Chelsea: #WORLDCHAMPS l Welcome, Buonanotte & Garnacho!

[stormi]

[Baseline81]

Class act from Chelsea.

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[Clav]

I haven't posted in this forum much but I'm really excited about this year's campaign, we seem to have a very sharp squad and the two friendly matches we looked really confident in attack from our summer's work. Defense was handy as well but Milan definitely had moments squandered away. Will check back on Sunday... But here's to a great season! COYB UTC!

Saturday night looks like I'll be up late - and it's a 6AM start time for me on the US West coast, ha! idk if I can catch it live.

[stormi]

A draw against Palace isn't the worst result in the world, they just turned a full-strength Liverpool side into a kebab in a final a few days back. Glasner is one of the best in the business.

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The greater issue is how we're going to be able to play Maresca-ball without Levi Colwill. The only players to clock 3K(+) minutes in the league for us last season were:

1) Moises Caicedo
2) Cole Palmer
3) Levi Colwill

His undroppables.

Losing arguably the most progressive passing and comfortable under-duress CB in the world and replacing him with Chalobah is a decline the English language cannot comprehend. We played our best football when we were able to invite press & play through it comfortably, allowing us to leverage pressure into numerical advantages. Simulated transitions. Colwill was not only central to that idea, but the dream profile considering he could also defend in space & defend wide zones. He along with Cucurella carried our backline last season.

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With Mamadou Sarr on loan at Strasbourg + Colwill and Tosin injured we're in a huge problem. Caps us in a fight for 4th/5th this season at best.



What I noticed is due to Chalobah's inability to play progressively, our wingers were suffocated and our midfielders had to drop extremely deep to aid the progression that was lacking. We couldn't get the ball into our midfield and had to settle for side-to-side 'U' shape progression. For peace of mind I'll decide to give Palace a lot of the credit for the performance but it's something that I'm side eyeing going forward.

[Baseline81]

A draw against Palace isn't the worst result in the world, they just turned a full-strength Liverpool side into a kebab in a final a few days back. Glasner is one of the best in the business.

By all means, continue to embellish, stormi.

Liverpool were up 1-0 and 2-1 only to lose the match on penalties. And by the way, Liverpool were not at full strength -- Gravenberch, young player of the 2024-25 season, was not included in the squad due to the birth of his first child. Please note the game took place on a neutral site, whereas today, you couldn't put one past Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

[stormi]

For some positives, Estevao looked lively and Acheampong has a ridiculous ceiling. 19 year old CB, 11/14 duels won & kept a clean sheet while battling with Mateta.

He's the crown jewel of our academy at the moment.

In terms of build-up dynamics, once Uncle Tosin is fit I'm thinking we have to operate with:



Hato LCB primarily with Tosin centrally and Josh wide and then James or Cucurella in midfield the way Maresca likes to play. 3-box-3.

Allows for set-piece dominance with Tosin and Acheampong, and the ability to play über-progressively with Hato & Tosin on the ball.

[stormi]

A draw against Palace isn't the worst result in the world, they just turned a full-strength Liverpool side into a kebab in a final a few days back. Glasner is one of the best in the business.

By all means, continue to embellish, stormi.

Liverpool were up 1-0 and 2-1 only to lose the match on penalties. And by the way, Liverpool were not at full strength -- Gravenberch, young player of the 2024-25 season, was not included in the squad due to the birth of his first child. Please note the game took place on a neutral site, whereas today, you couldn't put one past Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

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Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. Or so they say.

[Baseline81]

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Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. Or so they say.

Wise of you not to challenge me on your "full-strength Liverpool" comment.

As to the expected goals, there have been countless amount of matches where that has happened, but that doesn't equivalate to turning a club into a kebab. Liverpool defeating Manchester United 7-0 a few seasons ago would.

Chelsea were very lucky Eze's goal didn't stand. I agree, by letter of the law, it should be ruled out. However, it's not like an attacker hasn't been within one metre of a wall on a free kick in the last six years, according to ESPN. Numerous tweets have shown similar incidents from last year but not called.

In fact, back in January on the very ground, AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was furious that a late Chelsea free kick, which earned the home side a 2-2 draw, wasn't ruled out. Marc Cucurella moved into Antoine Semenyo on the end of the Bournemouth wall, but the goal stood.

[stormi]

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Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. Or so they say.

tl;dr
mindless yapping

Was very obviously a foul and an illegal play by Guéhi. Contribute to this thread in non-trolling manner, or bounce. We outplayed Palace, Palace popped you off the pitch with your complete team and paraded a trophy in your face. Accept defeat with humility.

Your entire backline was there. Alisson was there. Salah was there. Your £100 million striker was there, your £150 million German Dewsbury-Hall was on the pitch rotting.

edit ... let's not get too personal in here
- Magiko

[stormi]

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We're coming son, and you're going to change my life.

[Baseline81]

edit
-Magiko ...check PMs

[Clav]

things are dramatic in the first 20 minutes .... come on now

[Clav]

things are dramatic in the first 20 minutes .... come on now

they definitely turned it around lol

[Foye]

Estevao will be a monster signing. Guy is really good.
Probably still needs a little time to unleash his full potential though.

[Baseline81]

With Chelsea having agreed a fee with Manchester United for Garnacho, I found this number shocking:

Chelsea will have spent more than £500m, including add-on clauses, on wingers in just over three years since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce35rlzxz9ro

[Baseline81]

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We're coming son, and you're going to change my life.

Life change on hold, stormi.

Simons has gone to Tottenham.

[magik9113]

someone's gonna have to check on our guy Stormi fr

[stormi]

Two great performances to have us second in the league heading into a MUCH needed intl break. Players are banged up, and we've had a short rest period following the ending of last season.

It's a shame that our players are going to fly across the world to compete some more, but I'm just hoping they don't feature very much if, at all and can remain in good shape.

In terms of underlying metrics, we've been quite dominant so far this season, albeit a lighter start. Draw against Palace and Ollie Glasner looks better every single week, they're no slouch.

First in the league on expected points: https://understat.com/league/EPL

Most possession in the league, most Big Chances Created in the league (by four), tied for the best defensive record in the league: https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/47/stats/premier-league/teams

Maresca is doing a great job without Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill. Hope to see the momentum continue into the second month of the season.

Revelation of the season so far for me outside of the inevitable Caicedo is Mr. João Pedro. Tied for the league lead in G+A this season with four already. Does everything. Elite link-up, works tirelessly out of possession, creates chances and finishes.

Something about that leap... haven't seen anything like that in Blue since a certain Ivorian.

[stormi]

Close to a chaotic window

Big disappointments were that we couldn't get Fermín or Huijsen over the line.

I think we've made some interesting additions, a lot of profiles for the manager to work with, have to let these marinate as they're extremely young players.

In terms of outgoings, this price is just bonkers, although I'm not sure if that "obligation" is a genuine. We weren't willing to let Jackson go unless it was a permanent deal so I guess we'll see. I think he'll do really well there regardless. There's more space in Germany and that team is much more complimentary to his playstyle. Jackson and Kane playing off each other with Olise and Diaz on the flanks is nightmarish.

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Shame the George deal fell through. Getting permanent moves for players like Broja, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell & Nkunku was fantastic. Clearing out a lot of the clutter at the club.

Now, we can finally focus on football again.

[stormi]

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So excited about Buonanotte!