Si, I see feel like you are beeing too sympathetic to the sporting directors.
Of course they've had successes, they've signed more than 40 players, you'd expect a few to come off.
For a start, I wouldn't call Enzo Fernandez a Success, not for that money. We signed him as a 6, and he basically cannot play 6. Not enough physicality or mobility. Only by pushing him further forward to 8, hiding his defensive weaknesses, has he looked decent, and that's DECENT by the way, NOT orld class.
They've signed six keepers, and sent the only decent one away to Strasbourg.
Every single CB they've signed is either not good enough, or too injury prone.
Also, let's not forget, it was those two clowns who forced out Pochettino.
We have actually gone backwards this year. We have 4 less points in the first 21 games of this season, than we achieved in the last 21 of last season.
Si, in an effort to give balance, you've given the sporting directors way way way too much credit.
The key question has to be whether the owners really want to have a top class individual sporting director and give that person the power that they expect to have and be given elsewhere or whether they want to have sporting directors that will basically implement their instructions. If they’re not gonna give complete control to the so-called experts, then we can hardly blame the individuals we have at the present time who then become puppets.
It is interesting that when the rift between the owners became public that Boehlys side were leaking their belief that Eghbali is obsessed with player trading. I think we need Boehly taking control of the sporting side of the club in order to see the necessary changes.
Winstanley and Stuart are talent spotters. They think the answer to every problem is recruiting more talent and trying to outsmart the market using data. Signing Van Dijk and Alison would be too obvious for them. They would have to try and pluck someone from the French league for half the price so they could get the plaudits. The Trev situation has made it clear that they overestimate their ability to sign players and underestimate the quality of the talent that came through the academy before their time, most likely because they don’t get the credit if an academy player from the Roman era makes the team.
Just so someone says it, I think they have done a pretty damn good job doing a complete rebuild while staying inside financial regulations. Yes we could have done better with keepers and strikers but those are always difficult to buy. The squad is better than you say, without injuries to Fofana and Badiashile and Lavia and James , we wouldn't have had this recent dip in form. Another way to look at Trevoh is that he went on loan and, credit to him, forced his way into the managers plans with solid play. I miss Conor too but am quite happy with Moi, Enzo, And Romeo for the next decade. Cole Palmer may be the best signing ever, especially because we took him away from a rival.
If the club want to make my dreams come true they oust the chuckle brothers and bring in a single minded, world class sporting director. As of right now it seems that this pair either cant communicate properly or don't know their arse from their elbow. Their treatment of Trevoh Chalobah is akin to professional terrorism and quite frankly I'm surprised it hasn't dissuaded more players and youth from avoiding our club like the plague for fear of such treatment.
The above doesn't even touch on their squad building which is essentially printing out a list of statistical top performers under a certain age and throwing darts at a board hoping one hits. Fluked with Palmer who has carried us for the last 18 or so months and I fear where we would be without him. Estevao and Paez were massive coups as of now based upon their potential but could still go down like a lead balloon upon arrival and their performances.
Also last but not least, if you feel the need to release briefs DAILY to try and save face on how things are going behind the scenes, you're already losing.
You and I don't always see eye to eye Si, nothing wrong with that, but this article is bang on the button in every respect. Outstanding piece of journalism. Trevoh just seems like too nice a guy.
My issue with the SD’s is that they seem to be safe despite a number of failures. Whilst players, coaches, medical team members and such have been shifted from their roles for ‘not being good enough’.
As mentioned in this article, they’ve spent a billion pounds (or over) and have had a number of successes; Palmer, Sancho, Veiga, Jackson, Caicedo, Enzo etc. but just take a look at all the failures. On balance the success to failure rate is probably around 50/50. And to shift the perspective, if you or I was only good at their job 50% of the time we would be let go.
There has to be better options, they just aren’t good enough and their management of players and to be honest, fans, has been despicable at times. If the club aren’t going to sign proven winners as footballers, at least sign one to set the football philosophy, culture and player acquisition strategy…Winstantly and Stewart aren’t that and in my opinion haven’t showed us that they are capable of being one…but how on earth are they so safe.
The Score, youll see from the replies that peoples opinions on various players differ markedly so not matter what you say one will be in the world class group for one poster and in the pants group for another.
The real issue with the SD's is that they are like the manager who has been promoted beyond his ability, they listen to what you say nod their agreement then continue their own way doing what they wanted anyway.
Mostly agree, although I'm not an optimistic about some of the players. Absolute hits: Palmer, Gusto, Jackson. High potential hits: Andrey Santos, Ugochukwu, Paez, Willian Estevao, Penders, Anselmino, Marc Guiu. Caiciedo and Fernandez, not sure how much scouting goes on there and there's massive overpays- also good players but don't give us any impetus/command in midfield. Madueke, Pedro Neto, Sancho, Lavia, Jorgensen jury's still out on, all for different reasons, although I doubt the first two make it in a title winning team. Robert Sanchez, Renato Veiga, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix, Mudryk, all not good enough. Then just wasted money and players like Nkunku and Deivid Washington (who's that).
Then the sales they made actually made us weaker by replacing them with worse players. Gallagher, Chalobah, Maatsen, Hall, Hutchinson, Mount.
pretty much spot on! Although i would say that we should be careful with players like Estevao, Paez and Anselmino.... its very rare that a kid out of south america comes in and be a success in the PL. Ideally all three should be out on loan in europe to make that transition easier.
And you are correct about the midfielders... close to 300m spent on them and we struggle to control the game
Very true, but I guess meant that they do genuinely look like world class talent, particularly Paez and Estevao at least. And they were all bought for decent fees (if we end up paying the full amount for Estevao he's done amazing for us)
Thanks for this Si I do mostly agree. I find it hard to respect people who don’t show respect to others. Chalobah’s treatment has been unacceptable and not fitting of a well run elite professional club. I don’t know who’s making the decisions but I don’t think it’s on Maresca particularly. The turnover of players is untenable and we are still missing players in crucial positions. If the rest of the season just tails off and we finish sixth or seventh would that be progress.
Why the Club management hasn't picked up on the sensitivities of our global support, especially when it comes to our world class Academy, is especially shocking and ignorant by all concerned.
The treatment of Trev' has been quite simply unacceptable !!!
Boehly and company need to start picking up on this, and pay more attention to our supporters in this area !
Enough already of how both Trev especially, and Conor, were handled like baggage.
Wake up Ownership, and S.D.'s !!!
Your not only embarrassing yourselves, but the entire Club, and our massive fan base everywhere !!!
they are just jumped up scouts and should have never been hired to run a big club like Chelsea! But the owners are equally naive and in some ways complicit too. A Michael Edwards or Berta won't let their authority be challenged by someone like Eghbali when he goes on round trips to recruit players like Mudryk and Neto on his own. Its a shambles from top to bottom and they will only learn when it starts hitting them in the pocket... which would be the case if we miss out on CL again. The club is being run by armatures from top to bottom.
yeah its a huge red flag and mostly it gets clubs into trouble where the owner pokes his nose in recruitment. Alot of Everton troubles were down to Moshiri. Ideally the recruitment decisions should be signed off by a footballing person.
Whilst I can understand and agree with you but some of the process seems to have been chaotic letting all of us be naive and forget that the team that was taken over by the new owners was already full of problems, breaking up, our players being paid too much and not interested to play and a complete refresh was essential
Kenny winning the champions league was an outlier the squad was already breaking up and starting to move on because contracts hadnt been tied down.
The remaining players well some of them anyway had become wage mercenaries and it was good they went, admitted the rebuild has been chaotic and tough going at times but hey its their cheque book.
Si, I see feel like you are beeing too sympathetic to the sporting directors.
Of course they've had successes, they've signed more than 40 players, you'd expect a few to come off.
For a start, I wouldn't call Enzo Fernandez a Success, not for that money. We signed him as a 6, and he basically cannot play 6. Not enough physicality or mobility. Only by pushing him further forward to 8, hiding his defensive weaknesses, has he looked decent, and that's DECENT by the way, NOT orld class.
They've signed six keepers, and sent the only decent one away to Strasbourg.
Every single CB they've signed is either not good enough, or too injury prone.
Also, let's not forget, it was those two clowns who forced out Pochettino.
We have actually gone backwards this year. We have 4 less points in the first 21 games of this season, than we achieved in the last 21 of last season.
Si, in an effort to give balance, you've given the sporting directors way way way too much credit.
The key question has to be whether the owners really want to have a top class individual sporting director and give that person the power that they expect to have and be given elsewhere or whether they want to have sporting directors that will basically implement their instructions. If they’re not gonna give complete control to the so-called experts, then we can hardly blame the individuals we have at the present time who then become puppets.
It is interesting that when the rift between the owners became public that Boehlys side were leaking their belief that Eghbali is obsessed with player trading. I think we need Boehly taking control of the sporting side of the club in order to see the necessary changes.
Winstanley and Stuart are talent spotters. They think the answer to every problem is recruiting more talent and trying to outsmart the market using data. Signing Van Dijk and Alison would be too obvious for them. They would have to try and pluck someone from the French league for half the price so they could get the plaudits. The Trev situation has made it clear that they overestimate their ability to sign players and underestimate the quality of the talent that came through the academy before their time, most likely because they don’t get the credit if an academy player from the Roman era makes the team.
Just so someone says it, I think they have done a pretty damn good job doing a complete rebuild while staying inside financial regulations. Yes we could have done better with keepers and strikers but those are always difficult to buy. The squad is better than you say, without injuries to Fofana and Badiashile and Lavia and James , we wouldn't have had this recent dip in form. Another way to look at Trevoh is that he went on loan and, credit to him, forced his way into the managers plans with solid play. I miss Conor too but am quite happy with Moi, Enzo, And Romeo for the next decade. Cole Palmer may be the best signing ever, especially because we took him away from a rival.
If the club want to make my dreams come true they oust the chuckle brothers and bring in a single minded, world class sporting director. As of right now it seems that this pair either cant communicate properly or don't know their arse from their elbow. Their treatment of Trevoh Chalobah is akin to professional terrorism and quite frankly I'm surprised it hasn't dissuaded more players and youth from avoiding our club like the plague for fear of such treatment.
The above doesn't even touch on their squad building which is essentially printing out a list of statistical top performers under a certain age and throwing darts at a board hoping one hits. Fluked with Palmer who has carried us for the last 18 or so months and I fear where we would be without him. Estevao and Paez were massive coups as of now based upon their potential but could still go down like a lead balloon upon arrival and their performances.
Also last but not least, if you feel the need to release briefs DAILY to try and save face on how things are going behind the scenes, you're already losing.
You and I don't always see eye to eye Si, nothing wrong with that, but this article is bang on the button in every respect. Outstanding piece of journalism. Trevoh just seems like too nice a guy.
Like this piece, completely founded arguments.
My issue with the SD’s is that they seem to be safe despite a number of failures. Whilst players, coaches, medical team members and such have been shifted from their roles for ‘not being good enough’.
As mentioned in this article, they’ve spent a billion pounds (or over) and have had a number of successes; Palmer, Sancho, Veiga, Jackson, Caicedo, Enzo etc. but just take a look at all the failures. On balance the success to failure rate is probably around 50/50. And to shift the perspective, if you or I was only good at their job 50% of the time we would be let go.
There has to be better options, they just aren’t good enough and their management of players and to be honest, fans, has been despicable at times. If the club aren’t going to sign proven winners as footballers, at least sign one to set the football philosophy, culture and player acquisition strategy…Winstantly and Stewart aren’t that and in my opinion haven’t showed us that they are capable of being one…but how on earth are they so safe.
The Score, youll see from the replies that peoples opinions on various players differ markedly so not matter what you say one will be in the world class group for one poster and in the pants group for another.
The real issue with the SD's is that they are like the manager who has been promoted beyond his ability, they listen to what you say nod their agreement then continue their own way doing what they wanted anyway.
Big case of we know best syndrome.
Mostly agree, although I'm not an optimistic about some of the players. Absolute hits: Palmer, Gusto, Jackson. High potential hits: Andrey Santos, Ugochukwu, Paez, Willian Estevao, Penders, Anselmino, Marc Guiu. Caiciedo and Fernandez, not sure how much scouting goes on there and there's massive overpays- also good players but don't give us any impetus/command in midfield. Madueke, Pedro Neto, Sancho, Lavia, Jorgensen jury's still out on, all for different reasons, although I doubt the first two make it in a title winning team. Robert Sanchez, Renato Veiga, Disasi, Adarabioyo, Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix, Mudryk, all not good enough. Then just wasted money and players like Nkunku and Deivid Washington (who's that).
Then the sales they made actually made us weaker by replacing them with worse players. Gallagher, Chalobah, Maatsen, Hall, Hutchinson, Mount.
pretty much spot on! Although i would say that we should be careful with players like Estevao, Paez and Anselmino.... its very rare that a kid out of south america comes in and be a success in the PL. Ideally all three should be out on loan in europe to make that transition easier.
And you are correct about the midfielders... close to 300m spent on them and we struggle to control the game
Very true, but I guess meant that they do genuinely look like world class talent, particularly Paez and Estevao at least. And they were all bought for decent fees (if we end up paying the full amount for Estevao he's done amazing for us)
yeah i hope it works out... but we will only know that once they take the field in the PL. The leagues in south america are very different to the PL
Your point about the brazilian kids i think particuarly spot on and saves me saying it.
Thanks for this Si I do mostly agree. I find it hard to respect people who don’t show respect to others. Chalobah’s treatment has been unacceptable and not fitting of a well run elite professional club. I don’t know who’s making the decisions but I don’t think it’s on Maresca particularly. The turnover of players is untenable and we are still missing players in crucial positions. If the rest of the season just tails off and we finish sixth or seventh would that be progress.
Couldn't agree more.
Excellent article Simon !!!👍👍
Why the Club management hasn't picked up on the sensitivities of our global support, especially when it comes to our world class Academy, is especially shocking and ignorant by all concerned.
The treatment of Trev' has been quite simply unacceptable !!!
Boehly and company need to start picking up on this, and pay more attention to our supporters in this area !
Enough already of how both Trev especially, and Conor, were handled like baggage.
Wake up Ownership, and S.D.'s !!!
Your not only embarrassing yourselves, but the entire Club, and our massive fan base everywhere !!!
The article was written by the score
they are just jumped up scouts and should have never been hired to run a big club like Chelsea! But the owners are equally naive and in some ways complicit too. A Michael Edwards or Berta won't let their authority be challenged by someone like Eghbali when he goes on round trips to recruit players like Mudryk and Neto on his own. Its a shambles from top to bottom and they will only learn when it starts hitting them in the pocket... which would be the case if we miss out on CL again. The club is being run by armatures from top to bottom.
I suspect Egbali wont contenance someone to run the recruitment of players that might challenge him but we can wish.
yeah its a huge red flag and mostly it gets clubs into trouble where the owner pokes his nose in recruitment. Alot of Everton troubles were down to Moshiri. Ideally the recruitment decisions should be signed off by a footballing person.
Well said
The initial failure was making rapid wholesale changes not just in the squad but the whole club, especially after winning the champions league
It reeks of arrogance of not acknowledging the success of the previous administration
No forward planning on the spine of the team & money shoot outs with clubs knowing they will pay over the odds for players
Stripping the team of experience & the oldest player is nearly double the age of most the squad
No dig at TS by the way legend
Could go on….
Whilst I can understand and agree with you but some of the process seems to have been chaotic letting all of us be naive and forget that the team that was taken over by the new owners was already full of problems, breaking up, our players being paid too much and not interested to play and a complete refresh was essential
Kenny winning the champions league was an outlier the squad was already breaking up and starting to move on because contracts hadnt been tied down.
The remaining players well some of them anyway had become wage mercenaries and it was good they went, admitted the rebuild has been chaotic and tough going at times but hey its their cheque book.
Agree with all of that , especially the way Trev was treated , they should hang their heads in shame .