Freshened squad? They've lost Bernado Silva, are about to lose Rodri and have replaced Guardiola with Maresca.
I like Elliot Anderson but they're worse off by some distance than they were this time last season.
Chelsea 26/27 - Definitely going to win the league.
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Freshened squad? They've lost Bernado Silva, are about to lose Rodri and have replaced Guardiola with Maresca.
I like Elliot Anderson but they're worse off by some distance than they were this time last season.
You could well be right. It is just the feeling i have. Maresca is a strong manager imo.
And what exactly do Chelsea have that makes them so much better that they're more likely to challenge for the league title? City are better than them all over except maybe midfield without Rodri, which isn't guarenteed to happen.
We've gone from Rosenior to Alonso. They've gone from Pep to Maresca.
Their squad is worse than it was and their manager is worse than it was. Our squad is better than it was and our manager is better than it was.
Will it be enough to challenge for the title? Maybe not but I can see why some people think Man City will fall apart without Pep.
Many had already washed their hands of him when he took the Saudi money.
Left side is going to be the issue for Chelsea I think. Alonso wants Pep Chavarria from Rayo. Decent player but he isn't Cucerella quality. Also 28. Can see him playing a season, struggling and then going back to Spain. Alternative is currently Hato.
Also for me Rogers is much better in central positions than having to play whole games out wide. We played him out on the right when we signed Marcos Asensio and he really didn't do much in the 24/25 run in.
Also for me Rogers is much better in central positions than having to play whole games out wide. We played him out on the right when we signed Marcos Asensio and he really didn't do much in the 24/25 run in.
Ashley Young's agent will already be on the phone.
I do think Chelsea have improved overall this transfer window.
For me:
As for a title challenge, it would take something close to a miracle this season. And, realistically, you're not winning the Premier League with Robert Sánchez as your first-choice goalkeeper.
For me:
- Rogers > Garnacho
- Welbeck > Delap
- Henderson & Barco > Andrey Santos
- Palestra > Gusto
- Pep < Cucurella
- Lacroix > any center defender apart Colwill
As for a title challenge, it would take something close to a miracle this season. And, realistically, you're not winning the Premier League with Robert Sánchez as your first-choice goalkeeper.
These are Chavarria and Cucurella's metric comparisons from the past 2 seasons. I haven't watched a single Pep Chavarria game in my life that I can remember, so I can't say anything about him with any authority but statistically he matches up quite well with Cucurella.
If Chelsea get Pep, all bets are off. We're wining everything.
Whining everything? Yeah, probably.
So what does the first team look like?
I guess something like:
Sanchez (Jorgensen/Penders)
James (Palestra, Gusto)
Lacroix (Tosin, Acheampong)
Colwill (Fofana, Badiashile, Sarr)
Hato (Colwill, Barco)
Caicedo (Lavia)
Fernandez (Essugo, Barco)
Palmer (Quenda)
Rogers (Palmer I guess)
Estevao (Neto, Gittens)
Joao Pedro (Jackson, Welbeck, Emegha)
Magic tricks: Henderson (Mudryk)
It is a bit meh in a few positions IMO. The only class defensive player is James and he is not often fully fit. The midfield is strong but not sure what happens if Enzo leaves. Loads of strikers but none of them fully convincing.
I guess something like:
Sanchez (Jorgensen/Penders)
James (Palestra, Gusto)
Lacroix (Tosin, Acheampong)
Colwill (Fofana, Badiashile, Sarr)
Hato (Colwill, Barco)
Caicedo (Lavia)
Fernandez (Essugo, Barco)
Palmer (Quenda)
Rogers (Palmer I guess)
Estevao (Neto, Gittens)
Joao Pedro (Jackson, Welbeck, Emegha)
Magic tricks: Henderson (Mudryk)
It is a bit meh in a few positions IMO. The only class defensive player is James and he is not often fully fit. The midfield is strong but not sure what happens if Enzo leaves. Loads of strikers but none of them fully convincing.
Pretty much. We're about to sign Pep Chavarria (a left back from Rayo that I've been a huge fan of for a while) as well.
Jorgenson, Neto, Tosin, Badiashile, Sarr, Murdryk, Jackson and Delap will be sold/loaned.
It doesn't look like a title-challenging team to me.
The Defence + GK situation is a bit sketch but I'd say CM + attack is title contender levels. A few things have to go right for them -- Palmer has to return to being fit and rediscover his form, squad should stay relatively injury free but if they do I think they'll be top 4 at the very least. Maybe title contenders if other chips fall their way.
Looks like Chavarria is coming in for LB.
Yeah looks like a lot depends on key players like Caicedo, Palmer, Rogers staying fit.
Palmer is injured already.
Training separately from the main team, I hope it's not his groin again.
You finished 10th last season. Think it’s slightly premature to get giddy and get your hopes up over a title charge this season.
The first big managerial step up Alonso took, he failed spectacularly. It’s a bit presumptuous to expect Chelsea to thrive under his stewardship regardless of the pedigree he earned at Leverkusen.
As it stands, City are superior in pretty much all areas, perhaps central midfield aside.
I don't really rate the City attack that much either. They have Haaland but apart from that, not buying the Semenyo, Cherki, Foden and co hype. They're all decent and in Cherki's case, probably WC potential but not there yet.
I literally said it's "maybe not enough to challenge for the title". I don't think that's being particularly "giddy", outside of the obvious joke thread title.
If you don't think Alonso is a big upgrade on Rosenior or that Maresca is a big downgrade on Pep, fair enough.
1 game a week will definitely help them, I don't know if they'll challenge but I fully expect to see them in the top 4.
Yeah, I suspect it’ll help them. Much like it helped United last season.
Does that make them dead certs for top four? Not necessarily when they’re competing with Arsenal, City, United and Liverpool. Personally, cannot see them being able to keep up with Arsenal over 38 games, but hey ho.
Losing at the moment
Even if they win they would have still been losing
Even if they win they would have still been losing
Not been watching them preseason, obviously, are they playing a back 4 then?
Anyone watched Chelsea's preseason games? Based on stats alone, I am seeing low number of shots on and off target. Not quite what I expect from a xabi alonso team.
Its pre-season
Almost exclusively back 4 so far.
Makes me wonder where Palmer and Rogers both play then. 10 and left wing respectively?
Today was just a nothing event. Juve posed little threat and we posed little threat. Just a cardio exercise. The pitch was horrendous.
Generally shots and shots on target has been alright, 13 attempts vs Tottenham and 8 attempts today. It's the quality of the attempts that's been disappointing. But its preseason. Everyone is being eased in. Lots 16-17 year olds getting big minutes and dross like Tosin and Delap still getting a lot of minutes.
I imagine Rogers LW, Palmer 10 and Estevao RW and then they all interchange and they can all play 10 and Estevao can be effective on both wings.
I see. Was expecting more attacking football from Alonso.
I imagine it will come.
Have 100 defenders still had to play tosin and fofana. 
Quenda looked really good today.
Generally the standout players from all the games this summer have been Palestra and Joao Pedro. Some of the youth have looked good, others less so.
The usual suspects are still absolutely dross.
Generally the standout players from all the games this summer have been Palestra and Joao Pedro. Some of the youth have looked good, others less so.
The usual suspects are still absolutely dross.
Well with the conditions of the pitches chelsea played so far without any major injury was a big plus.
it's the least threatening brand of football I have seen in a very long time. Caveat it's pre-season, players missing etc.
We didn't become the best team in the world before the match, nor the worst team in the world after it. Neither Tottenham nor Juventus were easy opponents, and I don't think we played that badly in either game. But it's clear we need to adjust our expectations, stay realistic, and set Champions League qualification as the main objective. I don't even want to hear any talk about a title challenge.
We need to give Xabi time.
We need to give Xabi time.
Think its the wrong Pep. This one is bang average
Chelsea signed pep finally.