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JBS's rumours posts with other poster's replies to JBS's rumours posts
01 Sep 2026 21:40:52
Strong rumour that we have just signed Camara on 6 yr deal for 47 million. Much hope it's true.
09 Feb 2026 17:40:42
Reports from ESPN Argentina suggesting that Chelsea is leading the race for Julian Alvarez. I would think he would be a great addition but not sure what others think? Could be great in combo with EF if EF stays -- and to be challengers for EPL surely we need him to?
Point though is that at 26 he may be seen as far too old by BlueCo plus on roughly same wages as Reece,
Would probably mean Jackson sold and Guiu or/and Delap sold or loaned?
1.) 09 Feb 2026 21:39:07
Dont think we’d pay the fee or the wages for him tbh and he's 10 years too old for BlueCo-
i would love him at the club tho think he's top class.
2.) 10 Feb 2026 00:55:49
Tris’ memory may be better on this but didn’t Alvarez say himself that he was hesitant on a return to England last year when Liverpool was reportedly interested? I was of the impression he didn’t settle very well when with Citeh.
Top class player so would be an awesome addition if he has warmed to the idea. Maybe the capital would be a better fit.
{Ed001's Note - it is his gf, she hated the weather and wanted to leave.}
3.) 10 Feb 2026 07:34:19
I honestly can’t remember seeing him play.
I can’t see us doing much business in the forward area in the summer, with the lad coming from Strasbourg. Anyway signing at centre half will probably depend on how Sarr and the lad now at Strasbourg do for the remainder of the season. I can see at least two CH’s being sold.
If they can get Lavia fit then I can only see us signing a midfielder if one of our current squad leaves.
4.) 10 Feb 2026 09:57:11
Tom
We can always get Kavia fit. The problem is he plays one game and then disappears for 6 months.
I agree some if the CH's need replacing but we also need to see how Colwill comes back first.
Like you, I think Guiu will leave which in my opinion will be a shame.
5.) 10 Feb 2026 12:07:45
Bill, I haven’t said that Guiu will leave but my guess is he will go on loan, maybe to Strasbourg.
6.) 10 Feb 2026 13:14:01
Tom
He might decide that he wants a permanent move to another club rather than a loan.
7.) 10 Feb 2026 14:29:47
Maybe Bill.
8.) 10 Feb 2026 17:04:43
Looking out of my window at the moment I can see where Alvarez' s girlfroend is coming from in terms of the weather! But London a bit better in this respect than the N/W of England perhaps.
9.) 10 Feb 2026 21:57:50
I'm in the north west of england and i really don't understand the weather thing. I got more rainfall a year in Brisbane Australia. Plus when it rained in aus, it actually rained. Here I can walk to work in the 'rain' and ill be dry. Makes no sense to me lol.
10.) 11 Feb 2026 16:33:21
Perhaps just a wee bit warmer in Brisbane even in heavy rain than in the N/W of England in light drizzle at this time of year Standard?! . Lol.
11.) 11 Feb 2026 17:02:28
Too hot, atleast for me JBS :)
12.) 12 Feb 2026 22:21:16
Statistically there is more rainfall in Paris than London; so that rules out a move to PSG for Alveraz. If I was him I would buy the girlfriend an umbrella and a raincoat and tell her to get a job.
11 Feb 2025 17:12:45
Does anyone - perghaps one of the Eds? - know whether there is any truth in the rumour that CFC may be wanting/ willing to sell Santos in the summer to the highest bidder for 'pure profit?
I hope it isn't true - and that is just paper news stiirring things up - given AS's great performances for Strasbourg and of course for Brazil youth teams. He seems to have worldy potential. Also because one fears that Lavia may never be fit for very long.
{Ed001's Note - I don't know about wanting, but they will sell him if the right offer comes along. You could probably say the same about any of the players to be honest, from what I have heard.}
1.) 11 Feb 2025 17:41:48
JBS, there was a rumour pre January window that a club (no name given) was prepared to offer £160m for Palmer.
I personally don’t like the term commodities to describe a person but that’s how I think they are considered.
2.) 11 Feb 2025 18:30:50
And that's why Tom, we will not be successful. We needed a settled squad to grow together.
If we wanted to sell players, I would put the ones who are forever injured, first.
3.) 11 Feb 2025 19:42:42
Bill, you may well be correct but it’s not as if we didn’t buy and sell players under the RA ownership.
All clubs get injuries but it’s when the same players keep getting injured it becomes a concern. As I said a few weeks ago, it’s a tough decision to draw stumps on a players Chelsea career but making those decisions is why they get paid the big bucks.
4.) 11 Feb 2025 20:46:50
Tom yes players have been commodities for a long time now in terms of being traded by clubs. What worries me with new owners is that this trading has not only been surcharged in terms of volume but also that it does not seem to have prioritised creating a winning side any time soon. Instead it's become as much if not more about trading for for bottom line accounting sake. We sell Gallagher and buy Felix to then loan him out. Maresca belatedly says he wanted to keep him and perhaps he did but then why give him so little EPL game time? We buy Veiga then sideline Chilwell then loan out Veiga removing cover for Cucurella at LB then spend money on bringing in a 16 yr old striker from Kazakhstan. An investment in the future? Vision 2030 again? Who knows but how about 2025?
I can just see so little logic in far too much of our transfer business.
Was loaning out Santos in CFC interest or other owners' club Strasbourg?
Is Sanchez who Poch didn't particularly rate better than Petrovich who he did but then gets loaned to Strasbourg where he shines?
Bottom line is do the new owners care as much about success on the pitch as Roman A. Or more about success with the bottom line in accounting terms itself
Yes but do they not know that GETTING ECL football would likely do more for bottom. line playersvhan tradingng in kids?
5.) 11 Feb 2025 21:16:08
Really good points JBS.
6.) 11 Feb 2025 22:07:58
JBS, I have said many times that in my opinion the owners have gone too quickly in taking on what is a complete rebuild of not only the first team squad but also the supporting structure but I will maintain that the club was overdue that restructuring.
I am absolutely convinced that our current owners not only care about success but also crave it. I cannot for one moment believe that they don’t want to increase the value of there investment and the best way to do that is to be consistent winners and habitual champions league qualifiers.
I’m not sure I like the idea of buying/ investing in 16 year old kids but that is a different subject. In the last window I think the spuds signed three (one from us) academy players from other clubs. As is often the case clubs act like sheep and it would appear that a significant percentage of clubs are looking more and more at youth as the way forward. Maybe it’s a PSR thing but as I said in a recent post how many premiership clubs have paid a transfer fee for a player over the age of 25 in this last window? I’m struggling to think of any!
Time will tell if the owners approach pays dividends but generally in the world of football ownership these are early days and remember they made a complete horlicks of virtually everything at the beginning of there tenure.
7.) 12 Feb 2025 10:05:38
Tom
I agree that we have sold youngsters in the past. However, we had a large number of experienced players as a nucleus of our first team.
Likewise, other teams are bringing in youth as you say., However, they have a number of experience in their first team squad, that is the difference.
8.) 12 Feb 2025 10:55:38
Bill. I’m not saying that the current trend is correct or that having a mixture of youth and experience wouldn’t be a better way to go. I’m just pointing out what appears to be a pattern.
9.) 12 Feb 2025 11:59:18
Spot on Bill we have got rid of all our experienced players bar James - and some sidelined on loan.
Belayted thanks Ed001 for your comment and Tom I am sure the owners want the club to succeed as they have made a huge investment in it but one is questioning whether they've got the right ideas about achieving this in last few seasons where we crying out to have experience in key -spine of team of you like - positions alongside youth. Look, with right decisions in the summer - and if we have qualified for ECL so we can attract the best we need eg top striker and retain the best we have - we could move faster in right direction.
Right now and with ECL v far from guaranteed my feeling is our medium term fate in the balance. It could all go well with ECL qualification and good summer transfer dealings. But if we don't get ECL qualification perhaps we will have to sell the likes of Santos or - as you have suggested - even Palmer and it will feel like a struggle all obver again to get back to chgallenging for big trophies and to have really got 'our Chelsea back' that we were singing lustily in the Southampton away game.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome JBS. I do think I should point out that you might have different ideas about what success is than the owners though. They are looking at it as an investment to make money, I am not so sure they see success on the pitch as all that vital. Which I disagree with personally, but it does seem that it is about trading players to make a profitable enterprise, rather than about putting the best players possible on the pitch to win trophies.}
10.) 12 Feb 2025 12:15:59
Good point to emphasise Ed001 and thanks for it. Yes if owners care more about trading to gain profit rather than success on the pitch - though you would think that they should realise success on the pitch would help with profits and dealings - then we have to be very worried as fans.
{Ed001's Note - these are not football people though JBS, they are investors who are new to the sport and see it from an American sports perspective. US sports franchises are money-making machines regardless of results.}
11.) 12 Feb 2025 12:16:55
JBS, I haven’t suggested we will sell Palmer, I have said there was “rumoured interest. ”
I keep saying and this is only my view that the players are a commodity and I believe we have to get used to our favourite players being available for sale.
I also assume that the club will make more revenue if it wins trophies and that’s why I think our current owners would also like to win competitions.
12.) 12 Feb 2025 14:14:17
Tom I think we all hope you are right. But what do you think of ED001's additional point - one it is hard to disagree with from myn perspective - that our woners are not footballing people ie so may not have the passion that owners who are have for success on the pitch above all?
13.) 12 Feb 2025 15:31:10
JBS, as usual us fans are only guessing but they are a very rich group of people who seem to have a passion for sports investments and making money.
I have no idea if they are truly in love with “soccer” but my guess is they are truly in love with money. Again just me guessing but if they win trophies with Chelsea for example the potential increases in revenues are huge. The club also becomes globally more appealing if it wins trophies and that again brings in more revenue.
14.) 15 Feb 2025 07:01:24
I have been screaming on here that boely and Co are not working to make Chelsea great again on the pitch winning games. I said that the club had been hijacked and might never be the same again but tomb and likes were there deceiving themselves with plenty talks.
The policy of buying only young players is just the profits from the sale and not to get the club back on top boely and Co were the worst possible owners from the bidders but the enemies of the club who taken the political advantage of the war in Ukraine chose them to Bury the club overtime. Roman was targeted and I still think he might return to the club again.
15.) 04 Mar 2025 11:43:24
Tussle, I have always assumed that if there is football success then the value of the owners investment will improve.
I have also assumed that any investment has been made to achieve a profit and that includes the buying and selling of players.
Pre our present owners I have also referred to players (same at most clubs) as commodities.
03 Feb 2025 17:12:48
Seems as though we may still be paying half of Chilly's wages at Palace (ie 100, 000 of the 200, 000 pounds per week) .
1.) 03 Feb 2025 17:54:04
I suppose the alternative was to pay him full wages and get splinters. Personally I would have kept him in the squad as Cucarella cover.
2.) 03 Feb 2025 18:13:03
Tom
Maresca would not have played him even if we only had nine players to choose from, that's how stubborn the man is.
3.) 03 Feb 2025 19:21:25
I'd have kept him in the squad and played him Tom. His experience surely useful to youngsters.
4.) 03 Feb 2025 20:15:23
It's just bad business imo. Surely at that point you'd just keep him? This is another thing that annoys me with the 7 year contracts. What happens when this happens and the player still has 5 years remaining on x wage? The bomb squad didn't work, just had adverse affects imo.
Sad to see chilly go, injury prone but when fit the best left back in the epl imo.
5.) 03 Feb 2025 23:16:16
I would have kept Chilly as cover only for Cucarella. I think fans should remember how bad Cucarella was when he joined our club and for whatever reason it took him time to find his feet. In my opinion he is now one of the best left sided defenders in Europe and a long way in front of Chilly.
6.) 04 Feb 2025 08:41:08
I agree tom. I think he put in some of the worst chelsea performances ever, worse than bakayoko. He's fantastic now.
7.) 04 Feb 2025 09:15:47
He is a very good example (me included) of why its beat not to rush to judge.
8.) 04 Feb 2025 17:55:58
Absolutely tom. And I do think you told me that when I was criticising his performances. Very glad he was able to find some performances, and he's exceeding my expectations.
9.) 06 Feb 2025 08:38:59
Cucurella was always a good player but did put in some bad performances as did many of the squad. However, I am a great believer in the saying “ You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”.
10.) 06 Feb 2025 09:07:40
But you can make a sows ear out of a silk purse!
11.) 11 Feb 2025 09:09:09
I disagree that cucurella is a long way in front of Chilwell. Chilwell is better in offensive position, final third.
03 Feb 2025 15:24:14
Is Felix likely to be sold or loaned to AC Milan? Is Disasi likely now to stay at the Bridge?
1.) 03 Feb 2025 15:45:23
Loan with no buy option for Felix.
2.) 03 Feb 2025 16:52:22
While i liked felix, every man and his dog knew it wasn't going to work. A favour for his agent, I suspect.
3.) 03 Feb 2025 16:53:06
So with Felix and Veiga going to Italy on straight loans, if they do well, come the end of the season it will be 'they want to stay in Italy and play for us but we can't afford to buy them, how about another loan'.
Before we know it we have more littke Lukaku's running across Italy.
We never learn with Italian clubs, we are their charity organisation.
4.) 03 Feb 2025 17:09:43
The reports I’m reading on Felix seem to be so different. One is saying straight loan with full wages paid plus €6.5m loan fee. I would be happy with that.
5.) 03 Feb 2025 18:13:59
And another loan next year Tom?
6.) 03 Feb 2025 19:28:47
Talksport reporting 5 million loan fee for Felix but Milan paying his wages. I enjoyed watching him and wonder if we really gave him a chance. Suppose if he does well at Milan we will just sell him or indeed loan him out again.
7.) 03 Feb 2025 20:17:54
Unfortunately I don't think there's a way back for felix. There wasn't a spot for him 6 months ago and there won't be one 6 months from now. Great player on his day and I hope he reaches atleast half what his potential was.
8.) 03 Feb 2025 23:18:20
I think it depends what happens to Palmer. If a ridiculous offer comes in for CP, Felix would be a reasonable replacement.
9.) 04 Feb 2025 15:24:30
Bill, they’re paying £5m as a loan fee for 6 months so if they want a loan for the whole season next year it’s £10m. Easy money and would count as a profit for the year in the accounts as his amortisation fee is around £7-8m I believe.
With Veiga Chelsea only paid £12m for him and are getting £4m as a loan fee. Any Italian club could afford to buy him at the end of the season easily, but I’m sure the club would love to keep farming him out on loan if that’s the fee they’ll get for just 6 months given the massive profit.
10.) 04 Feb 2025 18:18:36
fuser, good point and good economics.
JBS's banter posts with other poster's replies to JBS's banter posts
04 Oct 2026 12:50:31
So we had a behind closed gates friendly versus Posrtsmouth yesterday, obviously without our international duty players and probably some of the injured left behind, and lost 0-2. Perhaps meabs little but certainly suggests not great strength in squad depth and one suspects that some of the previously injured - like Palestra - may have been involved but who knows.
The predicted (unconfirmed) CFC lineup v Portsmouth yesterday was not a hugely weak one on paper:
Predicted Chelsea XI to face Portsmouth (3-4-3): Sharman-Lowe; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill; Palestra, Caicedo, Henderson, Chavarria; Paez, Welbeck, Emegha.
1.) 04 Oct 2026 14:47:33
JBS, thanks for the info mate. Holly Molly that is a poor result.
2.) 05 Oct 2026 07:45:19
Only Palestra and Emegha got a run out. The rest was mainly under 18 and the better ones were away themslves at their levels so nothing to report here.
3.) 05 Oct 2026 10:21:10
Do you know how either Palestra or Emegha looked EbW?
4.) 05 Oct 2026 10:43:46
No idea mate, behind closed doors. Just a training session.
5.) 06 Oct 2026 09:03:04
I see it as a poor result with the team we put out. I personally do not believe it's ok to lose any game and all training sessions should have intensity. Bad habits start on the training ground.
What do you think Ed?
{Ed001's Note - without knowing What the plan was impossible to say. The year LFC won the league under Klopp I seem to remember losing every pre-season friendly,
6.) 06 Oct 2026 11:00:15
Chelsea lost 2-0 to Portsmouth in a closed-doors friendly at Cobham on Saturday 3 October, but Xabi Alonso's priorities were recovery, tactical work and youth development rather than the scoreline.
Alonso used the Portsmouth friendly to work on three priorities
Football. london reported that the Blues were beaten by the Championship side during the three-week international break. With a number of senior players away on international duty, the match was treated primarily as a training exercise, not a competitive fixture.
That distinction matters. The result is still a defeat, but this was a chance for Alonso to get useful work done away from the pressure of a league match. Chelsea's squad-management challenge makes those quieter sessions important, particularly when injuries and international call-ups leave the group looking different from week to week.
The first objective was to step up recovery for several injured players. Tactical work was another, while the game also gave younger players the opportunity to feature alongside first-teamers. Those are three clear reasons for arranging the exercise; the 2-0 scoreline was not the measure Alonso was using.
The youth element is worth watching. Alonso has previously indicated that teenagers can be called on when the squad is short, naming Madhi Nicoll-Jazuli, Geo Quenda and Estevao as players who have trained with the group. A friendly like this gives young players experience in a senior setting without pretending that one appearance guarantees a place in the next competitive side.
It also gives the manager space for tactical work, though there is no confirmed formation or line-up from this match. Chelsea's tactical development under Alonso is a bigger question than whether a particular shape was used at Cobham. The primary report suggested the break offered an opportunity to improve the defence, not that a specific change had already been settled.
The defensive record gives that work real urgency. At the time of the report, Chelsea had conceded 12 goals in five Premier League games, the most in the division, and had let in at least twice in every league match. They had also conceded three against Leeds in the Carabao Cup. A friendly cannot fix that on its own, but it can help Alonso test ideas and prepare the players who will need to execute them.
There was also an uncertain fitness picture. Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Reece James and Marco Palestra had all had injury issues and may have featured in some capacity, but their involvement was not confirmed. Joao Pedro had withdrawn from Brazil's squad with a knee problem and was understood to be seeing a specialist, while Jamie Gittens had suffered an issue with England Under-21s and left the stadium on crutches. None should be assumed to have played against Portsmouth.
We should judge the session by whether it helped players build fitness, sharpen the tactical work and gave younger Blues useful exposure. That does not make the defensive numbers disappear, and a 2-0 loss is hardly a confidence-boosting result. But the primary report is clear that this should not be assessed like a competitive fixture.
Alonso's league start had included wins over Fulham and Brighton, defeats to Arsenal and Brentford, and a draw with Hull City; Chelsea were 10th after five league matches. The next proper test comes at Stamford Bridge against Bournemouth on Saturday 10 October. The point is not to assume the friendly produced a particular change, but to see whether any of its work carries into the league.
7.) 06 Oct 2026 13:20:26
The "so called" Alonso priorities do not align with mine.
I am a fan of coaches who make every minute in training or friendlies a must win atmosphere.
8.) 06 Oct 2026 13:26:51
Are you not a fan of Alonso.
9.) 06 Oct 2026 14:16:51
I sincerely hope the 2-0 loss does not hmget carried forward into the Bournemouth game.
At the moment we are wide open and any decent team will score a hateful of goals against us.
10.) 06 Oct 2026 14:24:30
Bill, I think Tom is right and Alonso needs to go if we lose the next few games. Clearly not got the right Chelsea attitude if he is not trrating things serulious.
11.) 06 Oct 2026 17:09:06
I have never suggested Alonso should "go" now or a few games in the future.
I always support our managers and I always give them time (usually a season or maybe two) to prove their worth.
I have only expressed how I prefer my team to train and play. I firmly believe that playing a game is a replication of training.
Train hard, play hard.
12.) 07 Oct 2026 09:19:07
4 at the back anybody?
13.) 07 Oct 2026 09:19:36
And back to man marking at set pieces.
14.) 07 Oct 2026 09:27:20
Bill, I hope we go to four at the back and three in midfield.
15.) 07 Oct 2026 09:57:37
So do I.
25 Sep 2026 17:22:52
FA finally announced that City is guilty on most of the 115 charges.
But City still saying they are not guilty of anything so appeal likely - and could take a long time too you'd think.
But punishment could be serious.
1.) 25 Sep 2026 18:20:21
Invesrigations started in 2018.the tribunal finally challenged with coming to a verdict took 3 years. how long will the appeal. process take or given that City offered no assistance in aiding the investigation can the FA ensure it is swift?
Not sure if you Ed001 have any idea what might happen?
{Ed001's Note - it really could be anything but unfortunately I expect Citeh to appeal first and so it might yet be more years before any punishment. Being as they were found guilty of pretty much everything, it will have to be a big punishment. They can't go with fines, it has to be points deductions or automatic removal from the Prem or face a problem with the whole rest of the league wanting to sue for damages etc. I really can't see them stripping titles, even if that should be also part of the punishment.}
2.) 25 Sep 2026 22:07:39
Many thanks Ed001 and think you are very likely to be proved righr.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate.}
16 Sep 2026 22:44:52
So it's away v Liverpool in. 4th round of Carabao Cup.
1.) 17 Sep 2026 09:54:33
That will be an interesting game with both teams yet to find full form and both with new managers.
2.) 18 Sep 2026 10:04:44
Yes it should be interesting Tom and hopefully by then both Caicedo and Palestra will be fit.
13 Sep 2026 18:58:45
Which of our defenders really love to defend? And/or who really can right now?
Lacroix I think relishes a duel and perhaps Fofana. Both playing ok so far as generally has Josh. LC well below his best before his injury. Hato up and down. Our opponents to date have all had joy down our left side.
We miss Cucurella?
Then there is the matter of wanting a proper cover the ground shield in front of the...and Elliott Anderson type...we need to bring in on January if possible to help out Caicedo.
But think many also think we need to move to 4 at the back too?
1.) 13 Sep 2026 21:41:17
Or could we play James like the Gooners play Rice.
2.) 13 Sep 2026 22:39:48
Jbs, I'm not sure what is going wrong, our defenders look so lightweight and error prone at the present.
James can't play like Arsenal play Rice because Reece isn't a midfielder and shouldn't start as one. We have one of the weakest double pivots in the Premier League at the moment.
3.) 14 Sep 2026 07:07:00
I think James will eventually play in the centre of a three man midfield.
4.) 14 Sep 2026 11:18:29
Seems none of us is very sure of the answer, though Tom favours a three-man midfield. Yes, and I agree, Jimbo, that Caicedo's injury, plus not bringing in a replacement for EF, has not provided a DM pivot of sufficient strength to protect our, anyway, a bit lightweight and mistake-making defenders.
One problem might be that, perhaps understandably (given, yet again for us, he is a new manager wanting to look at the range of his players in competitive situations), Alonso has been changing his back 3 and sometimes wingbacks - only Neto on the right seems (rightly) pretty consistent first choice - and he needs more settled combinations there.
But then the problem has been that the likes of LC have fallen off so badly in form, and that, together with Cucurella leaving, has meant a relatively weak left side, easily exploited by opponents. Palestra, when fit, may be deployed there, you'd think, and perhaps Chiavarra is best fitted to play there until that happens.
But the benefit of not playing in Europe ought to mean Alonso is less in need of rotation - only changes forced by injury - and should be able to pick a first-choice 11 capable of starting every EPL game. But whether he still needs to tweak his formation is perhaps the question.
5.) 14 Sep 2026 12:36:41
JBS, so much depends on the shape Alonso eventually prefers.
I think Chiavarra looks useful, and I also think Palestra is going to surprise a lot of fans, but are they better as WBs or FBs?
As I have said before, if we play three at the back, I still think we need three in midfield, and that means one of the front three (Roger's or Palmer) can't play.
I prefer 433 because we can then have wide players, but does that also leave room for Palmer?
I think we have to play Palmer, even though he sometimes does my brain in, but he is a class player, and us fans love to see that bit of magic.
Maybe the choice is Roger's or Palmer.
Anyway, that's why Alonso gets paid the big bucks. In my opinion, he has tough choices to make, and some of those choices will not be popular.
6.) 14 Sep 2026 13:17:52
I have also been worried about Palmer's up and down-ness within games and between them. Neither he nor Rogers offer much by way of tackling to help us defensively, though they are trying to press when opposition have the ball. But dropping one of them when they click so well together, and often with Jaoa Pedro too, may damage our attack.
So it may be that we need to move to four at the back, with two really good up and down lb and rb, then three in the middle who can tackle.
Or get a far stronger defensive duo pivot, plus our CBs need to focus better, toughen up, and play more often together.
But I'm not sure, and this is why Alonso is paid big bucks to make tough decisions. Just hope he can get it right and that Caicedo and Palestra are back fit after the international break.
7.) 14 Sep 2026 20:57:43
That's a good question JBS, we so miss a JT, a hero for this club the way he put his body on the line. With what we currently have, I would say go a back 4 and keep it tight, with 2 holders, and bring in a 4th forward which gets Estevao on the pitch.
I would go something like this when all fit and ready.
Martinez
James
LaCroix
Levi
Palestra
Henderson
Caicedo
Estevao
Palmer
Rogers
Pedro.
11 Sep 2026 14:21:44
Interesting Rest is Football podcast with Kieran Maguire - football finance expert - that included him giving his opinion to Gary and Alan on the 115 charges v Man City. He could only be sure that City would be found guilty of not co- operating. but that would just mean a fine.
The financial misdemeanour charges
Are potentially far more serious of course and according to Maguire could if proven amount to City being guilty of Corporate Fraud. He gave one. example which was that City had declated Mancini's salary at only 2 million - but Mancini had recieved a further 2 million for just 4 days coaching at a UAE academy with City links.
The problem is whether in absence of anyone at City willing to give evidence it may be difficult to reach level of supportive evidence required
to prove fraud. Though there are tens of thousands of documents already accumulated.
When asked how long it might take for verdict to eventually be given he said in fraud cases this usually can take '2 to 3 years'. If this process only started at end of 2024 it might mean the verdict cpuld come between Dec 2026 and 2027 perhaps?
1.) 11 Sep 2026 15:01:52
No doubt that total fraud of manager Pochetino will demand Spursy are given every title Man City won during this period. ?
22 Oct 2026 10:09:21
Very sad indeed that Reece's injury woes continue and that he needs surgery.
Even sadder of course if this means Reece cannot continue to play a significant role as a RW at CFC - he would surely be v low in pecking order as a midfielder if only especially another is brought in whether eg Scott or Camara - but perhaps that is now the case. Could be that you are right though Bill and that if there is still a chance that he could he should retire from international dutyand his game time be carefully managed - but G8 point taken about quite where he would play and/or be a starter.
Can only also wish Reece well of course. His skill and game vision when at his best has been wonderful to watch.
02 Sep 2026 10:29:55
Agree with you, swcfc.
02 Sep 2026 02:41:37
Very, very bad news. Why did this happen... Why did we leave it so late to try to do the deal? Left us so thin in midfield.
01 Sep 2026 18:17:51
Very worrying indeed if we can't bring in either Kone or Camara, given Lavia's and James' injury histories, plus Caicedo's recent injury. We all saw how we had absolutely no midfield control v either Fulham or, even more so, Brighton. And we have Arsenal on Sunday.
01 Sep 2026 16:45:59
Thanks CFC1221, presumably Fernandez deal has to be certain before any midfielder incoming is possible. But a tense finale to deadline day seems quite likely.
28 Oct 2026 22:39:54
Josh was good and several others with little game time like Palestra and Barco looled ok when on.
Neto excellent yet again and CFC playernnof the season thus far for me.
But what is happening with the non- playing of Estevao? Fact he wasn't given game time tonight extraordinary and worrying.
28 Oct 2026 22:23:45
And of course given it went to. penalties v Liverpool yet again we did. Though Emegha and Fofana (headless as ever) penalties dreadful and not sure why Emegha put under pressure to take a potentially decisive one. Also not sure why Estevao given no game time at all. being sold in January? or.?
27 Oct 2026 11:32:30
And what of Estevao? Rumous strengthening now that he may be off to PSG in January though whether in a sale or on loan I am not sure. Would seem to me to be a huge mistake to sell him. Hope he gets game time - perhaps as Palmer replacement with Lavia coming in for Hendo or rested Caicedo - tomorrow night. So far Estevao has not had a single start for us and brought on - if at all - as a very late substitute. A formation problem for us? But we know he has so much talent and to my mind - but will be shot down for this - may be better than Rogers and Palmer in some games or at least should come on for one or other of them - and earlier than his recent short cameos - if they are not firing as Rogers wasn't v Spurs.
For me winning the United game on saturday more important though woud be wonderful of course to win bith games and really fell our season back on track again.
But we seem to be back where we've been for some time in terms of GK and striker quuetions. Mainly because Penders so young and relatively untested at top level (and ow just made that huge blunder v Spurs) and Pedro by far and away our best but perhaps only real EPL can p;ay for 90 mins quality striker. Rogers and Palmer looked lost with him as a pivot upfront v Spurs.
Plus there is also the formation question and our pretty continual lack of control in midfield though we did look better in thsi respect v Everton. and Bournemouth. But did we have as much as 40% possession at home v Spurs? Not first half I reckon.
23 Oct 2026 10:58:14
Good posts all and completely empathise with them. Thanks Jimbo for trying to get some attention to this at PM level! Do update us if you get any response.
07 Oct 2026 09:58:12
Completely agree Micky and welcome to the site.