Chelsea 2026/27 - Definitely going to win the league.

Rooney in Paris said:
And anyone with a couple of braincells.

You can support a club and have the lucidity to see them for what they are.

But I liked your "feck Monaco and the world" post, so...
Click to expand...

He took exception to the sentence 'Chelsea honoured their word' because it had the word honour in it. He can argue with a dictionary if he has a problem with the definition in that context.
 
WeePat said:
He took exception to the sentence 'Chelsea honoured their word' because it had the word honour in it. He can argue with a dictionary if he has a problem with the definition in that context.
Click to expand...
I mean, you're evidently being wilfully obtuse about this with this silly mention of a "dictionary" (wow, burn) when the point that poster was making was pretty clear.
 
OverratedOpinion said:
Isn't James seen as a midfielder for you these days?
Click to expand...
James can play any where from RCB to RB to RWB to Right Midfielder and can be world class in that position. Again only if he stays fit and that's rarely happen these days.
 
I think Barco will be fine for them in midfield if they actually start him there. But they're going to miss Enzo's 10 goals from last season. Cant see Caicedo, James or Barco getting 8 goals from open play. So they'll need Palmer and the wingers to score a lot more than last season
 
Rajiztar said:
James can play any where from RCB to RB to RWB to Right Midfielder and can be world class in that position. Again only if he stays fit and that's rarely happen these days.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't fancy him as a wing back. He'd end up injured by half time
 
Rooney in Paris said:
I mean, you're evidently being wilfully obtuse about this with this silly mention of a "dictionary" (wow, burn) when the point that poster was making was pretty clear.
Click to expand...

I mean this isn't really an argument I'm particularly interested this early in the day, but no, his point was clear, Chelsea needed the sale so couldn't back out of the Enzo deal. I'm not being wilfully obtuse, his point isn't rocket science. I chose not to respond to that bit because it is a well beaten drum and that particular poster is a single issue poster in Chelsea related threads, but I found it funny that he took except to the words 'honoured their word' when that's what not going back on your word means when the tweet could have said 'Chelsea stuck to their word' and it wouldn't have triggered him.
 
Ekeke said:
I think Barco will be fine for them in midfield if they actually start him there. But they're going to miss Enzo's 10 goals from last season. Cant see Caicedo, James or Barco getting 8 goals from open play. So they'll need Palmer and the wingers to score a lot more than last season
Click to expand...

Enzo's goals is probably covered by Rogers. If we can get the midfield balance right and get more goals from elsewhere, we might just be alright. It's a wait and see game now though.
 
Ekeke said:
I think Barco will be fine for them in midfield if they actually start him there. But they're going to miss Enzo's 10 goals from last season. Cant see Caicedo, James or Barco getting 8 goals from open play. So they'll need Palmer and the wingers to score a lot more than last season
Click to expand...
Enzo for us mostly occupied in left half space and we brought in rogers to give that attacking push and attacking wise I think rogers better than Enzo. With fit palmer we will buy few more goals. Neto by the evident as wing back he will see lot more opportunity to score goals. Pedro in form so getting goals won't be a worry.

Alonso trusted gusto in the midfield in caicedo s absence. So he already utilising the squad and filling the gaps. Will see when every one fit how we look like.
 
Rajiztar said:
Enzo for us mostly occupied in left half space and we brought in rogers to give that attacking push and attacking wise I think rogers better than Enzo. With fit palmer we will buy few more goals. Neto by the evident as wing back he will see lot more opportunity to score goals. Pedro in form so getting goals won't be a worry.

Alonso trusted gusto in the midfield in caicedo s absence. So he already utilising the squad and filling the gaps. Will see when every one fit how we look like.
Click to expand...

Again I rate Barco above "filling the gaps". I think he will be at least as good as Andrey Santos was last season if he actually gets games. But if he only starts cup games and Lavia, or an out of position Gusto are playing... Yeah I dont see that being very good.

I've seen Neto get into positions to score a lot and miss, so while I can see him getting more than 5 goals I doubt its a lot higher than 2 more.

Yeah I think Rodgers will have the same or more end product playing as a #10 in the new formation as Enzo would have. But I think he would have good feeding the ball into the #10s from the DM positions. I dont think Caicedo and Lavia are going to do that very well. Barco could but might not be given the chance.
 
Ekeke said:
Again I rate Barco above "filling the gaps". I think he will be at least as good as Andrey Santos was last season if he actually gets games. But if he only starts cup games and Lavia, or an out of position Gusto are playing... Yeah I dont see that being very good.

I've seen Neto get into positions to score a lot and miss, so while I can see him getting more than 5 goals I doubt its a lot higher than 2 more.

Yeah I think Rodgers will have the same or more end product playing as a #10 in the new formation as Enzo would have. But I think he would have good feeding the ball into the #10s from the DM positions. I dont think Caicedo and Lavia are going to do that very well. Barco could but might not be given the chance.
Click to expand...
May be barco was played in Thursday and Alonso had to easing him in. He did arrive preseason lately as well.

Most chelsea fans wait for palestra debut in the league. Once palestra come in I think over all team will look good and covered in all positions for a team without europe.
 
GoonerBear said:
You think Utd finish above Chelsea this season?
Click to expand...
Hard to say but I wouldn’t be shocked at all. The one game a week does play a factor though, but I don’t think there’s much between those squads overall.
 
MaMa given red said:
Why is that a surprise? Chelsea don't normally finish above us.
Click to expand...

We're about even on who finished above who in the last 5 years, 10 years and 15 years. Would have to go back to 20 years to find a clear United advantage, 12 v 8.

But yeah, United could finish above Chelsea again this season. GoonerBear maybe just rates Chelsea higher.
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
Hard to say but I wouldn’t be shocked at all. The one game a week does play a factor though, but I don’t think there’s much between those squads overall.
Click to expand...

Fair play. As a 'neutral', I think I like Chelsea's squad over Utd's squad, although letting Enzo go without a replacement brings it a bit closer for me.

MaMa given red said:
Why is that a surprise? Chelsea don't normally finish above us.
Click to expand...

I wasn't saying it would be a surprise. I just wanted to ask the question to clarify his opinion.
 
GoonerBear said:
Fair play. As a 'neutral', I think I like Chelsea's squad over Utd's squad, although letting Enzo go without a replacement brings it a bit closer for me.



I wasn't saying it would be a surprise. I just wanted to ask the question to clarify his opinion.
Click to expand...
sorry if this isn’t the case but the Chelsea live in all feels abit reactionary and knee jerk to me. They have started reasonably well. Rodgers and Palmer are both good players but I’m not sure how they are much better than Utds options (Bruno, Cunha, Mbuemo).

If I did a combined 11 it would be this;

———————Lammens—————————
James—De Ligt——Martinez——Shaw???!
————Mainoo————Caicedo—————
Palmer—————Bruno———Cunha/Rodgers
—————————Pedro——————————

There are a number of toss ups in there for me which is why I think it’s much closer than people are making out!
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
sorry if this isn’t the case but the Chelsea live in all feels abit reactionary and knee jerk to me. They have started reasonably well. Rodgers and Palmer are both good players but I’m not sure how they are much better than Utds options (Bruno, Cunha, Mbuemo).

If I did a combined 11 it would be this;

———————Lammens—————————
James—De Ligt——Martinez——Shaw???!
————Mainoo————Caicedo—————
Palmer—————Bruno———Cunha/Rodgers
—————————Pedro——————————

There are a number of toss ups in there for me which is why I think it’s much closer than people are making out!
Click to expand...
James isn't a viable RB and Hato is definitely better than Shaw at this point.

Feels like the comparison is a bit stretched because the formations are so different. Also I think it's fair to say that apart from central midfield, Chelsea are deeper everywhere - which is a big advantage given that Chelsea already will play fewer games.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
James isn't a viable RB and Hato is definitely better than Shaw at this point.

Feels like the comparison is a bit stretched because the formations are so different. Also I think it's fair to say that apart from central midfield, Chelsea are deeper everywhere - which is a big advantage given that Chelsea already will play fewer games.
Click to expand...
Funny you say that but I don’t agree. If I did this with a second 11 there’d be more It’d players in there for me.
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
sorry if this isn’t the case but the Chelsea live in all feels abit reactionary and knee jerk to me. They have started reasonably well. Rodgers and Palmer are both good players but I’m not sure how they are much better than Utds options (Bruno, Cunha, Mbuemo).

If I did a combined 11 it would be this;

———————Lammens—————————
James—De Ligt——Martinez——Shaw???!
————Mainoo————Caicedo—————
Palmer—————Bruno———Cunha/Rodgers
—————————Pedro——————————

There are a number of toss ups in there for me which is why I think it’s much closer than people are making out!
Click to expand...

I'm glad you said there are a number of toss ups because my combined eleven would be (awkward comparison because we're a back 3 team now, so we have some specialists like Palestra)

Lammens
? Lacroix Martinez?
Mainoo Caicedo
Palmer Bruno Rogers
Pedro

The ? are, James doesn't really play RB much anymore. Gusto is alright but nothing special and Palestra more of a RWB than RB. Mazraoui might be a shout here. I don't rate Shaw anymore but we don't have a natural LB anymore, so I might actually prefer Hato there out of all the combined options.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
Penders
Gusto-Acheampong-Maguire-Chavarria
Lavia-Santos
Amad-Estevao-Quenda
Sesko

Something like that I'd reckon
Click to expand...
Lavia is wishful thinking though, much like De Ligt was on the previous posters. Tielemans should be in there given the actual level he's shown.

Quenda over Rashford is also wishful thinking, majority of us want Rashford gone, but he just has 28 G&A last season.
 
P-Nut said:
Lavia is wishful thinking though, much like De Ligt was on the previous posters. Tielemans should be in there given the actual level he's shown.

Quenda over Rashford is also wishful thinking, majority of us want Rashford gone, but he just has 28 G&A last season.
Click to expand...
Oh my assumption was Tielemans would be starting but actually that'd be Mainoo / Baleba of course. Agree that he should be in there then.

Regarding Rashford I had figured he was starting on the left for you with Cunha up top and personally I'd take Quenda over Dorgu at LW. I was more or less trying to limit myself to players who when everyone else is fit are on the bench but there will definitely be edge cases here and there
 
pascell said:
Looks like they have their work cut out signing Lamine Camara for next summer, as Liverpool have been linked with him already.
Click to expand...
Camara linked lately. We will move on from him if demand is higher than now. Wharton and Scott heavily linked with us even scott bid rejected by Bournemouth.
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
sorry if this isn’t the case but the Chelsea live in all feels abit reactionary and knee jerk to me. They have started reasonably well. Rodgers and Palmer are both good players but I’m not sure how they are much better than Utds options (Bruno, Cunha, Mbuemo).

If I did a combined 11 it would be this;

———————Lammens—————————
James—De Ligt——Martinez——Shaw???!
————Mainoo————Caicedo—————
Palmer—————Bruno———Cunha/Rodgers
—————————Pedro——————————

There are a number of toss ups in there for me which is why I think it’s much closer than people are making out!
Click to expand...

It's not even just about the players, but how they fit with what the manager wants to do.

I think Chelsea's players fit the 3 at the back formation. They have players like Lacroix with good experience playing that formation in defence, & i think once Palestra finds his feet he'll be a very decent wing back.

I also think the narrow 10's really suit both Palmer & Rogers, & i rate Pedro as probably the 2nd best striker in the league right now. Caceido is 1 of the best centre mids in the league when he's fit & in form, it's finding his partner that the question mark is.

I see more question marks with Utd. Who is the best combination in defence? Who is the best combination in midfield? Who is their main number 9 etc?

It's a matter of figuring these things out. Do it quick enough, & you could well go on to finish above them.
 
GoonerBear said:
It's not even just about the players, but how they fit with what the manager wants to do.

I think Chelsea's players fit the 3 at the back formation. They have players like Lacroix with good experience playing that formation in defence, & i think once Palestra finds his feet he'll be a very decent wing back.

I also think the narrow 10's really suit both Palmer & Rogers, & i rate Pedro as probably the 2nd best striker in the league right now. Caceido is 1 of the best centre mids in the league when he's fit & in form, it's finding his partner that the question mark is.

I see more question marks with Utd. Who is the best combination in defence? Who is the best combination in midfield? Who is their main number 9 etc?

It's a matter of figuring these things out. Do it quick enough, & you could well go on to finish above them.
Click to expand...
De Ligt and Martinez is our best CB pairing but until De Ligt returns then it's Maguire and Martinez. Mainoo and Baleba will be our best midfield combination in most games. Sesko is our main number 9.
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
sorry if this isn’t the case but the Chelsea live in all feels abit reactionary and knee jerk to me. They have started reasonably well. Rodgers and Palmer are both good players but I’m not sure how they are much better than Utds options (Bruno, Cunha, Mbuemo).

If I did a combined 11 it would be this;

———————Lammens—————————
James—De Ligt——Martinez——Shaw???!
————Mainoo————Caicedo—————
Palmer—————Bruno———Cunha/Rodgers
—————————Pedro——————————

There are a number of toss ups in there for me which is why I think it’s much closer than people are making out!
Click to expand...
Managers are not close. That's the difference for me.
 
Gabriel Djemba-Bebe said:
De Ligt and Martinez is our best CB pairing but until De Ligt returns then it's Maguire and Martinez. Mainoo and Baleba will be our best midfield combination in most games. Sesko is our main number 9.
Click to expand...

Again, all ok on paper, but De Ligt & Martinez seem to suffer from injuries quite a lot, Baleba and Mainoo are both young and have never played together yet, and Sesko often doesn't start and the likes of Cunha or Mbuemo preferred in that position ahead of him.

Thats what I mean with questions that we've yet to see definitive answers to.
 
Yes there are question marks over our defence but Chelsea have them and more. You cannot tell me Fofana/Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill is a proven top level central defence, and Palestra, Chavarria, Hato, Gusto are also yet to show themselves to be top level. It could happen but it is far less certain than the quality of say De Ligt, Martinez, Maguire etc.

I agree about our midfield and attack.
 
sincher said:
Yes there are question marks over our defence but Chelsea have them and more. You cannot tell me Fofana/Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill is a proven top level central defence, and Palestra, Chavarria, Hato, Gusto are also yet to show themselves to be top level. It could happen but it is far less certain than the quality of say De Ligt, Martinez, Maguire etc.

I agree about our midfield and attack.
Click to expand...
With all due respect, I'd readily take the uncertain quality of our collection of full/wingbacks than the more or less conclusively established level/depth of United's
 
Jogger Bonitoe said:
Managers are not close. That's the difference for me.
Click to expand...
This remains to be seen. So far Carrick has proved more than good enough in the Prem to gather more points than any other manager in that time and Alonso has proven, well nothing yet in this league. He’s a fancy name on paper but so was Amorin or Ten Hag.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
With all due respect, I'd readily take the uncertain quality of our collection of full/wingbacks than the more or less conclusively established level/depth of United's
Click to expand...
Which makes sense for you as a Chelsea fan but it’s all purely hypothetical. I think a lot of the current hype with Chelsea is based on a fancy named manager and a relatively decent start. Football is notoriously knee jerk in its analysis.
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
Which makes sense for you as a Chelsea fan but it’s all purely hypothetical. I think a lot of the current hype with Chelsea is based on a fancy named manager and a relatively decent start. Football is notoriously knee jerk in its analysis.
Click to expand...

They have a very good squad albeit a little weak in midfield now. No European football is in my opinion a huge advantage. Alonso at least knows the league which is something neither Amorim nor Ten Hag had. Alonso has a much better CV too. Personally, I see Chelsea being Arsenals main competition this year.
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
This remains to be seen. So far Carrick has proved more than good enough in the Prem to gather more points than any other manager in that time and Alonso has proven, well nothing yet in this league. He’s a fancy name on paper but so was Amorin or Ten Hag.
Click to expand...
Mate with respect this is a very blinkered way to think about a manager. About players fair enough; the PL presents uniquely physical challenges - but it doesn't make any sense to discount Alonso's accomplishments in other leagues whilst downplaying Carrick's shortcomings. It's also not like Alonso never played here or is adapting to the culture as was the case for Amorim or Ten Hag.

TrustInJanuzaj said:
Which makes sense for you as a Chelsea fan but it’s all purely hypothetical. I think a lot of the current hype with Chelsea is based on a fancy named manager and a relatively decent start. Football is notoriously knee jerk in its analysis.
Click to expand...
True - I'm entirely biased.

That said I do think the specific gap in wide defender quality between the squads is such that I doubt there are neutrals who would even consider taking Shaw / Mazraoui / Dalot / Amass over Hato / Palestra / Gusto / Chavarria. Further into emergency options and it's Dorgu / Martinez / Yoro vs James / Acheampong / Quenda - again clearly in Chelsea's favour.

There are definitely areas where United are stronger than Chelsea; I just can't see the argument for full/wingback being one of them
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
Mate with respect this is a very blinkered way to think about a manager. About players fair enough; the PL presents uniquely physical challenges - but it doesn't make any sense to discount Alonso's accomplishments in other leagues whilst downplaying Carrick's shortcomings. It's also not like Alonso never played here or is adapting to the culture as was the case for Amorim or Ten Hag.


True - I'm entirely biased.

That said I do think the specific gap in wide defender quality between the squads is such that I doubt there are neutrals who would even consider taking Shaw / Mazraoui / Dalot / Amass over Hato / Palestra / Gusto / Chavarria. Further into emergency options and it's Dorgu / Martinez / Yoro vs James / Acheampong / Quenda - again clearly in Chelsea's favour.

There are definitely areas where United are stronger than Chelsea; I just can't see the argument for full/wingback being one of them
Click to expand...
It remains the case for both managers and players. What Alonso did in Germany was very impressive no doubt. He’s then proceeded to fail in Madrid. Honestly he’s proven very little so far. The fact hes a Spanish midfielder is doing some heavy lifting on his reputation thus far. If he delivers this season fair enough I’ll concede, but for now he’s unproven at the top level.

Perhaps the fact I haven’t heard of 2 of your four fullbacks and couldn’t pick out Hato from a random on the street says more about me than about the players, but I’m not seeing some elite group on paper there. Perhaps some potential, but I’ve seen enough players step on the pitch at Old Trafford labelled as the next big thing only to fade into obscurity. The only player I actually know from that group is Gusto and I reckon he’s shite so that’s not a glowing endorsement. Utds options are not that sexy or exciting but they are made up of some very good players. Dalot gets dogs abuse on here, but he’s a far better player than most give him credit for. Mazroui proved at the World Cup that he remains a very solid player who can cover multiple positions. Shaw definitely looks to be past his best, but he’s just come off the back of an injury free season in which he’s performed well so I’ll reserve judgement on him till later in the season.

The big differentiator for me is that Chelsea don’t have a single player anywhere close to the level of Bruno. City have Haaland, Arsenal have Raya and Gabriel. Chelsea have…maybe Palmer on top form (which he didn’t show at all last season).

As I say, I’ll hold my hands up if come May you’re still flying, Alonso proves to be top draw and some of those no names end up fulfilling their potential. But until then I think this is largely based on hype and hysteria.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.