Chelsea Team and Matches Talk

12 Sep 2026 17:01:14
One bad mistake, several bits of poor defending, one player who had a shocker and another who was only marginally better than him.

Twenty consecutive Premiership games without keeping a clean sheet. That is an awful stat.

Very disappointing result.

12 Sep 2026 18:30:08
Spot on, Tom, and I fear Alonso got the starting line up, plus some subs, wrong.

Surely the back three should have been Fofana, Lacroix and Josh. Gusto shouldn't be part of it.

Martinez looked shaky at times, and was possibly partly at fault for Hull's second.

Given our defensive frailties, yet factoring our ability to score goals, I would at this stage predict we finish between 4th and 6th in the league.

I would hope for higher, and we will surely improve when Caicedo and Palestra are fit, and perhaps when other teams are playing in Europe and we're not. Plus, if we bring in a top-notch defensive midfielder in January ... if one is available. Though Lavia and James were not the worst on show for us today.

12 Sep 2026 18:42:30
Still a long way from home. Nothing much to add. We are so disjointed, no connection between defence, midfield and the forward line.

12 Sep 2026 18:46:05
JBS, for last season and the start of this season, I am perplexed as to how a succession of managers pick him. He is still young, so fingers crossed he proves me wrong.

12 Sep 2026 21:34:18
Didn't watch the game. I was out golfing, and I'm not sure what I'm more disappointed with... we need a clean sheet badly, the only way out is to keep a few in a row now.

Onto the next one, must win against Brentford and have to keep a clean sheet. Go 5 2 3 flat, and let the lads up front edge it! No wingers, play the full backs.

12 Sep 2026 21:38:19
Tom, I presume you are referring to Gusto. He shouldn't be in any position on the pitch.
JBS, a double pivot of Lavia and James, is very weak. They provide no cover for a very dodgy defence. We can't just hope to out score teams. Alonso needs to find some solutions or we will lose ground by the next window. Anyway, at least we didn't lose.

12 Sep 2026 21:43:12
Lavia and James, to my eyes, were two of the only players to perform at an acceptable level.

12 Sep 2026 21:56:46
JBS, we have looked pretty poor since Maresca left us. Hate to say it but he would not have let us look so shabby. Hopefully Alonso can turn it around but right now it is Arteta v Maresca as the elite 2 managers in the league albeit backed by money (but so are we) and both graduates of Pep.

12 Sep 2026 23:17:03
I am enjoying this mad football under Alonso far more than I did at any stage under Maresca.

13 Sep 2026 08:28:58
I have no yearnings for Maresca. He and the other Enzo can continue their love-in at City. Glad to see the back of them. Both of them disrespected the club.

09 Sep 2026 22:21:10
Sorry, should have added to my earlier post, Colwill looks a yard off the pace.

12 Sep 2026 15:40:11
Add to your comment, I've always said he's not good enough, and Hato will never be either. His awareness is awful. To be fair, the whole back line is rubbish. We just have to score 6 a game, and we may gather some point. :)

12 Sep 2026 15:47:02
Yeh, but 125m for Enzo F nib, and that's what really matters. ??? Get Gusto gone from the squad first.

12 Sep 2026 15:56:48
Agree. What's up with Palestra? Gusto shouldn't be playing. We're so weak in midfield, it's unbelievable. Pedro had a shocking first half. I'd bring Welbeck on. Where's the striker from Strasbourg we bought? Why's he not getting a sniff?

09 Sep 2026 22:07:23
What a bonkers but entertaining game at the Bridge tonight.

Tonight we witnessed the good and bad of this Chelsea team. We see Rogers (my mom) create chance after chance, but before that he was lazy for their second. Well pleased with Barco, he is a little terrier with an attitude to match.

Josh is making himself undroppable. Palmer has always got that touch of class, highlighted when he just stroked in his second. Also, so pleased for Welbeck.

I am not a fan of Gusto and I’m hoping that when Palestra is fit, we see less and less of him.

10 Sep 2026 10:33:38
Agree about Gusto, Tom. Colwill is also a concern right now - he needs to find some form quickly, as he's looked a liability. Rogers' attempted tackle for their second goal was a joke - so soft - but his attacking was superb. I'm a little concerned about Estevao - his body language was awful throughout the first half - you can be frustrated about not getting minutes, but you have to show something that means you deserve them rather than sulking. I'd like to see him knuckle down to win his place in the team back. But he's a young guy, so, hopefully, will get his head sorted. Chavarria deserves a mention - mentality monster indeed, with the determined running to win the pen in the wake of their second.

That really helped turn the tide for us (the quadruple sub aside). Penders made excellent saves, but was a bit dodgy on corners and long throws. Again, he's young. The concern, I suppose, is that our second string are clearly so inferior to our first team. Oh, and Gittens - abysmal again. He offered nothing. I was hoping a fresh start this season under a new manager might give him a new lease of life, but he's increasingly looking like a player that doesn't have the level of physicality, desire, or decision making to cut it in a league like the PL.

10 Sep 2026 10:53:48
EdW, as mentioned in another thread, we all see games differently. I thought Gittens was unlucky to be hooked. For me, he was having a far more solid game than Estavao. Also, and this is much to my surprise, Gittens has got a leap on him that I hadn't noticed before.


The problem is I can't see Gittens or Estavao getting much Premiership game time.

Alonso has admitted he made too many changes for the starting eleven, and I think that admission is probably accurate.

06 Sep 2026 21:18:34
First let me say that we deserved to lose.

But how on Earth Arsenal keeps avoiding getting booked?

Have not seen a team play so f****** dirty for long time.

Every attack the wing our players get dragged.

Konsa - Clear Yellow

Rice - Clear Yellow

Lewis Skelly - Clear Yellow

Gabriel - could easy be red card.

06 Sep 2026 21:52:08
Completely agree, Lrdit, and Arsenal seem to get away with murder... almost literally, if Gabriel's kick to Martinez's head had proved fatal. Arsenal seem under instructions to outmuscle and kick Joao Pedro.

We will suffer from not having replaced Enzo F or Cucurella adequately...

our midfield is overrun again, though I still think we should finish in the top 5, despite our defensive frailties, shipping 2 goals every game. The Hull game is a must win, and now a surprising early-season test too, given their start; they are the only EPL side yet to concede!

{Ed0666's Note - it’s only game 3 into the Alonso era mate. You can’t rebuild a team overnight. I think it’s Arsenal and City to battle it out as they have the deepest squads. You nearly replaced Enzo but Evertons ineptness at transfers and how to handle them cost you. Thats football. On the Gabriel GBH..I’m incredulous, have no words.

06 Sep 2026 22:06:16
I do think we are short one midfielder, but that is not because we didn't try. I rated Fernandez the player, but good riddance.

We have replaced Cucarella. He looks like he can play, and we have three other players who can play LB or LWB.

{Ed0666's Note - You really rated Enzo?

06 Sep 2026 22:08:27
JBS, you have to let your sadness over seeing Curcurella and Enzo Fernandez leave go, mate. You are starting to sound like Greenaway, who Kaz and Standard keep calling me!

07 Sep 2026 10:31:36
K I am making the point that we haven't adequately replaced them, but knew for ages that they were going. Yes, Monaco and Everton messed up an Enzo F replacement, but you'd have thought the club may at least have got a Cucurella replacement. Palestra is mainly an RB, though perhaps he will be played consistently on the left; he may have to be, anyway. But take the point that there comes a time when not much help is done by going on about who left and the weaknesses caused, though we are only three matches into the season, and that was the first EPL match after the transfer window had closed, so hardly ages after Enzo F was gone and the deadline day fiasco.



I get a bit fed up with either those who almost always sing the praises of the club and their decisions, or those who almost always knock them. Most on here seek to be clear-eyed about the reality of what we have got, our performances and chances... the good, the bad and the ugly!

Mind you, that does add to the banter, and yours is fine!

06 Sep 2026 19:52:41
Midfield cost us today, Lavia and James don't work and Gusto is a makeweight. Moises was a huge miss for us and the failure to not replace Enzo Fernandez might bite us this season. But I still saw enough positives to convince me we will finish 3rd behind City and Arsenal.

Stevo needs to start as well because he looked so dangerous when he came on and another day that curler goes in.

06 Sep 2026 20:50:28
I was actually pleased with James, and as I am a massive fan of Lavia, I get no pleasure in saying he didn’t play to the standard I expect from him.
As I said in an earlier post, I will look at the game when the emotion has disappeared from my view of the game, but I have to say I was surprised we didn’t go with a narrow midfield three.

To my sad old eyes, our midfield two simply got outnumbered.

06 Sep 2026 21:12:59
Arsenal got a lot of joy attacking down our left-hand side, as Brighton and Fulham had as well. We really missed Cucurella there today. Hato and Rogers are not as strong a combo defensively as Fofana and Neto by some distance, and opponents know this.

In fact, Neto. My MoM for us today, and v glad we did not sell him. Estevao almost salvaged a point for us at the end, but for Raya's top save, so would like him to get more game too.

We of course also missed a top midfielder with Fernandez gone and not replaced - as he should have been, given we knew this was so likely - and especially given Moises' injury.

James and Lavia did reasonably well given the circumstances. But to have to bring Gusto on to replace Lavia was not good to see, but possibly cos Alonso doesn't yet reckon Barco ready for this game...needs more time to be integrated into the group and will expect him to get quite a few minutes v Leeds.

Still, we were competitive in this match against the Champions and had our chances to get a result, but either inaccuracy or Raya denied us.

06 Sep 2026 22:18:33
JBS, Fernandez gets absolutely run through today. Not signing a mid is a big problem, most on here acknowledged. But, being brutally honest, we are 3 games in. That Arsenal side simply outclassed us. We did, however, create chances and, on another day, with a bit of luck, nick a result.

Going forward, we need to tweak things to try and get control of games. Leeds in the cup and Hull on weekend 2 are good chances to get things back up and running again.

07 Sep 2026 10:35:45
You may be right, Kazblue! Though we were run through pretty constantly without EF yesterday. But Arsenal are far further along the route to consistently competitive, trophy-winning capability than we are, and this will take a while yet under Alonso.



Will be at the Leeds game, though can't make the Hull one, but look forward to a few more tweaks and Palestra and Caicedo back fit again, plus Levi C completely fit and back in form. He had been disappointing v Brighton.

06 Sep 2026 19:17:38
Hi blues x

Never like losing, especially to them lot, but we are not too far behind, my only negative is that we are conceding far too many, 2 or more every game is not good enough.
I'm sure he will sort it out soon.

06 Sep 2026 19:51:33
Steve, I agree, mate. Some might not buy into the "work in progress" comment, but that is exactly what it is.

I think there is every chance we see rapid improvements, as we only have domestic competitions to focus on. Plenty of time, and no excuses for Alonso to get his message across.

06 Sep 2026 21:19:50
Also agree, Steve, and we can't ship 2 goals a game and expect to challenge for anything.

We should be tighter when Moises is fully fit again, plus Levi C back in form, plus when Palestra is fit. He's primarily a right back/wing back but can play on the left.

Our midfield/team defensive ability is still suspect, and I had hoped for more from Palmer today.

06 Sep 2026 21:49:57
I am happy about Chelsea more than I have been for a while. However, "work in progress" is a hackneyed old phrase to excuse obvious flaws. I stand by my view that James is bang average in midfield. Lavia has also been average and still can't make 90 minutes.

The fact that we have to bring on Gusto in midfield is worrying, he shouldn't be anywhere on the pitch. Even when Moises is fit, he can't do it all on his own. I'm beginning to think we need two midfielders in January.

06 Sep 2026 22:11:20
We will see how James develops as a dm, but he looked ok today.

Using the phrase "work in progress" perfectly describes a new manager with new ideas, plus a squad with, I think, 11 new players. Of course it's work in progress.

06 Sep 2026 23:09:15
If you are building a house, you can accurately describe it as work in progress. However, if the foundations are fundamentally flawed, like our midfield, of course, it can't be described as work in progress.

07 Sep 2026 03:54:44
We are not building a house. We are trying to build a team with a new manager, a significant amount of new players, plus new tactics/system. You have described the foundations as flawed, so that needs changing as well. It's all "work in progress."

{Ed0666's Note - so your building a house then

07 Sep 2026 04:34:13
No. We are building a team and that usually takes more than a few games. I'm hopeful that it won't take long under our new manager.

{Ed0666's Note - I’m just joshing with ya mate..I think Alonso is exactly what you needed at this time to neutralize the madness that CFC have endured over the last few years. I’ve no doubt he’ll be successful in time although I’m not a fan of the way he plays. It’s Mourinho 2.0.

07 Sep 2026 05:46:51
I'm not a fan of the way Arteta plays, Moyes plays, or Maresca plays. In fact it could be a very long list.

07 Sep 2026 16:59:32
Hi Ed0666, we must be thinking of different Mourhinhos, as Alonso's transitional style we've seen so far doesn't look anything like Jose's to me – perhaps Jose in his first season as Chelsea manager when we had Robben and Duff up the wings (but then Alonso doesn't play wingers)? Jose was all about taking a 1-0 and then backs to the walls defending to preserve it, which isn't what we've seen from Chelsea thus far this season at all (nor from Alonso's Leverkeusen, from what I've read about them) so I'm curious why you think so.

{Ed0666's Note - mate all I saw yesterday was Chelsea defending when you went ahead, when it was 1-1 and at 2-1 down. Granted you were away from home and missing a couple of players but it’s a new team new coach and there’s time to evolve

11 Sep 2026 12:48:38
Definitely Ed0666. I'm looking forward to the evolution. I have to say, I don't think we really were defending by choice in that game – Arsenal were just that much stronger than us in the middle of the park that we couldn't really do anything other than that.

All our games other than that one have been 6+ goal thrillers, with outscoring the other team being the best way to paper over our thin defence.

{Ed0666's Note - imagine what you’ll be like in 2 seasons under a coach that has a set of principles and the respect of his bosses. Alonso is not for me but the guy won the bundesliga with an unbeaten team. Also you have the lure of London when your are trying to get players, who wouldn’t want to live in Chelsea some of the most desirable real estate in the world. I think you’ll be ok.

06 Sep 2026 18:34:52
I will take my time to fully digest that game but just a few quick points.

I can definitely see progress in our patterns of play and I think we could have easily taken something from the game.
It was just one game and as you know I like to judge players over a long period of time.

James is a class player at FB, but on today’s performance he can become a class player as a DM. On that performance he is not a “bang average midfielder.”

We just have to keep on believing and supporting the players and the manager and I can see us challenging this season.

06 Sep 2026 21:23:04
Agree. Tom and James had a pretty good game today, but we still lack much retention of possession in midfield.

Yet, yes, we were close to getting something from the game, and with a bit of luck would have.

06 Sep 2026 18:31:49
Outside the front three, pure garbage.

06 Sep 2026 19:47:17
What a wonderful constructive post.

I will wait until much later in the season before I make my judgement on this team and this manager. After three Premiership games, and that sort of comment is made.

06 Sep 2026 17:59:57
Different league than us. The midfield wasn’t good enough. James has never been a midfielder. Lavia is pure lazy. All three games the teams have attacked are left side. I don’t know what Hato is but he can’t defend, the midfield is so poor, to have a poor midfield where I thought last year we were strong and a poor defence we’re not winning anything the money we have spent and have spent and we have James and Gusto in midfield someone wants sacking like my last message will be ok against the lesser teams but anyone else will get bossed like today well done Arsenal it’s 61 minutes in I suppose there a team and where in transition but money we’ve spent it’s awful how weak we are.


Just say it in your head we have James and Gusto in are midfield lol it’s embarrassing Lavia as well lol anyway let’s hope for Europe is it 8th 7th.

06 Sep 2026 18:39:47
We all see games differently, and I thought James showed he can comfortably play as a DM.
Arsenal look like a team that have been together for years, and have a manager and his methods in place for ages.

We look like a team that is a work in progress, with a manager who has been in charge for a handful of games.
Not happy with the result, but I can see progress.

06 Sep 2026 18:56:39
I am quite positive despite the loss. Would have got Estevao on earlier; we clearly miss Cacaido. Play like that for the rest of the season and we will be fine. Agree with Tom, I also see progress.

Maybe we deserved a point on the wrong side of a couple of breaks, but I like the look of us.

Sadly, Arsenal are a top side.

06 Sep 2026 19:00:50
Definite progress. Arsenal are the best team in the league - actually showing it now, unlike last season. It was a good game, and we definitely could've snatched something at the end (especially if the ref had clocked Rice's clip of Rogers' heels).

Caicedo being out is a worry, but that's the best game we've given them in years - we've been embarrassed by them each of the last few seasons.

06 Sep 2026 19:07:35
Correct, Caicedo is a big miss for us, but so is Palestra.

I like the way we are changing shape in different situations. I would not be surprised to see us play lots of games 433 or maybe 4213. I think opposition managers will always be guessing at our formation. If that makes sense.

06 Sep 2026 19:09:52
Agree, with all the above. Reasons to be positive.
I also said one is a team that's been together for a while, and the other is getting better.

On a side note, I thought the ref gave them everything, but unfortunately the best team on the day won.

06 Sep 2026 19:23:39
I'm not particularly positive, but nor am I concerned: losing away to Arsenal this early doesn't define our season. However, I don't buy in to this work in progress nonsense. We clearly have a problem in midfield.

James and Lavia as a duo just don't work. This is our Achilles heel. The sooner Moises is back, the better. We will definitely need to go in the market in January.

06 Sep 2026 20:49:05
Theyre really not that good, though. Arsenal won the battle in midfield, and we've spent millions. Are we better than last year? Front 3, yes. The rest, everyone's opinion will be different.

06 Sep 2026 21:03:24
Three games into the season, and any judgement is difficult, but we are not "garbage", that's for sure.
I have seen more positive things in three Premiership games this season than I can remember at any stage of last season, but the end of this Premiership campaign will be the time to judge.

24 Aug 2026 23:04:16
Good performance from the outfield players all in all. Attack looks dangerous. Delighted to see Palmer looking fit and hungry to prove a point, same with JP. Really liked the look at Lacroix, especially 1v1. Think the system suits him perfectly.

Onto Bob Sanchez. Nothing else to say. He's simply not very good, maybe even worst in the league.

Mistakes aside, he's an absolute disaster on the ball and anyone that's tried to convince us otherwise. I hope you can finally see what some have seen since he first signed. Same old story with him. Luckily Fulham were worse than bang average, or it'd be another game he's cost us.

25 Aug 2026 06:57:52
Fulham are fifth favourites with bookies to be relegated this season, and, yes, looked like it last night. Only Sanchez kept them in the game.

25 Aug 2026 07:26:12
It must be me, but I can't see Fulham being anywhere near the relegation zone.

I just can't see us signing a top keeper (not many about) as it will block the path for Penders.

I think Penders will play midweek, but Sanchez will start against Brighton. I hope I'm wrong.

25 Aug 2026 09:02:13
I didn't think Fulham were that bad, to be honest.

I've supported Sanchez for a while and I think there's a good keeper in there. However, for the level we want to reach, and I believe we can reach, he isn't good enough. We keep hearing about how Penders is a potential generational GK. Let him show it. If he isn't up to it this season, send him on loan again and bring someone in.



How good was it to see Palmer play like that? When he's on form, I personally think he's the best player in the league, one of the best in the world.

Last negative from me is Gusto. I think he's crap. He has no defensive awareness, is always caught sleeping at the back post, has no technical ability, no brain. If we could get £35m I'd sell.

25 Aug 2026 17:18:54
Saim, Sanchez has had 3 years and hasn't improved. Unfortunately, we can't just sit and pray he wakes up world class one day. Get rid, and send Roberts with him. Any average keeper would be an option. Heck, id be dying for a Begovic/Caballero level keeper, watching Sanchez fluff the basics and pile pressure onto us every week.

26 Aug 2026 07:33:55
In my opinion, there are games where he looks great, and he even sometimes has a run of games without a mistake. But the thing I've come to realise (probably later than most) is that eventually he will cost us a game, and it will happen multiple times across a season.