Blue Armour

The highest target I've set for this Chelsea team is 8th, which would be the equivalent of winning the league for this team this season. I

Sounds like Poch and the owners are already in conflict.

If I have to guess, Poch thinks Gallaghers work-rate can help shield the defense, and Enzo's better creativity can help things up front. It's a mistake. Enzo is not versatile like Fabregas, and has no goal threat. His strength is when playing further behind as a DLP., unhindered. I think Gallagher making runs into the box and pressing from the front would be a far option, because he's barely able to create anything from the back. Always picks a safe pass and slows down our play. Like I said before - I've supported and still support Poch, but this mixup between Enzo & Gallagher, plus his insistence on leaving out our decent goalthreat in left back Chillwell (NOT left Winger Chillwell) , is just asking for trouble

If it's a process - why did they sack Potter? Clearly they did not expect the club to degrade this much. I don't think any PL owner would invest so much for the club to be fighting with relegation teams. Certainly not someone who knows what they're doing.

Tbf, the club did scout Ange as a potential managerial candidate before Poch was appointed. But have a feeling that he would've also been fucked with this u23 squad of players. It's embarrassing. Every time commentators poke fun at our bench, with teams like Villa having more known quantities. Terrible squad building. Instead of going in phases they've blitzed their way through, chopping up the squad and the club administration in a massive manner. And who knows. Maybe they were ready to accept plenty of short term pain for long term benefits. But I doubt that it is entirely their intention. If it was, they would have ploughed on with Potter., instead of giving him the chop when the season when to shite.

Imagine the scenes - avoiding relegation on the final day, and Boehly & Eghbali run onto the pitch in celebration.

Leaving the only decent goal threat in Chilwell on the bench, when we are struggling to score, is also asking for it. Hopefully the players use the cup game to fix things.

Fully agree that the referee, PGMOL and Martinez ruined this game for us. But - as much as I've defended Poch until now, his experimenting with Gallagher playing as DLP instead of Enzo, and Colwill as left back have been holding us back. A more positive lineup, and we might not have been a position where the referee could fuck things up.

It's dumb that club would get conned into thinking a manager like that could be trusted to give youth players valuable development time. This was a lazily thought out move for Santos.

Yes. No matter the gap in form right now. While no one should be surprised that a young side can come up short in games, There's no reason to go into games fearing the absolute worst. Our game against the league leaders Liverpool should be proof enough. A draw that very well could and should have been a win.

Of course. Players also become miraculously fit after leaving us.

How has his injury record been since moving to Saudi?

Sigh, if he only had the same goal scoring form he had while at Palace. Because he's limited in other aspects to be a starting 11 player.

Anything new in particular, or just based on stuff we've seen so far?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12535507/Chelseas-injury-issues-uncovered-Trevoh-Chalobahs-personal-trainer-reason-leaked-messages-deleted.html Chelsea star Trevoh Chalobah's personal trainer reveals the 'absolute MESS' he says is causing their injury crisis with Mauricio Pochettino left to work with a threadbare squad

Tbh, these players are mostly kids. Of course they can't handle it well. Hopefully Poch will tell them to just get on with it.

Clueless, rushed transfer. Signed Madueke out of nowhere without really factoring what he would bring to the team The fact that he dribbles with his head down tells you all you need to know. No wonder he fails to pick a pass on time when in the final third. What's the point of having an explosive winger that can't make the right decision in the final third? We used to complain about Willian a few seasons ago, but I would easily take Willian over all our current wingers atm.

Should have got him in this past window itself.

Why did we buy Madueke?

Our best performance so far this season has come against the current league leaders. Would be ironic if we again turn up against a high flying team, but stranger things have happened.

There are a lot of football fans hurting after that decade of dominance by Chelsea & Man Utd. This is their time to gloat.

It's getting increasingly clear they followed the Dodgers strategy here. Outspend and stock up on all the nascent talent in the world. The difference is that in baseball, team chemistry, experience and on the pitch leaders are less of a concern when compared to football. They were able to bulldoze their way over there, but here it's far from the case.

Solid. If not spectacular.