Chelsea International Banter 2

25 Jan 2026 17:16:55
Joao Pedro was quite superb today, 8 prem goals and 3 assists this season and he doesn't always start and no pens in that total either. Estevao is a generational great in the making, the pace, the composure, the finish for his goal and he is just 18. Santos looks good next to Moises and James is now our steady old head on the pitch, well done to the club and medical team for managing him back after so many gave up on him.

Sanchez was good yet again and both Cucu and Enzo gave their usual 100%. Back to back wins and back into the champions league places.

25 Jan 2026 19:58:43
I'm happy that Santos is finally getting to show his quality, Greenaway. What's been your take on Enzo? Too many misplaced passes for me, considering the kind of player he's meant to be, and his shooting isn't great. But perhaps it would be one of those where if we sold him it would suddenly be clear we really miss him (if you see what I mean) .

A word on Sanchez – as I wrote below, he's suddenly being asked to play in the way that made him such a liability last season again. His shot-stopping is always world class, but his distribution was pretty shaky towards the end of the game today (and in the last few games errors have crept back in), and a lot of that seemed to stem from waiting until the last possible second to kick the ball/inviting their attacker in. The cutting out of errors from last year seemed to come from having that weight of short/medium passing taken off him, so I'm pretty stunned that Rosenior's looking to have gone back to Maresca's original instructions. Doesn't feel like a super smart move from the gaffer, if I'm honest. Ditching that was one of Maresca's best/most effective changes to his tactics.

25 Jan 2026 21:59:24
Spot on about Sanchez EdW both about him as a world class shot stopper and the shakiness when pressed if lingering on ball or surrounded by attackers in box at set pieces. In fact the whole defense looked pretty shakey too in last stages when defenders making so many passes between thamselves and Sanchez inviting Palace press when we had a man advantage and instead of passing forwardsvand progressing up the pitch ascwe had been doing before Palace went down to 10 men.

25 Jan 2026 22:19:31
EdW, Enzo is a top top player if played further forward, he can open up defences, create chances and also pop up with a goal, he also works very hard off the ball and drives the team on. His name is sung more than any other at away games which gives you an understanding of our appreciation for him. What he isn't though is a 6 in a double pivot which is why I like Santos next to Moises and Enzo further forward.

The conundrum will be where to fit Palmer as I like Estevao out right. As for Sanchez he is one of our players of the season and bar the Man U game away and Arsenal in the Cup hasn't really put a foot wrong but you are correct in saying he can make mistakes playing tippy tappy out from the back as can the whole back 4/5.

Maresca got that right by going a bit longer and hopefully Liam learns from that because if he persists in asking our keepers to play as sweepers he will be gone just as quickly as he arrived.

26 Jan 2026 08:27:27
Greeneaway i also think Enzo looks a much better player further forward and both works immensely hard and pops up with assists and goals. He also seems to be a reliable penalty taker though i don't want to jinx him here. I like him and his tremendous will to win that makes him an awsy fan and Matthew Hardimg Stand favouritecas you say

But perhaps Palmer when fit offers a greater or additional ability to spot a defense splitting pass though may not quite have Enzo's work rate and tackling ability though injury hampering him.

26 Jan 2026 13:25:14
Agreed Greenaway and JBS, Enzo is definitely better further forward. He's got a bit of needle to him as well, which we have got in other players, but he seems to know how to keep it just on the right side to wind up other teams (see Lerma yesterday) . The conundrum you both mention is an interesting one, because Palmer does often seem at his best out right rather than in the 10 (and doesn't offer anything like Enzo's work rate, except for that one final against PSG), but how could we not play Estevao there on current form? It would be interesting to see Estevao for a game on the left, going at defenders on his natural side rather than cutting back in. He'd be better there than Gittens at the moment, and you'd back him to bury all the chances Garnacho has fluffed (which is a shame, as I was hoping his recent brace would bring something better) . Might be worth sacrificing his shooting coming in from the right, as Palmer also has that ability? But I'll be honest, I wouldn't do anything that would fetter that kid at the moment – as brilliant as Palmer is, Estevao's ceiling is just so high.

Sanchez is absolutely our most improved player. I really hope Rosenior doesn't keep asking the keepers to play short passing – as you say, they're not cut out for it, and his job will be gone just like that.

25 Jan 2026 16:12:01
Very nice away win with two v good goals by our skilful Brazilians. Penalty by Enzo plus sending off of Palace's Wharton and we should have crused to victory. Buy Gittens and Delap right now are a league or two below Estevao and Pedro. Plus James coming off removed the one really steady head at the back. And we concede a goal and looked panicky.

25 Jan 2026 17:50:47
Didn’t see the game but a good away win and 3 points: I can watch MOTD!

25 Jan 2026 19:51:12
JBS, a slightly odd one wasn't it. Could've been really jittery towards the end if we'd not been awarded that pen – I have to say, I don't really understand handballs at all any more. And if it's a pen because it's goalbound, when the ref specifically says it wasn't intentional, why was it a booking? Confused.

On paper a very decent start for Rosenior, but I do have some concerns. First, I think we've been quite lucky with a couple of those wins given the football we've actually played. Palace were generally poor today, though weirdly picked up in the last 5/10 plus added time, and luckily Mateta's finishing isn't all that. But we need to improve from these games – we won't always be playing such obliging opponents. Hopefully a bit of confidence seeps back in. I know it's not much time with the team, but a lot of our attacking looks disjointed and slow. The team doesn't attack in a way that fits the calibre of the players. This is mostly how it was under Maresca, bar the very start of last season and a few incredible games. The main difference thus far, in my fairly limited reading of the game, is that we're a bit more direct on turnovers, and don't look to recycle the ball back to defence as frequently in those situations, which feels like an improvement.

Secondly, discipline is still pretty terrible. I don't understand why Neto needed to have that little kick out, nor why he always seems to be so wound up. Perhaps that's how he gets himself going for

Thirdly, Rosenior is meant to be a smart guy. One would assume he's done his homework. But part of his tactics apparently involve having the goalkeeper play out from the back, and sometimes playing almost as an outfield player. sound familiar? It was Maresca asking Sanchez to play out from the back in all circumstances that made him so jittery, such a liability. And it was Maresca backing down on that philosophy, giving Sanchez permission to hoof it at the Club World Cup and onward that led in no small part to his massive improvement this season. So why are we back at this? I'm seeing the jitters again from him. Some amazing saves today, but some really hairy moments at the back and some terrible kicking. I don't quite understand. Add to that the fullbacks ending up in the number 10 position constantly and it seems as though actually Rosenior's tactics are barely different from Maresca's (unless for the inverted fullbacks thing he's just decided to stick with what the players know as no time to drill them on what he wants them to do – still regularly ends up with Gusto in attacking positions he doesn't want to be in/isn't good in) .

I'd add to your statement that Gittens and Delap aren't of the required quality at this time that Gusto also, to me, looks far short of that same quality. He's not developed as we might have hoped, and we nearly conceded on one occasion where he simply didn't compete for the ball late on. I liked him at first, but he's not looked good for a while – perhaps just not the right player for the way this team is being set up.

26 Jan 2026 10:09:05
Well thought out post EdW and thanks for it. Giving a yellow card for unintentional hand balls even if preventing goals seems the opposite of justice to the player. Ref should just give a penalty. But apparently the rule book supports what happened.

Yes Maresca helped make Sanchez the much improved goalie we have seen in recent times in large part by allowing him options not to play out from the back. What was odd was that I think he only started doing this near the end when our backs also started doing their repetitive passing across the back line. I could see that the idea was 'game management' keep ball, but was just inviting the Palace press on and we know that some our CB's are [rone to being quite easily unsettled anyway but perhaps the more so as are constantly playing with anew partner given not just injury but constant rotations.

I probably wasn't watching Gusto closely enough yesterday but would have if he had shone. His performances have been a mixed bag of late with one or two v good ones - notably the one in which he also scored a goal - but some in which he doesn't look good. Perhaps it's to do with positioning or moving him around too much in this respect? He seemed at his most consistent best when playing regularly as a proper full back.

Our attack perhaps stuttering partly cos of Palmer's injury woes but also perhaps because of much rotation and fact that some of our wingers belo required standard - at least at the moment - and/or seem to be up and down in form a bit orf under instruction to be keeping the ball rather than risk losing it by taking on their opposing defenfder as first choice? Then there is the question of losing LC to injusry and Lavia gtoo - both players from deep positions who could spot a pass through the lines - and then Palmer who has similar vision further forward albeit he executes it better when fitter.

But these are just immediate thoughts that come to mind and would agree that at least we are more direct from turnovers and that Estevao is so eexciting - even if loses the ball sometimes - by having that 18yr old not yet (hopefully never! ) coached out of him instinct to be direct and look to be a goal threat first and foremost.

26 Jan 2026 13:37:33
Thanks for the response JBS. I remember they used to play the double jeopardy rule with pens didn't they – no double punishment unless it was also a terrible tackle. I think we can probably all agree that IFAB's tweaks since the introduction haven't added anything to the game in the last few years, and if anything have increased confusion to the point of refereeing decisions being almost entirely subjective, which was the point of introducing the tech in the first place. Or perhaps the tech only amplifies the fact that all refereeing decisions are ultimately subjective anyway? (Beyond offsides, which it's impossible to be entirely definitive on – and always will be, regardless of what they claim. ) Anyway, taking intention out of it seems to undermine the entire point of handball – I didn't, and don't think something like that should be a penalty.

RE: our attack, you're absolutely right to invoke Colwill and Lavia. Such a shame about Lavia, as there's no one quite like him when he's fit. And Palmer having been injured this season too. I guess my feeling has often been that these players should be capable of quick accurate give and gos, and we've tended not to see a huge amount of that kind of movement – more slow back and forth while the opposition stay in shape. I wonder if it's instruction, not being trained that way or a creeping lack of confidence? That's something Estevao just doesn't show at all – loses the ball once, goes again and skins his man the next five times. Wonderful stuff.

25 Jan 2026 15:06:59
What a player Estevao is already.

25 Jan 2026 16:03:47
He is so exciting to watch and with experience will in time surely getter better and better.

25 Jan 2026 17:51:20
No arguments from me.

25 Jan 2026 14:40:28
What on earth is Neto doing there? Lucky the VAR didn't take too close a look – naughty little stamp on Sarr that might, on a different day, have been a red.

25 Jan 2026 16:04:32
Could have been and we must watch our discipline.

25 Jan 2026 14:26:23
Away fans making themselves heard loud and clear…again. Hope eghbali is listening

Abysmal start to the game hope it improves and we settle.

25 Jan 2026 16:07:23
Well it did improve and another good goal from impressive Pedro plus the Enzo penalty plus Palace sending off made us look v comfortable but the passing around at the back and not gettinh the ball forward plus Rees and Pedro and Edtevao coming. off and quite a lot of scares but goal conceded to 10.man Palace.

25 Jan 2026 16:34:50
I’m not sure why they would take any notice of football chants.

As I’ve said before, a few wins and the noise disappears!

25 Jan 2026 17:05:06
Tom, a few wins and the noise on here disappears as well.

25 Jan 2026 17:22:55
Hopefully there will be no noise on here or in the stands, LR needs to be given time to work with the players but at the moment, it's three games in a week.

25 Jan 2026 18:08:03
Greenaway, I’m sure you didn’t mean it that way but I found that to be a bit condescending. I don’t go into depths of despair over a few losses nor do I think everything is hunky dory after a few good results. I believe most posters look at the bigger picture: the direction the club is going; the makeup of the squad; the style of play and the ambition of the owners.

These issues are determined over seasons not in a small period of a season.

25 Jan 2026 19:06:17
I agree, judge players and managers over a season.

21 Jan 2026 22:13:54
Just one other small thing and I’m not saying this after tonight’s game but I think Badiashile can become a good CH. He can make mistakes and certainly every mistake he makes seems to cost us a goal but I think the lad can play.

I know not many if any will agree with my opinion.

22 Jan 2026 09:52:49
I do Tom, i think injuries have hindered his progress and confidence.

Hopefully with a run in the side he will show his true worth to us.

22 Jan 2026 13:09:14
Got back home v late from last night's game - having been in the Matthew Harding Upper block 17 again as has the Group stage home game ticket package - and was a bit too exhausted for various reasons (! ) to comment until now. Had a particularly good view of us and our attacking attempts first half given that we were unusuallt attacking the MH end then not second half.

Almost impossible imho to judge CBs or goalies on the night as Pafos offered almost nothing by way of attempt to attack except by some very rare counters. I could have played in goal last night and been unworried! Not quite sure about CB as have lost a lot of the pace that I had! As it was and perhaps cos of complacency or lack of intense focus almost all our defenders made a sloppy mistake or two - like letting the ball rund under a boot, misplaced pass or hitting long ball straight into touch - including BB, (v uncharacteristically) RJ, and Hato. But they did sharpen up after a while and Hato had a better second half I thought. Only once did I really notice a CB doing anything really telling -though this may be cos of where I was sitting! - but that was when Fofana did a great run forward with the ball. We just din't seem to have someone who could pass through their lines effectively. LC a big miss.

Palmer much missed too as has that ability to thread ball through too and hope to goodness he will get over his injurt problem - will he still need surgery? - and stay at the Bridge of course amid some worrying recent rumours that can only hope are untrue. Estevao when came on second half looked as though he might make a difference but apart from one splendidly taken shot - saved by their goalie - as was also stifled by their massed defense

But really our CBs had little to do for most of the game except to pass to each other - very dull - and then one of them to find a pass forward usually to one of our wingers. Also pretty dull as Garnacho struggled to beat defender while Neto who was definitely the better of the two first half usually struggling to find anyone in good position to cross to. When he did and Enzo scored the goal was ruled out apparently for a push though hard for me to tell whether that was the right decision?

A great pity that for the game as a whole as Pafos might have come a bit and opened things up in the process whereas for almost the whole game they parked a very well drill bus in their own half that we huffed and puffed to get past. They defended v well and their keeper impressed with some good saves.

Anyway we got the three points in the end thank goodness.

By the way does anyone know what Sanches came on for Jorgensen at half time. was FJ injured?

22 Jan 2026 14:37:37
JBS, yes FJ is injured.

22 Jan 2026 14:54:23
Thanks for the report from the ground, JBS. The number of misplaced passes and touches is a little concerning – there was one spell of play with about four terrible passes followed by the ball running under the last defender's foot and out for a throw. Really, really poor. Enzo is usually better in CL games than PL, but (and I'm not sure if I'm alone in this) I find his passing generally quite inaccurate given his position. I feel like I've watched a huge number of counter-attacks break down or been terminally slowed by him playing the ball behind the running player, or just poorly, rather than into the space.

I think FJ was indeed injured – they showed him stretching/grimacing on the coverage towards the end of the first half.

Nothing massively convincing in the football for LR so far, but a few wins at least. Hoping for better to come.

22 Jan 2026 16:32:20
Thanks Tom and EdW for info on FJ it makes sense of why the substitution occurred of course.

I agree EdW with fact that EF passing could be better and that what we were crying out for was the Fabregas calabre passing from him thouigh he does cover a lot of ground and get into the box and can get goals and deliver at least some really clever passes - I think for instance that one dinked over Pafos defenfders for the Edstevao volleyed shot saved by their goalie that reminded a bit of Cesc F. I wonder whether moving between a more 10 role and defensive midfield one means that he isn't as effective cos not honing his skills as a no 10? Perhaps because Palmer would/could provide this kind of play if fit.

Last night I had also wondered whether LR might play Jaoa Pedro in that kind of role if even more advanced while keeping Delap on though Delap only offered rare glimpses of a goal threat though did het in a couple of one touch shortbpasses plus there was that dummy which gave Garnacho a good cance if he had been quicker towards the ball than just waiting for it.

22 Jan 2026 20:00:45
JBS, too true. I was telling my oldest son about Fabregas the other day. No one quite like him – what a player.

Definitely seems as though trying to get Pedro and Delap together on the same pitch would help us break down teams that park the bus like that. There were some glimpses in moments towards the end of quick one-two passing around their box that reminded me very briefly of the season when we had Hazard, Mata and Willian playing together – more of that would be great.

22 Jan 2026 22:10:45
Without doubt Cesc could see a pass and that certainly more than made up for his serious lack of pace.

21 Jan 2026 22:04:16
Got the result but not happy with such a tepid performance. Slow passing with a lack of urgency.

22 Jan 2026 08:52:20
I didn't go last night Tom but watched on TV and it was a scary watch at the back, this new coach won't last the season if he sticks by these tactics of playing his keeper as a sweeper, imagine what a decent side would of done against us.

He also changed the whole back 4 and keeper from the previous game and continues to invert Gusto into the 10 position, it is just like watching a suicidal version of what Maresca was doing! grass greener?

22 Jan 2026 09:29:36
Greenaway, as I’ve said before, I now have zero interest in Maresca. It is very early days and i guessed he would want to give virtually every player game time asap, so that doesn’t concern me.

My big concern so far is the gaps between the lines and how easy we look to play through. I also think our squad is better suited to a 433 but then if we went down that route Palmer would have to play wide but I think a Caicedo, Enzo Santos/Lavia midfield helps our defenders a d allows a 2/3 man press. Our press so far has been non existent.

Anyway, as I say early days and as Bill said the boss didn’t get a pre-season.

22 Jan 2026 09:55:36
Greenaway,

The grass is definitely greener, probably due to all the rain we have been having.

FGS, give the guy a chance, he has not had much tome with the players and definitely not a pre-season.

And there was me thinking I was the negative one.

22 Jan 2026 10:06:22
If wecgo onto the play off's, it won't be the Napoli result, we cam look back on the Alanta and Quarabag results whe the God of all coaches was in charge.

22 Jan 2026 12:42:15
Right about the Quarabag and Atalanta results Bill and especiallt with the Atalanta game I thought we really should have won that given that we dominated the firat half if I recall correctly (good chance I don't! ) . Qaurabag played with unbelievable passion and their supporters played a big role in this and we had flown thousands of miles there.

But of course on paper it looked an obvious three pointer. On the night we were perhaps lucky to get a point.

22 Jan 2026 12:42:45
Bill, the reverse of that is, of course, also true with the Barcelona result!
Tom, there are gaping holes all over the pitch under Liam and I fear he is way out of his depth and it looks like a Potter or AVB appointment all over again. I might well be wrong, I usually am, but the grass is certainly not looking greener to me and the sporting directors should of kept Maresca sweet until the end of the season and then held a full review. Liverpool will likely do that with Slot, Spurs with Frank and Utd are doing that with an interim coach. I shall, of course, hope to be proved wrong.

22 Jan 2026 20:16:44
Greenaway, I mostly agree with you but the relationship with Maresca and the board was broken. It is always better to look for a new coach in pre-season but the owners didn’t really look at any other options.

I will stick my neck out and say that LR will turn out to be a disastrous appointment. If I am wrong- great but I won’t hold my breath.

21 Jan 2026 22:00:08
Obviously very early for LR to get any ideas across, but waking up at 4am to watch wingers attempt to beat a man or put a half decent cross into a mostly empty area doesn’t feel a whole lot different than it did a month ago.

Also have to say that the only reason Wes Fofana isn’t viewed as a terrible CB is because we have even worse ones. The calmness and unfounded arrogance our defenders play with at times is baffling.

21 Jan 2026 20:52:41
Sitting at home watching us huff and buff. Understandable the way they have come to play but it’s up to the boss to make the changes that breaks there lines. Personally I would bring on Pedro and Estavao.

21 Jan 2026 21:18:59
End product is awful there’s only estevao that has the ability to go past people nothing is different in style of play really and I don’t no the reason behind being so defensive against these.

21 Jan 2026 17:00:03
Hope David Luiz is fit to play tonight. Would be lovely for him to get a good reception from the crowd. Also noticed their line-up contains a certain Domingos Quina – once the next big thing set to come from the academy.

Went to West Ham, I think? Never made it there, and lost track of him after that – here he is. I'm sure he'll be motivated to give a good account of himself.

17 Jan 2026 21:09:38
Sanchez earned us 3 points today, he was superb, Enzo was very good as was Pedro but overall we were piss poor all over the pitch and really should of lost that game if it wasn't for the performance of said keeper. Tactics are identical to Maresca's but with a sense of nervousness.

17 Jan 2026 22:15:57
Greenaway, I totally agree about the performance of Sanchez and he was my MOM. I thought Fernandez played much better in the second half when playing in the ten position. I thought JP was ok today.

17 Jan 2026 23:01:15
Sanchez has been very good all season Tom bar the cup game v Arsenal and the away game at Man U, only Raya has more clean sheets this season and look at the quality of their centre backs protecting him compared to ours.

18 Jan 2026 09:43:25
I guess there will be nervousness as LR has had very little time to work with the players and also factorjng in the illness running through the squad.

For the moment I'm not too fussed about the tactics (altgough i hope they change by the end of the season or at least after a pre-season) being the same, just look at Amorin at UTD.

18 Jan 2026 10:05:12
Bill, i hope no person judges our manager on yesterday’s display and the games tactics because for large parts of that game we were all over the place.

Tactically and positionally awful but has been pointed out, he hasn’t had long and we also have continued injuries and illness. I think I will wait for a long time before I make any judgements.

18 Jan 2026 13:28:44
I think it will be next season Tom before we know what LR is about.