🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 9. Liam Delap

[Fernando 6,683]

57 minutes ago, prime adriano said:

We'll never be title contenders under maresca.  More likely to finish outside of top 5. No title winning manager picks last nights lineup 

I think we have a chance of winning the CL this season then winning the PL. 

Doubt we finish outside of top 5, we are much better then last season for that to happen. 

And last night lineup is just that problem that needs to be addressed in the summer. If the board don't do it then the problem is them not the manager. 

[NikkiCFC 8,484]

54 minutes ago, Fernando said:

 If we don't spend some good amount addressing the defense then I will start to worry like you. 

If Colwill and Fofana are always fit playing 80% of the games we would already be there. 

[Thor 2,788]

On 05/12/2025 at 01:17, DDA said:

The standards are in the bin with most of you lot. 
 

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

 

 

Yeah we should have signed Isak for 125 mil - he is really working out. 

Some of you act like it was all rainbows and butterflies with previous ownership and strikers. Aside from Costa, we haven't had a striker banging in goals. That was largely due to being carried by Hazard who is one of the best to ever touch a football and underrated. 

Drogba wasn't banging in goals for fun. Link up play by JP is apparently glossed over when you aren't looking at things with rose tinted glasses. Our attack is fine and we score - but we look like shit when we have players out of position at the back and generally shit players like Tosin which results in shit build up play from the back. 

Strikers can't score when the build up is dog shit to begin with. 

[Thor 2,788]

On 04/12/2025 at 18:47, Special Juan said:

Bullshit, absolute bullshit he is a 30M championship striker who's second touch is a tackle

He's fucking rubbish and needs to be put in the same bracket as the other average shite we have here

Tosin, Badiashille, Gittens, Chalobah and Joao Pedro

lol you overreact so hard. Get a diary and write in it. 

Binning off JP after a solid start and for most games great build up and all around game is hilarious.

[Special Juan 28,470]

10 hours ago, Thor said:

lol you overreact so hard. Get a diary and write in it. 

Binning off JP after a solid start and for most games great build up and all around game is hilarious.

If I had a diary it would be full, for every bit of bullshit you post

[Blue Armour 4,621]

Has more yellow cards than goals + assists.

Must be some kind of Stoke city heritage.

[TheHulk 2,603]

I hope we don't wait another season with him to see if he does anything, he is fucking shit and needs to get rid this summer, terrible player.

[DDA 10,101]

I mean i knew he wasn’t our new Costa but this is taking the piss.

[Strike 7,673]

Hard to judge his time when he’s had two separate injuries in his time here and obviously needed time before taking on a starting role at a big club

[Blue Armour 4,621]

1 hour ago, Strike said:

Hard to judge his time when he’s had two separate injuries in his time here and obviously needed time before taking on a starting role at a big club

Both of our strikers struggle in tight spaces, Joao Pedro maybe a bit better in that regard.

Neither of them are strong aerially either. If they had an aerial threat, things would have been better. Even an over-age Giroud would do a better job.

Delap for all his height, strength and being called an old fashioned English forward, can't really convert anything aerially to take advantage of crosses in the box.

Directors didn't look at the qualities each striker would bring when making signings, and instead looked at the most value for money deals on paper.

 

[Fulham Broadway 17,552]

Both were good at Brighton and Ipswich - but their attributes of composure, scoring ability from different situations, and hold up play are not what we have experienced over the last couple of decades from the likes of Zola, Costa, Crespo, Drogba. Back in the day we'd go all out to get the bloke who humiliated us. Now it seems, ''he'll do'' or as @Blue Armour suggests the most value for a certain agreed budget

They also are behind in terms of tactical awareness, and that underated top striker quality -guile, which you cant teach

[Mário César 1,396]

I said that jackson is better than him

out transfer police is a joke

departue of nico, madueke and sancho and we brought gittsen, garnacho, delap and estevao

we downgrade our attack. only estevao looks solid but even him need time to adapt

what a joke

[Fulham Broadway 17,552]

2 hours ago, Mário César said:

transfer police

Keystone cops ?

[Mário César 1,396]

33 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Keystone cops ?

eheeh

[Vesper 30,672]

Could this be the turning point in Liam Delap’s time at Chelsea?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6952802/2026/01/08/liam-delap-Chelsea-fulham-analysis/

More than 200 days after completing his move from Ipswich Town, is Liam Delap finally finding his feet at Chelsea?

One of the most significant moments of Delap’s Stamford Bridge career so far came early in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August, when he pulled up, grimacing, with the hamstring injury that would rule him out for two months. He will hope the reverse fixture on Wednesday, though overshadowed by a 2-1 defeat, will also be a turning point in his story at this club.

Delap’s Chelsea career has not started as anyone hoped. When he swivelled and fired home Chelsea’s then-equaliser in the 72nd minute at Craven Cottage, it ended an 18-game run without a goal for him in the Premier League — stretching back to scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers for Ipswich in April. It is his second goal outside of the Club World Cup for Chelsea, adding to one scored in the 3-0 Champions League win against Barcelona in November.

Delap’s absence throughout September and October as he recovered from that hamstring injury, followed by another layoff with a shoulder problem in December, has meant he has not put together any consistent form. Until Wednesday he had yet to complete a full match this season.

For a striker who shone for relegated Ipswich last season, and who drew interest from multiple Premier League sides this summer, the numbers were not adding up. Undoubtedly, that was mostly due to injury, but Delap has also not helped himself at times. His return from injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup was cut short by a red card Enzo Maresca described as “embarrassing”. He has picked up two yellow cards since, including one within two minutes of being introduced against Aston Villa.

As incoming head coach Liam Rosenior, who is already familiar with Delap after coaching him on loan at Hull City in 2023-24, watched from the stands at Craven Cottage, he will have picked up on numerous problems he needs to address quickly at Cobham. One of the positives he can pluck out of that defeat, though, is that Delap is finally beginning to look like the player Chelsea paid £30m for in June.

Delap the target man started to emerge as a more effective force in November and December, showing his ability to agitate defenders, hold up the ball with his back to goal, and link up with his wingers. But that was inconsistent, shown only in glimpses, and more importantly, Delap the finisher was nowhere to be found. He appeared isolated at times, generating little in the way of clear-cut opportunities, and that frustration showed in ill-discipline.

Delap scores from a corner against FulhamMike Hewitt/Getty Images

Wednesday’s game at Fulham was the first time that fans have seen Delap the target man and Delap the finisher and technician really appear.

Far from appearing isolated, he was involved in more attacking sequences than any other player on the pitch — particularly impressive given that Chelsea were down to 10 men for most of the game. That often involved dropping off and holding up the ball before teeing up an onrushing colleague. As Delap has built his minutes back up after injury, he is growing more vocal and more enterprising in his off-the-ball movement to capitalise on space in behind.

When Marc Cucurella was sent off in the 22nd minute, it could have turned into another frustrating and isolated evening for Delap — but he continued to occupy Fulham’s back line and pulled his weight defensively, too, ranking fourth for defensive actions.

Before his goal, Delap’s best moment came late in the first half. With his back to goal and Joachim Andersen grappling with him near the halfway line, the striker kept his feet rather than go to ground for a free-kick. He turned Andersen and pulled away from him and Sander Berge to create a counter-attack that eventually saw Cole Palmer’s effort saved.

It encapsulated what a fit, firing Delap can add to Chelsea’s build-up; then, in the second half, he added the end product. He had already run through on goal after linking up with Palmer, but was denied by Bernd Leno. It was eventually from a corner that he found the breakthrough, turning home Pedro Neto’s delivery after it rebounded from the post. It was a close-range finish, but he reacted well to lose his marker and convert first-time with his body at an awkward angle.

That goal should also help Delap bond with a fanbase he has not been able to share much celebration with this season. His goal against Barcelona was welcome but ultimately a cherry on top of what had already been a superb performance; this time, he looked to have actually won Chelsea a point and celebrated fervently with the away end. Harry Wilson’s superb late winner left Delap’s goal ultimately as a consolation — but in the moment, it meant more.

This is only a start. There are still areas to work on: Delap was not booked but committed three fouls, the joint-most on the pitch. His output from open play can improve. But now, with a clean slate and working with a manager under whom he has blossomed before, things are certainly looking up.

“I thought Liam was brilliant when he came on at the Etihad,” said interim manager Calum McFarlane after Wednesday’s match. “You can see that he had the bit between his teeth against his old side. He gave us a real outlet. His link-up play, his hold-up play was exceptional. Tough circumstances tonight, being the single No 9 down to 10 men. But even then, you see him fight, bully, control centre-backs and get us up the pitch.

“He had a big chance that he’ll be disappointed to miss, which was great play from him and Cole linking up.

“I’m delighted he got his goal. He deserves it. He’ll take confidence from that, and I hope his performances stay at this level.”

Delap is still far from the finished product — but 217 days after he joined the club, it feels as though he is really getting started.

By Cerys Jones

Football Writer

[OneMoSalah 9,011]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

Could this be the turning point in Liam Delap’s time at Chelsea?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6952802/2026/01/08/liam-delap-Chelsea-fulham-analysis/

More than 200 days after completing his move from Ipswich Town, is Liam Delap finally finding his feet at Chelsea?

One of the most significant moments of Delap’s Stamford Bridge career so far came early in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August, when he pulled up, grimacing, with the hamstring injury that would rule him out for two months. He will hope the reverse fixture on Wednesday, though overshadowed by a 2-1 defeat, will also be a turning point in his story at this club.

Delap’s Chelsea career has not started as anyone hoped. When he swivelled and fired home Chelsea’s then-equaliser in the 72nd minute at Craven Cottage, it ended an 18-game run without a goal for him in the Premier League — stretching back to scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers for Ipswich in April. It is his second goal outside of the Club World Cup for Chelsea, adding to one scored in the 3-0 Champions League win against Barcelona in November.

Delap’s absence throughout September and October as he recovered from that hamstring injury, followed by another layoff with a shoulder problem in December, has meant he has not put together any consistent form. Until Wednesday he had yet to complete a full match this season.

For a striker who shone for relegated Ipswich last season, and who drew interest from multiple Premier League sides this summer, the numbers were not adding up. Undoubtedly, that was mostly due to injury, but Delap has also not helped himself at times. His return from injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup was cut short by a red card Enzo Maresca described as “embarrassing”. He has picked up two yellow cards since, including one within two minutes of being introduced against Aston Villa.

As incoming head coach Liam Rosenior, who is already familiar with Delap after coaching him on loan at Hull City in 2023-24, watched from the stands at Craven Cottage, he will have picked up on numerous problems he needs to address quickly at Cobham. One of the positives he can pluck out of that defeat, though, is that Delap is finally beginning to look like the player Chelsea paid £30m for in June.

Delap the target man started to emerge as a more effective force in November and December, showing his ability to agitate defenders, hold up the ball with his back to goal, and link up with his wingers. But that was inconsistent, shown only in glimpses, and more importantly, Delap the finisher was nowhere to be found. He appeared isolated at times, generating little in the way of clear-cut opportunities, and that frustration showed in ill-discipline.

Delap scores from a corner against FulhamMike Hewitt/Getty Images

Wednesday’s game at Fulham was the first time that fans have seen Delap the target man and Delap the finisher and technician really appear.

Far from appearing isolated, he was involved in more attacking sequences than any other player on the pitch — particularly impressive given that Chelsea were down to 10 men for most of the game. That often involved dropping off and holding up the ball before teeing up an onrushing colleague. As Delap has built his minutes back up after injury, he is growing more vocal and more enterprising in his off-the-ball movement to capitalise on space in behind.

When Marc Cucurella was sent off in the 22nd minute, it could have turned into another frustrating and isolated evening for Delap — but he continued to occupy Fulham’s back line and pulled his weight defensively, too, ranking fourth for defensive actions.

Before his goal, Delap’s best moment came late in the first half. With his back to goal and Joachim Andersen grappling with him near the halfway line, the striker kept his feet rather than go to ground for a free-kick. He turned Andersen and pulled away from him and Sander Berge to create a counter-attack that eventually saw Cole Palmer’s effort saved.

It encapsulated what a fit, firing Delap can add to Chelsea’s build-up; then, in the second half, he added the end product. He had already run through on goal after linking up with Palmer, but was denied by Bernd Leno. It was eventually from a corner that he found the breakthrough, turning home Pedro Neto’s delivery after it rebounded from the post. It was a close-range finish, but he reacted well to lose his marker and convert first-time with his body at an awkward angle.

That goal should also help Delap bond with a fanbase he has not been able to share much celebration with this season. His goal against Barcelona was welcome but ultimately a cherry on top of what had already been a superb performance; this time, he looked to have actually won Chelsea a point and celebrated fervently with the away end. Harry Wilson’s superb late winner left Delap’s goal ultimately as a consolation — but in the moment, it meant more.

This is only a start. There are still areas to work on: Delap was not booked but committed three fouls, the joint-most on the pitch. His output from open play can improve. But now, with a clean slate and working with a manager under whom he has blossomed before, things are certainly looking up.

“I thought Liam was brilliant when he came on at the Etihad,” said interim manager Calum McFarlane after Wednesday’s match. “You can see that he had the bit between his teeth against his old side. He gave us a real outlet. His link-up play, his hold-up play was exceptional. Tough circumstances tonight, being the single No 9 down to 10 men. But even then, you see him fight, bully, control centre-backs and get us up the pitch.

“He had a big chance that he’ll be disappointed to miss, which was great play from him and Cole linking up.

“I’m delighted he got his goal. He deserves it. He’ll take confidence from that, and I hope his performances stay at this level.”

Delap is still far from the finished product — but 217 days after he joined the club, it feels as though he is really getting started.

By Cerys Jones

Football Writer

Does BlueCo or Boehly own the NY Times 🤣?

Not sure if it’s a coincidence or not but they always post a lot of pro/positive/optimistic Chelsea articles when things are going shite. 

[Fulham Broadway 17,552]

26 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Does BlueCo or Boehly own the NY Times 🤣?

Not sure if it’s a coincidence or not but they always post a lot of pro/positive/optimistic Chelsea articles when things are going shite. 

There was always a subtantial Chelsea following in New York, even pre Abramovich, several bars used to show our games.

But yes, there will be more of this seeing as so many Americans have invested in PL, pays good dividends apparently

We'll probably see a ramping up of all things Saaaacer now in US media seeing as theyre hosting the 'World Series Trump Cup sponsored by Venezuela Oil and Greenland minerals'

[nyikolajevics 2,772]

1 minute ago, Fulham Broadway said:

There was always a subtantial Chelsea following in New York, even pre Abramovich, several bars used to show our games.

 

Why is that? Because there is Chelsea neighbourhood in NYC?

[Fulham Broadway 17,552]

Just now, nyikolajevics said:

Why is that? Because there is Chelsea neighbourhood in NYC?

Not sure tbh. Thats not to say they dont affiliate with other clubs as well, but Chelsea back in the day were the club of choice. Chelsea hotel ?

Early 80s we ran an unofficial Chelsea away supporters club, (threatened with legal action by the club, long story), my point being people came from Cornwall, Devon etc, and two guys used to fly over from New York every two weeks to join us. Proper commitment !

[Strike 7,673]

1 hour ago, nyikolajevics said:

Why is that? Because there is Chelsea neighbourhood in NYC?

Because there are British expats here. Enough of them to fill a bar on 33rd street during the big games + Chelsea has marketed in the US in the recent past after the successes in the Roman era.

Fwiw Chicago has a sizable Chelsea following too that gathered to watch the draw vs City.