Chelsea Team and Matches Talk

24 May 2026 17:32:09
I normally do a player by player end of season review. A manager review and an owner review.

This season has been so poor it’s hard to find any positives but here goes.

James, got plenty of game time and as always looks class.

Colwill, is back from along injury and looks solid.

Hato, looks a fantastic talent.

That for me sums up the positives on the player front.

I think we have some very good players who have had a poor season allied to a lot of management turmoil.

Most posters will know I’m not a fan of Gusto but I’m also not a fan of Fofana. I see both as liabilities. Both should be sold along with Tosin, Badiashile, Guiu, Jackson, Disasi and Jorgensen.

I would loan out Garnacho, Delap and maybe Josh.

I also believe Enzo Cucarella will both reluctantly be sold.

I think Sanchez will be challenged by Pinders as our No1 keeper and it will be interesting to see who Alonso prefers.

The original manager situation was something that probably couldn’t be avoided but the choice of LR as a Maresca replacement was very poor. The SD’s deserved criticism.

These owners have made mistakes and I have my usual complaints (away fans shed end) and I’m not a fan of fund ownership but there aren’t many alternatives just strolling outside Stamford Bridge.

Anyway lads, onwards and upwards and we will be challenging for major honours next season. I hope!

24 May 2026 18:35:33
I would definitely add Jaoa Pedro to one of the successes this season. He was our player of the season, as voted by fans, and scored 20 goals in his first season for us. I would also argue that Enzo F generally stood out for assists and goals, and for trying to lead by example.

Losing both him and Cucu, imho, would send a v bad signal in terms of our ambitions, unless their replacements are as good or better, of course. But if they do get sold, it must not be to a Premier League rival.

24 May 2026 19:11:01
Tom

Sanchez should be one of the first sold.

That should be his last game for us.

24 May 2026 19:18:22
Bill, I just don't see it happening, and on today's performance only, I would rather Sanchez over the Sunderland keeper who we are apparently linked with. Of course that is only based on a comparison at today's game.

24 May 2026 19:20:59
The good thing is that with no European football next season, we can trim the squad.

It will also give Alonso much more time to work with the players who want to play for the club.

Tom, your review is pretty damning of what's going on within the club from the owners who do not seem to have a clue about the playing side and also the commercial side.

The SDs
, well, I think enough has been said about the shambles of a squad they have put together.

Then the players, what an absolute shambles, and most don't deserve to wear the shirt again.

I only hope that Alonso is as good as some think and he gets to grip with a club that is in turmoil from top to bottom.

24 May 2026 19:33:46
Bill, we have had a very poor season, so I think it's hard to find too many positives.

I could have also mentioned the after-effects of the CWC, but I think that is a bit of a lame excuse, seeing as we beat PSG in a final.



I do think the management fiasco has had a much bigger effect on our performances than we fans realise, but that is just a guess.

24 May 2026 20:56:50
Tom

I believe the management fiasco is mostly to blame. Recruitment, injuries, and not to mention red cards also played a huge part in our downfall.

24 May 2026 21:14:53
Bill, you are spot on mate. It's very rarely just one isolated thing.

24 May 2026 22:05:25
It is just one thing - the club has been poorly run from top to bottom, except for Gladys, who makes a nice cup of tea. Extend her contract, and get rid of the rest.

24 May 2026 22:40:50
I have it on good authority that "Gladys" is part of the team going to City. She kept her job because of her shapely ankles and German accent. ??

25 May 2026 10:47:04
Tom

I suppose, with her going, we have to give SD's who can at least make a poor attempt at making the teas.

24 May 2026 17:22:32
The biggest concern is the attitude of the players. This is something completely down to them. They do not deserve to wear the Chelsea shirt.

24 May 2026 16:53:18
I am mystified why we are playing three at the back against Sunderland. We should hook Fofana but my guess is it will be Hato for Santos.

Cucarella all over the place and Gusto is offering nothing. At the moment they both are not playing well as wing backs.

Two very good chances but generally we have been second best.

24 May 2026 18:37:30
Gusto was dreadful. He did get on the scoresheet, but for Sunderland. Why play him ahead of Josh again and again?

Huge clean out coming yet again?

24 May 2026 16:27:07
Well the lads are already on holiday and I got an early flight. No chance I'm wasting another 65 minutes on these disgraceful group of "professionals". Hopefully Xabi can find buyers for the lot of them.

24 May 2026 17:30:31
Quite embarrassing these lot are.

24 May 2026 22:56:10
Embarrassing is a word that is often used about events or comments.

I am currently guilty.

19 May 2026 22:16:22
Not an amazing game, however, beating Spurs will never not be fantastic. This year even more so if they happen to go down next week.

I’ve said it a number of times this year, but Fofana needs to be sold for whatever someone is silly enough to pay. He is hopeless, error prone, nervous on the ball, rubbish on the ball, and arrogant in the worst possible way, which seems to seep into the other players.

Glad that Josh got minutes, although he didn’t do incredibly well.

Hato, once again was fantastic. Still some cheap giveaways, but he has really grown into the team this year. Cole has looked much better the last couple of weeks and I selfishly hope he misses out when the England squad is announced on Friday. Enzo has been really important for the last few months and I’m torn on keeping him or selling him. He won’t be easy to replace but I hope Xabi has some ideas. Andrey was good tonight next to Moises.

19 May 2026 22:53:05
I thought Andrey S was outstanding tonight, both defensively and with some excellent passing... and of course he got his goal with a well-timed run into the box. But Enzo was my MoM, with a wonderful strike and a deftly skilful assist for Santos' goal. Enzo is also my player of the season. Caicedo and Hato also v good, with Hato pulling off that last-ditch block of Maddison's shot.

Yes, Palmer had another better game, like a couple recently. Cucurella mostly v good, but a misplaced header set up the move that led to Spurs' goal. Josh ok. Delap still looking below the necessary level for us.

Beating Spurs always enjoyable.

19 May 2026 22:16:09
We have given the happy hammers something to play for on Sunday.

Generally I didn't enjoy that performance. I thought Palmer was very good for sixty mins plus Enzo and Hato had good games.

Nothing much more to say about it really but thanks Spuds for another six point season.

19 May 2026 22:56:58
Santos was outstanding, imho, Tom, as was Emzi. I do agree that. Hato was v good too, and Caicedo a huge presence. Palmer beginning to look more like his old self, and great tight control, skill and pass contributing to our goal.

19 May 2026 20:35:49
Sitting and waiting for Enzo to do the hangs up phone motion but it never came haha.

A nice way to sign off at least, putting the boys into the lead and keeping Spurs nervous.

16 May 2026 17:34:10
Game went much as most of us thought it would with our players showing the commitment you'd expect re a Cup final but beaten by better side/squad and multi trophy winning manager. Our losing streak in Wembley finals continues

All that's left to give us some cheer would be beating Spurs.

16 May 2026 18:42:04
JBS, spot on, mate. A mate tells me that is our seventh losing domestic cup final on the spin.

16 May 2026 19:46:00
On the bright side we are consistent.

16 May 2026 21:46:43
Obviously, I am disappointed, but a couple of positives: the players showed a bit more fight and energy, and the supporters really got behind the team. On the other side of the coin, tactically we were all over the place, no real plan, relying on players to come up with something.


On a separate issue, TT would be mad not to include Colwill in the World Club squad. True, he has just come back from a long term injury, but he looks fit and is clearly the best English CB around.

17 May 2026 07:23:07
You are right, Jimbo. It would be a travesty for him not to go.
And you are correct about the players trying to come up with something, and being tactically all over the place.

16 May 2026 16:59:32
We played well enough. They had the moments of quality including their goal.

Some good performances from us, Colwill, Palmer, Hato, Caicedo, Enzo and James.

I have said for ages I do not understand how Gust gets in our side over Josh. I guess there must be a reason.

Onwards and upwards to next season now. After relegating the spuds.

19 May 2026 17:47:59
Gusto started pretty well for us, but has been more down than up in terms of form for most of this season. He is a nine-times-capped Frenchman, still young - turned 23 today...

so happy birthday to him - and Alonso may see a way to get him to be more consistent. But, given Gusto's pretty poor form this season, it seems criminal that Josh was played so little.

16 May 2026 16:00:59
Not unhappy with that first performance from the whole team.

Maybe at some stage Neto has to come on to stop Riley making the extra man in midfield but that would mean going to four at the back.

16 May 2026 17:03:16
Class will always prevail. They just have a better standard of player. We give it ago, tho. Poor season all round, would get rid of most of the squad as they won't win anything, the standard is so low.
Just hope Spurs get relegated.

16 May 2026 17:10:58
Sometimes moments win games and their goal was one of those moments.

16 May 2026 18:10:15
It was Tom, one of those goals you can't really blame anybody for.

I just can't understand why we can't create anything in the final third.

16 May 2026 18:17:07
Bill, I hate us playing with a back three, and because I'm biased, I will blame it on that.

16 May 2026 22:18:15
Tom, you blame it on a back three? We weren't good enough. We didn't put a glove on City. Pedro had done well this season, but he is not a No 9, he is technically good, but not robust enough. Play him in the right position or sell him.

17 May 2026 00:37:36
Dis agree Jimbo. Think Pedro tried and his general play was ok, but he was absolutely alone. Palmer and Enzo offered nothing going forward. Serious questions now about how to get the best from Palmer, and our attacking options from the bench would look decent at Coventry next season, not at Chelsea.

17 May 2026 07:46:25
Jimbo, that's the very reason why I am not a fan of a back three. Against a team like City, you have to four in midfield, so you end up playing 541. Against lesser teams, the system can be used in a more fluid/offensive way, but against teams like City you just end up with nine players sitting deep.