15 Mar 2026 14:44:29
When the manager says you're the best player in the world in your position, then plays you in another position where you're not the best, and plays someone in your position who's not as good as you, it's not a good look.

1.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 15:31:36
Says more to me about the lack of depth in midfield. Andre Santos was starting to look fatigued, Lavia not match fit. Who else we got?

2.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 16:41:49
Santos fatigued? He has hardly played much to be fatigued. Drop Enzo back in there from the start, which he ended up doing. Even play Josh in there, which he has talked about but not yet done. Start Lavia and share minutes with Santos. A few options, I think. Reece is a world class right back. Play him there, please.

3.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 16:51:57
Mentally fatigued. First season in the EPL, it is nothing like what he has played before. The pressure at a club like Chelsea, compared to Strasbourg, is nothing like he has dealt with before. Fernandez and Caicedo do not work as a pair; Fernandez's lack of mobility and recovery pace gets found out and leaves Caicedo isolated.

Lavia looks way off the pace, in the form he has shown so far. He was starting a lot of games.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see James at rb, but I believe the lack of depth is the main factor for him starting in midfield.

4.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 17:08:47
All fair points, J, but I prefer to be as strong as possible in each position and not compromise one position to plug another, hence weakening 2 positions. What would you do against PSG?

5.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 17:30:28
Greenaway, I agree with you. I am bored hearing about professional footballers going on about fatigue. Mental fatigue? Just as well he's not a brain surgeon. Try being an average Joe, worrying about paying the bills and providing for your family.

6.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 18:07:15
They just have different pressures. I respect those pressures, and I think they deserve to be paid well.

7.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 18:21:21
Many, many years ago I had to book a comedian for a company bash. We had made a good profit, and the then directors decided to book a so-called "top" comedian who could develop a one-night act about the company and the individuals that worked in it.

The overwhelming recommendation from various sources was Bob Monkhouse. Luckily, he was available for this one-night stand, but the amount of money he wanted was completely off the charts.

Anyway, I got the directors' approval to pay him this huge fee, but boy, did he work for it.

Researching the company wasn't difficult, but finding out about staff members, and remembering it, made me realise what goes into being a professional entertainer.

Needless to say, his delivery was perfect, and it was appreciated by every staff member who attended.

I have had no problems paying top dollar to be entertained. The wages these people get has never bothered me. They have a talent, and the majority deserve to be paid well for it.

{Ed001's Note - he was a good friend of my uncle, an absolutely top class comic.}

8.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 18:40:07
Not too many brain surgeons at 21 years of age.

9.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 18:41:10
The PSG game's gone. I'd throw the towel in and worry about the next EPL match.

10.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 18:48:21
One thing I would say is, in the WCC final, we were at our best with Gusto on the pitch, effectively playing as a right winger, from his right back position. But it's obviously a completely different scenario.

Chasing a 3 goal deficit against this PSG team will likely result in breakaway goals, something we're vulnerable against at the best of times.

Maybe starting with a back three would make some sense.

11.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 18:51:38
Ed, I had the pleasure of meeting him again many years later in a bar near his Barbados holiday home. He was a good drinking companion as well as a very nice bloke.

{Ed001's Note - he was also very helpful to my uncle, he was basically his mentor when he was starting out. He gained nothing from it either, just helped him get a start and was always there to give advice etc. Every time he was interviewed he would put my uncle's name out as the best young comedian he had seen as well, which helped a lot. And he made sure when he did the Audience With.... show that my uncle was one that asked a question.}

12.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 19:10:20
I just don't begrudge professionals of any walk of life. Some of them have short periods of success, but they try to be the best they can be and deserve their rewards.

Good luck to them!!

13.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 21:07:27
Nice info on Bob Monkhouse Tom and Ed001. Ed001 can"t help asking - but you don't need to answer of course ot with his name - but did your uncle become a well known comedian?

{Ed001's Note - I suppose it depends on what you mean by well known. He did well enough to be neighbours with Michael Owen and Gary Speed, the Speeds were his best friends. He is also a historian and was an advisor on Anthropoid, so swung himself a named extra role in it by way of payment. He and his wife have a showbiz agency now.}

14.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 22:05:19
I'd say that makes your uncle both successful and very interesting Ed!

Oh and much hope your parents got safely home

{Ed001's Note - they got home fine mate thanks.}

15.) 15 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026 22:29:11
Glad to hear this and well done.

{Ed001's Note - not as glad as I was to get peace Hahaha.}

16.) 16 Mar 2026
16 Mar 2026 09:25:59
Nice one Ed001!

{Ed001's Note - lucky they did get out as the airport is shut down again after another drone hit.}

17.) 16 Mar 2026
16 Mar 2026 11:04:06
J, what about Doogie Howser.MD?The point I was making was that to become a top class athlete you need strong mentality as well as talent.
Tom, I don't begrudge footballers or anyone else earning top dollars.

I am indifferent to the issue, whether they deserve it is a matter of opinion but I don't want to hear any whining about how hard life is.
Ed001, I agree entirely about Bob Monkhouse, top class comedian; in my top three.

18.) 16 Mar 2026
16 Mar 2026 15:01:54
I certainly can't remember any professional footballer "whining" about "how hard life is", but I do have respect for all professionals, as I mentioned, in any walk of life.