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Dario Essugo, I'm listening... (watching)
Another gem?
https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/dario-essugo-im-listening-watching

When Chelsea sign a good player, they fully deserve to be praised for it. I always aim for balance on this site. I’ve always said that they have made some very good signings and I do rate a decent chunk of our squad. We all know they’ve also made some terrible signings, as well as some with big question marks over their heads too.
But when I call those out, it’s equally important for my to praise the good stuff too. And I think Dario Essugo could end up being a good one. I’m listening my friend, I’m watching…
I’m not getting carried away, of course. He’s struggled with injuries, and we have not seen enough of him yet. But what I have seen of him, I like. He looks like a very well-rounded player who can do it all. Dare I say that he looks like a carbon copy of Moises Caicedo? The irony is of course, Chelsea signed him to initially back up and allow more rests for Caicedo. And so far, he looks more than capable of doing just that, if he can stay fit.
He’s very calm and composed on the ball, his passing and vision looks very good, and his defensive awareness and stability is top.
We only paid £18m to sign him, and he could well end up looking like a real gem of a bargain if he continues to show the quality he has shown so far.
So for this signing, it looks decent, and I am absolutely handing flowers to those who spotted the player, compiled the reports, recommended Chelsea signed him, and then those who got the deal done for such a low fee. Well done all!

A mix of frustration and anger. Was never a 5-2 game. We had many occasions where we could scored a few and then a crazy last 10 minutes completely changed the game. I struggle to see how we overturn it. Not because we need to just make up 3 goals. We have seen it happen in the past, however more to do that we now play a tough game on Saturday whilst PSG have a whole week off, due to Ligue 1 postponing their upcoming fixture.
To the game, thought Neto was very good. Caused a lot of problems. Enzo played well too. Team did in general. What annoyed me was the subs. Another game where Rosenior made subs to kind of preserve what we had and it ended up backfiring. I thought Garnacho should have come on earlier, with how stretched the game was. We were causing them issues out wide and on that big pitch, this is the type of game Garnacho could have made a real impact.
Really frustrating because the scoreline suggests we got Spurs'd but we never. Just lapses in concentration. Keeper hugely at fault but is it their fault when the manager constantly keeps implying on playing out from the back. Stick with your philosophy, however sometimes respect the opposition.

A mix of frustration and anger. Was never a 5-2 game. We had many occasions where we could scored a few and then a crazy last 10 minutes completely changed the game. I struggle to see how we overturn it. Not because we need to just make up 3 goals. We have seen it happen in the past, however more to do that we now play a tough game on Saturday whilst PSG have a whole week off, due to Ligue 1 postponing their upcoming fixture.
To the game, thought Neto was very good. Caused a lot of problems. Enzo played well too. Team did in general. What annoyed me was the subs. Another game where Rosenior made subs to kind of preserve what we had and it ended up backfiring. I thought Garnacho should have come on earlier, with how stretched the game was. We were causing them issues out wide and on that big pitch, this is the type of game Garnacho could have made a real impact.
Really frustrating because the scoreline suggests we got Spurs'd but we never. Just lapses in concentration. Keeper hugely at fault but is it their fault when the manager constantly keeps implying on playing out from the back. Stick with your philosophy, however sometimes respect the opposition.

A mix of frustration and anger. Was never a 5-2 game. We had many occasions where we could scored a few and then a crazy last 10 minutes completely changed the game. I struggle to see how we overturn it. Not because we need to just make up 3 goals. We have seen it happen in the past, however more to do that we now play a tough game on Saturday whilst PSG have a whole week off, due to Ligue 1 postponing their upcoming fixture.
To the game, thought Neto was very good. Caused a lot of problems. Enzo played well too. Team did in general. What annoyed me was the subs. Another game where Rosenior made subs to kind of preserve what we had and it ended up backfiring. I thought Garnacho should have come on earlier, with how stretched the game was. We were causing them issues out wide and on that big pitch, this is the type of game Garnacho could have made a real impact.
Really frustrating because the scoreline suggests we got Spurs'd but we never. Just lapses in concentration. Keeper hugely at fault but is it their fault when the manager constantly keeps implying on playing out from the back. Stick with your philosophy, however sometimes respect the opposition.

Caicedo definitely struggled in that initial few months of joining but he then showed genuine quality later in the season and was a beast. Gittens showed maybe a couple of flashes so far and will not get the chance to do so again this season with this injury. The only reason we won’t be able to give up on him is because 1, he was so expensive so nobody would give us our money back and 2, he will be coming off of a serious injury. We’re stuck with him next season unless he goes out on loan.
Garnacho from the start we knew what we were getting. He’ll frustrate the hell out all of us, he’ll look shocking some games and super effective other games, and he’ll put up decent numbers just like he did at Man United. So no chance he is sold. He’ll always be a decent option to have in the squad.
The most expendable wide attacker therefore is obviously Pedro Neto. Thing is, I’m not sure I’d sell him either nor do I think the club/manager will want to either. For a large part of this season he has been our best winger and is a manager’s dream in that he works his ass off. If a huge offer came in we’d probably sell if he wanted to go but I don’t think we’d push him out.
My guess therefore is that our only wide attacker “signing” taking into account everything I’ve just said will be Quenda. The idea that this club will go huge on a world class, £80m+ LW and then have 2 £50m ones on the bench seems super far fetched to me.

Hato a couple nice games back to back 

just saw this now
massive ACL knee injury for Samu a couple weeks ago ☹️
he is out until at least Halloween 2026 atm
obviously misses the World Cup for Spain
summer 2027 would be the earliest any sane team would look to buy him

Porto striker Samu suffers season-ending ACL injury
https://portugoal.net/club-news/5508-porto-striker-samu-suffers-season-ending-acl-injury

FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa suffered the injury most feared by professional footballers – a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament – in his right knee in Monday’s 1-1 draw against Sporting and will miss the rest of the season as he begins his recovery.
The Spanish centre-forward has been a huge success since joining the Dragons last season from Atletico Madrid. Samu scored 27 goals in 45 games in his debut season at the Estádio do Dragão, and followed that up with 20 goals in 32 games in this year’s campaign.
Ironically, Porto coach Francesco Farioli singled out the 21-year-old for lavish praise in the post-match press conference after the Clássico, no doubt unaware of the extent of the injury that necessitated his substitution at half time.
The Italian coach spoke at length about Samu’s first-class attitude in training, his willingness to learn new skills and said he believed the Spaniard would become “one of the top five strikers in the world.”
Samu himself has shown he is an emotional player on and off the pitch ever since joining Porto and took to social media to express his devastation at the news, writing the following message on Instagram.
“Yesterday was the unluckiest day of my career. I suffered a serious injury. I still can’t believe it. I’m devastated and speechless.
I’m going to be out of action for several months. It’s tough for me not being able to help the team and fight on the pitch. Now I’m another supporter backing the team to achieve our goals.
I believe in God’s plan, being strong and positive, which will make me come back stronger than ever.
Thank you for the messages of support and comfort.”

these are the top 10 Spanish CFs in terms of valuation:

Still cant get over it. Palmers miss as if he cant run fast enough when through on his own. And Fofana and his usual stupid tackles. And im afraid we have another idiot as a manager. When your defender is on a yellow you make a change at half time especially as he selected 5 centre halves on the bench also unbelievable. Its basic common sense.

🗯🔵 Estevao has a hamstring issue. Due to be scanned. (@BobbyVincentFL)

It's like either him or Palmer is available, never both of them.
But we have Lavia on bench!

🔥🔵🗯BREAKING: A verdict is nearing on Chelsea’s 74 Charges.
Mail Confidential has been assured that supporters can anticipate NON-SPORTING sanctions as an outcome.
That would mean a FINE rather than, say, a transfer ban or points deduction.
[@kierangill_DM]

Mobile hairdresser appointment. Booked weeks ago

Gusto worries me on a yellow card. Is very clumsy. Got sent off against Forest when on a yellow, earlier in season and got lucky with the incident in the match whilst on a yellow.

Andrey Santos makes a MASSIVE difference to this team. His football intelligence both on and off the ball is incredible. Always seems to be in the right place and he’s super tidy on the ball. He provides the platform for The whole team to play. He is our new Jorginho but with more athleticism.
Only real critique of that half is that Palmer didn’t finish off that free run he had in the box. We score that and I think we’re cruising the rest of the way.

at least Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which is one of they most dangerous players, is not in the line up today. great news

2025-26




 
2024-25

 
 

I was talking about Kenan Yıldız:
€6m net is around £202K PW gross

What? He earns 200k at Wolves??? You sure?

Rosenior just confirmed Neto and James failed fitness tests this morning.

Rosenior just confirmed Neto and James failed fitness tests this morning.

Palmer on bench for me if Estevao is presumably back. Has not been himself and I am not sure if this is the game where he can influence directly from the start. We will need a lot of support defensively and type of game he has struggled to impact before.
                   Sanchez
James  Fofana  Chalobah  Cucurella
           Santos   Caicedo
Estevao      Enzo         Neto
                 Pedro

What is this based on? These are the team’s results in the league when Acheampong has started this year. Just the one loss in there. Don’t think he’s looked out of place physically at all
0-0 D vs Palace
2-1 W vs Liverpool 
0-3 W Forest 
1-2 L Sunderland 
2-2 D Bournemouth 
1-1 D Man City
 
 
 
 

“Chelsea rejected big money for Acheampong!”
”Several massive clubs have tried for Acheampong but Chelsea have said NO CHANCE!”
”Chelsea view Acheampong as massive talent and key part of the future project.”
We hear these things over and over again and yet he doesn’t play. New manager comes in and he still doesn’t play ahead of players he hugely superior to.
He’d have been better off out on a PL loan this season playing every game.