Almost a billion pounds spent on new players, and still no win so far in the 2023 / 24 season. Pochettino seems the right choice as manager, and there were a lot of positive signs pre season and against Liverpool. With the signings of Caicedo and Lavia, the warning signs were there today however when the team against West Ham had Gallagher playing deep midfield again, and the manager sowed his own problems there. Gallagher is a great player, but further forward. As the season progresses, there should in theory be a solid base to work from, but as with the start of last season, there seems to be too much reliance on Sterling up front, James looks as though he will play 50% of the time at best, and goals could be a problem again. Jackson looks a great all round team player, but goals have never been his strongest point, and with Nkunku injured and Broja not a regular goal scorer, problems scoring could persist this season as with last season. Hope I'm wrong but a top four finish could be out of reach.
We need to remember it’s still very early days under Pochettino and we just need to be patient. It’s easy to get carried away after the loss to West Ham but the performances in the first two games have been good and there have been plenty of positives to take away. Unfortunately, we’re a young side now and it’s games like yesterday where experience usually sees you through. West Ham had no right to still be in the game at half time but we conceded some sloppy goals and the whole momentum shifted. As much as Colwill has been hyped up, he’s still only 20 and he will make mistakes. You could argue he was at fault for both the first (he should have made a clearer passing angle but instead we give away a soft corner) and second goals yesterday. He does look like he has potential to become an elite player but it’s reminder the young players will make mistakes. James, Nkunku and Fofana are tough long injuries to take but we are where we are. It’s typical Chukwuekmeka has gone and got himself injured too because he was also showing flashes of his potential and these minutes would have been great for his development. It’s still too early to write off Mudryk but I just can’t get over how far from the required level he looks. He had moments where he shows some nice footwork but the majority of the time he doesn’t even look natural on ball when in possession. Caicedo couldn’t of had a worse debut but he’s well behind with his preseason minutes and sharpness after forcing a move away from Brighton. Once he gets up to speed he’ll be a huge boost to the starting XI I’m sure.
Said it already, I don't believe Pochettino is the manager who will get you silverware or success in the short term. And I don't believe Boehly & co will allow him time, even if he was the man to take you there in the medium to long term, which is still up for debate anyway, or at least for me. I suspect you will have a half decent campaign, but no top 4 or silverware. With the money spent, will Pochettino be allowed to deliver that and keep his job? It's clear from the buying policy, success is expected, and fast. Actually, not just expected, it's required or you will run foul of FFP judging by some comments on here.
I can't see how they wouldn't fall foul of FFP with the amount of money spent Vs the amount being brought in if they fail to reach the top 4. They don't have a big ground bringing loads of revenue in either. Can't imagine a 6th place, maybe win a cup transitional season would be acceptable. But realistically looks like probably the best scenario right now.
Out of curiosity, who do you think we should have appointed as manager? It doesn’t seem you’re keen on many managers! Ha
He could be a good choice, given time. My reservations about his suitability relates to whether that will happen, nothing from the new owners suggest so far that he will be given it. They have painted themselves into a corner and set up a scenario where time isn't an option. So the next question is whether he's the type of manager, when the competition for top 4 and domestic cups is so fierce, who can come in, make an immediate impact and, juggling the team issues the owners have set upon him with so many players and the expectation following another massive spend, win silverware/finish top 4 this season. I don't believe he is when you look at what he's done, or more accurately not done, as a manager. As for who would be better, part of the issue Chelsea have is that no one springs to mind who is both available and would be willing to come to Chelsea. One of the issues with Chelsea's revolving door manager policy is finding someone good enough who hasn't already managed for you. Who is out there right now who could make an immediate impact and who hasn't already been there? I don't know in all honesty, but it doesn't detract from my Pochettino concerns regarding his suitability. Who would you have preferred, or are you happy with him and do you believe he will be given time?
Elephant in the room is Thiago Silva. I understand needing experience, but Antonio's goal came from a direct result of Silva stepping out of position and not even challenging. Deer caught in headlights. Feels like this 5 at the back system is made to protect Silva as he was holding hands with Disasi the entire match. This Chilwell at LW experiment also needs to end. Go back to what we did all of preseason, which was very promising in terms of structure and build up. We now have a midfield where we should be able to go back to this. Sanchez Gusto Disasi Colwill Chilwell Lavia Caicedo Enzo Mudryk---------Sterling Jackson
Saw a post somewhere on Twitter criticising the age profile of the squad and how expecting a team of young, but inexperienced footballers, grow all at the same time is a poor idea. Have to say I agree. The lack of proper experience in that entire squad. You can have all the talent in the world but going up against footballers with hundreds of top level appearances behind them is a huge challenge. Silva and Sterling are the only 2 with that experience, and Silva is 38 and should surely just be a squad option now.
I think Chilwell is left wing at the moment because Mudryk is still “not ready”. From what I’ve seen of him though he’s miles off being ready. I just don’t see this future Balon D’Or potential he supposedly has. Truth is when he came on we lost any ability to break West Ham down. Silva is no doubt also required to coach Colwill too tbf. I don’t think Disasi has been any worse then Colwill at this point. Neither have stood out so far though.
Then I'd put Sterling at LF close to Jackson and have Chilwell continue to make those overlapping runs. As much as I've discredited Disasi I don't see this as a young/inexperienced player when he has 200 appearances. Not to mention he and Badashile formed one of the best CB partnerships in France. Love the bloke but we really need to move on from Silva and stop babysitting him. If we are looking for an experienced winger that can also play CAM I'd like us to take a look at Sporting's Pedro Goncalves.
On the revolving door manager approach, to be fair, Real madrid have always had that approach and are the most successful club in world football. Plus, Chelsea won a large number of trophies with that approach under Abramovic.
Solutions to current misfiring start to the season. Bring in John Terry and Frank Lampard as coaches. They know the nitty gritty requirements for a team / squad to start winning consistently. The marginal adjustments that turn 0 - 0 draws into 1 - 0 wins. The way Ray Wilkins contributed during the Ancelotti era. Very successful players don't always make very good managers, but they can be very good coaches.
Sacked Tuchel. • Hired Potter and Lampard. • Spent £1B yet still lacking massively. Finished12th and now we’re 14th. • Medical team clearly not good enough. When are we going to start talking about what this ownership have done to Chelsea?
Following the last loss against Everton, the manager is in a difficult position and the Board should back him. There are some very worrying signs, including James who appeared to snub Pochettino when he left the pitch. Going forwards, the owners need to recognise their catalogue of mistakes in buying far, far too many young, promising players, and not allowing the manager significant input into transfers. Jackson is getting a lot of criticism for being too slow, and not taking chances first time. To be fair to him, it was obvious before he arrived that he is not a prolific goal scorer, but is a good all round player. He was never going to be the answer to the teams's goal scoring problems. Liverpool and Arsenal don't have a big marksman, but score goals, and Man City before Haaland scored freely without a big centre forward. The likes of Fernandez, Gallagher, Sterling and others should be contributing regularly with goals and are not. Defence is a problem, and the club needs to get back to basics and build from the back. Success started and continued with rocks at the back such as Terry, Cahill and Luiz (just about). That leadership with Silva's career coming to an end is just not there, and without a spine, a team has very little and could even finish in the bottom half of the table given the strength of the PL.
