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16 Jan 2026 21:53:00
Hi Guys and Girls, I'm back after a short break and head wobble and thought I would share this with you fresh in from Kavvy at Sky.
Chelsea are getting close to signing a centre back this month - and also a midfielder or attacker if the right opportunity materialises. Levi Colwill’s recovery from a serious knee injury is going very well and the England centre back remains a central part of Chelsea’s long-term plans. At the same time, Chelsea are cautiously optimistic they will be able to sign a new centre back, who is their preferred option, this month and talks have stepped up. Rennes' 20-year-old defender Jeremy Jacquet is one of their main targets.
On a new midfielder or attacker – Chelsea are working to see whether summer 2026 targets can be signed this month. Chelsea have left a Champions League A slot free in their squad so they can add a new player.
The centre backs Chelsea wanted to sign in the summer were not available when Colwill was injured in August. Chelsea were trying to sign a starting-level centre back all summer – before and after Colwill was injured. Chelsea were confident of signing Dean Huijsen last summer before Real Madrid – who were his dream move since he was a child – agreed a deal to sign the player from Bournemouth.
After missing out on Huijsen, Chelsea struggled to find an elite level centre back in the market who was an upgrade on what they had. Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle United were all trying to sign a centre back and failed to sign anyone of the required standard. Enzo Maresca’s public comments that Chelsea should sign a centre back weakened their leverage.
Looks like 2 or 3 might be coming in. Open those doors.
1.) 17 Jan 2026 05:00:20
RPD, welcome back. I was gutted when Huijsen went to RM but I’m pleased we didn’t go a make do type alternative.
Looks like they are determined to only go for a player who is on their list of targets.
2.) 17 Jan 2026 09:04:22
Welcome back RPD.
I read recently Liverpool have Jacquet in their sights and now maybe more as they lost out to Man City with Guehi.
Like Tom, I beleive they should only go for a player the club have been following as a priority and not a fall back.
3.) 17 Jan 2026 11:10:30
Welcome back RPD and thanks for another inteeresting post. I do agree that an upgrade needed at CB though am a bit concerned that even a v talented youngster Jacquet from the French league may undestandably take time to adjust to the greater pace and physicality of the EPL plus extra pressure in playing for a big club like CFC. But he could be the real deal
IMHO Guehi would have offered us an immediate fix in being both EPL tested plus knowing CFC of course and would only cost City 20 million. I don't know if we even tried for him? It seems that Jacquet will cosr c 50 million and has to be a gamble being so young and with no EPL experience though I confess to being impressed by his physicality and speed on display in his highlights reel.
01 Jan 2026 17:35:42
Three main reasons for Maresca leaving the club, firstly it is a results driven game, win matches and you have credit in the bag, lose matches and that credit lessens, lose too many matches you are expected to win and you are out, second reason is because there have been disagreements behind the scenes about return-to-play protocols for injured players. Chelsea have an independent medical department who have the final say. From Chelsea's point of view, their head coach will never have the final say when it comes to that as they want to protect the players and try to curb the amount of injuries which have piled up over the past few years, Maresca wanted to play Fofana and Palmer in every game recently but the medical people said no.
The final reason, from Chelsea's perspective, is Maresca being linked with other jobs like Juventus and Manchester City. There may have been a sense from inside the club that these links were a distraction and coincided with a dip in form and results.
There have been clues that not all has been well behind the scenes, such as Tuesday night when Maresca did not hold a post-match press conference after the draw with Bournemouth because, we were told, he was ill.
It has added to a sense of volatility at the club but the sense is that things have not been right at the club for some time.
1.) 01 Jan 2026 18:49:48
RPD, I enjoyed your post a lot and I found myself agreeing with most of your assumptions.
2.) 01 Jan 2026 23:10:17
I think maresca was lucky to stay in the job
Last year
He won the club world cup we played well in the final other than that we were ordinary
Conference cup really a club of our size should never of been in it in 1st place and yes we won it but it's a mickey mouse cup of the highest order
European mid table trophy to generate money
would be a better name for it
Yes we got top 4
Man u were woeful
And we wouldn't of been top 4 if Notts forest hadn't rubbish there pants
Everyone says he didn't get players he wanted
But surely he wanted dewsbury hall there is no way we would of bought him otherwise
His subs were just plain weird
His team selections have been very weird at times
He never changed system
Players often looked flat and disinterested
Overcoached almost my way or the highway
That's OK but we have so many flair players and that mustn't suit them being restricted buy tactics held back almost
And playing players out of position why when we have a 649 man squad
James in midfield
Gusto left back
But my big 1 is and il probs get dogs abuse
PALMER
Is definetly better on right wing than in the 10.
3.) 02 Jan 2026 05:04:12
Hbih, I think KDH was becoming a good member of the squad and one we may regret selling at some stage.
I was critical of the EM almost rigid tactical approach for the majority of last to season and was only towards the last ten games ish and when we became more tactically flexible we started to pick results and qualify for the Champions League.
There was only one team that in my opinion performed well in the premiership last season and that was obviously Liverpool. I had us finish 3rd-5th so I was happy enough with our final finishing position. As I said in my usual end of season summary. I think he deserved another season, mainly because of the team’s performance over the last ten ish games.
The Palmer debate will be interesting and I wonder what the next manager will see has his best position.
4.) 02 Jan 2026 17:01:22
Palmer in my eyes is excellent in both positions, but if I had to pick one I think he is better on the right.
5.) 02 Jan 2026 18:56:27
Maresca was planing on leaving. He changed his agent recently. His inverted full backs will never work anyway. Can’t wait to see our wingers have some back up now, see some over lapping runs.
6.) 02 Jan 2026 19:09:47
BLUEBOY, I am not confident on the chosen tactics of any future manager.
7.) 06 Jan 2026 07:08:56
RPD, sure you really don't understand the reason why maresca left. The game being a result game is just delusion. Ambition is mainly the reason for me as the owners want a post dated success on the pitch but maresca wants to win now by having the capable players, but the owners want to intimidate him through irrelevant positions and he chose to walk away.
What maresca fought for is what everyone will be fighting against in a few months. The owners have suddenly lowered Chelsea's ambitions selfishly. They force players on maresca and expect magic. They won't want an established manager now because no manager that knows his worth will accept to work in such circumstances.
Saw somebody asking for the return of mourinho and I laughed. Mourinho will expose them and open them the media and public. If only the fans around the globe understand what these guys are doing to Chelsea no one will be attending games on match days. Stop making excuses for the owners they are the real problems and the main reason maresca left.
8.) 06 Jan 2026 14:33:37
Tusole, your opinion is just as valid as any other posters opinions.
Can I suggest you read the recent Danny Windsor article. It might just change your views on a few topics.
31 Dec 2025 21:06:02
Enzo Maresca was not sick post Bournemouth. Understand he chose not to attend the post-match press conference because he is in the middle of making a decision as he considers his options at the club.
Understand Maresca continues to be frustrated by aspects of the Chelsea project affecting his independence to make decisions and strategic elements don’t always align with how he wants to manage the team (The same as Poch) .
This led to his post-Everton comments, which had been brewing for some time.
Maresca had said publicly he loves Chelsea as a club and its fanbase and relishes the pressure of delivering results, but my understanding is he is struggling to work within certain conditions
This is a huge power play between Maresca and the sporting directors. Question is? who do my fellow posters want to come out on top? Maresca or the sporting directors?
Don't sit on the fence, Maresca or the sporting directors?
1.) 01 Jan 2026 00:16:46
I won't get into the politics it's embarrassing but one of these parties won the CWC with an average squad.
The other party has spent 2bn on an extremely average squad after inheriting a champions league winning one, fell out of favour with 3 managers now and are paying raheem sterling 350k to sit at home.
The sad thing is i can go on and on.
2.) 01 Jan 2026 00:54:12
RPD, I believe there will only one winner. The SD’s are part of the owners long term plan. If EM now wants out or wants to change the plan, I think he has zero chance.
I have had two comments made to me recently both of which I posted, it now looks as if they were both true.
Im personally not a fan of changing managers mid season but we have won them champs League twice when we’ve done it before. ?.
3.) 01 Jan 2026 07:40:24
If I had to pick between the two options, I’d pick the SD’s. As mentioned in an earlier post, I don’t think their squad building has been as bad as some believe, yes there’s been misses and key positions need to be added, but I think the squad that’s been built could / should be used better.
Everything else aside, I think it’s pretty disgraceful and unprofessional that Maresca dodged the press conference, feels like he’s trying to force the clubs hand into sacking him.
4.) 01 Jan 2026 08:45:20
Don't still understand reason managers are not involved with transfers even when they are the main unit that use the players.
Boely and Co. are resolute with keeping Chelsea a mid table club just to achieve their business goals. Unfortunately, Chelsea is above such clime now the fans are already spoilt with success from roman abrahimovic era. All these mess where created by the Boely and Co. but Maresca could be made the scapegoat.
Whether Maresca leaves or not, the damage Boely and Co. have brought will eventually be brought to fore. Like I usually do, Maresca should not leave and the owners should review their selfish transfer policy for Chelsea and not make Maresca the scapegoat.
5.) 01 Jan 2026 08:26:10
Let's hope so J.
Waking up the past year from anywhere between 12-4am to watch this team is starting to take it's toll.
The Maresca experiment has had some good days but he isn't the guy for us for the next 5-10 years. Let the youth we have express themselves.
Maresca and his tactics might be better suited to Italian football anyway.
6.) 01 Jan 2026 09:04:14
J, we don’t know the reasons why EM wasn’t at the post match press conference. He could easily have been told to miss it and attend a board meeting. As always we are all guessing.
7.) 01 Jan 2026 09:14:03
I think it was RBD who put a table with our nett spend and although that format is never accurate it does also emphasise the fact we have sold players for decent money as well as spending lots.
I had zero issues with the squad being rebuilt. As I said at the time, I was worried they would try and move to quickly and to my mind they did. To be fair they then put in a structure that those decisions away from the owners. Sterling was part of that early scramble.
I wouldn’t have looked to change manager now but if it is to happen so be it. Yes, EM was our manager when we win them champs League CWC but the majority of players on the pitch that day were bought by the club not EM.
I have asked the guy who told me he would get the sack if we didn’t win against Bournemouth to give me an update on EM and if he is leaving who is likely to replace him.
8.) 01 Jan 2026 09:26:25
Both Maresca and the sporting directors do some things well and some things not so well but the club do have a structure in place and all parties are privy to that and accepted it when appointed so if the rumours are to be believed that Maresca has fallen out with his bosses over policy and recruitment then he will be the one to go and I think he will end up at Man City next season.
I must say the crowd on tuesday started to turn on him when Palmer was subbed off and again at the final whistle and I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves this month.
9.) 01 Jan 2026 09:59:51
Thats fair J. Considering both Tuchel and Poch walked though due to disagreements, and now likely Maresca. Would you say its more of a problem with the hierarchy?
With reports of them going into the dressing room after every game and infamously suggesting a '4-4-3 formation' i really can't get behind anyone but the manager.
10.) 01 Jan 2026 11:22:39
I'm just trying to recover from last night's festivities (another word for drinking too much) .
I have been reading the various posts, and I have to say that if it is true that it's the clubs policy to rotate players and not Maresca's then firstly I owe him an apology but more importantly, it's really poor how the club is being run by the owners and SD's.
That being said, i don't like the way maresca has played this out in the media and it seems to mirror Conte's antics.
If he wants to go, let him but with no compensation, if he does not like that then he stays in charge until the summer.
As you all know, I'm not a fan of his dire football which is more at home in Italian football.
Personally I think that all parties will agree to limp to the end of the season.
11.) 01 Jan 2026 12:02:56
Bill, again only guessing but if EM resigns then I doubt he will get any compensation.
My guess is the board will give a vote of confidence and then see what happens.
The TT comparison probably isn’t valid, from what I gather about him being could have an argument looking in the mirror. I am biased but for Poch should never have been appointed so I lost no sleep when he left.
12.) 01 Jan 2026 12:31:12
Ok, I was wrong about limping to the end of the season.
13.) 01 Jan 2026 12:37:36
He 100% didn't miss the press conference because of a board meeting. What an absurd take haha.
14.) 01 Jan 2026 12:41:13
Blimey Melbourne. Haven't seen you post in years. Hope you've been well mate.
15.) 01 Jan 2026 13:30:51
Or maybe not bill.
16.) 01 Jan 2026 13:42:49
Can i ask what it is the sporting directors do well greenaway?
17.) 01 Jan 2026 13:50:31
Melbourne, you may we be right and I’m only guessing and putting up different ideas.
At the moment I’m only believing what my mate has told me over the last week or so. He seems to be getting some good ish info.
18.) 01 Jan 2026 13:51:27
Would have wanted Maresca at meast to see out the season. Am worried who will be got to replace him.
18 Dec 2025 14:36:29
Strong rumours today that Man City want Maresca to replace Pep in the summer.
Chelsea have declined to comment on reports linking Enzo Maresca with Man City. He is contracted until 2030, and any approach for him would need to take place via Chelsea and require significant compensation.
Chelsea also want to keep Enzo Maresca.
Ben Jacobs and others reporting.
1.) 18 Dec 2025 16:18:56
I doubt Pep will leave once he wins the Premier league this season.
{Ed001's Note - he has wanted to leave for years mate, they keep persuading him to stay. Nothing to do with winning, he just wants a break.}
2.) 18 Dec 2025 16:43:48
ED001
He might have wanted to leave but never did, if he builds another league winning side there is every chance he would stay, at least 50-50.
{Ed001's Note - no mate, it has been accepted his time is coming to a close and they are searching for his replacement. Before now, they just focused on persuading him to stay, this is the first time they have actively searched for the next man in. Last summer, they even brought in the other Pep to enable him to step back a bit to give them a bit more time to find his replacement.}
3.) 18 Dec 2025 18:54:50
If that is the case, do you think City might move away from the way they currently play similar to when Klopp left Liverpool, actually how about Klopp taking over.
4.) 18 Dec 2025 20:36:38
Klopp to City, I like it.
{Ed001's Note - not happening, he has retired from club management and has been quite clear he would not manage any other English club than Liverpool.}
5.) 18 Dec 2025 21:23:02
What a shame. A match made in heaven.
{Ed001's Note - hardly. Wrong manager for them entirely. His personality is all wrong to work with their structure.}
6.) 18 Dec 2025 21:48:25
Bill, we all know you don't like Maresca but he is very talented and the big boys know it. We have a gem of a manager and need to keep him.
7.) 18 Dec 2025 22:16:18
Ed, “Tis the season to be merry”
That’s exactly what I meant. A match made in heaven.
8.) 19 Dec 2025 07:58:41
RPD
where in this post did i say i wanted Maresca to leave, not sure why you brought it up.
I have in other posts but not this one.
16 Nov 2025 10:04:41
A question for ED01, a few posts on here recently about Chelsea being sanctioned again, any truth in this or is it just conjecture from fellow posters?
{Ed001's Note - I think they are referring to the ongoing investigation into the finances under Roman, which you have yet to be sanctioned for.}
1.) 16 Nov 2025 16:44:48
Thanks ED01, do you think we will face serious sanctions because of what happened under Roman?
{Ed001's Note - the offences are very serious, so they are going to have to do something, but obviously there are mitigating circumstances, with it being a previous owner. Judging by how that is dealt with in the EFL, I would expect a serious sanction.}
2.) 16 Nov 2025 17:20:58
Thanks ED01 for your reply, It looks like Roman may of really created a huge problem then for the club and the current owners. As a Chelsea fan I have always been very grateful for everything Roman did for us but what is your view of him and his reign at our club looking in from the outside?
{Ed001's Note - he pays for genocide. He was a murderous gangster. Detest the man, sorry. He is everything that is wrong with society right now, him and his ilk, Musk and the like. But that is not the club's fault, and I doubt any club owner in the modern era is much different to be honest. You don't get rich enough to buy a Premier League club by being a good guy.}
3.) 17 Nov 2025 09:48:32
Thanks ED01, do you think the current owners did the right thing in self reporting what they found under Roman's time in charge even though it may well cost us a points deduction?
{Ed001's Note - they did the right thing morally, surely that should be all that matters?}
4.) 17 Nov 2025 11:49:53
Yes ED01, 100% agree with you and think it was correct for them to highlight the dodgy dealings under Roman. Hopefully the new owners self reporting the club will be taken into account when the penalties coming our way are handed out.
{Ed001's Note - they should be.}
5.) 17 Nov 2025 13:09:09
In my opinion the owners made the correct call on every level.
Once they found out they, again in my opinion, had little choice but to report immediately what they had discovered. Reporting it at a later date would probably have brought about a more severe sanction.
6.) 17 Nov 2025 13:14:28
EDOO1,
You are correct that it was the moral thing to do but let's be fair the idiots at the prem league and FA never picked it up and you wonder if they ever would have.
You just wonder what else is hoing on throughout the leagues that nobody knows about.
7.) 17 Nov 2025 22:10:43
Thanks for your input ED01, it is good to see our new owners doing the right thing by both our club and also the game in general. Well done to them.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome and I fully agree, it is one thing they have got totally right is their immediate reporting of the irregularities.}
8.) 19 Nov 2025 13:14:55
Interesting hearing about Roman! I always wondered about his past but it never really registered with me but it certainly wound my Spurs and Arsenal mates up. In fact, thinking about it, it wound all my non Chels mates up when he took us over.
I really don't care who our "custodians" are but would prefer they were clean and honest and not crooks but I thought the FA did checks on them nowadays ED01?
{Ed001's Note - the FA are not exactly a beacon of light and honesty themselves mate. They do basic background checks, but they can only go on what is proven, not on what is known but you can't prove in court. We know Roman, for example, got up to a lot of shady stuff, so bad that even the oligarchy that is Russia said it was too much. He was ordered to become governor of his home region and pay for everything out of his own pocket as punishment. This is a country where the FSB were in charge and all the oligarchs (and by extension Bratva) were FSB just took what they wanted using the leverage they had discovered over people. People that stood up to them just disappeared. So whatever Roman did, must have been bad if they felt he deserved to be punished! A country where anything goes says you have gone too far, then you know there is some real dark stuff involved.
And now in Israel, he is massively contributing funds to the settler projects that are illegally stealing land from the native population. It is akin to going to the USA and paying for people to go in and just steal the reservations there from the Native Americans. But if the FA did a background check on that, despite it being hugely illegal (as well as disgustingly immoral) would they stop him owning a football club in England over it? No they wouldn't. They do not consider it as a problem, despite it being against all international and humanitarian laws.}
9.) 19 Nov 2025 16:10:11
I had no idea Roman was upto all that ED01 and as I previously said I have little to no interest in who our owners are providing they put their hands in their pockets and buy players (sounds really selfish thinking about it but that is how I have always looked at club ownership) .
Maybe, as fans, we should be grateful the club changed hands and get behind the new owners rather than constantly wingeing about trivial little matters when you take into account all that you have just explained ED01. Thankyou for your insight.
{Ed001's Note - I just think you can't blame a club for who owns it. You have to really divorce the club from the owners in your minds because no one earns enough to buy one by being a good person.}
10.) 19 Nov 2025 19:17:43
The new owners were absolutely right to report the irregularities. All fans whinge about the clubs owners, they have made mistakes but as I have always said out of the options put forward they were the right choice . Strangely, I have read reports that if the previous owner had disclosed the payments to third parties we wouldn’t have been in breach of the then extant FFP rules.
Personally, I just want the sanctions to be imposed and that we move on, whatever they are.
11.) 19 Nov 2025 20:52:03
I think the sanctions may well involve a loss of points which could push us out of champions league contention and maybe Tom B is correct that the threat of sanctions has stopped us getting a FOS sponsor? easy for some to blame our current owners for situations caused by our previous owner.
12.) 19 Nov 2025 22:34:43
I think it will be a fine and a one or two window transfer ban.
13.) 20 Nov 2025 13:17:39
I'm sure the FA and Prem will dish out sanctions to Man City before we are sanctioned, they must have worked out what to do about their 115 issues unless it's more now due to the increase in interest rates .
14.) 20 Nov 2025 16:48:43
Tom
I have been crying out for stability therefore I would be very happy with a transfer ban but that would have to be both in and out.
15.) 21 Nov 2025 07:16:33
Bill, I assume a transfer ban wouldn’t include loans because we have a few youngsters who could do with loans plus we have Sterling and Disasi.
16.) 21 Nov 2025 09:30:19
That is the clubs problem Tom.
17.) 21 Nov 2025 11:42:07
Any transfer embargo would only stop us signing new players either permanately or on loan. We would still be able to sell or loan players to other clubs.
18.) 21 Nov 2025 12:06:42
The vast majority of things about the club are the “club’s problem. ”.
19.) 21 Nov 2025 13:11:21
They are Tom.
20.) 25 Nov 2025 16:29:18
They are also our own problems as supporters.
21.) 09 Dec 2025 22:15:08
Is it me or have Romans in world history always been wronguns lol.
RPD's banter posts with other poster's replies to RPD's banter posts
29 Jan 2026 12:35:39
I thought the initial line up was rather brave by our new head coach with just one centre back and 2 full backs either side but in fairness he did eventually change it but if he continues to experiment in such high profile games against better teams it will potentially be his undoing. I saw shades of AVB in that first half.
The introduction of Cole Palmer changed the game as he and Jaoa Pedro seem to have a telepathic understanding with each other and the way Pedro took those goals shows just how good he can become and in this his first season he may well become the first Chelsea stiker in a long time to bag 20 goals and solve our need for a proper striker. I'm not getting carried away but the signs are very promising.
Looking at the draw for the next round shows we are likely to play PSG or Newcastle if they both win their respective play off games so no real reward for us finishing in the top 8 other than 2 less matches to play.
1.) 29 Jan 2026 18:25:32
Good post RPD and thanks for it. 'Brave' seemed like an understatement when I saw the lineup and funnily enough also thought of AVB while watching the first half. But have already commented on things I found strange there.
Yes CP did become a game changer as he is probably the best we have in terms of passing between the lines/defense splitting passes. Estevao and Enzo next best bets perhaps. Point is that though Pedro does his best as a classic hnumber 9 -playing hold up with back to gaol and pass ball to others or be fighting in box for headers etc - he will thrive far more if ball played through for him to run on to.
Who would we prefer PSG or Newcastle? Might be different reasons for choice.
2.) 30 Jan 2026 00:12:25
I don’t think it was a massive experiment. Both LR and Chelsea have played a back 3 in recent history. Many of us were frustrated with Maresca being unwilling to switch up his tactics ever. Granted it didn’t work with some players seeming to not know where/what they should be doing but LR recognised it and made the changes. I think he should be applauded both for the flexibility of trying to match up a system to Napoli and changing it when it didn’t work.
The line up boggled my mind and perhaps with different players/ more time on the training ground to work on it, it might have worked out.
Finishing in the top 8 does just get us spare us 2 extra games. Tbf it’s kind of expected that the last 16 will in general see any team matched up against a big team.
28 Jan 2026 16:53:24
RPD has written an article entitled, Chelsea's January Window Plans Taking Shape
1.) 28 Jan 2026 16:59:14
RPD, I enjoyed your article and I agreed with it all. I assume you meant the “managers influence” to be our current manager not Maresca?
2.) 28 Jan 2026 17:22:34
Thanks Tom. Yes, Liam not Maresca. A typo.
06 Jan 2026 21:19:52
I have decided to have a break from social media, the toxic nature of this site at the moment is becoming a bit too much. I enjoy a chat and an opinion both ways but right now the negativity from a few is questioning my sanity in taking to a keyboard and scrolling.
Thankyou ED01 for all you do and I may return in the future. Good luck to our new coach and best wishes.
1.) 06 Jan 2026 21:26:43
That’s very sad RPD, I enjoy your posts. Stay safe mate.
2.) 06 Jan 2026 21:59:28
I also enjoy your posts, but its like anything a break every now and then is good for the soul .
In the scheme of things football is not really important at all.
Keep well, hope you return when we have won 20 games in a row.
I don't relly do much social media but the majority of my business is on line and sometimes the Internet does one's head in.
3.) 06 Jan 2026 23:43:28
Hope to see you back soon… we all need a break now and then.
4.) 07 Jan 2026 07:38:30
There are more posts about people being negative than negative posts.
5.) 07 Jan 2026 09:39:35
We have had our agreements and differences but sad to see you leave RPD, hope to see you back soon.
6.) 07 Jan 2026 10:03:24
Sorry to hear that RPD. Stay well and take care of yourself.
7.) 07 Jan 2026 13:16:56
Ive enjoyed your always well reasoned posts RPD so will hope to see you posting again at some stage. Meanwhile enjoy the break. Reckon many if not all of us have taken a break or contemplated one from time to time!
05 Jan 2026 07:39:35
{Ed's Note - RPD has posted a new article entitled, Why Chelsea's Ownership Is Playing the Long Game
04 Jan 2026 10:35:08
RPD has written an article entitled, Why Chelsea's Ownership Is Playing the Long Game
1.) 04 Jan 2026 11:41:55
RPD, I enjoyed your post enormously and I hope every poster reads it. It broadly outlines my guess of our owners BP.
One thing I would and is the probable driving force for the buying and selling of players is to show they are living within what I consider to be ridiculous, FFP rules. Hence another reason for player trading.
2.) 04 Jan 2026 13:58:51
In all honesty rpd I really enjoyed reading that. Well done.
Can I ask what you think of the merasca situation do you believe the hierarchy was correct or do you believe it could throw the whole project out of what you belive is the timeline.
3.) 04 Jan 2026 14:38:02
Enjoyed the post and it's realistic positive tone,
4.) 04 Jan 2026 14:48:51
Thankyou both. C-f-b, the departure of Maresca was not part of the plan but will not effect the overall project at all, indeed the coach will likely change a few times over the next 10 years.
5.) 04 Jan 2026 16:17:24
RPD, good article. However, if that is the plan I think it is naive and flawed. Do the owners think City, Liverpool, Arsenal etc are going to stand still. By the the end of the owners timeline, Man U will probably have a100, 000 seater stadium and will blow us out of the water financially.
6.) 04 Jan 2026 17:06:03
I think RBD mentioned an upgrade or potential new stadium either started or at least having full planning consent. I assume some of the timelines for either are out of the clubs control.
I also can’t think why any owner of any club would believe other clubs will stagnate while your club catches up.
7.) 04 Jan 2026 17:33:00
Tom, as some of us believe, it is possible that there will not be any major development, particularly if we stay at SB. As things stand we will have a lot of catching up to do.
8.) 04 Jan 2026 18:02:03
Jimbo, yes we do have a lot of catching up to do and in lots of different ways. That’s why I think us fans need some patience.
I also think us fans ours show more patience if the owners and FAB were a little bit more transparent.
9.) 04 Jan 2026 21:17:31
Very well written and explained RPD. this gives a more complete idea of what's behind Vision 2030 than I' ve been able to do or understand perhaps. But Jimbo is right to point out that other clubs won't stand still re strengthening and most main rivals of course already have their new larger stadiums. Also strengthening further easier - or should be - when alteady at the top.
But the vision to get there is there for us. just a matter of successful execution!
10.) 05 Jan 2026 09:56:07
I can understand the vision now and hope it works. Good that the owners can't take money out like the Glazers do and will need to sell one day to get their money back plus profit. Keeps them focused.
11.) 05 Jan 2026 10:00:33
Looking at it another way, who knows what's going to happen in the near or long term.
The ownership could split and go there merry ways, the squad we have at the moment could in most cases be sold.
I guess what I'm saying is you never know what's going to happen with our club and in that vein, I totally agree with Tom and the total lack of transparency by the leadership team.
12.) 05 Jan 2026 11:47:48
Yes greater transparency from FAb and owners plus more readily accessible . plus more affordable (not just Westview at 180 pounds to 400pounds for EPL games) tickets for members who are not season ticket holders would be welcome and lack of this one reason why fans can find it hard to warm to new owners.
13.) 05 Jan 2026 12:52:05
JBS, I think the percentage of ST holders to members ratio is now outdated. If I remember correctly, the idea was a 2/3ST to 1/3M ratio, the narrative being that a high membership would broaden the support base.
I now think the ST percentage should be increased. Needless to say I did send my suggestion to the club and FAB.
29 Dec 2025 13:32:32
Arsenal stuck by Arteta through very lean times Tom when the majority of their fans wanted him out, now look at them. Man U sticking with Amorim and starting to pick up, Liverpool stuck with Slot and starting to pick up, we need a period of stability and are in the top 5 of the toughest league in the world and patience is needed, give him until the end of the season and then evaluate which is what clubs with a proper plan tend to do.
Ignore fans calling for a new gaffer as those same fans will soon turn on the new coach and we go through the same motions all over again.
18 Dec 2025 21:48:25
Bill, we all know you don't like Maresca but he is very talented and the big boys know it. We have a gem of a manager and need to keep him.
21 Nov 2025 11:42:07
Any transfer embargo would only stop us signing new players either permanately or on loan. We would still be able to sell or loan players to other clubs.
17 Nov 2025 22:10:43
Thanks for your input ED01, it is good to see our new owners doing the right thing by both our club and also the game in general. Well done to them.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome and I fully agree, it is one thing they have got totally right is their immediate reporting of the irregularities.}
17 Nov 2025 11:49:53
Yes ED01, 100% agree with you and think it was correct for them to highlight the dodgy dealings under Roman. Hopefully the new owners self reporting the club will be taken into account when the penalties coming our way are handed out.
{Ed001's Note - they should be.}
28 Jan 2026 17:22:34
Thanks Tom. Yes, Liam not Maresca. A typo.
18 Jan 2026 09:14:21
It is amost 100% certainly not incompetence in my opinion and I'm sure the real reason will come out in due course.
18 Jan 2026 09:11:46
Thanks Tom.
18 Jan 2026 07:50:23
Tusole, I posted my thoughts on the direction of the club a while back which you might like to read as it explains pretty much the only way the owners of the club can make a financial gain of any real significance on their investment. I will try to give you a brief summary here to politely challenge your statement above. There is no way in this world that the owners can make a large investment profit by trading players, it just won't happen as for every star purchase who might possibly turn a nice profit there will be 2 more at least who won't work out and will lose you money, factor in purchase and sale costs, agent fees and wages and any return to the owners will be little to nothing so the notion that the owners buy players to make a profit is pure pie in the sky, the owners are also prohibited from taking a dividend from the club for 10 years so unlike the Glazers at Man Utd they can't profit day to day via income, the only way they can possibly a sizeable financial gain is by resale of the entire investment which legally can't happen until 2032 as part of the sale process agreed with Roman in 2022 and that will mean the club needs to of grown as a global force both through expansion, further clubs being added, stadia development bringing increased revenue and fan exposure and fundamentally success on the pitch.
The approach at present to purchase young prospects will likely continue for another couple of seasons as wages and costs are managed before the push towards sustainable challenges for domestic and european titles begins to ramp up the nearer any sale date around 2032 and beyond where the owners need the club to be not only winning titles yearly but showing significant progress in all areas including stadia. If that all comes together they might just make a sizeable return on their investment. The downside for us fans is that we must watch on as the club slowly build up to the trophy winning monster the model is intended to be mainly picking up a trophy here and there and hovering around the top 4 or 5 until 2027 or 2028 when the kick really begins towards yearly title challenges and sustained sucess leading to a profitable sale by the owners in or likely beyond 2032. I totally understand the short term frustration and can only hope their vision pans out in the long term if not before but trying to put a slightly positive spin on it at least they have a plan unlike many other clubs who just muddle through year by year. I hope my brief summary helps explain a few things but more than happy to go into far greater detail on my thoughts on this model if you wish.
04 Jan 2026 14:48:51
Thankyou both. C-f-b, the departure of Maresca was not part of the plan but will not effect the overall project at all, indeed the coach will likely change a few times over the next 10 years.