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Greenaway's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Greenaway's rumours posts
24 Jan 2026 09:06:53
Any news on Mudryk ED01?
{Ed001's Note - nothing mate, but drug offences and issues around them are treated as sensitive information.}
1.) 24 Jan 2026 15:23:07
Thanks ED01, the fact that Liam was talking about him being such a good player made me wonder if he was back training.
{Ed001's Note - he could well be. They are allowed back in training in advance of the end of a ban anyway. They are given time to regain fitness.}
2.) 24 Jan 2026 20:58:26
There is a rumour that the ban was lifted on Jan 17th.
3.) 25 Jan 2026 00:34:27
Seems rather strange ed001 that he may be nearing the end of a ban that hasn’t actually been announced unless I’ve missed it? As in I’ve not seen ‘mudryk banned for X amount of time’. So to not have a timeframe for a ban or to have had an appeal and yet he may be close to returning just seems a little crazy to me.
{Ed001's Note - when it involves drugs, they rarely do even tell us. They keep it quiet and often mark the player as injured so long as they go to rehab. They say it is to protect the player's career, but to me it feels like they just don't want people to realise how bad the drug problem is in the game. They don't want the sponsorship collapse that was seen in cycling after the Lance Armstrong era.}
4.) 25 Jan 2026 23:44:11
Do we even know if Mudryck was guilty of drug taking? There really has been nothing on this. No news. Is that good news?
5.) 27 Jan 2026 07:26:36
He is guilty of having drugs in his body.
6.) 27 Jan 2026 12:35:04
So, if he had the drugs in his body - how long was he banned for?
it is all very mysterious.
7.) 27 Jan 2026 15:47:30
Celery as I posted on the 18th Jan, the rumour is his ban finished on the 17th Jan.
I wouldn’t have a clue if this is true but it did appear on a couple of sites.
8.) 28 Jan 2026 03:21:09
This is ridiculous though. How long was he banned for? Is he still banned? When will his ban end - IF it has not already ended? Do journalists not ask questions any more? Will we ever know what happened? What is still happening? lol.
9.) 30 Jan 2026 14:08:18
I should have also said the rumour is he is going to Strasbourg on loan.
23 Jan 2026 09:20:43
A few rumours knocking about that Cole Palmer is homesick and wants a return to Mancland, any truth in that ED01 and how good a player do you think he is?
{Ed001's Note - there is a small bit of truth in it, but this is very very common amongst players that are injured. They get miserable and miss home, they miss the comradeship of training every day and messing around with their mates. They get a little bit overlooked and spend a lot of time on their own doing rehab and resting. It is very normal and rarely leads to anything unless they struggle to get back in to the team when fit.
I trained a lot with injured pros when I was in the UK, they are all bloody miserable and want to be with their family when injured. They need the support. When they are a bit older, settled down with wives and kids, they have that support there, so it is not an issue. But a youngster like Palmer will have very little support. Imo clubs have come a long way with the way they look after their prime assets (the players) but this is one thing they can do almost nothing about. You can't keep them included with the group, as they are unable to train with them, you can't be their family, so it is just a case of getting them fit as quickly as possible and back in with the squad properly.
The main issue will be if he has this time to think (can he think? Of all the things Palmer is known for, thinking is not in there at all, bless him!), well time anyway, he might wonder if the club's ambition matches his own. That would be the only thing that would worry me from a Chelsea point of view.}
1.) 23 Jan 2026 09:49:29
Oh well, that's him gone then ED001.
Doubt very much it will be to Man U espically when you talk about ambition of a club.
{Ed001's Note - I don't know about that, Palmer is young and has plenty of time to make a move later.}
2.) 23 Jan 2026 10:27:33
Thanks ED01, that was a great piece and I had never considered all of those factors. Were you an ex pro or medical guy when you were in the UK?
{Ed001's Note - no mate, neither. Just an obsessive trainer and was living in an area with not many facilities to train, so everyone in the area ended up using the same things to train. I was swimming with Olympic swimmers in the run up to 2012 and had my daughter and her friends convinced that the gold postbox was put outside my house for the work I did coaching some of the Olympians. Even though it was me asking them for help with my swimming. They were only 11 though bless em.
What it meant was, the local football team had nowhere specific to train during the summer to keep fit and would end up at local gyms and school playing fields. On days off I would be out with dogs playing footie with them and they would join in for a kickabout initially. But they would always be intrigued as I would run them into the ground endurance wise and astonished that I would do that after a 12 hour shift at work. So I ended up just working with a lot of them on their training to get them fitter. I am talking League 1/2 level mostly. When it started they were still non-league and I had got friendly with their star player, who had to quit the team when they finally won promotion as he was a lawyer or barrister or something like that and couldn't cope with the pay cut he would have to take to play League 2! But it was him who started it as he struggled to maintain the fitness while working long hours, so he was interested in how I could have so much basic fitness.}
3.) 23 Jan 2026 11:20:27
That is really interesting ED01, thanks for your insight.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}
4.) 23 Jan 2026 15:29:42
Very interesting posts Ed001. Insights into the emotions of players battling with injuries and also you as swimmer with Olympians, coach and player fitness trainer to local team! Great reads and many thanks for them.
{Ed001's Note - I was only really learning to swim properly as I was intending to do triathlons, so it was really good to get to learn off them. Though it was quite depressing having the Paralympians flash past you with no arms while you were trying to do sprints. Just when you think you are getting quite good, life has a way of reminding you how far you still have to go!}
5.) 23 Jan 2026 17:10:56
Too true Ed001. Has happend to me quite a few times over the years!
6.) 24 Jan 2026 13:23:33
That's some really interesting insights Ed! I guess it's sometimes easy to forget that, at the end of the day, these players are still just human beings.
22 Jan 2026 18:42:31
A few rumours that Douglas Luiz is joining on loan, any truth in this ED01?
{Ed001's Note - apparently there is interest, I don't understand it, he is a very good player and brings experience, but is injury prone.}
1.) 22 Jan 2026 19:00:09
We do need a body, but would prefer a younger player from the academy playing. I think Acheampong should be playing a lot more than he does.
Shame about lavia but you guys dodged a bullet there ed001. What do you think is wrong with him? 3 years in and hasn't completed 90 minutes. Think there's still a chance he turns it around?
{Ed001's Note - considering the amount and length of his injuries, it would seem to be a genetic problem. It can't be all bad luck.}
2.) 22 Jan 2026 20:00:55
Thanks ED01 for your prompt reply. I agree, he is a good player but as you say, a strange one bearing in mind his injury record.
3.) 23 Jan 2026 09:51:29
Somebody told our SD'S he is a great CB, they said that's exactly what's needed at the moment.
19 Jan 2026 09:31:26
It is being reported that Liam Rosenior has asked for Jacquet and wants him to go straight into the side, let's hope he is as good as our new head coach says he is as £56 million for a 20 year old centre back is a lot of money.
On the plus side though it is nice to know that the sporting directors are backing the new gaffer.
1.) 19 Jan 2026 12:06:37
Greenaway, let’s not forget that our current manager will have personally seen this guy play.
2.) 19 Jan 2026 16:07:17
Good point Tom. Gtreenwaway we can only hope he is as good as his highlights reel suggests plus can adapt v quickly to EPL.
I don't know about anyone wles on here but I enjoyed watching the extraordinarly long - injurt/controversy/Denegal leaving pitch for a while etc - second half and extra time of the Afcon final last night. But apart from the controversy over disallowed goal and awarded penalty I though DSenegal deserved on balance to win and that our player on loan at Strasbourgh Mamadou Sarr was pretty impressive in defense. Someone LR likely to give game time to next season if likely included back in squad along with Kendry Paez plus Emegha.
Sarr likely to be in LR's plans. Anselmino also availabe after v impressive loan spell with Borussia Dortmund. LC should be back fit we hope but may take time to get back to best plus Fofana a favoured RCB when fit but having to be carefully managed. Josh and Trev have done pretty well for us imho, and both can offer cover at RB if needs be. Tosin and BB a bit more up and down in form perhaps.
But what does all of this mean for who should stay or leave in the summer (whether permanently or on loan)? who would be the best four or five say to keep bearing in mind desirability of having some left and right footers plus cool minds strength in air (defensively and offensively) and good passing ability?
3.) 21 Jan 2026 12:09:17
Sarr, Colwill coming back, Anselmino looking good… I don’t disagree that we could upgrade most of our current CB options (except Fofana when he is fit and on it), but for the sake of 4/5 months, I am not sure that marginal gains are worth it.
Trev is a solid EPL performer, Hato played there for Ajax (and captained them) .
Mind you, I don’t think we need to buy a new goalkeeper either. Sanchez has had a decent season, Penders is in the future picture….
23 Dec 2025 15:48:27
A few rumours knocking about that Semenyo is attracting attention from all of the top clubs, where do you think he will end up ED01?
{Ed001's Note - he did seem all set for Liverpool as the long term replacement for Salah. Lots of clubs have since indicated their interest, so not sure if he will be having second thoughts or not. Difficult to know as it is simply down to personal choice, with all the clubs willing to meet the fee and all willing to meet his wage demands. I would like to think he will keep his word though and join Liverpool.}
1.) 23 Dec 2025 19:41:42
Sounds as if City have got him. Who now goes for Anderson. Will Liverpool sign their long term CH target or will he change his mind and come home or now go to Barcelona.
It’s all a bit of fun.
2.) 24 Dec 2025 11:05:35
Do Man City need him ED01?
{Ed001's Note - not that I can see, but it seems that is not stopping them.}
Greenaway's banter posts with other poster's replies to Greenaway's banter posts
16 Mar 2026 09:23:04
I have a feeling one of the 3 English teams who are 3 goals down will qualify for the round of 8. City 3 down at home to Real Madrid, Spursy 3 behind at home to Atl. Madrid and us 3 behind at home to PSG. Worth a little wager.
1.) 16 Mar 2026 11:15:51
If any Greenaway, and it's a big if, my money would be on Man City.
2.) 16 Mar 2026 15:05:40
The Spuds. CG hat trick.
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 15:31:36
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 18:40:07
Not too many brain surgeons at 21 years of age.
9.) 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
14 Mar 2026 20:40:10
This mess unfolding under Liam is the worst I have seen since AVB. The poor bloke is so out of his depth I think most of the players and crowd feel sorry for him. Maresca had his faults but he delivered 2 trophies, got us top 4 and departed having delivered a semi-final and had us competing across the board.
Heads need to roll for pushing him out and appointing Liam. Our season now rests with the FA Cup.
1.) 14 Mar 2026 22:08:15
Why would anyone feel sorry for any manager?
I do not believe LR is out of his depth, and I also think the owners will keep him on for the start of next season.
Greenaway, I'm not sure you will find many supporters who believe EM was pushed out.
2.) 14 Mar 2026 22:12:45
Honestly, Greenaway, if you think we even have a chance to win the FA Cup, I'm afraid you are living in dreamland.
LR has only been here 5 minutes and has to work with poor GK's and idiotic CB's and that is down solely to our SD's.
3.) 14 Mar 2026 22:12:46
Greenaway, I don't think Maresca would have taken us to a higher level. However, if he had kept tight-lipped and improved our standing, he may have had more influence on signings in the summer. I don't recall anyone on this site jumping for joy when LR was appointed.
We all know how this will end. The idea that LR having a pre-season will turn things around is laughable. Unless the strategy is changed, it is more of the same. The owners and their lackies are ruining this club.
4.) 14 Mar 2026 22:20:53
Greenaway, the problem for CFC is that Maresca did a fair bit worse on average in EPL games when he was in charge this season than LR has done to date.
As it is, discipline has been v poor under both of them, and Caicedo is one yellow away from a two-match suspension, to add to our problems here.
As I have said before, the blame for us struggling so much in terms of Champions League qualification lies equally between owners, SDs, managers and players.
Some of the players this evening were well below their best - notably Palmer, who missed several chances - and most looked tired. I would blame LR to the extent that he should probably have made more or earlier substitutions, or perhaps made more changes in the starting line-up, given the gruelling night in Paris. Howe did this with Newcastle, who had an extra day to rest and after a home rather than away fixture.
5.) 14 Mar 2026 22:36:05
Newcastle had quite a few normal first team players out for that game. They came with a plan and are taking home three points.
The first half performance was pitiful. All huff and puff, and zero ideas.
Palmer is nowhere near the player he was last season, and James was poor, but neither were as bad as Gusto and Fofana.
6.) 14 Mar 2026 22:37:00
Bill, you used to call Maresca, Leicester Maresca, you wanted him sacked during pre-season. That was a bit of banter, and very welcome on here. I don't rate Liam, and unless he proves me wrong, I will call him out for being inept. A bit of banter. Jbs, you are a stats man/woman, and well done, but what does it prove? Tom, you are the heart and soul of this site, mate, and without you the page goes, so I always back you and support your view.
Jimbo, you are probably right, mate, and the top comment to my post, which was made with much pain after that Liam horror show tonight.
7.) 15 Mar 2026 09:27:13
Greenaway, a good follow up post about some of us, other posters, all well taken, and yes it's all banter and opinions.
Funnily enough, I am certainly not a believer in stats alone, particularly in judging player potential. But in terms purely of results achieved in EPL games, especially in the same season when comparing results between managers who have the same players to pick from, they are about the only factual guide we have. I don't think there's a huge difference in style of performances; there have been good and bad under both managers, as also with teams chosen and use of subs.
Discipline remains poor.
Anyway, good on you for your last post and again, yes, the point is that we all have our own opinions, and they can be inconsistent or change. And after a wretched result our emotions often dictate immediate reactions... they very often have with me anyway! But I am beginning to try to accept what I thought I knew preseason, that our young squad, with the obvious weaknesses we all knew, was likely to finish anywhere between 3rd and 7th.
8.) 15 Mar 2026 09:32:52
Greenaway,
I think you are good for this site, so I won't go overboard, as it is, as you say, a banter site, and everybody is entitled to their opinions.
I honestly think the chopping and changing (rotation) is hurting us just as much as indiscipline. This is the same both for Maresca and now LR, and I'm wondering if this is a direct order from the SD's.
We will now not make next year's CL, and a proper review, in particular the roles the SD's play. Of all the Gk's and CH's we have bought, none can be described as good, never mind top class.
9.) 15 Mar 2026 11:04:40
Bill, I'm not giving up on CL qualification. Lots of twists and turns will happen over the coming games.
10.) 15 Mar 2026 12:14:32
Tom
At the moment, the players look clueless.
12 Mar 2026 20:35:44
Talking to the lads today, 4 of them went to Paris, I stayed at home as did the others and having put our disappointment behind us we all pretty much agreed we are just 3 ingredients away from being at the level we need to be to challenge at the top table.
1. A top level Keeper to compete with Penders, Costa was the choice.
2. A top level centre back to partner Levi and Bastoni was the choice.
3. A top level head coach to lead this group of highly talented players and several names came up with Enrique, Hansi Flick and Nagelsmann being the leading contenders.
1.) 12 Mar 2026 22:08:28
Even if Chelsea went for yet another manager, I wouldn't want any of the managers mentioned. My choice remains the Stuttgart manager, but I can't see us changing manager for some time yet.
2.) 13 Mar 2026 06:13:39
I don't see a chance the ownership will change the coach this summer. But, by Christmas, there's every chance that becomes a reality. I think you can get away with an inexperienced squad. I also think you can get away with an inexperienced coach, but it's hard to achieve the aims Chelsea should be seeking with both.
You can't argue about the positions that need upgrading. The big question at GK is whether the club feels Penders is ready to start.
I'd suggest you wouldn't want to play him behind this current defence. But, if he's as good as reported, you don't want to block his pathway.
We definitely need an upgrade at CB to play alongside Colwill. For me, none of our other CBs are the required standard to start regularly.
I'd also add LW into the mix, and, as I've said previously, we need some reliable depth at CM too.
3.) 13 Mar 2026 08:00:38
J, I think we will need extra players in midfield because I think Enzo will leave and I much prefer James at rb.
4.) 13 Mar 2026 08:41:31
J, with all of us thinking the same as you, Liam will probably start next season as the gaffer, but will likely be gone by December and the consensus was that Gary O'Neil will then take over! (FFS, let's hope not!). We all agreed that some big hitting managers will be available this summer, and both the Liverpool approach of sticking with Slot and reviewing in May, and the Utd approach of picking an interim coach and reviewing in May, were better options than giving an inexperienced rookie a 6 year deal.
Time will tell, of course, and let's hope we beat PSG 4-0 next week. Looking forward to beating Newcastle on Saturday, and will he stick with Jorgenson or go back to Bob?
5.) 13 Mar 2026 09:38:02
Agree with most of the above, but I don't mind Liam as a coach. I would give him time.
A keeper and at least one centre half, and, for the short term, an old head, experienced player to manage games. Don't know who, a John McGinn or Jordan Henderson type player who makes those around him better.
It is a bit of guesswork how these players and the coach develop. I think the hardest thing to teach is mentality.
I think the Newcastle match is an important game, especially as Utd play Villa with no confidence at all. I would stay with Jorgenson.
6.) 13 Mar 2026 09:41:33
I hope LR is our manager for the next ten years.
I think he will stick with Jorgensen for tomorrow's game.
7.) 13 Mar 2026 09:56:07
Tom
I agree, I also think he will stick with Jorgensen.
I'm not sure it would be right to put Spenders as no1 next season. I think we should bring him in slowly. Sadly, that means Sanchez stays unless Maresca gets a job and wants him. Jorgensen will be off.
8.) 15 Mar 2026 12:10:44
Tom, you are very fussy about coaches, but no need to worry. None of those mentioned will join us under the present set up. As for the Suttgard coach: what has he ever achieved?
11 Mar 2026 22:14:28
We had a manager, Maresca, who schooled PSG, won us 2 pots, got us top 4 and put us in a semi-final of the League Cup. He asked for a CB, got told no. He changed the way we play to make sure our best keeper plays to his strengths. What do we do? Bin him off for Liam who is totally clueless, blows a semi-final v Arsenal, plays a total calamity of a goalkeeper in such a big game, plays suicidal tappy tappy football.
This is AVB all over again. I said it at the time and got slagged off for it, the grass is not always greener.
1.) 11 Mar 2026 22:27:59
After the first 15-20 minutes, I was thinking to myself, 'Has this bloke really set us up to counterattack, because Maresca beat them 3-0.'
Gareth Bale gave an interview recently, speaking about how at Madrid they didn't really have tactical discussions under Zidane (obviously a special team/place to be able to do it), and how, in today's game, the managers control everything, which stifles more creative players. Liam does seem like the perfect example of a bookworm manager.
Overthink how important you are, and it seeps into the amount you overthink tactics.
I thought Liam has done relatively well, and surprised me to this point. But it's clear, with how we set up against Napoli in the first half, the Arsenal second leg, and the way we played tonight, that while he yaps about 'winning is the most important', he really cares most about being seen as some sort of tactical wizard by the footballing world.
Imagine giving him a 6 year deal, haha.
2.) 11 Mar 2026 22:28:10
I wouldn't have sacked Maresca, but he clearly wanted out. Time will tell with Liam, but without Colwill we need a centre back and a keeper.
3.) 11 Mar 2026 22:34:27
I will give our manager time.
I remember one poster wanting Maresca sacked after the disastrous pre-season results, before he had even managed a Premiership game.
I will judge him after a pre-season and a summer window. Probably towards the end of this year.
4.) 11 Mar 2026 23:14:52
What was it, Greenaway? Don't wet your knickers.
Anyway, I really can't see why there's been around 10 posts from you saying that Liam Rosonier is the problem. This is a near 2 billion pound squad that has the same issues and makes the same errors 4 years in a row. Until this strategy is shifted, this will unfortunately continue.
5.) 12 Mar 2026 08:53:24
Standard, I absolutely agree with you.
LR has been here 5 minutes, and the SDs have been here a few years too long, in my view.
Greenaway, I know you were in love with Maresca, but he wanted to leave and made it quite clear through the media that he was leaving.
What happens now? Maybe another squad rebuild, as we are, as Yom said, a trading club and the SDs like to see shiny new toys to play with.
We all knew our GKs were second class at best, and Greenaway, rather than change tactics to suit a GK to avoid his weakness, how about buying one who has no weakness.
6.) 12 Mar 2026 10:37:11
It would be madness to sack another manager now, and EM leaving was surely, as much if not more, his wanting this than the club's, given that EM had been talking to Juventus and City.
None of us chose LR, but there seemed not many alternatives given the timing and who was available, and at least he knew some of our players.
I do think he made an error last night in not giving Sanchez the game, as Sanchez had done so well against this opposition in New York and PSG, not an Arsenal wrestling set piece outfit.
So Sanchez's largely agreed-on shot-stopping ability, his strongest asset, is more useful and tested in CFC colours than PJ's.
Also, LR should have given Jorgensen license to hit the ball long, not do what Sanchez did so badly in terms of getting caught out when pressed with the ball at his feet. Too much clever fiddling around at the back, at great risk, last night. PJ's howler cost us not just the game but the shoulder-slumping disaster that has just about put the tie completely out of our reach. Having said that, it was a PJ howler, and he should have been aware of players around him and just booted the ball into the stands if needs be. 15 mins to go and still 2-2, for goodness' sake, and that scoreline suggests we had done pretty well up to then.
Hardly worth mentioning the other glaring weakness in the side, the lack of steady, headed, quality, experienced CBs. Still, I think TC did a fair bit better than the undoubtedly skilled but hardly calm-headed reader of the game, WF, though both were out of position on occasion. Partly perhaps cos Cucu is not yet back to his best, and Gusto was pushing forward a lot, with not much assistance from either Neto or Palmer.
Would just add that the French league gave PSG the weekend off, and perhaps next weekend as well. I don't know. But the depth of their squad and fresher legs were pretty evident in those final 15 minutes. Delap's poor shot when he had his sole chance was disappointing in terms of the backup striker quality needed. At least Lavia is not injured again yet!
Enough said. The main aim for the rest of this season is to qualify for the Champions League again, and hopefully have a more competitive squad in terms of chances in it and also in the EPL. Just a few more upgrades are needed, and we know where.
Meanwhile, another massive game against Newcastle this weekend.
7.) 12 Mar 2026 10:43:38
Sorry, it is next weekend; PSG have been given off, not last weekend, while we have another must-win game v Newcastle. PSG also play in a much easier league, which they have tended to dominate with ease in recent seasons, or certainly never having to struggle in a highly competitive league like ours for Champions League qualification.
8.) 12 Mar 2026 12:50:09
I really don't understand why Sanchez was dropped. Although he's not fantastic, I haven't seen Jorgensen have one convincing game.
9.) 12 Mar 2026 13:50:40
Neither are at the correct level to win big titles or play in the CL.
10.) 12 Mar 2026 15:05:10
Probably not, Londonscot, but perhaps Sanchez is the safer bet to pick v PSG, given he had happy memories of heroics against them, and, despite other faults, is a high quality shot stopper.
Yes, but expect almost all of us on here believe an upgrade on both is surely needed.
11.) 12 Mar 2026 13:56:08
Make no mistake about it, last night was all on Rosenior.
You can blame Jorgensen all you like but he is under instruction to play like that. We could have Donnarumma or Courtois in goal and they would still be asked to play like that. Its suicidal and it looks like its dumped our asses out of the Champions league before we have even got to the 2nd leg which is a travesty. Maresca binned it off and told Sanchez to go longer which actually saw Sanchez improve but since Rosenior has come in, he has reverted to this style of play which is unforgivable.
Ultimately, it will cost him his job. Very sad because we have some great players and play some good stuff but we are always let down by the suicidal rollocks at the back and that is down to Liam and if you look at how he set up at Straasbourg he had Penders so high up the pitch it is like old school "rush goalies" for any of you who are old enough to remember how we played them as kids.
12.) 12 Mar 2026 18:23:05
Win, lose or draw, every manager is responsible for the result.
As far as goalkeepers are concerned, buy Costa and have, in my opinion, the best keeper in Europe. Of course, Penders would then probably want to leave.
01 Mar 2026 19:49:36
Totally correct, Tom. Some on here get off on putting all things Chelsea down.
26 Jan 2026 14:00:37
ED01, there appears to be a lot of big clubs clamouring over the signature of the Rennes centre back Jacquet who is young with a price tag of over £50 million, is he as good as it being made out? and who is likely to sign him?
{Ed001's Note - I have never seen the lad play, I know one friend thinks he is brilliant, but he also thought Naby Keita would be great for Liverpool, so not sure what to think!! I thought he was set for Chelsea.}
24 Jan 2026 15:23:07
Thanks ED01, the fact that Liam was talking about him being such a good player made me wonder if he was back training.
{Ed001's Note - he could well be. They are allowed back in training in advance of the end of a ban anyway. They are given time to regain fitness.}
23 Jan 2026 11:20:27
That is really interesting ED01, thanks for your insight.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}
23 Jan 2026 10:27:33
Thanks ED01, that was a great piece and I had never considered all of those factors. Were you an ex pro or medical guy when you were in the UK?
{Ed001's Note - no mate, neither. Just an obsessive trainer and was living in an area with not many facilities to train, so everyone in the area ended up using the same things to train. I was swimming with Olympic swimmers in the run up to 2012 and had my daughter and her friends convinced that the gold postbox was put outside my house for the work I did coaching some of the Olympians. Even though it was me asking them for help with my swimming. They were only 11 though bless em.
What it meant was, the local football team had nowhere specific to train during the summer to keep fit and would end up at local gyms and school playing fields. On days off I would be out with dogs playing footie with them and they would join in for a kickabout initially. But they would always be intrigued as I would run them into the ground endurance wise and astonished that I would do that after a 12 hour shift at work. So I ended up just working with a lot of them on their training to get them fitter. I am talking League 1/2 level mostly. When it started they were still non-league and I had got friendly with their star player, who had to quit the team when they finally won promotion as he was a lawyer or barrister or something like that and couldn't cope with the pay cut he would have to take to play League 2! But it was him who started it as he struggled to maintain the fitness while working long hours, so he was interested in how I could have so much basic fitness.}
16 Mar 2026 15:38:11
I agree with Jimbo, the site is all about banter and having an opinion, Tom.
As far as the last 8 managers go, I was in favour of Conte, TT, Lamps and Maresca. I was against Sarri, Potter, Pochetino and Liam, so I guess I'm a 50:50.
16 Mar 2026 11:44:31
Bill, I totally agree with you about Liam. A caretaker role would have made sense, but to give him a 6 year contract was pure stupidity. With regard to the sporting directors, we don't really know who has been successful and who hasn't. I presume Paul Winstanley brought in Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella, so you could argue he has been a success.
On the other hand, I imagine Lawrence Stewart, having been in France at Monaco, brought in Disasi and Badiashille, who have not worked out.
16 Mar 2026 09:28:06
Revolving doors there, Bill.
15 Mar 2026 20:59:03
SteveCfc, when punters were calling for Maresca to be sacked, I pointed out that the grass is not always greener, and, as a club, we should do all we can to smooth things over until the end of the season and have a full review. I know a fair few who agreed with me as well. Sadly, that didn't happen and the club brought in Liam, who, as you rightly say, is so far out of his depth. We all know how this is going to end, and it will now impact next season as well, as the SD who made this foolish appointment won't want to back down and admit his mistake just yet.
Maresca would have found a way to win a pot and get top 4, in my opinion, but we could still have then parted company in the summer and brought in a high-level coach capable of delivering sustained success with this incredibly talented young group of players. But now, due to the terrible mismanagement of the situation, this will likely drift on until well into next season.
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?