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15 Nov 2025 15:47:00
New sponsor Oracle to be announced. One year deal, and for significantly less than what chelsea were expecting.
This entire debacle has been embarrassing. Egbalis first words once the takeover happened was 'this club was not terribly well managed on the football side, sporting side or promotional side'.
Many on here having been saying for a couple years now (lol) that it was somehow a good thing that we hadn't got a new sponsor, as we'd be making way more money by holding firm and waiting. Just want to see if those posters can eat there words as I said many times the beginning of this new regime will be a case study in failure on how to takeover a club. I don't suppose they will though.
anyway, not all bad, but glad this debacle is finally coming to an end.
1.) 15 Nov 2025 19:43:12
Welcome back. Always good to have different views on this site.
2.) 15 Nov 2025 22:38:35
I don’t always have the best things to say about the current ownership, but, in this case, a big issue with the club not getting what they viewed as good / expected value from sponsorship has been the ongoing investigation - with companies reluctant to go big until that’s resolved. I’m sure the current regime would have hoped that it would have been resolved by now, but they can’t wait forever.
That investigation is down to problems with / mistakes by the previous ownership, which the current lot could have brushed under the carpet. In the long term they did the right thing, highlighting it at the earliest opportunity.
Is this whole debacle embarrassing? Yes, it absolutely is. Is it the current ownerships fault? No, the blame sits with RA and his ownership.
3.) 16 Nov 2025 03:32:50
J, we have all had reason to be critical of the current owners.
Like all fans to a certain extent we are guessing about our respective club’s commercial negotiations.
If it is true that potential sponsors have been reluctant to enter into a long term sponsorship deal because of a potential club sanction then I guess your assertion holds water.
The fact that our current owners self reported the issue and have co-operated fully with the relevant regulatory bodies made me personally believed we would receive a fine and maybe a one window transfer ban at the most. I suppose there is little upside to a sponsor making a longer than one year deal without knowing the outcome of the investigation.
I seem to remember we recently got a very substantial long term shirt sleeve sponsorship deal and I guess last season we did have a sponsor for about our last fifteen games.
4.) 16 Nov 2025 06:47:54
I think it’ll be the club deciding on the deal till the end of the season, rather than a long-term one right now.
Just as an example, the sponsorship companies are saying, we’ll give you £40m per season, because of the outstanding charges, otherwise we’d give you £60m. You wouldn’t want to sign a 4-6 year deal, knowing those charges should be resolved with the first of those years. Get the £40m this season, pay the fine during that period, then get a better long-term deal after that.
Additionally, get top four this season and we’re repositioning ourselves as regulars in the UCL, rather than being back in as a one off. That won’t hurt either.
5.) 16 Nov 2025 08:05:05
J, you are using the same mathematical logic that I was using for last season.
I except your point about any potential punishment effecting negotiations. This was an issue that I had personally dismissed because I believed any sanction would be relatively minor.
6.) 16 Nov 2025 08:47:56
Charges, it's not stopping Man city obtaining sponsorships, this is red herring, let's stop making excuses for our incompetent ownership and commercial dept.
7.) 16 Nov 2025 09:36:43
Who owns Man City and who is their sponsor?
8.) 16 Nov 2025 10:25:08
J we have multi billionaire owners who are brilliant business people yet they have no clue on moving us forward whether it's to do with sponsorships ir the so called Bridge development.
9.) 16 Nov 2025 10:38:54
J, very good point.
Bill, we understandably don’t know the facts, so we are all left guessing but to accuse the owners of “incompetence” on this issue seems harsh to me.
When I look back upon my time as a supporter I have always found a topic that I could criticise all our past owners for. Some of that criticism is and was probably unfair but my guess is all supporters of virtually every club are the same. Can I just add, I did have some criticisms of RA as well.
10.) 16 Nov 2025 11:23:44
Bill, The SB development or move to another location will probably cost about £2bn, I would rather they got it right than wrong and on that I’m sure we can agree. I have been critical of our owners for poor communication either directly or via the FAB and this is an area, in my opinion, where they have over promised and under delivered.
They were due to make an internal report public before the start of the season. There may well be good reasons why this hasn’t happened but a very short press release would have updated all the fans.
11.) 16 Nov 2025 11:38:44
Tom
That is the ussue, we don't know what's hoing on because us fans get told absolutely nothing.
Thats one thing about this ownership, they live in their ivory tower, doing nothing, saying nothing.
They just seem to like owners of a large nursery company.
12.) 16 Nov 2025 14:05:22
Bill, I assume our owners are worse than some and better than others when it comes to fan communication.
I personally would bring back CTV and the old monthly Q&A that used to a good opportunity for us fans to ask questions.
13.) 16 Nov 2025 16:41:56
I think some of you are over optimistic about the potential sanctions. There are two seperate investigations one by the FA and the other by the PL. We would be lucky to get away with a financial sanction; there is a real possibility of a points deduction.
14.) 16 Nov 2025 16:56:01
I agree Tom but this crowd would never let it happen, like the Glaziers, they are in it for the money and prestige, they could not care less about the fan base, they have made that quite clear with their total lack of communication.
15.) 16 Nov 2025 17:34:32
Bill, I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have said we are a business. I have also said many times there is very little wrong with our club being run as a business. I see no comparison, so far, between our owners and the Utd owners.
Over the years we have had many different owners. The Mears family didn’t say anything and the Bates - Harding partnership ended up being a war of words against each other. I can’t remember Roman saying much directly to anyone but his Chairman Bruce Buck was iften good for a self promoting quote.
My point is silence from owners seems like a common theme at our club and probably the vast majority of other clubs.
16.) 17 Nov 2025 09:27:35
Tom
As you are probably aware I agree with you about being run as a business albeit a badly run business losing huge amounts of money due yo no FOS for goodness knows how long now and having no plans for extra revenue with a larger stadium, all the owners can do is keep putting ticket prices up to help mediate the problem if losing money.
17.) 17 Nov 2025 12:28:51
Bill, I would only be guessing again but just maybe the threat of a club sanction has been the major problem in stopping us getting a FOS sponsor.
I’m not a fan of the “blame” society we live in and without knowing the facts on this particular issue maybe we should defer our judgement.
The SB development was always going to take ages but I will continue to be critical but only about poor communication.
I can’t say I’m an expert on our gross revenues over the last five years and I’m not sure how they compare to our peers. Obviously a larger ground with extra capacity would be good but does that come with huge debt? I assume these are the sort of issues our previous owner and present owner have to consider as well as the potential loss in revenue if we move to a temporary home. I think I will just leave it to them (not going to happen in my lifetime) it gives me a headache!
11 Sep 2024 11:55:55
Datro fofana on loan for Athens. 20m buy option.
He had a good spell at Burnley, but I'm not surprised we struggled to find a better loan for him.
1.) 12 Sep 2024 10:32:51
Nope, another deal that's off. Christ, we really are a mess.
2.) 12 Sep 2024 11:54:02
Why is the deal not going through a reflection of CFC and require the comment “we are a mess? ”
I have no idea why an agreement couldn’t be reached so therefore I can’t say if any side is to blame but it’s hardly unusual that clubs can’t agree on a transfer or loan deal.
Every club must have loads of transfers deals that fell through because an agreement couldn’t be reached, they must all be “a mess. ” All very sad.
{Ed002's Note - AEK are responsible for it falling through.}
3.) 12 Sep 2024 11:59:35
Ed, brilliant mate thanks.
4.) 12 Sep 2024 12:31:00
He is trolling again Tom.
5.) 12 Sep 2024 12:48:12
It’s just non stop criticism of the owners without knowing any facts.
Be critical when it’s deserved.
6.) 12 Sep 2024 22:23:27
Thanks for that info Ed.
And we're a mess because we have copious players we're unable to find clubs for. We still have chilwell, Washington, fofana, kellyman
and chukwuemeka and casadaei at the club, none who will see the pitch.
I personally think that's a fair criticism, as I've said before we simply have too many players.
7.) 12 Sep 2024 22:56:16
Your criticism was about a player not getting a loan with an option to buy. You jumped to a conclusion because you believed it worked for your continuous narrative against the owners.
Your very pointed criticism on this particular issue was wide of the mark and now you bring up a different topic to try and justify it.
As I posted “be critical when it’s deserved. ”.
8.) 13 Sep 2024 11:49:17
I see he has secured a loan now. I think the bigger question regarding DDF is whether he is a better player and therefore more useful to Chelsea than Guiu?
Personally I would have said yes.
9.) 13 Sep 2024 12:15:03
I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of Fofana or Guiu but if had to choose, I would go for Guiu.
How amazing our owners must be to find a club for Fofana on agreeable terms. ?.
10.) 13 Sep 2024 12:32:46
Tom lad it had nothing to do about an option. It was the fact that another deal fell through.
Looks like we were swift to get him another loan, but I think even the club will be dissapointed to not sell him on for a profit this year after a decent loan spell at Burnley. Though, as I said, I believe it's complete naivety to believe we can flip these players after a year for a profit. A belief that maybe true depending on your outlook. We have copious players we have been unable to find a move for.
11.) 13 Sep 2024 15:44:25
You said in reference to the failed loan of Fofana “Christ, WE really are a mess. ” Your comment had zero to do with any other player but you couldn’t wait to have a dig at the owners. That is just a plain fact.
As I understand it we have sold, loaned or released 41 players so far in this window. Of course it would have been good to sell or loan a few more but 41 seems an above average number to me but then again I’m not a transfer expert.
Anyone can “hunt” out a reason to be critical. I guess the reverse must be true.
12.) 13 Sep 2024 22:15:29
Mate, getting really tired of you telling other posters what they're thinking and the reason behind there posts. You have no idea what my reasoning was and if you want to make up a reason, go for it. It's getting very tiresome though.
It is literally very obvious by reading the reasoning behind we are a mess and that is because the players we've been unable to offload or have paid to offload.
And further, part of my post was actually edited out. So again, please stop assuming you know other people's reasonings and get off your high horse.
13.) 14 Sep 2024 02:54:21
Maybe stop coming on here and talking rubbish then. The eds have said numerous times that it wasn't chelsea that was the issue.
Re Gallagher "he didn't want to sign a contract"
Fofana "it was Athens issue"
You come on here like a petulant child as soon as you here some bad news. Then change your mind in what you actually said.
Re calling caicedo a "donkey" so in my eyes your the one getting tiresome.
14.) 14 Sep 2024 06:28:41
No problem jsfinchy. If you don't want to have a discussion with people that disagree with you, interesting choice to go onto a forum discussing a football club. In the real world people disagree, you should maybe get better at talking to those who disagree.
And to reiterate my point as you clearly misunderstood, I'm criticising chelsea buying 100's of players and struggling to offload them. It's completely irrelevant whether it's an issue with us or the other party. We wouldn't be having issues offloading players if we had a clear and concise plan in place.
15.) 14 Sep 2024 06:58:27
I wouldn’t have a clue what you are thinking and response was clearly about and only what was writing your post.
I repeat. Supposedly Chelsea have sold, loaned or released 41 players in the last window. Yes it would have nice to find playing homes for just a few more but there is another window in a few months and I’m sure some more transfer business will be completed.
16.) 15 Sep 2024 07:28:29
Which is a big feat tom so well done to them for them sales/ loans.
However, if we didn't buy so many players in the first place, we could have spent more energy building cohesion and chasing targets who improve the team.
17.) 15 Sep 2024 08:36:58
I’ve lost count of the times I have said to many signings done to quickly but generally I think our old squad looked tired or maybe to comfortable.
18.) 15 Sep 2024 10:49:07
You are correct Tom. The old squad needed a refresh and with the sanctions it was also a very difficult time. Yes, too many signings in too few windows but that will now slow down. Players will come and go and these owners are not shy to spend their money and I fully expect 2 more windows of activity. They are winners and highly motivated by success and won't stop until we return to the top table.
19.) 16 Sep 2024 09:23:56
WSOTS, I think the signings might well slow down but I still think we will be selling a few with the likes of Noni, Disasi, Chilly, Sterling and maybe Mudryk all likely to be sold or loaned over the next two windows in my opinion.
20.) 18 Sep 2024 07:48:34
FFS Standard, " buying 100's of players " as per your quote on here, get real mate, the club and the people they have employed are much more aware than you or i could ever wish to be!
27 Aug 2024 14:28:37
Chelsea making a move for Toney! If osimhen is demanding wages too excessive toney will be an excellent option! Him and Jackson can compete and after Jackson's performance against wolves, toney will have to be at his best.
Hope this one happens!
1.) 27 Aug 2024 16:02:49
Perhaps Saudi Arabia is a more probable destination.
Is there any truth to Calwert Lewin rumours? Wouldn't be a bad back up striker although I like Guiu for that role too.
2.) 27 Aug 2024 18:51:29
Toney would be way down my list of CF options. Mind you there is a gap between Osimhen and the rest in my opinion.
3.) 27 Aug 2024 22:50:49
I’d be happy enough with Toney within the wage structure - if we have to buy someone! I’m still a fan of Jackson, but I think Toney has a good all round game.
4.) 28 Aug 2024 02:01:51
Not sure Toneys wage demands are any less than Osimhens.
5.) 28 Aug 2024 16:57:39
Tom, Toney wouldn’t even be on my list. His numbers aren’t that good particularly if you strip away penalties. His first touch is poor; he is not an 18 yard box striker he goes deep and would clutter up our midfield. He has averaged 1.3 headed goals a season over the last 4 years. If Oshimen is out of reach stick with what we have and look again next summer.
6.) 28 Aug 2024 17:43:28
Jimbo, I agree. Plus It’s early stages but Guiu loooks ok to me.
7.) 28 Aug 2024 20:55:55
400k a week is on offer for Toney in Saudi. He can have a lot of fun gambling with that kind of money.
26 Aug 2024 23:39:27
Hey Ed around last week you said there would be plenty of departures and about one a day. Since then, it looks like a couple have been agreed but nothing concrete. Now, it looks Iike broja has fell through.
Are we still confident in selling over 10 players before the window shuts?
{Ed002's Note - Players will continue to depart.}
1.) 27 Aug 2024 13:13:37
Three players out the door already today . Kepa, Anjorin and Lukaku.
2.) 28 Aug 2024 09:28:30
And Gallagher gone too of course.
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.
1.) 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.
2.) 22 May 2024 13:21:25
Pretty sure nagelsmann extended his contract with Germany celery.
3.) 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.
4.) 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.
5.) 22 May 2024 14:45:02
Same Standard i've just about managed to calm myself down, lol.
Standard's banter posts with other poster's replies to Standard's banter posts
20 Jan 2026 22:31:00
Lots of hostility on here from some, so to lift spirits. What's everyone's favourite seasons?
For me, 2019-20 under Lampard. Transfer ban and the most promising i've ever felt for the future as a chelsea fan.
1.) 21 Jan 2026 07:08:50
2024-2025. Fantastic new owners getting there act together, a young team, CWC champions and another pot as well.
The best feeling, Jose’s first season. Best football, King Carlo’s. Most enjoyable day, Munich.
2.) 21 Jan 2026 16:29:32
2012/13 – Hazard, Hazard, Hazard. Nothing matches the excitement of that guy joining, and the years with him at the club were just phenomenal, even if we weren't always a great team in that time.
King Carlo's football in 2009/10 was among the best I think I've seen. Scandalous how he was treated.
Mourinho's first season in 2004/05 was incredible, and ran alongside what was easily the best year of my life. Robben and Duff down the wings, Lampard and Makélélé in the middle – apart from a big-money striker from Ligue 1 who kept on falling over and looked like a flop (a precious lesson in not judging players on their first season), who could ask for more?
Vialli's first season as player/manager 1997/98 was special, and quite early in my Chelsea-supporting life.
3.) 21 Jan 2026 18:14:46
Couple posters on here must be on the payroll ?.
4.) 21 Jan 2026 19:33:12
Says Standard, the guy who slated Moises Caicedo week after week as a donkey! Sorry mate, but just can't take anything you say seriously after that.
5.) 21 Jan 2026 19:59:57
You must have not watched his first 3 games for us. He was horrendous.
6.) 21 Jan 2026 20:49:20
He was brilliant before he put on a Chelsea shirt.
7.) 21 Jan 2026 21:18:52
Had only seen him once or twice tom. His first games for chelsea had seemed like he'd never played football (he'd missed preseason and we were a shambles at this time, so it was understandable) .
Its also got to be said, how many accounts does green away have now? Dubai Anna, jsfinchy, RBD. Getting quite tiresome.
8.) 21 Jan 2026 21:59:55
Standard, you were calling him a donkey when he was signed from Brighton and before he even played for Chelsea.
9.) 21 Jan 2026 22:02:07
Please Standard. We have gone down this rabbit hole so many times.
We all make crap judgements on players. I once said that Morata was comparable to Osgood. It happens, just move on please!
10.) 22 Jan 2026 08:32:59
Im not the one who keeps on bringing it up. I've admitted i was wrong on him as a player. And again someone has said it was when he played for brighton. Simply not true. Getting very boring when the same poster under 7 different names brings it up on every single post of mine.
11.) 22 Jan 2026 09:34:22
I think you are rather deluded Standard if you think that but hey ho if it makes you feel better. Some advice to you though, you put a post up asking for opinions on posters favourite seasons, 3 posters respond and you then dig 2 of those 3 posters out accusing us of being on the clubs payroll, that is looking for trouble and you then start crying when people hit back at you for your donkey quotes.
12.) 22 Jan 2026 13:54:23
If allowed two favourite seasons I would choose 2004-5 as CFC back as leading team under young Special One Mourinho and fantastic spine to the side. We had won our first top league trophy for 50 years. Tears of joy time!
In terms simply of joyful and winning football the Ancellotti one most enjoyable.
13.) 22 Jan 2026 15:22:17
It was a joke greenaway. Humour not allowed pal?
14.) 22 Jan 2026 16:04:55
Interesting that you say 'us' Greenaway. Why have you set up a username that's almost identical to mine? Considering that you accused someone of being the infamous King Frank the other day, that's some pretty weird behaviour.
15.) 22 Jan 2026 17:25:16
used to be a poster on here back in the day called pinky. greenaway reminds me of them. its all fun and games, would advise anyone to not take comments on here too seriously.
16.) 22 Jan 2026 17:55:12
Wow, the paranoia on here EdW, I used the term us for Tom B and myself who both mentioned the 2024/25 season which resulted in Standard claiming we were both on the payroll. Maybe read the post first before commenting. Oh, and on the subject of multiple accounts, you, Standard and now Kazblue all seem to appear together rather frequently? But I won't go down your paranoia route but must say this is now more fun than watching traitors trying to work out who is who.
17.) 22 Jan 2026 19:55:42
Yeah, why don't you have a look above mate. Your comment about the 2024/25 season was made under the username 'EbW', and has been removed by the eds. Forgot to log out of your other account?
18.) 22 Jan 2026 20:48:07
Wow EdW you are taking your paranoia to a new level. Get a grip mate and enjoy the site.
{Ed033's Note - i doubt Greenaway is EbW.
19.) 22 Jan 2026 23:31:52
We also had an RPD impersonator lol. I think him, Jsfinchy, Dubai Anna, G8, are all the same person and considering greenaways a relatively new poster and we haven't seen the others in a bit, I wouldn't be surprised. But who knows. Edw may be correct.
20.) 23 Jan 2026 04:44:13
Does it matter?
21.) 23 Jan 2026 12:48:15
You're right, Tom. If people want to be childish idiots that's on them.
22.) 23 Jan 2026 16:25:15
I actually meant changing names! “Childish idiots, ” I will leave that to the Ed’s.
23.) 23 Jan 2026 20:31:46
Tom, it might not seem like much to you, but choosing a username that is almost exactly the same as another poster's, so that posters (such as you, many times) mistake comments made under that name for the original poster and reply to that other person's comments using the name of the original poster (as you did a number of times to posts made by this 'EbW'), feels like a weirdly aggressive act.
It's not enjoyable to be on the end of. It's trolling, and it's childish.
24.) 23 Jan 2026 21:59:50
EdW, I take your point. Obviously if you find if strange maybe the Ed’s can do something about it.
I only found out what trolling is the other day.
01 Jan 2026 16:35:06
Special one.
1.) 01 Jan 2026 17:18:18
OMG. Never!
2.) 01 Jan 2026 17:25:36
Sorry Standard, not for me.
3.) 01 Jan 2026 17:47:56
nor me.
4.) 01 Jan 2026 17:56:01
It was in jest. I say it during every managerial search. Mourinho would fall out with the board within 2 weeks lol.
5.) 01 Jan 2026 18:21:11
Have scanned the possibles and I would probably go for Marco Silva or Mckenna, but we will go for Rosenoir but generally the managerial quality out there is poor in my eyes.
6.) 01 Jan 2026 19:17:00
seymns, fair enough you’ve put your neck on the line but those two would be poor appointments. Silva is nothing special and Fulham are dreadful to watch. McKenna is currently at his right level; he will probably get Ipswich promoted again and then relegated.
Rosenoir would be a disaster which would inevitably end in tears and us dropping down the league The club’s statement about still being in 4 competitions and vying for a Champions League place would make no sense if any of the above are appointed.
7.) 01 Jan 2026 19:25:55
Why would it be a disaster jimbo?
8.) 01 Jan 2026 20:07:35
I agree he looks like a school teacher he’s got no bollox just another yes man we require experience.
9.) 01 Jan 2026 20:08:05
Jimbo you may well be right with my choices Mckenna and Silva may well be poor appointments I just can't see any quality managers who are not already employed at top clubs who will come to Chelsea.
Suppose de Zerbi is a possibility or Cesc
Will obviously support who ever gets the job.
10.) 01 Jan 2026 20:29:56
Standard, what makes him good enough to manage Chelsea? Sacked by Hull, currently 7th in Ligue 1 has achieved nothing. The Strasbourg fans think the football is boring: perhaps an an ideal candidate then!
11.) 01 Jan 2026 20:50:07
Let me know if we all agree on one candidate.
12.) 01 Jan 2026 20:59:21
Boring football?, not again.
13.) 01 Jan 2026 21:28:40
Tom, we obviously won’t agree on a candidate but we don’t really know who is in the frame. That is why a lot of us are saying who we don’t want. I am not feeling good about it.
14.) 01 Jan 2026 21:34:39
Jimbo, I don't think pep, Ferguson or shankly would do great things with chelsea. I just don't think we have very good players.
Regarding appointing a manager, I have no idea who I want. Im so massively dissalusioned with this club since the new owners came in and am appaled at how badly we've been run. So I genuinely don't know who we should appoint. I just hope whoever it is hits the ground running and im wrong about the quality of our team.
15.) 01 Jan 2026 21:43:19
Jimbo, I’m not happy with a mid season change of manager and I’m not a fan of the majority of manager candidates being linked with job or mentioned by other posters.
I’ve nailed my colours/money to the mast. Just more small point I was impressed with one of my mates case for the old Brighton manager.
16.) 01 Jan 2026 22:12:49
Tom, I presume you mean DeZebri not Potter Lol. He would be a better candidate than many who have been mentioned. We are not going to appoint an elite coach with a proven record. So I am going to plump for Iraola.
Obviously a risk, but PL experience, his Bournemouth side always play on the front foot and play decent football compared to some of the other jokers in the frame, I could live with his appointment.
17.) 02 Jan 2026 10:16:07
For me it would have been Areola, but has been ruled out as has been Glasner, De Zerbi and Cesc.
To be honest from what I'm hearing about who actually is in charge of the playing side, it would not matter if we had Klopp in charge.
I have to say I owe Maresca an apology if the medical team told him who could and could not play and if it's the SD's policy to rotate half the blooming team every game, something i criticised him for. I also hated his boring style if football but if the new coach plays the same way, maybe again it'd more down to the SD's than Maresca.
18.) 02 Jan 2026 10:53:01
Bill, I’m desperate not to take anyone’s side because my guess is there is a percentage of fault in all sides but EM knew full well that the medical department was and is autonomous.
The next manager will choose the team and the tactics not the SD’s. Let’s hope he just plays players in their best position when possible.
19.) 02 Jan 2026 21:58:38
The medical department making decisions about how many minutes players can play is ludicrous: either they are fit or not: it’s just a a device to cover their arses. Where is the scientific/ medical evidence to support how many minutes a player should be on the field- absolute bollx. A player’s level of fitness should be established in training.
20.) 02 Jan 2026 22:37:13
Jimbo, I think that’s a how the arguments started. The manager played injured players for long that the medical advisors suggested.
Maybe the manager ignoring medical advice fire certain players cause some players longer period on the side lines or further injuries. I personally wouldn’t have a clue.
Anyway EM knew the structure.
01 Jan 2026 12:42:06
Circus continues. Thankyou Maresca. Onwards and Upwards, hopefully.
1.) 01 Jan 2026 14:03:49
Not really the head coach wanted to leave. From the outside it looks like over the last few weeks he has been trying his best to get out.
29 Dec 2025 22:34:28
Ed001 and others. Opinion on Enzo Fernandez?
Im not a fan and I think i've made that pretty clear but I saw a statistic today.
With Enzo Fernandez in all competitions since February 2023
Wins 21, Draws 19, Losses 25. Win % 32.3%
Without Enzo Fernandez in all competitions since February 2023
Wins 19, Draws 1, Losses 2. Win % 84.2%
Statistics don't tell the whole story. And Enzos numbers have been good this year, but I don't see it. I really do not rate him. Am I wrong on this or is it just an unbalanced midfield. I always thought Macallister carries the Argentinian midfeild aswell.
{Ed001's Note - I am not a big fan of him or Mac Allister. Lack of mobility leaves so many gaps as neither have any defensive intelligence.}
1.) 29 Dec 2025 23:40:55
Thanks for the reply mate. Hope. youve been well. You still out in the middle east?
{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate. Yes, still here, though the weather has been a bit English lately! How are things with you mate?}
2.) 30 Dec 2025 06:10:27
I’ve got a few Liverpool mates who tell me Macallister after a bright start is a total “liability. ”
The EF ability debate is difficult for me. He seems to have spells of form and spells of being anonymous. I would think any stats should highlight his inconsistency. To my eye he was fantastic at the end of last season, started this season well and then had 5/6 games when he looked lost and exhausted.
3.) 30 Dec 2025 07:42:31
You can judge Fernandez alongside our team performance vs Villa at the weekend. First half he/we had time and space, dominated possession and he was afforded the time to use the ball well and looked good. Second half, we were put under far more pressure and, in those circumstances, Fernandez was largely bypassed. The physical presence of Onana seemed to impact the midfield massively.
I do think an argument could be made for Caicedo and Fernandez being subject to burnout. Their midfield debutants have missed the season, so far, and that’s off a long season for both Caicedo and Fernandez. But I find myself making that argument for Caicedo a lot more than Fernandez.
4.) 30 Dec 2025 08:23:44
EF, is one of those players I can’t make up my mind about. Hence, he was not in my must keep list. I sometimes struggle to see what he brings to the team.
5.) 30 Dec 2025 09:16:07
It also shows that no matter how good Lavia is, due to his amount of injuries, he is a total liability to the team.
6.) 30 Dec 2025 10:06:36
Bill, you will have to explain that post to me mate?
7.) 30 Dec 2025 10:35:00
Jimbo 56 and Standard and Ed agree with all three of you. Fernandez can have some good games but I don't get the hype and would sell him.
I also think it is an important position but it should be easy to a certain extent with Cacaido and Palmer there . I think Enzo gives the ball away a lot when we are going forward to make us easy to counter attack, would much rather Wharton from Palace, Lavia is a big miss but if he will ever get fit god only knows.
8.) 30 Dec 2025 11:03:59
Lavia has been a massive shame. Not to beat a dead horse but this is why I wanted to keep gallagher. Made of steel and was a huge squad player for us. Hopefully lavia can turn it around but I think that's done unfortunately.
9.) 30 Dec 2025 11:09:43
Over rated big time. Let him go Madrid.
10.) 30 Dec 2025 12:18:10
He is already at Madrid.
Selling Lavia would, in my opinion be borderline bonkers. He is a potential future POS candidate.
11.) 30 Dec 2025 19:01:29
Keep shouting about connor! Wow what's he doing now.
He is a workhorse but that's about it.
12.) 30 Dec 2025 20:29:18
He was all work rate. Good luck to him at AM but I would have thought not technical enough for that league.
13.) 30 Dec 2025 22:05:24
Agreed tomb.
27 Dec 2025 19:42:51
Oh well its just football. Hope everyone had a good christmas and has a good new year.
1.) 27 Dec 2025 19:52:40
Worse thing was we could all see it coming a mile off. Inability to have a plan B or kill the game off again!
2.) 27 Dec 2025 20:00:02
Had a wonderful Christmas and hoping for a better New Year.
3.) 27 Dec 2025 20:02:05
I've been trying to say that to myself about what just happened Standard. not v successful do far! But hope your Christmas was good and that we all plus our club have a good New Year!
24 Jan 2026 09:21:14
No brainer for me.
22 Jan 2026 19:00:09
We do need a body, but would prefer a younger player from the academy playing. I think Acheampong should be playing a lot more than he does.
Shame about lavia but you guys dodged a bullet there ed001. What do you think is wrong with him? 3 years in and hasn't completed 90 minutes. Think there's still a chance he turns it around?
{Ed001's Note - considering the amount and length of his injuries, it would seem to be a genetic problem. It can't be all bad luck.}
18 Jan 2026 20:03:30
Hope so.
01 Jan 2026 12:41:13
Blimey Melbourne. Haven't seen you post in years. Hope you've been well mate.
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.
22 Jan 2026 23:31:52
We also had an RPD impersonator lol. I think him, Jsfinchy, Dubai Anna, G8, are all the same person and considering greenaways a relatively new poster and we haven't seen the others in a bit, I wouldn't be surprised. But who knows. Edw may be correct.
22 Jan 2026 15:22:17
It was a joke greenaway. Humour not allowed pal?
22 Jan 2026 08:32:59
Im not the one who keeps on bringing it up. I've admitted i was wrong on him as a player. And again someone has said it was when he played for brighton. Simply not true. Getting very boring when the same poster under 7 different names brings it up on every single post of mine.
21 Jan 2026 21:18:52
Had only seen him once or twice tom. His first games for chelsea had seemed like he'd never played football (he'd missed preseason and we were a shambles at this time, so it was understandable) .
Its also got to be said, how many accounts does green away have now? Dubai Anna, jsfinchy, RBD. Getting quite tiresome.
21 Jan 2026 19:59:57
You must have not watched his first 3 games for us. He was horrendous.