The College Dropout

I disagree a bit. We can overwhelm them. But once they get it done and play we can struggle. We were so wobbly against 10 man when we beat them at the end of last season. And they kept sliding through us in December.

Not enough of a yes man I hope.

The squad is talented. Estevao is brilliant.

No offence but you sound entitled and deluded. but I’m not convinced you’re wrong about PIF. If we sack Howe we will see an era of mediocrity. Of that I’m so confident. IMO this season is about giving Howe a platform to succeed. The squad needs to be much improved. We need movement on infrastructure. We need to be a club on the up. This isn’t an Amorim situation where a decent coach gets an easy 15% improvement on the pitch. I don’t think there’s a massive underperformance happening. So this ‘has got x to turn it around’ just sounds silly to me. You think someone is going to come in and make this squad have CL form whilst competing on all these fronts? You’re deluded imo.

Everything counts on the pitch. It also literally counts in attracting players. Something we have been noticeably worse at since Staveley left. My fear with the recent hires is that they would just end up as a new suit walking around. Not enough power and influence on PIF. These new set of quotes from Eddie and Joelinton don’t help that fear.

Agreed. Maresca is a competent coach. Nothing spectacular. Not terrible. A system manager I think he’s blunted Palmer a bit but has pulled off some good results. Main thing is Chelsea leadership is terrible. They won’t have sustained success under these lot. They might fluke a Slot like title here or there but nothing like Roman era.

‘its now or never’

I said recently I thought the lack of progress was impacting the squad. The project feels like it’s stagnating and that will impact the players.

We. Are so dependent on his physicality to see games out. His ability to get around the pitch at good intensity. With Howe I’m pretty much ‘it is what it is ‘ with his tactics and management style. It’s pretty much proven and largely for me about whether we do it well or not rather than do it at all. But I do think being reliant on this physicality has a ceiling. I was thinking Wolte on for Joelinton to maybe play a bit more football would’ve been a good approach but like… that’s not Eddie’s style and he seemingly has no desire to pivot. And Joelinton was 100% needed to keep doing what we were doing good enough. I think Ramsey will need a full Howe pre season if he’s ever going to succeed here. He needs to up his physicality and presence in n a game. I think Anderson toook a year or so to get there but then injury disrupted him

Well we managed to fold to a weak Spurs team at home and we didn’t this time. Cleared one off the line. While we were bad the last line of defence got blocks in when it mattered. It wasn’t pretty but it was something. Under Howe we’ve always seen games out without the ball. Under Howe he’ll see us get battered and the plan is to ride it out as is. Scheduled subs. Our second half performances being bad is inexcusable mind

Thats never been his style though. We see games out - out of possession. And we create chances largely based on our of possession pressing. It’s worked for us but we aren’t doing it well at the moment. We also can’t defend well if the press doesn’t work. Previously we could grind out clean sheets

Thing is… the style is the same but we are doing it badly. Today we won and showed some of that grit we’ve been missing. I do think we are in need of a tactical tweak or something that gives us a new lease of life. We look second best physically too often.

He’s 10% off. He’s doing more aimless pass forwards to nobody than usual. Which led to the 3rd funnily enough. Most of the team are off it tbf and Tonali is one.

We’ll play 8–10 more games than 12 other teams in the division. And less equipped to play those 8–10 games than 6 of those in Europe. The squad isn’t good enough to do that and still finish 5th.

We also didn’t create anything and barely forced a save. The stats tell the truth of the game. We had a lot more of the ball and pressure through getting corners. But managed less shots on target than them. Thats congruent with our entire season. Not strong enough or good enough at both ends of the pitch.

He’s also the one all the scrutiny is on at the moment. We can’t get to year 5 without announcements on the stadium and training ground.

Btw this was the profile I thought we were getting with Elanga and I was happy with that. But so far he looks subpar technically and weak mentally.

Not having a CEO for 6 months is another example of PIF inertia PIF are known for stating grand ambitions and then just moving slowly to realise a smaller scope. Maybe it was hating but there was some surprise at how competent and quick they weee moving with us. Based on the Saudi league, what has happened to us over the last year or so - that urgency and competency came from Staveley. I said 3 months ago, 6 months ago this could all be proven wrong by some announcements. But the announcements just keep getting pushed back.

By ball possession I think he means with the ball at his feet. For an extremely quick winger he’s not elite 1v1 or on the dribble, not a greatly progressive or creative passer, not a great ball striker. I agree his first touch is good and he’s solid technically. Thats why he doesn’t look out of place for England the way Murphy would. But he can’t beat a man like Kudus, cross consistently like Murphy, play incisive passes like Olise or strike a ball like Rashford. His USP is physical and mental. Not technical.

Not true of infrastructure It doesn’t take 4 years to make a decision to renovate the Gallowgate or find land for a new training complex.

It’s been 4 years right? City Campus started building after 4 years. Firm announcements after 3 years. Everyone at the club can see the lack of progress on these fronts. It won’t feel like the same place.

Yep. I'm largely ok with that as long as he plays with intensity. I think some of us thought he was better than he is. He's proving he's unlikely to play with that edge he has day in day out, month in month out year in year out. That's what i've realised over the last 18 months. He doesn't have that consistent mental edge a Keane had.

I'm impressed with their ability to be shit and good at the same time.

We also need to start Barnes more. Barnes and Wissa are the best finishers and players around the box at the club. Wolte is still learning to be a 9 and Gordon isn’t a great finisher

He was so shit last season in a contract year. He’s been scoring the kind of goals we’ve been crying out for mind. Wolfe needs to learn he has to be attacking balls I to the box every single time not looking for cutbacks. A quick mobile centre forward that can press opposition and attack the box is the Howe blueprint. Think Wissa offers us that and a massive leap to boooot.