Superblue

Didn't think the Everton result was too bad but the performances against Fulham and Ipswich have been really, really poor. I think what was most concerning, besides Disasi lasting as long as he did tonight, was how we created absolutely nothing after going 2 down. The goals have dried up and unfortunately we just aren't good enough defensively. This is where the manager earns his living...

Couldn't agree more with this. It's easy to get silly and emotional and think it's 2 points dropped but we're not even half way through the season yet. If we're in a title race we'll know with about 8 games left. Until then it's about building blocks in this squad and I think today and on a larger scale the last couple of weeks have been extremely positive. We've found ourselves 2 goals down away at our biggest rivals and just played two teams who we've struggled against in recent seasons and come out with 7 points. Starting to see some characters in the squad and a bit of steel. Given the weather conditions today, it played perfectly into Everton's hands and we stood up. Our attack was poor today all round - whether you can make the weather an excuse or not, they've by and large been superb between them almost all season and helped us simply outscore most teams. On an off day, it was good to see Sanchez, the defence and the midfield step up and ensure we didn't lose. The media over here will spin it as 2 points dropped to charge up the Liverpool love in, but I personally think it's a hard earned point and a building block to how we want this squad overall to be which is pleasing on the eye, but also strong defensively and in character. This squad for me is still very much trending in the right direction.

What concerns me most at present is the managerial turnover. They should have been more honest with fans, that a restructure would be needed at the club. It was pretty obvious - we've operated at a loss for years, being propped up by Roman. That was never going to be sustainable under new ownership. I can see what they are trying to do, in completely rebuilding the squad under a new wage structure that moving forward should help the club to become sustainable, and in all honesty it was never going to be pretty. I don't agree with the way in which they have done it, I think if they had leant more on some of the academy talent here to help fill that squad out, they wouldn't be facing the same scrutiny they are now. But the whole club is now crying out for some time. They can't change the entire makeup of the squad, buy solely young talent and expect to be competing as a top 4 team. They got rid of that team. That isn't to say this current squad can't make top 4 this season or in the near future, but they do need to be given the platform to grow and develop together and that goes for the manager too. We no longer have the core of players in the dressing room that can lead amongst chaos and absorb managerial changes. This ownership have put their own stamp on the football club. It's time for them to now leave it untouched and see how things develop.

On Felix, wouldn't have been my choice to sign but I have a lot of respect for someone who has a big name and reputation, to accept that he needed a fresh start and was willing to do what he needed to ensure that happened. I don't think his loan spell here was particularly great, but I also don't think it was poor either and in fairness to him he did show signs of bright sparks and a bit of flair in what was a really turbulent and depressing period at the club. Absolutely no question of the raw talent he possesses. It's up to him to have the right attitude and be in the right environment with the right coach capable of extracting that. There's been so many questions in the media recently of players on long contracts and the negatives of that, but in Felix's case, a new permanent home might be just the thing he needs. It's not too late for him to realise that potential.

Just seen Maresca's presser and he's certainly gone up in my estimation as a result. Maybe we're a little used to it with the likes of Jose, Conte and to a slightly lesser degree Tuchel, but I like a manager that can be a bit prickly with the media, somebody that can send their boring questions back to them with a straight bat and assert who's the one in control. I can understand that a couple of questions may be fielded about Sterling or Gallagher, but do we need a whole 20 minute press conference to be the same question recycled in a different way to try and get a different answer. Maresca repeating his answers just made them all look like the absolute mugs they are. He definitely has something about him when compared to the ultra nice approaches of Potter and Poch. Hopefully we can get a good result tomorrow to get everything kick started. There was something I read the other day that suggested Chelsea have cleared or are in the process of clearing around £100m a year from its wage bill moving forward which will play a huge hand in tackling PSR in the future. I think it's pretty obvious if Sterling and Mudryk were paid the same wages, it would likely be a different outcome but the club can't have a bit part player on £325k a week. Same as Chilwell. Same as Kepa. Same as Lukaku. If we can find homes in particular for those 4 by the end of the window, that will be a massive positive.

It would be such a Chelsea thing if we got a big points deduction for this current investigation ongoing, that got us relegated instead of Ipswich.

Think the squad can be updated after the qualifiers (assuming we get through). I'm assuming Fofana may be rested in these games given his injury history.

I think out of everyone, he'll be the hardest to move on in all honesty. He was pretty clear when he joined that coming back to London was a massive factor in his decision. He no longer looks like having any chance of getting back in the England squad, and is sat on a very handsome contract for 3 years. I think he may look at the situation and decide to stay until at least the January window, to see if his position changes at all.

The priority has to be streamlining this squad beyond anything else. If we end the transfer window with a handful of big earning, first team players who have been ostracised from the squad the manager will be on a hiding to nothing. Every bad result or performance, individually or collectively, will be under the microscope if there are players sat twiddling their thumbs in the reserves. If Cucurella has a bad performance, there will be questions of why Chilwell isn't being used. If Jackson or the team isn't scoring enough, the Lukaku questions will arise. It'll be an absolute disaster. If an opportunity presents itself to pick up Osimhen on our terms at the end of the window, under the knowledge that we've shifted much of what needs moving on, then fine. But I don't think we're in absolute desperation mode for him. There might not be a standout goal scorer to take the burden unless Palmer can do so again, but we do have quite a few in the squad that are capable of chipping in with goals, and the set up is going to be key. Swap Enzo for a more offensive option through the middle and I think we'd immediately look more threatening. Although City accommodated Haaland and that move has been completely justified, I do believe their most fluent and best league side they had was actually when they were playing large parts of the season with no striker. If we're trying to emulate in some way a possession based approach, then having 4 attackers on the pitch all capable of being able to play across the entire front line, roam and probe may actually suit Maresca more than a more traditional focal point striker. Although I was left a little disappointed with our performance over the weekend, I didn't see much beyond City and Arsenal which was already expected, to suggest that top 4 is beyond the reach of this group this season, regardless if we sign any more players.

Pretty disappointed with today. We can use the excuse it was City, but this was definitely City lite. Their midfield looked, on paper, vulnerable defensively. I just don't think we did anywhere near enough. We were very passive in possession. Sanchez is well documented, but I thought the centre backs were very slow with the ball. If trying to bait City on to us was the plan, they quickly realised not to bother and at that point, we should have been switching the ball much quicker and moving them about. And then out of possession, I thought we were extremely poor. The midfield looked porous in the first half particularly, and the willingness and efficiency to press City was non-existent. I had to check at times in the second half that we were definitely losing the game. City for periods of possession were essentially playing walking football. I thought Maresca got it wrong playing Enzo as the attacking midfielder. I could understand, given the opposition, if Enzo was dropping back deeper to create a midfield 3 to make us stronger defensively and try to control the middle, but that wasn't happening, and with that in mind, we should have played one of our attackers in that role. Nkunku, Palmer and looking soon to be Felix will all relish that position and all be significantly more effective in that role in different ways. I was disappointed that Maresca didn't recognise this and address it. Neto or Madueke for Enzo, or one of the midfielders should have been the change at half time or early in the second half. The real test will be over the next few games though. On paper, it's a good run of winnable games, where the manager needs to make sure we've got the personnel on the pitch to be scoring goals and winning games. I'm hoping that will include playing 2 or Enzo, Caicedo and Lavia in the pivot and a more decisive attacking player in the '10' role.

Was always going to be the case, no different to Maatsen/Kellyman and the potential Gallagher/Felix deals. If a swap were to take place, Chelsea are taking the full amortisation hit on Lukaku this summer which is still around £40m. We need to sell him for as close to that as possible, even I assume if it means paying 'more' for Osimhen, should that deal be pursued.

Why do I read this, and can't help but think someone in our board room is asking the question why Liverpool are after these players and we're not.

When this first was reported at the start of the Clearlake reign, I'm pretty sure reports centred less on FFP and was more geared towards some potentially under the table negotiations, payments, etc. At the moment, can only speculate on the severity of any punishment, but feel it is perhaps more geared towards potentially a large fine and transfer ban rather than a points deduction. It would explain why the club have (1) seemingly stockpiled players over the past couple of windows, and (2) do seem to suddenly be scrambling a bit more now in the second half of this window. The ownership must have an inkling of what they might be facing and I wouldn't be surprised if they're planning for a transfer ban for a year or two.

Agree with what seems largely the general consensus on here for Felix. Clearly an extremely talented player, and clearly someone with enormous potential that COULD someday be unlocked. But I'm really struggling with where he fits in. He's somebody that I think has just found himself in the wrong era, where a lot of these flamboyant, creative second strikers find themselves marginalised in more rigid structures in today's game. Without comparing the two, I've always wondered how a player like Zola would fare in today's game, and could see a player like him stuck in a similar situation where a lot of the top teams play in a way that doesn't play to such a player's strengths, or a player of that ilk isn't prioritised. He's probably a good option from the bench when chasing games and he's perhaps afforded more freedom in such situations. But would he want a bigger role, almost certainly. I can't lie, he is the kind of player that is intriguing. But a lot of players in that criteria, will end up going club to club and find themselves flattering to deceive throughout their careers. Having said that, the news that he's willing to take a large pay cut to fit into the structure here to come back is an encouraging sign. If somebody can unlock that potential it could be an absolute masterstroke. I just don't see it unfortunately. As a side note, not fussed about the Samu deal breaking down. I really like what I've seen of Guiu in the pre season, and whilst he might not be currently ready, it seems unnecessary to buy another player of a similar age in his position. If we buy a striker, it has to be one ready now. Unless Maresca has grand designs of playing Felix there in a false nine system?!

The thing with this is are FIFA going to throw the book at one player when it is pretty clear that multiple players/staff, etc, if not everybody on that bus is singing. The FA will have a similar issue. Alvarez is sat next to Enzo, if they ban him would they ban both. Whilst I think Enzo should be disciplined in some capacity, it'll be frankly ridiculous if he's the only one who takes full punishment for this. I can see a multi game ban potentially happening, but whether it's FIFA or the FA, it'll be interesting whether they conduct investigations as to who else is clearly involved in the matter. I read somewhere that the other English clubs with Argentinean representation have remained silent on the matter because there is no obvious proof of their own singing this song. I think that's a huge cop out to be honest. These clubs should be conducting similar investigations themselves of their own players, considering education on the matter, etc, and it's something I would expect of Chelsea to do if they were in that position. If football as a whole is actually going to stand up, wake up and deal with racism and discrimination in the game then this involves everybody. Actions speak louder than words, and unfortunately too many are willing to sweep things under the carpet unless they're put in a situation whereby they're forced to act.