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23 Apr 2026 14:53:58
And so it begins. Club insiders and sources releasing info on Liam and the club etc.
The thing I hate most about this useless ownership is their use of the press and specific client journalists to try and spin stories after each disaster they cause.
Embarrassing. Completely dismayed by the state of the club and the bleakness going forward. Someone wake me up when the SDs are all gone!
23 Apr 2026 15:34:02
I would think most clubs have favoured journalists or general media outlets.
23 Apr 2026 12:44:07
Just talking to a very old friend who used to work as youth coach at Southampton.
We got talking about football and how things used to be in general and obviously we got around to Chelsea. He told me he had the misfortune of working (for a short time) with Joe Shields. To say he wasn't very complimentary would be putting it mildly.
23 Apr 2026 14:24:19
Tom, there are rumours that Spurs want 2 of our sporting directors, one of whom is Winstanley.
23 Apr 2026 14:33:46
Yep, I put that in a post earlier today.
23 Apr 2026 15:24:15
Can we not offer them a deal, buy 2 get another 3 free.
23 Apr 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - Kloppo05 has posted a new article entitled, Why Slot Feels Wrong for Liverpool
22 Apr 2026 22:03:40
So pleased the ownership have gone in and binned Liam, the decision to go with an interim to close out the season is also a good call, a full review of all things good and bad and then move on. Blue. co and the people who run that company are multi billionaires and as sharp as a razor, they know mistakes have been made and will adjust and go again, that is what top level financiers and investment managers do, we are in good hands and anyone trying to put a downer on the project will ultimately be proved wrong (in my humble opinion), the club will be worth £10 billion plus over the next 5 to 10 years (as will most of the top Premier League clubs), we will get back to winning ways and we move on.
Football is cylical and our time will come again, no rights or wrongs here, no I'm right, you are wrong (that is for the bed wetters), let's celebrate after beating Leeds on Sunday and hopefully going on and winning another Cup (this time under Callum, who is a very shy but very likeable guy who actually knows his onions), love and peace to my Chelsea family and all the ED's who do such a great job on this site.
22 Apr 2026 22:30:31
Greenaway, I'm not sure what will happen with our current owners and I think this coming window will tell us a lot about our playing future and any potential success.
23 Apr 2026 08:14:56
Rather than the window, I think it will depend more on what happens in the SD department review, which will matter far more.
23 Apr 2026 08:54:01
I enjoy the sarcasm, Greenaway. Sad there are fans out there that believe it, tho.
Bill, the SD department review is simple...sack all 5 immediately, remove all of Joe Shields' little mates from the academy set up too and rebuild the club whilst they still can.
23 Apr 2026 09:43:13
Kazblue, I agree absolutely. Before any coach is appointed, get rid of the jumped up scouts and appoint an SD who knows what they are doing and who has a collaborative approach with coaches. If that mob remains, we will end up with another mediocre coach and will struggle again next season.
23 Apr 2026 09:49:38
If rumours are true, two of the SD's will be leaving anyway. I was told that the mighty Spuds and a German club have made polite inquiries.
I personally have no problems with the majority of players they have signed. Of course, they have made mistakes, but that's a common theme with SD's at most clubs.
It's different with their manager choices. I only wanted one, and he was a disaster. Whoever they choose as the next manager will not make all of us fans happy.
Strange, but if you go on most other clubs' pages, you will see SD's getting pelters. It seems like a common belly ache from fans.
23 Apr 2026 10:27:53
Tom, you are right, posters have different opinions about who should be and who should not be the next coach. However, I think nobody on this site wanted LR. The issue is which coaches would want to take the job. I really do hope that the owners seriously reflect on the direction of the club.
I think we have reached a crossroads, and if we don’t take the right direction, we will continue to decline. This summer is hugely important. I want to start next season with some hope.
23 Apr 2026 10:43:22
Some of the rumours about who our next manager is going to be.
A mate tells me Alonso has agreed in principle to join us as long as agreements can be made with some of his "staff" including coaches. I'm not sure what "staff" means in this instance!!
23 Apr 2026 10:54:22
Jimbo, I'm with you on the owners needing a period of reflection before making any adjustments to their vision moving forwards.
As I stated earlier, these are top level business people who want to fully maximise their investment, and that will only happen if we are successful on and off the pitch.
I expect some changes.
Tom, is this your normal mate who gives you all these snippets of info? Is he reliable? Alonso would be a perfect fit if true, but I thought he was bound for Liverpool?
23 Apr 2026 11:00:27
Yeah, I wish I could share your optimism. I see a pattern of the same mistakes made over and over again. From the choice of players they bring in, the failure to address major gaps in certain positions, to the choice of manager, they keep repeating the same mistakes.
23 Apr 2026 11:25:06
Greenaway, in years gone by I used to get some top info from a mate who worked at Cobham. Sadly, he got sacked for selling info to the press.
This guy sometimes gets things right and, to be fair, he does still work for some ex players (driver), but I personally think this is more a "wish" prediction as he told me last week Alonso was his No1 choice to takeover from LR.
23 Apr 2026 11:52:01
Interesting, Tom. Not sure what I think about Alonso as potential coach, but I agree with those who say that whoever is appointed is almost doomed to failure with the current SD structure and approach, where any manager too questioning of decisions is likely to be gone before any SD is.
Ok, he made a few mistakes, but I feel nostalgic now for days when Michael Emenalo was our (sole?) 'technical director' - effectively SD but with a more supportive-to-manager sounding title, as it should be. Rather than SD's boss with a relatively young, EPL-inexperienced coach (and EM fell into that bracket when first appointed) under RA. He then went on to some job at Monaco and is now director of the Saudi Football League.
His son, Landon, is now looked at as a v good prospect in our academy, of course.
Perhaps Michael is now out of the loop in terms of EPL transfer possibilities, plus too expensive today for owners' liking anyway, but someone like him, who is up and running with a good EPL track record as sole/major SD/Technical Director with scouts beneath him, and who really takes a good coach's advice very seriously - in terms of who is playing well, what positions need covering, what positions need a number one new choice, etc. - is presumably the person we'd be looking for?
23 Apr 2026 14:00:20
Perhaps we should all ask our barbers.
Regarding Alonso, no thank you.
23 Apr 2026 14:08:06
Alonso wasn't on my list, but I have done some research and I can see why we might go for him.
I remember watching his team play in the German league, and I would call the style pragmatic but effective. I hate to say it, very City-like.
23 Apr 2026 14:18:32
JBS, Emenalo would be a perfect fit for us.
22 Apr 2026 20:21:41
Firstly want to say I hope Tom's in good health and spirits as high as they can be for anyone who follows Chelsea
Next, a big fat I told you so, I was called negative and half my posts never made it on by editors and I was questioned as a fan,
We have owners who are clueless, they took a club in top 4, recent champions league winners, WCC winners and champions league football, invested £1.5 - £2b and made it 10x worse, stripped everything, found loopholes, sold the woman's team sold property, had fines and charges ( some from previous ownership granted ) they came up with a model that doesn't work, they pushed on with it, despite every pundit saying it's not working it won't work, they employed people who had never succeeded, they gave the most incompetent people the power of footballing decisions and the ones choosing the manager and players who have wasted billions are the ones who
Get to sit and decide the next manager's fate and th next selection and the next players to sign, poch walked, couldn't work under morons, maresca walked becuase he couldn't work under morons, they in one swoop halted and messed about with Strasbourg's season, bought Sarr, loaned him, recalled him, didn't play him, loaned him, recalled and haven't used him, the smartest data lead group decided on data that garnacho was a good signing, Neto a good signing. both having low goals assists figures and currently in top 3 for worst take on success in league, gittens who's output in stats wasn't good in Germany, wasn't even a starter at Dortmund, not for bargains but around £150m for the 3, players signed a lot from same agents has to be questioned, the data that's resulted in £1.5 squad build and it has delap guiu garnacho and Neto in and in need of a GK 2x CB's 2 x wingers and a no9 and 10 - 12 players moved on, a man signing racist songs made captain, 7 managers or coaches since they arrived, seeing the Brighton model of a high potential player bout for a few million, nurtured for a few years before breaking into the team and then sold for huge profit, we saw that and tried to copy it, but paying high fee's for young players and throwing them into the team expecting them to be able to compete and be consistent? I find it embarrassing how badly these people are at there jobs yet most still in there roles, I look at spurs and Leicester and am concerned because I see us being hit with fines, ueafa expulsions, possible point deductions in time maybe even transfer ban, having to sell the few good players we've signed. Some saw this and were vocal, tried to put point across, argued there point and were dismissed as negative or clueless etc etc etc well here it is, our club, needing to restart a £2b project with hands tied behind our back and owners and directors who self evaluate a catastrophe with a pay rise and a pay on the back, so, sorry for being right.
{Ed025's Note - its hard to argue with any of that Matt..i think you are just about spot on mate..
22 Apr 2026 21:30:17
I am as well as can be expected in the circumstances, Matt, thanks for asking.
Surely you must have got some things wrong along the way!!
22 Apr 2026 22:05:37
Of course I have, there’s been players I’ve thought would do well; or options in the squad, but I’m not making decisions for a billion pound company, and I wouldn’t expect my boss to see me lose money hand over fist and let me review myself and continue. I wouldn’t be allowed to come in, sack a world class proven elite manager for a project manager and replace him 7 months later, and do that 2/3 times (unproven for unproven).
And is it a surprise to anyone to go buy an average player with poor attitude to find out he is average with a bad attitude.
Or Gittens thrives on running into big open space using his pace to know in the Premier League that’s rarely the case, and it’s more low blocks than half way high lines.
Data led projects are very specific, and I don’t think they work at a higher level.
We’re linked today with Iraola, good coach, high intensity and known for hard working running teams - Poch 2.0, which is fine, not when playing more than once a week.
Howe refuses to play Wissa and Woltemade ( £130m ) because he doesn’t rate them; imagine him being given players he doesn’t want. They played few games a week and not far above West Ham.
Glasner, Cesc Alonso - all overachievers at respected clubs, but when their peak is our expectation there could be more concerns than excitement.
But I’m glad I spoke out and argued my points and was labelled negative when the signs were so obvious. If nobody in the football world can see your vision, it’s likely that not everyone’s wrong.
22 Apr 2026 22:23:12
Matt, it was meant as a joke, mate!!
When I'm negative, I want to be wrong; it's when I'm positive I want to be right. As long as we all have fun.
22 Apr 2026 22:32:38
Sorry mate, was in defence mode lol.
Anyway, Sebastian Hoeness is who we need. No Premier League experience, which is the only negative.
{Ed025's Note - im told he wants Liverpool Matt, but im not sure if they want him mate..
22 Apr 2026 22:41:25
Some paragraphs would be nice, rather than a huge wall of text, but yeah, it's not been good, as many have mentioned. Onwards and upwards, though.
23 Apr 2026 05:36:10
Hoeness has been my No1 choice for two seasons. Sadly, the big rumour is Real Madrid want him.
23 Apr 2026 08:16:58
If Madrid want him, he will go there.
22 Apr 2026 18:30:50
I do think the club are making the right choice leaving the permanent new coach choice till summer. Time to lick our wounds and regroup a bit, the self-assessment needs to be on everything on the playing side of the game, boardroom to pitch - everything.
Iraola, Alonso or Nagelsmann would be my choices, possibly Fabregas too. We need to reflect upon our setup to appoint a genuinely top coach though.
22 Apr 2026 19:23:12
I agree, J, we need to take time and get it right for the next appointment.
They may appoint somebody prior to the end of the season, but take charge at the end.
22 Apr 2026 18:13:52
The special one.
{Ed025's Note - can you really see him coming with this set up Standard?..
22 Apr 2026 18:56:31
His experience would help the young players, but there is no way he would want to be part of a sporting board with five SD's.
22 Apr 2026 19:23:45
Definitely not Tom.
22 Apr 2026 20:11:01
It would be entertaining, that's for sure!
22 Apr 2026 17:42:13
So Rosenior is gone - correct decision, ultimately just nowhere near ready for the job and tbf don't think he wanted it - blew up his learning with Strasbourg and parachuted him into chaos - I do feel for him, aside from the weird LinkedIn lingo, interviews seemed to be a decent bloke and do hope he recovers to have a decent career.
Onwards we go… Wonder what further disaster the SDs have lined up for us… vision 2030 on track (if the vision was to fold the club).
22 Apr 2026 18:26:55
Well said Kazblue.
22 Apr 2026 17:24:43
So, the decision makers pulled the plug on yet another manager.
As I mentioned before in my opinion they need to take a long hard look in the mirror!
22 Apr 2026 17:57:06
Shambles of managerial merry go round, all self inflicted.
Next manager, in my eyes.
NOT: Lampard, Glasner, Iraola or Cesc.
Simeone would be good. Xabi Alonso an interesting shout, but I think it will be Filipe Luis, although I wouldn't mind Poch back.
Presumably there was a break clause in Liam's contract, and we won't be paying him for 6 years.
22 Apr 2026 18:04:52
My three choices haven't changed.
1) Hoeness from Stuttgart.
2) Iraola.
3) The Ipswich manager.
Hoeness, in my opinion, would really shake the Premiership up. His all-action, high-press style of football would get the fans back to the Bridge.
22 Apr 2026 18:08:53
I have no pleasure in LR being sacked. We all knew he would be out of his depth. The blame is squarely on the hierarchy. Fortunately for LR, it won't ruin his career as he is in good company as far as coaches who have been sacked by Chelsea. A lot needs to change if we are going to get back to the top table. The next appointment must be right. Although, I do worry that we can't attract a top level coach without a dramatic change of direction by the owners.
My initial preferences would be Tom's choice or Iraola, but both come with risks. I can't think of any top coaches who would be available or would find us as an attractive proposition.
The players need to step up for the semi-final and the remaining fixtures, although I think the Champions League is out of our reach.
I really hope that the owners reflect on their own performance over the last few years.
{Ed025's Note - Alonso?..
22 Apr 2026 18:20:38
No thanks to Simeone or Poch, both have passed their sell by date.
22 Apr 2026 18:58:39
Jimbo, you mentioned "both". One is Iraola, but who is your other choice.
Also, and sadly, I think Iraola is committed to Bilbao.
22 Apr 2026 19:26:08
Tom, Hoenes, you're top choice.
22 Apr 2026 18:27:42
Ed025, I thought he was off to Liverpool?
{Ed025's Note - no Jimbo, it seems that ship has sailed mate..
22 Apr 2026 18:29:40
No thank you Ed, Liverpool can have him.
{Ed025's Note - i think hes a good manager Bill, i think the truth is would he want to go to the bridge under the present regime mate...i think that would be a no..
22 Apr 2026 20:40:39
The truth is, no top coach would want to come to Chelsea. I am not that confident about next season for many reasons.
22 Apr 2026 21:02:04
Jimbo, sadly, I agree that it might be hard to get a top coach. Managers are sacked too quickly at Chelsea, but Liam was getting no results and the relationship with the players had gone.
On a different note, the no break in the summer has come back to bite us, so many injuries.
22 Apr 2026 17:08:45
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 33 - Quick Round Up
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