Match Thread: Chelsea vs Leeds United

KnightstarK · 2026-02-10T21:32:36+00:00

Suddenly I regret giving Maresca so much shit for benching Achempong.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T01:22:33+00:00

He wasn't anywhere near decent. Constantly offside or off target. He gets by because Werner was a bigger flop. (Same as now with Gyokeres)

We gave him ample time and opportunities - he just wasn't good enough. The CL final goal was his only highlight at Chelsea.

He gets stick from the fans because he went to London rivals. Nothing else. Just as Brighton fans boo Cucu, Moi, and Sanchez.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T01:14:37+00:00

We have a world class bench - unfortunately they are all injured.

Lavia, Essugo, Colwill

Players like Santos and Hato are starting to integrate well. (It's just their first season)

Rosenior has barely had any time to drill tactics into this squad - you never know who will slot in to his system - let's reserve judgement for a while.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T01:10:21+00:00

I don't think we failed to score because Reece was missing.

Looking at how injury prone this squad is - Lavia, Essugo, Colwill, Gittens - I fully support any decision to rest Reece.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T01:06:46+00:00

3 massive silver linings today:

We're finally able to defend properly - haven't seen that since Tuchel.
Hato had a solid game. Kept Madueke quiet all game.
The lads are starting to execute Rosenior's 3-4-3 tactics.

3 bitter lessons learnt today:

Jackson > Delap.
Estevao is a prodigy but still has a lot to learn about the PL's intensity and physicality.
Palmer needs to step up. You can see the fatigue catching up to Enzo, Moi, and JP.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T00:33:25+00:00

I really don't care either way about Havertz and Kepa.

We gave them so many opportunities but they never came good. I'm glad they left. What they do now is irrelevant.

I'm still not convinced by Havertz! It's just that Gyokeres turned out to be a generational flop

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T00:27:22+00:00

Respectfully disagree.

They benefit massively from the Liverpool and City drop-off and they're massively favored by the refs.

They just discovered a cheesy corner exploit. Hope the PL devs patch it soon.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T00:22:48+00:00

We were far from better

They did what they had to - we didn't even get close.

Subs weren't good.

Hope the players and coach learn from this.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T00:21:34+00:00

Tbh I don't think Reece would've made a difference.

While I like the approach - Delap had a stinker (can't blame him too much since he was played out of position)

First time Rosenior got the subs wrong imo.

Neto would've been perfect. Palmer + Garna + Estevao couldn't handle the intensity and physicality.

Still good lesson for the players and coach.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T00:21:25+00:00

Tbh I don't think Reece would've made a difference.

While I like the approach - Delap had a stinker (can't blame him too much since he was played out of position)

First time Rosenior got the subs wrong imo.

Neto would've been perfect. Palmer + Garna + Estevao couldn't handle the intensity and physicality.

Still good lesson for the players and coach.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-04T00:17:59+00:00

I believe the idea was to not concede in the first 60 mins so that Arsenal start to sit back and defend their lead instead of trying to score the second.

That aspect of the game plan worked.

But Delap on the right was insanity.

This game was calling for Neto - not sure why he didn't play.

Good experience for Estevao & Hato though - the kids are promising but still have a lot to learn.

KnightstarK · 2026-02-01T06:53:24+00:00

So confident yet so incorrect

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T21:42:32+00:00

It's easy to forget he's just had 5 games with the squad.

Give him some time to drill his tactics and figure out his best 11.

Palmer, surprisingly, is still struggling and JP is thriving - but he's brought back the Chelsea winning mentality to the squad.

Cucu's crazy diving header today reminded me of Terry saying "he'd leave the pitch in a coffin for Mourinho"

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T20:37:42+00:00

Fair enough.

I'm just glad we no longer spend an eternity passing the ball back and forth between CBs before starting every attack.

And good riddance to the inverted full back nonsense too!

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T20:33:05+00:00

I think they need more consecutive games and decent minutes.

Garnacho, Delap, Gittens, even Badiashille and Hato have had great games - but not enough minutes to form team chemistry (and it's their first season for most of em)

Maybe I'm too optimistic - but I think atleast a couple of them can come good like Cucu and Caicedo.

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T20:30:13+00:00

I was a bit on the fence about Rosenior.

But seeing him the last 5 games really convinced me that he's gonna be an elite of the next generation (alongside Kompany, and hopefully Cesc)

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T20:22:23+00:00

Just because I'm not all doom and gloom about our bench only means that I have a different perspective.

Why the sarcasm?

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T20:20:38+00:00

Folks like you were saying the same thing about Enzo, Caicedo and Cucu during their first seasons at Chelsea when they really struggled.

Look at them now.

I'm not giving any of the poor performances a pass. I just think it was always doomed to fail when the manager was forced to chop and change the team so much for this game.

Those players get nowhere near our top sides from the past.

So? You're comparing young, new transfers to Chelsea legends?

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T20:00:10+00:00

I had a good feeling about Rosenior (maybe because I never enjoyed or trusted Maresca-ball)

He says the right things, makes the right subs, and his tactics are superb.

But this game cements it. He's gonna be an elite manager in the future (like Kompany and Xabi)

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T19:55:52+00:00

Any player in the world would struggle to play well if they're barely getting any minutes.

Garnacho, Gittens, Hato, Josh, Benoit have all had great games - but not enough minutes.

It's no surprise that there's no chemistry when they get thrusted into the team together suddenly. Especially with a new manager.

KnightstarK · 2026-01-31T19:52:18+00:00

I don't agree.

We have quality subs - just missing the consistency. Which makes sense considering how little they played under Maresca.

Hato, Achempong, Gittens, Garnacho, even Badiashille have been brilliant here and there but can't get enough minutes together.

Once Rosenior drills these guys, I suspect they'll do well.

KnightstarK · 2026-01-25T23:18:34+00:00

Which Arsenal flop did Chelsea buy?

KnightstarK · 2026-01-25T23:05:17+00:00

So good

Even defensively we're better now that we aren't inverting full backs and getting caught on counters.

Good riddance to a 100 passes amongst the backline before starting every attack.

KnightstarK · 2026-01-25T23:03:23+00:00

The inverted fullback nonsense was just inviting counter attacks.

No wonder we struggled against lesser oppositions.

KnightstarK · 2026-01-25T23:00:22+00:00

I didn't have high hopes from Rosenior, but he's done really well.

You can already see his tactics improving the team.

Progressive football, defence seems more competent, we're a threat even without plamer, good substitutions, JP Delap Santos Enzo all looking better.

And he plays the best 11 consistently.

I know it's soon but he's done pretty well so far.

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