The Board

[Mário César 1,440]

It’s unbelievable how bad this transfer window actually was when you really think about it. Signing Estêvão — a young winger with talent — fine, that makes sense. But then what did the board do? They went and signed three young wingers with “potential” for the future — Gittens, Estêvão and Garnacho. There isn’t a single proven, top-level player in there.

It was obvious we needed a centre-back. Maresca himself asked for one, and they ignored it. We needed at least one established, top-quality centre-back, and we got nothing. It’s honestly shocking.

We moved on from Jackson and brought in Delap — another young player. The goalkeeper situation still hasn’t been sorted out. And for Cucurella, instead of proper competition, they signed another youngster with potential, while Gusto is being played there out of position to cover. It’s ridiculous.

And everyone knew we’d need proper depth because there was no pre-season.

Liverpool won the game and now it’s only a matter of time before we drop out of the top five. Arsenal and Villa are next — I honestly think this is going to be a tragic end to the season.

Edited Sunday at 16:33 by Mário César

[Mário César 1,440]

6 minutes ago, Mário César said:

It’s unbelievable how bad this transfer window actually was when you really think about it. Signing Estêvão — a young winger with talent — fine, that makes sense. But then what did the board do? They went and signed three young wingers with “potential” for the future — Gittens, Estêvão and Garnacho. There isn’t a single proven, top-level player in there.

It was obvious we needed a centre-back. Maresca himself asked for one, and they ignored it. We needed at least one established, top-quality centre-back, and we got nothing. It’s honestly shocking.

We moved on from Jackson and brought in Delap — another young player. The goalkeeper situation still hasn’t been sorted out. And for Cucurella, instead of proper competition, they signed another youngster with potential, while Gusto is being played there out of position to cover. It’s ridiculous.

And everyone knew we’d need proper depth because there was no pre-season.

Liverpool won the game and now it’s only a matter of time before we drop out of the top five. Arsenal and Villa are next — I honestly think this is going to be a tragic end to the season.

And there aren’t even any financial excuses. We secured Champions League qualification, won the Club World Cup, and it was the perfect moment to bring in proper, top-level reinforcements. What’s happened is unbelievable.

[Blue Armour 4,659]

Arsenal are apparently going to appoint  highly regarded Jim Fraser as head of recruitment. The same Jim Fraser who spent 20 years at Chelsea as academy manager bringing in players like Reece James and Levi Colwill. 

While we get stuck with Winstanley & co. Yippee. 

[Vesper 30,814]

FAN VIEW: 'Ultimately, Clearlake is the problem. To spend well over 1 billion to regress is shocking'

'You can learn a lot from experienced teammates'

https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/fan-view-ultimately-clearlake-is

An important ‘fan view’ to draw in on today, with a bunch of quotes from fans, as well as myself, and a former Chelsea player to have a look at further below.

As I’ve said earlier this week, strangely enough, I still think we will get Champions League football this season and I am perhaps not as fearful as most have been after the Burnley game. However, we have a SUPER tough run of fixtures coming up and you cannot deny that it looks like a real uphill task now to get UCL football. Which is really quite absurd right? When you consider the amount of money that has been spent on building this squad and the amount we spent in the summer yet again?

Community member Matt Kirk, posted the below after the Burnley game, and this comment deserves this elevation.

“Bitterly disappointing result again. It’s worrying to see the drop-off in standards, especially after a break. The lack of discipline is pathetic too. This points to the lack of leaders and experience in the squad. Which we’ve all known for a while.

“It’s all well and good signing all these talented young players. But they need someone to guide them in these moments. It helps to develop them as players and know the levels you need to be at. You can learn a lot from experienced teammates. I’m sure Terry did from Desailly. Thiago Silva was crucial too.

“Ultimately, Clearlake is the problem. They can brief what they want, but to spend well over 1 billion to regress is shocking. We’ve had an exodus of highly valued staff from the men’s and women’s teams, who I’m sure will point to the same problem. The FOS situation is embarrassing. The turnover in staff too.

“We qualified for the CL and won the CWC and still failed to capitalise. What changes if we even manage to get CL football again? Will we take advantage of that or continue to make the same mistakes?”

I fully agree with absolutely everything he has said here, especially the comments I’ve highlighted in the title and subtitle of this article. Honestly, SAY IT LOUDER Matt! I really do not know how anyone could argue with this - of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Another top guy, community member Jay Shayshutt also commented.

“I'm tired of the "experience" argument, yes we definitely need some more leaders, but there is actually plenty of experience in that side. Fofana is hardly an inexperienced player, same goes for Trev, Sanchez, Caicedo, Cucurella. Signing leaders is definitely more of a priority than just experience - unless it's consistent CL level experience.”

Jay has made some decent points here, sure. But this was my response to him…

“I think the word 'experienced' can mean many different things. What this squad needs is more leaders as you say, but elite level players who will come in and instantly improve us whilst also having big experience such as regular European and international appearances for club and country, as well as perhaps plenty of Premier League experience. We need more big game players with strong mentalities and influence on the rest of those on the pitch with them. That's what we truly lack and have done the whole time.”

But he’s right, some of our players are now veering towards the more ‘experienced’ mark. But as I say, I think there are different versions of ‘experienced’ and we certainly still lack that in this squad and have lacked it for the last three years. It’s simply all about balance for me.

The Chelsea players have even said it!

Former Chelsea player Carlton Cole said earlier this week, after speaking with Axel Disasi:

“When I spoke to Axel Disasi, he was talking about who he enjoyed it cause he was obviously at Chelsea. He’s at West Ham now on loan. Doing great by the way.

“And I got talking to him. He basically said that Thiago Silva, when he was there, was the voice of reason, like the big brother, the uncle. And then when he left that, all kind of went cause there was no experience to lean on. So they’re all leaning on each other, and they’re not experienced enough to lean on each other.

“So they have to look at each other as we’re all in this together.”

Disasi was one of the ‘older players’ in that team, but he certainly wasn’t what I’d call an elite big game player who had been there and done it, and seen it all. That’s what we lack. But for Disasi to notice that when you lose a senior leader like Silva, it can have a real effect. Also, we would need at least three of these types of players if you ask me.

I think this is also pretty accurate from another community member, Michael M:

“Man United squad was always decent, they’re now performing at their level imo. Two real difference makers in Mbuemo and Fernandes, Casemiro and Maguire both very solid older heads who have the personality and authority to organise others. Their depth isn’t great but without midweek football they’re right in the mix for CL, no doubt.

“We have experience but for a lot of players, it’s been accumulated in the worst period in our recent history, or at teams where winning is not a necessity. Their squad doesn’t have as much of that “negative” experience any more.”

There’s various ways of looking at these things, but for me, this is our biggest issues right now.

[Vytis33 1,359]

Record breaking.  Congrats Blueco

 

 

[Vytis33 1,359]

 

[Pizy 19,189]

People need to get used to the idea that this summer is going to be brutal in terms of transfers. We already weren’t shopping in the top bracket of players under this ownership but it’ll be even more so now. 

We will probably have to be purely sell to buy for the foreseeable future and also will be forced to sell some key players we will probably be very angry about.

[Mário César 1,440]

33 minutes ago, Pizy said:

People need to get used to the idea that this summer is going to be brutal in terms of transfers. We already weren’t shopping in the top bracket of players under this ownership but it’ll be even more so now. 

We will probably have to be purely sell to buy for the foreseeable future and also will be forced to sell some key players we will probably be very angry about.

we will buy some kids and thats it 

Slowly we will become more and more and more irrelevant 

[Strike 7,735]

44 minutes ago, Pizy said:

People need to get used to the idea that this summer is going to be brutal in terms of transfers. We already weren’t shopping in the top bracket of players under this ownership but it’ll be even more so now. 

We will probably have to be purely sell to buy for the foreseeable future and also will be forced to sell some key players we will probably be very angry about.

Like United showed last summer, it is possible to have a smart window even without European football 

[Mário César 1,440]

7 minutes ago, Strike said:

Like United showed last summer, it is possible to have a smart window even without European football 

both Mbeumo and Cunha are 26 years old

both too old for our sick board