Welcome Mauricio Pochettino

[DDA 9,924]

I still stand by what I said before in regards to Potchs ridiculous squad selection after the pre season.

Angelo 

Santos 

Casadei 

Should have stayed from the beginning and given serious chances. 

Instead he chose Sterling and Ugochukwu.

Brain dead.

Edited February 2, 2024 by DDA

[Vesper 30,085]

2 hours ago, DDA said:

Instead he chose Sterling and Ugochukwu.

Brain dead.

flashback........................

Mauricio Pochettino dismisses Chelsea's new £23.5m signing Lesley Ugochukwu as 'a player from France that they sign for some loan' in a thinly-veiled dig at the Blues' transfer policy as he pleads for more midfield additions

• Lesley Ugochukwu passed his medical and will sign a long-term deal at Chelsea
• Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Ugochukwu will go on loan upon his arrival 
• Chelsea still want to sign a more experienced central midfielder as well 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12354591/Chelsea-manager-Mauricio-Pochettino-indicates-new-23-5m-signing-Lesley-Ugochukwu-loan-arrival-Stamford-Bridge-Blues-explore-experienced-options-central-midfield.html

 

[Thor 2,689]

8 hours ago, DDA said:

Do you think clubs will pay top dollar for our players if they realise we are in a financial crisis? Absolutely no chance... they will be circling like vultures when that day comes. Wouldn't be surprised if we saw Gallagher, Reece James, Colwill, Humphreys, and others all sold in the summer.

We aren't in a financial crisis. 

Clickbait nonsense to have something to talk about. The club knows money. You can slander the ownership all you want, but they know money management. 

I'm actually not worried about the club long term, but it is frustrating with our stretch of wins/losses now compared to us at our top. A lot of us aren't used to not winning anything. We are spoilt and haven't had a proper build in a while. 

 

I hardly think this is current managements fault anyway. Our 4-5 windows before them coming on board were horrific and the start of our decline. Talent wise, signing wise, etc - we are way ahead now of where we were 3-4 seasons ago. 

[Blue Armour 4,436]

2 hours ago, Thor said:

We aren't in a financial crisis. 

Clickbait nonsense to have something to talk about. The club knows money. You can slander the ownership all you want, but they know money management. 

I'm actually not worried about the club long term, but it is frustrating with our stretch of wins/losses now compared to us at our top. A lot of us aren't used to not winning anything. We are spoilt and haven't had a proper build in a while. 

 

I hardly think this is current managements fault anyway. Our 4-5 windows before them coming on board were horrific and the start of our decline. Talent wise, signing wise, etc - we are way ahead now of where we were 3-4 seasons ago. 

But how can you definitively say we are better?

4 seasons ago we were a top 4 side. Under Lampard of all managers.

You need a magic ball to say that all the young talent that we have is going to magically hit new heights next season.

If the new management is serious about FFP, like you say, then the next window will be quite slow, in order to balance the books. The lack of European football for two consecutive seasons is going to leave a dent, for sure.

 

[Jype 6,398]

13 hours ago, DDA said:

Do you think clubs will pay top dollar for our players if they realise we are in a financial crisis? Absolutely no chance... they will be circling like vultures when that day comes. Wouldn't be surprised if we saw Gallagher, Reece James, Colwill, Humphreys, and others all sold in the summer.

I'm pretty sure Maatsen, Chalobah and Broja will already fetch minimum £70-80M between them 'financial crisis' or not. Also quite sure the Hall sale to Newcastle will only officially go through in the summer so that's another £28M. 

The exact same 'financial crisis' sensationalism was happening this time a year ago as well. People were foaming at the mouth from the prospect of having their clubs poach the likes of Mount, Colwill etc. on the cheap because of this 'financial crisis' but in the end not a single player got sold the club didn't actually want to sell and the buyers for Mount, Havertz etc. were made to pay through the nose too. 

[Strike 7,474]

 

Mid-table mentality to be looking at set-pieces 

 

[Thor 2,689]

4 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

But how can you definitively say we are better?

4 seasons ago we were a top 4 side. Under Lampard of all managers.

You need a magic ball to say that all the young talent that we have is going to magically hit new heights next season.

If the new management is serious about FFP, like you say, then the next window will be quite slow, in order to balance the books. The lack of European football for two consecutive seasons is going to leave a dent, for sure.

 

I see a side devoid of tactical understanding - not talent. Talent is there. Yes, we are better. Take a look at the 2021 CL winning side.

We have Silva, Chilly, James from the CL team at the back. Missing Rudiger and Azpi. I think our backline isn't anywhere near as good. 

We have Caceido and Enzo in the middle of the park. Neither are as good as Kante (who is?) but both are better and more dynamic than Jorgi. 

Havertz, Werner and Mount were our front 3... You can tell me what you want, but I'd take Palmer, Nkunku/Jackson and Sterling over those 3 as far as talents. 

 

Aside from our defence - our team from the middle of the park up, is more talented. These guys are either dumb as bricks tactically, aren't being taught well, or there is a culture issue. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,489]

3 hours ago, Thor said:

I see a side devoid of tactical understanding - not talent. Talent is there. Yes, we are better. Take a look at the 2021 CL winning side.

We have Silva, Chilly, James from the CL team at the back. Missing Rudiger and Azpi. I think our backline isn't anywhere near as good. 

We have Caceido and Enzo in the middle of the park. Neither are as good as Kante (who is?) but both are better and more dynamic than Jorgi. 

Havertz, Werner and Mount were our front 3... You can tell me what you want, but I'd take Palmer, Nkunku/Jackson and Sterling over those 3 as far as talents. 

 

Aside from our defence - our team from the middle of the park up, is more talented. These guys are either dumb as bricks tactically, aren't being taught well, or there is a culture issue. 

Why did you leave out Christensen and Kovacic?   Both played roles in that UCL side. 

As for the current front three having more talent, does that really matter?    Being able to produce on the big occasion is what matters and that's exactly what Havertz, Mount, Werner were able to do in that UCL run. 

I think the problem is that Poch isn't the coach to get the best out of this lot, doesn't seem to be able to change his tactics to the situation at all. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,489]

18 hours ago, DDA said:

Do you think clubs will pay top dollar for our players if they realise we are in a financial crisis? Absolutely no chance... they will be circling like vultures when that day comes. Wouldn't be surprised if we saw Gallagher, Reece James, Colwill, Humphreys, and others all sold in the summer.

Even if they did come for Reece, Colwill and others, they'd have to pay good money as most of our players are under long contracts. 

From memory it was only Gallagher/Maatsen who had the deals running out in 12-18 months.....would be very surprised if Gallagher is still here next season. 

[lucio 5,418]

13 hours ago, DDA said:

I still stand by what I said before in regards to Potchs ridiculous squad selection after the pre season.

Angelo 

Santos 

Casadei 

Should have stayed from the beginning and given serious chances. 

Instead he chose Sterling and Ugochukwu.

Brain dead.

This and maatsen should have been starting at left back from day one 

[Costa19 858]

6 hours ago, Strike said:

 

Mid-table mentality to be looking at set-pieces 

 

Boehly loading up Football Manager 24 like:

Region: South America 

Position: Midfielders + Attackers 

Age: 15-17 y/o 

Attribute: Set pieces > 17 

Wages: < £500 / week 

 

 

[Thor 2,689]

1 hour ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Why did you leave out Christensen and Kovacic?   Both played roles in that UCL side. 

As for the current front three having more talent, does that really matter?    Being able to produce on the big occasion is what matters and that's exactly what Havertz, Mount, Werner were able to do in that UCL run. 

I think the problem is that Poch isn't the coach to get the best out of this lot, doesn't seem to be able to change his tactics to the situation at all. 

I unlike some thought Chris and Kovacic were good enough to be rotational players. Can be filled by numerous players of similar quality IMO. My point is not around that at all. 

 

It actually stems exactly to what your last sentence talks around. It is a Poch and team culture issue. Tactics and culture. 

Havertz, Mount and Werner all overperformed, and I'm grateful for it - but that is what I am getting at. We aren't in a bad position at all in terms of talent and players. Defensively I think we are - but are midfield and front 3 is good - but being coached terribly. 

Being an inspired team, going on a great cup run is something that can lift a team and make them play beyond their capabilities. Tuchel was a great short term solution in that regard.

Much like how we were first in the season, then dropped off and finished 10th or whatever the fuck it was. We didn't suddenly become shit. There is a stink that is still hanging around, and a coach that clearly hasn't gotten through and inspired the players the way we thought he might. Caceido and Enzo are world class. Every stat pointed towards that. Their performance pointed toward that. And now I see them being stranded on islands against - playing 1 vs 5 in the middle of the park with no outlets or runners. Every midfielder in existence would look terrible. 

Have we made some subpar buys? Yes. But our core of talent is better now than it was with that 2021 CL team and 4 years before. A spark and continuity is all this team would need. A coach who will inspire.