comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 6 minutes ago

Martinelli saves Arsenal
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Really good player that guy.

He's an example of a really good squadie. Come in the team when he's on a purple patch, then just phase him out when he cools down & wait for another one.

My hope is Mudryk fills that role for us at some point.

comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 6 minutes ago

Martinelli saves Arsenal
--------------------------------------------------------
Really good player that guy.

He's an example of a really good squadie. Come in the team when he's on a purple patch, then just phase him out when he cools down & wait for another one.

My hope is Mudryk fills that role for us at some point.
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He reminds me of how SAF used to use Nani or Wenger using Reyes

I don't really subscribe to this idea of an uber competitive squad with 20-25 starting calibre players all competing with each other. You need a hierarchy of sorts so everyone knows their roles & the group stay united.

Players like that, Nani was a very good example, make that work.

comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by T.J (U15973)
posted 4 minutes ago
Arteta has managed to find a position for him in the team. I think we tried everything with him but couldn't get it to work.
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I think he was one of our better players under Tuchel in the 3-4-3.
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Yeah he worked well in that system, improved his goal return with Arsenal though.

Saka saves Arsenal !

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 15 seconds ago

Saka saves Arsenal !
-------------------------------------------------------
Really overrated player that guy

Southampton have pretty much caused all their own problems - been so poor playing out from the back.

comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 41 seconds ago

Southampton have pretty much caused all their own problems - been so poor playing out from the back.
--------------------------------------------------
I wonder if Ian Holloway realized the degree of trail he blazed with that Blackpool team?

Every bog standard team promoted now think they can play saucey football

City made to sweat, can see they look disjointed without Rodri

comment by T.J (U15973)
posted 1 minute ago
City made to sweat, can see they look disjointed without Rodri
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Fulham looked a v. decent side though. Can see them causing a few upsets this season

comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 41 seconds ago

Southampton have pretty much caused all their own problems - been so poor playing out from the back.
--------------------------------------------------
I wonder if Ian Holloway realized the degree of trail he blazed with that Blackpool team?

Every bog standard team promoted now think they can play saucey football
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Swansea was another - can't remember any of their players leaving the club and doing very much after

comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by T.J (U15973)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted 32 seconds ago
Havertz saves Arsenal
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Become very reliable for them
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I prefer not to speak.
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Well you said the other day that he wasn't great for us apart from his CL Final goal. And that we did well recouping the huge fee we initially paid for him. So you've said what you needed to I think
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I said he was a mixed bag, but far from our worse player or an outright flop, even if I think selling him made sense.

Don't want to get into a row over it again, but I feel pretty vindicated by his performances at Arsenal, and the fact it's taken a lot more than selling him for us to come good.
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Vindicated about what though ? We weren't crap because of Havertz. We could all see here that on his day he's a highly skilful player. He just didn't do the business here on a remotely consistent basis. It happens, not all good players suit the club they're at. Bergkamp didn't do well at Inter but then found a home at Arsenal as well.

I don't remember anyone here saying Havertz was our worst player or an outright flop. There was plenty of frustration because we paid a fortune for him and we could all see that there was a player in there. But at times he was awful for us, no getting away from it. In his defence he played in some awful teams as well.

And I think that kind of sums Havertz up fairly well. In a great team with top players around him he'll shine and his many attributes come to the fore.

Arsenal paid a huge amount of money for Havertz and so far it's paying dividends. Good for them. In Arteta they clearly have a really good manager who's making it all work there.

Would be good if we can one day stop bringing up Havertz all the time on here though 😂.

comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 17 minutes ago

comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 41 seconds ago

Southampton have pretty much caused all their own problems - been so poor playing out from the back.
--------------------------------------------------
I wonder if Ian Holloway realized the degree of trail he blazed with that Blackpool team?

Every bog standard team promoted now think they can play saucey football
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Swansea was another - can't remember any of their players leaving the club and doing very much after
------------------------------------------------
Yeah Swansea's managers always got the rub more than their players. Allen did well at Liverpool but I can't remember any others.

I can't remember who was first - Blackpool or Swansea? Cos they were the main two that started the trend.

Swansea were pretty good for a few years though. Blackpool were a shambles.

Michu 🔥

comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 5 hours, 57 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 5 hours, 47 minutes ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted about 6 hours ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 2 hours, 57 minutes ago
comment by T.J (U15973)
posted 3 hours, 27 minutes ago
A true test of where this team is at
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Or a good chance for the moaners to come out of the woodwork and have a good moan if we struggle in those games. Haven't been enough good moaning opportunities so far this season
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Superb out for blood
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It shd be about objectivity, not partizan bs out of skip with reality.

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Why should it be? That feels like it takes the joy out of everything with regards to following a sports team. You should be able to let go of reality for a bit. Or even hope for the best even if you don’t quite believe it.

Genuine question for you: have you given up trying to enjoy Chelsea this season? From your comments it feels like your general disdain for the owners has made you a bit bitter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There is plenty to enjoy when we have a player like Palmer in our team. There is just not enough evidence yet to have expectations for this season, so when I see comments about how much better we are than last season I just find such views incomprehensible given the sample size and opposition quality so far.

As someone posted earlier,the next four or five games are going to provide the hard evidence of where we are and what this team can achieve this season under the new manager.

I don't think expectations reflect someone's ability to be happy or express joy.

On the contrary, if we slip up tomorrow - which is very possible - people with fewer expectations this season will be much more chill about it than others.

comment by NPE - Maresca's Minions (U22712)
posted about an hour ago
I don't think expectations reflect someone's ability to be happy or express joy.

On the contrary, if we slip up tomorrow - which is very possible - people with fewer expectations this season will be much more chill about it than others.
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Spot on!

Cole Palmer is great and we should all be very happy that he's in the team but I think there's more to enjoy than just Palmer in this team. Outside of the Wolves and Brighton games I think Palmer's actually been fairly quiet in most other games this season. In fact he's only registered 1 goal and 1 assist in those four other PL games this season.

Think there are plenty of other players in the team and squad that I can say I've enjoyed watching in parts this season. Sancho looks like a significant improvement on Mudryk. Madueke has been good in patches, particularly in that Wolves game scoring a hatrick. Caicedo is looking the real deal in midfield as is Lavia in the times we've seen him. Nkunku as well of course, who's already scored seven goals.

It's obviously very early days but based on what we have to go on so far the signs are promising and the football has been entertaining enough to watch.

In direct comparison to last season after 6 PL matches we already have 8 points more than we did this time last season. We currently have 13 points compared to the 5 points we had this time last season. And interestingly we have exactly the same points as we did after six games in Tuchel's first full season here.

The next four or five games are going to be tough, no doubt. Especially as we have to play two of the best three teams in the division. Not to mention facing a Forest side tomorrow who beat Liverpool at Anfield. But when aren't games tough in the PL really. It's always tough lol.

Adama Traore vs City 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Chelsea are bringing in African scouts and scouts in places where might not be looked at as much to try and be as global as possible to try and find young gems. (@JacobsBen via @ConnCFC space) #CFC

Chelsea concerned by Kendry Paez performances

However, according to Football Insider, the Blues’ backroom staff are “very worried” ahead of the midfielder’s arrival after a series of underwhelming performances have raised the alarm.

Anxious over the midfielder’s performances, Chelsea’s coaches have been ‘scrutinising’ footage of the midfielder amid concerns he is not up to the standards the notoriously unforgiving Premier League demands.

Chelsea are looking to activate 18-year-old Santos sensation Joao Pedro Chermont release clause in January, around £58 million

Chelsea are monitoring Hellas Verona midfielder Reda Belhayne. The 20-year-old is something of an unknown quantity in Serie A after signing from Nice in January, but has so far impressed in Serie A this season and has caught the attention of Chelsea's recruitment team.