Superblue

Feel aggrieved for our fans going all that way for sub par performances

True, this is the first time we've failed to score since opening day.
And the other positive aspect is that we earned a clean sheet on the one occasion it really mattered.i.e. when we failed to score the other end of the pitch. 

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.

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.

Robbie Earle putting a positive spin, saying that a hard fought away draw by a young Chelsea side is still a good point to take.
I agree with him. Came tantalizingly close to breaking the deadlock though. That's the frustrating part.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This whole Gallagher thing is fucking rotten by the way, poor cunt sat in Madrid waiting around for days on end to be then flown back because they can't agree terms etc and now to banish him to what will be the under 23's is fucking classless shit of the highest order.
This club stinks

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.