Chelsea Transfer Banter

04 Nov 2025 14:51:00
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Aston Villa - A Very Quick Liverpool Perspective

04 Nov 2025 07:39:39
{Ed's Note - BlueNose1878 has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need January Reinforcements to Salvage the Season

04 Nov 2025 05:45:50
Welcome to Chelsea Dave Fallows, formerly at Liverpool where he worked closely with Klopp Fallows will lead areas of football development, focusing on scouting and data, loans and player pathways, and overall football staff development and evolution".

He will have input decisions on the recruitment of players, coaches and staff.

The 65-year-old will also work in conjunction with former Brighton DOF David Weir, who was appointed sporting director at BlueCo sister club Strasbourg last week.

His CV is pretty impressive.

03 Nov 2025 07:37:46
A mate was telling me last night that EM has a win ratio of about 63% and has only lost 18 games out of 79. That seemed very good to me but I wouldn't know how it compares to our previous managers.

03 Nov 2025 09:15:58
I would imagine it's up there with most Tom.

I suppose it also comes down to what the other coaches squads cost.

03 Nov 2025 10:11:33
Bill, that would be to hard for me to work out.

I assume if you did that you would have to work out total squad valuation (bought and inherited) also what was the valuation of a player, let’s say, 20 years ago in comparison too today. It would end up being very subjective.

03 Nov 2025 10:18:47
The impressive thing about it Tom is the amount of home grown academy players Maresca uses as well.
Bill, I imagine the squads put together during the Roman era cost far far more than anything being spent today (inflation etc built in)

03 Nov 2025 10:24:12
Very interesting question.

EM oberall stat thus far does sound very good Tom but you would have to factor in a few things in EM favour like all those 12 out of 13 games we won against largely very weak and obscure sides in the Conference League . only most obscure perhaps being Noah. We only lost to Servette hardly a major name in European football as neither poerhapos is the best team we face ie Real Betis in the final. So that will have helped EM win ratio a fair bit in a competition we had never played in before whereas previously we were usually playing in the Champions League or Europa Cup.

What for me woud be a more telling stat but not one I know - perhaps someone does - is the win ratio of games won by EM v other CFC managers in matches against traditional other big teams in EPL namely Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, United. (yes we all [perhaps love to beat Spurs above all but they have not been a traditionally big EPL club and we have of course only lost 8 times to them in 67 EPL matches home and away (since start of the EPL in other words) .

Or oerhaps easier to calculate EM win ratio v other CFC managers over the years in EPL matches as a whole. It's possible to look up these stats. EM win rate in EPL thus far is 25 games out of 48 which by my calculation is 52%. Clearly better than Poch's rate of 18 wins out of 38 = only 47% but not yet vastly superior. But compare both these records with say Conte who in EPL games in charge of Chelsea won 51 out of 76 for a win rate of 67%. Or Jose's 140 wins out of 212 games achieving a win ration of 66% a percentage dragged down very very considerably of course by his disappointing last season in second stint as manager with us.

I think in the long run it will be win ratio in EPL - and Champions League - that will probably define EM as a success for us or not. And we all hope that he can push up EPL win rate towards that 66/ 67% rate! If so we will surely have had an EPL win in the process though probably not this season.

Having said that I think Maresca has shown in several important matches for us - like the CWC final and yesterday v Sours -that he can get tactics bang on at times. We all hopoe he is develpoing as a manager together with his young squad/ s. The question is whether he can get tactics more consistently right and perhaps especially against so called 'loer' opponents who park the bus in home games at the Bridge where his win ration - though haven't yet worked this out - is probably quite disappointing. It's almost as there may be some lack of focus and intensity by players if not manager re tactics in those games and that needs to change for the better. We certainly need the 100% focus from all in these games - not to lose it in oinjry time say! - at the Bridge as we had on Saturday v Spurs away or in the CWC final v PSG. And in fact for some time we have failed to make the Bridge a fortress of sucess. Mind you I doubt if a manager will ever make it the stronghold it was under Mourinho before his last season.

03 Nov 2025 10:44:46
JBS, I think that’s why stats can be so misleading. In the particular case we are not comparing like for like opposition as you say.

03 Nov 2025 11:26:54
Yes you're right Tom. And as the cynical saying goes it can be a matter of 'Lies, damn lies, and statistics'!

03 Nov 2025 12:51:42
Also, it was more of a given to beat the weaker teams years ago, we used to steamroller weaker teams with our squads being hugely backed by Roman and no financial restrictions, our latest window showed a profit under the new owners and the UEFA restrictions kicked in stopping the purchase of Xavi Simmons but in hindsight that looks like it was a blessing!

03 Nov 2025 13:11:32
Absolutely JBS, totally agree.

03 Nov 2025 16:11:17
It certainly looks like a blessing Greenaway however it's early days and some players take longer to settle than others.

About a week ago we would have said the same about Gittens and maybe we are still saying it about Garnacho.

03 Nov 2025 17:32:57
Good point Bill.

03 Nov 2025 17:43:46
bill, I saw promise in Gittens from day 1, he is very quick, can beat his man on the outside and also cut inside, he has very quick feet and is strong, his confidence will come with more games and I think he will be a real asset on that left side. Garnacho I'm not sure about and was not needed and like others have said was a strange buy given his piss poor attitude and will likely fall out with Maresca who won't take bad attitude as we have already seen.

Xavi Simmons is a number 10 and we have Palmer, Estevao and even Enzo who can play that position so I'm sure we dodged a bullet not picking him up. Time will tell though.

03 Nov 2025 07:39:43
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Manchester United Show Resilience Despite Worst Performance Since Brentford

02 Nov 2025 21:20:00
For those interested I will be putting my ticket fir the Wolves game on the official Exchange site in a few mins time.

02 Nov 2025 21:34:56
Thanks Tom for heads up.

03 Nov 2025 08:30:25
The ticket wasn’t sold for nearly two hours. So in the future I will be putting it up for sale on Sunday evenings again. Obviously the algo buyers aren’t awake then.

02 Nov 2025 12:01:57
What a gift 3 point lane is, that performance was electric and if only we had taken our chances could of been 5 or 6. Spurs were utterly hopeless and their fans were very quiet which is unusual given we were in town. The decision to put 3 up at long throws was another showing of how Maresca is adapting to situations and I now expect others to follow his lead.

Praise indeed to the boss and yet another example of why we are right to give him this season at least before Frank Lampard returns.

02 Nov 2025 14:47:38
If Lamps gets Coventry back to the premiership, I think he will stay as there manager.

02 Nov 2025 16:28:26
I think he will too Tom and I beleive it would be the best move for him at this stage of his career.

02 Nov 2025 17:23:46
TBF I can't see Maresca going anywhere, he has done well for us, top 4 in his first season, won 2 cups and integrates our academy players, he handles the press well and the players appear to respect him. He will be here for a good while and Lamps can continue his own development before he comes back one day.

02 Nov 2025 07:39:31
{Ed's Note - Pompey Rouge has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool FC As Of October 2025

01 Nov 2025 20:07:01
I would have given Jorgensen a run of games partly to take the pressure off Sanchez.

Of course he is only one mistake away for all the criticism/ abuse to start again, that is just the way it is but Sanchez had a solid last ten games at the end of last season and he has generally played well this season.

01 Nov 2025 23:20:16
Tom I couldn’t disagree more, Jorgensen is probably up there for the worst goalkeeper I have ever seen in a chelsea shirt and would rank him alongside Hilario, Sullivan or Ambrosio.

02 Nov 2025 08:57:42
I'm with you Whitey, Jorgensen is the worst keeper in our history.

02 Nov 2025 09:21:53
Whitey, he certainly didn’t cover himself in glory against Wolves that’s for sure but I’m struggling to think of too many mistakes he has made when called upon. Also, I minded of his top display in the first half of the conference league final.

I’ve not seen enough of him to say he is a good or bad keeper but when Sanchez went through his bad spell, I would have given him a chance.

02 Nov 2025 09:47:50
Jorgensen is a good, athletic shot stopper, unfortunately, he’s also very poor in almost every other aspect of goalkeeping. Of note, he’s an absolute mess under high balls / crosses and teams are targeting him for it.

02 Nov 2025 10:01:25
This thread was meant to be about how much Sanchez has improved for the last ten ish games of last season and generally this season.

I repeat, long may that continue but he is only one mistake away from getting slaughtered yet again.

02 Nov 2025 11:40:20
Tom

Sanchez has improved probably over the last six months.

That being said, i think we all know he is not a top keeper and that would be the reason why he would get slaughtered if mistakes creep back into his game.

I really beleive that in the summer, we did need to ho out and get a top class GK.

Are there any at Brighton at the moment?

02 Nov 2025 11:46:26
All players including keepers make
mistakes and I’m not suggesting that Sanchez is a top keeper but I am appreciative of of improvement over the twenty odd games. Well done RS.

02 Nov 2025 11:54:26
I think most of us are now very happy with Sanchez, he has cut out the errors and is now starting to dominate his area, no need for a new keeper as Penders doesn't need his pathway blocked and should replace Jorgensen and compete with Sanchez for the number 1 spot.

02 Nov 2025 18:53:13
Agreed Tom, he's definitely improved – far fewer mistakes, and still those same highlight-reel incredible saves. At this point, I'd take a solid keeper if that's what he's become, and yes, as Greenaway says, no need to block Penders' progress.

What a difference a keeper makes – look at United now they've replaced Onana (obviously it's not incredible results, but the uptick is noticeable), and also, I don't think there's really been enough comment on the absence of Alisson and the way that's affected Liverpool's form. Yes, it's not the be all and end all, and there are other factors at play (and it's not like Marmadashvilli isn't a good keeper – he is) but he's pulled them out of many tight spots with his command and their backline suddenly looks vulnerable in a way it rarely does when he's in goal.

31 Oct 2025 21:36:52
Reading the comments about Slot on the Liverpool page it appears they think he is out of his depth.

01 Nov 2025 08:33:09
True EbW,

If people think we are negative on this site, they should look on the Liverpool site, according to most on there, Dlot, who won the league last season needs to be sacked.

01 Nov 2025 08:58:33
Edw, as we know it doesn’t take a lot for us fickle fans to turn on a manager.

I have only watched the scousers a couple of times and one of them was at our place. In that game I couldn’t believe how bad a few of there players performed in comparison to last season. Salah just looked a passenger and if that is his normal game then I pity any RB playing behind him. It also means that the right side of there midfield has to act as extra cover for him and he wasn’t even hooked.

You cannot carry players in this league who are not performing, regardless of their playing history.

01 Nov 2025 10:02:39
I think Liverpool supporters expectations were far too high particularly considering the amount of money of money they spent. Just like us spent money on forwards and ignored defence. Last season Liverpool were the best of a bad bunch as are Arsenal this season . That said, they wouldn’t be surprised if they turned things around.

01 Nov 2025 10:37:44
ED01, did Slot just inherit a very good team and keep it simple last season together with Arsenal and City imploding in order to win the premier league? what is your opinion of him?

{Ed001's Note - he did inherit a very good team, but he also used them to their best. Arsenal and City imploding was in part down to him having his team apply pressure by being consistent. This season he has tried to learn lessons, but has forgotten to also use the players to their strengths and misunderstood other lessons. He has tried to go further down the route he began last season, but has completely forgotten that the control comes from a strong midfield and has instead vacated it when Liverpool have the ball. It makes little sense and the assistants should be telling him that, instead of reinforcing the approach tactically. It is still early and there are a lot of players to integrate, so I can understand it being difficult for him, but, and it is a ****ing huge but, he is not showing signs of learning from the early season performances. If he is not going to learn and adapt, then he is going to get himself the sack as performances and results will just get worse.}

01 Nov 2025 12:41:26
Thanks ED01, will be interesting to see how it all pans out. A lot of fans turn quickly on a manager/ coach and want the next shiny toy which of course very rarely works anyway.

01 Nov 2025 13:03:16
Ed001

Do you think the owners will wait until the end of the season bearing in mind he won the title just last season.

{Ed001's Note - really depends on performances, there just needs to be signs of improvement or he will be walking the plank. Right now he looks lost.}

01 Nov 2025 16:24:33
Swap maresca any day.

02 Nov 2025 08:56:33
Another one struggling is Thomas Frank, his own players snubbed him at the end of the game and the fans booed him. Looks like he might of lost the dressing room?

02 Nov 2025 10:22:35
It’s a big stadium and I know he has only been there for a short while but surely he knows where the dressing room is! ???.

31 Oct 2025 07:39:34
{Ed's Note - LFC-S MANGO has posted a new article entitled, Slot's Excuses Are An Embarrassment To Liverpool FC