25 Oct 2026 13:24:19
Disappointing result and very poor performance and no real positives. We have two big games before the international break and obviously we need to step up.
JT
I have no regrets about Maresca and Jackson leaving. The narrative from Maresca that he was refused signings was just a cover for him sneaking around behind the club to get the City job. Jackson was just like Sterling: score a few goals early on and be absolute crap for the rest of the season. Pedro is far superior in every respect.
As for Alonso, every coach gets "found out" at Madrid. What have they done since he left? The club is run by the egos of certain players.
It It has been sketchy start to the season and clearly there is a need for a couple of top class in January but no need to panic.
1.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 14:46:48
I didn't want us to sell Jackson but it appeared as if he wanted guaranteed playing time or wasn't prepared to fight for his place.
I assume United will have a new manager or another temp manager in charge for next week.
2.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 15:16:54
Tom
Is Carrick any worse than Alonso at the moment?
3.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 15:21:11
Bill, the league positions would suggest he is and I personally think he is far worse than Alonso.
4.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 15:46:00
So he is worse than both then.
Just a question, who has the better squad, Carrick or the two Alonso's.
5.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 16:06:17
A reasonable question and I think we have the better squad.
6.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 16:38:34
I agree with you Tom and it looks like after today's result, the question who is better won't matter anymore.
7.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 16:33:44
Jimbo, not one of us on here actually no the full story and truth behind Maresca leaving, as Chelsea fans we tend to side against him and prefer to see him as a snake creeping around to get the Man City job but there is also a strong belief amongst a number of people that he genuinely wanted to stay but wanted more control over transfers plus a pay rise.
I guess it might all come out one day but the bottom line is we have fallen away sharply after the highs of that top 4 finish, winning a European trophy and demolishing the very good PSG managed by the worlds best manager.
Bill, I get the feeling you are not a fan of Alonso?
8.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 18:24:26
Maresca was under contract and stupidly had face to face secret meetings with senior people at Sham City.
If some people think that shows him as a person who "genuinely" wanted to stay then I am "genuinely" surprised.
9.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 18:37:10
Or did those meetings happen AFTER he got told he would not be allowed any further control over transfers? Did he genuinely want to stay only to be told that he could have no additional control, which he felt he had earned, which led to the breakdown with the sporting directors and hence him deciding he wanted out of the project Tom? As I say, not one of us know the truth.
{Ed001's Note - no they didn't.
10.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 18:40:37
JT
it's too early to call it on Alonso however at the moment he is mot filling me with confidence to sat the least but I hope he proves me wrong.
11.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 19:11:25
If Maresca wanted to talk to Sham City he could have asked for permission, fact he didn't. He secretly had face to face meetings with Sham City, fact. Chelsea sent him home on garden leave, fact. We got compensation from Sham City, fact.
12.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 19:13:16
I agree with you Bill, I really hope he comes good and is given time but he got it badly wrong yesterday.
13.) 25 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 20:32:58
Thanks as always Ed.
I am grateful for the clarification.
Chelsea gave him the opportunity to manage in the premiership. I am pleased we won two trophies, particularly the WCC but he did what he did and far as I'm concerned, good riddance.
14.) 26 Oct 2026
25 Oct 2026 21:54:05
If you know that for sure ED01 then that is good enough for me despite what I have heard.
Bottom line though is quite sad as he clearly wanted out of the project and highlights what many on here and elsewhere think, the ownership model is flawed and the club is stagnating.
He was a very good manager and a clear loss to us, we were cruising into Europe but ended up mid-table, he now has Man City top of the league and we have been through a couple of managers and now have one who has split the fanbase.
{Ed001's Note - he had never really stopped being in contact with Citeh, with a view to taking over when Pep left. He was literally just taking other jobs to gain experience with that in mind. He only left for Leicester as they wouldn't have considered him for the role otherwise.
I think the problem was that he was not at Chelsea long enough to gain proper lasting affection. If he had been a player previously or had another season or two before Pep was ready to retire, then he might well not have been pushing himself for the job so hard. But the lure of the enormous money to spend on players, plus the under the counter payments no doubt, was too much for him to resist.}