The CHELSEA Thread

[JoeNemesis]

Chelsea legend John Terry reacts

 

[JoeNemesis]

Jarrod Bowen's foul on already-grounded Edouard Mendy fully justified the disallowed goal in Chelsea's 2-1 win over West Ham

 

[JoeNemesis]

Graeme Souness believes West Ham's disallowed goal vs Chelsea was the correct decision by VAR:  

"His right foot is showing six studs to the goal-keeper.  Now that, for me, is endangering the goal-keeper ... I think he's showing six studs towards the goal-keeper with his right leg ... for me I think the referee he got it right".

 

 

[Geordie59]

Good to see the intent of giving the good young players long contracts. I see a problem in 6 years time when they are at what should be their peak playing age and all come up for renewal at the same time. 

[JoeNemesis]

4 minutes ago, Geordie59 said:

Good to see the intent of giving the good young players long contracts. I see a problem in 6 years time when they are at what should be their peak playing age and all come up for renewal at the same time. 

I agree. That would repeat the screw-ups of Marina Granovskaia over the contracts of Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen and we dread that happening again.  If the young guns become as great as their potentials suggest, given what we have seen so far about the Todd Boehly style of ownership, I would expect the players to get paid in the future what they are worth. 

[JoeNemesis]

MASSIVE CLAIM!!! 😱🔥 Arsenal fan Piers Morgan says every pundit who defends VAR should be SACKED

 

 

[JoeNemesis]

Aubameyang debuts his new face mask after suffering a fractured jaw in an horrific robbery in Spain before his Chelsea transfer

 

[JoeNemesis]

The European Champions League starts tonight with Chelsea in Group E with a trip to Dinamo Zagreb, the 198th different side we have met in all competitions but the first from Croatia.  Quarter-finalists last season, the Blues have lost only twice in the past 15 Champions League games on the road.  The two-time winners will actually open the whole competition this year, with an early 17:45 kick-off in the Croatian capital.

[JoeNemesis]

The rampant lion’s European pedigree

Over the span of 20 seasons no club has qualified for Europe’s elite competition as regularly as Chelsea.  The Blues have reached three finals since 2007/08 and have lifted the trophy twice.  Only Liverpool (14) have won more major European and international competitions than the Blues’ nine. 

Champions league qualifications 2002/03-2022/23 
18 Chelsea 
17 Man United 
15 Arsenal 
14 Liverpool 
12 Man City 
6 Tottenham 
2 Newcastle 
1 Everton, Leicester

[JoeNemesis]

Chelsea team news - v. Dinamo Zagreb tonight

For the first time since January 2009 (against Stoke City), Chelsea came back from conceding the first goal in a second half at home to win a Premier League game, and by the same scoreline. Let us hope they packed the energy rush from Saturday’s late victory over London rivals West Ham in the packing cases to Zagreb. The same hard work and intensity will be needed against a Dinamo side who are very good at home. 

It should help that the Blues have parity in this season’s competition now that the Premier League, like most in Europe, permits five replacements. And it was substitutes who had a thrilling impact against the Hammers. Kai Havertz, who certainly picks his moments but admitted he needed that second strike in 15 games, was set up by Ben Chilwell, who also netted magically himself. Lively Armando Broja had also come off the bench to feed Chilly with a measured pass for the winner. 

All three could start, although mask-wearing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may be ready for his debut. The prolific Gabon striker has taken the no. 9 shirt, while another potential debutant, centre-midfielder Denis Zakaria, will wear 20. The last player to make his bow in a UEFA competition was Trevoh Chalobah in the Super Cup last season. He may feature tonight as Thiago Silva has been rested; N’Golo Kante remains unavailable but Mateo Kovacic could start against his first professional club.

The Blues will target a second clean sheet of the season in Croatia, and could do so with Kepa Arrizabalaga between the posts although Edou Mendy has recovered from the injury received before Cornet’s scrubbed-out equaliser on Saturday. The Spain keeper’s last Champions League outing was the 3-3 draw at Zenit in December 2021. 

Thomas Tuchel feels the Senegal keeper has been ‘a bit unlucky’ in recent performances, and all players could defend our area better than they are. Michail Antonio’s tap-in was the fourth goal after a set-play this season out of nine conceded. It does not help that the Blues are handing opponents almost a third more corner kicks than last season. 

Wesley Fofana looked assured on the right of a back-three, though he sensibly kept things safe on his debut. The size of a pitch can be dictated by the speed of defenders and the positions they take up: the more pace, the higher the defensive line. 

The new no. 33’s pace and reading of the game should allow the Blues to reduce gaps between defence and midfield. With these latest signings, only five Premier League squads have a greater average height than Chelsea’s. 

Last season the Londoners lost the first away match of the group to Juventus (who went on to claim top spot) but had won the previous three. After seeing the ‘restart’ he wanted against the Hammers, Tuchel says his side have to be humble and ‘accept the fight’ this evening. 

 

From chelseafc.com

[JoeNemesis]

Croatian rebels 

AC Milan are the only Group E team Chelsea have met competitively before, so Zagreb (and indeed Croatia) is a first for the Blues.  We did face Dinamo’s predecessor, Gradjanski, then Yugoslav champions, way back on 27 May 1937 in the third game of a post-season friendly tour of the Balkans.  The great Northern Ireland striker Joe Bambrick scored the only goal of the game against the hosts, who were then one of the continent’s football pioneers.  They had, for example, taken part in one of the precursors of this evening’s competition, the 1928 Mitropa Cup.

Ante Cacic's Dinamo side completed the navigation of six Champions League qualifiers by overcoming Bodo/Glimt of Norway and are eight points clear in the defence of their league title.  This is only the 20th match of a second spell in charge of the ‘Modri’ (Blues) for the former Croatia national coach. 

Dinamo build from the back in a patient, technical fashion unlike the hectic rough and tumble we saw in Saturday’s London derby at the Bridge.  Out of possession they half-press defenders but are happy to take shots from anywhere and have well-worked set-plays and aerial threats – a concern for Thomas Tuchel given his team’s recent problems in that area.  The simple goal for Rijeka that spoiled their perfect Friday evening, though, places question marks over their own defensive organisation on corners. 

Cacic may field a wary 4-5-1 formation tonight, with tall Bruno Petkovic the classic lone striker, a deep lying playmaker such as Josip Misic, and mobile attacking midfielders such as highly rated Martin Baturina in between.  Their sparky right-footed wingers, Dario Spikic and leading scorer Mislav Orsic, are also dangerous. 

The latter was Dinamo’s hat-trick hero in their 3-0 Europa League defeat of Tottenham on this ground two seasons ago.  Last season in the same competition they lost 2-0 to West Ham in Croatia (their only home loss in 11 home games) but won 1-0 – thanks to Orsic – in London. 

In the Champions League, though, they have lost six of the last eight played in Zagreb and have a habit of conceding at least once in all competitions.  Among their missing is summer signing Bosko Sutalo, but Cacic believes it is good to face the Blues early before our summer signings have settled in. 

 

 

From chelseafc.com

[JoeNemesis]

Aubameyang could make Chelsea DEBUT! -  Dinamo v Chelsea - Thomas Tuchel

 

Edited September 6, 2022 by JoeNemesis

[JoeNemesis]

 

     Last night's Training From Stadion Maksimir

 

[JoeNemesis]

  

Players grabbing chances

As we know, if any away trip in the Premier League is a potential slip-up, then at least the same level of jeopardy surrounds an away game in the group stage of the Champions League. If we play to our best, few doubt that we will be flying back with a flying start and three points intact, but it will need a robust performance. 

It has taken the Croatians three qualifying rounds to get here, but that just means they are acclimatised to Europe already, no bad thing.  What they will have to deal with is a Chelsea team that will be getting more drilled as a unit by the week.  

What Thomas Tuchel clearly wants is competition in every single position if he can, so there is no possibility that anyone is tempted to cruise though any game, or even part of a game.  The classic example was self-evident on Saturday.  Marc Cucurella was in the driving seat at left wing-back, but the moment Ben Chilwell got a chance he grabbed it as if his life depended on it.  It was a phenomenal display by the English international and remember, he has the extra incentive of wanting to get into the national team for the World Cup in Qatar as well as the Chelsea team for the Champions League games. 

Both Cucurella and Chilwell are brilliant going forward, just about as dangerous as any winger you care to mention, but in Thomas Tuchel’s eyes, you can’t stop or ease off whoever you are at Chelsea.  Just look at Liverpool just now in the same position.  Andy Robertson has been a phenomenon making goals down that left-hand side.  The creation dried up for just a little while and bang, Tsimikas is starting before Andy can say ‘Wait a minute big Yin’ to Jurgen Klopp! 

Tonight’s team should be interesting and not just at left wing-back.  Now that we have Denis Zakaria, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Wesley Fofana in the group as well after the new board’s generosity, it looks much more balanced, but also it will get harder to decide what the best starting 11 is.  

At some point in the future, we might see Aubameyang up top with Havertz and Sterling tucked in behind.  Now that is a very strong-looking attack with plenty of goals in them.  Then again, the idea of Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount as a duo behind a striker is hugely impressive too.

This is exactly what the manager wants, and it doesn’t matter if it is a Champions League group game in Zagreb tonight or a Premier League game against Liverpool in a couple of weeks, you will only start if you keep your standards high.  If we do that, then and only then will we be seriously competitive from here on in.

 

From chelseafc.com

[Geordie59]

I don’t believe Mandy was ever injured. Probably needs dropping to get his focus back anyway. 
His pride may have been damaged though.

[Essexman1961]

5 hours ago, Geordie59 said:

I don’t believe Mandy was ever injured. Probably needs dropping to get his focus back anyway. 
His pride may have been damaged though.

His behaviour was absolutely shameful and should have been sanctioned with a yellow card.He tried it on after the first West Ham goal as well.I saw the game live as well as TV replays.

[frenchteam]

Also die-hard Chelsea fan here. Thiago at the back etc etc

December i'll be in Pattaya 💙

[JoeNemesis]

👎 DULL! UNINSPIRING! A TOUGH WATCH! Chelsea fan Jason Cundy reacts to his teams shocking UCL display 

 

 

 

[JoeNemesis]

📞😡 Chelsea fan Glen GOES IN on his teams 'tiny footballers' after a shambolic loss to Dinamo Zagreb!

 

 

[Geordie59]

I don’t know why Chelsea need to go a goal behind or wait until the last 10 minutes before they play with any intensity. But we see it game after game. 
Goals win games, not procession. 

[davidge]

Tuchel sacked.

[JoeNemesis]

Tuchel fired!

Well, it took 100 days of Boehly & Co. ownership for the new owners to determine that Thomas Tuchel was not a team player.  Cerebral, yes, but a poor man manager.  So, two hours ago he was fired.  

[davidge]

Reports that Chelsea have asked Brighton for permission to speak to Potter.

[JoeNemesis]

 

  

Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Thomas Tuchel.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE CLUB:

"On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the Club would like to place on record its gratitude to Thomas and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club. Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here. 

As the new ownership group reaches 100 days since taking over the Club, and as it continues its hard work to take the club forward, the new owners believe it is the right time to make this transition. 

Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team for training and the preparation of our upcoming matches as the Club moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach. 

There will be no further comment until a new head coach appointment is made."

 

 

From chelseafc.com

[JoeNemesis]

From The Telegraph

Chelsea approach Brighton to speak to Graham Potter

Stamford Bridge co-owners face possible £10m compensation bill to appoint coach after sacking Thomas Tuchel

Chelsea have made an approach to Brighton to speak to Graham Potter just hours after Thomas Tuchel was sacked by the club’s new owners.

As first reported by Telegraph Sport, Potter is the early favourite to replace Tuchel at Stamford Bridge and it is understood Chelsea have already made an approach to Brighton.

Chelsea would face a bill of about £10 million to buy Potter out of his Brighton contract, on top of having to pay Tuchel compensation on a contract that was not due to expire until 2024.

Chelsea and Brighton have already done business over the transfers of Marc Cucurella, Billy Gilmour and Levi Colwill during the summer with relations between the two clubs thought to be good.

New owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital want to make a swift appointment and could even have a new man in place in time for Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League game against Fulham.

While Potter is currently the clear favourite for the job, Chelsea could also speak to Mauricio Pochettino, who is out of work, and sound out Zinedine Zidane.

But if Chelsea are granted permission to speak to Potter by Brighton and talks go well, then the 47-year-old is likely to be made Tuchel’s successor.

Chelsea’s owners want to make a long-term appointment of somebody they believe can create and cultivate a new culture within the club, who is ready to listen to their ideas and explain his own philosophies.

Potter has done just that in each of his managerial jobs so far, at Ostersunds, Swansea City and Brighton, who thrashed Leicester City 5-2 on Sunday to remain fourth in the Premier League table after finishing ninth last season and selling key players such as Cucurella and Yves Bissouma.

While he is yet to manage in the Champions League, Potter took Ostersunds to the last-32 of the Europa League on a budget of just under £1million in 2018 when they secured an eye-catching 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates.

Chelsea owners to meet players

Chelsea’s players are due in for training on Wednesday afternoon, when co-controlling owners Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are expected to address them to explain their reasoning for sacking Tuchel and offer assurances that a replacement will be appointed quickly.

Tuchel was called to a meeting at around 9.30am on Wednesday morning, just hours after the abysmal Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, when he was informed of his sacking. It is expected that Tuchel’s coaches Arno Michels and Zsolt Low will follow Tuchel out of Stamford Bridge, with Anthony Barry taking charge of training until a permanent successor is appointed.

As first reported by Telegraph Sport, the decision to sack Tuchel had already been taken and the German would have been dismissed win, lose or draw in Croatia.

In the statement confirming Tuchel’s exit, Chelsea’s owners said: “Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team for training and the preparation of our upcoming matches as the Club moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach.”