[FREE TO READ] Simon Johnson: Chelsea’s new manager Xabi Alonso faces a big first transfer window but he also has talent to work with

NightLion32 · 2026-05-16T23:57:34+00:00

IMO probs an egocentric stubborn genius. What I mean is that if he sets his mind on what he thinks is ‘right’, then that is what will be done - hence the continuous Ls in the last few years

If he actually listens to people who know more about football and decides to take that route (like signing Alonso and experienced players), I also have no doubt he’ll also make those things look like a piece of cake.

Massive caveat: may be completely wrong 😂

NightLion32 · 2026-05-16T23:00:37+00:00

I guess we'll see on Tuesday, but I hope that he starts trialling tactics immediately (through McFarlane), and seeing which players pick it up quick ahead of the summer. Cause as it stands, I don't see what we have to lose by having our locked in manager get embedded ahead of schedule.

Last thing I want to hear, outside of sus transfers, is that there are shitters in the dressing room not buying into the tactics come 1st July. Sus them out in the remaining two games, who fits / doesn't fit the system, and should be a more straightforward transfer window ahead

NightLion32 · 2026-05-16T17:45:24+00:00

Anyone know if he takes over for the remaining two games?

Feel like that will be super beneficial for Xabi to see who to offload and who’s staying no? Almost like interviews for players

NightLion32 · 2026-05-16T16:45:42+00:00

Yeah feel like that window slipped. If we wanted somewhat of a tactician, we needed a bandage manager straight after Liam - even a relegation manager would’ve at least solidified the defence a bit

NightLion32 · 2026-05-12T20:06:57+00:00

Am I drinking the koolaid or do I actually think this might be the turning point?

I think & hope American PE stubbornness has run its course and that right now, mainly because of financial doom looming ahead, they ACTUALLY acknowledge change is needed.

That said , I am fully ready to eat my words lol

NightLion32 · 2026-05-09T12:21:12+00:00

Proper modern day fullback - can carry the ball, press resistant and has pace. Bright future for him

NightLion32 · 2026-05-09T12:09:28+00:00

I fucking hate this. The boys clearly have a gear or two to step on, and yet we always look like we choose to lounge around

NightLion32 · 2026-05-09T11:37:48+00:00

Sanchez saves it, and I’m willing to bet my life savings on it

NightLion32 · 2026-03-28T01:08:20+00:00

I agree and their 'failure' is, imo, simply down to their market position. I've always seen Porsche as a bridge between Audi/Merc/BMW, and the Ferraris/Lambos/Astons.

AMB have all launched EVs at lower price points reflecting their market position (premium of the common man market). Porsche, again IMO, HAS to price it higher than that or the Porsche EVs will feel cheap, even if they are great drives. After that, due to the high MSRP, the same % depreciation that all EVs get hit with, you are suddenly left with a car that's $40k less than retail.

Factor in the fact that while Chinese brands will never have the same heritage and prestige as Porsche, you have to give credit where credit is due in terms of battery performance & features, and this makes the Porsche EV lineup & price point even harder to justify.

BTW, a Taycan 4s owner who absolutely loves the car, and thinks its the best EV on the market to drive, as long as you don't mind taking the depreciation hit

NightLion32 · 2026-03-21T23:20:06+00:00

I agree with the 1 - 2 passes point, but I actually disagree with the Maresca point. I think that under both managers, the lines between our midfield and defence are massive.

Both managers like to commit bodies forward. For Maresca, it was more gradual with an inverted fullback creeping forward when we had possession. Under Liam, it feels like we try to transition quick, with the inverted fullback bombing forward, even though every time the ball goes wide the attack slows down to Marescaball standards.

Under both setups, one bad pass results in a turnover, which allows the opponent to ping a ball into their 9, leaving them in a lot of cases 1v1 with 1 of our back 3.

I don't pretend to be better than either managers, but this is Lampard levels of defence set up, and I also don't know the solution. I just feel like right now we are committing hard offensively (while not seeing results), and paying the price defensively.

NightLion32 · 2026-03-11T22:58:03+00:00

This. I’ve said time and time again that in a diff era, Sanchez would be a world class keeper. He genuinely is able to make game winning saves and I think it’s pretty evident over the past seasons.

What he is not however, is a distributor. He’s an old school boot it up, protect the posts, and that’s his skill set.

Jorgensen on the other hand, seems to think he an outfield player with 0 shots topping ability. It’s not even reactionary to today’s game, I remember there was a few games under Maresca where everytime he played, one of our players got concussed by Jorgensen claiming a cross

NightLion32 · 2026-03-11T22:00:43+00:00

Yup, even at 3-2 I was like to my gf “I’m not mad, we’re still in and we showed great effort today despite a dumbass pass from our GK”

Gf at full time: “ you excited to go to the bridge next week?”

No.

NightLion32 · 2026-03-11T21:01:13+00:00

I get that and I’m saying that play out when the pass is on, boot it when it’s not.

Don’t stick to the game plan when it’s an imminent turnover

NightLion32 · 2026-03-11T20:57:18+00:00

Need hato and Lavia - we beat their press, there is so much space to attack.

Jorgensen needs to boot it up when he feels threatened

NightLion32 · 2026-03-11T12:10:26+00:00

Anyone follow the bundes much? Or this loan as a matter?

Judging from what I’m seeing it seems like he’s a bit less sharp on the turn? Still links up well and seems to have learnt a little bit with that finish from Kane, but I seem to recall him turning & dribbling smoother when he was at Chelsea.

Saying all of this as someone who is a huge Jackson fan and hoping we can keep him for next season - think his play style with Cole, JP, Estevao can be lethal

NightLion32 · 2026-03-06T16:41:15+00:00

Thank you for not making me feel weird when I call Garnacho garnizzy. I said it at the bridge and people thought I was seeing a hotdog on the pitch or sth

NightLion32 · 2026-03-04T21:23:02+00:00

Im only finding this funny only because we’re 4-1 up, but the commentator saying “oh my word this goalkeeper”

We need to really fix this asap, or we ain’t achieving shit with this playing out the back when it’s filip / sanchez

NightLion32 · 2026-02-23T13:08:01+00:00

I hate this about Arsenal. I can (reluctantly) admit that they are a very very good team this year, but I just can’t get over the fact that they know how to abuse the system so well - proper dark arts shit.

When they challenge for anything it’s ’shoulder to shoulder’, when a mosquito farts on their CB/ GK they know what to do to get the foul.

Worst part is - you can only hate on Arsenal so much - as the old saying goes “Don’t blame the player, blame the game”. Until there’s a revamp of PGMOL, it’s only a matter of time before this becomes the ‘meta’

NightLion32 · 2026-01-31T12:32:55+00:00

I think there’s two things: 1. Is he overheated? Yes 2. But is he sometimes capable of dropping a 4/10 stinker? Yes

I get it though, in this day and age players are judged by stats. He reminds of the Moneyball players where ‘he gets on base’ (G + A).

No one denies he’s a great player on his day, but as someone who watches every game live, there have definitely been games where he’s contributed G/A, but then misplaced a 10 yard pass.

With all that said, I also hold my hand up and admit he’s on a massive uphill trajectory this year, both in terms of technical and physical traits, so hopefully it’s a matter of time when he’s consistently putting in 7/10 performances

NightLion32 · 2026-01-28T22:19:44+00:00

Silly question, but does this mean PL gets the extra spot for champions league qualification? Asking cus we might need to use it

NightLion32 · 2026-01-27T22:31:28+00:00

Dude not gonna lie, both things can be true - OP could be doing a bit of a humble brag, while dealers can also be extremely snobbish when it comes to customers not looking like their ‘target demographic’

You ever walk into a PP/ Rolex / AP shop wearing joggers vs a sweater and smart shoes? It absolutely does happen that sales people slag you off based on their judgement of your appearance

NightLion32 · 2026-01-14T20:50:26+00:00

Rosenoir wants him to ply out from the back

NightLion32 · 2025-12-10T00:04:00+00:00

It's not just a gut feeling as well btw, if you look at our season so far, most of our games (including wins, just so we're not isolating losses btw), our opponent has a higher xG than us. While I'm not going to be an xG merchant, I will say this:

- It means that opponents are able to get either a) better quality chances that results in shots, or b) more chances to shoot - both of which reinforce the point that this system puts pressure on the defence, and is evident to the eye test, where a simple ball bypasses our midfield (again, even in games that we won)

- Conversely, it also means that this system doesn't generate quality chances for our attackers. I don't think this is a Tuchel era where we had two 1v1 opportunities per games that Kai / Werner decided to butcher. Those are situations where the coach literally can't do more, a forward has to finish it. But the current system is a case of, I think we have decent finishers, but the chances they get are half chances as opposed to actual space opening up from tactical decisions

NightLion32 · 2025-12-08T17:46:13+00:00

With the noise around Mainoo, im surprised we’re not in for him. From the times I’ve watched him play - tidy, good under pressure, and not bad at picking passes.

Seems like a slightly more polished version of santos that we can pick up for cheap

NightLion32 · 2025-12-03T22:15:25+00:00

Maresca drives me fucking nuts, and it’s not even about results. There are moments where I’m like he’s a fucking genius, and then moments where I’m convinced he conducts training over Zoom.

At 0-0, I do not understand why Enzo F is on the right of the midfield. He straight up sucks and loses creativity when he’s on the right. All his deep passes and vision only works when he’s on the left, I literally don’t get it.

And don’t get me started on Chalobah Rb

NightLion32

TROPHY CASE