Every team now will treat us a serious threat after the beat down we handed PSG. Baying for blood, looking at the World Champions badge on the shirt for the next four seasons will be irritating for them.
We have to be ready for the challenge from day 1.
This team undoubtedly gives us the best chance through the season -
Sanchez
Acheampong Colwill
James Caicedo Enzo
Palmer Estevao Pedro Gittens
Jackson
Santos, George, Chalobah, Essugo, Delap, Lavia, Badiashile, Gusto, potentially Nkunku raring to go at one's disposal... They won't know whats hit them.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gtti0o6XQAAOGFa?format=jpg&name=large
Four London derbies in-a-row to begin with.
8 out of 10 opening Premier League fixtures in London.
Good that we wont have to do much traveling as it stands, until we find out about Champions League fixtures in between.
With success comes a huge target on your bk
posted on 21/7/25
comment by フレッド - #TWENTYTIMES (U3979)
posted 11 minutes ago
wtf is that lineup
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I cant work it out, is he saying play 2 at the back in a
2341 formation?????
posted on 21/7/25
The question is whether Chelsea can sustain it over a season. They ran out of gas pretty early and had to do a recovery at the end to make the CL. The reliance on youth very much lends itself to that kind of handicap.
posted on 21/7/25
comment by Afc DL (U21076)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
The question is whether Chelsea can sustain it over a season. They ran out of gas pretty early and had to do a recovery at the end to make the CL. The reliance on youth very much lends itself to that kind of handicap.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing to do with players gassing at all.
Bad run from December to March was more to do with the implementation of the chosen Maresca style of play, set up, tactics the turgid, insipid football it produced and the inflexibility or willingness of the manager to change things in any way.
Similar to how things went at Leicester in that respect, but with us the constant playing players in positions that didn't work, or a set up that imo just didn't get the best out of the more creative players available.
That was the biggest criticism of the manager for me personally, but, positively clear signs at the end of the season and ECL Final & Club World Cup that he is willing to adapt.
Certainly more than happy that he gets the chance to continue next season happy with the new additions so far and optimistic that football will be more progressive and enjoyable.
posted on 21/7/25
comment by CNB III (U23232)
posted 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
comment by Afc DL (U21076)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
The question is whether Chelsea can sustain it over a season. They ran out of gas pretty early and had to do a recovery at the end to make the CL. The reliance on youth very much lends itself to that kind of handicap.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing to do with players gassing at all.
Bad run from December to March was more to do with the implementation of the chosen Maresca style of play, set up, tactics the turgid, insipid football it produced and the inflexibility or willingness of the manager to change things in any way.
Similar to how things went at Leicester in that respect, but with us the constant playing players in positions that didn't work, or a set up that imo just didn't get the best out of the more creative players available.
That was the biggest criticism of the manager for me personally, but, positively clear signs at the end of the season and ECL Final & Club World Cup that he is willing to adapt.
Certainly more than happy that he gets the chance to continue next season happy with the new additions so far and optimistic that football will be more progressive and enjoyable.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree with this comment strongly. Nail on the head.
posted on 22/7/25
comment by CNB III (U23232)
posted 22 hours, 18 minutes ago
comment by Afc DL (U21076)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
The question is whether Chelsea can sustain it over a season. They ran out of gas pretty early and had to do a recovery at the end to make the CL. The reliance on youth very much lends itself to that kind of handicap.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing to do with players gassing at all.
Bad run from December to March was more to do with the implementation of the chosen Maresca style of play, set up, tactics the turgid, insipid football it produced and the inflexibility or willingness of the manager to change things in any way.
Similar to how things went at Leicester in that respect, but with us the constant playing players in positions that didn't work, or a set up that imo just didn't get the best out of the more creative players available.
That was the biggest criticism of the manager for me personally, but, positively clear signs at the end of the season and ECL Final & Club World Cup that he is willing to adapt.
Certainly more than happy that he gets the chance to continue next season happy with the new additions so far and optimistic that football will be more progressive and enjoyable.
--------------------------------------------------------
Marseca's redeeming point is he's tactically switched on. His preferred choice of style isn't to my liking & I wouldn't bet on this changing, but I trust him when it comes to preparation & ultimately getting results as the squad becomes more tailored to it.
I liked Poch but when I think about traits in manager's who've served us well over the last 20 years, a recurring theme is them being a step up tactically over the competition - Mourinho, Conte, Tuchel, even Benitez. Marseca's not the league's alpha tactician yet, daddy Pep's still his superior for a start, but I could definitely see him growing into that on present evidence.
posted on 22/7/25
comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by CNB III (U23232)
posted 22 hours, 18 minutes ago
comment by Afc DL (U21076)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
The question is whether Chelsea can sustain it over a season. They ran out of gas pretty early and had to do a recovery at the end to make the CL. The reliance on youth very much lends itself to that kind of handicap.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing to do with players gassing at all.
Bad run from December to March was more to do with the implementation of the chosen Maresca style of play, set up, tactics the turgid, insipid football it produced and the inflexibility or willingness of the manager to change things in any way.
Similar to how things went at Leicester in that respect, but with us the constant playing players in positions that didn't work, or a set up that imo just didn't get the best out of the more creative players available.
That was the biggest criticism of the manager for me personally, but, positively clear signs at the end of the season and ECL Final & Club World Cup that he is willing to adapt.
Certainly more than happy that he gets the chance to continue next season happy with the new additions so far and optimistic that football will be more progressive and enjoyable.
--------------------------------------------------------
Marseca's redeeming point is he's tactically switched on. His preferred choice of style isn't to my liking & I wouldn't bet on this changing, but I trust him when it comes to preparation & ultimately getting results as the squad becomes more tailored to it.
I liked Poch but when I think about traits in manager's who've served us well over the last 20 years, a recurring theme is them being a step up tactically over the competition - Mourinho, Conte, Tuchel, even Benitez. Marseca's not the league's alpha tactician yet, daddy Pep's still his superior for a start, but I could definitely see him growing into that on present evidence.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To be honest personally didn't see much evidence of him being tactically switched on during that appalling run December to March. In fact I would say the opposite as tactics were clearly not working but just persisted regardless.
Possibly with the players available was reluctant to step away tactic and set up that we thought would best get results but for me was kind of banging his head against a brick wall at times.
I think things improved since March in that respect though so credit there where due.
Can only really think of two games where, imo, he got things tactically wrong since then, the first being the set up against Newcastle away (yeah realise that NJ didn't help the situation) and the second being the first half of the ECL Final.
Did rectify things though with some tweaks at half time so as i mentioned promising signs that he is not as inflexible as maybe appeared last season at times.
the tactical plan against PSG was an absolute masterclass so nothing but admiration there.
Definitely positive signs so very much looking forward to next season.
posted on 22/7/25
comment by CNB III (U23232)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by CNB III (U23232)
posted 22 hours, 18 minutes ago
comment by Afc DL (U21076)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
The question is whether Chelsea can sustain it over a season. They ran out of gas pretty early and had to do a recovery at the end to make the CL. The reliance on youth very much lends itself to that kind of handicap.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing to do with players gassing at all.
Bad run from December to March was more to do with the implementation of the chosen Maresca style of play, set up, tactics the turgid, insipid football it produced and the inflexibility or willingness of the manager to change things in any way.
Similar to how things went at Leicester in that respect, but with us the constant playing players in positions that didn't work, or a set up that imo just didn't get the best out of the more creative players available.
That was the biggest criticism of the manager for me personally, but, positively clear signs at the end of the season and ECL Final & Club World Cup that he is willing to adapt.
Certainly more than happy that he gets the chance to continue next season happy with the new additions so far and optimistic that football will be more progressive and enjoyable.
--------------------------------------------------------
Marseca's redeeming point is he's tactically switched on. His preferred choice of style isn't to my liking & I wouldn't bet on this changing, but I trust him when it comes to preparation & ultimately getting results as the squad becomes more tailored to it.
I liked Poch but when I think about traits in manager's who've served us well over the last 20 years, a recurring theme is them being a step up tactically over the competition - Mourinho, Conte, Tuchel, even Benitez. Marseca's not the league's alpha tactician yet, daddy Pep's still his superior for a start, but I could definitely see him growing into that on present evidence.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To be honest personally didn't see much evidence of him being tactically switched on during that appalling run December to March. In fact I would say the opposite as tactics were clearly not working but just persisted regardless.
Possibly with the players available was reluctant to step away tactic and set up that we thought would best get results but for me was kind of banging his head against a brick wall at times.
I think things improved since March in that respect though so credit there where due.
Can only really think of two games where, imo, he got things tactically wrong since then, the first being the set up against Newcastle away (yeah realise that NJ didn't help the situation) and the second being the first half of the ECL Final.
Did rectify things though with some tweaks at half time so as i mentioned promising signs that he is not as inflexible as maybe appeared last season at times.
the tactical plan against PSG was an absolute masterclass so nothing but admiration there.
Definitely positive signs so very much looking forward to next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chopper's New Boots. You are bang on the money there. I hope moving forward that he can see the benefits of doing what is effective (even against the very best and most daunting opposition in town!!) and what was clearly not. What is it that they say that the definition of madness is, to keep trying to do what has failed many times before and expecting the results to turn out differently. I was dreading that he was going to approach that final with that turgid football that you described, which would have been suicidal against them.
He is a relatively young manager and he is clearly on a learning curve and after his brilliant tactical plans to combat PSG I am very optimistic that he will take the lessons onboard and regularly apply them in the future.
posted on 22/7/25
He is a relatively young manager and he is clearly on a learning curve and after his brilliant tactical plans to combat PSG I am very optimistic that he will take the lessons onboard and regularly apply them in the future.
------------------------
Totally agree with you, maybe i'm a little harsh when you consider his relative lack of experience as a manager but would just love to see a period of stability at the club and for a team to evolve and progress along with the manager.
Hope he gives himself the best chance of doing that.
posted on 22/7/25
tbh his intransigence in not trying to prevent Sanchez putting the opposition forwards in, week after week was annoying the hell out of me, and a lot of our home crowd. He said he was going to drop people if they didn't try to play out from the back even if (as in Sanchez's case) they clearly can't do it.
There's nothing wrong with occasionally just clearing your lines and putting it in row z in true Ron Harris style. Nobody ever dies through conceding a throw in. We were regularly conceding goals or near misses by trying to play out from the back all the time. Lavia at Newcastle is just one example of it.
posted on 23/7/25
Nah I noticed a good mind for tactics very early. The most prominent example being his highly innovative way of getting Caicedo (RB), Lavia (DM) & Enzo (LCM & CAM hybrid) into the same team & the weird, asymmetric system working
His worst enemy is himself where this is concerned. He's got a few purist mindsets, e.g. has to use inverted FB's, which unnecessarily hold him back. These should become more flexible with greater experience.