one thing all on here agree with is that Caicedo is phenomenal.

04 Oct 2025 22:22:27
Jimbo, why don’t you just let the Ed’s edit. I will post what I want in anyway I see fit.

The chances of me ever being a teenybopper were always zero.

We were awesome, fantastic and EVERY player was brilliant.

Absolutely buzzing!

04 Oct 2025 22:35:38
JBS, absolutely, and now he is adding goals to his game. I love it every time he gets within 20 yards of the goal we all shout “Shoot”.

04 Oct 2025 22:49:46
In questioned about the players I slate you get it for the people you praise which is normally everyone, but I respect that you sit on the fence, gusto wasn’t great Pedro wasn’t great either two centre half’s did well but there not the future I will tell you that. Sanchez distribution was still bad garnacho was a threat and got better as the game went on James was good cucurrella was good estavo brought energy, am glad we won first half was positive but with the first lot of subs it brought them a level up but all round good result just need to rest and hope we have no injuries through international week.

04 Oct 2025 23:54:11
Tom, what have the Eds got to do with it. I responded to your delusional post. Of course you can post what you like; you never stop. I just like some objective perspective on this site.

05 Oct 2025 00:38:02
That should of said I get questioned when I slate players you when you praise them but I don’t mind that u sit on that newly painted panel.

05 Oct 2025 06:34:06
I find it amazing that if your positive or happy about any performance your accused of sitting on the “fence. ” If you do nothing but moan your honest or objective.

I personally will be critical when it’s deserved and give praise when it’s deserved. I will also express and post my happiness about a performance in anyway I want. Likewise the reverse is true.

05 Oct 2025 08:58:08
Same old same old on here. The jimbo and tomb show.

Great performance, and even better win not our strongest side either. I have to say josh does look a future star and no one can take that away.

Enzo merasca got it spot on. And even if am not his biggest fan at the minute. His celebration for the winner, is winning me around slightly.

05 Oct 2025 10:03:08
CFB

Totally agree, great performce and win, nobody seems to mention we hit the post twice.

We are also decimated at the back with so many injured.

Also loved the Jose passion shown by zmaresca.

04 Oct 2025 18:28:26
What a strike but they have opened us up three times.

Going to be a difficult 45mins.

03 Oct 2025 19:09:37
So with Fofana ruled out due to the premier league concussion rules, Tosin and Colwill injured and Trev suspended I guess BB starts alongside Josh. I suspect James will start in midfield unless Lavia can play in such a tough game after returning from injury. I think Enzo will play as the 10 and I fancy Estevao to start.

Sanchez

Gusto
Josh/ Hato
BB
Cucu

Moises
James/ Lavia
Enzo

Estevao
Pedro
Neto

Will be tough against the Champions and league leaders but the crowd should be buzzing. Maybe we can nick a point?
What do you think ED01?

{Ed001's Note - I hope you get battered tomorrow, sorry! But Liverpool are not playing well, so you have a good chance.}

03 Oct 2025 20:29:12
I forgot about Fofana’s concussion. Has Tosin been confirmed as injured?

04 Oct 2025 09:12:08
A bit of a free hit for us, lots of players out injured and suspended, no one gives us a chance against the champions and side who are top of the league having spent half a billion on new players in the last window so no drama. I love us being the under dog. Come on The Chels.

04 Oct 2025 12:01:16
Come off it greenaway you can't mention how much they have spent. I don't bleat on about our spending but you can't mention another teams compared to ours.

04 Oct 2025 16:41:25
Greenaway, seriously, you love us to to be underdogs!

04 Oct 2025 22:34:36
I think that was solid. Players out probably made us 2nd favourites for the match and I didn't expect the win so maybe that phrase is correct. Was you happy we won Jimbo?

05 Oct 2025 18:02:51
RPD, the bookies had us as the underdogs. Happy days!

I was very happy and so was everyone around. Totally bonkers reaction to that late winner. Football can occasionally give such joy!

03 Oct 2025 17:45:42
big game tomorrow- a loss and it feels like a slump has started, liverpool can be gotten at atm. our starting xi will be interesting with current injuries and fitness worries. praying we don't see george upfront as he looks lost there.

also jamie gittens. in all seriousness has anyone watched him properly? what is his game? because from his brief time with us i can't see it.

03 Oct 2025 13:52:10
I will be at the game tomorrow. I'm not sure what to expect. I'm not sure about the result or the players who will be fit.

I'm hoping to see a midfield three of Enzo, Lavia and Caicedo. A defence of James, Fofana, Badiashile and Cucarella.

My guess is, it will be Gittens, Pedro and Neto up front.

Anyway, COME ON MY MIGHTY BLUES.

04 Oct 2025 10:46:45
No Fofana tomorrow Tom and I think Garnacho far more likely to start ahead of disappointing thus far Gittens. Otherwise your lineup quite likely I reckon.

30 Sep 2025 22:02:08
Big win, big three points.

Neto and Cucarella both excellent and Caicedo come out in the second half and showed his class. Sanchez also had a good game.

Gittens disappointed when he came on but he will come good. Shame about yet another red card.

01 Oct 2025 09:38:19
It was a very necessary win for us Tom and Caicedo yet again immense if especially in second half. He does desrve that over used term 'world class' and heaven forbid that he gets injured but is playing so many games tghis must be a big risk. Well perhaps he could pick up a little niggle v Liverppol and miss out on the Ecuador internationals though and be back fro Forest away? I guess the good news is that Lavia may be avaolable again for a game or two before his next injury - poor lad I hopoe he can stay fit for some substantial spell this time - and Santos can surely also help out in more central role Caicedo fills in midfield.

01 Oct 2025 10:04:29
Great atmoshpere at the Bridge last night even if quite a lot of it spplied as ever by the visiting fans. Apart from admirably fercent support for their own side tghroughout the game they gave vent to very loud boos when Enzo F name first announced then boos and hurled bottles and other things at him when he took a corner beneath them. This led to good response from us home fans singing his name.

Yes Neto exellent as well and Garnacho impressed on the ther wing. They combined of course to create the Benefica OG. Cucurella generally great but there was one very loose pass from him that led to dangerous Benfica attack. In fact there were a fair few lose passes by both sides if more by them than us, Though Gusto had a much better game last night too. Our cebtral defense did look v vulnerable though and Benfica could have scored a couple of goals in first half alone via breakaways plus neither TC nor BB good at passing through the lines which is something LC and to some extent Tosin can offer when fit. But they were generally careful and opted for safety play easy passes whicgh was sensible though part of odd moment of general panic in second half when Benfica might and perhaps should have scored. Sanchez did again show he's a decent enough shot stopper but his distribution can go awry though thankfully he is now open to or given license to hoofing the ball upfield and to the wings if sometimes straight into touch.

George worked hard up front but is clearly not a natural striker and offers little by way of target man let alone someone who can pose an aerial threat. Not is fault and think he moght be a better bet coming on for Garnacho than Gittens who was again very disappointing in my book. Poor lad he is already featuring in polls about who will prove to be the biggest transfer flop though Wirtz topping most recent one. Also featured have been Gyokores and Sesko. Think the criterion must be in part to do with height of expectations plus price paid. I think such polls are ludicrous at this stage in the season but the fact that three of these four are from the Bundesliga may suggest that signings from that league are overly flattered by their stats in it. like Timo Werner perhaps? Perhaps a loan for Gittens in January with George reverting to his wing position might happen if Garnacho become favoured starter? Or would this hinder rather than help Gittens development?

Anyway we got our win despite weakness in CB plus striker positions and that was wonderful. There was also a fun singing by whole stadium of Jose's name - he was standing directly under and in front of me from where I was watching in East Stand - in second half and one not aimed at Maresca but just one hnouring our club's most successful manager. JM gave little waves back of appreciation. Nice.

So now on to Liverpool, getting some kind of a result against them and getting our season back on track again. Please! We do sytill have some very trickt Champiuons League fixtures to come - not least away v Atalanta and Napoli and home v Barcelona - but these European Champions League nights under lights are so wonderful to have back at the Bridge again.

01 Oct 2025 11:08:30
At the moment I’m an armchair supporter and my assessment of Gittens only comes from watching him on TV but in my opinion he will prove to be a very good player. I have mentioned what I consider to be his short comings several times and remain confident he can improve in those areas.

01 Oct 2025 11:34:52
Can only hope you're right Tom and it's very ear;y days for any of us to judge how he'll turn out. I would just repeat though that quite a few players who've done well in Bundesliga haven't anaged to repeat their success in much tougher conditions they face in the EPL and perhaps also when under pressure of high expectations at EPL biggest clubs. But you've obviously watched more of him than I have and glad youy think he will become a good player in time. I reckon that half of this is about mental strength - which I think Timo struggled with at times and admitted as much - than raw talent plus coaching can be key with both. What was n oticeable last night was seemed to be a reluctabce to back himself at tmes to take on opposition defenders bt instead pass back or sideways for fear of losing ball but then he may have been under instructions about this. Garnacho who has had so much EPL match time already with United seems much more ready to go in this respect and of course Neto too who had come to us from Wolves.

01 Oct 2025 12:45:45
JBS, you raise an interesting point about players performing in other leagues and then adjusting or not adjusting to the Premiership.

I honestly believed that Sesko and particularly Wirtz would be brilliant signings and neither has started well.

01 Oct 2025 14:19:28
I've not been impressed with Gittens thus far, but it's crazy to be looking for any new signing to be hitting the height of their game this far into the season (especially for our players, who didn't have a preseason together, and given the age of those we're talking about with Wirtz, Sesko, Gittens) .

Most players from other leagues take a season at least to settle in England (which is why ideally at this point we'd be selling and buying fewer) . It's really only rare (especially when young) players that hit the ground running in the PL – for us, I'm thinking Robben, Hazard – otherwise many, many fantastic players have taken a season, two or even three to settle (Lampard, Drogba and Azpilicueta – and Caicedo and Cucurella spring immediately to mind) .

Unfortunately with regards to the current Chelsea climate, it's easier to integrate new players into a team that's more settled, without the pressure to perform instantly, and without the fans starting to grumble or get on their case. (Speaking of young players, I was once again impressed with Estevao last night – though he could've popped off a pass a bit quicker a couple of times (same could also be said of Neto almost every game), I'm willing to allow him as many wrong decisions as he needs at this early stage because the potential is obviously so great.

30 Sep 2025 20:58:44
Slightly disjointed first 45 mins.

I know Caicedo has been carrying an injury/ sickness so im not sure it's worth taking a risk on him in the second half. He looks totally knackered and is too important to us to take chances with.

01 Oct 2025 10:05:51
Share your concern for Caicedo and there was one frightening moment he appeared to be pulling up with what might have been a hamstring tweak. He has to get some rotation but the he is our consistently best and most imnportant player.

01 Oct 2025 11:32:23
JBS, he was a totally different player I’m the 2nd half.

30 Sep 2025 18:52:55
Not sure what Benfica are like but the selection is awful why did we bring Guiu back he's better than George also Neto again enzo again and BB who's not been involved from the start plays in what I thinks a big game, hope I'm eating my words at the end and I'm hoping our opposition aren't great.

30 Sep 2025 19:31:12
Don't normally agree with what you say nib but you are correct what is the point in bringing guiu back and not give him any minutes.

Stinks to me that enzo is sending a message to the people above that he wanted something different.

30 Sep 2025 19:49:37
Nib, have a look at the bench. Also, injured players or hardly trained because of sickness.

30 Sep 2025 21:02:09
Not sure if you are the original Nib or a new one but the original Nib did nothing but slate Jackson. Honest question, did you get what you wished for when he left? Many of us said he was decent. Is George better? again, a few on here said we should keep him and play him when he was linked with Fulham. Easy to moan all the time my friend but maybe Jackson up top stretching them with his runs and movement with Pedro in behind would cause chaos?

30 Sep 2025 21:20:58
Yes original nib and forever blue nobody does ever agree with me and trust me I don’t care my opinions are mine RPD was over the moon when he went Delap and pedro are much better I also like Guiu that’s why am surprised he’s not playing theses games
he’s better than george, him leading the line is just another example of EM showing he’s no idea like always playing Jackson look what happened there when someone eventually said something to him he’s left. The man’s a yes man like Southgate he’s just taking the flack for the men upstairs playing FIFA. I suppose that maybe the new way of football money talks you wouldn’t employ him on his style of football would you it’s put you to sleep stufg.

30 Sep 2025 22:16:15
Nib mate, you certainly are very forthright. you like Chelsea? We are ok my friend, settle down and enjoy.

30 Sep 2025 22:19:11
I assume Jackson left because he thought his game time might be reduced. That’s a choice he made as far as I’m concerned. He wasn’t prepared to fight for his place at Chelsea and as much as I didn’t want us to sell him, that attitude is always a “goodbye” from me!

My guess is a lot of managers would be described as “yes men” compared to years gone by.

They manage the team and decide on the tactics. They probably have some sort of input on the players or type of players they want but not always a certain individual.

Of course as always I’m only guessing!

01 Oct 2025 09:36:16
We didn’t look like scoring last night we have done nothing with George up top and we still play the same way down the wings cross? Who you crossing it too the man has no football brain it’s all one way and what’s all this crap now bringing defenders off centre half’s being subbed? that's just general question but I don’t know why teams do it now? I truly think we miss Delap the way we play but he should have the brains to mix it up.

01 Oct 2025 10:09:19
Point is that apparently if Guiu is played for even a minute he is not able to go on loan again in January. Though would be good to have confirmation of whether this is true? Does if so raise the question of why we brought him back from loan at Sunderland unless it is a matter of whether pedro gets seriou injury? Why did we let Jackson go though if Guiu loaned out or Jackson not replaced?

01 Oct 2025 11:11:14
Guiu will get mins. I would have started him last night but I haven’t seen him perform in training.

01 Oct 2025 16:45:41
Maybe wrong!

29 Sep 2025 12:28:33
Looks like Pedro, Moises and Santos all have injuries and are big doubts for tomorrow. Who plays in midfield?

Tosin
Levi
Fofana
Essugo
Moises
Santos
BB?
Lavia?
Palmer
Delap
Pedro

Anyone else?

29 Sep 2025 13:20:27
I would hope that Lavia can get some more mins but maybe James will have to a midfield job yet again.

I’m not sure about Tosin but I would go with Hato and Chalaboa for the CL game.

I suppose we could spring a surprise and go with a thee at the back, Hato-Chalaboa-Josh, with Cucarella and Gusto as wing backs but that’s probably to much of a gamble.

27 Sep 2025 21:38:55
If any poster was at the game today, can they please tell me how Hato performed?

He is a player I rate highly.

28 Sep 2025 05:48:18
Tom, Hato did fine as did the whole team first half where we bossed the game.
The player who cost us the game was Santos who played their player in which led to Trev getting red carded.

28 Sep 2025 09:37:51
Thanks for the assessment Greenaway.

I still haven’t watched the game but I think Hato was a very good signing. Shame about the Santos mistake.