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I would say im worried about the names we are being linked with but im not surprised at all. We are looking to buy players from relegated teams. No money to do anything else.

Many a miserable day/night spent in Sunderland at Roker and SoL with Chels and they currently have their best team in about 40 years. Sunderland often reminds me of Rotterdam minus the weed and worthwhile hookers.

Sanchez isn’t our biggest problem anymore. He’s been alright. Im looking forward to Penders. we need to address CB and LW first

I think Xabi could live with Sanchez as the number 2 but not as a 1. Xabi doesn't like the keeper kicking long balls and his short and medium range passing would give him a stroke.

Maignan and Penders I'd be happy with or Penders and Sanchez I'd be fine with. I like Roefs but 50m for someone that would block Penders because of his fee and age whilst could argue isn't even being an upgrade. Roefs does make some wonder saves but alot of his saves are a combination of miskicks and him just making his body big.a good value to have but would like to see more saves through controlled agility. Like I said I do like Roefs,if we didn't have Penders I'd be all over him.as we do,I'm not.

Make use of him staying relatively fit and healthy for the season by selling him. He's been decent the last few games but we've seen this before from him.motivated briefly when new coach incoming or playing a big opponent that would humiliate him if he isn't switched on but too many times he's too weak for a team with aspirations to be a true contender. We have wasted this season having him playing so many times when we should have been blooding Acheampong and Sarr instead in their true position.

Just sell this player. Total bust. Doesn't know who to cover. Sick of seeing him jogging while others are trying to cover for him not being where he is supposed to be. By this time a ham sandwich will net a profit.

Sunderland are a really well drilled side, get right in your face and their crowd create a great atmosphere 2-0 Sunderland

I don't care how we win, just win.

Pre/Post Match Discussion, Live Chat & Analysis Sunday May 24th, 2026 Stadium of Light Premier League 4 PM UK

Man United this season. Arsenal in 2021 went from finishing 8th and outside European places to 5th and then challenging for the league regularly. In both cases, the lighter schedule helped the club in the long run and finances were managed.

What annoys me about situations like the Enzo Maresca one is that you will always see people fighting…View the full article

It's either going hard for 7th, trying to beat Sunderland away and hoping United stay serious against Brighton....or giving some playing time to 1 or 2 of the kids and letting Brentford or Sunderland have fun in the Conference league next season.

Its well explained on tntsports Extract: If Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, then the top six in the Premier League table will qualify for the Champions League, with seventh going into the Europa League and eighth qualifying for the Conference League. If Aston Villa do not win the Europa League and/or don't finish fifth, then sixth and seventh in the Premier League will qualify for the Europa League, and eighth will qualify for the Conference League. Tnt sports explanation

💥🔵Mike Penders is particularly enthusiastic about returning to Chelsea, believing he is ready for this new stage of his career and to integrate into an environment as demanding as Chelsea's. Chelsea's plan is clear: to allow Mike Penders to gradually integrate into the first team with a genuine role in the goalkeeping hierarchy. Chelsea initially intends to offer him the status of the main competitor for the starting goalkeeper before, potentially, entrusting him with the position in the coming years. (@sachatavolieri) 😶😦That means Ben Roberts and his son will remain the number 1s. And Penders, as the number 2, will get a few chances to play!!!

Ideally it'd be Penders (if Alonso/club think he's ready to fight for the #1 spot like Courtois did with Cech) and Sanchez next season.

One issue that needs fixing that is flying under the radar is the lack of defensive aerial ability in our squad. It's basically all on our CB's and GK. Cucu is decent for his height on attacking aerial ability because he attacks the far post when the ball is dropping in height.Gusto turns into Dracula at any cross.RJ doesn't have much spring. Pedro and Palmer are tall enough but even if they improve in that department then it limits us for fast break outs. As much as I like our CM's.nobody really stands out in the air.Barco certainly isn't going to improve the situation unless he turns out to be the second coming of David Speedie.

I did a little comparative research between Xabi Alonso and Enzo Maresca's style of play and below is what I got. I am impressed with Alonso's style because it should positively benefit the current crop of players we have instead of limiting them like Maresca's style did. 👇 Xabi Alonso: Relentless Verticality & Flexibility Style: Proactive but dynamic. He blends controlled build-up with aggressive transitions. Tempo: Faster. Alonso aims to deliberately draw out the opposition press, compress them, and use quick vertical passes to attack destabilized defensive lines. Attacking Shape: Extremely fluid. Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen frequently shifts shapes in-game—often rotating into a fluid 3-2-5. Pressing: Elite counter-pressing. The system is built on intense pressing and recovering the ball high up the pitch. SoccerTutor.com +6 Enzo Maresca: Methodical Squeeze & Structure Style: Patient and methodical. The primary goal is to control the game by holding the ball. Tempo: Slower. Maresca dictates the pace through short, stable passing sequences. His teams prioritize exhausting opponents through long periods of possession rather than risky early forward passes. Attacking Shape: Structured. At Chelsea, his base 4-2-3-1 morphs into a reliable 3-box-3 or 3-2-5 shape, relying heavily on inverted full-backs. Pressing: Regroups with the ball. The structure is designed to limit the opponent's chances of counter-attacking when the ball is turned over.

Shout out to Sanchez last night - some more great saves. Its the helmet, invoking the spirit of Cech

Talksport was golden last night, Cundy and O'Hara did a live watch along while the game was on, it was fucking comedy gold

Unfortunately I fear James' knees won't be able to cope with the wingback demands now (maybe once in a while, but not consistently) and I'm not particularly convinced Gusto can give us an attacking output that we'd need in that position (maybe as a backup). Hato would for sure be better as a LCB in a back 3, probably also a back 4 tbh (two left footers can work there if we do the back 3 in possesion thing Maresca did) so recruitment needed there for sure. Quenda could do really well there. I know there were the rumours he avoided United/Amorim because of that, but Amorim uses his wingbacks really conservatively whereas Alonso feeds them really well, Frimpong and Grimaldo were genuinely amazing under him, so that may be able to convince him.

I’d imagine James & Gusto will be more than sufficient on the right side regardless of the system. Left side is going to be the big issue though because we will really need to replace Cucurella who is likely off & decide whether Hato is going to be better suited to playing as a LB, LWB, LCB - again all depending on the system. Lewis Hall seems to be mentioned a lot this week. The Barco deal is also sounding like a formality. Both players who are versatile. For CBs - I would say at least one quality centre back will have to come in either way given the collection we have. I’d like us to get 2. If we go to a back 3 I think we would probably need to get 2 CBs in then anyway given the likelihood that players like Badiashile & Tosin are probably (& deservedly) goners & you will need to have options. Maybe we could get away with Fofana being put in as that right handed CB in a back 3 but still wouldn’t trust him in a pair. Granted our options will be limited. Plus still have serious doubts the recruitment will be any different to how it has been so we will see.

I wouldn't. I don't care who the manager is or who we sign; we need as many chances for CL football as possible. I'll keep banging the same drum as well - finances. Can we really afford as lavish summer window with no European football or without selling one or two major stars (Enzo & Palmer probably the most likely)?

I'd rather end up outside the European places. This squad hasn't had a rest in years

Europa would be fine. Conference league would be bad